Price Chiropractic Associates, Inc.
Conditions
Back Pain
The nerve-rich facet joints on the backside of each spinal bone are a common cause of back pain. If these pairs of interlocking "fingers" aren't moving right, they can cause painful symptoms.
The discs between spinal bones can be a source of back pain, too. These rings of fibrous tissue act as spacers, connectors, and "shock absorbers" for the spine. Trauma can cause the soft, pulpy material in the middle to bulge or herniate, putting pressure on delicate nearby nerves.
Bed rest, physical therapy, medication, and surgery are all therapy choices for back pain. Depending on the severity, one, some, or all of these choices may be needed, and they still may not solve the problem! More and more people are choosing chiropractic first. Specific chiropractic adjustments can help improve spinal function. It's safe, it's natural, and it attempts to correct the underlying cause of the problem.
Back Surgery
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For some patients who are not responsive to conservative treatment, back surgery is helpful in returning them to normal function. For an unfortunate number however, back surgery is unsuccessful and leads to progressive pain and disability. Many people believe that once they have had back surgery, they cannot be helped by chiropractic treatment. This is not true. Patients who have had unsuccessful back surgery are good candidates for chiropractic treatment. Many can be helped, returning to a more pain free and active lifestyle.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
CTS has become one of the most widespread occupational health problems we face today. It affects millions of people a year, and with our growing reliance on computers these seems to be no end in sight.
The syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve just above the wrist. Pressure on the nerve can be caused by an injury or sustained use from common activities like typing, chopping, hammering, or pushing. Symptoms of CTS range from wrist pain, numbness, tingling, burning, weakness or loss of grip strength, and loss of sleep due to discomfort.
There are a number of different ways to treat this condition. In most cases, a chiropractic adjustment to the affected area is an extremely effective solution. In some cases, a misalignment in either the back or neck can cause this condition, and chiropractic manipulation of the neck and/or spine can also serve as an effective treatment option.
These treatments, along with stretching and strengthening exercises, can in most cases effectively alleviate and eventually eliminate the symtoms associated with CTS.
Disc Herniation
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The intervertebral disc is a special type of cartilage that connects and cushions the 24 bones of your spinal column. Each disc attaches to the vertebra above and below it. This provides the proper spacing for pairs of nerve roots to exit the spine from between each joint.
A disc can thin, wedge, bulge, protrude, tear or herniate, but it doesn't slip!
Each spinal disc has a jelly-like core that is contained by bands of fibrous tissue. Healthy discs give you flexibility, allowing normal turning and bending. This movement produces a pumping action that supplies proper disc nutrition and waste removal.
Trauma produces the most common form of disc injury.
Spinal misalignments can cause disc tissue to adapt into a wedge-like shape. This is the earliest stage of disc damage. While this position can encroach upon adjacent nerve tissue, pain or other obvious symptoms may not be present. Even before symptoms appear, chiropractic care can be helpful.
Like a blister, disc tissue can buge. As the soft nucleus of the disc is compressed, it pushes outward where the disc wall is the weakest. This distortion can produce obvious symptoms (sciatica) as it affects nearby nerves. Muscles tighten to protect and splint the joint.
Headaches
Headaches are common in our fast-paced, pressure-filled world. There are many causes of headaches, including physical trauma, emotional stress, nutritional deficiencies, or chemical toxins. In addition, if your neck and/or back are out of alignment, this can affect nerves, muscles, and even blood flow to your head. Too often, we turn to over-the-counter medication to relieve our discomfort. Unfortunately, these only mask the underlying sources of pain.
After your initial chiropractic examination, we can determine if chiropractic health care is the best alternative for treating your chronic headaches. Acombination of chiropractic adjustments and nutritional and lifestyle changes can dramatically reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches.
It is important to know that if you've suffered from chronic headaches for years, improvement can take time. But a visit to our offices is a great place to start. Every headache has a cause, and if we are unable to identify the cause, we will refer you to other specialists who may be able to help.
Fibromyalgia
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Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculosketetal pain, fatigue and multiple tender points. These "tender points" refer to sensitivity that occurs in precise localized areas, particularly in the neck, spine, shoulders and hips. People with this syndrome may also experience sleep disturbances, morning stiffness, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and other symptoms.
Currently, the exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown and because many of the symptoms mimic those of other diseases, it is very difficult to diagnose.
A recent study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics stated that more than 60% of the participants who underwent thirty chiropractic treatments showed significant reductions in pain intensity and improvement in their overall fatigue and quality of sleep.
Sciatica
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The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. It runs from your spinal cord to your buttock and hip area and down the back of each leg. The term "sciatica" refers to pain that radiates along the path of this nerve — from your back down your buttock and leg.
The pain can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating discomfort. Sometimes it may feel like a jolt or electric shock. It may be worse when you cough or sneeze, and prolonged sitting also can aggravate symptoms. Usually only one lower extremity is affected. Chiropractic adjustments can be very helpful in improving spinal biomechanics and reducing nerve pressure to the sciatic nerve root.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis affects boys and, more frequently, girls between the ages of 8 to 18. The cause varies. Some are born with this spinal deviation (congenital). Others get it from assuming a distorted head or hip position (habitual). Sadly, in many cases, the cause is still unknown. If allowed to run its course, scoliosis can steadily worsen. Early detection is critical. Severe cases can involve surgery. This procedure involves the attachment of steel rods to the spine to force it to straighten.
Chiropractic care has helped many young women avoid the unhappy effects of scoliosis. First, a thorough examination helps detect scoliosis in its early stage. Then, corrective action can begin at once. The primary course of care is a program of specific chiropractic adjustments. These help improve the function and structure of the spine. Muscles strengthen. Posture can improve. Chiropractic care has helped countless young women reclaim their health, posture, and self-esteem.
Subluxations
There are more than 200 bones in the human body. Whenever two bones come together at a joint, there can be movement. Since joints in your spine are so close to your spinal cord and nerve roots, too much or too little joint motion can have serious effects.
If spinal bones get "stuck" and don't move properly, they can irritate or chafe delicate nerves. If a joint moves too much, spinal bones can press against adjacent nerve tissue. This can interfere with the vital "life force" transmitted over your nervous system that helps keep your brain in touch with your body. The result is the vertebral subluxation complex, or more simply, a subluxation.
More than bones and nerves are involved. Muscles can become too tight or too weak. Discs, ligaments, and other connective tissues can become inflamed. Bone spurs and arthritic degeneration can result. Subluxations are serious!
Your chiropractic doctor is the only licensed health care professional dedicated to the detection, reduction, and prevention of spinal subluxations. Chiropractic is a team approach to better health. You're in good hands!
Torticollis
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Torticollis, or Wry neck, is a condition in which the head is tilted toward one side, and the chin is elevated and turned toward the opposite side.
The etiology of congenital muscular torticollis is unclear. Birth trauma or intrauterine malposition is considered to cause damage to the sternocleidomastoid muscle in the neck. This results in a shortening or excessive contraction of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, often with limited range of motion in both rotation and lateral bending. The head is typically tilted in lateral bending toward the affected muscle and rotated toward the opposite side.
Whiplash
A whiplash injury can straighten the natural forward curve in the neck, stretching the spinal cord. Symptoms can take months or even years to appear. These injuries usually occur as the result of an automobile accident or an activity that causes the neck to jerk back and forth suddenly.
Don't minimize your injuries because your car sustained little or no damage. An immediate chiropractic examination is essential. Pain pills won't heal inflamed tendons and ligaments. Muscle relaxers won't heal torn muscles. A cervical collar won't restore a graceful forward spinal curve.
Specific chiropractic spinal adjustments can help ensure proper healing because they can help restore proper motion and position of individual spinal bones. Chiropractic doctors can help you get well and stay well after the trauma of a whiplash injury.