SPINE RELATED
Did You Know You Can Visit Your Chiropractor for Migraines?
She started having one headache a month- intense, pounding pain in right side of her head that spread to her forehead. It quickly became a growing problem, to where Jenny had at least one migraine a week. She couldn’t be around any bright light or loud noises; the only thing she could do was lay in a dark, quiet room. This was starting to run her life and none of the treatments seemed to work. Many others share this same story, with relief just out of reach. Luckily, Jenny found out about using a chiropractor for migraines and has decreased her headaches to once every six months. Receiving chiropractic care, even for those who have seen improvement from medication or other treatments, holds many benefits that unlock healing from the inside out.
Advantages of Seeing a Chiropractor for Migraines
Migraine headaches, as a condition, can not be cured by conventional means. Most treatments available are aimed at decreasing the severity, duration, and frequency of the attacks. The primary asset seen is that in visiting a chiropractor for migraines, you get to the root of the problem instead of just covering up symptoms or trying to prevent an attack. This provides lasting relief while decreasing the need for medication (which actually doesn’t treat the migraine itself). In a randomized clinical trial, 72% of patients experienced either ‘substantial’ or ‘noticeable’ improvement after a period being treated by a chiropractor. Here are the ways chiropractic care can help provide relief:
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Proper alignment
Misalignment of the spine (subluxation) is a major cause of migraines. This also makes a person prone to chemical imbalances in the brain, increasing pain sensation. When spinal joints are put back into alignment, it allows for proper movement, takes pressure off of the nerves, and restores proper nervous system communication.
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Decrease nerve irritation
Compression of the canal that holds the brain stem and the spinal cord irritates and inflames nerves that send pain signals to the brain. Manipulation takes pressure off of these nerves.
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Reduce muscle tension
Tight muscles in the neck and back contribute to nerve pressure, restriction of circulation, and can cause tension headaches. Regular chiropractic care loosens muscles and decreases tension.
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Restore circulation
A major theory behind migraines is the vascular theory. In this, blood vessels are constricted and blood flow to the brain decreases. The brain senses this drop and compensates by stimulating the widening of arteries in the brain, which causes the headache. Chiropractic restores normal blood flow.
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Increases body’s ability to heal itself
When put into proper alignment, communication pathways in the nervous system are corrected, and the body’s healing potential is unlocked.
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Retrain and strengthen muscles that support the spine
This allows for continuation of proper alignment and correct movement so that the body is able to better hold itself in proper alignment.
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Identify triggers and plan to avoid them
Through working with a chiropractor for migraines, he or she may identify movements or painful areas (along with many other stimuli) that induce your migraine. By finding what these triggers are, your chiropractor can help you put a plan in place to avoid them.
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RESULTS Rehab and Wellness Can Help Find Relief for Your Migraines
As an increasing number of people are facing migraines, treatment options with fewer risks and more benefits are being explored. Seeking the services of a chiropractor for migraines is emerging as one of the most successful approaches. Although this painful condition can not be “cured,” chiropractic is the treatment option that comes the closest to addressing the source of the problem. Under the care of a chiropractor, migraine sufferers experience a wide range of benefits that not only treat their headaches but lay the foundation for overall health and wellness. RESULTS Rehab and Wellness Center has a team of dedicated health professionals committed to addressing your specific pain needs. We’ve helped thousands of patients all across the metroplex find relief from their chronic migraines.
If you are experiencing severe headaches, or if you would like to find a chiropractor for migraines call us at Call (469) 729-9000.
Read on to learn how chiropractic can relieve the painful symptoms of Sciatica. Sciatica refers to pain the common condition affects more than 3 million people each year in the United States. or discomfort associated with the sciatic nerve. This nerve runs from the lower part of the spinal cord down the back and side of the leg to the foot. Injury to or pressure on the sciatic nerve can cause the characteristic pain of sciatica: a sharp or burning pain or even numbness that radiates from the lower back or hip, possibly following the path of the sciatic nerve to the foot. If you or someone
How Chiropractic Care Can Help Lower Back Pain and Sciatica!
you love is suffering from sciatica you’ve come to the right place. Chiropractic can relieve the painful symptoms of sciatica.
The Sciatic Nerve
The sciatic nerve is the largest single nerve in the human body; it runs from each side of the lower spine through deep in the buttock into the back of the thigh and all the way down to the foot. It serves a vital role in connecting the spinal cord with the leg and foot muscles. Any type of pain and/or neurological symptoms that are felt along the sciatic nerve is referred to as sciatica. An impairment or issue with the sciatic nerve can cause muscle weakness, numbness and pain.
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Symptoms and Conditions That Cause Sciatica
Common causes of sciatica include: Lumbar spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back) Degenerative disc disease (breakdown of discs, which act as cushions between the vertebrae) Spondylolisthesis (a condition in which one vertebra slips forward over another one) and general wear and tear on the lower spine.
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Risk Factors for Sciatic Pain
Dr. Kirk list's the following as risk factors for Sciatic Pain…
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Age, age-related changes in the spine, such as herniated disks and bone spurs are the most common causes of sciatica. ( An important reason why continuous and preventative chiropractic care is essential to spinal and overall health)
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Obesity
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Occupation
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Prolonged Sitting
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Diabetes
When Should You See a Chiropractor for Neck Pain?
While there are several things you can do at home to help relieve your neck pain, it’s important to know when it’s time to see a chiropractor for neck pain.
Chiropractors specialize in treatment for neck pain. After a physical exam and X-rays, they help to restore motion to stiff joints through a chiropractic treatment plan that usually includes chiropractic adjustments, specific neck exercises and physiotherapy.
What Causes Neck Pain?
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Pinched Nerve
Your neck is made up of vertebrae, and between each of the vertebra are nerves and discs (gel-like pillows that provide a cushion between each vertebrae).
If one or more of your vertebra shift out of alignment, they can crowd or “pinch” the nerves that run between them causing neck pain.
Vertebrae Can Shift Out of Alignment When…​​
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​​​​You consistently have poor posture (such as sitting hunched over your phone all day)
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​​Your neck is stuck in an awkward position for a long period of time (such as painting your ceiling)
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You continually sleep on your stomach or use a flat pillow
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Your neck is forced beyond it’s normal range of motion (like if you fall off a ladder or get whiplash from a car accident)
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Whiplash
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries to the neck. It occurs when the neck experiences a sudden movement forward and backward or from side to side.
This sudden movement overstretches and tears the tendons and ligaments in the neck.
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See a chiropractor for neck pain if…
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Your neck pain or stiffness does not improve after a few days
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You cannot look to the right or left without severe neck pain
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You feel like you must use over-the-counter pain medications just to make it through the day and are using it regularly to treat your neck pain
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You’re worried that your neck pain may have a serious cause
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Your neck pain started in the neck but has moved to numbness or tingling in your hands or wrists
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Your neck pain started within a few days of a car accident
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Your neck pain is worse when you first wake up in the morning but then begins to feel a little better as the day progresses
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Dr. Kirk will conduct a thorough consultation and examination – asking you questions about your symptoms, the history of your neck pain, what types of movement make it worse and which things make it feel better.
During the exam your chiropractor will check to see how well you move your neck. He will look for tenderness or numbness and tingling in your arms or hands.
Seeing Dr. Kirk for neck pain is always a good choice if you are aware of a specific movement (abnormal motion) that resulted in neck pain such as lifting, falling or a whiplash injury.
Injuries resulting from abnormal motion often cause muscles to become overextended and the vertebra in our neck to shift out of alignment.
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Through chiropractic therapy your chiropractor can re-align your vertebra and restore normal motion in your neck.
