What Does a Chiropractic Adjustment Feel Like?

Mechanoreception and Pain Relief

Getting a chiropractic adjustment can offer a significant amount of pain relief. You may feel some popping while you’re being adjusted, but in general, the process is comfortable and leaves you feeling amazing afterward. That light, almost euphoric feeling that can set in after an adjustment is partly due to mechanoreception.

Mechanoreceptors are responsible for responding to stimuli, like sound and touch. When you bump your arm on a doorknob, do you immediately rub the area? It’s a very common response that seems to be hardwired into us. This action actually makes our mechanoreceptors communicate to our brain, which in turn tries to cover up the pain that you’re experiencing.

So Where Does Adjustment Come In?

When a part of your body, like your spine, is adjusted, there’s a lot of mechanoreception that happens as a result. First off, this will tell your brain to get to work and try to cover up pain signals coming from the area being adjusted.

Your brain will then release endorphins. You may have heard of endorphins being released during eating or exercise. It’s part of why exercise feels so fulfilling. These endorphins reduce pain and increase feelings of well-being, which is one reason why chiropractic adjustment can feel so good.

Long-Term Pain Relief

We’ve talked about the immediate sensations that come with an adjustment, so now let’s take a look at the long term. The spine and nervous system are a crucial part of the pathways and framework that support our body’s vital functions. The nerves that run throughout our spines are what connect our brains to our bodies.

This relationship between the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system is a large focus of chiropractic care. Looking at the body as a framework, with each part of the body playing an intricate role with another, helps us to understand the “big picture.” For instance, when the spine isn’t aligned just right it can cause a domino effect of painful symptoms and health issues.

Symptoms of a Misaligned Back

Some symptoms of a misaligned back can include:

• Headaches
• Nerve pain
• Neck Pain
• Reduced mobility

Adjusting the spine may help resolve these symptoms, but it’s important not to put off getting treatment. We can certainly still help if your pain is chronic and severe, but we recommend not waiting until you reach that point. Regular visits can help support the long-term health of your spine, as well as maintain the positive effects you feel after an adjustment.

The Mentality Behind Chiropractic Care

While chiropractic adjustment can offer some immediate relief, the goal should be to help your body sustainably improve its health over time.

When you come in to see us, we’ll want to first figure out what’s causing your pain. Treating the problem at the source will help us treat your pain for the long term. Depending on the cause behind your pain and the severity of it, we may recommend either a short or long-term treatment plan to help you get your comfort levels under control.

How We Achieve This Goal

Assessment

We believe in supporting the body as a whole. This means we strive to follow a natural route to improved health. We will take your health history into consideration, and may take X-rays of your back or neck to help us determine the best way to help you. We won’t be able to recommend a treatment until we’re confident that we understand what’s going on.

After a diagnosis, we can move on to recommending treatments. This could come in the form of adjustments, or one of our other services such as disc decompression and therapeutic massage. We can also offer nutritional counseling.

We Want To Find the Right Fit for You

Our Advanced Wellness & Rehab Center offers a wide variety of services. When we assess the cause of your pain and your pain level, we can put our experience and abilities to work finding a treatment or combination of treatments that has the best chance of helping you.

Back pain is exhausting, discouraging, and at times overwhelming. It affects every part of our body. If you are suffering from back pain, but aren’t ready to resort to surgery, we may be able to provide you with an alternative.

What We Can Treat

Back Pain

There are many causes of back pain, but there are also, thankfully, many ways back pain can be treated. In addition to various therapies and adjustments, your nutrition and environment can also play a role in the health of your body. This is one reason why our initial assessment is so important in guiding us towards the right technique to help you.

To give your treatment the best chance at helping you, we may suggest ways you can further improve your comfort levels through correct posture, as well as tips to help you exercise, work, and even sleep in a way that protects your spinal alignment.

Neck Pain

Chiropractic care can be used to address neck pain. One common issue we see is neck pain caused by a car accident. “Whiplash” is usually caused by the neck forcibly going back and forth or from side to side.

If your facet joints and vertebrae are misaligned, we can help adjust them. This can help relieve the pressure being put on your nerves and improve the health of your spine. The back and neck are close neighbors, so helping one is a good way to help the other.

Headaches

Headaches are too often accepted as a normal fact of life. Having to take pain medicine routinely for your headaches shouldn’t be normal. A headache is a sign that something isn’t quite right. Chiropractic care can help resolve many different kinds of headaches.

Many adults suffer from frequent headaches. Depending on their severity, they can impair your ability to focus and relax, or even make you unable to drive, work, or socialize.

Blame the Bones

Though often overlooked as a cause, malfunctioning spinal bones throughout the upper back and the neck may be the culprit behind your frequent headaches. The sensitive bundles of nerves and blood vessels that run throughout the neck and spine can be affected when the bones of your spine have lost their normal position or range of motion.

When spinal nerves and tissues are irritated or strained, a throbbing headache can be the result. While pain medicine may help you feel better in the middle of a headache, it won’t treat what’s causing it. When you come in for your assessment, we can look into misalignment and help you determine if an adjustment can help your headaches.

Other Causes of Headaches

It is important to note that headaches don’t always mean your spine is misaligned. It’s a symptom that can have many different causes. If you’re concerned about your headaches, we can help either diagnose you, or rule out spinal issues.

To help you determine the cause of your headaches, take a look at your daily life. How long has it been since you’ve changed the prescription for your glasses or contacts? Have you been more stressed lately? Are you wearing something tight around your head, or being exposed to loud noises? How’s your sleep schedule? If addressing these issues doesn’t improve your symptoms, we may recommend looking into other possible causes so you won’t be ignoring a potentially serious issue.

Massage Therapy

Massage is basically when the body’s soft tissues are manipulated. This can help relieve strained muscles, tension, pain, and stress. Massage is present in most cultures and has a long and rich history. Massage may have been one of the first ways people tried to relieve pain. Massage therapy is an umbrella term that can be used for many different techniques.

Classical or Swedish massage is often a significant pillar of massage training programs in Western countries, but it’s not the only kind of massage therapy being practiced. Clinical massage may be used to help relieve muscle spasms. Massage can be carried out according to Eastern traditions, and sports massage can be used to help athletes. If you are suffering from back pain, shoulder pain, headaches, or osteoarthritis, massage therapy may be a tool we use to help you.

Car Accident Rehab

The physical shock of a car accident can cause painful muscle strain or injuries. Having minor injuries looked at as soon as possible may help prevent them from becoming chronic or more serious conditions later on.

An adjustment can immediately offer some relief from pain and trauma in the body, but another way we can help is by supporting your range of motion. Back and neck injuries both can affect your mobility since the inflammation can make it difficult to move without stiffness and pain. Relaxing your muscles and making any necessary adjustments can help you regain that movement and support your body’s healing process.

Chiropractic Adjustment FAQ

1. Is It Safe?

Our first responsibility is to keep you as safe and healthy as possible. Before we start any treatment, our thorough assessment of your needs will help us make accurate calls based on both education and experience. During your consultation, we can go over any health issues or concerns you have that may affect which treatment we should pursue.

2. What About Those Popping Sounds?

If you’re not used to chiropractic care, the popping noises that can happen during an adjustment may seem unnerving. Have you ever cracked your knuckles? When joints are manipulated or adjusted, a gas bubble between the joints may be released due to the change in pressure within your joints.

It’s no cause for concern. This popping noise may sound more dramatic than when you crack your knuckles, but that’s because the joint being adjusted is bigger.

3. How Often Will I Need Follow-Up Treatments?

Unfortunately, this is something we’ll only be able to estimate for you after a consultation. Sometimes a single visit is all our patients need to feel significantly better. In other cases, depending on the issue being addressed, you may need to come back more often to maintain your comfort.

In either case, stopping by now and then may help you keep your back and joints happier and healthier for many years to come. We believe an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and we are proud to offer our patients different ways to support their long-term health.

Move Towards Better Comfort Levels

If you’re ready to see what we’re all about, reach out to our team at Advanced Wellness & Rehab Center of New Bedford, MA, today for your consultation.

The post What Does a Chiropractic Adjustment Feel Like? appeared first on Metro Medic Walk-In.

It is important to be able to determine whether you have experienced whiplash, so you should be aware of the symptoms. You may find that it becomes necessary to contact an attorney if you got whiplash in an accident that was another person’s fault. In the meantime, you should get any whiplash symptoms thoroughly checked by a medical professional so your treatment plan can begin and you can get back to your regular pain-free life.

How Long Does It Take for a Whiplash Injury To Heal?

The length of time it will take for a whiplash injury to heal depends greatly on how hard the whiplash was and on the individual person who has suffered the whiplash. Most people heal from whiplash within about 3 months with treatment, but this can be longer or shorter depending on the injury itself. The large majority of people are healed from regular whiplash within 6 months’ time.

Sometimes whiplash can be chronic, and this means that symptoms will persist for years or even for the rest of the person’s life. People who are senior citizens are more likely to develop chronic whiplash symptoms than people who are younger. Also, people who suffered from severe pain at the time of the whiplash are more likely to take longer to recover.

What Is Whiplash

Whiplash or cervical acceleration-deceleration syndrome occurs when the neck is forced into a quick, strong forward and backward movement that is similar to the cracking of a whip. This intense motion puts a great deal of stress on the cervical spine, causing pain, tenderness, and inflammation.

Causes of Whiplash

Car Accidents

The most common cause of whiplash is a car accident. This typically occurs when one car hits another from behind. This causes the people in the car to be violently driven forward. This forward motion snaps the neck in one direction and then the neck is snapped back when the forward motion ends. When the car causing the accident hits the car in front at a high rate of speed, the injuries that occur will typically be worse.

Sports Injuries

Whiplash can also occur during contact sports and other kinds of physical activity that may cause the body to crash forcefully into someone else or be pulled forward or back with an intense motion. Football especially is a sport where whiplash can be a problem because of the way that the athletes tackle and jump on each other causing parts of the body, such as the neck, to move quickly and violently.

Other physical activities or sports where whiplash may be common are bungee jumping, where the body is suddenly snapped forward and backward due to the contraction of the bungee cord, and mixed martial arts.

Rollercoasters

The back and forth motion that the body is put through on rollercoasters is another cause of whiplash. This is particularly true if the rollercoaster has many spots where the track whips quickly back and forth. Riders may also get whiplash on a rollercoaster if the coaster stops suddenly or accelerates very quickly.

Falls

Falls can cause whiplash when the person lands on the neck area and the spine is jolted quickly backward and forward. This will usually happen when the fall is from a high distance such as off a horse or a ladder, but it can happen when the fall is simply to the ground.

Symptoms of Whiplash

Pain in the Neck

The most common symptom of whiplash is neck pain. This pain can be minimal or it can be very severe. It may last a long time or a very short time, and it may be constant or come and go. The pain may start as soon as the injury occurs, or it can appear 24 hours or more after the accident or incident.

Stiffness in the Neck

Another symptom of whiplash is stiffness in the neck. The person suffering from whiplash may find that it is hard to move the neck forward and back or from side to side.

Pain When Moving the Neck

Sometimes moving the neck can cause pain when someone has suffered from whiplash. This may be new neck pain or movement may increase the pain that is already present.

Numbness in the Arms

Numbness or tingling in the arms can be a sign of whiplash. If you have been in an accident and are experiencing numbness in your arms, you should see a medical professional to have it checked.

Tenderness in the Upper Back or Arms

Tenderness in the upper back and arms is another sign of whiplash. If your arms and upper back are tender to the touch, it could be a sign of inflammation caused by whiplash. You should have it checked out by a doctor or other medical professional.

Headache

A headache is a very common sign of whiplash. The headache is usually located low at the back of the head near the neck and spine. The pain may be constant or may come and go. It can be a sharp pain or a dull pain.

Dizziness

If you are suddenly feeling dizzy after an accident, you could have whiplash. Be careful when moving.

Tiredness

Fatigue is another sign of whiplash. You may feel especially tired even after you first wake up, and you may find yourself taking naps when you usually don’t.

Signs of Potentially Chronic Whiplash Symptoms

Severe Pain

When the pain is especially severe right after the accident has occurred, it is a sign that you may be suffering from whiplash that will last a long time or even create a chronic issue.

Limited Range of Motion

If the range of motion in your neck is particularly limited you may be dealing with extreme whiplash. This may be a condition that will last longer than whiplash normally would.

Pain Spreading Through the Arms

Pain that spreads down through the arms is another sign of serious whiplash.

Previous Whiplash

If you have had whiplash in the past another incident may make the condition chronic or especially severe. Let your health care professionals know if you have had whiplash before.

Previous Neck Pain or Back Pain

If you had neck or back pain before your accident, and it has become worse you may be suffering from a more serious form of whiplash. The whiplash from your accident may have increased inflammation and caused the already present pain to become worse.

Self Treatment for Whiplash

Rest

One of the most important things you can do after suffering from whiplash is to get plenty of rest. You want to make sure your body has the energy to heal, and resting is the best way to do that. Wait a few days before you engage in strenuous physical activity, and be sure to check with a medical professional before you do. Avoid any activity or movement that causes pain or makes your neck pain worse.

Ice and Heat

Ice and heat are often helpful in cases of whiplash. You can use an ice pack to help with swelling and pain. This is especially helpful right after the injury has occurred because it will help to close blood vessels that may be causing swelling. After the first couple of days, you can apply heat or ice depending on which works best for you.

Medications

You can use over-the-counter medications to help treat the pain from whiplash. For some people, this mild medication is enough to ease the pain and become more comfortable.

Medical Treatment for Whiplash

Prescription Pain Medication

Some people will require stronger medication than what is available over the counter. These patients will need a doctor’s prescription to get a stronger form of medicine that can eliminate or reduce the pain.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is often an effective treatment for whiplash. In physical therapy, the neck is gently moved in order to help increase the range of motion in the neck area and decrease pain. Strengthening the neck and increasing flexibility can be very helpful in fighting the pain.

Injections

Sometimes injections can be useful to help decrease the inflammation that may be causing pain. An example of this is a  cervical epidural steroid injection. A cervical facet joint injection may also be helpful in decreasing pain and stiffness within the joint. A trigger point injection may be used to help treat irritated muscles.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic manipulation of the neck and spinal area can be very helpful in the treatment of whiplash. Small adjustments may be made to the spine that can relieve pain and also increase the range of motion in the neck.

Alternative Treatments for Whiplash

Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves using small needles to target specific areas of the body. Some whiplash patients find this very helpful.

Massage Therapy

Massage can also be a useful tool in fighting the pain and stiffness associated with whiplash. A massage therapist will know how to apply pressure to the neck area to help relieve tension and pain.

Get Relief From Whiplash

Whiplash can be a devastating injury, and it can take months or years to recover depending on the severity of the injury. When you are suffering from whiplash, your neck, back, and arms may hurt and you may find that you cannot move your neck in normal ways. This type of injury requires medical attention to be sure that it will heal properly. You may also want to seek alternative treatments and participate in self-care.

If you have suffered a whiplash injury, call us at Metro Medic in New Bedford, MA so we can help you create a treatment plan. We will advise you on ways you can care for yourself at home, and we will examine you to determine what the best medical plan of action will be moving forward. Your whiplash may be painful and debilitating, but we can help you recover. Call us today and get started with the right treatment.

The post How Long Does It Take for a Whiplash Injury to Heal? appeared first on Metro Medic Walk-In.

Neck Pain After Accident: When Should You Seek Help?

Type of Accident

Neck pain following a motor vehicle accident, a fall, or a contact sports injury should always be evaluated. This is because this neck pain is associated with whiplash, which can be a serious injury. Even if you believe your injury was minor in nature, it’s important to get evaluated by a professional to rule out injuries that may not be readily apparent. Our walk-in clinic can ensure you receive prompt medical care to prevent further damage.

You Have Symptoms of a Concussion

Severe whiplash can cause a concussion as well as neck pain, so if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms of a concussion, you need to seek immediate medical care.

• Headache that radiates from the base of the skull
• Numbness or tingling in the arms or hands
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Memory issues
• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Balance issues
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Irritability
• Depression

When you get a concussion from whiplash, you’ve suffered a mild traumatic brain injury, so it’s vital you have your head and neck examined to ensure more intensive medical intervention isn’t necessary. In some cases, concussions can cause permanent brain damage or even be fatal. Seeking help immediately if you notice any of these symptoms can prevent those outcomes and get you on the path toward full recovery. An emergency room or walk-in clinic can quickly assess your injuries.

You Have On-Going Neck Pain That Doesn’t Improve

You might not notice your neck pain right away after your accident because this type of injury can take time to develop. This is one reason why you shouldn’t assume you’re uninjured immediately after an accident because you could be hurt and not realize it. Within the next few days, you may notice the following symptoms develop. If they do not improve, or even get worse, get help from a medical professional.

• Pain and stiffness in the neck
• Worsening pain when you turn your head or move your neck
• Headaches that radiate from the base of the skull
• Inability to turn your neck to a normal degree
• Tenderness in your upper back, shoulders, and arms
• Tingling or numbness in your arms or hands
• Spasms of pain down your back and legs

Depending on the severity of your injury, your neck pain may last for several weeks after an accident. However, if you’re practicing self-care and the pain does not get better after a week or ten days, it’s time to consider seeing a doctor. While your pain may get worse initially over the course of several days, it should start to improve steadily with treatment. If it’s not responding to conservative care, get a professional involved.

Your Pain Interferes With Your Daily Activities

Some neck pain, whether it’s sharp and sudden, or dull and chronic, can prevent you from participating in your everyday activities, including sleep. Just because your pain isn’t acute doesn’t mean you have to live with it. If it’s interfering with the way you live or want to live, seek help from a medical professional. It’s not normal to have neck pain that doesn’t get better, even after an accident, so don’t let it run your life.

Even if you’re able to control your pain with medication, you should consult with a physician to find out how you can relieve your pain without medication. Drugs for pain, even low dosage, and over-the-counter pain relievers, are not meant to be permanent solutions for pain control. If you’re only able to get through the day or sleep through the night when you take pain pills, it’s time to look for an alternative medical solution.

Your Injury Was the Fault of Another Party or Occurred at Work

If your accident was the fault of someone else (i.e. a motor vehicle accident or a slip and fall at a place of business), or it occurred at your workplace, you should see a doctor about your neck pain as soon as possible. The sooner you see a physician, the more quickly you can file a claim with the insurance company or workman’s compensation provider associated with your accident. We’ll provide the documentation you need to file your claim.

Who To See for Neck Pain

While your general practitioner or primary care physician can treat your neck pain, it’s better to see a specialist who is experienced with various treatments for neck pain after accidents. A chiropractor is qualified to assess your condition, diagnose it, and develop a treatment plan to alleviate your pain. Your treatment plan may include adjustments, massage, disc compression, therapies, rehabilitation, and nutritional counseling. Together, we’ll determine the best combination of treatments to treat your neck pain and get your life back.

Pinched nerves are one of the most common causes of neck pain following a whiplash-type accident, and chiropractors are well-trained to adjust the facet joint and vertebrae misalignments that are compressing your nerves. If a pinched nerve is the cause of your neck pain, you’ll feel instant relief when we manipulate your neck to release the trapped nerves. However, you may still need ongoing treatments, such as massage and further adjustments, to relieve tight or strained muscles around the area.

What To Expect During an Evaluation

An evaluation for neck pain usually involves a physical examination of the affected area and neck x-rays. We’ll also go over your medical history with you to determine if your neck pain could be related to other medical conditions. We will also ask you about your daily habits to discover if any of your behaviors could be causing your pain to be worse. We take a holistic approach toward neck pain to eliminate all possible triggers of your discomfort.

Once your neck pain is diagnosed, and we’ve identified any exacerbating circumstances, we’ll develop a treatment plan that will help you achieve your goals for pain relief. We’ll discuss your treatment options and suggest those that we know from experience can help alleviate your neck pain. Your treatment plan may require several appointments with a chiropractor to realize full results. You may also require maintenance appointments at regular intervals to ensure your neck pain doesn’t return.

Self-Care for Neck Pain Following an Accident

Despite the fact that neck pain following an accident can take several days to develop, and we recommend you see a doctor after an accident whether you’re in pain or not, you may decide to treat your neck pain yourself to see if it will improve without medical intervention. As long as you aren’t experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms of a concussion, you can take this conservative approach to see if it will get better before seeking help.

Apply Ice

As soon as possible following your injury, apply ice to your neck to reduce swelling and pain. You’ll want to wrap a cold compress or ice in a thin towel and press it gently against your neck for fifteen minutes every three hours. Continue this practice for 24-to-36 hours, followed by heat if the swelling has gone down.

Take Over-the-Counter Pain Medication

To reduce the pain associated with a neck injury, take over-the-counter pain reducers like acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve). These medications should only be taken if you have no medical conditions that could be negatively affected by their use. If you have any questions about taking one of these medications, contact your doctor first to verify their safety. Follow all dosing directions on the bottle or as directed by your doctor to prevent an overdose.

Apply Heat

You should only apply heat to your neck after you’ve iced it exclusively for about three days. You want the swelling to go down before you apply heat since heat can make swelling worse. A heating pad can relax the muscles around your injury, so it’s appropriate for your shoulders, arms, and upper back, but if the pain is mostly gone from your neck, leaving it stiff and mildly achy, you can use the heat on your neck as well.

Use a Neck Collar or Brace

You can obtain a neck collar or brace from most pharmacies, and this device can prevent you from turning your neck sharply, which may cause significant pain. It can also provide temporary support for your neck while the muscles around the injury heal. It’s important to note, though, that you should not consider a neck brace a long-term solution, as it will actually weaken your neck muscles over time, making it more prone to further injury.

Gently Stretch Your Neck Muscles

As you can tolerate it, gently stretch your neck muscles by slowly moving it side to side and up and down. When your neck hurts, it’s normal to tense your muscles to keep your pain as minimal as possible; however, this causes your muscles to tighten up, leading to even more pain. Gently stretching your neck can loosen the muscles enough to alleviate at least some of your pain temporarily.

Have Someone Carefully Massage Your Neck and Shoulders

Getting a gentle massage can also help relieve pain associated with stiff and tense muscles. Just be sure that the person giving you the massage doesn’t go too deep or you may experience even more pain if the nerves in your neck are irritated. While a gentle massage can help lessen your pain somewhat, it’s better to get a professional massage from a chiropractor who knows how to do it properly and safely to avoid further damage.

Take It Easy

For the first few days after your accident, do as little as possible. This may mean missing work or school so you can keep your neck still and practice self-care. You should also avoid strenuous activity for up to six weeks after your injury, especially those that involve lifting heavy objects or twisting your neck. If your neck pain is accompanied by a significant lack of mobility, you may also need to refrain from driving until your motion is better.

No Appointment Needed

When you’re in pain, the last thing you want to do is wait for an appointment to see a doctor, especially if you’ve been dealing with neck pain for a week or longer. Come on in to Metro Medic Walk-In Medical & Chiropractic in New Bedford, MA, today, where you can be seen without an appointment and get on the path to a pain-free life.

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What Can Cause Back Pain?

As we age, our spine is naturally compressed by gravity pulling us down, not to mention all the things we put on our shoulders and backs over the years. This pushing down of the spine takes its wear over time, pressing out of sync the natural alignment we were born with. The discs between the vertebrae in our spine are forced out of place slowly, causing them to bulge, pinch, or simply wear down.

All of these factors contribute to chronic back and neck pain, as well as leg pain that stems from the nerves located in the lower back. Your body might have some contributing factors to the pain as well, such as degenerative disk disease or posterior facet syndrome (which is a disease of degenerated spinal joints). It is important to understand what causes your back pain so that your chiropractor or doctor can recommend the most appropriate treatment for you.

What Is Spinal Decompression?

Spinal decompression is a treatment used to create more space around the spinal disks in your back. The disks are gel-like cushions that separate your bony vertebrae from each other, keeping them from painfully rubbing together. But as the cushions are pushed and pressed constantly throughout the day and over our lifetime, they begin to wear down.

Decompression therapy takes the pressure off your spinal disks by gently stretching the spine, creating negative pressure in the disks and allowing for better blood and oxygen flow so the disks can properly heal and replenish. With the negative pressure in the spinal disks, any bulging or herniated disks can retract, taking pressure off the nerves and other structural aspects of the spine.

This motorized stretching allows the spine to change position as well, overcoming years of bad posture and gravity. Changing the force of the spine and allowing for blood and nutrients to flow back to the spinal disks helps to relieve pain, with many patients expressing relief even during treatment.

What Does Decompression Therapy Treat?

This type of treatment is typically used when other treatments have failed to improve some of the following symptoms:

• Bulging disks
• Pinched nerves
• Herniated disks
• Spinal stenosis
• Sciatica pain (in the leg)
• Degenerative disks

This list is not comprehensive, and decompression treatment is also used when other causes present themselves with back pain where the spinal disks are involved.

What Is Involved in the Treatment Process?

Knowing what to expect before your spinal decompression session is a great way to rest your nerves and feel at ease during the appointment.

Before Treatment

You’ll first come into the office for an initial consultation and exam. The doctor will ask for a medical history and details regarding the pain you have been experiencing. It is best to be as thorough and honest as possible during this part of the process so that we can recommend the best possible treatment for you. If you are approved as a candidate for spinal decompression, your doctor will talk to you about the treatment process to take place in the next appointment.

During Treatment

As this treatment is non-invasive, you will be fully clothed during the therapy session, and you do not need to prepare anything beforehand. The doctor will fit you with 2 harnesses at the beginning of the treatment session. These harnesses will go around your pelvis and your midsection. You’ll then lie down on a computer-controlled table, lying either face-up or face down. The doctor will then operate the computer, tailoring the treatment to your specific needs.

The table is a padded traction device that will slowly and safely stretch out your spine. You will have a safety switch within reach if you feel the need to stop treatment at any time, and the doctor promotes an environment of open communication so you can let him know any pain you might experience right away. However, most patients use this time to relax both physically and mentally, as the treatment is safe, non-invasive, and very gentle.

You should plan for the treatment to last for about 30 to 45 minutes, and you may need to have 20 to 30 treatments spread out over 2 months, depending on the severity of the pressure in your spinal disks.

After Treatment

There is no downtime between spinal decompression treatments or after the process is concluded. As the treatment is completely non-invasive and gentle, you will be able to schedule activities immediately following your appointments, and continue your day in a normal fashion.

Several patients express relief after just 1 or 2 visits, while the majority of patients will report significant pain relief by week 5 or 6. The treatment can be repeated in the future, sometimes even after back surgery as a part of your physical therapy.

There are no major side effects to decompression therapy. Some patients do express a feeling of soreness after the first few sessions, compared to working out muscles after a long time of inactivity. This is due to the long stretching of muscles that aren’t accustomed to moving that way. It is very rare for a patient to complain of increased pain after decompression treatment.

If you have severe disk problems such as acute herniation, you may experience some pain during the first few sessions as the disks move away from the nerves they were pressing. Regardless of this, the majority of patients still experience at least 50% of pain relief after 4 to 5 treatment sessions.

Why Does Decompression Treatment Work When Other Treatments Do Not?

The table used during the decompression treatment is called a traction table, which is controlled by a computer and is able to make precise movements to lengthen and stretch the spine. There are similar types of therapy out there that can also reduce pressure on the spinal disks, such as physical therapy, manipulation massage, or inversion tables. These methods have a low rate of the amount of pressure they are able to reduce, however.

Only decompression therapy has successfully proven to create negative pressure in the spinal disks, allowing more room for oxygen, blood, and nutrients to flow. Because the process is slow and gentle, the muscles that typically tighten during a back stretching movement are not triggered, allowing for a deeper stretch over an extended period of time. The disks are allowed to reposition without feeling tension or setting off the body’s automatic protective responses.

You should not experience any muscle spasms or tightening during your decompression treatment. This is why it is important to be treated by a doctor with years of experience in this type of therapy for the best results.

Am I a Candidate for Decompression Treatment?

Spinal decompression therapy is only available to patients that are at least 18 years of age. Your doctor will be able to tell if you qualify for decompression treatment after your first initial consultation and exam. Many patients who qualify for this treatment include those with:

• Persistent back pain (lasting more than 3 consecutive weeks)
• Pain caused by arthritis
• Diagnosed spinal disk issues (such as herniated, bulging, or degenerative disks)
• Persistent pain after a failed back surgery that was at least 6 months prior

These candidates and more are often excellent patients for spinal decompression treatment.

Factors That Will Disqualify You From Treatment

Your chiropractor will be able to tell you if you are a good candidate or not for the treatment, but there are a few conditions that will disqualify you from receiving decompression therapy. These include patients that have:

• A compression fracture in the lumbar
• An abdominal aortic aneurysm
• A lumbar fusion that is less than 6 months old
• Cancer that has spread to the bones
• A spinal tumor
• Pelvic or abdominal cancer
• Infection in the spinal disk space
• Metal implants or hardware in the spine, such as rods and screws from previous surgeries

Pregnant women are also disqualified from having the decompression treatment. Even if you have one of the above conditions, consult with your doctor about it so he can see if the treatment is truly not right for you, as well as suggest alternatives to help you manage your pain.

What Other Treatments Might Be Recommended to Me?

Your chiropractor might recommend some other types of treatments, to either accompany decompression therapy or to try before or after. These could include treatments such as:

• Ultrasound, which produces heat in deep tissue layers to promote healing
• Heat or cold therapy
• Electrical stimulation that will target specific muscles to contract

These additional treatments can be applied before, during, or after the decompression treatment. You may also be encouraged to walk the day after your decompression sessions, increase your water drinking habits to half a gallon per day, and rest as well as perform specific exercises for recovery and strength.

What About Decompression Surgery?

Decompression therapy is not to be confused with decompression surgery. The therapy treatment is non-invasive and requires no previous preparation or downtime. Therapy is also pain-free and involves a computerized table that gently stretches your back to allow for negative pressure to be created in your spinal disks.

Surgery is a different matter and is seen as a last resort when treatments do not work. Your doctor may suggest surgery if your pain continues and you have bulging or ruptured disks that do not correct themselves with therapy. Surgery is also an option for bone growths or other spinal problems, often showing symptoms such as tingling, weakness, or numbness. These symptoms suggest pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, and surgery may relieve that pressure.

Decompression therapy is much gentler, safer, and more easily accessible to patients. All patients should try therapy first if their doctor recommends it. Decompression treatment is FDA-cleared and has been around for more than 10 years.

Get Started Today

At Metro Medic, we take your aches and pains seriously and strive to help our patients live a fulfilling and pain-free life. If your back pain is regular and affecting your daily life, it’s time to get it taken care of, and gently realign your spine. Call Metro Medic of New Bedford, MA today to take the first step towards a pain-free future.

The post What Is Involved in a Spinal Decompression? appeared first on Metro Medic Walk-In.

How Do You Treat a Cervicogenic Headache?

A cervicogenic headache is one that typically spreads from a stiff neck all the way through the head, usually causing tension and pain along with symptoms that are similar to migraines. For most people, the go-to treatment for a headache like this is to rest and cease movement to wait for the pain to pass. But for some, this type of at-home intervention isn’t effective enough to reduce the strain of a headache.

Fortunately, patients have several other options at Metro Medic. Our treatment options include:

Chiropractic Treatment

For a cervicogenic headache, the best treatment is Bedford chiropractic care. Chiropractic care to treat headaches caused by stiff neck or joint muscles will typically involve spinal manipulation to release the tension in the cervical joints of the neck. Spinal manipulation can be done through massage, special stretching, realignment of the spine, and other techniques that only chiropractors are trained to perform.

As a note, it’s important that you leave spinal manipulation techniques to the experts, as at-home tools can cause more harm than good. Scheduling an appointment with a chiropractor is the best way to realign your spine and decompress the tension between cervical vertebrae that is causing the pain and tension.

Anti-Inflammatory Medications

Using prescribed or over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications may be a good band-aid to use between chiropractic appointments or during a sudden onset of a headache while you are waiting to be seen by a professional for spinal manipulation. Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and some muscle relaxers may help release the tension or mask the symptoms for long enough that you can get through your day until your appointment.

Nerve Blockers

Nerve blockers are typically reserved for those who have very intense pain and need assistance to get through physical therapy or Bedford chiropractic care. Nerve blockers are temporary blocks on pain receptors that will allow for your physical treatment without any significant discomfort on your part. This is ideal for patients who can’t withstand spinal manipulation due to overactive pain nerves caused by the headache.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is another long-term solution that typically goes hand-in-hand with Bedford chiropractic care. Ideally, a chiropractor will like to see you to diagnose and initially treat your headache to release the tension in your neck causing the pain. However, if your pain is caused by certain factors such as overuse, it may be wiser to seek additional physical therapy guidance.

Physical therapy can teach you the specific stretches and exercises that will help you safely and continually release tension in your neck and spine. Doing certain stretches and exercises each day can help prevent new headaches from occurring or can help you reduce pain while you are waiting to be seen by a professional.

Surgery

For certain causes of this type of headache, such as degenerative injuries, it may be necessary to seek surgery if other non-invasive treatments are not effective for your long-term health goals. Surgery to treat CV headaches are rare, but when they do happen, the surgery is usually performed on cervical vertebrae to create more space between vertebrae so that certain nerves aren’t being squeezed or pressured in the spine.

During your consultation at Metro Medic, we will help you determine the best treatment to address your CV headache. Your treatment may involve multiple methods of pain management to create a long-term solution that will manage your headache, improve your physiology, and allow you to live your life with less pain. For example, it’s common for chiropractic care, physical therapy, and certain over-the-counter pain relievers to be used at the same time to treat all aspects of CV headaches.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cervicogentic Headache

1. What Is a Cervicogenic Headache?

A cervicogenic headache is a type of headache that results in steady, throbbing pressure on one side of the head along with a stiff neck or shoulders. This type of headache is somewhat rare among the general population, with less than 2.5% of people experiencing this type of headache annually. However, this type of headache accounts for almost 20% of clinical treatments at Bedford chiropractic practices, which means that many people seek treatment for this headache every year.

What Are Common Symptoms?

Like most headaches, there are specific symptoms that indicate the occurrence of this type of headache. Because all headaches involve pain in the skull caused by pressure or nerve signals, it’s helpful to know the specific symptoms of this type of headache so you can determine if your current symptoms align with the common symptoms of a CV headache. The common symptoms include:

• Pain on one side of the head
• Steady pain, no throbbing pain
• Pain that stays in one spot
• Pain that gets worse when you cough or sneeze
• Head pain when you take a deep breath
• Nausea and vomiting from pain
• Lack of appetite
• Blurry vision
• Noise and light sensitivity
• Stiff neck
• Pain in one arm or shoulder
• Difficulty turning neck

For a CV headache, you may have only a few or all symptoms of the headache. The degree of symptoms you have will depend on how great the pain is affecting you. For example, those with minor headaches may only have a stiff neck and head pain, while those who have severe headaches may experience migraine-like symptoms in addition to physical pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulders, and arm.

2. What Causes This Type of Headache?

In general, a CV headache is caused by pressure that is placed on nerves between the cervical vertebrae; when these nerves are pinched between the spine, they send pain signals to the brain, which causes the head pain. However, there are also specific causes for developing this type of headache, particularly if you have this headache regularly. The main causes of this headache include:

Overuse

Your headache may be caused by overuse of the cervical vertebrae. Over time, using the same area of your body can cause strain that will lead to physical stressors that create pain, tension, and headaches.

For example, some people who develop this type of headache may work in certain jobs, such as hairstylists, truck drivers, computer science, carpenters, craftspeople, and more. Any occupation that requires you to repeatedly hold your neck down while simultaneously using the muscles in the neck and shoulders can create overuse of the cervical vertebrae, and that can create the right circumstances to develop a CV headache over time.

Injury

Injury to the cervical vertebrae may also cause this type of headache. For example, getting into a car accident or having whiplash may create an injury or an opportunity for a CV headache to develop. Injuries can also include sports injuries, falls, high-impact events, or any other incident that has the ability to compress the nerves and vertebrae in the neck.

Posture

Poor posture may also contribute to developing this type of headache. If your natural posture puts your head before your body, you may be causing stress to your cervical vertebrae and creating tension in the spine or neck. Posture is something that Bedford chiropractic care can help address through treatment.

Degeneration

Degenerative diseases and injuries may also create a CV headache. For example, bone and joint damage that worsens over time due to injury or aging may cause the spine to compress more easily, which makes it easier for your body to develop a cervical headache.

3. How Is This Type of Headache Diagnosed?

Getting the right diagnosis is important to determine the type of treatment method that will be most effective for your particular needs. A CV headache is typically diagnosed by a physical examination, which may require you to turn your head to indicate the stiffness in your neck.

Your examination will also involve gathering certain information about you, such as when your headache began, what makes the headache better or worse, and the previous interventions you have tried to alleviate your symptoms. Diagnosing your CV headache may also require certain tests and examinations, such as:

Imaging

It may be necessary to get certain images of your neck, shoulders, and spine to see if any spine or joint misalignments or injuries are causing your headache. Xrays, MRIs, and CT scans are all commonly used to examine the bones and muscles of the neck to identify potential causes of CV headaches.

Nerve Block Test

It may also be necessary to perform a nerve block test. because a nerve block is a special medication that blocks the transmission of nerve signals, administering a nerve block will help us determine if your CV headache is caused by an agitated nerve, or if the cause of your headache is from something else.

4. Do These Headaches Go Away by Themselves?

Mild cases may resolve themselves over time, but for those who have degenerative injuries or those who have chronic CV headaches, the fact of the matter is that this type of headache will not be able to go away by itself. Patients who have frequent headaches will likely need professional intervention to resolve the headaches for the long-term.

5. How Long Do These Headaches Last?

Typically, a CV headache has a sudden onset that can last for one hour to as much as one week at a time. The length of time your headache lasts will generally be determined by how tight or stiff your neck feels in addition to the degree of the head pain.

6. Are You a Good Candidate for Treatment?

Good candidates for the treatment of a cervicogenic headache include those who have had at least one or more CV headache in the last year to six months. We will determine whether any of our treatment options are right for you during your consultation appointment. Good candidates include those who are willing to use Bedford chiropractic care and physical therapy to resolve their symptoms.

Resolve Your Cervicogentic Headache Today

Headaches that last for several hours or several days have a way of stealing our time – but you can take your time back and resolve your CV headache for the long-term when you use the right treatment technique in the chiropractic clinic new Bedford MA. To schedule your consultation, contact Metro Medic in Bedford, MA today.

The post How Do You Treat a Cervicogenic Headache? appeared first on Metro Medic Walk-In.

How Can You Relieve Upper Back Pain?

Causes of Pain in the Upper Back

Pain in the upper back is less common than pain in the lower back because there is less flexibility in the bones in the upper back than there is in the lower region. So, when you have pain here, there are some very specific causes, such as a muscle strain or injury to the muscles or ligaments that support the spine in this area, bad posture, a herniated disc, or other pressure on the spinal nerves, osteoarthritis, or myofascial pain.

In rare cases, pain in the upper back can be caused by other medical issues, since this part of the back protects vital organs like the lungs, heart, and liver. Some medical conditions that could lead to upper back pain include gallbladder disease, an infection, or cancer. Again, these causes of back pain are rare and are really only a concern if other causes have been ruled out. This will require a medical provider to diagnose.

Ways to Relieve Pain in the Upper Back

Techniques for treating pain in the upper back range from things you can do at home to medical Back Pain Treatment New Bedford MA that are administered by medical professionals. It’s always good to try the at-home remedies first because there is no harm in attempting to relieve the pain yourself. This is usually a more inexpensive route to go, but it doesn’t always work, particularly if you have suffered an injury to the area or you have a herniated disc.

At-Home Back Pain Remedies

Rest

Bed rest has long been prescribed for back pain bedford, and often it is the only way people can get some relief. However, more recent research suggests that laying down for more than 48 hours is not helpful, and that movement is necessary to prevent the pain from becoming worse. Still, if you have severe back pain and you are unable to function effectively because of it, you should take a break. Just don’t wait too long to get moving again.

Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers

Sometimes, an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever can take the edge off of back pain bedford enough for you to move your body through it. In other words, without pain, you are able to move your back relatively normally and allow your injury to heal.  OTC pain relievers typically work by reducing the number of prostaglandins that are made, which are a hormone-like substance that irritates nerve endings. These medicines can also lower swelling as well, thereby reducing pain associated with inflammation.

The usual OTC painkillers that are recommended for back pain include acetaminophen (Tylenol), which works well on pain, but not on inflammation; ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), which is excellent on both pain and inflammation, but leaves your body quickly; and naproxen (Aleve), which acts quickly on both pain and inflammation, but stays in your system longer than ibuprofen. Acetaminophen and either ibuprofen or naproxen can be taken together for added pain relief.

Heat

Heat works by improving circulation in the area that is causing you pain and allows oxygen and nutrients to travel more effectively to muscles and joints. The nutrients and oxygen stimulate the body’s natural healing process, which will begin healing damaged muscles, reducing inflammation, and improving stiffness. Any type of heat can help with back pain, but a heating pad is ideal because it is portable and can target specific sites better, such as the upper back.

Ice

Conversely, ice therapy can also help relieve upper back pain because it slows inflammation and swelling. As such, it is particularly helpful if you have suffered an injury in the area. Moreover, ice acts as a numbing agent so you will feel the pain less. Ice shrinks the nerve endings and slows the nerve impulses where the ice is applied, thereby reducing pain. Finally, ice can also minimize tissue damage, again, especially in the event of an injury.

While heat can be applied at any time to reduce back pain, ice is most effective in the immediate aftermath of an injury. In most cases, it’s less effective after about 48 hours following an injury. Ice therapy also needs to be limited to five minutes at a time to avoid ice burn, and ice should never be placed directly on the skin. Fortunately, ice does not have to make contact with the skin to work.

Exercise

Even though your instinct might be to avoid movement when you’re experiencing upper back pain, experts recommend that you actually should exercise to relieve the pain. Focus on exercises that strengthen your back muscles, as the stronger your muscles are, the less likely they will be to become strained. Yoga is also a great way to stretch the muscles of your back and keep them loose and flexible. Strengthening your stomach muscles can also help keep your back pain free.

Some specific exercises you can to do help ease your pain include neck and shoulder rolls; chair rotations; rowing; lat pulldowns; and various yoga poses like child’s pose, cat cow, puppy pose, and supine twist. These exercises should be repeated daily, even after your pain goes away. This will prevent it from returning. However, if any exercise is too painful to do, you should discontinue it and speak with a doctor before trying anything else.

Improve Your Posture

Ensuring you have good posture when you are standing or seated can go a long way in relieving your back pain. When you have good posture, your spine is aligned and stable, However, when you slouch, your muscles and ligaments in your back are under strain to keep your body balanced. If you have to sit at a computer for long periods of time, be sure to get an ergonomic chair that helps you practice good posture throughout the day.

Reduce Stress

Prolonged exposure to stress can cause pain in your upper back because stress releases cortisol and adrenaline, which cause an involuntary tightening of the muscles in your body, including those in your back. The neck, shoulders, and spine often bear the brunt of stress tightening, which is also where you’ll start to feel pain when the muscles get tired of tightening. Stress can also cause poor posture, which, as we’ve seen, also leads to back pain.

Medical Back Pain Remedies

Chiropractic Treatment

If you are unable to find relief for your upper back pain using the at-home treatments, you may need to try a medical intervention. Chiropractors are the logical place to start, as they are professionals in treating all types of back pain. For pain in the upper back, they will first complete a physical exam before using spinal manipulation or other techniques to realign your musculoskeletal structure and allow the body to heal itself.

There are two main spinal manipulation techniques used in chiropractic Back Pain Treatment MA for back pain. The first is the diversified technique, which is a spinal manipulation that is completed with the hands pushing down on the affected area to realign the joints. The second is the biophysics technique, which is spinal manipulation that is focused on realigning the spine by restoring proper posture. The technique for you will depend on your specific injury and needs.

Acupuncture or Acupressure

Both acupuncture and acupressure involve stimulating the body’s nervous system to enhance blood flow to the part of the body that is in pain. Acupuncture involves inserting needles into acupoints, while acupuncture involves a practitioner manually pressing on acupoints using their fingers, elbows, thumbs, palms, or devices.

Acupuncture and acupuncture are based on traditional Chinese medicine and have been used to relieve pain for centuries. The acupoint between your fourth finger and your pinky is known to ease back pain bedford.

Massage

Massage is often recommended as a way to relieve back pain because it causes you to release the tension in your muscles. Absent any other injury, tension can be completely responsible for back pain, so massage is an excellent way to get quick relief. Massage works in a way that is similar to acupuncture in that it stimulates blood flow to the massaged area. The blood delivers the oxygen and nutrients needed to stimulate the body’s natural healing process.

Moreover, massage helps release toxins that are stored in your muscles when they are tightened up. The increased blood flow to the area removes these toxins from your body, making the massaged area healthier and more likely to heal itself. Massage also heats up the temperature of your back muscles, which improves elasticity and flexibility around the joints, thereby reducing tension and pain. You’ll also notice that your posture improves after a massage because the muscles are no longer tight.

Prescription Medications

In some cases, you may just need a stronger pain reliever to help ease the pain in your back. An opioid may be prescribed, but it is only appropriate for a short time (between seven and 10 days). Your doctor could prescribe a stronger anti-inflammatory or a muscle relaxer medication to target the cause of your pain. Some patients might even need an anticonvulsant medication, which works best for nerve damage. Before medication is prescribed, an exam will be necessary.

Injections

Another way to block the pain so that you are able to participate in other at-home treatments is for a practitioner to administer a thoracic epidural injection into a trigger point surrounding your spinal cord. Usually, injections like these will only be considered after you have experienced back pain for three months or longer, and have tried other interventions without success. Injections can relieve your back pain for a few weeks to a few months.

When to See a Doctor

There are some specific symptoms associated with back pain that indicate medical intervention. If you are having any of these symptoms associated with upper back pain, you should seek medical assistance right away:

• Chest pain
• High temperature
• Difficulty passing or controlling urine
• Unexplained loss of weight
• Back deformity or swelling
• Leg weakness
• Worsening of pain if you sneeze or cough
• Pain is between the shoulders
• Pain worsens at night or after a rest
• Pain began after a car accident or other injury

What’s Next?

As you can see, there are many ways to go about relieving upper back pain, from things you can do yourself to surgical solutions. However, chiropractic and massage treatments are some of the most effective ways to relieve back pain. Contact Metro Medic in New Bedford, Massachusetts to learn how we can help you alleviate your pain so you can get back to enjoying your life.

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