Health First Research

Our pillow, bed, or sleep position is not always the reason for our stiff and painful neck when we arise in the morning. We also try to figure out what is occurring when sudden neck movement causes a sharp pain that feels as if “something” has slipped out of position or that a nerve is being “pinched.” Though it may seem so, one single incident is rarely the cause of most neck problems, but rather the cumulative effects of unsuitable sitting posture, bad work and lifestyle habits, and lack of healthy exercise for strength and flexibility. Naturally, some neck challenges are due to traumatic events such as a whiplash accident, a fall, or a sports injury.

To understand neck pain, it is helpful to have knowledge of the anatomy of the spine. The spinal bones or vertebrae of the neck are comprised of posterior joints, called facets, that connect vertebrae to one another and serve to guide the motion of the spine. Inter-vertebral discs, comprised of strong cartilage, join the “bodies” of the vertebrae. This dense cartilage encases the nucleus, a soft material in the center of the inter-vertebral discs. The main function of the disc is as a shock absorber and spacer between the vertebrae. The spinal cord is situated between the facets of the vertebrae. Spinal nerves leave the spine between the vertebrae and supply energy to muscles and organs of the body. Transversely, they carry sensory impulses, including pain information, from the body to the brain.  The nerves that leave from the neck are responsible for the entire upper extremity including the shoulder, elbow and hand, as well as structures of the head and neck. The neck has a natural forward curve when viewed from the side that helps properly balance the weight of the head, as well as to decrease stress on the neck joints. For more information please feel free to visit your Colorado Springs Chiropractor.

Risk Factors: Neck Pain and Computer Use

Computer use has risen significantly over the years, at home and in the workplace. Nowadays, a large number of people spend eight to ten hours a day, or more, bent over a keyboard and staring at a monitor. Sitting with the head in a forward bent position (the posture most computer users take on), puts tremendous strain on neck ligaments and muscles. In addition, the normal forward curve of the neck becomes reversed producing more stress upon all the surrounding tissues of the neck. Awkward posture and repetitive stress can create spinal problems including disc herniation and subluxations, which are the principal causes of spinal nerve inflammation. Conjointly with general pain, spinal nerve inflammation in the neck can cause symptoms including headaches, eye problems, giddiness, arm and hand pain (and paraesthesia), as well as shoulder pain.

Headaches and Chiropractic Care

Headaches or migraines are usually associated with disorders of the cervical spine. Symptoms, from a dull ache to throbbing pain, are caused when the cervical vertebrae lose their natural position or motion and sensitive nerves and blood vessels, connected with structures in the head are stretched or inflamed. In many instances the tight knots in the muscles of the neck, called trigger points, can also refer pain to the head.  Many other factors are related to headaches such as toxic fumes, certain foods, additives such as MSG, alcohol, caffeine, and stress. Still one must always look at the tissues and alignment of the neck when considering the cause of headaches and migraines. Chiropractic care has been shown to exceptionally beneficial in the treatment of headaches. Your Colorado Springs Chiropractor can give you further information regarding treatment and pain relief.

Whiplash and Chiropractic Care

Unfortunately, many people are involved in car accidents. Beyond question the most common auto accident is when one car collides into the rear-end of another car. During such an accident, the passenger in the front car gets his or her head powerfully wrenched backward and then forward causing injury to the structures of the back and front of the neck. Such a strong force can cause injury to the ligaments, muscles, facet joints, discs, and spinal nerves. Whiplash injury includes neck pain and immobility, and other symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vertigo, arm and should pain, tingling in the hands and fingers, and weakness of the arms and hand. It is crucial to get immediate evaluation and x-rays to rule out the possibility of fracture. More often than not in most cases, the injuries are primarily to the soft tissues and joints. Proper treatment is essential in recovery from the pain and symptoms of whiplash, and also to prevent future disability. Your Colorado Springs Chiropractor is educated to understand whiplash injury, and is more than capable of managing the case from beginning to end.

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Low back pain is second in prevalence only to the common cold. It affects more than 80% of human being. However, unlike the common cold, back pain is often a mystery to most of its sufferers. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor is an expert at solving the puzzle.

Anatomy

To understand back pain, it is helpful to understand the anatomy of the spine. The spinal bones or vertebrae of the lower back are comprised of posterior joints called facets that connect vertebrae to one another and serve to guide the action of the spine. The inter-vertebral discs join the bodies of the vertebrae and are composed of a form of strong cartilage that covers a soft material in the center, called the nucleus. The discs act as shock absorbers and spacers between the vertebrae. Ligaments and muscles also join the vertebrae. The sacrum is a wedge-shaped bone at the bottom of the spine. It is attached to the two pelvic bones at the sacroiliac joint. In a canal positioned between the body and the facets of the vertebrae is the spinal cord. The spinal nerves exit the spine between the vertebrae.

Causes of Back Pain

In most cases, back pain comes about without a trauma, an accident, or a major injury prior to the onset. The source of most back pain is the cumulative effects of awkward sitting posture, harmful work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of proper exercise and other poor lifestyle-related factors.  These cumulative factors create stresses and imbalances on the spine and, therefore, some may injure their back just by bending over to pick up a piece of paper. The instability of the spine makes it vulnerable to even the most simple movements, such as bending. When this occurs, the surrounding back muscles go into spasm to protect the stressed or injured tissues of the back. Chiropractors are back pain specialists. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor can help you to get out of pain quickly.

Disc Problems & Sciatica

Increased pressure on the intervertebral discs and imbalances in the muscles around the spine can come about during and after prolonged sitting, particularly in a unsuitable position. After a while the lower spine loses its ability to function normally during everyday stresses. In the end, the intervertebral disc develops small fissures, or cracks, allowing the soft nucleus to distend the disc outward. If the disc pushes on sensitive tissues, it causes the pain that is often referred to as a slipped disc. Sciatica develops when the disc presses on the spinal nerve. The symptoms of sciatica include pain, tingling, numbness, and often weakness in the lower extremities. Sometimes if the disc protrusion or herniation is large and the condition is not managed correctly, surgery is necessary to clear away the herniated disc material. But, with the correct chiropractic adjustments and management, as well as postural exercises, most of these cases can healthfully heal. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms defined above, it is essential for you to seek chiropractic attention.

Spondylosis

Increased wear and tear and weight-bearing stress on the spine occurs when there is repetitive injury to the discs, facet joints, and surrounding ligaments. This stress can adversely affect the cartilage around the joints and engender calcium to deposit in the tissues around the vertebrae, forming bone spurs. These spurs can compress adjacent nerves, blood vessels and soft tissue resulting in symptoms ranging from minor pain and numbness to gross sensory loss and muscular atrophy. This condition – known as Spondylosis – is a type of arthritis that appears to affect almost everyone at some point in life, as it is a common part of the aging process of the spine as well. Nevertheless, influences such as previous trauma, unhealthy lifestyle, and repetitive stress injury influence the time of onset in life. Regular chiropractic treatment and overall chiropractic management is extremely beneficial in slowing the aging process of the spine, as well as assisting Spondylosis sufferers in managing their condition. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor has assisted many Spondylosis sufferers.

Sacroiliac Problems

The sacroiliac joints are a prevalent area of dysfunction or injury in the low back. These weight-bearing joints link the upper part of the body to the lower pelvic portion and are usually very strong and stable. Damage from falls, sports injuries, or the lifting of heavy objects can cause the joints to become unstable and change to an abnormal position.  This condition is called a sacroiliac subluxation. Women may experience this condition during or after their pregnancy. Sacroiliac subluxation causes imbalances in the lower extremities giving a person a functional long and short leg. Pain is felt particularly with prolonged standing and walking, or during and after physical activity, and the individual may experience a lack of energy and exhaustion.  Other symptoms such as neck and shoulder pain, as well as headaches, can move further up the spine. Chiropractic adjustments establish the proper alignment of the joints and are extremely affective in correcting sacroiliac problems. Ask your Fort Worth chiropractor how you can get effective pain relief.

Spinal Subluxation

A prevalent disorder of the lower back, as well as the entire spine, is subluxated or misaligned facet joints. Subluxations can exist on their own or in conjunction with disc problems and Spondylosis. They not only produce pain, but they can also endanger the spinal nerves as they exit the foramen or spaces between the vertebrae, and cause nerve compression, known as paraethesia. Paraesthesia is a variation of sensation described as a tingling, burning or “funny feeling.” Paraesthesia in the upper extremities usuallyoriginates from nerve problems in the neck, while paraesthesia in the lower extremities is commonly associated with nerve problemsin the lumbar region (lower back). Visceral problems such as asthma and gastric conditions can also belinked to, or complicated by, spinal subluxations and nerve compression. Subluxations are best eliminated by chiropractic adjustments.

Trauma

Injury such as a fall, car accident, or sports injury can create over-stretching or tearing of the tissues of the spine and lower back and create considerable pain and immobility. Corrective chiropractic care at the onset of symptoms is very important in order to avoid long term disability and the development of any of the above conditions. If you experience a trauma, call your chiropractor as soon as possible.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is often associated with low back pain. Chiropractic care offers exceptional pain relief.

When it comes to the spine, chiropractors have more education and training than medical doctors. I can provides state of the art diagnosis and expert treatment for any of the above-mentioned problems of the spine and lower back.

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The average human takes between 3,000 and 5,000 steps everyday. Add to that activities such as running and aerobic exercise, and we add not only more steps, but stress, to our already overly-worked feet. It is no wonder that plenty of people have aches and pains in this part of the body. Components such as flat feet or over-pronated feet, individual walking and running style, and the type of shoe a person wears can determine if a person will develop foot and ankle pain. However these factors can also affect the health of a person’s back, knees and legs. Listed below are a few of the most prevalent conditions that affect the feet and ankle.

Hallux Valgus and Bunions

Hallux Valgus, a slow-developing condition, is noticeable when the big toe or hallux angles off towards the outside of the foot, often practically overlapping or bumping into the adjacent toe. Moreover, a bump, called a bunion, many times develops on the inside of the big toe. The pain associated with Hallux Valgus is generally apparent during weight-bearing activities such as walking or prolonged standing.But, if someone has developed a bunion, the pain can be present at rest and is often described as a “numbing” or “burning” sensation in the big toes.

To be precise, the true dysfunction is not in the bone, itself, but in the joint between the big toe and the first metatarsal bone, i.e., the first metatarsal-phalangeal. The pain and deformity associated with Hallux Valgus is due to damage to this joint. The condition is generally the aftereffect of wear and tear over a long period of time from factors such as over-pronation that creates undue pressure on the big toe and first metatarsal during walking. Another cause of Hallux Valgus is inflammatory arthritis that can damage the joint and create degenerative changes. A broken toe that does not heal properly can also predispose a person to Hallux Valgus. Although, one of the most prevalent causes of the affliction is the high-heeled and pointed shoes that women commonly wear. These shoes not only put extra stress on the joint, but also help in pushing the big toe to the outside.

If you think you may have Hallux Valgus, your chiropractor can examine your foot to determine which factors are contributing to your challenge, and then use a variety of chiropractic techniques and modalities to lessen pain and improve the function of your foot.

Plantar Fascitis ( Heel Pain )

One of the most prevalent foot afflictions is heel pain, and the cause is generally irritation of the plantar fascia or Plantar Fascitis. The plantar fascia, a band of connective tissue that surrounds the muscles on the bottom of the foot, connects the heel bone to the ball of the foot. It supports the arch, protects the foot, and absorbs shock.

A familiar compaint by sufferers with Plantar Fascitis is pain when they first stand up in the morning, as well as pain after getting up after prolonged sitting. The pain begins just in front of the heel bone, but can advance over the entire bottom of the foot.

Over time, inflammation associated with the problem can lead to the development of scar tissue, calcium deposits and finally heel spurs. These spurs are a bony growth on the front part of the calcaneus of the heel bone where the plantar fascia attaches and can cause a acute stabbing pain with walking

Individuals with other foot conditions, especially Pes Planus (flat feet) and/or over-pronation, are most susceptible to Plantar Fascitis, but other factors often partly responsible as well. One of the most crucial contributing factors is muscle imbalances between the calf muscles and the muscles on the bottom of the foot, both of which attach to the calcaneus or heel bone. When the calf muscles are short and tight they exert an strong pull on the back of the cancaneus. Such a problem produces unnatural stress on the smaller, weaker plantar muscles and its fascia that are adhered to the other side of the calcaneus. In addition to running and jumping activities, wearing high heels can also cause a shortening and tightening of the calf muscles. Sudden strenuous activity after a period of prolonged inactivity, atypical walking patterns (such as over-pronation), unsuitable footwear, walking on hard or uneven surfaces (especially barefooted), and obesity all stress the plantar fascia.

People who are continuously on their feet, such as nurses, teachers and waiters, are more disposed to Plantar Fascitis, as are athletes who participate in foot-stressing activities such as aerobics, volleyball, running, basketball, and tennis.

Once an individual develops plantar fascitis, it is often hard to manage and can become painfully persistent. A chiropractor will be able to determine the cause of your condition and what treatment is most fitting. Care might include ultrasound therapy, laser, joint manipulation, muscle stretching and strengthening exercises, special taping and, in some cases, orthotics.

Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles Tendonitis is a painful, and often, debilitating inflammation of the Achilles tendon, also called the “heel cord.” This large tendon is an extension of the two biggest calf muscles and runs down the back of the lower leg connecting to the heel bone or calcaneus. Harm to this valuable tendon can make it challenging or even impossible to walk. The challenge may be caused by a sudden single incident, such as jumping, but more frequently it results from an accumulation of smaller stresses that produce small tears in the tendon over time. In most cases, the appearance of symptoms is gradual. The discomfort may be relatively minor at first, but continuously worsens if the individual tries to “work through” the pain. Many Achilles tendonitis sufferers ascribe their initial discomfort to the aches and pains that accompany age or fatigue. In severe cases, a total rupture of the tendon can take place, resulting in traumatic harm and excruciating pain that makes walking virtually impossible and may even require corrective surgery.

Achilles tendonitis is often associated with athletes and performers, such as dancers, who are involved in running and jumping activities, specifically those that involve sudden starts and stops. Also at risk are women who regularly wear high-heeled shoes then switch to sport shoes for exercise because the tendon and muscles have gradually habituated to the shortened position produced by wearing high-heels. When this comes about, the shift to exercise or flat shoes forces the Achilles tendon to stretch further than it is accustomed to, hence causing stress and aggravation. If possible, high-heels should not be worn everyday. But, if it is absolutely necessary, then stretching every morning and night can help to keep the Achilles tendon lengthened.

Achilles tendonitis frequently appears in middle-aged people, especially in men who are athletes, as a result of the changes that occur in the foot as a person ages. The arch tends to flatten as we grow older causing over-pronation and increased stress on the Achilles tendon as well as the calf and foot muscles. Achilles tendon pain is also common in those who exercise infrequently, such as the “weekend warrior” and in those who are just novices at exercise. In both cases, muscles and tendons have little flexility due to inactivity. Therefore, people who are just beginning to exercise after a long layoff should stretch properly, start slowly, and increase gradually.

Despite the cause of the problem, if a person is experiencing the symptoms of Achilles tendonitis, he or she should contact a qualified professional, such as a chiropractor, to provide care for the problem before it becomes severe. Your chiropractor has many years of experience in treating Achilles tendonitis.

Pes Planus ( Flat Feet )

It is likely that close to one quarter of humans have Pes Planus, more commonly known as flat feet. Newborns have flat feet, but somewhere between the ages 3-10 we develop an arch. However in certain people this development never takes place. There are a number of factors, in addition to genetic disposion that can cause flat feet, or predispose a person to the condition. Sometimes people develop arches only to have them collapse later in their life. This many times depends upon lifestyle, job, and level of activity. Age and weight also are a factor in the development of the problem. Middle-aged persons who have been working on their feet for years often experience flat feet, as do overweight sufferers who are placing added stress on their feet and legs.

Having flat feet does not necessarily mean you will have pain, as it is possible for some people to have the problem and never feel any annoyance. For people who do develop pain, it most often happens in the feet and knees, and possibly in the hips and lower back. If you have flat feet and are experiencing distress, your Orlando chiropractor can prepare a treatment plan to not only help with pain reflief, but assist in preventing additional problems from developing. Chiropractic therapy includes joint adjustments to correct foot function and eliminate painful symptoms. Your chiropractor may also prescribe arch-supporting insoles, called orthotics, for additional support and stability.

Metatarsalgia ( Pain in the ball of the foot )

Metatarsalgia, sometimes called “ball-of-foot pain,” is a pain in the bottom of the foot just behind the toes where the foot bends during walking. The pain is caused by a irregularity in one or more of the five metatarsal bones that extend from about halfway up the foot to the toes.

While many people with metatarsalgia feel irritation where their metatarsal bones join their toe bones, some also feel discomfort along the entire length of the metatarsals and most probably between them. Problems in this area can vary from a stiff feeling upon movement of these bones to a burning or stinging sensation. The degree of discomfort depends upon whether the problem is due to a dysfunction in the joints or an inflammation to the nerves as they travel along the metatarsals.

The cause of the condition is due to either structural or functional reasons. When a structural problem takes palce, such as when the metacarpal bones are either too long or too short, it produces aberrant mechanics in the feet and unnecessary on the entire area. Flat feet or extreme arch can also alter the stresses on the metatarsals causing similar symptoms.

There are other factors that can affect these bones that are many times in the control of the person. These include excess body weight, tight or high-heeled shoes, and excessive or poor running or athletic training. Excess weight and the wearing high-heeled shoes both augment stress upon the metatarsal, which leads to joint pain and nerve inflammation. Repetitive foot activities, like running, directly stress the metatarsals by exposing them to constant trauma.

A chiropractor is able to beneficially treat metatarsalgia, no matter what the cause may be. After determining the underlying factors, you will be given a number of non-invasive therapies, inluding orthotics when necessary, and you will be advised on how you can avoid future pain.

See your Orlando chiropractor as soon as possible if you are experiencing any of the foot problems mentioned above.

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