Headaches
Headaches can be excruciatingly painful and may severely limit the normal activities in your daily life. There are several different classifications of headaches, and many can be relieved with proper conservative care. Often headaches are secondary to muscular contractions at the base of the head or degeneration of the cervical spine. Sometimes they are brought on or aggravated by certain foods in your diet.
To determine the kind of headache you have, it’s a good idea to keep track of the location of the headache, the time of day or month, how often it appears, if something in particular seems to ‘trigger’ it, and what seems to make it feel better or worse.
Most headache sufferers can be treated here through spinal adjustments, physical therapy, and the avoidance of certain trigger foods. We will examine the cervical spine to determine if the pain relates to the spine and/or its surrounding muscles.
In-depth history and exam can determine if symptoms are easily treated, or if there is an underlying problem. This examination will determine if you are a chiropractic candidate.
Neck and Low Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most common ailments treated by Doctors of Chiropractic. Our approach is to first determine the cause of the problem. This usually involves a thorough examination with complete history, physical, and neurological examination with possible imaging studies needed to make a precise diagnosis.
Once a cause is established, a variety of therapies may be indicated. If your back pain is a result of misalignment of the spine, herniated or bulged disc, or muscular dysfunction, chiropractic adjustments as well as proper nutrition, physical therapy, and rehabilitation is often prescribed.
Chiropractic care emphasizes healing your back pain naturally. But, sometimes back pain occurs due to another underlying condition that needs to be co-managed with your medical physician
Pregnancy
Chiropractic care if you’re pregnant? Absolutely! If there’s one group of people who need chiropractic spinal checkups more than any other, it’s pregnant women. A pregnant female has special needs of her own and undergoes many changes both externally and internally. The new distribution of body weight creates stress on the abdomen and low back, which can be a source of discomfort for the mother. When the body is pulled forward, a great deal of stress is placed on the muscles of the lower back, which leads to additional stress on the discs and joints of the spine, and loosening of the ligaments. Often a woman will have mid and lower back pain.
Our goal in treating these problems is to provide freedom from nerve irritation and insure the pelvic bones, muscles and ligaments are in proper alignment to facilitate biomechanical balance. This has been shown to reduce the intrauterine constraint, allowing the baby to get into the best possible position for birth. Dr. Stubblefield is a certified practitioner of The Webster Technique through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. Gentle chiropractic manipulations also help relieve tension which may be present in the middle and lower back as a result of physical changes throughout your pregnancy. With a little preventative medicine and spinal tension release, you can be strong and stable for the entire term of the pregnancy
Carpal Tunnel
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that 25 lost workdays occur for every single case of carpal tunnel syndrome, a painful disorder of the hand, wrist and forearm that also commonly involves numbness and tingling as well as motor weakness.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is most commonly the result of:
- Overuse of the affected hand and wrist;
- Repetitious occupational or recreational activities, particularly those that require repetition;
- Awkward or sustained postures;
- Unusual force or gripping;
- Exposure to either vibration or temperature extremes;
- Pregnancy, thyroid disorders, obesity and heredity factors must also be considered in the diagnosis.
Often misdiagnosed, it is very important for people suffering the above symptoms to have a comprehensive assessment for a variety of conditions that can mimic carpal tunnel syndrome, particularly prior to undergoing surgical intervention.
Fortunately, the great majority of carpal tunnel syndrome patients obtain accurate diagnosis as well as significant relief through conservative, non-surgical management of this disorder provided by doctors of chiropractic. Treatment may include manual care to the affected joints of the wrist, physical rehabilitation, nutritional counseling, information on ergonomics and related advice regarding workstation modification and lifestyle considerations.
Arthritis
There are many things you can do to avoid or lessen the physical changes associated with aging. Some changes in physical functioning are inescapable, however successful aging involves anticipating and accommodating to these changes. Obtaining treatment for arthritis pain can help limit effects.
Our goal with treatment for osteo-arthritis is to reduce pain and inflammation, keep joints moving safely, and avoid further damage to the joints. Some factors contributing to the cause of arthritis are inevitable – we can’t do anything about the rainy season, but we can help you slow down the process with special nutrition, exercise, early detection, and of course, appropriate chiropractic care.
Work Injuries
Injuries at work can occur suddenly, such as a slip or fall, or slowly over time with repetitive strain on an area of the body. If you are injured at work, make a claim through your employer, and the Workers Compensation Board will cover your initial assessment fee then decide if you are approved for further treatment. Be sure to make a claim through your employer within 5 days of becoming aware of your workplace injury. Workplace injuries are a common problem. We offer programs that provide workplace injury rehabilitation, work site assessments, and prevention ergonomic advice.
