Section: Chiropractic
Q:
Could spinal issues cause headaches?
A:
There are many types of headaches and causes. One cause of headaches can come from spinal bones in the neck that aren't supporting the head properly or that have improper motion. This can affect nerves, muscles and even blood supply to the head.
Chiropractic doctors locate areas of the spine that aren't moving properly. Adjustments help restore proper function and position to the spinal bones. This will reduce nerve irritation and muscle spasms which reduces and relieves the headache.
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Section: Chiropractic
Q:
I had a double disc replacement surgery on my neck 10 years ago and have a plate fusing them in place. I went to another chiropractor and was afraid to let him adjust my neck. Is it safe to do alignments on my neck or was I just being a whimp?
A:
Dear Whimpy,
This is an excellent question and is more common than you may think. It is safe to have your chiropractor adjust your neck with the proper evaluation. Your chiropractor should be trained to evaluate and properly treat conditions such as yours. The area where the fusion was made is most likely the strongest area in your neck and has no range of motion. Therefore your chiropractor will adjust the cervical spine above and below the fusion only. Thank you for being honest enough to admit your reservations about your care I appreciated your question.
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Section: Chiropractic
Q:
My father-in-law was having pain in his right sholder and numbness in his right hand/arm could this be due to a pinched nerve in his spine?
A:
A true "pinched" nerve is rare. It is more likely that an adjacent spinal bone or other tissue has irritated, stretched, rubbed, or chafed a nerve. Even though it is difficult to make a diagnosis in this context, based on the symptoms you have described it is probable he has a "pinched" nerve. The nerve is one of the few tissues that extend uninterrupted from the shoulder to the hand.
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Section: Chiropractic
Q:
What are some safe back exercises for someone with frequent back pain? I tried to strengthen my lower back muscles with some reverse crunches and pulled something! I also get frequent headaches and was curious if the two issues are probably related?
A:
It is difficult to recommend back exercises for someone with frequent back pain due to there are so many things to take into consideration such as your age, weight, underlying back and health conditions as well as the last time you exercised. It is best to begin exercising slowly and increasing as your body adjusts to the exercise routine. Proper technique is very important when doing any type of exercise and keep in mind not to exercise to aggressively to avoid injury. If injury occurs you should discontinue the exercise for a few days and at times up to a couple of weeks if necessary. If your condition does not improve after a couple of weeks you should consult your healthcare provider/chiropractor for evaluation. I strongly recommend that you consult with a local chiropractor or fitness trainer for proper exercises and techniques to fit your specific needs and goals.
To answer your question on frequent headaches being related to back pain the two conditions are probably not directly related but may be indirectly related. If you have back pain and you compensate for your lower back situation by over using your upper back, neck and/or shoulder areas you may be contributing to the headaches. However, this is difficult to answer considering there is no history to establish my opinion on and there are so many different types of headaches and causes.
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Section: Chiropractic
Q:
How does Chiropractic treatment really work? I know that you do ajustments, but how does this actually make you better?
A:
You are right that the use of adjustments or sometimes called manipulation is the main form of treatment by Chiropractors. A chiropractic adjustment is the use of a specific force in a precise direction applied to a joint that is fixated,"locked up", or not moving properly.Adjustments help return the bones to a more normal possition or motion relieving pain and ill health and normalizing spinal function. By restoring normal spinal function this relieves associated muscle and nerve tension, improve balance and assist healing.
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