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BACK PAIN
The back is a broad term that covers a large area of the body. It is made up of many tendons, ligaments, discs, muscles, and bones. Without a solid understanding of these different parts, it can be complicated to locate and address the source of the pain. The following explains some of the most common issues and their identifying features. It also explains how chiropractic medicine can help to resolve them. This is a general guideline to help you in your quest for effective treatment, but we highly recommend that you seek a professional opinion to properly diagnose these issues.
DISC BULGES AND HERNIATIONS
Disc bulges and herniations are conditions in which the outer edges of the discs, located between the vertebrae, are damaged. This causes the jelly-like center to bulge or be pushed out. This is a surprisingly common issue and it is often, but not always, very painful. Many people who have this condition feel nothing at all. The quality and intensity of it, for those who experience pain, depends on the type and position of the herniation. If the damaged disc is irritating a surrounding nerve, shooting or stabbing pain along with weakness in the legs is often severe.
It is important that this issue is properly identified and promptly treated to avoid further damage. A chiropractor in Colchester will thoroughly assess your back to determine the extent of the issue and the appropriate treatment to prevent worsening of the herniation, and provide relief from the associated pain.
SUBLUXATIONS
Subluxation is a medical term describing a misalignment in the vertebral column. There are a wide variety of causes, including physical stress, trauma, and toxins. Subluxations are often quite painful and can disrupt normal movement. Subluxations are one of the most commonly overlooked contributors to back pain. Chiropractors are trained to identify and correct this issue using non-invasive adjustment techniques.
MUSCULAR SPRAINS AND TENDON OR LIGAMENT STRAINS
Strains and sprains most typically occur when we engage in tasks that our body is not accustomed to, or when we are involved in an accident. Lifting while twisting, or stretching past one’s limits are common causes to strains and sprains of the back. These can be extremely painful, and are often accompanied by swelling and bruising of the surrounding area. Strains and sprains in the back tend to involve changes to the alignment of the spine and typically respond well to chiropractic care.
STRESS AND BACK PAIN
Chronic stress wreaks havoc on the body, and can eventually lead to hyper-tension and chronic back pain. The back pain is a result of tension and muscle spasms that occur when stress hormones are released. The tension will often accumulate in what are referred to as trigger points. These trigger points can be extremely painful and need professional attention to resolve. Chiropractors have the knowledge and tools to relieve stress from trigger points and to deal with underlying nervous system imbalances that may be keeping your body locked in patterns of stress and pain.
OTHER ISSUES THAT CAUSE BACK PAIN
Conditions such as obesity, arthritis, kidney stones, and urinary tract infections have been shown to cause symptoms of lower back pain. These are all serious issues that need to be identified and treated immediately to avoid long-term health issues. The chiropractic doctors at Rehabilitation Specialists are trained to identify these issues and support you in getting the appropriate treatment. Many of these issues can have their source in spinal misalignments and respond well to chiropractic adjustments in combination with soft tissue techniques.
If you have questions about how our team at Rehabilitation Specialists can help you, please schedule a consultation today.
Car Accidents
Car accidents can be one of the most frightening and confusing experiences that a person can go through. Often the first thing that a person is concerned about following an automobile accident is the damage to their vehicle or their insurance coverage. This results in them neglecting the most important part, which is their individual health. Seeking proper care in a timely fashion is the most vital aspect in determining the overall outcome of your condition. We hope it helps you to avoid the long term problems we so often see.
Unfortunately, many people believe that the most serious injuries sustained following car accidents are immediately noticeable. There is also a misconception that only high speed or hard impact collisions can cause serious damage to a person’s body. It has been found that these two beliefs are largely responsible for the vast number of injuries that fail to receive treatment following automobile collisions. Therefore, the first thing to remember when making the decision to seek appropriate care is to understand that a large number of injuries can occur following many different types of collisions.
Following a car accident, a person must keep in mind that many factors such as the placement of a car’s headrest, size of both automobiles involved in the collision, and the speed that they were traveling prior at impact all play an important role in determining the injuries sustained. To help understand this concept, it has been shown through research that a car traveling only 5 mph at the time of impact is capable of producing the forces necessary to cause whiplash injuries. While injuries such as fractures, cuts, concussions, and dislocations are immediately noticeable, other forms of damage to musculature, blood vessels, and nerves may not become evident for months or even years. Unfortunately when these injuries become evident months and years down the road, insurance companies are often not held liable for reimbursement. Therefore it is important that you undergo a complete evaluation immediately following your accident by a health care professional familiar with these injuries. Your doctor at Rehabilitation Specialists is here to help you in this process.
As mentioned previously, chiropractors are one of the few primary health care providers who specialize in treating the musculoskeletal system. Just as a person consults with a cardiologist for concerns about their heart, many people seek care and advice from chiropractors regarding musculoskeletal injuries. While whiplash injuries are not always immediately evident, they are actually considered one of the most common injuries sustained during car accidents. The strain that the forces causing whiplash injuries place on the spine are capable of causing damage to the muscles, ligaments, and nerves responsible for supporting your head and neck. If these seemingly minor injuries are not corrected, they often produce a waterfall effect leading to multiple neurological and musculoskeletal symptoms. In fact, it has been found that whiplash injuries are often responsible for early degeneration of the vertebrae throughout your spine, as well as a multitude of symptoms such as pain and headaches. Since automobile injuries can involve many systems throughout the body, finding a doctor who is able to address each area is important. Our team at Rehabilitation Specialists will create an individualized treatment plan that encompasses chiropractic adjustments, active and passive physical therapy, exercise programs, and possibly nutritional modifications to help speed up the recovery process.
As you can see, seeking care immediately after an automobile accident in Middlesex County can mean the difference between recovery and a lifetime of pain. If you have been in a car accident or know someone who has, please contact our team at Rehabilitation Specialists as soon as possible to schedule a consultation.