Neck, Shoulder and Back Pain
Body aches and pains affect so many aspects of everyday life; you absolutely can't live without relief regardless of where you experience that pain. Our neck and shoulders are prone to developing pain because of the delicate alignment of the bones and muscles in these areas. The spine in our neck is made of aligned vertebrae and the shoulder has four bones in it. All the muscles and tendons of this area form a complex network running in many directions making it possible for the shoulder and neck to move in different directions. Strain can affect the alignment of these bones and muscles and lead to shoulder, back and neck pain.
The SpinalCare Physical Medicine team aims not just to heal the pain symptoms but also the root causes underlying them. Neck and shoulder pains have a tendency to become a chronic problem if not treated early so it is always a good idea to consult us in the early stages.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral Neuropathy is a condition in which the nerves that are outside of the central nervous system become injured or damaged. This includes nerves in the legs, feet, arms, hands and shoulders.
The most common symptoms or signs of peripheral neuropathy are muscle weakness, muscle spasms and cramping. Damage to the sensory portions of the nerve can produce numbness, tingling, shooting or electric type of pains that occur in the legs or arms. Patients may also experience the sensation of wearing an invisible and tight “glove” or “sock,” shock like sensations, burning, or extreme sensitivity to touch.
There are many different conditions that can cause pain. The key aspect in treating neuropathy is in the diagnoses of the injured or compressed nerve and in finding the true cause of the injury. Damage can occur from a number of different causes which stem from direct trauma to the extremity, side-effects of a system illness, or chemical injury.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is often called the invisible disease. You look fine on the surface, but underneath you’re exhausted and in excruciating pain. Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are different but share a common symptom -- overwhelming fatigue that significantly decreases the quality of your life. The exact causes of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are unknown, but some research has shown patients begin to show symptoms after a traumatic event like a car accident, work injury or a fall.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a common type of pain affecting the sciatic nerve, a large nerve extending from the lower back down the back of each leg.
Symptoms of sciatica often include the following:
- Pain in the lower back or leg pain that is worse when sitting
- Burning or tingling down the leg
- Weakness, numbness or difficulty moving the leg or foot
- A constant pain on one side of the lower back or buttocks
- A shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up
Sciatica usually affects only one side of the lower body. The pain generally extends from the lower back all the way through the back of the thigh and down through the leg. Depending on where the sciatic nerve is affected, the pain may also extend to the foot or toes.
The pain from sciatica is severe and debilitating for some people, but for others it might be infrequent. For both, it has the potential to worsen over time if not properly treated.
Accidents and Sports Injuries
Chiropractic care helps restore function to spinal joints that are fixated and not moving properly due to auto accidents and sports injuries. Our treatments not only relieve pain, they also help reduce inflammation. Muscles, tendons and ligaments depend upon proper joint movement for peak performance. Injuries to these tissues can reduce range of motion and decrease blood supply.
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Our gut flora is a game changer in keeping our health in check because it is the microbe population that aids your digestive system. But what happens if you are eating foods that react poorly with your intestinal system? Many of our patients have complained of digestion issues and stomach pains, but they couldn't identify what was causing them. That's why the doctors at SpinalCare Physical Medicine use laboratory testing to help create an individualized dietary program for our patients which can help reverse gastrointestinal disorders. "Eating right" doesn't mean the same thing to every person. It's time to figure out what it means for you and use that information to reduce your intestinal pain.