Month: August 2020

Many women experience lower back pain during their pregnancy. Fortunately, there is a viable solution offering pain relief. This article will discuss why mechanical back pain of pregnancy occurs, some recent research detailing back discomfort during pregnancy, and a drug-free, nonsurgical alternative method to gain relief of spinal pain for expectant mothers.

First let’s discuss the physical changes placed on the spine and pelvis as pregnancy progresses. As the fetus grows and enlarges the mother’s stomach protrudes and places stress upon the lower spine, which is called the lumbar area. The bones of the lumbar spine are called vertebrae. Joints between the vertebrae of the lumbar spine are called the facet joints. The facet joints undergo more and more mechanical stress as a woman’s pregnancy progresses.

Likewise, the bones of the pelvis may become misaligned, causing irritation of the joints and possibly a pinched sciatic nerve, a painful condition causing radiating nerve pain down the leg.

A research study in the journal Pain Management Nursing, June 2020 noted questionnaires completed by 400 expectant mothers revealed that 75% had experienced back pain at some point in their pregnancy, particularly in the lumbar region during the third trimester. Nearly half of the women in this study (45%) reported that their back pain limited their daily activities. Clearly back pain during pregnancy is a problem and a solution needs to be addressed.

Chiropractic doctors commonly treat low back pain rising from pregnancy with a combination of manual therapies and specific exercises. Chiropractors utilize spinal adjustments to realign the joints of the lumbar spine and pelvis to help expectant mothers gain pain relief. Chiropractic spinal adjustments are safe and gentle methods of treatment.

One method of chiropractic care, called the Webster Technique, has been successful for treating women during pregnancy for decades. Dr. Larry Webster, a chiropractor, found that using a chiropractic treatment method he developed, helped many women experience a much more comfortable pregnancy and easier and faster deliveries.

The Webster Technique is now taught in the profession of chiropractic and many chiropractors become certified after being trained in the technique and procedures. By doing an online search or simply calling a chiropractor’s office one can readily find a chiropractor who is certified in the Webster technique.

Many midwives, obstetricians and obstetric nurses have observed the benefits pregnant women receive to obtain low back pain relief through chiropractic care and readily recommend expectant mothers seek chiropractic services.  Women who would like to have a healthy and comfortable pregnancy would be well advised to investigate having a chiropractor on their healthcare team for possible assistance.

Dr James Schofield is a certified Webster Technique chiropractor near me. Visit here for pregnancy back pain relief.

Many people know that chiropractic care is great for helping with lower back and neck pain relief. However, some may be surprised that chiropractic treatment can help with relief of pain for migraine headaches. This article will discuss a mechanism of cause of migraine headaches, how chiropractic care brings relief of migraine headache pain and a case study detailing how a patient suffering from migraine headaches was able to be helped by chiropractic therapy.

Let’s begin with a brief discussion of migraine headache. A textbook migraine headache is typically one where a person experiences pain on one side of the head or the other. Is usually not found on both sides of the head. A person suffering from migraine headache typically has what is called a prodrome. A prodrome is an abnormal sensory feeling such as loss of peripheral vision, squiggly lines in the visual field, ringing in the ears or a tingling feeling of the face and upper part of the body. The prodrome usually precedes the actual pain of the headache by minutes to hours. Someone who gets repeated or frequent migraine headaches usually knows when it is coming because of the prodrome.

When the actual headache pain sets in it is usually very excruciating. The sufferer is usually sensitive to light and wants to be in a dark room. They also may suffer nausea and thus feel like they want to lie down. For most is almost impossible to carry on with their everyday activities of work, family time and recreation.

Migraine headache researchers have found that there seems to be abnormalities with normal blood flow of the head. Arteries bring blood throughout the human skull. These arteries are surrounded by small muscles which contract and relax and thus control blood pressure. Research shows that for some reason, arterial muscles contract and dilate improperly which they attribute to migraine headache pain.

Chiropractors have had success helping give relief of migraine headache pain for many decades. Spinal nerves that are found in the upper neck, which is called the cervical spine, have an effect controlling normal arterial muscle action. If there is nerve irritation from a misalignment or improper movement the upper cervical spine chiropractors are trained professionals who may be able to help. A doctor of chiropractic is able to restore proper movement in alignment of the spinal bones through a chiropractic adjustment. This helps restore normal nerve integrity and can help bring migraine headache relief.

In my 35 years of chiropractic practice I have had the opportunity to help many people gain relief from their migraine headaches. One was a young woman who had suffered with couple or several headaches every week from the time she was a child. She had seen numerous specialists had every diagnostic test available including MRIs, CT brain scans, vascular studies, allergy sensitivity tests and others. The only help she got was by taking medication. However, she was only allowed to take a limited amount of the medication due to the side effects. The rest of the time she was at the mercy of the headaches.

When I initially evaluated her in my chiropractic practice I found that she had significant misalignments of the vertebrae of the upper cervical spine causing nerve irritation. We set about with a series of treatments to correct the alignment. After a few weeks she noticed fewer and less intense headaches. Following a couple months of chiropractic treatment she suffered virtually no more migraines. She has told me how this has made a great impact improvement upon her life and it has been rewarding to have been able to be of help.

Hopefully, this article will encourage patients suffering with migraine headaches to explore chiropractic care for opportunities to gain relief of migraine headache pain.

Visit here to learn more about McKnight Road back pain relief. See this site for information about a neck pain relief chiropractor near me.

WHAT WAS YOUR CONDITION?

I had a pinched nerve in my neck.

WHAT STEPS HAD YOU PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO GET HELP?

It was so painful.  I could not let anyone touch me for 2 weeks.  Afterwards, I went to Dr. Schofield and he was able to make me feel better.

HOW WERE YOU REFERRED TO CHIROPRACTIC?

Dr. Schofield is my son-in-law’s Chiropractor.  I had been adjusted in the past by another Chiropractor for an issue with my back and felt that Chiropractic therapy would be the best for my pinched nerve.

IN YOUR WORDS, WHAT DID THE CHIROPRACTOR DO?

He did stim and ice therapy and then when I started feeling better, he was able to manipulate my spine to make me feel better.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES AND INTERESTS?

I work out, cook, work, and love to watch a great movie.

HOW HAS CHIROPRACTIC HELPED YOUR HOBBIES AND INTERESTS?

When I first went to Dr. Schofield, I could not move my head or my left arm.  I could not get comfortable, I couldn’t work, and could not get any relief.  Now I am able to do all of these things!

HOW HAS CHIROPRACTIC HELPED OTHER ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE?

I have had back issues for years due to a car accident.  As long as I get adjusted once a month, I am able to do everything that I like to do!

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHERS?

Just take the time to take care of yourself because if you don’t then you will not be able to take care of yourself or anyone else.  No one can take care of you better than yourself and that means taking care of your health with help from a great doctor!  No pills just natural remedies!

Visit here to learn more about McKnight Road back pain relief. See this site for information about a neck pain relief chiropractor near me.

Many patients I see in my chiropractic practice have back pain. Some people have  short-term sudden discomfort. This is called acute pain. However, some people have back pain constantly for years or suffer frequent long-term episodic pain. This is called chronic pain. Even though pain may exist for many years it can be addressed and helped. This article will discuss chronic spinal pain and approaches to decrease this very common malady.

When I see a patient with chronic pain of the spine, three areas of consideration can be addressed.

First, we look at a person’s body weight. The joints of the spine are called the facet joints. Spinal discs are like pads or shock absorbers between spinal bones which are called vertebrae. The more weight we place on the discs and joints of the spine the greater the chance that these deeper anatomical structures will begin to fail and cause pain. In fact, when we look at spinal x-rays we see actual signs of wear and tear or degeneration. The discs wear down and it appears as “bone on bone.” The disc space will show a reduction of height as the disc wears out. We will also see a buildup of calcium on areas of spinal vertebrae which are referred to as “bone spurs.”

The obvious solution is to help overweight or obese patients lose reasonable amount of weight. While I don’t offer weight reduction programs in my office is very easy for patient to follow a safe, reliable program. I personally like patients to engage in a keto-type plan to address body weight challenges.

A second area of consideration to be addressed to reduce chronic spinal pain is to introduce appropriate body movement. Anyone who has to sit long hours intuitively knows that if they get up and walk for a while, they feel better. When muscles, ligaments and joints are moved in a safe, reasonable manner they send signals to the brain which naturally, lowers and reduces pain signals. If a person can walk comfortably this is, by far, the best exercise to reduce chronic pain of the back. However, if walking is not possible swimming, riding a stationary bike, or water aerobics are certainly acceptable activities.

The third aspect to address for relief of pain of the back is alignment and proper movement of the spine itself. Chiropractic care is the gold standard for helping chronic spine pain. Chiropractors utilize spinal adjustments, sometimes called spinal manipulation, to restore proper alignment and movement of the facet joints of the spine. Adjustments help to reduce chronic irritation of the facet joints and spinal nerves. For 125 years doctors of chiropractic have been able to help those suffering with chronic back pain to achieve pain reduction and relief.

Anyone looking for relief of their chronic, long-term back pain can utilize one or all of the aforementioned approaches in seeking wellness.

Visit here to learn more about McKnight Road back pain relief. See this site for information about a neck pain relief chiropractor near me.