Common Sources of Back Pain

April 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Mechanicsville, Virginia – At Stover Chiropractic, I believe understanding the source of your back pain is the key to proper treatment.  There are many different underlying structures and tissues that cause back pain. The more common ones are described below. Don’t try to make your own diagnosis. A trained chiropractor that deals with back pain complaints on a daily basis will know what to look for and what questions to ask you to determine the underlying cause.

The underlying cause is a subluxation.  The tricky part is subluxations don’t always hurt or cause pain right where it is located.  Often the source of the pain is soft tissue or boney changes that result from subluxations.  These changes may not be in the immediate proximity of the subluxation that is causing the whole problem.

  1. Muscle strains and muscle spasms are the most common cause of low back pain.  Patients may or may not remember the initial event that triggered their muscle spasm. Back pain from muscle spasms can be incredibly painful and feel like nerve pain when the muscle tighten and twitch around a key nerve such as the sciatic nerve.
  2. A ruptured intervertebral disc, also called a herniated disc, is another common cause of back pain. The terms ruptured, herniated, slipped and bulging disc don’t really have precise definitions to distinguish one from another and are often used somewhat interchangeably to describe protruding disc material. It is important to note that a large percent of the population is walking around with bulging discs that cause no symptoms, so not every herniated disc warrants treatment or intervention.
  3. Discogenic back pain is the result of damage to the intervertabral disc, but without disc herniation.  Diagnosis of discogenic back pain may require the use of a discogram.
  4. Spinal stenosis causes a lot of back pain in the elderly.  As we age, the spinal canal can become constricted from arthritis and other conditions.  If the spinal canal becomes too tight, back pain can be the result.
  5. Arthritis most commonly affects joints such as the knees and fingers.  However, arthritis can affect any joint in the body, including the small joints of the spine.  Arthritis of the spine can cause back pain with movement.
  6. Spondylolisthesis causes back pain because adjacent vertebra become unstable and begin to “slip.”  The most common cause of spondylolisthesis are degenerative changes causing loss of the normal stabilizing structures of the spinal column.

As stated earlier, backaches are hard to self-diagnose.  The sources of pain listed above are just a few of more common possibilities.  If you suffer from acute or chronic backaches, consult a qualified chiropractor for a complete exam.  Please give us a call to schedule or ask any questions you may have.

804-559-1100

Stover Chiropractic, P.C.
9097 Atlee Station Road, Suite 118 Mechanicsville, VA, 23116 USA 
 • (804) 559-1100
Filed Under: Arthritis, Back Pain, Disc Pain, Fibromyalgia, Muscle Pain, Stenosis, Subluxation Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Does Chiropractic Help Back Pain Associated with Pregnancy?

April 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Mechanicsville, Virginia Chiropractor – If you are pregnant and suffering from low back pain, a neighbor or a friend has probably suggested you visit a chiropractor because a chiropractor was able to help them during their pregnancy. The discussion probably left you curious, is that good advice or just a single success story? Additionally, you may be wondering whether chiropractic is safe during pregnancy and how much low back pain improvement the average pregnant woman can expect to get.

After looking at several scientific publications on these exact topics, the appropriate conclusion seems to be that “chiropractic evaluation and treatment during pregnancy may be considered a safe and effective means of treating common musculoskeletal symptoms that affect pregnant patients. The scarcity of published literature warrants further research.” (Borggren, 2007)

So basically the answers are:

  • Yes, chiropractic is safe during pregnancy.
  • Yes, chiropractic helps common musculoskelatal probelms during pregnancy  (including back pain).
  • Your friends experience isn’t just one woman’s story. Many women are finding relief and the results are being sporadically published in medical journals too.
  • More research under more controlled conditions is needed for the purposes of educating primary care physicians and obstetricians about chiropractic care during pregnancy.

Here are a few additional details about the prevalence of low back pain during pregnancy and the number of women being referred for treatment.

  • 57 – 69% of women complain of low back pain during pregnancy
  • Only about 32% of women report these symptoms to their primary doctor
  • Only about 25% of primary doctors recommend seeking treatment for the pain.

Clearly this is a big problem with 2 in 3 having pregnancy-related back pain. Also a big problem is that they are generally not talking to their obstetricians and primary care physicians about it and that these professionals are not referring them to effective treatment options.

Chiropractic treatments can be quite effective for pregnancy-related back pain with just a few visits for the majority of women seeking help. In a small study of 17 women:

  • Sixteen of 17 (94%) saw clinically important improvements in low back pain with chiropractic care.
  • The average pain rating went down from 5.9 to 1.5 (on a scale of 0 to 10).
  • It took an average of 1.8 visits and 4.5 days to get clinically important pain relief.

We hope this article gave you hope that many pregnant women do get significant, rapid relief from low back pain. If you are currently pregnant with low back pain, you probably have many questions not answered by this article. Perhaps you’ve never had chiropractic care before or you want to know how we adjust our techniques to work with pregnant patients. The best way to get answers to your questions is with an initial consultation. The only way for us to know whether you are a good candidate is for you to come see us, so call for an initial appointment today.

 

 

Bibliography

Borggren, C. L. (2007, Spring). Pregnancy and chiropractic: a narrative review of the literature. J Chiropr Med, 6(2), 70-74.

Khorsan, R., Hawk, C., Lisi, A., & Kizhakkeveettil, A. (2009, Jun). Manipulative therapy for pregnancy and related conditions: a systematic review. Obstet Gynecol Surv, 64(6), 416-27.

Lisi, A. (2006, Jan-Feb). Chiropractic spinal manipulation for low back pain of pregnancy: a retrospective case series. J Midwifery Womens Health, 51(1), 7-10.

Stuber, K., & Smith, D. (2008, ul-Aug). Chiropractic treatment of pregnancy-related low back pain: a systematic review of the evidence. J Manipulative Physiol Ther., 31(6), 447-54.

Filed Under: Back Pain, Chiropractic, Chiropractic Research, Pregnancy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Arthritis Doesn’t Have to Mean It’s Time to Slow Down

April 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

New Expectations and New Advice for Today’s Arthritis Sufferers

Mechanicsville, Virginia Chiropractor – If you or someone you care about is suffering from arthritis, you should know that arthritis doesn’t have to mean an end to an active lifestyle.  Prior generations may have accepted the condition as an inevitable part of aging and been given a standard prescription of bed rest and drug therapies.  However, today’s health care professionals recognize that appropriate exercise and nutrition are also critical to managing arthritis effectively, and they can recommend a much wider range of treatment options.  Your chiropractor can play an important role, not only in relieving pain, but also in helping patients with arthritis continue to live a more independent, active lifestyle.

Understanding Arthritis and its Lifestyle Effects

Arthritis is not really one medical condition.  Rather, it’s a more general term that refers to inflammation that may affect joints and other parts of the body as a result of more than 100 “rheumatic diseases”, such as fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.  These disorders are caused by something that destroys joints, bones, muscles, cartilage and other connective tissues.  Most commonly it is a poorly healed injury or structural misalignment that causes the joint to wear out too quickly.  Most often arthritis is an effect of poor biomechanics, but there are certain types that are a result of metabolic or organic disease.  While arthritis is most often seen in middle aged and older adults, it can also afflict younger people.  We have seen moderate osteoarthritis on a 12 year old for example.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 22% of American adults (about 50 million people) report having been diagnosed with arthritis.  Their symptoms may include pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints.

While the general public is aware that arthritis is painful, fewer people recognize just how severe and widespread the debilitating effects of arthritis actually are.  People with arthritis may experience difficulty with everyday tasks like buttoning shirts or opening packages and containers.  They may also find that arthritis limits their mobility.  This could prevent them from participating in their favorite activities or spending time with friends and family.  The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons issued a Bulletin in October 1999 that ranked arthritis as a more frequent cause of activity limitation than heart disease, cancer or diabetes.  More than ten years later, the CDC estimates that 21 million Americans face some type of disability as a result of arthritis.  These kinds of statistics suggest that strategies for managing arthritis need to address goals beyond pain relief if they are to be truly successful.

How Your Chiropractor Can Help

For many arthritis sufferers, treatment still begins with rest and medication.  But if you have arthritis and want to be proactive, a chiropractic physician can help you develop a well-rounded, long-term approach to managing your arthritis in two other very important ways:

  • Designing a program based on your own unique requirements.  Such a program usually focuses on a combination of goals, including (1) restoring any lost range of motion in your joints, (2) improving your flexibility and endurance, and (3) increasing your muscle tone and strength.   The correction of subluxations is the primary concern, followed closely by rehabilitative activities.  Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that inactivity can make joints affected by arthritis even more painful and stiff.  It can also have other negative health effects.   A properly designed and supervised exercise program can reduce these risks.
  • Suggesting dietary changes and/or nutritional supplements that may be effective in reducing or controlling inflammation in your joints.  Some research indicates that certain foods can have a role in either increasing or suppressing the body’s natural inflammatory response.  Making adjustments to your diet may reduce swelling, redness and pain related to arthritis.

Your chiropractor will help you make ongoing adjustments to both your exercise and nutrition programs based on your own progress so that you get the maximum health benefit with minimum discomfort and risk.

Communication is Key

Keep in mind that some types of physical activity and dietary supplements may actually do more harm than good depending on the specific nature of your arthritis, the joints involved and your current treatment plan.  So open communication with all the members of your healthcare team—including your chiropractor, family doctor and any specialists you’re working with—is the key to achieving results safely!

Both the symptoms and underlying causes of arthritis can vary a great deal by individual, so it is important that you consult your healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and to put in place a treatment plan that’s right for you.

 

References

Prevalence of Doctor-Diagnosed Arthritis and Arthritis-Attributable Activity Limitation — United States, 2007—2009.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).  October 8, 2010.  Accessed August 2011 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5939a1.htm?s_cid=mm5939a1_w

The Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the United States.  Chapter 4: Arthritis and Related Conditions.  2010.  Accessed August 2011 http://www.boneandjointburden.org/pdfs/BMUS_chpt4_arthritis.pdf

Musculoskeletal Conditions in the United States.  American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.  1999.

Exercise helps ease arthritis pain and stiffness.  The Mayo Clinic.  Accessed August 2011 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/arthritis/AR00009

Research Spotlight:  Green Team May Help Protect Against Rheumatoid Arthritis.  National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.  Accessed August 2011. http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/120808.htm

Research Spotlight:  Pomegranate Extract May Be Helpful for Rheumatoid Arthritis.  National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.  Accessed August 2011. http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/120508.htm

Research Spotlight:  Turmeric and Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms.  National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.  Accessed August 2011.  http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/030106.htm

Arthritis: Dietary Dos and Don’ts.  Johns Hopkins Health Alert.  August 9, 2010 (Reviewed January 2011).  Accessed August 2011. http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/arthritis/JohnsHopkinsArthritisHealthAlert_3590-1.html

Filed Under: Arthritis, Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Subluxation Tagged With: , , , ,

Migraines or Headaches got you down?

April 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Mechanicsville, Virginia Chiropractor — It often startles patients who have not been around chiropractic for long to learn that we at Stover Chiropractic help many people with headache (HA) problems.  From as simple (though often very painful) as tension headaches to chronic cluster migraine sufferers.  The name of the headache isn’t very important when you are the one who suffers with it.  It doesn’t matter what the label is, if the pain is limiting the joy of life and living, it becomes a burden for the person in pain as well as family, friends, and co-workers.

For many, headaches are a common part of everyday life. Some headaches can signal a deficiency in your body that is keeping you from your optimal health levels. Chiropractic may be able to offer you advice or treatment that could help improve your overall health and wellness and reduce your suffering from headaches.

Chiropractors deal with assessing and treating subluxations which affect your nervous system  and your musculoskeletal system, which are the systems of your body that give you the ability to move using your muscles and bones. When your muscles, bones, and all the other little pieces of your back, such as your spine, are not in their proper places your health will be reduced and you may incur pain and other symptoms.

While headaches can be triggered by stress, toxic fumes, and alcohol consumption it is likely that misalignments of the joints, muscles, tendons, and bones in your upper back and neck (called subluxations) could be the cause of your headaches.  If someone has been through a trauma, like and auto accident, it is not uncommon to have problems with head pain and migraines (a post traumatic HA).  A very common cause of migraines and tension type HA is a subluxation in the neck (the cervical spine).  It is called a cervicogenic headache.

Regular chiropractic care is a drug free way to attempt to correct any misaligned aspects that may be causing headaches or pain through spinal adjustments. At Stover Chiropractic, P.C. we specialize in upper cervical chiropractic care.  More specifically, orthospinology or Grostic technique.

Every patient and headache problem is unique, so you should make sure to get a complete analysis for subluxations and a treatment plan with which you are comfortable. If you are suffering and in pain and live in the Mechanicsville area and would like to see what Stover Chiropractic, P.C. can do for you come visit us at 9097 Atlee Station Rd. Suite 118 Mechanicsville, VA 23116 or call 804-559-1100.

Filed Under: Headache, Migraine, Upper Cervical Chiropractic Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Allergies – Is there any non-drug solution?

April 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Mechanicsville, Virginia Chiropractor — As I’m writing this it is March and we are seeing signs of spring at Stover Chiropractic.  Longer days, warmer temperatures and… patients wonder if all their symptoms might be related to allergies!  Could allergies be the true cause of their symptoms?  I think it is a reasonable question.  What do we know about allergies?

We know an allergy is an overreaction of the immune system.  Our immune system mistakes a non threat to your body, like pollen, as an antigen (something from the environment that is NOT suppose to be in your body).  Well, at the risk of over simplifying again, our immune system is very intimately tied to how well our nervous system is functioning.  Please see the quote  below from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease:

“Evidence is mounting that the immune system and the nervous system are linked in several ways. One well-known connection involves the adrenal glands. In response to stress messages from the brain, the adrenal glands release hormones into the blood. In addition to helping a person respond to emergencies by mobilizing the body’s energy reserves, these “stress hormones” can stifle the protective effects of antibodies and lymphocytes.

Another link between the immune system and the nervous system is that the hormones and other chemicals that convey messages among nerve cells also “speak” to cells of the immune system. Indeed, some immune cells are able to manufacture typical nerve cell products, and some lymphokines can transmit information to the nervous system. Moreover, the brain may send messages directly down nerve cells to the immune system. Networks of nerve fibers have been found connecting to the lymphoid organs.”

So if allergies are a problem with the immune system, which seems very tied to the nervous system, how do you fix it?  Consider looking for something adversely affects your nervous system.  It is reasonable to assume if one has some sort of stress on the nervous system (physical or emotional) the immune system would not work well and therefore allergies may develop or be aggravated.  The most common physical stress to the immune system would be the subluxation (a misalignment of spinal vertebrae in the upper cervical spine).  The correction of subluxations by a chiropractor would result a healthier nervous system which leads to a healthier immune system.  A healthier immune system would lead to less allergies, or less intense allergies, or in some cases–no allergies!

Please comment or call if you have any questions.  804-559-1100

Filed Under: Allergies, Upper Cervical Chiropractic Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Trigeminal Neuralgia, What to do?

April 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Mechanicsville, Virginia Chiropractor –Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) is described as one of the most severe pains know to man.  It is a disorder which produces sudden horrendous pain in the trigeminal nerver.  The trigeminal nerver involves the head and face.  This means the pain strikes in nerve branches across the nose, lips, ears, eyes, tongue, scalp, forehead and the jaws.  It is usually on one side and the pain gets worse with time.

The pain is so intense that TN is often referred to as the “suicide disease.”  James Tomasi, who had TN for twelve years, said in his book, What Time Tuesday?  “The pain started as a series of jolts that progressively became a steady, throbbing pain.  Sometimes, it was like drill going through my molars in my upper right jaw.  Then, it would suddenly stop.  Certain things would trigger the pain: a touch with a toothbrush, soap on my cheek, opening my mouth, speaking, turning my head too fast, even a slight breeze.  Other times, I would awaken to the sensation of an electric drill driving bits into the back of my eyeball.  It was unbearable that I would scream out loud while I held the pillow over my face.”

“By the grace of God, my wife heard about Upper Cervical chiropractic care on the radio.  Within eleven days of my first Upper Cervical correction, after three corrections, I had no pain!”

There are medical treatments for TN beyond the pharmaceuticals, which include, Tegretol, Neurontin (both anti-seizure meds), Trileptal, Topamax, Depakote and even anti-depressants.  Surgery is the next consideration if the medicine does not prove affective.  The surgeries are an attempt to damage the nerve, to remove the portion that causes pain.  Some of the most common surgical procedures are:

  • Radio-frequency Rhizotomy
  • Glycerol Rhizotomy
  • Balloon Compression
  • Microvascular Decompression
  • Gamma Knife

From an Upper Cervical Health Centers pamflet on TN, “A recent medical report revealed a 50% failure rate for the treatment of TN.  There are many published case studies which show Upper Cervical chiropractic care has help patients with TN.  A larger pilot study at Life University showed great results.  The participants received upper cervical care over 8 weeks.  Every TN patient who participated had major pain relief within the first four weeks and continued to improve gradually ofter that.  It was suggested upper cervical misalignments (subluxations) contributed to the hyperactive state of the nerve, which causes the severe facial pain.”

The goal of upper cervical chiropractic care is to correct spinal misalignment which allows the your nerves, brain stem, and nervous system to heal and function normally.  This means there is hope for relief from the pain from trigeminal neuralgia.

Please give us a call or schedule an appointment at 804-559-1100

Filed Under: Chronic Pain, Nerve Pain, Upper Cervical Chiropractic Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Neck Pain Relief

April 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Mechanicsville, Virginia Chiropractor — Neck pain is a very common complaint for patients in our office.  Nearly 20% of our patients say it is they primary reason they come to Stover Chiropractic.  A close second to low back pain.  It is not hard to understand why.  The neck is quite susceptible to injury due to the way it is “put together.”  Our heads are about 12 pounds which must be balanced on top of 7 cervical vertebrae.  The problem is how flexible the neck is, which means it can move in many directions.  Therein, is the weak link.  It is fairly easy to injure it due to it’s ability to allow such free motion.  Common activities and postures will affect neck biomechanics, such as, extended sitting, receptive movements, accidents, falls, blows to the head, sleep positions, watching TV in bed and so on.  Then there is trauma.  Car accidents are very likely to cause more than minor injuries even at low speed.

Once there is injury and dysfunction, due to spinal misalignments (called vertebral subluxations), degenerative changes set in from abnormal wear and tear over time.  Osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, or stenosis may be diagnosed.  Patients are usually left with two options.  A life with pain meds, anti-inflammatory meds, and muscle relaxers or conservative care to try to improve function without masking symptoms.  Chiropractic is the most popular option in the later group.

At Stover Chiropractic you will receive a complete consultation, exam and relevant x-rays if needed.  Dr. Stover has an advanced rating in Orthospinology, which is a highly specific and effective for of upper cervical chiropractic care.  The goal is to see if the person with neck pain can be helped by chiropractic or not.  The testing will help to evaluate the neck joints, discs, nerves, muscles, ligaments, and alignment of the bones.  By wrapping up these loose ends we will know if we can or can’t help.

If it looks like chiropractic can help, please know it is very safe and effective.  One of the most recent reviews of scientific literature found evidence that patients with chronic neck pain enrolled in clinical trials reported significant improvement following chiropractic spinal manipulation. As part of the literature review, published in the March/April 2007 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, the researchers reviewed nine previously published trials and found “high-quality evidence” that patients with chronic neck pain showed significant pain-level improvements following spinal manipulation. No trial group was reported as having remained unchanged, and all groups showed positive changes up to 12 weeks post-treatment.

Please let us know if we can help you with an effective, non-drug based, approach to help you heal and get relief from neck pain.  Call us at 804-559-1100 if you have any questions or want to schedule and appointment.

Filed Under: Chiropractic, Neck Pain Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Sciatica – “The problem isn’t in my leg?”

April 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Mechanicsville, Virginia Chiropractor — Sciatica is a term that describes symptoms of pain that are felt in the lower back and buttocks, often radiating down the back of the leg and to the foot.  Many people use the term sciatica incorrectly. Sciatica is a symptom (like itching), it is not a diagnosis (like Parkinson’s disease). Sciatica can range from an occasional nuisance to excruciating pain that makes walking near impossible. There can be multiple underlying reasons for your sciatic nerve pain. A chiropractor can help find the root cause of the problem with an exam and may also order some diagnostic imaging such as an x-ray, MRI or CT scan to examine the underlying structures.

It has several causes.  An unhealthy spine with a bulging disc can irritate the sciatic nerve.  This nerve runs from your spinal chord to your buttocks and hip area, then down the back of each leg, thus sciatica can also be felt as weakness, tingling, and numbness in the leg. It is more frequently found in people over the age of 30 due to subluxations and the wear and tear they cause on the lower spine that the body to experience after subluxations have been around for more than a few years.

The medical approach to sciatica is usually symptom management with pain medication, anti-inflamatories, and  muscle relaxers.  Sometimes relief can be found with injecting pain killers directly into the nerve roots!  Surgery is also an option.  Fortunately surgeons are not quick to recommend it, due to the possible complications and risks. The reality is five years after surgery, many people do not have resolution of sciatica.

Treatment and symptoms also vary from patient to patient. Because of the individualized nature of the causes of sciatica, a series of different exams and tests are typically performed to locate the cause of your pain and an individual plan for your relief developed.

In many cases the back pain you are experiencing from sciatica will improve or even go away on its own if you give it at least 3 to 9 months, however, treatment can help offer relief for your pain in much less time.  If you are looking for a drug free, natural approach to pain relief, consider chiropractic care.  Depending on the cause of your back pain, professional advice and care could ease your discomfort and pain.

Give us a call at: 804 559 1100

stoverchiropractic.pc@gmail.com

Filed Under: Chiropractic, Nerve Pain, Sciatica Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Low Back Pain – Why so hard to help?

April 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Mechanicsville, Virginia Chiropractor — Over the years we have seen many many patients who are suffering with low back pain.  Most people do not run to the family physician or chiropractor at the first sign of back pain.  But the problem is, once it starts, it usually isn’t going away.  It is frustrating for my patients because there is often not an obvious start or cause of the pain.  If there is it often seems to be something that shouldn’t (like reaching to pick up the toothbrush) have caused such pain or disability.  But even if an obvious cause like a trauma has occured in the past, it just doesn’t seem like it should take so long to heal, if there is still hope for that.  Does that sound familiar?

 

Well you are not alone.  On average 8 out of 10 people will have low back pain.  If you do your research you will be informed there are many causes of low back pain.  To name a few you will see: Herniated disc, arthritis, spinal stenosis, ankylosing spondylitis, weak abs, scoliosis, emotions, stress and so on.  In the end it seems very ill-defined.  I want to make it simple.  It is in most cases.  So at the risk of oversimplifying I want to break this down to cause and effect.  Most of the “causes” one will find on medical websites are actually “effects.”  You will instantly realize this with some reflection.  For example, arthritis.  Can this actually be the root cause?  (not that the condition is not painful at times)  We realize we do not “catch” arthritis.  Right?  We are not born with a genetic guarantee we will get arthritis in our low back or left knee.  So why does it happen?  Why does your low back have arthritis and not your mid back?  It wore out quicker than your mid back right?  It isn’t that you are old.  Something made that low back (or left knee) wear out quicker than the other areas.  That “thing” that causes the abnormal wear and tear is most commonly a misalignment of a joint.  If that misalignment has been there a while, you get degeneration, (otherwise known as, arthritis), and that may hurt.  My point is the arthritis isn’t the problem or the original cause, the misalignment is the problem that needs healing.  The disc isn’t the original cause, the misalignment made the disc rupture or fail.  I hope you see the difference.

 

So back to the causes of low back pain and solutions.  Outside of the significantly less common genetic, metabolic, and infectious causes of back pain the lists of causes you see in most books or websites are really, truly, EFFECTS of the actual cause.  The cause is abnormal wear and tear over time, or over a short time if trauma is involved, caused by misalignments of spinal joints.  The misalignment is called a subluxation.  It is the subluxation that a chiropractor corrects, which allows your body to finally, actually, heal itself.  No more need for medications to mask symptoms, or fear you may some day need surgery.

 

At Stover Chiropractic we use modern computerized testing and x-rays (if needed) to examine your spine for misalignments (subluxations).  We specialize in low force, gentle, upper cervical chiropractic care, called orthospinology to evaluate and correct the specific cause of pain.  Give us a call at 804-559-1100 to schedule an appointment or ask any questions you may have.

Filed Under: Back Pain, Chiropractic Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Vertigo, Dizziness, and Inner Ear Problems – Is there help?

April 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Mechanicsville, Virginia Chiropractor — At Stover Chiropractic, I often hear the misconception that we only help back, neck, and spine problems.  Upper Cervical Chiropractic care has been documented to help many different conditions.  Inner ear problems that cause dizziness, vertigo, and tinnitus are often caused by subluxation in the upper neck.  It is a challenge to patients and doctors to find the cause. Finding the cause is what a chiropractor tries to do every time.

Medical literature states approximately 50% of dizziness, instability and imbalance occur in cases of head and/or neck injuries.  As a matter of fact research shows the relationship between inner ear disorders (vertigo, tinnitus, dizziness, hearing problems) and trauma.  The trauma can be a mild bump or a fall involving a concussion, or whiplash.  It also states vertigo can also be caused by hyperactivity or irritation to the joints and nerves in the upper neck which assist in the coordination of the eye, head, and body, as well as control posture and spatial orientation.  It isn’t hard to find yourself with problems like these at some point in life.  Most people know the problems related to falling late in life, and how difficult it can be to recover from hip or pelvic injuries. So any relief I help bring someone with vertigo is as much about “giving freedom.” As it is about “getting rid” of dizziness.

People who suffer with Meniere’s Disease know how devastating a bout of vertigo can be.  This disease is characterized by sudden, recurring attacks of disabling vertigo, hearing loss and tints, sand nausea and vomiting.  The bouts can last hours or days at times.  If the symptoms continue to recur despite lifestyle changes and medications, there are surgeries.  The surgeries are less than 60% effective.  The one that does “work,” a labyrinthectomy, causes deafness in that ear.  What a choice to make.  There can be help with chiropractic as seen in a study by MT Burcon, titled, Upper Cervical Protocol for Ten Meniere’s Patients.  Ninth Annual Vertebral Subluxation Research Conference, October 13-14, 2001, Spartanburg, SC.  After presentation, it was published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, on June 2, 2008, pp 1-8.

An upper cervical chiropractic examination can assess whether an upper cervical injury is present and whether the patient suffering from an inner ear disorder can benefit from upper cervical care.

 

Filed Under: Vertigo/Dizziness Tagged With: , , , , ,
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