Symptoms
and Treatment
I.
Understanding
Subluxations – How They Affect Your Health
II.
Headache
III.
Low Back Pain (LBP)
IV.
Neck
V. Sciatica
Understanding Subluxations - How They Affect
Your Health
Acting as the body's main communications channel, the spinal column is truly a work of art. The spine consists of 24 moveable bones, called vertebrae, which form the center of the back from the base of the skull to the pelvis. Stacked like building blocks, these vertebrae are each separated by a thick elastic pad known as a disc. The discs act as spacers that help absorb shock, reduce friction, and allow mobility. This combined structure of fat, muscles and bones also houses and protects the spinal cord through which all nerve impulses flow. Every vital organ and tissue in the body is connected to and controlled by nerves which travel back and forth through the spinal cord to the brain. These nerves exit through small openings in between the vertebrae called inter vertebral foramina. Any interference to the flow of nerve impulses can cause a disturbance in body functions and with it an increased susceptibility to disease.
The most common obstruction to the flow of nerve impulses through the nervous system is a misalignment of the spine. In chiropractic terms, this is called a subluxation. It is a condition in which one or more vertebrae of the spine are out of alignment causing the spine to cease to move correctly. Nerves which pass through the affected area can become impinged, as shown below, and normal transmission of the nerve impulses can be obstructed as a result. These subluxations, although not always painful, interfere with the proper function and healing process of other vital parts of the body.
An untreated subluxation can produce long term effects which may result in permanent damage to the organs controlled by the affected nerves or to the spine itself. When detected early, it will respond well to Chiropractic care with an excellent chance for a complete and painless recovery.
Everyone should have a spinal checkup periodically whether symptoms are present or not. Spinal subluxations that cause nerve irritation do not always cause pain and a person may be having a serious health problem without being aware of it. Although some subluxations and nerve irritation may be self limiting (healing itself) most are not. Most subluxations that cause nerve irritation will require professional care. Anyone with subluxations and nerve irritation needs a proper Chiropractic analysis and Chiropractic adjustment if necessary.
If your Chiropractor finds you have subluxations, specific manipulation techniques (without drugs or surgery) will be used to correct the subluxation and relieve the nerve irritation. This allows normal flow of nerve impulses that contributes to the restoration of normal function and health. This procedure is called a Chiropractic adjustment. The direct purpose of the Chiropractic spinal adjustment is to reduce nerve irritation. This allows the body to restore itself to a greater level of health and in the process relieves pain.
If you suffer from any of the symptoms described above for subluxation and it doesn't "go away", call Cutsinger Chiropractic at 615-778-4552 to set up an appointment for a consultation and exam. Located in the Cool Springs area of Franklin, Tennessee, relief from your symptoms could be this close! If you have any questions, please feel free to call or email us at info@CutsingerChiropractic.com.
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Headache
Headache! Random House Dictionary defines
headache as "a pain located in the head, as over
the eyes, at the temples, or at the base of the
skull." Head-pain would be a better descriptive
name. This head pain can be a sharp stabbing
pain that happens suddenly without warning or it
may sneak up on you as a dull throbbing that
does not seem to ease up.
It doesn't matter what name it carries, you know what a headache is. It is one of the most, if not the most frequent health complaint. Findings have shown that pain is the number one health complaint, with headache being the number one pain. Chronic or regularly recurrent headaches are extremely common. Eventually nearly everyone will get a headache and most headaches are a symptom rather than a condition. In other words, a headache is an indication that something else is wrong.
There are several named types of headaches with migraine, cluster and tension being some of the better known varieties.
Headache Causes
Research has shown that 90 percent of chronic
headaches are caused by irritation of nerves in
the neck.
Usually, this irritation can be traced back to
an injury due to sports, or maybe an automobile
accident. In many cases, the headache sufferer
was not aware that the neck was injured. As the
only link between the head and the rest of the
body, the neck is vulnerable to even slight jars
which can cause a misalignment of the vertebrae
in the neck.
Research has proven conclusively that most
reoccurring or migraine headaches are related to
a misalignment of one or more vertebrae in the
neck. Since the nerves and blood vessels pass
through small openings between these vertebrae,
a misalignment can substantially decrease the
amount of blood and nerve impulses going to the
face and brain.
Of course, not all headaches are caused by neck
problems. Some headaches are caused by disease.
Headaches can be associated with blood pressure
problems, teeth problems, ear problems, fevers
and infections. Even some medical treatment or
tests can cause headaches.
A person may have a "tension" or "nervous" headache brought on by everyday tension and/or emotional stress and everybody has suffered from occasional headaches resulting from abuse of the body through lack of sleep, anxiety, improper nutrition, or too many cocktails. In fact, there are nearly as many things that can cause or contribute to a headache as there are people that have headaches. What to do about a headache - choosing the proper treatment - can be very confusing.
Most of the many conditions that can precipitate
headaches, and there are more than those
mentioned above, have at least one thing in
common - nerve irritation. Dorland's Medical
Dictionary defines pain as "a feeling of
distress, suffering or agony caused by
stimulation of specialized nerve endings." There
can be no pain unless the specialized sensory
nerves are stimulated (irritated), resulting in
the transmission of nerve impulses to the brain.
When spinal vertebrae misalign even slightly, or
their normal mobility is altered, sensory and
motor nerves can be irritated or even damaged.
This is known as a vertebral subluxation
complex, or biomechanical lesion - commonly
shortened to just subluxation.
Chiropractors have found subluxations to be one
of the most common causes of nerve irritation.
Since nerve irritation is a factor in all pain,
headache included, subluxations are one of the
most common contributing factors.
Medical Treatment for Headache
Correcting the cause is the only way to effectively treat headaches. If your headache is caused by eye problems, eyeglasses may reduce your headaches. If your headache is caused by a sinus or ear infection, controlling the infection can bring the headache under control. If your headache is caused by a "pinched nerve," correcting the cause of the "pinched nerve" will bring the headache under control. The medical profession usually treats headaches with mild pain killers or other drugs. The public spends millions every year on over-the-counter drugs to relieve headaches. Narcotics are usually prescribed for more severe headaches and in some cases the side effects are more severe than the headaches themselves. Masking the pain with pain killing drugs, prescribed or over the counter, is not the cure. It can’t be since it is not directly addressing the cause.
Chiropractic Treatment for Headache
The fact remains that the vast majority of headaches are caused by irritation of the nerves, usually in the neck. No therapeutic method approaches Chiropractic health care in correcting abnormalities of the neck.
Chiropractic is not an extra-strength "pain pill" nor are Chiropractic adjustments a treatment for headaches or head-pain, as such. This is because the pain is the "message", not the cause. Chiropractic adjustments address the cause directly, relieving the pain as a welcome consequence. The success of Chiropractic treatment in dealing with the causes of headaches is shown by the increasing numbers of people who suffer from headaches who are seeking Chiropractic care. And finding a high level of satisfaction because Chiropractors treat one of the most common causes of headache - “pinched nerves" caused by subluxations.
Because of their specialized training and experience, Chiropractors are the most qualified health care professionals to analyze and treat vertebral subluxations that are the number one cause of "pinched nerves."
If your Chiropractor finds you have subluxations, specific manipulation techniques (without drugs or surgery) will be used to correct the subluxation and relieve the nerve irritation. This allows normal flow of nerve impulses that contributes to the restoration of normal function and health. This procedure is called a Chiropractic adjustment. The direct purpose of the Chiropractic spinal adjustment is to reduce nerve irritation. This allows the body to restore itself to a greater level of health and in the process relieves the pain.
If you suffer from headaches on a regular basis, call Cutsinger Chiropractic at 615-778-4552 to set up an appointment for a consultation and exam. Located in the Cool Springs area of Franklin, Tennessee, relief from your symptoms could be this close! If you have any questions, please call or email us at info@CutsingerChiropractic.com.
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Low
Back Pain (LBP)
Back pain often attacks without warning. It can
be a sharp stabbing thrust or it may sneak up on
you as a dull throbbing that does not seem to
ease up.
Findings have shown that pain is the number one health complaint, and back pain is the second most common pain, following only headache. Thousands upon thousands of people in the U.S. will experience disabling low back pain at least once during their lifetime. The problem is so bad it has become a major concern of industry and workers' compensation insurance carriers with an estimated cost in the U.S. alone in the billions of dollars per year.
Low Back Pain Causes
Back pain can result from muscle and tendon strain and sprain; muscle tension brought on by emotional stress; poor posture brought on by weak or un-exercised muscles; muscle spasms caused by over-exertion or over-use. Back pain can result from disease of the spine such as various types of arthritis and tuberculosis. Back pain also can be brought on by disease elsewhere in the body - a condition called referred pain. There are so many other things that can precipitate back pain that a person suffering from this condition can become very confused about what to do.
Most conditions that can precipitate back pain,
and there are more than those mentioned above,
have at least one thing in common - nerve
irritation. Dorland's Medical Dictionary defines
pain as "a feeling of distress, suffering or
agony caused by stimulation of specialized nerve
endings." There can be no pain unless these
specialized sensory nerves are stimulated
(irritated), resulting in the transmission of
nerve impulses to the brain.
When spinal vertebrae misalign even slightly, or
their normal mobility is altered, sensory and
motor nerves can be irritated or even damaged.
This is known as a vertebral subluxation
complex, or biomechanical lesion - commonly
shortened to just ... subluxation. Chiropractors
have found subluxations to be one of the most
common causes of nerve irritation, thus one of
the most common contributing factors in back
pain.
Medical Treatment for Low Back Pain
Correcting the underlying cause is the only way
to effectively treat back pain. All the pain
pills, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs
and other medications that are usually
prescribed by the medical profession to relieve
the pain will do little or nothing to correct
the cause. When drugs do not correct the
condition, physical therapy, exercises and
sometimes braces are used in addition to the
drugs. When that fails to bring satisfactory
results, in severe cases, surgery may be
recommended.
Since back pain is most frequently caused by a "pinched nerve," (nerve irritation) and nerve irritation is primarily caused by subluxation, correcting the subluxation is likely the only treatment that will correct the cause of the back pain. Masking the pain with pain killing drugs, muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatory drugs or surgery is not the cure. It can't be since it is not directly addressing the cause.
At times medical intervention and even surgery may be necessary. However, drugs have side effects that are sometimes very severe, and surgery is an extremely invasive procedure of last resort with many potential complications.
Chiropractic Treatment for Low Back Pain
Chiropractic is not an extra strength "muscle-relaxant" or "anti-inflammatory drug." Chiropractic adjustments are not a specific treatment for back pain, as such. This is because the pain is the "message", not the cause. Chiropractic adjustments address the cause directly, relieving the pain as a welcome consequence. The success of Chiropractic treatment in dealing with the causes of back pain is shown by the increasing numbers of people suffering from back pain who are seeking Chiropractic care. And finding a high level of satisfaction because Chiropractors treat one of the most common causes of back pain - "pinched nerves" caused by subluxations.
Because of their highly specialized training and experience, Chiropractors are the most qualified health care professionals to analyze and treat the vertebral subluxations that are the number one cause of "pinched nerves." This condition can cause malfunction in the body and lead to diseases - back pain included.
If your Chiropractor finds you have subluxations, specific manipulation techniques (without drugs or surgery) will be used to correct the subluxation and relieve the nerve irritation. This allows the normal flow of nerve impulses that contributes to the restoration of normal function and health. This procedure is called a Chiropractic adjustment. The direct purpose of the Chiropractic spinal adjustment is to reduce nerve irritation. This allows the body to restore itself to a greater level of health and in the process relieves pain.
The results show that Chiropractic care is more effective than medical care in cases involving low back pain. Why? Because Chiropractors treat the underlying cause of low back pain - nerve irritation caused by subluxations. Medical treatment is largely for the relief of symptoms, not the cause. Muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killing drugs do nothing to correct the underlying cause of low back pain.
If you suffer from any of the symptoms described above for low back pain and it doesn't "go away", call Cutsinger Chiropractic at 615-778-4552 to set up an appointment for a consultation and exam. Located in the Cool Springs area of Franklin, Tennessee, relief from your symptoms could be this close! If you have any questions, please call or email us at info@CutsingerChiropractic.com.
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Neck
Pain
The neck is an extremely important part of our body. Many vital organs are located in the neck. The brain stem, the spinal cord, nerves, blood vessels and part of the spinal column are located in the neck. It supports the head and allows it to move freely up and down, turn and tilt, without causing damage to any of its vital contents. The neck is so important that any damage that interferes with its function can cause loss of consciousness, paralysis and even death.
The part of the spinal column in the neck, called the Cervical spine, has seven spinal vertebrae (neck bones). The neck vertebrae, when joined together by discs, muscles, ligaments, tendons and connective tissue, form a tunnel through which the spinal cord travels. One of the spinal column's main functions is protecting the spinal cord because an injury to the spinal cord can cause instant paralysis or death.
Neck Pain Causes
Because the neck is such a complex structure it
is extremely vulnerable to injuries from falls
and other accidents that can result in neck
problems. Neck problems may also develop very
slowly as a result of spinal abnormalities,
physical and emotional tension or bad postural
habits.
Neck pain can result from muscle and tendon
strain and sprain; muscle tension, brought on by
emotional stress; poor posture brought on by
weak or unexercised muscles; muscle spasms
caused by over-exertion or over-use. Cervical
disc degeneration and herniation also may
precipitate neck pain.
Neck pain can result from disease of the spine such as the various types of arthritis and tuberculosis. Neck pain also can be brought on by disease elsewhere in the body, a condition called referred pain. There are nearly as many other things that can precipitate neck pain as there are people with neck pain. This makes it very difficult for those with neck pain to know what to do.
Most conditions that can precipitate neck pain,
and there are more than those mentioned above,
have at least one thing in common - nerve
irritation. Dorland's Medical Dictionary defines
pain as "a feeling of distress, suffering or
agony caused by stimulation of specialized nerve
endings." There can be no pain unless sensory
nerves are stimulated (irritated), resulting in
the transmission of nerve impulses to the brain.
When spinal vertebrae misalign even slightly or
their normal mobility is altered, sensory and
motor nerves can be irritated or even damaged.
This is known as a vertebral subluxation
complex, or biomechanical lesion commonly
shortened to just ... subluxation.
Chiropractors have found subluxations to be one
of the most common causes of nerve irritation,
thus one of the most common contributing factors
in neck pain. Subluxation also can cause reduced
movement of the head, neck, shoulder, arm,
wrist, hand or fingers.
Medical Treatment for Neck Pain
Correcting the cause is the only way to
effectively treat neck pain. All the pain pills,
anti-inflammatory drugs and other medications
that are usually prescribed by the medical
profession to relieve pain will do little or
nothing to correct the underlying cause.
Since pain is caused by nerve irritation and
nerve irritation is most frequently caused by
subluxations, correcting the subluxation is the
most effective way to correct the cause of the
neck pain. Masking the pain with pain killing
drugs or other medications is not the answer.
The medical approach at times is necessary.
However, medication has side effects that are
sometimes very severe, and surgery is
recommended only as a last resort.
Chiropractic Treatment for Neck Pain
Fortunately many people have found help under Chiropractic care. Chiropractic is not an extra-strength "pain pill." Chiropractic adjustments are not a treatment for neck pain, as such. They treat the cause that is producing the pain, thereby often reducing, if not completely eliminating, the pain. People that suffer from all types of pain are seeking Chiropractic care in greater numbers than ever because Chiropractors treat one of the most common causes of neck pain - nerve irritation caused by subluxations - and have a high level of patient satisfaction among patients with neck pain.
Because of their specialized training and experience, Chiropractors are the most qualified health care professionals to analyze and treat vertebral subluxations.
If your Chiropractor finds you have subluxations, specific manipulation techniques (without drugs or surgery) will be used to correct the subluxation and relieve the nerve irritation. This allows normal flow of nerve impulses that contributes to the restoration of normal function and health. This procedure is called a Chiropractic adjustment. The direct purpose of the Chiropractic spinal adjustment is to reduce nerve irritation. This allows the body to restore itself to a greater level of health and in the process relieves the pain.
If you suffer from any of the symptoms described above for neck pain and it doesn't "go away", call Cutsinger Chiropractic at 615-778-4552 to set up an appointment for a consultation and exam. Located at in the Cool Springs area of Franklin, Tennessee, relief from your symptoms could be this close! If you have any questions, please call or email us at info@CutsingerChiropractic.com.
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Sciatica
Sciatica can cause pain, numbness, and/or occasional muscle weakness in the areas controlled by the Sciatic nerve: hip, buttock, posterior thigh, calf, and foot
The patient may experience a “crawling”
sensation over the affected area and an
inability to walk on their toes or heels due to
muscle weakness.
Sciatica Causes
There are many possible causes for Sciatica, but
the most frequent has been found to be faulty
alignment and mechanics of the lower spine and
pelvis. Such faulty alignment serves to compress
or irritate the sciatic nerve, resulting in
potentially very painful inflammation of the
nerve.
This faulty spinal alignment may result from a
single fall, accident, unusual exercise, or may
develop gradually over a period of time as part
of an overall posture distortion pattern.
There are three points at which faulty
spinal-pelvic mechanics most frequently injure
the sciatic nerve:
1. The nerve openings between adjacent vertebrae
in the lower back may be partially constricted
by misaligned or subluxated vertebrae. Nerve
fibers which make up the sciatic nerve are
compressed and irritated as they pass through
these partially constricted openings.
2. A sacroiliac subluxation or distortion may
exert direct pressure on the sciatic nerve.
3. The deep muscles of the buttock may be placed
under unusual stress by a faulty pelvic
alignment. The stretched or even collapsed
muscles may squeeze and irritate the sciatic
nerve as it passes between them.
Medical Treatment for Sciatica
As with virtually all other symptoms described here, correcting the underlying cause is the only way to effectively treat sciatica. All the pain pills, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs and other medications that are usually prescribed by the medical profession to relieve the pain will do little or nothing to correct the cause. When drugs do not correct the condition, physical therapy, exercises and sometimes braces are used in addition to the drugs. When that fails to bring satisfactory results, in severe cases, surgery may be recommended.
Since sciatica is most frequently caused by a "pinched nerve," (nerve irritation) and nerve irritation is primarily caused by subluxation, correcting the subluxation is likely the only treatment that will correct the cause of the pain. Masking the pain with pain killing drugs, muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatory drugs is not the cure. It can't be since it is not directly addressing the cause.
At times medical intervention and even surgery may be necessary. However, drugs have side effects that are sometimes very severe, and surgery is an extremely invasive procedure of last resort with many potential complications.
Chiropractic Treatment for Sciatica
Chiropractic is not an extra-strength "pain pill" nor are Chiropractic adjustments a treatment specifically for sciatic pain, as such. This is because the pain is the "message," not the cause. Chiropractic adjustments address the cause directly, relieving the pain as a welcome consequence. The success of Chiropractic treatment in dealing with the causes of sciatica is shown by the increasing numbers of people who suffer from sciatica and are seeking Chiropractic care. And finding a high level of satisfaction because Chiropractors treat one of the most common causes of sciatica - "pinched nerves" caused by subluxations.
Because of their specialized training and experience, Chiropractors are the most qualified health care professionals to analyze and treat vertebral subluxations that are the number one cause of "pinched nerves."
If your Chiropractor finds that you have subluxations, specific manipulation techniques (without drugs or surgery) will be used to correct the subluxation and relieve the nerve irritation. This allows the normal flow of nerve impulses that contributes to the restoration of normal function and health. This procedure is called a Chiropractic adjustment. The direct purpose of the Chiropractic spinal adjustment is to reduce nerve irritation. This allows the body to restore itself to a greater level of health and in the process relieves the pain.
If you suffer from any of the symptoms described above for sciatica and it doesn't "go away", call Cutsinger Chiropractic at 615-778-4552 to set up an appointment for a consultation and exam. Located in the Cool Springs area of Franklin, Tennessee, relief from your symptoms could be this close! If you have any questions, please call or email us at info@CutsingerChiropractic.com.
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