A popular response to neck pain is taking drugs to cover up the problem (aspirin, analgesics, pain pills) or treating its symptoms (muscle relaxers, massage, hot packs). But neck pain isn’t caused by a lack of aspirin or drugs. The Chiropractic approach to neck pain is to locate its underlying cause. This begins with a complete case and thorough examination. Special attention is given to the structure and function of the spine, and its affect on the nervous system.

• Is the proper spinal curve present?
• Are the nerve openings between each pair of spinal bones free and clear?
• Is the head balanced?
• Are the shoulders level?

These and other considerations are used to create a plan of specific chiropractic adjustments to help improve the motion and position of spinal vertebrae.

With improved structure and function, neck pain often diminishes or totally disappears without addictive drugs or harmful side effects! One study, published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that patients who received chiropractic care reported significant improvement in their neck function and a reduction in their neck pain whereas those taking pain-killers did not.

A COMMON HEALTH COMPLAINT

Is it hard to look over your shoulder?
Is there a constant pulling or throbbing pain in your neck?
Do you notice a “grinding” sound as you turn your head?

Contact  THE LIFE CENTER CHIROPRACTIC  for a thorough history and examination

The Vertebral Subluxation Complex is the underlying cause of many health problems.

Vertebral

Ver-te-bral
Concerning the vertebral bones of the spine.

Subluxation

Sub-lux-a-tion
Less than a complete dislocation of a joint with nervous system interference

Complex

Com-plex
More than one part

Nervous System Function

When there is no interference, your nervous system controls the healthy function of virtually every cell, tissue, organ, and system of your body.

A subluxation, or the Vertebral Subluxation Complex, is a serious condition identified by its five parts:

* Abnormal motion or position of spinal bones:

(Spinal Kinesiopathology) The bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. This can restrict your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.

* Abnormal nervous system function:

(Neuropathophysiology) Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nervous system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body

* Abnormal muscle function:

(Myopathology) Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm.. The resulting scar tissue can change muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.

* Abnormal soft tissue function:

(Histopathology) A rise in temperature from an increase in blood or lymph supply can result in swelling and inflammation.. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear; or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.

* Abnormal function of the spine and body:

(Pathophysiology) Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints.. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to fail.

What’s the cause?

Subluxation, or more precisely, the Vertebral subluxation Complex, describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal motion or position from stress, trauma or chemical imbalances.   Automobile collisions, improper lifting, drugs, alcohol, emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can all cause the Vertebral subluxation Complex.   Instead of just treating your symptoms, your chiropractor is primarily interested in detecting, reducing, and correcting the Vertebral subluxation Complex.

Did you know the largest nerves of the body start in the low back? They do and it’s called the famous sciatic nerve!

Each of the two sciatic nerves is formed by four or five nerves branching off the spinal cord and running down the back of each leg. Sciatica is a severe pain in the leg caused from compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve.

An all-too-common health complaint.

The sciatic nerves are the largest and longest nerves of the body, reaching about the size of your thumb in diameter and running down the back of each leg. When these nerves are irritated or affected by the inflammation of nearby soft tissues, doctors refer to this as sciatica.

One of the most common causes of sciatic leg pain is the Vertebral Subluxation Complex. It can be accompanied by the bulging or herniation of the soft pulpy discs which separate each spinal bone. This can irritate or put pressure on the sciatic nerve roots as they leave the spinal cord. The result can be an intense pain shooting down either or both legs.

In the past, treatment has involved pain medications, muscle relaxers, physical therapy, and even surgery which is only about 60% successful. The chiropractic approach is to use carefully directed and controlled pressure to remove the interference from spinal structures. These chiropractic “adjustments” are very effective in reducing nerve irritation and its associated pain.

Sciatica, like other health problems that can be traced to the spine, often responds dramatically to the restoration of normal spinal function through chiropractic care.

Pain is caused when the sciatic nerve roots are irritated, scraped, twisted, stretched or pinched as they exit the spine. Causes of the impairment may be chemical, physical or the emotional stress of everyday living. A full-blown sciatic flare-up can involved the entire sciatic nerve path resulting in symptoms of lower back pain, burning, cramping or numbness that radiates into the thighs, legs, ankles, feet and toes. Pain may also be limited to various points along the nerve such as the buttocks, knee are and calf.

Problems in the neck can cause pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or a loss of strength in the hands. How may chiropractic care help? The major nerve controlling the thumb, index, and parts of the middle, and ring finger is called the median nerve. From the tip of your fingers, it travels through the bones in your wrist, past your elbow, up your arm, through your shoulder and neck, and finally to your spinal cord. Problems can develop in one or more of these areas.

The “carpal” tunnel is formed by bones in the wrist. The median nerve, tendons, and blood vessels pass through this opening. If one or more of the bones forming this tunnel should collapse, inflammation, nerve pressure, and painful symptoms in the wrist area can result.

The median nerve connects to the spinal cord through openings between several bones in the lower neck. When these spinal bones lose their normal motion or position, they can cause problems in the fingers and wrist.

After a thorough examination, your chiropractic doctor will perform specific adjustments where needed to help normalize structure and reduce nerve irritation. When given time, conservative, chiropractic care has produced excellent results with carpal tunnel problems – without drugs or surgery.

Injuries to the neck caused by the sudden movement of the head, backward, forward, or sideways, is referred to as “whiplash”. Whiplash is most commonly received from riding in a car that is struck from behind or that collides with another object. When the head is suddenly jerked back and forth beyond its normal limits, the muscles and ligaments supporting the spine and head can be overstretched or torn. The soft, pulpy discs between spinal bones can bulge, tear or rupture. Vertebrae can be forced out of their normal position, reducing range of motion. The spinal cord and nerve roots in the neck can get stretched and irritated. While the occupants can suffer considerable soft tissue injury, the car may be only slightly damaged.

The resulting instability of the spine and soft tissues can result in headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, pain in the shoulder, arms and hands, reduced ability to turn and bend, and even low back problems. As the body attempts to adapt, symptoms may not appear for weeks or even months later.

The chiropractic approach to these types of injuries is to use specific chiropractic adjustments to help return spinal function. After a thorough case history and examination, the doctor will recommend a series of visits to help restore proper motion and position of spinal bones. If caught early enough, inflammation can be reduced and scar tissue can often be minimized.

Consult a Doctor of Chiropractic before enduring constant headaches, depending upon addictive pain medication, or submitting to surgery!

Some estimates suggest 25% of the population has a headache right now! A frequent and overlooked cause of headaches is the malfunction of spinal bones in the neck and upper back.

When bones of the spine lose their normal position or motion, sensitive nerves and blood vessels to the head can be affected. When spinal nerves and related tissues are stretched or irritated they can produce throbbing headaches. Aspirin and medications may cover up these warning signs, but do not correct the underlying cause.

Many people find relief and correction with chiropractic care

If a thorough examination reveals reduced range of motion, loss of normal spinal curves, or mechanical restrictions, chiropractic care should be considered. After a complete explanation, you’ll receive a care program designed for your unique spinal problem.

Many patients report headache relief. Others find that the correction of their problem takes longer because their spinal problem has existed undetected for many years. Every patient responds differently. Regardless of how you respond, enjoy the drug-free results millions have enjoyed by consulting a chiropractic doctor.