If you have a headache, you’re not alone. Nine out of 10 Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea. What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your teeth and carry on? Lie down? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? There is a better alternative.

Research shows that spinal manipulation – one of the primary treatments provided by doctors of chiropractic – may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck. A 2014 report in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) found that interventions commonly used in chiropractic care improved outcomes for the treatment of acute and chronic neck pain and increased benefit was shown in several instances where a multimodal approach to neck pain had been used. Also, a 2011 JMPT study found that chiropractic care, including spinal manipulation, improves migraine and cervicogenic headaches.

Headaches are so common in many patient patients tension headaches show significant improvement through manipulation of the upper two cervical vertebrae, coupled with adjustments to the junction between the cervical and thoracic spine. This is also helpful in most cases of migraine headaches, as long as food and lifestyle triggers are avoided as well. Many headaches are triggered by weak neck flexors and forward head posture. During your visit Dr. Grainger will asses the muscles of the head and neck as well as cervical misalignments. Dr. Grainger also uses electrical stimulation of acupuncture points to help with headaches and even ear seeds.

Chiropractic adjustments reduce joint restrictions or misalignments in the spine and other joints in the body in an effort to reduce inflammation and improve function of both the affected joint and nervous system. By increasing joint mobility and improving your nervous system function and spinal health, your body has the ability to better manage symptoms caused by low back pain. At Ultimate Spine and Wellness we have a variety of tables and adjustment options such as flexion distraction, mechanical traction and spinal decompression.

Back pain is a fact of life for many people. Research shows that up to 80% of the population will experience back pain at some point during their lives. It is also the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections.

Sometimes back pain is sharp and intense, caused by a wrong move or an injury, and heals in a few days or weeks. Others experience back pain as a chronic condition, seriously altering their ability to work and enjoy time with family, friends and other leisure activities—leading to depression in some cases. A recent global survey of health conditions identified back pain as the single most disabling condition worldwide.

Another study based on Washington state workers found that 42.7 percent of people who visited a surgeon first for work-related back pain eventually had surgery, compared to only 1.5 percent of those who visited a chiropractor first.

Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. 

Chiropractic services are used most often to treat conditions such as back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches. Chiropractors practice a hands-on, drug-free approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. 

The sciatic nerve is a large nerve extending from the lower back down the back of each leg. People experience pain in the leg or rear that is worse when sitting, burning or tingling running down the leg, a shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up. Sciatica usually affects only one side of the lower body. The pain may also reach the foot or toes. Sciatica is caused by irritation of the root(s) of the lower lumbar and lumbosacral spine.

Sciatica is generally caused by sciatic nerve compression. Disorders known to cause sciatic nerve pain include lumbar spine subluxations (misaligned vertebral body/ies), herniated or bulging discs (slipped discs), pregnancy and childbirth, tumors, and non-spinal disorders such as diabetes, constipation, or sitting on one’s back pocket wallet.

One common cause of sciatica is piriformis syndrome. Piriformis syndrome is named after the piriformis muscle. The piriformis muscle is located in the lower part of the spine, connects to the thighbone, and assists in hip rotation. The sciatic nerve runs beneath the piriformis muscle. This muscle is susceptible to injury from a slip and fall, hip arthritis, or a difference in leg length. Such situations can cause cramping and spasm to develop in the piriformis muscle, thereby pinching the sciatic nerve and causing inflammation and pain.

Sciatic nerve compression may result in the loss of feeling (sensory loss), paralysis of a single limb or group of muscles (monoplegia), and insomnia.

Scoliosis must first be properly diagnosed, and an x-ray is the best way to do this. At Ultimate Spine and Wellness we have an on site digital x-ray. Visualizing spine curvature is done more easily this way, and the “C” and “S” shapes are more prominent in x-ray. When an individual is officially diagnosed with scoliosis, there are options that can greatly improve the abnormal curvature. Technically speaking, scoliosis is defined as a spine curvature greater than ten degrees. Chiropractors understand that muscle torsion can influence the pull on the spine. This in turn disrupts the flow of nerve signals from the brain to body. By addressing this issue and correcting it via chiropractic adjustment, patients can experience a curvature correction ranging from twelve degrees even to complete restoration. Traditional methods like braces are unable to achieve such results, which is why chiropractic care in the treatment of scoliosis is so intriguing. Working on mirror image postural correction can help aid in the straightening of the curve also.

There are a myriad of benefits a mother can experience by selecting a chiropractor to join her prenatal care team. The American Pregnancy Association lists the potential benefits of chiropractic care as:

• Maintaining a healthier pregnancy
• Controlling symptoms of nausea
• Reducing the time of labor and delivery
• Relieving back, neck or joint pain
• Preventing a potential cesarean delivery

These hormonal and structural changes can lead to spinal and pelvic misalignment and the consequent lower back pain many women experience during pregnancy. Lower back pain, in and of itself, is a burden to a woman’s daily function and quality of life. However, the misalignment of the spine and pelvis have a far more crucial consequence. In chiropractic, these misalignments are called subluxations. These insidious blockages cause stress overload to the mother’s nervous system, potentially impairing any of her vital systems and organs. During pregnancy, when a mother’s body systems are basically functioning for two, any interference to the nerve transmission supporting their function can be detrimental to her health and well-being. Reducing this nerve system stress is a key ingredient for normal bodily function.

To further understand the impact of spinal and pelvic misalignment throughout pregnancy, it is important to look at the mother’s anatomy. The mother’s pelvis has various key ligaments attached that support her uterus. As the baby grows, their role becomes increasingly important. If her pelvis is in biomechanical balance during pregnancy, the uterus will be supported symmetrically. This allows greater comfort for the mother and potentially optimal room for the baby’s development.

Gross misalignment in the woman’s pelvis may contribute to conditions like torticollis in the baby, with excessive stress to the baby’s developing neuro-muscular system. This is turn may impair his developing nervous system and adversely affect virtually any of his body’s systems and functions. Additionally, it is hypothesized that pelvic misalignments in the mother may affect optimal fetal positioning at the time of birth. The optimal position for birth is anterior vertex (rear-facing, head down). When a baby presents breech or posterior, it may be the result of an imbalance in the mother’s pelvis, forcing the baby to assume a compromised position. Baby mal-position will result in a lengthier, less comfortable and more complicated birth. If mother’s biomechanics are compromised, obstetric interventions are more likely to be recommended and implemented. Each and every intervention has significant side effects for both mother and baby.

After receiving chiropractic adjustments, many women have reported relief from low-back pain due to pregnancy. Chiropractic treatment offers a non-pharmaceutical and safe form of pain relief. Websters technique also helps with aligning the pelvis. Making sure the pelvis is in proper alignment allows the baby the most room and sets the mother up for an easy delivery. In some cases Websters technique with chiropractic adjsutments has been able to help in situtations of breeched babies.

 

The first step is awareness! Bring your attention to your posture as you sit, stand or lie down. If you’re sitting, keep both feet on the floor or a footrest, don’t cross your legs and use low-back support. While standing, keep your knees slightly bent, relax your arms and pull your shoulders back. When lying down it’s critical to choose the right mattress and pillow, and avoid sleeping on your stomach.

Dr. Grainger can help you to maintain and correct your posture through chiropractic adjustments, exercises and recommendations on proper positions during different activities.

As chiropractors, one of our focuses in overall health and well-being is stress. Subluxations, misalignment of the vertebrae in the spine, can be caused by the three Ts, toxins, trauma and thoughts (stress). These subluxations hinder the optimal function of the nervous system, which consists of the brain, spinal cord, sensory organs and a network of nerve cells and fibers that transmit signals from different parts of the body. When subluxations interfere with this communication between the brain and the body, health issues can arise. Chiropractors use gentle adjustments to the spine to remove these subluxations.

Studies have linked chiropractic care and management of the symptoms of fibromyalgia, such as pain, fatigue and quality of sleep. One study found that “chiropractic management improved patients’ cervical and lumbar ranges of motion, straight leg raise and reported pain levels.”

At Ultimate Spine and Wellness we use nutritional such as CBD oil, Tumeric, Magnesium, Formula 303 and Cryoderm cream to help aid in easing the pain of fibromyalgia.

High blood pressure is simple to diagnosis and there are many methods of treatment. Regularly, doctors prescribe medication to control hypertension, but blood pressure often can be lowered using natural, non-pharmaceutical methods. Lifestyle changes play a big role in blood pressure; losing weight, exercising regularly, eating well, reducing excess sodium, limiting alcohol, quitting smoking, cutting back on caffeine and reducing stress all positively contribute to a healthy blood pressure levels. In March of 2007, the Journal of Human Hypertension published a study that demonstrated a significant decrease in blood pressure following a chiropractic adjustment to the Atlas vertebra (located at the base of the skull). This study involved 50 individuals with high blood pressure; the improvement in blood pressure levels continued into the eighth week following the adjustment—potentially longer, as the study only assessed the patients following the adjustment and at a follow-up visit eight weeks later. Within 10 minutes of a chiropractic adjustment we have seen blood pressure levels already starting to drop. With long term on going treatment and adjustments the blood pressure continues to normalize and some patients have been able to decrease their medication.

Symptoms of TMJ can vary widely from person to person, but some of the more typical problems are fairly common among most sufferers. These symptoms might include pain in the jaw, trouble chewing or talking, headaches, and neck pain. In some cases, the patient may also experience a bit of dizziness. Since other ailments can cause similar problems, it’s important to be seen by a professional.

Dr. Grainger uses gentle light force instrument assisted adjusting to alleviating tension and dysfunction in the spine. As this dysfunction begins to reduce the pressure on various nerves, which then alleviates pain associated with TMJ. Internal massage of the pterygoid muscles can be quite painful but provides a tremendous amount of relief for those sufferig from TMJ. Many people who have TMJ need continual care in order to keep the pain and other side effects away. But with regular trips to the chiropractor, many sufferers of this condition find ongoing relief from this particular ailment.

Herniated disc or bulging disc is a condition wherein a disc protrudes outside of the normal radius in the spine. A person suffering from this condition may not even know there is anything wrong until the bulging disc presses on a nerve in the spinal column and start causing excruciating pain. Depending on the location on the spine, herniated disc can cause pain and loss of range of motion. Dr. Grainger uses both flexion distraction technique and spinal decompression to help in the non-surgical recovery of this disc injuries.

As children, the spinal discs are fluid-filled sacs that start to solidify as part of the normal aging process. By early adulthood, the blood supply stops and the soft inner material hardens. By middle age, our discs are hard, almost like a piece of hard rubber. This is why adults are prone to disc injury and degeneration.

Discs are firmly embedded between the vertebrae and held in place by ligaments connecting the spinal bones and muscle. There is little room for discs to “slip.” A “bulging” or herniated disc however, can occur when gel or fluid pushes out through a crack in the exterior. This can irritate nearby nerves and result in pain, numbness or weakness in an arm or leg. Many people, however, experience no symptoms from a herniated disc.

There are two types of herniated discs: protrusions and prolapses. A protrusion can occur if the disc bulges, pushing it out of shape. A prolapsed disc is one that bulges out so much, it actually separates from the rest of the discs. In this scenario if the disc pushes on the spinal cord or puts pressure on nerves, it causes severe pain that makes regular daily activities such as sitting, standing, walking, lifting, using the bathroom, sneezing or coughing very difficult. Foot or leg numbness or a loss of muscle control may also occur. Only a small number of those with low back pain have serious disc problems.

On average, one in three workplace injuries involves musculoskeletal injuries, which affect ligaments, muscles, tendons and even bones. These injuries can occur due to trauma or wear and tear from daily routines. Many people who experience these types of workplace injuries are potentially suitable candidates for chiropractic care.

Sometimes a whiplash injury is not obvious – to you nor to your doctor. The reason is symptoms such as pain or limitation don’t always show up immediately. Plus, the damage done by a whiplash is usually strain or sprain to the soft tissue, and as such is never visible on x-rays, and rarely, if ever, on MRIs. When they do make themselves known, symptoms of whiplash include things like such as neck pain, neck stiffness, shoulder weakness, dizziness, headache and memory loss and more.

Studies and case reports have demonstrated a link between improved behaviors and symptoms of children diagnosed ADHD while under chiropractic care. Gentle spinal adjustments and therapies are typically performed while under chiropractic care, and many patients and parents of patients have reported improvements in their children’s diagnosed ADHD symptoms and behaviors.

Supporting research demonstrates an important link between chiropractic care and the relief of colic symptoms. A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics demonstrated a significant improvement in colic from chiropractic care. Based on parent reporting, the three-month long study showed that there was a positive improvement in 94% of the cases. Another study published in the same journal saw a 67% decrease in crying for babies who were treated with chiropractic, versus a 38% decrease in crying for babies treated with the anti-gas medication, dimethicone.

Developing research and studies do indicate a connection between ear infections and chiropractic. Popular pediatric doctor, William Sears, MD, highly recommends utilizing chiropractic treatment for improving middle ear drainage and decreasing ear infections. In a 1996 study, forty-six children under the age of five received regular chiropractic adjustments to treat the symptoms of ear infection, and researchers found that 93 percent of all episodes improved, 75 percent in 10 days or fewer and 43 percent with only one or two treatments.

Shoulder, arm and hand pain and problems are common, and many issues with these areas can be linked to a group of nerves, called the brachial plexus. These nerves run from the lower neck through the upper shoulder area, and allow the shoulder, arm and hand to move and feel. Any nerve damage to the brachial plexus can cause pain, loss of mobility and loss of sensation to these areas, this is known as brachial plexopathy. This damage can be a result of a direct injury, stretching injury, birth trauma or other issues such as inflammatory conditions. Dr. Grainger will examine the neck and upper arm to determine what is causing the problem. Chiropractic adjustments, nerve flossing, laser therapy and trigger point therapy are all great options to eliminating this type of pain. 

The actual cause of arm or leg pain can be difficult to self-diagnose. If you have had an obvious injury, such as stressing a joint through a repetitive use pattern at work, dislocating a shoulder playing sports, or pinching a nerve by falling asleep in an awkward position, the source of your immediate pain may be obvious. However, when pain in the arms or legs develops slowly over time, without the occurrence of an obvious injury or accident, or when the pain from an injury has become chronic and the source becomes perplexing you may be in need of a more thorough assessment to determine the source.

There are a number of different possible sources, including bursitis, arthritis and tendinitis, but misalignment (subluxations) of the vertebrae in the neck and lower back are responsible for the vast majority of chronic arm and leg pain. If the spaces where the nerves leave the spine become narrowed due to the vertebrae or disc being out of position, the nerve can become irritated, and often produces pain down its entire path. Many patients are surprised when they see that the nerves travel from the spine all the way to the ends of our fingertips and toes.

Using non-invasive and carefully applied adjustments, chiropractors assist the body in gently re-positioning the vertebrae which can provide both instant and long term relief.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, CTS shows up in adults, appearing three times more often in women. The dominant hand is affected first and pain is usually severe. Assembly line workers, sewers, cleaners, meat packers, and data entry keyboard jobs are all at risk.

The median nerve originates in the cervical spine, as it enters the hand and wrist it passes under the transverse ligament. Repetitive motion such as office computer work causes this ligament to become inflamed which can press on the median nerve causing carpal tunnel symptoms. CTS occurs in the median nerve that runs from the forearm into the hand. It happens when the median nerve gets compressed in the carpal tunnel, a narrow tunnel at the wrist made up of bones and nerves, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels. The compression causes pain, weakness or numbness in the hand or wrist that radiates into the forearm. CTS can be triggered by wrist injuries, over activity of the pituitary gland, hypothyroidism, diabetes, inflammatory arthritis, repetitive use of vibrating hand tools, and fluid retention during pregnancy or menopause.

The chiropractor will also do a spinal manipulation to evaluate overall spinal health, review daily routines and look at medical history. The goal will be to relieve pain without medication or surgery. Initial therapy might include resting the affected hand and wrist, immobilizing the wrist to avoid further injury, and applying cold packs to reduce swelling. Chiropractic joint manipulation and mobilization of the wrist and hand, stretching and strengthening exercises, soft-tissue mobilization techniques, and even yoga can be helpful. If  left untreated, the syndrome can cause permanent damage to the hand or thumb. If you think you may have carpal tunnel syndrome, a quick consultation with a chiropractor can kick-start the healing process and potentially prevent an unnecessary surgery. 

Critical joints in the body, your hips control much of your movement. Injury or dysfunction can result in pain ranging from sharp to dull or numbing and tingling. Some common conditions and symptoms we see and treat in our offices include bursitis (joint pain caused by burning and swelling), sciatica (nerve pain that extends from buttock to legs), strains (inflammation) and arthritis.

Your knee contains muscles, tendons, ligaments and cartilage and is one of the most commonly injured joints in the body. Pain and symptoms can arise from conditions such as bursitis, runner’s knee (front and outside knee pain), tendonitis (inflamed tendons in the knee), degenerative arthritis and strain (ACL, MCL or meniscus).

Pain in the foot and ankle are often the result of a sprain. Other common issues include shin splints (pain in the lower leg through the ankle and foot), Achilles tendonitis (pain in the back of the ankle and heel), plantar fasciitis (sharp pain near heel of the foot) and heal spurs.

The reason you are suffering from plantar fasciitis is because of the stress placed upon the ligament causing the tiny tears. If you don’t take steps to reduce this stress, then you will continue to experience pain and inflammation. Your chiropractor can help take some of the stress off the ligament and give it a chance to heal through adjustments. Ultimate Spine and Wellness offers free orthotic evaulations including a 3D foot scan to show you exactly where your problem areas are.