ChiroHealth and Rehab FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does a chiropractor for lower back pain do?

  Lower back pain is the most common type of back pain in the U.S. There is no single condition that causes pain in the lower back. Compression of the lumbar spine is one of the most common uses of chiropractic care for pain. This compression may occur due to chronically poor posture that results in a C-shaped curve in the lumbar spine. Also known as lordosis, this C-shaped curve can become chronic and painful.

  Spinal stenosis another condition that can cause lower back pain. It is due to the narrowing of the spinal column that can occur as a result of age-related gravity, injury, or illness. This narrowing can pinch nerves in the spinal column, causing pain.

  Chiropractic care for spinal stenosis and lower back pain focuses on lengthening the spine and bringing space between the vertebrae. This can relieve the pain and pressure on the nerves. In conjunction with exercise, chiropractic care for compression of the lumbar spine can help realign the spine to restore the natural inward curve of the lower back.

• What does a chiropractor for neck pain do?

  The six vertebrae of the cervical spine are delicate. We often tax these bones with our head-forward posture as we look down at computers and phones all day long. For every inch, our head juts forward of our shoulders, eight pounds of additional pressure are exerted on the cervical spine. Neck fractures and compression can result in extreme, debilitating pain.

  In addition to using previously discussed chiropractic techniques to relieve compression and pressure in the cervical spine, chiropractic care for neck pain can help patients understand what correct posture looks and feels like, preventing further injury.

• What does a chiropractor for sciatica do?

  Sciatica is less a pain condition and more a collection of symptoms that are described collectively by this name. Sciatica is caused when the sciatic nerve is compressed in the lower back. The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve in the body, originating from the lumbar spine and running underneath the buttocks, down the hips, and all the way to the lower legs.

  Sciatic pain can be sharp and shooting or burning. Other symptoms include weakness and paresthesia (pins and needles or a tingling sensation). Chiropractic care for sciatic pain can help lengthen the spine and relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve.

• How can chiropractors treat pain from muscoloskeletal issues?

  Subluxation, the misalignment of the vertebrae, is a common source of pain and inflammation for those who seek chiropractic care. One of the main causes of this misalignment is also one of the easiest to fix: sitting. Today’s workers sit during the majority of their day, and the lifestyle in the U.S. has become more sedentary. Add in poor posture and lack of core strength, and the spine begins to slump into itself, or over on itself, causing pain. Sitting properly even seems painful, and this can send a person to the chiropractor for relief.

  This subluxation also causes quite a few ancillary conditions that can be relieved with proper chiropractic treatment. Some of these conditions include:

  • Migraines and cluster headaches
  • Painful muscle spasms all over the back
  • Weakness in the arms and legs
  • Stiffness and pain in all regions of the back
  • Discomfort standing for long periods of time
  • Pain in the neck

  Subluxation when combined with the increasing amount of work done on computers can also cause tarsal or carpal tunnel syndrome. Chiropractic care may be able to treat both conditions. Other than pain, symptoms of this condition include varying degrees of numbness and tingling in the hands and fingers, plus stiffness and “locked” joints in the wrists and fingers.

• How do chiropractors relieve pain from injuries or accidents?

  Starting with the most obvious category, accidents and injuriesmay be what most people envision when they think about chiropractic. Becausepain from an injury may take several weeks to manifest, the chiropracticpatient interview is crucial to determine possible causes.

  Common injuries or accidents treated by chiropractic are:

  • Whiplash
  • Falls
  • Injuries due to lifting
  • Sports injuries
  • Illiotibial band syndrome (ITBS, sometimes called “runner’s knee”)
  • Injuries to the rotator cuff
  • Plantar fasciitis Injuries due to car accidents