Common Symptoms

Whiplash

Whiplash occurs when the head is suddenly jerked forward, backward, or from side to side. When this takes place the muscle tissue in the neck can be torn, or ligaments can be stretched beyond their normal operational means. This causes the muscles in the neck to tighten to help support the head, causing limited movement, neck pain, and can cause headaches. Overstretching can also misalign the seven vertebrae located in the neck, which can put pressure on the spinal nerves.

The most frequent cause of Whiplash is an automobile accident. Other common causes are contact sports (such as football, basketball and hockey), overuse, and at work. In many cases an adjustment in the neck can relieve pain caused by this injury.

Mid Back Pain

Mid back pain can occur for many reasons. The feeling of tightness while turning, or a slow throbbing pain are the most common symptoms. Commonly the cause of pain in the mid back can be found in the lower back, or the lower neck region due to a misalignment. Instead of the pain coming from the location of the problem it is felt in the mid back. Of course, if there was an injury directly to mid back region, the cause of the pain in that instance is pretty well known.

Another cause of mid back pain can be credited to an injury in the ribs. The ribs are attached to the thoracic spine (middle spine). If a rib injury occurs, or even a strong force on the front of your body, the mid back may be affected.

Pinched Nerve

Due to the way your spine is designed, abnormal spinal function can be caused from physical trauma, emotional tensions, or chemical toxins. This affects the delicate tissues of the spinal cord and nerve roots.

While commonly associated with the spine, the pinched nerve (compressive lesion) is very rare. Researchers suggest that only 10% to 15% of spine related problems are caused by direct pressure of bone on nerve tissue! This can result in numbness, burning, or a “pins and needles” feeling.

More frequently, nerves become irritated (facilitative lesion). This condition is caused when nerve tissue is rubbed, scraped, stretched by a loss of spinal curve, or irritated by malfunctioning spinal joints.

Slipped Disc

The intervertebral disc is a pad of cartilage-like material situated between the spinal bones. Each disc serves as connector, spacer, and shock absorber for the spine. A soft, jellylike center is contained by outer layers of fibrous tissue. Healthy discs help allow normal turning and bending.

Because of the way each disc is attached to the vertebrae above and below, a disc cannot “slip.” However, trauma or injury to the spine can cause discs to tear, bulge, become herniated, or worse, rupture. This can be quite painful, as the soft center of the disc leaks, putting pressure on the adjacent nerve roots and spinal cord.

While results cannot be guaranteed, many patients have avoided needless surgery or dependency on pain pills by choosing chiropractic care for their disc-related health problem.

Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is one of the most common symptoms seen in a chiropractic office. There are many reasons for lower back pain to occur. Some of the most common reasons include improper or heavy lifting, work environment requiring frequent bending and twisting, even long car rides. Many everyday activities, even though no pain is felt, cause micro traumas to the spine that end up causing changes to the spinal structure. A chiropractic adjustment helps restore the spine to the normal position, allowing normal movement and nerve function.

Arm and Shoulder Pain

Reasons for arm and shoulder pain stems from many places. This can be due to inflammation in the neck and upper back regions. The effect of this results in stiff shoulders or arms, and limited mobility. Playing a favorite sport like tennis, or exercising at the gym can cause irritation. Even waking up one morning with your head in an odd position could be a factor.

Elbow Pain

Elbow pain symptoms can be affected by arthritis, tendonitis, sprains, and fractures. Those are just a few reasons for this pain to occur. If you are experiencing any swelling, redness, inflammation or limited mobility chiropractic treatment may reduce your pain. The treatments for elbow pain vary on the nature of the disease or condition that is causing the pain.

Knee Pain

Knee pain is caused when any of the ligaments, tendons or bursae (small fluid-filled sac) that surround the joint becomes injured. Also if any of the cartilage, menisci (plural for meniscus) or bones becomes damaged, pain can occur as well. Common symptoms of a knee injury are swelling, inflammation, warmth, tenderness and limited mobility. If the injury that affects the knee is bad enough, just sitting for long periods of time can cause pain.

The knee is a very complex joint, coupled with the fact that it is weight-bearing make the knee a commonly injured joint. Taking this into account along with the type of injury, and its severity, treatments can be done to alleviate pain, restore mobility and help provide an alternative to surgery.

Headache

Headaches are very common amongst people today in our society. Chiropractic care can help reduce, and eliminate headache pain all together. There are many types of headaches with differing causes the “Muscular Tension Headache” is the most common. Inflammation, joint irritation, or nerve compression in the suboccipital muscles are the cause of these headaches. The suboccipital muscles are the bridge between the back of the skull and the vertebrae of the cervical spine (neck). Stress on this muscle system can result in a headache. The style of treatment used is dependent upon the type headache.