I can understand why numbness doesn’t cause alarm in most people – after all, it only takes sitting in the wrong position for a few minutes for a hand or foot to fall asleep. However, experiencing numbness and tingling in the limbs can lead to a much more serious situation. I’m not speaking about permanent nerve damage (although that can be an issue for some) since any long term numbness will usually cause some distress and a subsequent doctor’s visit. A greater issue is the secondary injury that can arise from the lack of feeling or use of a limb. Case in point: I have a patient (called “Alice” here, for privacy reasons) who has chronic inflammation in her pelvis, low back, and shoulders, resulting in frequent periodic numbness and tingling in both her arms and legs. Since these episodes are frequent Alice treats numbness as an annoyance rather than treatment-worthy issue and does not usually come in for a treatment, opting instead to allow the numbness to recede on its own. During a recent bout of numbness Alice, who exercises regularly, sprained her Achilles tendon and partially dislocated her Calcaneus (heel bone). The reason for this serious injury is that the lack of feeling in her feet made for poor proprioception (the ability to sense the position of and strength being used by a body part), allowing her ankle to roll several times during exercise without her even feeling it. She had no idea her ankle had rolled, or even that it was injured, until the next day when the numbness receded enough to allow her to feel the significant pain of the injury. Alice has since admitted that this is not the first time this has happened; she has rolled her ankles in the past for the same reason, as well as receiving many cuts on her fingers during food preparation due to lack of feeling in her hands.
I bring up Alice in the hope that her situation will allow others to avoid her uncomfortable situation (at the current moment in time Alice has not been able to exercise for almost a month while her ankle heals) by seeking treatment for what may seem a minor annoyance. Having numbness, tingling, or even aching pain in the arms or legs can be the sign of an impinged nerve near the spine or another joint. If a nerve is pinched for an extended amount of time it will cease to send signals down its core; much the same as pinching a running hose will make the flow of water stop. Nerve bundles are set up in a way that the nerves responsible for feeling are wrapped protectively around the nerves responsible for moving which, in an evolutionary sense, is a plus for survival; after all, if faced with a dangerous situation the nerves used to move your muscles are more likely to keep you alive than those used to feel the world around you. However, since none of us is in imminent danger of being eaten by a Saber-toothed Cat, this doesn’t mean a great deal to modern humans, and means that a pinched nerve provides the disservice of movement and weight bearing without proper positioning.
In the end, even though I am in the Chiropractic field I do understand that the average person cannot take endless breaks from life to visit the doctor’s office, and therefore give this advise: pay attention to your body. If you have any numbness or tingling in your limbs be very wary of exercise, especially those which are weight bearing or require shifting body weight or directions frequently. If in doubt, swim. If numbness or tingling lasts for more than 24 hours seeing a Chiropractor would be a wise idea, but not required. If numbness or tingling has occurred within a week of a traumatic incident (such as a fall, sports injury, auto accident, etc) please see your Chiropractor right away, as it may be a sign of a more serious condition.
Whiplash is an injury to the cervical spine, which is caused by a jerking motion of the head and neck. When the head is thrown backward or forward, whiplash can occur. You can get whiplash in many other ways besides just car accidents. Playing sports, horseplay, awkward falls or even a sudden sneeze can result in whiplash. Whiplash can certainly be painful, and many times people will choose to enlist a chiropractor service for help and pain relief. A chiropractor can put the spine back in alignment so that the rest of the body can heal.
Common Symptoms of Whiplash
If you have had problems after an accident such as headaches, head and neck pain, stiff neck or muscle spasms, you could have whiplash. You will be able to recognize these signs quite easily and you will find in a case of whiplash, you have restricted head motion. You will not be able to turn your head all the way in the directions you want, so this is one reason you should seek a chiropractor service for whiplash. You can also have equilibrium problems and a loss of hearing and you may experience ringing in the ears which are all signs of whiplash.
If you are feeling lightheaded and excessively tired or even find yourself blacking out, it is a for sure sign you have most likely hurt your neck. If you are experiencing any nerve pain or nerve inflammation in the area of your neck you should get checked as well. Cold hands and feet are often a symptom, so is numbness in the arms, hands, shoulders, feet or legs. Periods of unexplained depression and anxiety could be a factor as well as irritability. You will find it hard to concentrate and may have a poor memory, another sign of whiplash is the pain between the shoulders; there may be low back pain, tremors, and rapid heartbeat.
If you have these problems, you need to contact a chiropractor service for whiplash. The chiropractor will work with you in a variety of ways, and they will align the spine to help with the restricted head motion. This can help you to get your balance back and hopefully the hearing will get better with less ringing in the ears. With the alignment, it should cure some of the eyestrain and you will not want to sleep the pain away. The numbness should go away, the pain should ease and nerve inflammation should get better.
Please contact The Head Neck and Spine Center of San Diego for a free consultation.
What causes shoulder pain?
The shoulder is one of the most complicated joints in the body and is vitally important in everyday life; as such, it can become the host of many problems. The shoulder joint needs a large number of small muscles and ligaments to achieve the huge range of motion it enjoys, and is therefore easy to injure due to strains, muscle spasms, and misaligned bones. Pain in the shoulders can also come from pinched nerves in the neck; the nerves, which allow for movement and sensation in the arms and shoulders, come from the neck and can be greatly affected by a subsequent vertebral misalignment. Shoulder injuries can occur during sporting activities, auto accidents, childcare, prolonged computer use, and manual labor, just to name a few.
Symptoms
Though the most obvious symptom of a shoulder injury is pain directly in the shoulder joint there are other symptoms that may crop up; any one of the symptoms listed below is a reason for a checkup:
Treatment and Recovery
Since the shoulder is such a complex joint there are several levels of treatment that can be applied. Here at the Head Neck and Spine Center we can treat most mild to moderate shoulder pain with spinal manipulation, heat therapy, ultrasound, electromuscular stimulation, therapeutic massage, and corrective exercises. Our doctors have years of knowledge in diagnosing joint pain, and can treat in house or can provide you with an easy referral for more aggressive treatments. We have access to an array of other specialties, including orthopedic surgeons, pain management, and imaging facilities. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above please call our office for a free consultation!
If you are a professional athlete or just play frequently for the love of the game, you may at some point in time end up supplanted on the couch in pain. This is when a sports injury chiropractor can provide the type of service you need. A sports injury chiropractor can provide sports medicine advice, give useful health information, nutritional advice and orthopedic chiropractic treatment. A sports injury chiropractor can help the sports enthusiast in many different areas.
A sports injury chiropractor will help you to restore the normal function of your body. This is done by fixing the blockages that occur in the nerve and spine areas. Because of this, they are able to provide pain relief to those individuals who have caused themselves injuries due to strains. They help aid in the prevention of running injuries as well by keeping the body maintained. This will all help to improve and enhance the physical performance during games.
A sports injury chiropractor can have many years of experience. This makes them qualified to deal with the experience that was a trauma to your body and you can find some very reputable chiropractors that have helped with many of the professional sports players.
You should go to a sports injury chiropractor that provides routine help, as they will help by looking at your nutritional aspects of your life. They will give you guidance to foods and diets that will improve your life and they will also counsel you on the different levels of fitness. They have helped athletes in the Olympics, runners, stunt people, professional athletes, football players, tennis professionals, marathoners, baseball players, and body builders.
A sports injury chiropractor is also educated in providing chiropractic care beyond the sports fields. They can help people with automobile injuries as well, and they help people with low back pain. They help with neck pain, joint pain, wrist pain, and shoulder pain. There is also evidence in help with hip pain, shin splints, lower leg injuries, muscle spasms, whiplash, carpal tunnel, fibromyalgia, and many other areas.
If you have any of these injuries, you will want to consult with a sports injury chiropractor. This is a form of alternative medicine and this is a completely natural form of medicine that can be used with regular medical technology. Fixing the injury or joints will help to relieve the pain you are feeling. There is no need to suffer any more. If traditional health care is not helping you, turn to the alternative.
Contact us at The Head, Neck and Spine Center of San Diego for a consultation or visit www.newlajolladc.wpengine.com
Our bodies induce a formidable amount of force through the Achilles each time we stand up, not to mention run, walk or jump. Tiny rips and tears can occur every day and heal themselves at night when we sleep. When the Achilles experiences repeated and harsher stresses, the tears can lead to tendonitis. Because relatively small blood supple, healing can take longer. Overuse, imbalance and poorly fitting shoes are huge offenders. Minor rips, tears, and tendonitis can certainly occur from imbalances in the foot or sports activity. However, this tendon is more at risk for injury caused by long-term overuse.
Achilles Tendonitis
Avid runners and athletes frequently experience inflammation or Achilles tendonitis. It is important to protect the feet during any activity. An injury to the Achilles tendon will surely inhibit activities as simple as walking. Proper healing is also critical to prevent chronic pain from injury. Tendonitis can be fought with plenty of rest and ice.
Pronation
Excessive pronation of the feet can have a considerable effect on the Achilles tendon. Pronation creates imbalances that off-center the foot and ankle, which can lead to injury. Injury caused by pronation can affect men and women of all ages. The tendon becomes weakened or stretched beyond its normal limits and can be timely to restore back to health.
Recovery
Given the location of the Achilles tendon, and the critical role it plays each day, it is important to recover this part of the body effectively. Rest and ice should be incorporated even for the most severe cases. Ice will help reduce inflammation and rest will take stress off of the injured tendon and help restore its natural range of motion.
In addition to rest and ice, proper recovery and prevention can be supported by proper footwear, and stretching. Proper stretching is beneficial for restoring the natural range of motion in the feet. A chiropractor’s knowledge of the body’s functionality is an excellent approach for recovery. Footwear that offers a solid medial arch and extra support for the foot and ankle will help prevent injury. It will also support an injured ankle from further injury.
Contact Dr. Goldstein for a consultation at 858-558-3111 or go to newlajolladc.wpengine.com for more information.
We often do not think of the potential of injury at the office, or at the jobsite. Imagine all of the hours spent at work – 8 hours a day, 40+ hours a week. Between the tweaks, twists, lifting and typing, something is bound to trigger musculoskeletal injury or pain. Many of us will suffer some sort of pain at the end of the workday – whether it is in the wrists, ankles, or lower back. However, we may not be aware that the pain could be due to our work. Rather, we make excuses for pain, such as “I’m just tired,” or “I’ve always had this.”
When working at a desk, a slouching posture in the chair feels good for a while, but it might not be conducive for preventing long-term problems. Repetitive processes such as typing can cause persistent pain to various parts of the musculoskeletal system. Tendons and nerves can become inflamed due to overuse, which can create serious problems. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be a result of repetition and overuse which affects nerves in the wrists that can hinder the ability to work. Even the temperature of the workplace affects how our muscles and joints respond.
According to Blue Cross of California, “an average Carpal tunnel surgery costs the company about $29,000…. but that’s not all. For every dollar the company spends on medical costs, they spend 3 to 5 times in indirect costs such as re-hiring, retraining, down-time and more.”
Labor-intensive work environments, such as a construction site, or seemingly less stressful work such as in a department store, serve a greater risk for musculoskeletal injuries.
Heavy lifting can easily strain muscles and induce severe pain.
Tripping over a box or slipping on loose material can result in strains or broken bones.
Prolonged standing puts stress on bones and can create imbalances in posture.
Musculoskeletal injuries at work have created a widespread problem in the U.S. as well as across the globe. A larger percentage of the workforce suffers every day from pain, and job performance is affected. According to the American Chiropractic Association, “Musculoskeletal disorders alone – like back pain and neck pain – account for more than 32 percent of all injuries that cause an employee to perform poorly on the job or take days off from work, costing employers more than $60 billion per year in lost productivity.”
In the face of this, companies are trying to find preventative solutions. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and when it comes to dollars spent, corporations are beginning to feel this in the pocketbook. An employee’s reporting and care of an injury in the workplace is a critical piece of the problem. Therefore, it is critical to have a plan for prevention and even a reporting structure for work-related injuries.
One approach for work-related injury prevention is to incorporate chiropractic treatment at work. A chiropractor’s perspective on the musculoskeletal system is truly unique and is an effective approach for preventing and treating musculoskeletal pain.
Educating the workplace on proper ways to stretch, lift, and even providing adjustments are great ways to help eliminate work-related injury. When compared to forking out thousands of dollars for employee injuries, the chiropractic approach is an inexpensive way to prevent and reduce work-related ailment. Promoting wellness for employees will bring health and a more positive outlook on each workday.
Contact us at the Head neck and Spine Center of San Diego for an appointment today. www.newlajolladc.wpengine.com 858-558-3111
Car accidents are one of the many causes of whiplash; other cases may be a result of sports injuries, or a serious fall. However, with an abundance of motorists on the road each year, the risk of being in a whiplash-related accident is a high probability. The slightest impact in a car can result in neck and cervical distress. “An 8mph car collision produces two times the force of gravity (or a G-2) deceleration of the car, and a 5-G deceleration of the head. This unnatural and forceful movement affects the muscles and ligaments in the neck, stretching, and potentially tearing them.” Anyone that experiences pain after an accident should not ignore the symptoms.
The broad range of symptoms and lack of significant tangible evidence (i.e. scarring, broken bones) leads many medical doctors and insurance companies to dismiss whiplash and prescribe rest and temporary painkillers. The most common source of pain is usually caused by stretched or torn ligaments, which cannot be seen by the naked eye. The spinal structure is incredibly vulnerable during an accident, discs in the vertebrae could slip out of alignment and pain could show up days or even weeks later. Symptoms can start off fairly mild and progressively get worse. Initially, whiplash pain may be similar to muscle soreness, but as it intensifies, concussion-like symptoms may appear such as fatigue, dizziness, and blurred vision.
It is important for whiplash patients to seek a chiropractor for corrective help because of their expertise in spinal manipulation. “Chiropractic care, with its emphasis on comprehensive spinal health, is well suited to the complex, diverse symptoms and therapeutic response that have contributed to seeming confusion regarding whiplash…. A chiropractor’s systematic approach to treatment, with a realistic focus on active rehabilitation, can achieve better-than-average results for many patients.” Through methods of manipulative care, chiropractors provide a critical approach for whiplash patients by slowly strengthening the damaged ligaments and tissues back to health.
The primary goal for a whiplash patient is to restore movement and functionality in the damaged areas. Inactivity will not help the muscles become reoriented with their original range of motion. Routine adjustments from a chiropractor are critical, but patients must be proactive at home as well.
During the night, patients who use ordinary pillows do not receive the corrective support to the head, neck and spine. Cervical pillows offer proper alignment, which is essential to maintaining good posture. Proper alignment and posture will help to reduce tension throughout the day, enabling greater mobility.
Between regular visits with a chiropractor, whiplash patients should begin at-home rehabilitation to the injured spinal structure. As the soreness subsides, treatment for whiplash must involve re-strengthening the ligaments in the neck that have been overly strained. As mobility in the neck is restored, resistance should be gradually increased to enhance balance and strength. Whiplash is a very severe injury to a critical part of the body. Effective recovery must include a solid balance between chiropractic care, rest, and proper exercise. These methods of treatment are cost efficient and many can be done in the convenience of home. Whiplash is not something that you “live with.” The pain can be defeated and life can resume back to normalcy.
Eighty percent of the population of the United States, at some point in their life, is going to have back pain.
Could you fall into this percentage?
The human back and spinal structure is a highly complex part of the body. It consists of bones, discs, muscles, and ligaments that all play a critical role for movement of all extremities. The back is a strong and fundamental part of the body, but it does have its weaknesses.
The lower back is the most common area for pain and can limit everyday activity. In order to help prevent it, it is important to know what it is and how it develops. There are two degrees of low back pain (LBP) people can suffer from – acute and chronic. Both affect the same area of the body, however, they differ in frequency of occurrence.
Acute
Acute low back pain is considered any discomfort in the lower back region, lumbar muscles, or pelvis that lasts three months or less. In most cases, the pain is treated effectively, diminishes, and life returns back to normal.
Cases of acute LBP can differ greatly according to a person’s lifestyle or the injury at-hand. LBP can arise from something as simple as sitting on a wallet or money clip (Sciatica) for an extended period of time. Acute pain can also come from a more severe injury, such as a herniated disc in the spine. However, severe back injuries can take longer than three months to heal, (technically making them Chronic). For an injury to be considered acute, the pain must be treated and subsided within three months.
To effectively treat LBP, muscles and ligaments need to be properly restored, which can be done through chiropractic adjustments and staying physically active. It is important to avoid prolonged bed rest, as the strained muscles and ligaments must be strengthened.
Lack of exercise, work situations, smoking, and stress are all contributors of LBP.
It is important to have an active, healthy lifestyle to reduce symptoms. Proper nutrition, exercise, and smoking cessation are ways to help reduce pain, increase blood flow, and establish a healthy body.
It is smart to have a plan when taking on LBP. Routinely visiting a chiropractor for adjustments will help to restore the injured muscles and ligaments in the spine. The chiropractic approach is to find the cause of the pain and treat it directly. This may involve realigning the spine or extremities by chiropractic adjustments, physiotherapy for the muscles and ligaments, rehabilitative exercises, or a combination of these. D.C’s can recommend ways to lead healthier lives outside of their office by offering tips on exercise and nutrition. Maintaining this healthier lifestyle will help reduce the intake of temporary medicine and promote overall wellness.
Chronic
Low back pain is considered chronic if it lasts longer than three months. However, this does not necessarily mean that the injury is more severe than acute. There are possibilities that chronic pain can develop from degenerative disorders, scoliosis, or bone disease. But the percentage of people that suffer chronic pain from severe conditions is much smaller.
Chronic LBP can result from the same injuries that were mentioned in, acute LBP. The outlying difference between the two is chronic LBP lasts longer than three months; it can even stick around for years. One of the greatest problems many patients face with chronic LBP is not being able to pinpoint the pain.
When the lower back’s muscles and ligaments have been strained, or if a spinal disc has herniated, the injured components must be repaired. The body will not automatically heal what has been damaged by itself. This pain can be subsided with heat, ice, or painkillers, but if a patient is unwilling to be proactive; low back pain will persist. This is a large factor for men and women that claim disability, or do not return to work.
According to National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on low back pain, the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work. Back pain is the second most common neurological ailment in the United States — only headache is more common.
In many cases, prolonged pain is a result of unhealthy habits. Chronic LBP can result from lack of exercise, obesity, or strains caused by lifting. The best remedy to treat lasting back pain is to be proactive. This involves routine visits with a chiropractor and exercising to restore the injured area. Also, cutting out old habits that induce stress on the body plays a major role in fighting constant back pain.
A D.C’s expertise in spinal manipulation and extremity adjustments can be beneficial for low back pain. Chiropractors can also provide techniques for at-home recovery, starting with exercises and nutrition.
Take care of your body. Pain will not relieve itself!
Contact your San Diego Chiropractic Group- The Head Neck and Spine Center of San Diego.
858-558-3111. wwwnewlajolladc.wpengine.com
Dr. Goldstein
by: footlevelers
Back, neck and shoulder pain is the natural result of prolonged sitting at work behind a computer, as is bad posture. This can cause headaches and excessive tension in neck, shoulders, arms, forearms, wrists, back, hips, thighs and legs. The result is increased fatigue to the muscles and ligaments supporting the lower back and this can eventually lead to tissue injury and spinal joint dysfunction. Avoid these problems by posture correction, exercise and correct use of equipment.
Symptoms of back problems due to excessive computer use include:
* Back and neck muscle spasm and pain
* Back and neck soft tissue inflammation
* Back, neck and shoulder pain on movement and involvement of other muscles as a reaction
* Referred pain to buttocks and thighs or up the spine
Preventing back and neck pain while sitting is not an exact science as there are many differing opinions on the subject. However, there are some common denominators on which most chiropractors and other medical professionals agree:
Tips to Prevent Computer Related Neck and Shoulder Pain
Do not slouch in front of the computer or lie in bed and work on a laptop.
Do not work for hours in front of a computer without breaks.
Do not ignore back twinges and back pain, hoping that the problem will resolve itself.
Avoid taking pain or anti-inflammatory medication when in pain from using a computer. This will serve to mask the symptoms but can lead to serious injury or permanent nerve damage in the long term.
Do not sit on one leg or sit with legs crossed as this causes additional strain to the back.
Do not perch a laptop on the lap and stare down at the screen – this places extra strain on the neck, spine and arms.
Buy a chair that encourages you to use your back muscles, such as a stool chair with no back or arm rests. Lower back pain can be reduced or eliminated by strengthening the lower back muscles through active sitting exercises.
Buy an ergonomic keyboard and mouse and ensure that the height is adjusted appropriately.
Have a break every hour and do stretching exercises like neck rolls, chin tucks, cupping head in hands behind the head and extension exercises.
Visiting a Chiropractic Clinic
A chiropractor is a medical professional who treats spinal column dysfunction. Back and neck pain may be the result of the back being badly aligned and the chiropractor sets out to relieve the problem by manual manipulation, exercise, massage and the application of heat, cold and light.