More than 90% of headaches can be classified as tension, migraine, or
cervicogenic headaches. Of these, the tension headache is the most common type.
The symptoms are mild to moderate pain on both sides of the head, and they are
described as feeling "tight" or "stiff" in a band around the head.

 

Migraines are usually periodic, severe, throbbing headaches that are less common.
They typically affect more women than men, and usually only cause pain on one
side of the head. They are often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and may
also present with a visual disturbance called an aura.

 

Cervicogenic headaches are a musculoskeletal form of tension type headaches,
which may also be related to migraines. Due to the relative newness of this
classification of headache, these headaches often go undiagnosed.

 

 Millions of adults get headaches on a regular basis, and they are among the most
common physical complaints for which people seek medical assistance. Most
headaches are not due to serious underlying conditions, but they can be
debilitating and account for large amounts of time lost from work. 

 

If you are a headache sufferer, the obvious concern is to get safe and dependable
relief. You should be aware that over-use of drugs (even over-the-counter drugs)
can have serious side effects, and can even cause a specific type of headache
called a "analgesic rebound headache."

 

What can Chiropractic do?

Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to be as effective or even more
effective than medications in reducing the severity and frequency of headaches.

Chiropractic's ability to correct biomechanical dysfunction and spinal abnormalities
seems to lessen or remove the factors contributing to headache pain in many
individuals. In the article "The Effectiveness of Chiropractic Manipulation in the
Treatment of Headache: An Exploration of the Literature," (JMPT, 1996) the
author states that adjustments are equivalent to or more effective than medications,
and have the added benefit of greater durability or length of positive effects of the
treatment. This result has been reported throughout the research.

 

Another concern of patients is the risk factors involved in the treatment. In fact,

manipulation has been shown in studies to be safer than over the counter meds in the
treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, including headaches. In a 1996 study in
the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics entitled "A Risk
Assessment of Cervical Manipulation vs. NSAIDs for the Treatment of Neck
Pain," the authors conclude, "The best evidence indicates that cervical
manipulation for neck pain is much safer than the use of NSAIDs (e.g. aspirin,
ibuprofen, and Tylenol), by as much as a factor of several hundred times. There is
no evidence that indicates that NSAID use is any more effective than cervical
manipulation for neck pain.

 

Chiropractic is a safe and effective treatment of headaches that has helped many
patients with their debilitating problems. 

 

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What do you do for Chronic Back Pain?

There is now a large body of scientific evidence that chiropractic care is effective and often the best choice for acute back pain.  The word “acute” is used to indicate short-term back pain.  Even the U.S. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research recommends chiropractic care for acute low back pain.  On the other hand, chronic back pain that continues for beyond six weeks had not had as much clear-cut evidence proving chiropractic care effective—but that is changing.  A study published in the respected medical journal has shown chiropractic care to be beneficial for ongoing chronic pain. The researchers concluded that, “spinal manipulation is clinically useful in chronic pain patients who have been suffering for seven weeks or more.”

 

Dr. Weiner's approach is to restore motion to the affected joints and strength to the involved muscles. This is done through a combination of joint manipulation, physical therapies and rehabilitation exercises.

 

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Don't Wait to Get Examined!

WHIPLASH INJURIES CAN BE SO SLIGHT, AT FIRST YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW YOU ARE INJURED.

Even if you feel normal after an accident, with no symptoms, you should be thoroughly examined.  Symptoms can be delayed for days, and in some cases, symptoms may not surface for years.  Worse, whiplash injuries can still be causing symptoms after five years, and in the long run, can cause secondary problems such as osteoarthritis.  This delay in symptoms and the long-term consequences make it very important to be examined after any accident.

WHIPLASH

Any substantial blow to your body, whether from a car accident, contact sports, or an accident at work, can cause whiplash or other neck injuries and warrants a thorough

check-up. When no bones are broken and the head doesn’t strike the windshield, typical symptoms are as follows:

• 62-89% complain of neck pain -  this typically occurs two hours up to two days after the accident.  This is the result of tightened muscles that react to excessive movement of joints or ligament damage.

• 66-70% complain of headache - the pain may be on one or both sides, on again off again, or constant.  These are often the result of tightened muscles trying to stabilize the head. 

What exactly causes Whiplash?

In a rear end collision the victim’s car is first pushed or accelerated forward and then, because their foot is on the brake, or their car hits the next car in front, their car is quickly slowed down.  As the car accelerates forward, it pushes the body forward but the head stays behind rocking up and back, which leads muscles and ligaments to stretch and tear.

 

  

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF WHIPLASH

 

 

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Everyday, assembly line workers, keyboard operators, grocery store clerks, and many others, receive microtrauma to their hands and wrists.  Vibration and repetitive motions can often result in a condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome.

 

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. Bones in the wrist form the carpal “tunnel”.  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 can result.

 

The median nerve connects to the spinal cord through openings between 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 doctor will perform manipulations 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.

 

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Millions of Americans are affected by osteoarthritis. Most everyone over the age of 50 will have some form of arthritis. It is almost as common in aging as skin wrinkles and graying hair. In many people it causes only a mild symptom of stiffness and/or pain, in others the pain can be severe and crippling.

 

TYPES OF ARTHRITIS:

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS:

Rheumatoid arthritis usually starts early in life. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that is very damaging to the joints and can occur in any of the joints. In some cases the damage is so severe it causes loss of mobility and debilitating stiffness in the joints. What causes it and why some spontaneously recover and others do not is a mystery. Treating the symptoms of pain and stiffness is the best care the medical profession can offer.

 

OSTEOARTHRITIS:

The most common of all types of arthritis is osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease and hypertrophic arthritis. Osteoarthritis usually starts later in life. The cause is thought to be the result of too much wear and tear on the joints. Millions of elderly people suffer from osteoarthritis in the hands, especially people who have used their hands extensively. However, it is most commonly found in the weight-bearing joints, such as the knees, hips and the spine. Long-term osteoarthritis is characterized by spurring or bone growths caused by additional calcium deposition around the joints. This is believed to be the body trying to strengthen an area by adding calcium to make more bone. Its presence in the spine can be a sign of spinal joint dysfunction that may cause pain and improper joint function.

 

OTHER FORMS OF ARTHRITIS

Ankylosing spondylitis usually affects the spine. Gout is another form of arthritis that commonly occurs in the big toe. However it can occur in any joint. It is identified by chemical crystals deposited in the joints.

 

CHIROPRACTIC CARE

Chiropractors have had great success in treating arthritis due to the fact they address the joint dysfunction which is the underlying cause of arthritis. While arthritis is a non-reversible condition, many of the symptoms can be alleviated thru chiropractic care. In addition, if the underlying joint dysfunction can be corrected, the progression of arthritis can be slowed in many cases. 

 

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Sciatica

 

Sciatica is characterized by pain, weakness, numbness, and other discomfort along the path of the sciatic nerve. It is often accompanied by low back pain, which afflicts nearly every adult from time to time, costing billions of dollars in healthcare and lost days of work. Low back pain and sciatica can arise without warning and continue for long periods of time.

 

Sciatica is a symptom of a problem at some point along the sciatic nerve rather than an ailment in and of itself. A herniated disc in the back, spinal stenosis and piriformis syndrome are medical disorders that can cause sciatica. Individuals who have sciatica are often crippled by it. Pain is described as dull, achy, sharp, toothache-like, pins and needles or similar to electric shocks. Other symptoms associated with sciatica include burning, numbness and tingling sensations. Sciatica is also called radiating or referred pain, neuropathy, or neuralgia. A misconception is that sciatica is a disorder - however, sciatica is really a symptom of a disorder.

 

Treatment Approach

The type of treatment provided depends on the cause of the patient's sciatica. A sciatica treatment plan may include several different treatments such as ice/cold therapies, electrical stimulation, and spinal manipulation.

 

1. Ice/Cold therapy reduces inflammation and helps to control sciatic pain.

 

2. Electrical Stimulation increases circulation and helps to reduce muscle spasms, cramping, swelling, stiffness, and pain.

 

4. Spinal Manipulation- Manipulation frees restricted movement of the spine in order to restore range of motion to the spinal joints.

 

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