Most forms of joint or muscle pain can be relieved with McTimoney Chiropractic treatment including the following:
The vertebral discs sit in-between each of the vertebra and act as cushions or shock absorbers; they allow for flexibility in the spine in order for us to move. Spinal misalignments can place pressure on a disc causing it to distort and bulge in a wedging fashion. If the bulge presses up against an adjacent nerve, then extremely painful symptoms can result. The disc can distort so much that it may become thin, tear or even herniate.
Sciatica takes its name from the longest nerve in your body, the sciatic nerve, which originates from your lower spine and extends down your legs to your feet. Symptoms are felt in either the lower back and/or buttock and anywhere along the nerves distribution. The pain can vary in intensity from an intermittent dull ache to full blown cramping, sharp shooting, numbness and tingling with weakness. Sciatica can be attributed to several different causes, it may be the result of a herniated disc, compression at the root of the nerve, or from tight soft tissue structures that crush, irritate and cause inflammation to the nerve.
What is Arthritis and how can chiropractic help to relieve symptoms?
Arthritis means joint inflammation and there are many different types of arthritis, the most common being osteoarthritis (OA) or degenerative joint disease (DJD). Osteoarthritisis usually the result of wear and tear or stresses on a joint. The smooth cartilage surface that covers the bone begins to wear away, resulting in roughness and over time the cartilage may wear down and degenerate until it disappears and bone rubs on bone. The joint may become deformed and bony protuberances can irritate surrounding tissue structures. Although the degeneration cannot be reversed, chiropractic can help by improving the alignment of the affected joint and surrounding structures, thereby helping to reduce the amount of abnormal stress it endures; muscle spasms that develop around the joint are also treated and such interventions can help to reduce stiffness, improve mobility and reduce your pain symptoms. Advice on ergonomics and exercise is also given.
Migraine headaches can be very debilitating; symptoms include nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, dizziness and visual disturbances. Pain is usually felt on one side of the head and over the eye and is throbbing in nature. Usually associated with restrictions in the upper 2 vertebra causing sensitivity to the surrounding nerves and restrictive blood flow. Chiropractic aims to remove pressure on the involved nerves thereby reducing symptoms.
Can chiropractic help reduce my headaches?
There are many causes of headache, and some conditions can be serious so it is important to seek advice on the type of headache you experience.
The most common are tension, migraine and cervicogenic headache.Headaches are a very common condition and chiropractic may be able to help reduce your symptoms.
Tension Headache is the most common type of headache. More associated with stress and poor postural habit, the primary cause is due to tightening of the muscles in the neck and shoulders as the soft tissues and surrounding joints strain to keep the head over the shoulders during long periods of fixed poor postural positions. They usually get worse throughout the day and symptoms are a steady ache with a tightening pressure that affects both sides of the head. Commonly associated with desk bound office workers, after a prolonged period the stresses incurred will alter the normal alignment of the spine. Chiropractic treatment for this condition helps to resolve the headache and aims to correct the poor structure through adjustment and ergonomic advice.