Category: Chiropractic

The Brain + Spine Connection

Bottom Line:

 

Odds are, you’ve pondered on the brain-body connection a time or two here and there, and for good reason.

 

Every thought and movement in your life occurs through your brain or spinal cord – commonly referred to as our central nervous system.

 

The spinal cord both carries nerve signals from the brain to other parts of the body and receives sensory input from the body and transmits that information back to the brain.

 

Your spinal column is the armor that protects your spinal cord as it travels down through your body and branches off into the nerves that power that brain-body connection.

 

Every moment, millions (literally, millions!) of messages are moving along your spinal cord to maintain the necessary balance between your brain and body you need to function.

 

Needless to say, ensuring your spine as a whole is feeling and functioning at its best is important, and we’re here to help if you’re looking for holistic joint pain treatment in Mount Pleasant.

 

And here’s something you may not know…

 

Recent research has shown that our hands-on chiropractic adjustments can positively impact the chemistry of your brain!

 

Read on to learn more.

 

 

Why it Matters:

 

Yes, chiropractic adjustments have the potential to alter the levels of different biochemical pain markers in your brain for the better.

 

So, what are biochemical pain markers?

 

When we talk about biochemical pain markers, we’re talking about chemical substances that can influence your perception of pain.

 

For example, let’s look at neurotensin and oxytocin in this brain-body connection.

 

Neurotensin is associated with pain blocking as well as the regulation of dopamine, and, similarly, oxytocin is associated with both a decreased sensitivity to pain and an improved mood.

 

Increased levels of each of these chemical messengers in the body can promote an overall reduction in pain.

 

It’s no wonder chiropractic adjustments are recommended first by many local healthcare professionals for neck, back, and joint pain treatment in Mount Pleasant.

 

Consider what we know…

 

● Your brain and body are in constant communication through your central and peripheral nervous systems.

● Increased levels of neurotensin, oxytocin, and other similar chemical substances in the body can promote an overall reduction in pain.

● Chiropractic adjustments to your neck or back have been connected to immediate increased levels of those same pain-relieving substances.

 

Chiropractic, the Brain-Body Connection, and Joint Pain Treatment

 

In recent studies, researchers observed both decreased cortisol levels and improved motor control following chiropractic adjustments (spinal manipulative therapy).

 

What’s more, other recent studies have also shown that chiropractic adjustments can be more effective than spinal injections for treating disc issues.

 

In short, for those seeking pain relief, a strong case exists for chiropractic.

 

The results we discussed here are a big part of why many top medical organizations now operate under a conservative care first model for the treatment of chronic pain.

 

Next Steps:

 

Over the past 100 years, scientists, doctors, and other healthcare professionals have observed and learned a lot about the brain-body connection.

 

In our practice, we’ve seen first-hand just how chiropractic care can strengthen the connection between your brain and body, and we’ve helped many people seeking non-invasive joint pain treatment in [your city / town / neighborhood] feel and function better.

 

And considering that the spinal cord can send information to your brain at a rate of over 250 mph, it’s no surprise that those who walk through our doors leave with less stress and less pain after just a few minutes of adjusting.

 

Aging, healing, and your entire life experience happen through a constant concert of communication and coordination between your brain and body.

 

And keeping that all-important organ under your hat and everything underneath functioning at their best can help you maintain an optimal brain-body connection.

 

So, if you’ve had a hard time staying active due to pain, know that we specialize in holistic, gentle joint pain treatment in Mount Pleasant, and we’re here to help.

 

We invite you to schedule an evaluation with our compassionate team of experts today.

 

Together, let’s get you on the road to lasting pain relief!

Disc Issues and Chiropractic

Bottom Line:

 

Disc herniations, bulges, protrusions, and extrusions (oh my!) are some of the most common reasons people visit a chiropractor.

 

In fact, most people see a chiropractor not just because they have lower back disc issues but because such conditions have caused a significant impact on their quality of life.

 

The good news?

 

You can get natural, non-invasive treatment for a herniated disc in Mount Pleasant.

 

The research doesn’t lie and backs up what we’ve witnessed for years – chiropractic care provides outstanding results for people with lower back disc issues.

 

Why it Matters:

 

A spinal disc has a soft, jellylike center encased in a tougher, rubbery exterior – referred to as the nucleus and annulus, respectively.

 

A herniated (or slipped or ruptured) disc happens when some of the nucleus pushes its way through the annulus, and while this can occur in any part of the spine, herniated discs are most often found in or near the low back.

 

And it may surprise you to know that no two patients who’ve come to us seeking treatment for a herniated disc in Mount Pleasant are alike.

 

In some cases, those with lower back disc issues have no symptoms.

 

In other cases where a patient has been living with a herniated disc or other lumbar disc condition, they report pain, numbness, or weakness in other parts of the body.

 

The good news is that these symptoms tend to improve over time, and invasive intervention is not required in most cases.

 

That’s because your body has an incredible ability to heal without drugs or surgery – yes, even from disc herniations!

 

In fact, movement can be thought of as medicine for the body.

 

That’s why our team specializes in natural treatment for disc herniations and more in [your city / town / neighborhood].

 

We know that there are specific chiropractic techniques that can positively influence the pressure on your spinal discs.

 

Chiropractic Care as a Treatment for Herniated Discs and Lower Back Disc Issues

 

Recent studies have also shown that conservative treatment options like chiropractic adjustments can be more effective than spinal injections for treating disc issues.

 

Still more studies have shown that movement, reducing intra-discal stress, and opening up the channels your nerves pass through can improve how you feel and help accelerate the healing process.

 

Consider that disc herniation is most often the result of a gradual, aging-related wear and tear.

 

As we age, our discs become less flexible and more prone to dysfunction – oftentimes, most people can’t pinpoint the cause of their herniated disc.

 

Sometimes, lifting a heavy object with your back rather than from your legs can lead to a herniated disc; the same can happen if you don’t have the support you need to turn while lifting said object.

 

It’s easy to see why maintaining disc health is so important.

 

Making time for regular exercise, making it a point to maintain good posture, and getting screened and adjusted regularly by your favorite chiropractor are so important to ensuring the health of your spinal discs.

● Exercise helps stretch and strengthen the muscles that stabilize and support the spine.

● Practicing proper posture also helps reduce excess pressure on your spinal discs.

● Chiropractic adjustments help maintain proper motion of the spine as a whole.

 

Remember, your body has an incredible ability to heal itself, and that’s what we’re here to help you with, especially if you’ve been looking for an alternative or more holistic treatment for a disc herniation in Mount Pleasant.

Next Steps:

 

We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again – chiropractic care provides outstanding results for people with lower back disc issues.

 

As you just read, recent studies have shown that people with disc herniations have reported experiencing better, longer-lasting pain relief with chiropractic adjustments versus injections.

 

So, know that if you have received an MRI that indicates you might be living with some lower back disc issues, it certainly does NOT automatically mean that surgery or injections are your only options.

 

Give us a call today to discover a natural way to find relief.

 

Our doors are open, we specialize in natural, non-invasive treatment for herniated discs in Mount Pleasant, and we’re here to help!

Facet Joints: Gliding Your Way to Better Health

Bottom Line:

 

If you’ve had neck or back pain that you could pinpoint with your finger or felt a sharp pain in your back when moving, the cause may have been some sort of dysfunction with one or more of the facet joints (often the lumbar facet joints) of your spine.

 

So, what are the facet joints?

 

Think of these joints as the “knuckles” of your spine that glide, slide, and stabilize.

 

They both add flexibility to your spine so you’re able to bend and twist your back and also help to keep you from “over doing” any of those motions (i.e., hyperextending or hyper flexing).

 

Needless to say, ensuring your facet joints are functioning at their best is important to making sure you’re able to move freely, and if you think you might need facet joint pain treatment in Mount Pleasant, you’ve come to the right place!

 

Here’s what you should know.

Why it Matters:

 

As we age, our spinal discs also age, and it’s our facet joints – often our lumbar facet joints – that take on the extra load.

 

And, as you may have guessed, this excess stress and pressure can wear them down.

 

This can lead to the development of adhesions, bone spurs, and pain that can all limit our ability to move freely.

 

The good news? Targeted spinal adjustments can help break up adhesions in and around your lumbar facet joints, cervical facet joints, and the other joints in your spine to help reduce pain and restore proper motion.

 

That’s why our team specializes in facet joint pain treatment in Mount Pleasant.

 

To recap, here’s what we know…

 

● The facet joints of your spine slide and glide to allow you to bend and twist your body.

● As we age, adhesions can develop in our facet joints that restrict how well we move.

● Adjustments help break up adhesions surrounding the facets so you can once again move freely and with less pain.

 

 

Chiropractic Care for Lumbar Facet Joint Pain Treatment

 

There’s a wide range of research supporting the use of chiropractic care for the management of adhesions and pain related to the lumbar facet joints and understanding the results of those

studies can help you decide if facet joint pain treatment in Mount Pleasant may be right for you.

 

For your reference, here’s some basic terminology you’ll find helpful when reviewing any such studies:

 

● The facet joints are also referred to as “Z” (zygapophyseal) joints.

● Chiropractic care / adjustments is also referred to as SMT (spinal manipulative therapy).

● The term “gapping” refers to the physical manipulation or mobilization of the joints.

 

In one recent study, researchers set out to understand the effects spinal manipulative therapy and specifically gapping of the “Z” joints can have on the adhesions and pain in the lower back.

 

In other words, they wanted to understand the effects chiropractic adjustments can have on adhesions surrounding the lumbar facet joints and any related low back pain to help evaluate its effectiveness as a facet joint pain treatment option.

 

And as it turns out, they did in fact observe that study participants reported both a reduction in pain and a reduction in restricted movement after receiving chiropractic care.

 

We’ve observed the same in those patients receiving facet joint pain treatment in Mount Pleasant at our clinic.

 

Such results demonstrate why conservative care like chiropractic is recommended as first-line therapy to treat low back and pain related to the facet joints.

Next Steps:

 

The facet joints of your spine – whether we’re talking about the cervical facet joints or lumbar facet joints – crave movement.

 

Movement is medicine, after all!

 

Movement helps the facet joints stay healthy and may even help slow down the effects of aging.

 

Spinal adjustments have been shown to reduce adhesions in these joints and others so you can move more freely and with less pain.

 

When you move better, you feel better, and we’re proud to be a part of the healthcare team that helps you stay active.

 

So, if you’ve been living with back pain and you’re nearby, know we’re here to provide the best facet joint pain treatment in Mount Pleasant, and our compassionate team is just a phone call away.

Relieving Migraine Headaches

The Bottom Line

 

Few things can ruin your day as much as a headache.

Relieving migraine headaches in particular can feel impossible.

They can seemingly appear out of nowhere, though they may hint at their arrival with two other heavy hitters: visual discomfort and nausea.

Whatever the symptoms, a migraine is one visitor you don’t want sticking around.

 

Why it Matters

Take it from the leading chiropractic migraine specialist in Mount Pleasant – knowing when a migraine is starting and understanding what matters when it comes to preventing and relieving migraine headaches is critical to improving your quality of life.

Let’s take a look at the four phases of a migraine headache.

Four Phases of Migraine

 

There are typically four phases of a migraine that many sufferers will experience:

Premonitory

 

This phase is usually the warning that a migraine is coming on. Many people will experience mood swings, neck stiffness, and constipation.

Aura

About 1 in 4 people who suffer from migraines will get an aura.

Migraine sufferers often report visual or sensory auras in the minutes before the actual headache. Visual auras can result in flashing lights and blurred vision, whereas sensory auras affect speech and the ability to think clearly.

Vision problems usually start 20 minutes to an hour before the headache. Even if you don’t get an aura, the headache itself may cause vision trouble.

Headache

 

A migraine headache can be moderate or severe and is likely to occur on only one side of the head. Migraine sufferers will notice that their headaches worsen with physical activity, so rest is critical..

Postdrome

 

The final phase in the migraine cycle is the postdrome. This occurs once the headache ends and leaves the afflicted person feeling exhausted.

 

Treatment Options for Relieving Migraine Headaches

Many migraine headache sufferers do not receive effective care.

For example, in the United States of America and the United Kingdom, it’s estimated that only half of chronic migraine sufferers seek the help of a healthcare professional, despite the often significantly disruptive symptoms.

These include:

● Throbbing headaches of moderate to severe intensity on one side of the head.

● The appearance of nausea and vision changes.

● Recurring episodes can last anywhere from hours to days.

Most are solely reliant on over-the-counter medications even though there are no surefire options that exist for relieving migraine headaches.

Similarly, it’s estimated that half of the people who experience chronic or occasional headaches will fall back on attempting to self-treat with over-the-counter pain medications despite the increased risk of experiencing rebound headaches that can happen as a result of overuse.

When it comes to migraines, this risk here is associated most with aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine combinations.

Of course, based on the symptoms and stages characteristic of most migraines, it’s easy to see why many people aren’t aware that there are non-pharmacological ways to manage their attacks.

Many of our local migraine patients who come in often relay this as a reason they waited so long to find a chiropractic migraine specialist in [your city / town / neighborhood].

Trust us, when the first time the headache comes back is reason enough to see a healthcare professional.

Just like with cervicogenic and tension headaches, it is possible to lessen the frequency, intensity, and severity of your migraines with a combination of lifestyle changes and chiropractic care.

While the cause of migraines is unclear, there are specific triggers that are often attributed to their onset.

Knowing what those triggers are and making proactive changes to any daily habits that may be associated with those triggers is crucially important to finding lasting relief from migraine headaches.

And, in one recent study, researchers observed a significant reduction in migraine days for those participants receiving chiropractic care.

 

Next Steps

 

The good news is that you can start effectively relieving migraine headaches by being proactive with your daily habits.

You know now that making time for periodic chiropractic care is an important step in finding relief from migraine pain, so don’t skip that next (or first!) adjustment.

If you’re looking for a chiropractic migraine specialist in [your city / town / neighborhood], our doors are open and we’re ready to help you find relief!

What about those triggers we mentioned?

Here are some of the most common:

● Consumption of alcoholic or caffeinated drinks and tobacco

● Periods of stress

● Exposure to intense lights or smells

● Periods of intense physical exertion

● Changes to sleeping or eating habits

● Certain medications

● Consumption of aged, salty, or processed foods and certain food additives

Migraine sufferers do well with preventive measures such as diet changes or taking steps to reduce stress.

If you need help determining which triggers are contributing to your headaches, don’t hesitate to ask us during your next appointment.

To ensure you’re on the right path and headed toward lasting relief from your migraines, it’s wise to connect with a healthcare professional.

“Doctor Google” isn’t really a doctor after all!

Our compassionate team has personally dealt with our own share of migraine headaches, and we’re here for you!

From lifestyle optimization advice to chiropractic adjustments and beyond, let us help you put those migraines in the rear view mirror.

The Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Daily Headaches

The Bottom Line

 

Half of the world’s adult population struggles with headaches at least once a year.

And while headaches can seem like no big deal most of the time, they also cause very real pain that affects your quality of life.

We’ve talked to a number of patients who regularly put off seeing a chiropractor specializing in headaches in [your city / town / neighborhood] to help them find relief because so many of us write off headaches as just another part of life.

But, why learn to live with daily headaches when you can ease them away, naturally?

Read on to learn about the very real benefits of chiropractic care for daily headaches.

 

Why it Matters

 

If you’re here, it’s probably no secret to you that a quick visit to a chiropractor can provide you with the care you need to find actual relief from head, neck, or back pain.

Headaches are among the primary reasons many people in many different countries worldwide see a chiropractor.

Most people think of a visit to the chiropractor when their head, neck, or back hurts for good reason.

We can help you find lasting relief from your headaches in a variety of ways (especially if you’re looking for a chiropractor specializing in headaches in Mount Pleasant.

Here’s a quick overview of the top 3 reasons you can benefit from chiropractic care for daily headaches.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help Relieve Headaches

 

1. We Follow a Whole Person Approach

 

We will perform a comprehensive history and examination during your initial assessment. This assessment will help us first determine if your symptoms are the result of any spinal issues. We’ll also rule out other possible causes of your headaches.

Your history and examination can help us identify your headache triggers so we can advise you about the lifestyle changes you need to find relief as part of your chiropractic care for daily headaches.

For example, the foods you eat can contribute to your risk of experiencing frequent headaches.

2. We Administer Person Specific Chiropractic Adjustments and Care

 

Recent studies have shown that chiropractic care can help improve headache pain.

Let’s look at cervicogenic headaches as an example. A cervicogenic headache is referred pain in the head from the neck. It’s what we call a secondary headache because it’s caused by another physical issue in the body.

Researchers studying the efficacy of chiropractic treatment for the care of these headaches have presented findings supporting the use of adjustments to lessen their intensity, frequency, and duration. In other studies, chiropractic adjustments were found to provide more relief than deep massage.

In still other studies, chiropractic care has proven to be helpful for the management of chronic migraines.

In an age where medication overuse is frequent, the effectiveness of chiropractic care for daily headaches is exciting news that more people need to know.

Relying too much on medications to mask your symptoms means that many people may never treat the root cause of their headaches.

Those same people also become more at risk for experiencing medication rebound headaches – yes, you read that right. Medication overuse will almost certainly lead to more headaches.

Chiropractors use a number of safe, non-invasive, non-pharmacological treatments for headaches. These include lifestyle education, manual or device-assisted spinal adjustments, spinal mobilization, heat/ice, massage, advanced soft-tissue therapies, and even strengthening and conditioning exercises as you’ll see next.

Most people are familiar with the hands-on aspect of chiropractic care for daily headaches, and our clinicians are highly trained in performing gentle and effective spinal adjustments. This training allows us to use our hands to apply a small force to a specific spinal j

force is applied, you might hear a slight pop, and some people feel immediate relief!

3. We Give Guidance That Includes Therapeutic Exercises

 

As we just noted, yes, chiropractors often incorporate strengthening and conditioning exercises into their patients’ care plans.

We want you to find lasting relief after all, and movement goes a long way!

Deep neck flexion exercises are great for treating the cervicogenic headaches we covered above.

Other active care techniques and exercises are another component of chiropractic care for daily headaches that can be performed from the comfort of your own home to help you ease your headaches between your appointments.

 

Next Steps:

 

It’s time to bring an end to that throbbing in your head, and we’re here to help!

You don’t need to continue to live in pain.

The benefits of chiropractic care for daily headaches are real.

Movement is a critical part of the healing process, which is why spinal adjustments are so effective and seeing a chiropractor specializing in headaches in Mount Pleasant is so important – yes, we’re talking to you neighbor!

If it’s been some time since your last adjustment or you’re ready for your first, give us a call.

Our team will be with you every step of the way on your road to headache relief!

The Link Between Stress and Headaches

The Bottom Line

Are you feeling rushed? Are you dreading a big meeting at work?

Take it from the leading provider of natural tension headache treatment in Mount Pleasant- these events can all add up to stress and headaches.

Often it’s not the event itself that results in a headache but your body’s reaction to stress.

If you deal with stress by clenching your jaw or tensing your muscles, you may be more likely to experience headaches due to these coping behaviors.

So, why does this happen and what can be done about the stress and headaches cycle? Read on.

Why it Matters

 

Way back when, our bodies evolved our fight or flight response for the purpose of making sure we would be adequately prepared to deal with any of the physical dangers we very realistically could have encountered on a daily basis.

As a result, our heart and breathing rate, blood pressure, and blood flow to our extremities all increase during such an event. It’s this fight or flight response that allowed us to effectively prepare for battle or to flee from predators in the wild.

Of course, we’re still hardwired with this very useful and necessary instinct, but times certainly have changed! Today, our bodies find it more difficult to differentiate between physical danger and psychological stress. We may react to that dreaded big meeting at work with the same internal reactions as if we were being chased by someone or something!

So, how does all this relate to headaches?

If there’s one thing you should understand about stress, it’s that it can and often will worsen your symptoms when you’re not feeling well.

There is a very real link between all kinds of stress and headaches.

Episodic headaches, or those that occur sporadically, are often triggered by isolated, stressful incidents.

A few of the most common everyday stress triggers include anxiety, poor sleep habits, or significant life changes.

Chronic headaches are often triggered by daily, constant stress and a lack of regular exercise.

To help you combat this cycle of stress and headaches, we’ve compiled a list of some of our top tips for reducing stress so you can reduce your headaches.

 

Tips for Reducing Stress and Headaches

Exercise More

 

Regular exercise boosts endorphins, which help put you in a better mood.

Making time to get up, get out, and get moving regularly also helps boost your overall energy levels so you can shift your focus away from whatever event or string of events is stressing you out.

Get Some Sleep

 

We repeat: get some sleep to turn the dial down on stress and headaches.

When you can, aim to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night and do your best to keep your sleep schedule consistent.

Falling asleep at the same time every night and getting up at the same time each morning will help you fall into a healthy sleep pattern.

Recent studies indicate that our sleeping habits can contribute to our risk of experiencing headaches, particularly migraines.

In fact, the majority of people living with chronic migraines and other chronic types of headaches often also experience some level of insomnia.

Relax

 

This is more than just a mantra when it comes to reducing stress and headaches, ladies and gentlemen.

It’s important to set aside time to specifically practice relaxation techniques that can help you feel calm during periods of high stress.

Meditation and yoga are two techniques that can help you feel both physically and mentally relaxed so you can mitigate the onset of stress.

See a Chiropractor

 

Keeping your spinal joints moving correctly can help reduce the strain on your spine and its supporting muscles.

Chiropractic care can help you relieve pent-up stress in your body and get you feeling better quickly.

So, come see us for natural tension headache treatment in Mount Pleasant.

Tension headaches are triggered when the neck and scalp muscles become tense or contract, and this often occurs when we hold our heads in one position for an extended period of time. Many people spend their days working at a desk, and doing so for hours on end usually results in an uptick in tension headaches. Sleeping with your neck in an awkward position may also trigger a tension headache.

Recent studies have shown that chiropractic care can help headache patients find lasting relief.

Chiropractic adjustments to specific joints in the neck, upper body, back, and other extremities can help correct the physical imbalances behind those tension headaches so you not only move better but feel better.

 

Next Steps

 

So, can stress cause headaches? Yes.

While there is a link between stress and headaches, now you know there are very simple, real ways you can combat this cycle.

Remember, when you feel your stress levels starting to rise, take a moment to practice your favorite relaxation techniques.

Make time for essential preventative self-care like daily exercise, balanced meals, and balanced sleep.

And be sure to periodically schedule visits with your favorite chiropractic team.

If you’re interested in natural tension headache treatment in Mount Pleasant, we’d love to help you!

Our expert team will work together with you to keep your body relaxed and moving well to help you find lasting relief from stress and headaches.

What Type of Headache Do You Have?

The Bottom Line

 

Headaches are experienced a little bit differently by everyone. Patients at our chiropractic headache clinic in Mount Pleasant may report feeling tired or that they’re dealing with some blurred vision or that they have a chronically stiff neck – you name it. Often, they find themselves unable to function for the day because of their headaches.

But, while the symptoms may vary, all types of headaches have one thing in common — they are not “normal” to deal with frequently.

If you’ve been doing your best to live with recurring headaches, it’s time to figure out the type or types of headaches you’re dealing with.

Why it Matters

As you probably know all too well, there are many different types of headaches.

Knowing which one you have is the first step toward finding relief and the best way to do that is to consult with a healthcare professional.

And if you’ve been looking for a chiropractic headache clinic in [your city / town / neighborhood], you’ve come to the right place.

Our doors are open and we’re here to help.

Here’s an overview of the most common types of headaches that people from all walks of life experience.

 

Most Common Types of Headaches

 

Migraine

Migraines come in all shapes and sizes. Typically you’ll feel a throbbing on one side of your head.

This type of headache can be excruciating and can last up to 3 days.

You will likely feel nauseous and may be sensitive to light, sound, or smell.

Here are a few additional key facts about migraine types of headaches:

● These headaches are thought to be related to the release of inflammatory substances in the head.

● Migraine-type headaches are twice as common in women because of hormonal influences.

● Migraines often tend to pass quicker in children.

 

Tension Headache

Tension types of headaches are very common and affect up to 20% of the population.

They can also appear when you’re experiencing a migraine.

Tension headaches usually consist of constant dull pain on both sides of the head as a result of tense or contracted neck and scalp muscles, and these types of headaches can last anywhere from a few hours to several days.

Stress, anxiety, and depression are a few common triggers of tension headaches. You could experience these types of headaches as the result of dehydration, loud noises, a lack of sleep, or even not getting enough exercise as well.

While that may seem like a long list with some potentially unavoidable triggers, the good news is that a number of them can be addressed as part of a healthy overall lifestyle.

Here are a few additional key facts about tension types of headaches:

● Tension-type headaches are the most commonly experienced headache.

● This headache is described as pressure or tightness, often like a band around the head.

● The pain associated with tension headaches can sometimes spread into or come from the neck.

 

Cluster Headache

 

Unlike migraine headaches, cluster types of headaches are usually experienced more by men than by women.

Those experiencing this type of headache generally feel an intense burning or even a piercing feeling behind or around one of their eyes.

Cluster types of headaches usually come when you least expect them and can last anywhere from approximately 15 minutes to 3 hours.

Here are a few additional key facts about cluster types of headaches:

● Cluster-type headaches affect fewer than 1 in 1000 adults and affect six men for every woman.

● Cluster headaches, while often brief, can occur up to several times a day.

● Those experiencing these types of headaches may have tearing and redness in the eye or a blocked nasal passage affected side.

 

Next Steps

 

We all deal with headaches every now and then, so we often don’t perceive them as serious enough to warrant a clinic visit.

In fact, it’s estimated that half of the people who deal with headaches are self-treating.

That may be why many people are not aware that there are effective headache treatment options that are natural, non-invasive, and that don’t involve prescription or over-the-counter pain medications.

That may be why many of the patients we see at our chiropractic headache clinic in [your city / town / neighborhood] are surprised to learn that overuse of medications intended to relieve their headaches can actually lead to more headaches!

So, if you’re having trouble with migraine, tension, or cluster headaches, give us a call today.

Recent studies have shown that chiropractic care can play a big part in reducing the intensity, severity, and frequency of many common headaches without those risky medications.

Our compassionate team will work with you to identify the root cause of your headaches and we’ll provide the gentle, movement-based care chiropractors are known for to help you break free from your headache pain.

How to Prevent Sciatica Pain

Bottom Line:

As we discuss how to prevent sciatica pain with our sciatica patients, we often notice
that many of them will make the comment that they don’t know how they hurt their back
when they start receiving treatment.

And that’s a completely logical statement to make.

It’s easy to understand how lifting a heavy object at work or sustaining a blow of some
kind or simply moving in an awkward fashion could result in an injury to your back.

The pain that comes with that injury tells you that you could have pinched a nerve and
that’s why you’re experiencing sciatica symptoms.

Completely understandable.

But, what we’re about to tell you as we dive into how to prevent sciatica pain naturally
may surprise you.

Research has shown that too much sitting may be one of the most common reasons
you find yourself experiencing that sciatica pain.

That’s also completely understandable.

As the leading sciatica pain specialist in Mount Pleasant, we’ve seen
the very real impact sitting too much has on our patients.

Here’s why.

Why it Matters:

When you spend hours per day sitting down, the muscles that support your low back
aren’t regularly activated, so they can start to atrophy or weaken.

This can lead to imbalances in your back that then result in increased pressure and
stress on your spine.

Without the support of the stabilizing muscles your spine relies on to keep your
vertebrae, discs, and nerves in balance and aligned, you’re more likely to injure your
back.

To put that in perspective, we’ve seen patients who’ve injured their back from lifting
lightweight items around the house.

Fortunately, the “how” in how to prevent sciatica pain is probably even easier than you
think.

We like to say “motion is lotion” for your body.

When it comes to how to prevent sciatica pain, movement-based care is at the top of
the list.

Stretching, for example, before and after any physical activity can help you both
improve your flexibility and reduce your chances of experiencing a number of avoidable
injuries.

Modern research also indicates that consistent exercise can stop or even reverse the
effects of too much sitting.

Incorporating just 30 minutes of exercise each day can help strengthen the supporting
muscles around your spinal column to help prevent future episodes of sciatica.

Other recent studies tell us that getting periodic spinal adjustments can have a part to
play in both the correction and prevention of conditions that can cause sciatica pain.

In fact, the top research journal SPINE found that maintained chiropractic care can
evaluate, detect, and potentially prevent future disc problems and low back pain
episodes.

In other words, chiropractic can be a very effective “how” when you’re considering the
actual steps of how to prevent sciatica pain and the recurrence of symptoms.

If you’re looking for a sciatica pain specialist in Mount Pleasant that
takes a holistic approach, you’ve come to the right place.

When most people think of chiropractic care, they typically picture “getting their back
and neck cracked.”

While It is true that chiropractic adjustments are a big part of the chiropractic treatment
of sciatica, we actually use a variety of treatment methods to address sciatic nerve
impingement and pain.

As chiropractors, we take a whole-body (holistic) approach to health and healing.
We combine techniques like adjustments, massage, exercise, nutritional advice, and
weight loss management to create a wellness plan unique to each individual.

Next Steps:

We’ve seen our patients enjoy significant relief from sciatica pain and improved mobility
with continued chiropractic care.

Maintaining your body with movement-based care is key in how to prevent sciatica pain.
We recommend including regular chiropractic care in addition to implementing some
level of planning to help get and keep you moving daily.

Even if time is tight most days, taking a few minutes every hour to get up and walk
around can go a long way.

Starting small is better than not starting at all!

And, as days become weeks, months, and years, the exercise you do now will pay huge
dividends down the road to keep you happy, healthy, and pain-free.

If you have struggled with recurrent or chronic sciatica pain, you’re not limited to
invasive surgical procedures, injections, or prescription pain medications to find relief.
You deserve better.

Schedule an appointment with a holistically focused sciatica pain specialist in Mount Pleasant like us.

We’ll work together to pinpoint the root cause of your pain and come up with a plan that
can help you get and stay out of pain for years to come.

You deserve nothing less!

 

The Top Causes of Sciatica Revealed

Bottom Line:

Here’s something that might surprise you as you dive into the top causes of sciatica.

Sciatica is not a condition, disorder, or diagnosis in and of itself.

Sciatica pain can be described as dull, achy, sharp, or shooting pain in the lower back
and hip, buttock, and leg on one side of the body.

Some may also experience burning, numbness, or tingling sensations.

When someone says they “have sciatica,” what they really have is a very specific set of
symptoms hinting at an underlying condition.

Many of our sciatica patients often comment that they don’t know how they hurt their
back.

Well, that actually makes sense.

What is that underlying condition 99.9% of the time?

Most all the top causes of sciatica are linked to the irritation, compression, or
impingement of a sciatic nerve.

How do we know this?

When a nerve is compressed or irritated — be it from a herniated spinal disc, bone spur,
or ligament overgrowth — it can become inflamed and painful.

And, as you may have noticed, the causes we just listed aren’t isolated to injuries.

Why it Matters:

Not all of the top causes of sciatica are injury driven in the traditional sense.

Natural changes that occur as we age, the pressure of gravity, and even stenosis
(narrowing of the spinal column) can also contribute to the development of compressed
or “pinched” nerves and sciatica pain.

The two sciatic nerves (or, more specifically, nerve bundles) are the longest nerves in
the body and for that reason, there are lots of opportunities for either one to become
irritated.

These are the major nerves to your legs, and they provide the sensation and motor
fibers that allow you to stand up, walk, and run.

That should give you a better idea of how any irritation to either sciatic nerve related to
the top causes of sciatica can result in those very noticeable and often disruptive
symptoms.

Think of your nerves like small, high-powered electrical lines.

They transmit signals from the power station — your central nervous system — out to
all of the muscles, organs, and cells in your body.

The electrical lines or nerves in your low back travel down your hips, buttocks, and legs
to your feet to your toes.

If the nerve is irritated at the power station, it will affect everything along the path of that
line.

That is why a spinal disc irritating a nerve in your low back can result in pain down into
your leg!

Sciatica pain can occur at any point along the course of either sciatic nerve depending
on where the irritation exists, and it can then radiate from there.

It’s possible to experience sciatica symptoms without low back pain.

It’s possible the pain in your leg isn’t related to an impingement of its sciatic nerve.

That’s why it’s so important to seek sciatica treatment in Mount Pleasant                                                                                           from a healthcare professional who not only has an in-depth
understanding of the top causes of sciatica pain, but of pain in the lower extremities as
well.

Back to our analogy.

Just like your local power company needs to perform maintenance on their equipment,
you should also perform periodic maintenance on your body.

Many people just don’t know that many of the top causes of sciatica pain can often be
resolved without the need for surgery, spinal injections, or pain medications prescribed
by an MD.

Staying active with daily exercise, stretching, and periodic chiropractic care can help
prevent issues in your low back.

Chiropractic care is an ideal treatment for sciatica pain because it can directly address
the root cause of that pain.

In fact, in one recent study researchers observed that over 90% of patients with
symptomatic sciatica reported being “much better” or “better” after receiving chiropractic
care.

Next Steps:

Periodic chiropractic care has the potential to increase your flexibility and range of
motion, help keep your spinal discs healthy, and it could even prevent future episodes
of back pain and the development of the top causes of sciatica.

In our practice, we utilize various treatments, including adjustments, to correct spinal
conditions such as herniated discs and minor vertebral displacements (subluxations) as
well as joint restrictions related to scar tissue and muscle spasms to both help relieve
your sciatica pain and prevent it from recurring.

So, if you don’t have your next visit on the books, be sure to reserve your appointment
today!

And if you’re considering booking your first appointment, know that you don’t need a
referral to see a chiropractor like us specializing in sciatica treatment in Mount Pleasant.

Simply pick up the phone, book online, or send us a message to get started.

A little maintenance today can go a long way towards a healthier tomorrow, and we’re
here to help.

What You Need to Know About Sciatica

Bottom Line:

Let’s dive right into what you need to know about sciatica.

To understand what sciatica is, it helps to think of sciatica more as a set of symptoms
than a condition.

When you hear someone say they “have sciatica,” what they have is pain, numbness,
or tingling that starts in their low back or buttocks and extends through the lower
extremity on one side of their body.

And wow, can it hurt!

It can also become chronic.

That’s why it’s a smart idea to seek out a chiropractor specializing in sciatica treatment
in Mount Pleasant.

Here’s what you need to know about sciatica and how it develops.

If a nerve in your low back is compressed or “pinched”, your body is sure to let you
know about it with a jolt of pain.

The sciatic nerves are the longest nerves in the body.

Several individual branches or nerve roots in your lower back combine to form the
sciatic nerves which travel down into each of your legs.

Although you have two sciatic nerves (one on each side of your body), sciatica
symptoms typically only occur on one side of the body as noted above.

If you have radiating pain down both of your legs, it is less likely that the pain is caused
by a pinched sciatic nerve.

Some of the common symptoms people experience when one of the sciatic nerves is
pinched or irritated include:

● Increased leg pain when sitting.
● Weakness in the leg or foot.
● Sharp pain that makes it difficult to walk.

Such symptoms need no introduction.

They’re probably what lead you to take some time to find out what you need to know
about sciatica.

Pain is your body’s way of saying “pay attention inside now!”

Each of the above symptoms is a warning sign from your body.

It’s your body’s way of letting you know you’ve pushed past its limits.
The good news?

With the proper care and a little time, you can get your life back!

Why it Matters:

Did you know that sciatica often resolves without you having to resort to risky
medications or a dangerous surgery?

No – we’re not talking about sciatica pain that seemingly disappears on its own.
This is really what you need to know about sciatica and to commit to memory.

Trust us, that pain will return if the underlying issue is not addressed.

In fact, we’ve heard many of our sciatica patients describe their symptoms as sciatica
attacks for this very reason – they come back!

Chiropractic is a safe, effective, natural, and popular treatment strategy for sciatica pain.
The numbers don’t lie.

In one widely circulated study, researchers observed that 89% of patients suffering from
symptomatic sciatica responded very well to chiropractic adjustments.

As the leading chiropractor specializing in sciatica treatment in Mount Pleasant,                                                                              we’ve seen it time and time again right here in our practice.

Movement-based strategies such as spinal adjustments, controlled exercise, and
dynamic stretching are a few of the most effective ways to relieve low back issues.

This is also what you need to know about sciatica.

Chiropractic care currently ranks at the top of many leading healthcare organizations’
recommendations to relieve sciatica and low back pain.

Medications and injections and surgeries are no longer considered first-line treatments
both because of their inherent risks and, ultimately, limited effectiveness.

And not only are movement-based strategies effective at providing relief, but research
also indicates these may be able to offer a preventative effect when continued over
time.

If you’ve thought about therapy that doesn’t include spinal mobilization, here’s
something else to consider…

A recent study found that 20% more study participants experienced sciatica pain relief
when spinal adjustments were included with a regular exercise routine.

Next Steps:

Sciatica pain has the potential to severely impact your quality of life.

But when it comes to what you need to know about sciatica, rest assured that you don’t
need to immediately resort to medications, injections, or surgery to correct the problem.

Top research publications have shown that risky prescription pain medications are
hardly ever more effective than a spinal adjustment.

The best way to treat sciatica is with the care offered in our practice.

Spinal adjustments, stretching, and exercise have all been shown to be extremely
effective at reducing sciatica pain by reducing the pinching (or compression) on your
spinal nerves.

Starting with chiropractic care is the smartest decision you can make.

If you or someone you know is struggling with sciatica pain, schedule an appointment
with a chiropractor specializing in sciatica treatment in Mount Pleasant
like us today.

Our doors are open, and our expert team is here to help!