How Chiropractors Approach Neck Pain

 

Chiropractors see patients come in with neck pain every day. It's a fairly common condition, especially since many people spend so much time sitting down and using devices these days. At Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center, we use a variety of chiropractic techniques to help patients treat the root cause of their neck pain, not just the symptoms. Dr. Jay McClanahan has years of experience using natural chiropractic techniques to remedy various conditions of the neck and spine.

Common Causes of Neck Pain

Neck pain is a symptom, not a condition itself. That means there are a variety of factors and causes behind it. One of the most prevalent causes in modern day society is poor posture. People commonly spend hours craning their heads over phones and computers in order to accomplish tasks. The best thing someone can do to avoid this is to work with better posture and take frequent breaks to move around. Other causes of neck pain are injuries, nerve conditions, spinal issues, and arthritis.

How can chiropractors help with neck pain?

Chiropractors help with neck pain by first evaluating the underlying source of the pain. From there, they will be able to formulate a care plan suited to your needs. This may include a therapeutic exercise routine, chiropractic adjustments, or massage therapy. Here at Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center, we offer a wide variety of treatment options at our Nitro, WV, clinic that will help patients overcome neck pain. Some other options we might employ in your treatment include electric muscle stimulation and spinal decompression therapy.

How to Improve Neck Pain at Home

In addition to chiropractic treatment, there are a few ways to improve neck pain at home. It's not advised to treat severe or persistent pain on your own, as this may be dangerous. However, some of the best ways to avoid pain are to consistently maintain good posture, change positions frequently, and gently mobilize the neck. Heat and cold are often helpful when applied safely. Also, stop any activity that worsens the pain.

To learn more about how Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center can help you reduce neck pain and optimize your quality of life, contact us today. Our team is on standby to answer any questions and help you set up an initial consultation with Dr. J. At this initial consultation, the doctor will evaluate your symptoms and goals. Then, he'll design you a custom treatment plan to meet your needs. You can reach us by calling (304) 776-1520. We look forward to hearing from you!

Low Impact Exercise

 

Almost everyone benefits from regular exercise, regardless of age, gender, or condition. However, not every type of exercise is beneficial for everybody. For the more sensitive, it's important to incorporate low impact exercises to keep active while avoiding pain and joint damage. At Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center, we regularly help our Nitro, WV, patients design low impact exercise plans optimally suited to their needs.

Low Impact Exercise vs. High Impact Exercise

Low impact exercises are those that are gentle on the joints. High impact exercises, on the other hand, involve heavy pressure exerted on the joints, such as when running or jumping. For those with pain or weak joints, low impact exercises are the healthiest way to stay active. There are plenty of different low impact exercises to choose from, from aerobics to yoga. If you're not sure what to choose, have a discussion with your chiropractor.

Who should do low impact exercises?

Many different types of people can benefit from low impact exercises, even healthy individuals! At Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center, we advise our Nitro, WV, patients with chronic illnesses, injuries, and those who are rehabilitating from surgery to engage in these types of exercises. Therapeutic exercise is recommended for people experiencing musculoskeletal pain. Low impact is especially valuable for those with arthritis since their cartilage is worn away in their joints, and higher impact exercises can be very painful. Other conditions benefiting from low impact exercise include asthma, heart conditions, fibromyalgia, pregnancy, and general aging.

How to Select Low Impact Exercises

All low impact exercises are suitable for most people. There's a wide variety, which means you can probably find a routine that suits you. If you're having a hard time or a medical professional has advised you against devising your own workouts, always feel free to reach out to your doctor to discuss options and get new ideas. Some common low impact exercise ideas include aerobics, water aerobics, power walking, swimming, working with therapeutic bands, body weight exercises, and more.  You can choose exercises according to specific parts of your body you'd like to strengthen, or just select for overall health and wellness.

If you'd like to learn more about low impact exercise and its benefits, reach out to Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center today. Our staff is here to answer questions and tell you more about how Dr. J's therapeutic exercise programs can help you improve your strength, health, and mobility. They'll also be able to set you up with an initial consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!

Benefits of Therapeutic Ultrasound

 

At Dr. J's Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, we offer patients therapeutic ultrasound to help with musculoskeletal issues and more. Prior to receiving this treatment, you might like to learn a bit more about it. Dr. Jay McClanahan's specialty is helping patients just like you overcome their musculoskeletal ailments with natural chiropractic treatment methods.

What is therapeutic ultrasound?

Therapeutic ultrasound is different from the kind used for pregnancy imaging tests. Therapeutic ultrasound involves sending low level sound waves into the body as a form of massage. These sound waves are able to target deep tissues that can't be reached with the hands. This type of ultrasound is completely safe and comes with minimal risk since it's a non-invasive form of treatment.

Who needs therapeutic ultrasound?

Therapeutic ultrasound comes with a wide variety of benefits. It's able to relieve pain, relax tissues, reduce inflammation, promote healing, and even improve flexibility! If you're looking for any of these benefits, come in to Dr. J's Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, for an initial consultation where Dr. J will take inventory of your symptoms and goals in order to determine whether therapeutic ultrasound is the right treatment option for you.

What to Expect at a Therapeutic Ultrasound Appointment

Therapeutic ultrasound is a fairly quick procedure that is painless. After a brief consultation, you'll lay down on a table, and a warm gel will be applied to the targeted area. This gel is designed to better conduct sound waves and prevent friction between the skin and treatment tool. From there, the doctor will move a handheld device over the area that emits the sound waves. During this part of the treatment, patients often feel a warm or tingling sensation in the affected area. Then, the gel will be cleaned off, and you'll be free to resume your normal daily activities. Sessions usually don't last more than 15 minutes.

If you think therapeutic ultrasound may be a good treatment option for you, contact Dr. J's Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, today. Dr. J will be happy to meet with you for an initial consultation and further discuss the suitability of this treatment option. Simply give us a call at (304) 776-1520 with any questions or to have your consultation scheduled. We look forward to hearing from you!

Potential Symptoms of a Herniated Disc

 The spine’s discs are the structures between each vertebra. Their primary function is to cushion movement and provide flexibility to the vertebrae while walking, running, stretching, and more. However, a disc can become herniated or ruptured and cause discomfort and pain by pressing on a nearby nerve. Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center, with an office that serves the greater Nitro area, can offer relief if you experience one or more symptoms of a herniated disc.

Potential Herniated Disc Symptoms

If you herniate your disc, your symptoms will likely vary from someone else’s. These herniation symptoms typically depend on the spinal location and the intensity of the compression on the nerves generating the symptoms. Some people may only experience mildly irritating symptoms and only learn they have a disc issue from a doctor reviewing an image taken for another medical purpose.  Typical symptoms of a slipped or herniated disc include the following -

• Varying Levels of Pain
  • While pain is the most common herniated disc symptom, it can remain localized to travel down the extremity along the nerve’s path.  
  • Prolonged sitting, bending, or lifting may aggravate/intensify the issue, but lying in a prone position may provide relief.
• Muscle Weakness

Nerve pressure can weaken muscles, influencing your ability to move or engage in activities or sports.

• Tingling/Numbness

Compressed nerves have the potential to generate tingling (a.k.a. pins and needles) or numbness.

• Reflex Changes

At times, a disc that has become herniated may influence your reflexes. This ultimately may cause a diminished capacity.

Herniated Disc Treatment Options

Our chiropractor provides these options that can help treat the symptoms of a herniated disc -

Spinal Adjustments

These chiropractic manipulations seek to reduce nerve pressure by realigning the spine and releasing the impacted joint.

Electrical Stimulation Therapy

This complementary therapy can help mitigate pain as it helps to relax the muscles impacted by the herniation.  

Soft Tissue Techniques

Therapies such as massage contribute to easing muscle tension in the vicinity of a herniated disc, helping to relax muscles further.

Therapeutic Exercises

Exercise, which can manage current symptoms and prevent future events, can be prescribed to help strengthen the muscles and support proper posture.

In addition, Dr. J can help you understand how your lifestyle choices can help avoid a re-occurrence of a future event. This may include selecting appropriate ergonomic devices, proper lifting, and more.  

Contact a Leading Nitro, WV Chiropractor Near You

If you experience persistent back pain or suspect disc degeneration, contact Dr. McClanahan or a member of our Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center staff at 304-776-1520 online.