Chiropractic Care to Reduce Chronic Inflammation

 

Suffering from chronic inflammation? Dr. Jay McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Nitro, WV, offers natural and lasting relief through customized treatment plans.

 

Chronic Inflammation and How Chiropractic Care Can Help

Inflammation is a natural immune response to something going wrong within the body. In many cases, it goes away pretty quickly, but it’s considered chronic when it lasts for weeks or even years.

What causes inflammation to occur? And how can a chiropractor help? Dr. McClanahan and the team at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Nitro, WV, share the answers below.

 

Understanding Inflammation

Your body is equipped with many natural processes to keep you healthy, safe, and free from injuries. When it detects certain stimuli, it works to remove them and prevent infection by sending white blood cells to the area.

This process happens in response to many things, including insect bites and splinters. However, it can also happen in response to:

• Injuries, including misalignment, herniated discs, strains, sprains, and more
• Certain foods
• Stress
• Arthritis
• Poor sleeping
• Smoking

 

How Can a Chiropractor Help?

Chiropractors can be invaluable in treating inflammation, beginning with determining the underlying source. When you are unaware of what is causing your symptoms, it can be difficult to find relief. Chiropractors can assess your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, musculoskeletal system, and more to find the source.

Once located, your chiropractor can develop a personalized care plan to help you achieve relief. Some techniques can include the following.

• Adjustments: Adjustments shift misaligned bones back into place. This can help relieve pressure on the bones, joints, soft tissues, and other musculoskeletal components, as well as improve nerve function. They can also help heal any underlying injuries.
• Dietary changes: You can both fight inflammation and cause it, depending on what you eat. A chiropractor can recommend the best foods for your specific needs.
• Exercises: Being active helps improve blood flow, which can naturally relieve inflamed areas.
• Soft tissue techniques: Massage therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, and electrical muscle stimulation can all help relieve tension and other restrictions that are impeding proper blood flow. Massage therapy can also help with lymphatic drainage, which is beneficial when dealing with chronically inflamed areas.

 

Discover firsthand how chiropractic care can relieve chronic inflammation by visiting Dr. McClanahan and the team at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV. Call (304) 776-1520 to schedule an appointment today.

Help for Chronic Knee Pain

 

Are you living with ongoing knee pain in Nitro, WV? If so, you should consult with your local chiropractor, Dr. Jay McClanahan. He is an experienced and thoughtful chiropractor who will take the time to assess your situation and devise a holistic, non-invasive care plan. 

What Causes Painful Knees?

If you are active by way of sports or intense exercises that include jumping, kneeling, and quick starts, you put a lot of pressure and stress on your knee joints. People with arthritis may have inflammation in those same joints. Active people may also have ACL injuries. If you fall on your knee or have an accident, it can create a fracture of the kneecap. The fluid-filled sacs around the knee joint, known as the bursae, can also create pain when they become inflamed. Excessive weight can also be a culprit, as it puts additional pressure on your lower limbs, particularly your knees, whenever you walk, climb the stairs, and do general movement.

 

How Can Dr. McClanahan Help with Knee Pain in Nitro, WV?

If the source of knee issues is related to obesity, Dr. McClanahan has a weight loss program that may assist your knee recovery. With general nutritional guidance and accountability, you can lose the weight that is applying pressure to your knee. He can also create custom orthotics that fit your feet and aid in a proper gait. Thanks to his expertise in chiropractic massage, he can also focus on the soft tissue areas around your knee that need soothing relief, and use adjustments to the knee joints directly to ensure they are aligned.

The quality care at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center can help your body get back on track for proper balance of movement. Knee pain in Nitro, WV, can be hard to live with, but you can begin to eliminate that problem under the care of Dr. McClanahan. Call him today at 304-776-1520 for a consultation.

Maintaining Good Posture While Driving

 

Posture is just as important while you’re driving as when you’re sitting at your desk. Dr. Jay McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Nitro, WV, shares how to keep your spine healthy in a vehicle.

 

3 Essential Tips for Driving With Good Posture

People spend a great deal of time in their vehicles, but even a few minutes of poor driving posture can impact your health and cause pain. In the guide below, Dr. McClanahan and the team at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Nitro, WV, share some of the negative impacts of sitting improperly while you drive and tips to follow to improve your habits.

 

Effects of Poor Posture

Your spine needs to stay in a neutral position at all times. When it’s not, it can lead to:

• Chronic back pain
• Chronic neck pain
• Digestive issues
• Irritability
• Poor nerve function
• Difficulty sleeping
• Breathing trouble and more

 

1. Start With the Back of the Seat

One of the most important steps in practicing good posture while driving is ensuring your back has the right support. Sit with your tailbone as close to the back of the seat as possible. Adjust it in such a way that you can comfortably rest your back on the seat completely while still seeing over the steering wheel – at about a 100-degree angle. You should not have to lean up to see. If you are in the vehicle for long periods, or you just can't seem to get the back positioned well, consider adding some extra lumbar support.

 

2. Then Work On the Height and Proximity to the Steering Wheel

To see properly over the steering wheel, you might have to adjust the height. Be sure that your feet can easily reach the pedals and leave some space between the seat and the back of your knees.

 

3. Adjust the Steering Wheel and Mirrors

Once your seat is properly adjusted, take some time to adjust the mirrors and steering wheel. You should be able to see in the mirrors without leaning or straining. Your steering wheel should be adjusted in such a way that your hands can be in the proper driving position while your elbows remain at a relaxed angle.

 

Improve your posture and get help to undo the negative effects of driving by visiting Dr. McClanahan regularly at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley. Call (304) 776-1520 to schedule an appointment today.

Potential Causes of Neck Pain

 

Neck pain, a common condition, often starts in the neck region but can radiate down one or both arms. The causes of neck pain (a.k.a. cervicalgia) can be attributed to various diseases/disorders, injuries, or trauma affecting the various components of the neck. If you experience acute or ongoing neck pain, Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, can determine the underlying cause and help to reduce pain/discomfort that can disrupt your life.

The neck is defined by a complex network of bones and tissue. When the cervical spine/nerves become unnecessarily compressed, the pain can be intense because the body’s nerves connecting the signals from the brain to the rest of the body transverse through the neck region.

Neck Pain Symptoms

The cervical spine, with its seven defined vertebrae referenced as C1-C7, is the section of the spine associated with the neck. Small intervertebral discs between these spinal bones provide flexibility and shock absorption. Neck pain can manifest in the following ways -

• Pain that ranges in intensity, which may be in the neck or radiating down the shoulder, arms, and hands.
• Stiffness, muscle spasms, soreness, or tenderness in the neck region.
• Headaches, which may make you dizzy/lightheaded.
• Weakness in the hands.
• Problems swallowing/speaking.

Common Causes of Neck Pain

The typical causes of neck pain are generated from muscle strain or stress/tension, often resulting from everyday activities. These activities include –

• Sitting at a desk for extended periods, especially if the computer screen is positioned too low/high.
• Poor posture while watching TV or reading.
• Sleeping in an awkward position.
• Lifting things too quickly or using ill-advised lifting methods.  
• Twisting/turning your neck jarringly while exercising.

In addition, a fall or accident may result in a severe neck injury like whiplash, a vertebral fracture, or more.

Medical conditions that may generate neck pain include –

• Disc Degeneration.
• Fibromyalgia.
• Ruptured disk.
• Cervical arthritis or spondylosis.
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal).
• Small fractures caused by osteoporosis.
• Sprains/Trauma/Injury/Overuse.
• Infection of the spine (osteomyelitis, diskitis, abscess).

Neck Pain Treatment Options

These are the most common neck pain treatments at the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center-

• Gentle spinal manipulations/adjustments.
• DTS Therapy/Spinal Decompression.
• Massage Therapy –
• Relaxation Massage.
• Deep Tissue massage.
• Sports Massage.
• Swedish Massage.
• Pregnancy Massage.
• Youth Massage.
• Therapeutic Ultrasound.
• Electrical Muscle Stimulation.
• Therapeutic Exercise, and more.

Dr. McClanahan looks forward to providing customized chiropractic guidance and therapeutic exercises to help relieve neck pain and prevent a future reoccurrence.

Contact a Leading in Nitro, WV, Chiropractor Today

For more information, contact Dr. McClanahan or a team member of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center at 304-776-1520 or online.