Peripheral Neuropathy and How Chiropractors Can Help

 

Peripheral neuropathy can lead to numbness, tingling, weakness, and other symptoms that impair your quality of life. Dr. Jay McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center is dedicated to helping residents in and around Nitro, WV, find freedom from these symptoms so that they can get back to living their best.

 

Peripheral Neuropathy and Chiropractic Care

Your nervous system is a sophisticated electrical system running through and controlling operations within the body. In addition to organ function and other health-related areas, the nerves also impact your soft tissues.

When there is an issue in the nerves, they don’t relay messages properly, which can lead to a lack of function in the muscles and extremities. Fortunately, there is hope. Dr. McClanahan and the team at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Nitro, WV, explain how chiropractic care can benefit those suffering from neuropathy below.

 

Discovering the Cause

There are many things that can impact the health and wellness of the nervous system, including your diet, health conditions like diabetes, and nerve compression or damage. Without understanding the reason for your condition, it’s hard to achieve relief. The first step in treatment is gaining an understanding of anything impacting your nerves.

 

Going to the Source

Once the root cause is identified, chiropractors get to work fixing it. This is critical, as most forms of treatment only work to relieve the symptoms. However, that relief is short-lived if the issue is still present. By addressing the actual cause of your nerve issues, you can achieve and maintain relief.

 

Customized Care

Chiropractors offer a range of services to ensure every patient receives what they need. Some techniques used for nerve issues include:

• Adjustments to restore alignment throughout the musculoskeletal system, relieving pressure from joints, discs, nerves, and other components
• Decompression therapy to gently stretch and create space between the bones, which also pulls in any herniated discs that may be putting pressure on your nerves
• Soft tissue techniques like massage therapy, ultrasound therapy, and electrical muscle stimulation relieve pain, inflammation, and tension, as well as improve the flow of blood and nutrients to the area and stimulate healing in damaged tissues
• Lifestyle adjustments to address nutritional needs or habits that may contribute to your pain

 

Find personalized relief from neuropathy in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV, by calling (304) 776-1520 to schedule an appointment with Dr. McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center.

What is Spinal Decompression?

 Chiropractors are perhaps most well-known for providing hands-on care. That said, many chiropractors also use advanced tools and devices to relieve pain, improve mobility, and otherwise promote a patient’s well-being. One of the most effective devices is a spinal decompression machine. Dr. Jay McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, offers spinal decompression, so if you’d like to give this treatment a go, get in touch! You may be able to secure lasting pain relief.

Exploring Spinal Decompression

While the spine is remarkably strong, it can still be damaged. Further, over time, your spine may start to break down, becoming brittle and more prone to various issues. Spinal decompression can be used to stretch out your spine, which could relieve tension in the spine and surrounding tissues. It can also relieve pressure on the discs between your vertebrae.

When a patient undergoes spinal decompression, they lie down on a specialized table. From there, they’re connected to a specialized decompression machine. A chiropractor, such as Dr. Jay, will use advanced software to identify potential trouble spots and reduce the risk of mishaps.

The machine will use pulleys and other components to exert pressure on your body. Typically, the lower half of your body will be pulled away from the upper half. As the sides move away from each other, the spine is stretched out.

It’s crucial to work with an experienced chiropractor. While complications are very rare, doctors new to the technology may fail to use it optimally. Fortunately, residents of Nitro, WV, can access spinal decompression at the Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center.

What Can Spinal Decompression Treat?

Spinal decompression is highly adaptable and can be used to treat anything from general back pain to advanced and complicated conditions. In many cases, decompression might actually be the best choice as far as care is concerned.

A decompression machine is often used to treat:

• Degenerative spine conditions - Sets in as joint cartilage slowly breaks down over time and the discs lose fluid.
• Herniated discs - Occurs when a disc bulges out, pinching surrounding tissues.
• Sciatica - Pressure on the sciatic nerve in the lower back can produce numbness and potentially pain.

The above list is not exhaustive by any means. If you’re interested in spinal decompression in Nitro, WV, schedule an appointment with Dr. Jay. You can reach the Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center team by calling 304 776 1520.

How Do You Know If You Have Sciatica?

 

If you’ve been experiencing pain that extends from your lower back down your leg, you may be affected by sciatica. Although sciatica is one of the most common forms of back pain and typically goes away after four to six weeks, it can be quite troublesome. The good news is that a visit to a chiropractor can help alleviate your pain. If you live in Nitro, WV, visit Dr. Jay McClanahan at the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center. He will provide you with a personalized treatment plan.

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a condition that refers to an injury to or irritation of your sciatica nerves. You have two sciatica nerves: one on each side of the body. These nerves stretch from your hips, through your buttocks, and down your legs. Sciatica occurs when these nerves become irritated or pinched.

Typically, sciatica happens when the jelly-like cushions between your vertebrae, called discs, rupture. This can cause inflammation or pressure on a nerve root. Other possible causes of sciatica include:

• Aging
• Being overweight
• Spinal stenosis
• Osteoarthritis
• Smoking and alcohol
• Diabetes

Fortunately, sciatica is typically not a chronic condition. While it can go away without medical treatment, chiropractic care will alleviate your pain and help you recover more quickly.

How Do You Know If You Have Sciatica?

A tell-tale sign that you may have sciatica is if you’re experiencing shooting pains from your lower back down your leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body. The level of pain can range from relatively mild to debilitating. 

Other symptoms of sciatica include:

• A feeling of numbness in the buttock, leg, or/and foot
• Muscle weakness in your leg and/or foot
• A tingling sensation down the leg
• Hip pain
• Increased pain when you move
• Loss of bowel and bladder control

When you have sciatica, the pain may be incessant or it may come and go. Sufferers describe the pain as shooting, sharp, or stabbing. The pain may get worse when you stand or sit for a while, or when you suddenly move.

How Can a Chiropractor Help With Sciatica?

A chiropractor can provide relief from pain caused by sciatica and can also prevent the condition from occurring again. Chiropractic treatments include spinal manipulations to move a herniated disc back into place, and also spinal decompression to relieve the compression of the nerves.

A chiropractor like Dr. Jay can also show you chiropractic exercises that will help alleviate nerve and muscle pain. You don't need to live with the discomfort and pain that sciatica can cause. Drop by the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, or call them at (304) 776-1520.

Sciatica

When the sciatic nerve is pinched, patients experience pain in their lower back, hips, buttocks, and legs. Sciatica is painful, but you don’t have to suffer in agony your whole life. At Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center located in Nitro, WV, Dr. Jay McClanahan uses non-invasive treatments to relieve pain, allowing patients to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. Here’s everything you need to know about sciatica. 

What Causes Sciatica?

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. Spanning from your lower back and down to your hips, buttocks, and two legs, sciatica usually starts because of a herniated disk in the lower spine. This herniation causes the disk to place pressure on the nerves, including the sciatic nerve. Most sciatica patients range from 30-50 years old. While rare, children and teens are prone to sciatica too. 

Symptoms

One of the main symptoms of sciatica is pain. Pain levels vary and radiate from different parts of the lower back. Sometimes the pain consists of electric-like shots, mild aches, or sharp burning sensations. Other symptoms include numbness, tingling feelings, and muscle weakness.

How Chiropractic Care Helps

Spinal Adjustments

Since sciatica impacts the nerve, Dr. McClanahan recommends spinal adjustments to relieve pain. Spinal misalignment or subluxation means your vertebrae is moved from its original position. This misalignment impairs the brain’s communication with the body’s neural pathways. The good news is spinal adjustments greatly remove the pressure of the sciatic nerve, giving you the much-needed relief to go on with your life. 

Diet Tips

Overweight individuals are more likely to develop sciatica due to the immense spinal strain. That’s why your Nitro, WV chiropractor advises patients to eat healthy. Maintaining a well-rounded diet with fruits and vegetables lowers inflammation and reduces excess weight on the joints.

DTS Therapy

DTS Spinal Compression is a non-invasive procedure for disc-related issues in the lumbar and cervical spine area of the body. DTS is a gentle therapy designed to relieve sciatica pain and enhance muscle control. Contact our office today to learn more about this therapy. 

Dr. Jay McClanahan is the owner and chiropractor of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center. Our office is located in Nitro, WV. To schedule an appointment with Dr. McClanahan visit our website or call 304-776-1520. 

Treating Sciatica Pain

Your sciatic nerve is the largest in the entire body. It moves throughout the entire torso and into your legs. Sciatic pain is less of a diagnosis and more a symptom of another problem. Only a professional chiropractor, like Dr. Jay McClanahan, can diagnose what is truly causing your sciatica. The most likely culprit is a pinched or aggravated nerve. Contact Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center to schedule an appointment. We are located in Nitro, WV. 

A few common symptoms identify sciatic pain. These include:

• Severe lower back pain
• Problems controlling the lower extremities
• A burning sensation running through the legs and back
• Tingling and loss of sensation in the legs and feet

Almost all cases of sciatica are traced back to spinal stenosis, misalignment, or herniated discs. Treating your pain presents the biggest issue. Because the pain comes and goes sporadically, traditional physicians are hesitant to diagnose. This isn’t the case with your Nitro, WV, chiropractor. He understands that the only relief comes through his treatments. 

At your appointment, Dr. McClanahan performs a spinal evaluation. He’ll detect any blockages throughout the area. Treatment depends on whether your sciatica is caused by a spinal problem or a disc injury. In most cases, the recommended treatment for both is a chiropractic adjustment. This is a painless and quick procedure. Dr. McClanahan relieves the pain by carefully moving any misaligned vertebra into their correct place. 

Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center is located in Nitro, WV. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Jay McClanahan, visit his website or call 304-776-1520. 

When to Seek Chiropractic Care

If you are suffering from back pain, you don’t need to wait for a certain threshold to seek treatment. At the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, we utilize holistic therapies for musculoskeletal maintenance and pain relief that are safe and easy for patients. Nonetheless, there are certain situations in which it is especially important for patients to seek help.

As sports medicine doctors, we know that a lot of athletes are under the impression that pain is part of the game and they should play through it. But if back pain lasts longer for a week after an injury, the athlete should get a professional assessment in an office such as ours that can do imaging tests. Otherwise, they may be making an injury such as a frayed muscle worse. And if pain from a back injury lasts for longer than six weeks, a person should definitely seek an assessment, since that is how long back injuries generally take to heal naturally.

Symptoms of a pinched sciatic nerve always deserve fast attention. Those include tingling, numbness, or shooting pain in the legs, which could be caused by a slipped lumbar disc. Fevers or incontinence accompanied by leg pain merit emergency care, after which chiropractic can be used to restore and maintain a patient’s spinal health. A person should also always seek a professional assessment after being in a vehicular accident or other traumatic event that could have caused whiplash, since the consequences may not be felt immediately. Our office’s treatments, including massage therapy, spinal adjustments, and physical therapy, provide patients with pain relief while allowing the body to heal naturally, with a goal of allowing the patient to remain as active as possible.

Dr. Jay McClanahan operates the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center at 642 Cross Lanes Drive, Nitro, West Virginia, 25143. To schedule an appointment, visit Dr J Back Doc WV or call 304-776-1520.