Tailbone Injuries

The tailbone is the best-protected part of the spinal column, but the area surrounding it is still vulnerable to bruising. At the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, we see a lot of patients suffering from pain in this area, and we want to assure them that non-addictive, minimally invasive treatment is available.

Also known as the coccyx, the tailbone is made up of several fused vertebrae. It hangs from the end of the spinal column and has a small role in anchoring the muscles and ligaments of the pelvis, but is mostly vestigial. We refer to pain in this area as “coccydynia.” It is likelier to be caused by bruising to soft tissues than a crack in the bone itself, although both can cause inflammation and are treated in similar ways.

Injuries to the tailbone are often associated with activities such as mountain biking, although bruises during childbirth are not uncommon. The body can heal bruising naturally, but it might do so faster after we provide an adjustment to relieve pressure or electric muscle stimulation to flush the bruise with fresh, nutrient-rich blood. Ultrasound treatment can ensure the bruise won’t heal in a way that will cause scars. We can also assign a low-impact exercise regimen that will enable the patient to regain a full range of motion and flexibility more quickly.

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.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro is dedicated to helping our patients remain flexible and comfortable despite the forces regularly put on their bodies. One of the most common musculoskeletal disorders is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). This condition can put pressure on major nerves, causing pain and loss of muscle control, but at our office, we provide safe, non-invasive therapies.

The median nerve arises from the lower cervical an upper thoracic nerves. It runs the length of the arm, into the palm, and branches into the thumb and first four fingers. Along the way, it passes through a structure in the wrist called the carpal tunnel, which is made up of protective bones and ligaments. If the carpal tunnel is compressed, the median will be pinched, and the patient may feel numbness, dull pain, or tingling along the length of it and have difficulty moving their wrist and fingers.

CTS is usually an overuse injury. It is common among people who have to extend their hands and wrists for a long period and among people with conditions that cause inflammation. The carpal tunnel is densely packed with tendons, as well as the carpal nerve, and doesn’t have much room for swelling. People with CTS are advised to get rest and may have to wear arm braces to avoid flexing their wrists too much. But we can help them recover through methods such as therapeutic exercise, which will strengthen and improve the flexibility of the arm muscles, and therapeutic massages or electric muscle stimulation, which can relieve swelling.

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.

Lifting Safety

People whose jobs require lots of physical labor are aware that there’s a right way and a wrong way to lift something. But people who have to carry heavy loads less frequently may not be aware of how to keep themselves safe. We see a lot of preventable injuries at the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, and while we’re always happy to help people get back on their feet, we want our patients to understand how to keep themselves in good condition.

The first step of lifting safety is to never lift anything unless necessary. If you’re carrying something heavy for work that isn’t normally a part of your job, request the use of a dolly. If you must carry something, get a feel on it first to determine its center of gravity. Clear your path of obstructions, prop open all doors, and have a plan for where you’re going to set the object down and which way it will be facing.

When you lift the object squat down in front of it and use your leg muscles to lift yourself up. Keep your head up and position the object so that it is at mid-chest level. As you walk, rotate your entire body around corners; do not just twist your torso. Use your legs to crouch down again while depositing the object, slowly sliding your fingers out from under it.

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.

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.

Core Strengthening as Prevention

As a chiropractor and personal trainer, Dr. Jay McClanahan is trained to help patients improve their core strength. Back pain can be caused by all sorts of things, but one constant is that strong back muscles will help to take the strain off discs and ligaments, making them less vulnerable to overuse injuries.

As you could guess from its name, the core isn’t just the muscles that are visible from the outside. The rectus abdominis, the one seen in front, is the six-pack muscle, but toning it alone doesn’t do much to take pressure off the back. Instead, you want to strengthen all your core muscles, including the transverse abdominis that binds around the lower back and organs, the multifidi muscles that link up the spine, the obliques that connect the ribs to the pelvis, and the hip muscles that connect to the pelvis and influence the position of the lower spine. Increasing these muscles’ flexibility, if done properly, will prevent them from fraying.

You’ll need to consult with us to ensure you’re doing exercises that are safe for you and that you’re adding reps at an appropriate pace. But in general, it’s best to stick with low or no-impact exercises such as bird-dogging, flutter kicks, and planks, especially if you’re just starting out or recovering from an injury. Don’t try to continue on your own if you feel pain, but regular exercises are the most important preventive measure for back injuries.

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.

Diabetic Neuropathy and Chiropractic

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. As one of the Charleston area’s leaders in pain management, we at the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center see a lot of people suffering from nerve damage. In the spirit of the month, we want our patients to understand how diabetes may be related to their pain and what whole-body treatment can do to help.

Chronic or recurring pain is often the result of damage to nerves, also known as neuropathy. It can result from elevated levels of blood sugar. Although it is most commonly felt in the lower limbs, it can also affect the digestive, reproductive, and circulatory systems, and the eyes. When people’s hips are affected, they may adjust their gait in a way that puts pressure on their spinal column, increasing their risk of developing lower back pain. Negative emotions often distress the nerves further, resulting in more pain.

Our office offers a number of holistic treatments as part of pain management. Among them are therapeutic massages, which can relieve pressure on nerves and help the blood to deliver nutrients, and therapeutic exercise, which relieves pressure on joints and tendons. We also offer weight loss programs, which remove a lot of the pressure on nerves and joints and include nutritional advice that will help people with diabetes to control their blood sugar. We can also determine whether a patient can receive an adjustment for damage done to their spine by compensating for problems in the lower limbs.

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.

Raking Safely

As the leaves turn colors and fall in Nitro, we at the Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center hope everyone knows how to rake safely. While we’re happy to provide chiropractic maintenance, we see a lot of preventable injuries here, so we thought it would be a good idea to give patients some tips.

Before you start raking, you need to be sure you have the right clothing and equipment. The rake should be light but have a long enough handle for you to use it without stooping down. Your clothes should be form-fitting, with no dangling accessories, but also be lightweight and breathable. You’ll need close-toed shoes that provide arch support and have slip-resistant soles. If you have long hair, don’t forget to tie it back.

Before you start any vigorous activity, you should do a five-minute warm-up that moves your limbs while pumping blood into them. As you rake, stand with your feet in a scissor-position without locking your knees. You’ll need to switch which hand is higher about every five minutes. Only attempt to move leaves when they’re dry, or else they will be too heavy. Test the bag to see whether you can lift it comfortably as you are filling it, and remember to lift by pushing up with your legs.

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.