What to Do When You Have a Disc Injury

Have you been diagnosed with or think you might have a disc injury in Cross Lanes, St. Albans, Charleston, Teays Valley, or Nitro, WV? Dr. Jay McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center can help you heal naturally and effectively through customized care.

Steps to Take When You Have a Disc Injury

A disc injury can create a lot of pain and suffering. And unfortunately, the human body is put at risk of such an injury each and every day. Fortunately, you’re not powerless if you do sustain such an injury. The following steps can help.

Take a Rest

When you first sustain a disc injury, taking a couple of days to rest can help. It’s important to note, though, that resting for too long can actually create more problems. That’s why you should limit that rest period to no more than two days. During this time, using a little heat can help alleviate some of your pain and discomfort.

Ease Back Into Life

When those couple of days of rest are over, it’s imperative that you don’t just dive back into your regular activities full force. Instead, you want to ease back into it. And be sure that you take breaks throughout the day, don’t sit for too long at once, and spend some time stretching.

Do Some Light Exercise and Stretches

Targeted movement and stretches can go a long way in helping a disc injury heal – and in providing relief while it does. The key here is to listen to your body. If a specific movement or stretch causes pain, avoid it. When you find those that are relieving, aim to repeat them several times a day.

Visit Your Chiropractor

One of the most important steps to take when you have a disc injury in Cross Lanes, St. Albans, Charleston, Teays Valley, or Nitro, WV is to schedule an appointment with Dr. McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center. Through various treatment methods, such as spinal decompression, spinal adjustments, massage therapy, and therapeutic exercise, Dr. McClanahan can help you get back to living your life.

You don’t have to take pain and suffering due to a disc injury when you have someone like Dr. McClanahan that has your back. If you live in Cross Lanes, St. Albans, Charleston, Teays Valley, or Nitro, WV, call Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center at (304) 776-1520 to schedule an appointment today.

What are Some Signs of Osteoarthritis?

 

Osteoarthritis is a progressive condition, with symptoms that can vary in intensity. While chiropractic care with Dr. Jay McClanahan in Nitro, WV does not cure osteoarthritis, you can find significant relief from symptoms when you see a chiropractor. At Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness, we provide treatment for the stiffness, poor range of motion, and pain that often accompanies osteoarthritis. If you are having trouble with mobility, or you have pain that is difficult to treat, it's time to see how chiropractic can help.

Signs of Osteoarthritis 

Osteoarthritis usually comes on slowly, but there are a number of signs that osteoarthritis is present. Pain in your joints after exercise, stiffness, poor range of motion, swelling, or a loss of flexibility can all indicate that you have arthritis in your body. Getting enough exercise will help you maintain flexibility, but this is hard if you have pain that is caused by osteoarthritis. Treatment with a chiropractor can improve strength and ease pain, making it easier for you to get the exercise you need.

Chiropractic Care and Osteoarthritis 

When you see a chiropractor for osteoarthritis, the goal will be to improve your overall wellness to make it easier for you to function. Stretching, home exercises, spinal adjustments and massage may all be part of your treatment plan. You can get stronger, and move about with less pain when you work with a chiropractor in Nitro to address your stiff joints. Once you begin working with a chiropractor, you will see your ability to move about with less pain improve.

Schedule With a Nitro, WV Chiropractor Today

To learn more about the benefits of chiropractic care and osteoarthritis, give Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness a call today at 304-776-1520 and set up your first appointment. You will meet with Dr. Jay McClanahan, and talk about your treatment goals. You can feel better with osteoarthritis, but you have to find natural ways to improve your overall health through chiropractic.

Risk Factors for Shoulder Injuries

 

Of all the joints in the body, the shoulder is the most intricate. Shoulder injuries are quite common because of the complexity and range of motion that the shoulder has. Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, WV has treatments and therapies that can help to get your shoulder on the road to healing.

Car accidents

A car accident can cause a severe shoulder injury. The seatbelt can cause the collarbone to be fractured. The collarbone and the shoulder share a connection and the injury of one will pain the other. Another common injury to the shoulder caused by a car accident is a torn rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is four muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint. It is an important part of the stability of this complex joint. A tear is painful if it is touched or if you try to use your shoulder. 

Aging

Aging is a major risk factor for shoulder injuries. The more often you repeat a movement, the more likely you are to injure it and your shoulders get a lot of repetitive use. Rotator cuff injuries are more common as you age and, of course, the wear and tear that your shoulder gets increases your chance of developing osteoarthritis and bone spurs. Frozen shoulder is also more common as you age and this can severely limit the amount of movement in your shoulder. 

Sports injuries

There is no doubt that shoulders are vulnerable to sports injuries. With contact sports like football, landing on your shoulder can do painful damage. Rotator cuff injuries are of particular risk to athletes who do repetitive motions, like swimmers, tennis players, and baseball pitchers. Shoulders are also at risk of injuries in sports like wrestling and volleyball. 

Poor posture

Poor posture can lead to shoulder impingement. Impingement is when the muscles or tendons in your shoulder rub against the bursa, which causes it to become inflamed and results in bursitis. If you are slumping or hunching your shoulders, this is a risk factor for shoulder injuries. 

Many chiropractic treatments can benefit the pain you are feeling in your shoulder. Massage can help the muscles to relax, ultrasound can help with injury healing and therapeutic exercise will help get your shoulder back to 100%. These are just some options your chiropractor will discuss with you. 

To receive treatment for shoulder injuries in Nitro, WV, you can count on Dr. McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center. To make an appointment for an evaluation, give us a call at (304) 776-1520 or use the form on our website. 

What is Therapeutic Ultrasound?

 

Ultrasounds are often associated with pregnant women for imaging purposes. However, the use of ultrasound technology - soundwave technology - can also be used to help with the pain. And Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center, serving Nitro, WV, and the surrounding areas, offers this therapy. Let's discuss. 

What's Therapeutic Ultrasound? 

When used in a therapeutic sense, the ultrasound waves are directed toward soft tissue, causing a deep heating effect. This stimulates blood circulation to the part to help with the healing process. Through this, ultrasound technology may also reduce pain. Ultimately, our chiropractor may use the ultrasound to improve your flexibility and enhance your range of motion. 

Sometimes, a chiropractor will use therapeutic ultrasounds to stimulate the expansion and contraction of cavitation near injured tissue. This will speed up the healing process. 

Uses of Ultrasound Therapy 

Our practitioner may recommend ultrasound therapy for either acute or chronic pain. It has the potential to promote healing, which can aid in either. Some examples of reasons a chiropractor may recommend this therapy include the following:

• Shoulder pain
• Tendinitis
• Carpal tunnel
• Ligament injuries 

Safety Precautions 

As a general rule, an ultrasound is a safe procedure that doesn't emit any radiation. However, the purpose of the procedure is to heat the tissue. If it heats too much, it could cause discomfort or damage, though. Your practitioner monitors this part of the process carefully to prevent overheating.

Pregnant women shouldn't undergo this therapy until they deliver, nor is it recommended for people with pacemakers.

What to Expect 

Wear comfortable clothing so you have no problem moving as your chiropractor requests. The practitioner will use an ultrasound wand to send vibrations to the tissue underneath the skin. These vibrations cause a heating effect that promotes circulation and potentially eases pain while speeding up healing. 

It takes about 10 minutes for this procedure. And you'll notice during that time, the practitioner will use a stroking motion to administer the treatment. 

At Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center, serving Nitro, WV, Dr. McClanahan provides ultrasound therapy to help with pain and healing. To prevent complications, our practitioner takes every step possible to assist. And this is a rather quick procedure that - and we should note - doesn't usually cause any side effects. 

Book an appointment with us by calling 304-776-1520 today. 

Causes of Lower Back Pain

 Lower back pain is very common. So common in fact that 80% of people will suffer from it during their lifetime. It is one of the most common reasons for visiting a medical professional. Worldwide, almost 600 million people suffer from it. If you're one of them, you know that what you want is relief and to understand what causes it. Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, WV offers many services for those who are suffering from lower back pain. 

Two types of lower back pain exist, acute and chronic. Acute lower back pain is of short duration and many cases will resolve themselves if you take it easy and pamper it. Chronic lower back pain is of a longer duration and is usually still around after a year. One in five people with lower back pain will become chronic. 

Aging

Aging is a primary factor in the development of lower back pain. As you age, it is likely that you may suffer from degeneration in your spine. This can take the form of osteoarthritis, which is wear and tear to your cartilage, or of osteoporosis, which is the honeycombing of the bones. You may have degeneration in your discs as they wear down and no longer offer the same amount of cushion. Spondylosis is the name given to the general wear and tear that occurs in the spine as you age. 

Injury

If you have had an accident it can result in damage to your spine. Injuries damage the muscles and tendons that support your back and this leads to lower back pain. Young people, especially those who participate in sports, can end up with pain in their lower back. Traumatic injuries can damage not only the ligaments but the discs themselves. After a vehicle accident, whiplash is something to be on the lookout for. 

Spinal irregularities

Certain congenital conditions can cause lower back pain. If the spine is not straight, this can result in pain. The condition called scoliosis is just one of the better-known conditions. 

If you are looking for relief from your lower back pain, contact Dr. McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, WV. In addition to Nitro, we serve Cross Lanes, St. Albans, Teays Valley, and Charleston. Call our office at 304-776-1520 for an appointment. 

Keep Good Posture While Driving

 

Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center and Dr. Jay McClanahan constantly work to help improve their patients' posture in Nitro, WV. Unfortunately, many people don't keep their backs properly supported while driving and suffer. Thankfully, it is possible to avoid slumping and protect yourself here.

Many People Slump While Driving

If you're like most people, you probably spend many hours in your car every week. Whether you commute to work, take your children to school, or enjoy going out for the day, you may be slumping when you drive. Many people do, and this problem can cause many issues with your health.

For example, it's not uncommon to suffer from pain in the neck, shoulders, wrists, arms, fingers, back, legs, and feet if you don't drive with the best posture in Nitro, WV. Thankfully, it is possible to avoid this problem by adjusting how you drive and minimizing long-term health issues as well.

Keeping Your Back Straight In the Car

By now, you should understand the importance of keeping your back straight in the car. Achieving a straight back is fairly simple if you take a few steps. The following process may seem somewhat involved, but once you get it down pat, you'll be ready to drive:

1. Slide your tailbone as close to the seat as possible to support your back
2. Lift your hips as much as possible to increase blood circulation
3. Adjust your seat so that you can hit your pedals without being too close
4. Tweak your seat until your eyes are three inches above the steering wheel
5. Lean slightly back to keep your back at about a 100-110 degree angle
6. Carefully adjust your headrest so that it just touches the back of your head
7. Insert a lumbar support in your car to get maximum back support as you drive
8. Properly adjust your rearview mirrors to avoid having to crane your neck to see
9. Know when it's time to take breaks and stretch your back to keep it limber

If you notice any strain in your back, neck, or shoulders, talk with your doctor right away. They can help you find a better seating position or even prescribe support that works for you. This process can ensure that you don't suffer while you're driving your car. You may even use some of these steps when sitting in your home's many seats.

Help is Available

Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center and Dr. McClanahan can help you manage any posture problems in Nitro, WV, and ensure you drive properly every time you're in the vehicle. Doing so can help keep your back stronger and healthier. Please call 304-776-1520 right away to learn more.

Spinal Spurs

 

Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center and Dr. Jay McClanahan know that people in Nitro, WV, with spinal spurs experience heavy pain that can be hard to manage. Our team of experts can help you understand why these bone spurs develop and ways you can manage them without difficulty.

How Spurs Develop

Spurs on your spine are just like any other bone spur and are hard bumps of extra bones that often form between joints or where two bones meet. However, they can form just about anywhere and don't cause any problems on their own. Unfortunately, spurs on your spine are a bit more problematic.

They typically occur because of things like osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, gout, injury, excessive use, obesity, genetic bone problems, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spine), and a poor diet. Many of these influences can be properly regulated to prevent these spurs from ever developing.

If you develop spinal spurs in Nitro, WV, you may not experience any problems at all. Unfortunately, they may also cause a variety of symptoms like pain in the affected area, difficulty moving the area, spasms through the muscles, cramps, and even bumps beneath your skin.

Spurs in your spine are problematic because they may affect nerve signals if they're allowed to worsen or develop. As a result, it is important to talk with a treatment specialist who understands these issues and who can manage them before they worsen on you.

Treating This Painful Problem

When treating your spurs, our team will carefully scan your body to identify what is happening. These diagnostic steps may include x-rays and MRI scans that can get a quick look inside of your body, although we don't request those needlessly. If we see any spurs, we'll decide what kind of treatment method may work the best for you.

Medication and surgery are not always necessary to mitigate problems from spinal spurs, and even in cases where they are recommended, it is important to take holisitc steps to prevent spurs from developing again. For example, losing weight, eating a calcium-rich diet, and avoiding excessively working the affected area may all help. We'll help you come up with a plan that makes the most sense for your overall needs.

We Can Help You

Are you experiencing bone spurs in your spine and need help to manage them? You aren't alone. Thankfully, Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center and Dr. McClanahan can manage spinal spurs for Nitro, WV, residents. Call us at 304-776-1520 to set up an appointment with a team who cares.