What conditions can chiropractic treat?

“We’ve got a heart attack in room 2!” How many times have we heard statements like this on TV. The language used is very telling... Is there really a heart attack in need of care? Of course not, what they have is a person, suffering from a heart attack, who is in need of care.

While a heart attack sufferer definitely needs immediate life saving care, the person may also need diet and exercise advice, life style modifications, changes in work habits, and maybe Yoga or Tai Chi classes.

The point is: I treat People not conditions.

This does not mean you will not get a thorough evaluation.  All patients will undergo a complete history and physical examination, including a surface EMG, thermoal scans, and active range of motion assesment.  If needed neurological and orthopedic test will be performed and imaging studies, like X-rays, MRI's or CT's can be ordered.

Philosophy is great but what conditions can you treat?

Chiropractors have long believed that the body has an innate ability to heal itself. The goal of chiropractic treatments is to remove interferences in the nervous system. Thereby allowing your nervous system to control the healing process. By supporting the nervous system chiropractic may help many conditions.

Here are some problems that have shown excellent response to chiropractic:

* Back Pain – There is a vast amount of research that has shown chiropractic is the best treatment of low back pain. Chiropractic is the standard of care for low back pain.

* Neck Pain - Whether your neck is stiff and sore when you wake up or in pain after a car accident.  Adjustments may be the quickest way to restore normal function.

* Joint Pain – Have you been told those aches and pains are due to old age, and you “have to live with it"?  Many times chiropractors can mobilize those joints, reducing inflammation, decrease pain and increasing range of motion.

* Tension Headaches - This is probably the second most common reason to see a chiropractor.  Tension headaches respond quickly to adjustments, and regular care may prevent them from returning.

* Migraines – A tough problem that can devastate a life. Regular adjustments can help to prevent the migraines.

* Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Unfortunately chiropractic treatment of CTS is a well kept secret.   Chiropractic offers a non-surgical treatment that is safe and very effective.

* Asthma – Many asthmatics find that regular adjustments help to reduce the amount of medication needed and in some cases daily inhalers may be a thing of the past.

* Strains and Sprains – Whether you overdid it playing softball or pulling weeds chiropractic may help you recover quicker and prevent recurrences.

* Dizziness – A common cause of dizziness can be misalignment in the cervical spine.  A chiropractor is the only health care practitioner trained to treat neck related dizziness.

* TMJ syndrome – Many people experience jaw pain.  Low force adjustments and massage therapy can correct these symptoms and prevent long term problems. 

* Sciatica – Pain down the back of the leg can be a symptom of many different problems.  A chiropractor can determine if the cause is disc related, muscular, or spinal.  Many of the causes of sciatica may be treated with chiropractic care.

* Otitis Media (ear infections) – How many kids have had surgically implanted ear tubes due to repetitive ear infections? The fact is most cases are not due to infections but are due to blocked Eustachian tubes. The Eustachian tubes normally drain the middle ear to equalize pressure on the eardrum. Think of “popping” your ears when you go up in a plane. A chiropractor can open up the Eustachian tubes and prevent the child from needing to have ear tubes inserted. In contrast, surgical ear tubes put a hole in the eardrum, damaging it, which can lead to hearing and speech changes latter in life.