As with any other specialist, when going to a chiropractor, it is very important to understand what will be done and what injuries or symptoms are treated. At Horizon Health Care Group, we specialize in the treatment and prevention of the most common and painful injuries. These injuries include work-related injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, low back pain, neck pain, headaches, shoulder/mid back pain, auto accident related injuries, and poor posture.
Our doctors are also certified in common sports injuries. Most injuries can easily be prevented with proper exercises and stretches. Many of the small nagging symptoms athletes often experience are an indication that a more serious injury may be present. The key to injury assessment is identifying the problem in the early stages before it becomes chronic.
Find out more about these common conditions and how to start treatment below.
Fibromyalgia
Many points concerning the Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) remain in dispute, including whether its causes are physical, physiological, or even social. In recent years, several theories have been developed concerning the cause of the syndrome, but this is still the subject of much conjecture and controversy.
Despite these questions, specific diagnostic criteria have been established, and most physicians in the practice of primary care encounter patients who clearly satisfy the criteria and who are in considerable distress.
Uncertainties also remain about the management of FMS. What appear to be most effective are various combinations of therapies that clinicians have arrived at pragmatically.
The symptoms of FMS typically include chronic, widespread aching muscles, stiffness, sleep disturbances, persisting fatigue, anxiety, and depression. On examination, patients are found to have discrete soft-tissue tenderness at multiple characteristic sites.
Unfortunately, this debilitating condition is seen quite often in our office. For some patients, we see relief and for others there is no relief. Finding a successful home program is a difficult but necessary challenge in coping with fibromyalgia. It is time-consuming to treat fibromyalgia, yet we do not want to live in pain. FMS causes the muscles to be tight, ropy, and in constant localized spasms. Our muscles do not use oxygen well and have decreased energy compounds (ATP), and this will cause fatigue.
We all know of friends or family members that suffer from this debilitating condition. With so few answers to the treatment of FMS, we wanted to educate you on the treatments that we suggest to our patients. Each person needs to develop a personal program and set of commitments in order to achieve positive results. Our recommendations are as follows:
1. Maintaining proper posture
2. Modalities (i.e., electric stimulation, heat)
3. Chiropractic maintenance adjustments
4. Routine massage (caution to be gentle)
5. Stretching
6. Relaxation exercises
With so much speculation it is very difficult to give one right answer. If you should suffer from this condition or know someone who has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, we would advise you to call us and we can further help you understand FMS.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Howard Golden, DC
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Carpal Tunnel
If left untreated, this condition can be debilitating. 90% of all carpal tunnel patients are misdiagnosed. Only 10% of all carpal tunnel patients have the problem in their wrists/hands. Most often the problem exists in the cervical spine with compression or irritation of the nerve root. To determine the cause and severity of this disorder we would recommend NCV/SSEP or Needle EMG diagnostic testing. Before seeking surgery for this condition, always seek conservative measures first. The key to the prevention of Carpal Tunnel is early detection and proper education of this condition. The first step in preventing Carpal Tunnel is to make sure your work station is suitable for your body size and your working needs. Improper work ergonomics is the leading cause of Carpal Tunnel symptoms.
Lower Back Pain
Low back pain, along with headaches, are the most common reasons why people visit the chiropractor. Whether acute or chronic, this condition is one that you do not want. Some causes of low back pain can begin with obesity, poor posture, injury, or repetitive strain injuries. Chiropractic adjustments, stretching, strengthening, and muscle re-education, are the key treatments of this condition.
Neck Pain
Neck pain associated with headaches and shoulder pain are becoming more common in today's occupational setting. Common reasons why you might be experiencing neck pain can be a decreased cervical curve (military neck), whiplash, repetitive strain, or poor posture. Like with low back pain, proper management of this condition would include chiropractic adjustments, cervical extension exercises, stretching, and strengthening programs.
Headaches
Headaches are the most common reason why people see their doctor every year. Our approach to headaches and migraines are finding and correcting the cause of the symptoms. Very often with spinal adjustments to the cervical spine, symptoms that have been present for years can be diminished. Changing your lifestyle and seeking other alternatives to aspirin and advil are advised. Most headaches are caused due to misaligned vertebrae, hormones, dietary intake, and poor posture.
This is the hidden secret behind most musculoskeletal symptoms. Most of the conditions that we see in our office are related to poor posture. Usually developed at childhood, posture can influence everything from the way we breath to how we function throughout the day. Our office utilizes a very sophisticated computerized postural evaluation at the beginning of care to detect improvements throughout treatment. Postural correction can be very extensive and requires a serious commitment level by all patients. Once corrected, you are less prone to injury and are able to function better through out life. Postural evaluations should begin in early childhood for the proper detection of scoliosis. Additional education is also very important in the early stages of childhood.
Golfers'/Tennis Elbow
If you are suffering from elbow pain or weakness, you could be suffering from a tendon strain commonly known as golfer's elbow or tennis elbow.Because this is usually an inflammatory condition, it can be easily treated with the proper therapies. Our doctor's use electric muscle stimulation in conjunction with iontophoresis to reduce pain and inflammation of this condition.
Sprain/Strain Injuries
Muscle strains or ligament sprains occur in many different conditions, each with its own set of symptoms. With either injury, early diagnosis and treatment are extremely important. In most cases, the longer you wait to have these conditions diagnosed and treated, the more prone you maybe to re-injuring the injured area.
Nutritional Counseling
Whether your goal is to lose weight, improve your health, reduce your cholesterol or to control certain conditions such as fibromyalgia and allergies, our staff of physicians will give you the help you need to achieve your goals. If we feel your condition is not within our scope of practice, we will refer you to the appropriate specialist for your concerns.
Extremity/Joint Injuries
90% of all athletic injuries involve the hands, feet, ankles, elbows, shoulders, and knees. It is crucial with these types of injuries that we correct the problem before it becomes chronic. Scar tissue will develop four hours after injury and can create additional problems if not addressed. When knees, feet, and ankles are injured, an advised form of treatment is the fitting for custom orthotics. This procedure is very helpful in the stabilizing of joints and in sustaining a strong foundation.
Sciatica
A condition that is most commonly seen with a shooting pain down the back of your legs. The symptoms can cause burning pain or a numbness and tingling sensation. Many patients have muscle weakness associated with this condition. Because this condition commonly is caused due to a lumbar spine condition (i.e. disc bulge) many patients seek conservative care through a chiropractor for the treatment of this condition. Our office uses a revolutionary approach to treating sciatica, which would incorporate axial traction techniques in conjunction with an extensive rehabilitation program.
