Spinal Links To Headaches.... A Chiropractic Perspective!

Headaches… The Spinal Link

In everyday life, headaches occur so commonly that rarely do we take a second and think about what could be causing them. In regards to headaches, it can be something as simple as not eating, or something worse such as a brain tumor.

If you have frequent headaches, it’s important that you get the proper evaluation and diagnosis. Keep in mind, head pain is a symptom, not the actual problem.

Headaches are so common that rarely do we question what is the cause of them. In the case of headache, it can be something as simple as jet lag to something truly ominous, such as a brain tumor.

If you suffer form headaches, it is important that you get the diagnosis right. Remember that head pain is the symptom-it is not the actual problem. It is a way that your body gives a signal that you have a problem. So it does require some investigation. Despite what the commercials say on TV, just diagnosing headache as a problem and driving to the drug store for a bottle of pills is not the solution. Yet many of us suffer from daily headaches for years and years and never think...is my headache being caused by a lack of these pills in my diet?

In chiropractic, we look at this problem differently from what you see in a drug ad. First, you need to have a diagnosis and determine the cause for your head pain. Once the cause is determined, then truly corrective action can take place. We pay special attention to how your spine moves and its posture, especially the neck region. Many different research studies have shown that spinal sprains and injuries can produce head pain. And randomized clinical trials have shown that when these spinal problems are addressed with adjustments, the headaches largely disappear...and without the side effects commonly seen with prescription medications.

But every case is different. It's impossible to know without an examination, if you have a spinal problem, and whether this is the cause for your headache. Our clinic always offers complimentary in-clinic and phone consultations with a Doctor of Chiropractic.

If you are not getting your headaches under control and seemingly endless consumption of pills is not doing the trick, then why not take a different and more natural approach to your health. There is no headache bone in your spine, or a button the chiropractor can push to make the headache go away. We generally find, that once the spinal posture and motion is improved, the headaches go away on their own. It can take one visit or several, but we generally see improvements in a short period time.

For a FREE Consultation, call 770-817-0833 today,

Dr. James Roman

www.drjamesroman.com

Lawrenceville Chiropractor Talks About Non-Surgical Neck Pain Choices!

Neck Pain – Non-Surgical Treatment Options

There are many treatment options for those suffering from neck pain. There is conventional medical care where the family doctor will usually prescribe a muscle relaxant, anti-inflammatory, and/or pain killer to help patients through episodes of acute neck pain. However, many patients with neck pain have been through the process of treatments associated with medications and simply cannot tolerate the adverse side effects of stomach pain common with anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin, Mediprin, etc.), Aleve (Naproxen), or aspirin. Others don’t like the groggy, drunk-like feelings associated with pain killers or the sleepiness associated with muscle relaxants. Therefore, these patients often turn to complementary / alternative care.

As noted in the May, 2009 issue of Consumer’s Report for low back pain, chiropractic was the most sought after form of treatment, but there has been no extensive review of neck pain regarding evidence-based treatment approaches – at least not until February, 2008. An international “team” representing 9 countries screened over 31,000 titles of articles published between 1980 and 2006, reviewed more than 1200 articles and eventually reported on 552 studies in their final report. Their findings included the following:

• In the US, 54% utilized complementary (alternative) treatment approaches compared to 37% that obtained conventional medical care.
• Neck pain was the 2nd most common reason Americans obtained chiropractic care.
• Chiropractic was found to be the most frequently reported form of treatment for upper back or neck pain (ahead of massage therapy, relaxation therapy, acupuncture).
• Those who obtained complementary AND conventional medical care were much more likely to perceive the complementary/alternative therapy as being helpful (61% vs. 6.4% for neck conditions and 39.1% vs. 19% for headaches).
• Women more commonly obtained care than men for neck/shoulder pain (29% vs. 18% men) over a 4-6 year time frame.
• Manual therapy (mobilization, manipulation, stretching) was associated with greater pain reduction in the short-term among patients with acute whiplash when compared with usual medical care, soft collars, passive modalities, or general advice.
• For non-whiplash neck pain (without arm radiating pain), manipulation or mobilization, exercise, low level laser therapy (LLLT), and “…perhaps acupuncture…” were reported as more effective than no treatment, sham, or other alternative interventions.
• For both whiplash and non-traumatic neck pain, supervised exercise with or without manual therapy was favored over usual medical care or no care.

What does all this mean? Simple! Everyone who is suffering from neck or upper back pain should seek chiropractic care which includes manipulation, mobilization, exercise training, and activity modifying advice, as these approaches have been found to be more effective than usual medical care! Why waste time with a “wait and watch” with or without drug intervention approach when the evidence favors chiropractic related interventions. If you, a friend, or a loved one is struggling with neck or upper back pain, we will properly assess your condition and administer the appropriate care that is required. We will coordinate care with other health care services when necessary. This recommendation may represent one of most significant acts of kindness you can offer those that you truly care about. \

For a FREE Consultation, call 770-817-0833 Today,

yours in health,

Dr. James Roman

www.drjamesroman.com

Your Lawrenceville GA Chiropractor Talks About Chronic Wrist Pain!

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) – What, Why, How?

WHAT? Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or CTS, is the most common of the peripheral nerve conditions where the median nerve is compressed or pinched at the wrist. The resulting symptoms include numbness/pain in the wrist, fingers (index, third, and forth), multiple sleep interruptions due to hand/finger numbness requiring frequent shaking and flicking, difficulty in gripping or pinching such as buttoning a shirt, threading a needle, lifting a coffee cup, frequent dropping of objects, and the inability to perform work duties. Pain can even shoot up the arm towards the shoulder and into the neck. Because there are 9 tendons over which lies the median nerve that pass through the rather tight tunnel made up of the 8 carpal bones of the wrist, even a little swelling can create CTS.

WHY? There are many possible causes but in general, whether its swelling, a spur, or a metabolic condition, the common denominator is median nerve pinch in the confined space within the carpal tunnel. A common cause of swelling can occur with performing repetitive motion work such as line assembly, meat packing, carpentry, and so on, and over time, the tendons inside the tunnel inflame or swell and the median nerve is pressed into the ligament that crosses over the roof of the tunnel on the palm side of the wrist. Once the contents inside the tunnel swell, all positions of the wrist other than neutral or, holding the wrist in line with the forearm further increases the pressure inside the tunnel. That is why sleeping with the wrist cocked in any direction often wakes up CTS patients. Those most at risk are women over 50 years of age. CTS can also be associated with other health conditions including (but not limited to) Lymes Disease, inflammatory arthritis, and hormone-related conditions including pregnancy, taking birth control pills (BCPs), hypothyroidism, diabetes, and menopause. Lifestyle issues that affect CTS may include high caffeine intake, smoking, alcohol consumption, as well as obesity.

HOW? So the key question is how are we going to help those with CTS? First, we must identify all the possible reasons why CTS developed in the first place and manage those issues. Therefore, an ergonomic (work place) assessment or, discussing and possibly observing the patient at work can be very helpful. Sometimes, a few simple changes to a work station such as moving the monitor of a computer in line with the keyboard/mouse or adjusting the height of the computer can really help. Changing a tool handle type (pistol vs. straight grip), propping up a part that is frequently worked on, moving the product closer to where it is being assembled, eliminate overhead reach requirements, standing on a raised platform, and so on, may be most important in long term results. Identifying and treating any condition that may be participating in the cause like thyroid disease, diabetes, medication (like BCPs), and weight management, is very important. Wearing a night splint is also very productive. Unique to chiropractic, treatments include manipulation of the neck, shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist and fingers, soft-tissue therapy including massage, mobilizing the forearm muscles and tendons, teaching carpal stretch and other upper extremity exercises, and nutritional counseling. Strategies here can include eliminating any suspected food allergy related products including dairy, glutens (wheat, oats, barley, rye), soy, corn, transfats, preservatives and some chemical additives. Increasing B-vitamins (especially B6), by increasing dark leafy vegetables and, increasing antioxidants including fruits and veggies. An anti-inflammatory vitamin program of fish oil, Vit. D3, magnesium, CoQ10, and a multiple vit./mineral may facilitate as well. Once CTS is controlled, preventing a recurrence is important by promoting good posture, exercise, and sticking with the life style adjustments described above. If you, a friend or family member requires care for CTS, we would be honored to render our services.

Where Does Low Back Pain Come From??? Your Lawrenceville Chiropractor Talks About Sources of LBP!

Low Back Pain: Where Does The Pain Come From?

“Were does the pain come from?” is probably the most commonly asked question we hear as chiropractors and frequently, the patient is not told the answer to this simple question. The problem is, the question is not so simple. This is because there are many structures in the low back that share a common nerve supply and hence, the pain arising from those structures is located in the same area of the back. For example, the back portion of the disk, the facet capsule and some of the deep muscles in the spine are all innervated by the same nerve and therefore hurt is a similar location. In all honesty, the only way to try to isolate the pain generator is to inject a local anesthetic to block the pain for a short while. This is like when you go to the dentist and they “numb” your tooth so you don’t feel the pain when they work on it. After a few hours, you start to feel some “life” coming back to your mouth and soon it regains its full feeling. Of course, no one would consider “numbing” the back just to figure out exactly where the pain is arising as really, it’s not that important. This is because the chiropractic treatment approach is similar regardless of the exact tissue that is involved. However, it DOES matter in cases where a nerve root is shooting pain down the leg caused by a herniated disk vs. a localized pain in the back that doesn’t radiate. Hence, we doctors of chiropractic will work hard to differentiate these two distinct types of conditions as the treatment is definitely different. In 1995, the Quebec Task Force recognized the importance of this distinction and recommended all health care providers concentrate on differentiating the nerve root / herniated disk case from what is called “mechanical low back pain.” The facet joint, when sprained / injured, hurts worse when bending backwards and feels good bending forwards. This is exactly the opposite for the herniated disk where bending backwards helps reduce pain and often reduces the shooting leg pain as well, while bending over even a little can create a sharp stabling pain in the back that may shoot down the leg. Of course, there are variations of this and, to make matters more complicated, BOTH the disk and the facet can generate pain at the same time, so it’s not always this cut and dry.

We realize you have a choice in who you choose to provide your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for low back pain, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

For a FREE Consultation, call 770-817-0833 Today!!

Dr. James Roman

www.drjamesroman.com

Tension Headach Relief!!

Tension-Type Headaches

At some point, everyone will have a headache, whether it’s from stress, lack of sleep, hormonal related or even self-induced after having way too much fun the night before! In fact, 9 out of 10 Americans suffer from headaches. For the most part, headaches are not indicative of a dangerous underlying condition, but they can be (…a topic for a future “Health Update”). The focus of this Health Update is to discuss the most common form of headache – the tension-type headache or, TTHA. Tension-type headaches (TTHA) are defined by the Mayo Clinic as “a diffuse, mild to moderate pain that’s often described as feeling like a tight band around your head.” Ironically, even though this is the most common form of headache, the causes of TTHA are not well understood.

These are sometimes described as muscle contraction headaches but many experts no longer think muscle contractions are the cause. They now feel that “mixed signals” coming from nerve pathways to the brain are the cause and may be the result of “overactive pain receptors.” Regardless of the cause, the triggers of tension headaches are well known and include stress, depression/anxiety, poor posture, faulty awkward work station set-ups, jaw clenching and many others. Risk factors for TTHA include being a woman (studies show that almost 90% of woman experience tension headaches at some point in life) and being middle aged (TTHA’s appear to peak in our 40s, though TTHA’s are not limited to any one age group).

Complications associated with TTHA’s may include job productivity loss, family and social interaction disruption, and relationship strain. The diagnosis is typically made by excluding other dangerous causes of headaches and when all the test results return “normal,” the diagnosis of TTHA is made. Treatment utilizing over the counter medications are often effective so long as side effects of stomach irritation and/or liver and kidney issues don’t arise. The use of heat and/or cold is often helpful as some prefer one over the other. Alternating between ice and heat is sometimes most effective. Controlling stress by trimming out less important duties or “…taking on less” can help. Yoga, meditation, biofeedback and relaxation therapy are also great! An “ergonomic” assessment of a workstation and how it “fits” the headache patient can also yield great results. Other highly effective therapies include acupuncture, massage therapy, behavior and/or cognitive therapy as well as of course, chiropractic!

Chiropractic is a GREAT choice compared to standard medical care, especially when side effects to medications exist. This is because manipulation of the cervical spine addresses the cause of the headache and doesn’t just try to “cover up” the pain. In 2001, Duke University reported compelling evidence that spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for those with headaches that originate in the neck with significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief compared to commonly prescribed medication. Chiropractic treatment approaches include (partial list): spinal manipulation, trigger point therapy, mobilization techniques, exercise training, physical therapy modality use, dietary and supplementation education / advice, lifestyle coaching and ergonomic assessments.

We realize you have a choice in where you choose your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for headaches, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

Living With Fibromyalgia: Lawrenceville Chiropractor Gives Key Tips!!

Fibromyalgia - How To "Live With" FM

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a condition that produces widespread pain that can literally change the life of a FM patient, but as they say, “..life must go on!” Therefore, this Health Update is dedicated to discussing ways to empower you with tips to make FM as least activity restricting as possible. Ways to gain self-control of FM include the following:

1. Exercise: There are two forms of exercise you should include in your self-management program. One is light aerobic exercises such as walking and/or water exercises with the objective to increase your heart rate. The other is strength training with a low weight / high repetition approach emphasizing the part of the exercise where you slowly release the weight back to the start position (the eccentric part of the exercise). Here is a list of tips from the National Fibromyalgia Association that should help: a. Start slow – don’t overdo it the first few times you exercise as post-exercise soreness is normal but, it’s exaggerated in the FM patient. b. Listen closely to your body’s feedback! Increase the activity according to your tolerance – NOT TOO QUICKLY! c. Start with only a few minutes of gentle exercise and work your way up. d. Walking is a GREAT form of exercise. It can be done inside (in the winter, for example), outside, and/or in water (to reduce weight bearing loads). e. Track your progress by keeping a log of what and how much you’re doing. This can be accomplished by wearing a pedometer (that measures steps), a heart monitor (that measures pulse rate), and keep track of the distance and time, when possible. Make notes how you felt during and after the exercise. f. Stretch before and after exercising. g. Keep your chiropractor informed and work as a “team” to advance your program.

2. Sleep: A poor sleep pattern is the “norm” for FM patients. The pain associated with FM usually interferes with sleeps, which leads to more pain followed by more sleep disturbance – it’s a vicious cycle that needs to be broken. The National Sleep Foundation and others recommend the following steps to help us sleep: a. Stick to a sleep schedule. Go to bed at a similar time each night, even on weekends. b. Room temperature – keep it cool, not too warm! c. Caffeine – avoid this especially towards evenings (coffee, tea, soda, and/or chocolate). d. Alcohol – avoid before bedtime as it can keep you awake. e. Exercise – in the afternoon, NOT before bedtime. f. Nap as needed but ONLY briefly – like 20 min. max.! g. Be comfortable – wear soft PJ’s and consider a white noise machine. h. Bedtime routine – consider reading, listening to soft music – whatever works for you! Once you find a routine that works, stick with it!

3. Diet: Talk to your chiropractor about food allergy, gluten sensitivity, diabetes, thyroid function, medication/vitamin use and any other unique issues that pertain to you.

4. Emotional control: Engage your family, good friends, your healthcare providers, and consider FM support groups. Meditation, deep breathing and visualization exercises as well as cognitive therapy can also be very effective. If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services!

Yours in health,

Dr. James Roman

www.drjamesroman.com

Your Lawrenceville Chiropractor Talks About Chronic Neck Pain!

"My Neck Is Killing Me!"

When patients present with neck pain, they always ask, “where is the pain coming from?” Of course, this can only be answered after a careful history and thorough evaluation is completed, which is what we do in this office. Let’s take a closer look at what this involves.

The History: This includes a careful description of how the injury occurred, if there was an injury. For example, in a slip and fall injury, it makes a difference if the patient fell forwards, sideways, or backwards; if they landed on their knees, hips, buttocks, back or if they hit their head on the ground. Also, if there was a dazed feeling or loss of consciousness in the process. If there was a head strike, were there any signs of concussion: fatigue, mental “fog,” headache, difficulty communicating or forming words or sentences. When there is no specific injury, we will ask if there were perhaps one or more, “mini-“ or “micro-“ injuries that may have occurred sometime within 2-3 days prior to the onset of the neck pain. The cumulative effect of several small “micro-injuries” can result in a rather significant onset of symptoms several days later. The next batch of information gathered includes factors that increase and decrease the pain, the type of pain quality (sharp, dull, throb, burn, itch, etc.), pain location – “…put your finger on where it hurts and “does it radiate into the arms or legs, severity (pain level 0-10), and timing such as, “it’s worse for the 1st 30 min. in the morning and then loosens up.” Information regarding past history, family history, medical history (surgeries, medications), social history, habits (caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, etc.), and a systems review (heart, lungs, stomach, nervous system, etc.).

The Physical Exam: This includes vital signs (blood pressure, etc), observation – the way the head is positioned (forwards, to the side, rotated, etc.); palpation – touch/feel for muscle spasm, trigger points, spinal vertebra position and motion; range of motion, orthopedic and neurological tests. The exam procedure may also include x-ray, depending on each case.

The Diagnosis: This is determined after taking all your information and “…putting the puzzle pieces together” to determine what is causing your pain.

The Treatment: Chiropractic spinal manipulation (often referred to as “adjustments”) is performed by applying energy or force to the misaligned or fixed vertebra structures by one of many methods depending on the patient’s size, pain level, tolerance, and so on. Other “manual” treatment approaches include soft tissue therapy such as trigger point therapy, active release, massage, vibration, and others. The use of physical therapy modalities such as ice, heat, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, light – laser therapy, and/or others, again, depending on your specific situation and needs can also be very helpful. Similarly, exercises to teach you how to hold your proper posture, to improve flexibility or range of motion, and to strengthen the muscles that are weak really help to make the adjustments “hold” and the beneficial effects last longer. A work station/job assessment may also be needed if that appears to be irritating your condition.

We realize you have a choice in where you choose your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for low back pain, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

For a FREE CONSULTATION, Call 770-817-0833 Today!

Yours in health,

Dr. James Roman

http://www.drjamesroman.com/