Arthritis
Arthritis, or joint pain or joint disease, is the leading cause of disability in America. More than 50 million adults and 300,000 children are suffering from some type of arthritis. Common symptoms include swelling, pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion. Severe arthritis can result in chronic pain, inability to perform normal day-to-day activities, and has the potential to cause permanent joint damage.
To determine whether or not you may be suffering from arthritis or to determine the severity, your medical professional will perform blood tests and conduct an imaging scan (ie: x-ray, CAT scan or MRI). Eating healthy, staying active, and understanding your type of arthritis and treatment options are crucial to decreasing your discomfort and paving the way for an enjoyable, happy life.
Auto Injuries
Even a “minor” crash can result in serious injuries like ligament sprains. This can lead to chronic pain and disability if not treated properly. In fact, research shows that early treatment is the best way to prevent long-term symptoms. Chiropractic adjustments are effective because they help restore the healthy, normal function of your nervous system without the use of drugs or surgery.
Back Pain
Since back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide, it is vital to know how to prevent the cause of back pain. By maintaining a healthy diet and weight, remaining active and avoiding prolonged inactivity or bed rest are all important ways to avoid back pain. Before doing exercises or any physical activity, it is recommended to warm up and/or stretch.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
CTS is a problem of the median nerve which runs from the forearm into the hand. When there is excessive pressure in the wrist, it causes swelling of the median nerve. This small area called the carpal tunnel is a narrow tunnel at the wrist made up of bones, soft tissues, nerves, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels. When the median nerve which runs through this tunnel gets compressed it causes pain, weakness, numbness or tingling in the hand and wrist which radiates into the forearm. The carpal tunnel is the most common area that gets compressed in both the hands and feet.
CTS should be diagnosed and treated early. During your consultation, you will receive a standard physical examination of the hands, arms, shoulders and neck to help determine if your symptoms are related to daily activities or to an underlying disorder. Our highly skilled chiropractor will also utilize other orthopedic tests to try to produce the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Laboratory tests and x-rays can reveal diabetes, arthritis, fractures, and other common causes of wrist and hand pain.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease is when natural changes in the discs of your spine cause pain. The discs between vertebrae act as shock absorbers for your spine, and as you age, they begin to lose flexibility. While this is a normal part of aging, it should not cause pain. If you experience pain due to this, it is classified as degenerative disc disease.
Each disc is composed of a sturdy outer wall and a soft, gel-like inner core. When we are born, these discs are primarily composed of water, but as age advances, the discs lose some of this water content and begin to get thinner. As you might imagine, this means each disc doesn’t absorb the shocks of everyday life as well.
Headaches/ Migraines
Nine out of ten Americans say that they suffer from headaches. Some of these people experience headaches frequently. Some experience constant headaches that are very painful. These can even make a person nauseous. Ninety-five percent of headaches are tension, migraine, or cluster headaches. These types of headaches are not caused from a disease, but from something in your body that is not sitting correctly.
Knee Pain
Knee pain is increasingly becoming a more common problem in society. It is a complaint we see frequently. The most common complaint associated with knee pain is considered the normal “wear and tear.” Another ailment that affects the knee is osteoarthritis. The symptoms and progression of osteoarthritis and knee pain can be reduced through our individualized approach to chiropractic care.
Neck Pain
Tired of living with chronic neck pain? Dr. Ray Bedlington at Bedlington Chiropractic Center in Everson, WA is committed to helping you leave that pain behind through natural, customized treatment methods.
CAN A CHIROPRACTOR REALLY RELIEVE NECK PAIN?
It’s a common question – one that leaves people wondering if a trip to the chiropractor can really help. And when the neck is in pain, you want to know that whoever you seek care from can truly help. We understand, which is why Dr. Bedlington and our team at Bedlington Chiropractic Center in Everson, WA want to help you understand how chiropractic care can bring you the relief you desire.
Understanding The Cause Of Neck Pain
Nearly every case of neck pain is due to an issue in the neuromusculoskeletal system. This system includes your bones, tendons, muscles, ligaments, discs, and nerves. Each of these plays an integral role in your movements and various functions throughout the body. And when they are all performing properly, they work together – generally pain-free.
Unfortunately, there are times when one of these components can negatively impact the others. For example, a misalignment of the bones can cause a disc to “slip” and put pressure on a nerve or a tense muscle can put additional strain on the joints and surrounding tissues.
What exactly could have caused this misalignment, muscle tension, or other neuromusculoskeletal issue in the first place? This typically varies between individuals, as no two people live the exact same life. However, the following are some of the most common:
- Injuries such as whiplash
- Poor posture, especially when sitting for prolonged periods
- Poor sleep habits, such as sleeping on your stomach with your head to the side
- Wearing a heavy purse or backpack
- Lack of activity
- Leaning over a phone or tablet
At times, though, the issue might not be in the neck itself. Misalignment, pinched nerves, or tension in the shoulders or upper back can also cause pain in the neck.
How Does A Chiropractor Treat Neck Pain?
As no two people live the same lives, there is no single treatment plan employed for every single patient. We customize each plan for the individual, typically using some combination of the following.
- Adjustments to restore alignment throughout the spine
- Cold laser therapy to address tension and inflammation while promoting natural healing
- Flexion distraction to stretch out the muscles
As nutrition and daily habits can play a critical role in living pain-free, we provide guidance in these areas, as well.
It’s time to experience life without debilitating neck pain. Call (360) 966-5844 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bedlington at Bedlington Chiropractic Center in Everson, WA.
Neuropathy
Neuropathy is a medical condition caused by damaged nerve cells and often associated with autoimmune diseases, infections, diabetes, tumors, or hereditary conditions. Peripheral neuropathy currently affects over 20 million people in the United States with symptoms ranging from tingling or burning pain and nausea to muscle spasms, difficulty moving your arms or legs, or atrophy.
Personal Injury
Our goal is to help you receive the proper care after a personal injury, auto accident or fall. Our staff is devoted to helping you obtain the most comprehensive treatments and the care you deserve, so you may maintain your quality of life after an injury and can begin to feel like yourself again.
Too often, individuals involved in an auto injury or wreck have minimal or no symptoms until several weeks after the auto accident. That is where the professionals at Bedlington Chiropractic Center come in, and can assist you with all aspects of auto accident personal injury recovery.
Pinched Nerve
A pinched nerve can happen in a variety of places throughout the body with some of the most common being the lower spine, wrists, neck, and legs. A pinched nerve occurs when the muscles or tendons around the nerve are inflamed, putting pressure on the nerve and either causing pain or even numbness throughout the extremities related or attached to this affected nerve.
Your pinched nerve may be caused by different physical conditions such as carpal tunnel or a herniated disc. Though pinched nerves can be painful, the majority of patients find that their pinched nerve(s) goes away on its own.
If the pinched nerve does not resolve itself and you have persistent pain that lasts for more than a few days, you should seek medical attention by scheduling an appointment at Bedlington Chiropractic Center with our chiropractor. This is especially true if you’ve tried at-home treatments but feel like your pain is worsening as time progresses. With pinched nerves, it’s important to seek medical attention in order to identify the underlying cause of the pinched nerve to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
Sciatica
Sciatica is characterized by pain in the lower back that radiates down one or both legs. The pain is described as dull, achy, sharp, like “pins and needles” or similar to electric shocks. Other symptoms associated with sciatica include burning, numbness and tingling sensations. Sciatic nerve pain varies in intensity from mild to severe, and frequency may range from occasional to constant. The onset is generally gradual and not necessarily associated with a previous event. Sciatica is also known as radiating or referred pain, neuropathy, or neuralgia.
Shoulder Pain
The shoulders are complex joints that offer remarkable mobility while, at the same time, providing points where the spine and neck nerves connect with the rest of the body. If you live in and around the Everson, WA, area and experience discomfort or shoulder pain, Dr. Ray Bedlington of Bedlington Chiropractic Center offers various chiropractic and complementary therapies to help get you moving pain-free.
Because the shoulder is such a complex joint, pain and discomfort can be due to a number of reasons, including misalignment in the spine or some form of injury or trauma to the shoulder/neck vicinity. The two joints that create the shoulder include-
The Acromioclavicular Joint – The Location Where The Shoulder Blade Meets The Collarbone.
The Glenohumeral Joint – The Location Where The Upper Arm Bone Inserts Into The Shoulder Socket.
The Most Common Causes Of Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain strikes at any time of the day; however, most afflicted would agree that shoulder pain tends to ramp up when joints stiffen naturally at night. The pain you may feel can be dull, sharp, achy, or burning, with an increase in pain level when you begin to move.
The most common causes are:
- A sprain or strain from overuse
- Arthritis
- Tendonitis/tendinopathy
- Bursitis
- Torn Ligaments
- A pinched or compressed nerve
- A rotator cuff injury
- Shoulder Impingement
- A frozen shoulder – a.k.a. – Adhesive Capsulitis
- A dislocated shoulder
- Referred Pain
- Poor Posture and more
Can A Chiropractor Reduce Shoulder Pain & Improve Range Of Motion?
Yes, Dr. Bedlington, using a variety of chiropractic and complementary treatment and therapies, can help you begin to reduce your shoulder pain –
- Manual Spinal Adjustments – chiropractic manipulations/are used to properly realign the spine with the shoulder, clavicle, and scapula.
- Therapeutic Massage – is a complementary therapy often used to relax muscles and the body, making it more receptive to a spinal realignment.
- Cold Laser Therapy – this gentle, painless process applies light wavelengths to an injured area that delves deep beneath the skin – ultimately stimulating the healing process.
- Therapeutic Exercise – these exercises – addressing flexibility, mobility, circulation, coordination, balance, resistance, endurance, etc. – help to improve/restore or prevent a loss of capacity to do certain physical activities.
- Muscle Stretching – using Flexion distraction.
- Electronic Stimulation – with several options available, this helps reduce inflammation and pain.
Looking For Relief From Shoulder Pain In The Greater Everson, WA, Vicinity?
If shoulder pain impacts your ability to move about as needed or without pain, contact Belington Chiropractic Center. Dr. Bedlington or a member of our staff can be reached at (360) 966-5844 or online.
TMJ
TMJ is an abbreviation for the temporomandibular joint which connects the mandibular, or your lower jaw, to the temporal bones of the skull. The TMJ is one of the more unique joints within your body as it allows you to move your jaw forward, backward, and side to side so that you can chew, talk, sing, yawn, and more. This joint can be found just in front of your ears on both sides of your head.
Any problem with the muscles, ligaments, discs, bones, or the joint itself are known as temporomandibular disorders or TMD and refers to the actual disorder, where the jaw joint is misaligned and causing problems such as pain, inflammation, and inability to move or operate the jaw. However, these problems or conditions are often incorrectly called by the joint name of TMJ instead.
Vertigo
Vertigo is the feeling that you are moving when you’re not. This sensation can be triggered by movements such as turning your head too quickly or looking down from a great distance, but it is ultimately caused by problems in the inner ear, brain, or brainstem. There are two different forms of vertigo with each stemming from various medical issues: peripheral vertigo and central vertigo.
Peripheral vertigo results in a problem with your inner ear and thus your balance, while central vertigo occurs when your brain or brainstem are suffering from a disease originating from your central nervous system (CNS). Peripheral vertigo is typically more severe, and central vertigo is more gradual in its onset. Regardless of the type of dizziness you are experiencing, more than likely, your quality of life is suffering because of it.
Whiplash
According to the American Chiropractic Association, one of the most common causes of neck pain is whiplash resulting from a car accident. A sudden forced movement of the head or neck in any direction and the resulting “rebound” in the opposite direction is known as whiplash. The sudden “whipping” motion injures the surrounding and supporting tissues of the neck and head. Muscles react by tightening and contracting, creating muscle fatigue, which can result in pain and stiffness. Severe whiplash can also be associated with injury to the intervertebral joints, discs, ligaments, muscles, and nerve roots.