Conditions Treated
Conditions That Can Be Relieved AND Resolved By Chiropractic Treatment:
Migraine and Tension Headaches:
If you suffer from Migraine and/or tension headaches that don’t respond to medication and occur multiple times each month, Baywood Chiropractic may just be the answer you’ve been so desperate to find. Most headaches are caused by musculoskeletal issues in the cervical spine, which is located in the neck. We use several techniques which can improve the alignment and function of the cervical spine, that will result in fewer headaches of less severity.
Consistent chiropractic treatment of a period of time may even eradicate your headaches completely! No matter the source of your cervical spine misalignment and resulting tension and limited range of motion, be it from injury, a traffic accident, stress, work or recreational pursuits we can formulate a treatment plan targeted towards relief!
Spinal Trauma, Neck, Mid and Lower Back Pain:
This particular list of conditions sums up the primary victims of a misaligned spine. It makes sense, once you understand how the spine affects the nerves, ligaments, muscles, and joints of the neck, mid and lower back. Basically, if your neck or back is experiencing pain, limited mobility and range of motion, your spine is involved and is experiencing some degree of trauma.
Likewise, if you suffer an injury to your spine cord, you can pretty much expect resultant neck and back pain in the very near future. The good news is, chiropractic treatment was invented for these conditions, and chiropractic treatment over a period of time will generally result in immediate relief as well as ongoing resolution to your neck and back pain issues.
Sciatica:
Sciatica is an intense and debilitating condition characterized by pain, numbness and lack of mobility that starts in the low back and/or glutes and travels into one or both legs. It is caused by nerve compression and may result from misaligned vertebrae, herniated or bulging discs, pregnancy and childbirth, tumors and piriformis syndrome, named after the muscle located in the lower portion of the spine, connects to the thighbone and assists in hip rotation.
The sciatic nerve runs beneath the piriformis muscle, which when irritated or shortened, can trap the sciatic nerve, causing sciatica. Chiropractic treatment can help resolve sciatica and the chiropractic treatment plan for sciatica will be formulated based on the origin or disorder that has caused the sciatica in the first place.
Pinched Nerves:
Like sciatica, any pinched nerve is usually the result of an impingement upon the affected nerve by a joint or bulging disc that is out of alignment, resulting in the nerve being literally “pinched” by the musculoskeletal element that is out of position. What is worse still, is that the pain from a pinched nerve can radiate and travel to other parts of the body. Chiropractic treatment can eradicate pinched nerves by realigning the spine, thus repositioning joints, ligaments and muscles back to their normal areas in the body. Once the adjustment has been made, the trapped nerve is released, resulting in immediate relief.
Arthritis:
Arthritis is a painful chronic condition that is the result of an inflammation of the joints and soft tissues of the body. The pain can also become acute, when an arthritis flare up occurs. Stiffness often accompanies the pain making mobility and range of motion decline rapidly.
Chiropractic treatment can treat this debilitating inflammation by carefully examining the body to find out if a misalignment is causing the inflammation that fires up the arthritis. If a misalignment is found to be the culprit, a chiropractor can then use manual manipulation techniques to guide the spinal column back into place. Once aligned, the spine can then communicate properly between the body and the brain, so that the body can begin its healing process and bring the inflammation down naturally.
Automobile/Motorcycle Injuries:
If you’ve recently been in an automobile or motorcycle accident, your primary care physician may very well refer you to a chiropractic office. The types of injuries sustained from these traumatic accidents are often multiple, related and result in recurring pain. A chiropractor can treat your entire body as a whole, without drugs or invasive surgeries.
Whether you’ve sustained nerve, muscle, ligament or joint injuries, they are all related to spinal misalignment, and chiropractic treatment of this misalignment can offer relief to all of the injuries you’ve incurred from the accident. Chiropractic is so widely regarded as an antidote to the injuries of car and motorcycle accidents that most auto insurance policies cover chiropractic treatment at 100%!
Foot Pain:
Although chiropractic treatment primarily focuses on the misalignment of the spine, chiropractic adjustments can be performed on many different joints, including foot and ankle joints. Many chiropractors are trained in adjusting the arms and legs as well as the jaw (for TMJ relief). Basically, anywhere two bones meet, a joint is formed. These bones can misalign for a variety of reasons and chiropractic practice is an effective complementary alternative treatment to realign bones that form joints.
Ankle joints are generally straight-forward and respond well to chiropractic adjustment, resulting in sometimes immediate relief. Feet, on the other hand, have lots of little joints that can go out of misalignment at the least provocation, such as walking (!). Once a chiropractor has ruled out other conditions better treated by a podiatrist, chiropractic adjustment can be a safe alternative to drugs and/or surgery that results in weeks of enforced bedrest and immobility.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is one of a host of autoimmune disorders that stymie traditional medicine to this day. Because it is not completely understood, finding relief from this invisible but debilitating condition is often frustratingly intangible with decidedly mixed results. However, it does appear that chiropractic adjustments to the spine, including the cervical spine and lumbar spine, located respectively in the neck and lower back has been shown to give relief to many patients suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
It is theorized that when the spine is out of alignment, the nervous system becomes irritated causing inflammation that flares up in surrounding muscles and soft tissues, ultimately causing the fatigue to acerbate. Realigning the spine through chiropractic adjustment, stops the chain of inflammation, sending a signal to the body that the crisis is over, and allowing the body’s natural healing process, including sleep to occur.
Stress:
Like every medical professional in today’s hectic society, chiropractor’s end up treating many people who suffer the ravages of chronic stress, even if they may have initially come to them for treatment of another pain issue. The impact of stress on our bodies can lead to long-term problems, including, ironically, spinal misalignment.
Thus, the circle is completed, and chiropractors find themselves in the position of being able to help alleviate stress by treating a spine that stress has forced into misalignment. Regular chiropractic sessions can help release stored tension all over the body, alleviating the physical symptoms of stress and eventually reducing the damage stress can wreak upon us.
Compressed or Bulging Discs:
A hallmark of spinal trauma is the presence of compressed or bulging discs. Through the utilization of Spinal Decompression therapy, compressed and/or bulging discs are realigned and rehydrated which gives them the vertebral space and nutrition needed to function properly without medication or invasive surgery.
Shoulder, Elbow, and Hand Pain:
Many shoulder, elbow and hand pain issues can be sourced back to a group of nerves called the brachial plexus. These nerves are responsible for shoulder, arm and hand movement and sensation. Nerve damage to the brachial plexus can cause pain, loss of mobility and decreased range of motion as well as numbness and tingling and burning sensations.
Chiropractors can locate the source of the brachial plexus irritation and realign the accountable section of the spine that may be impinging these nerves. Once the adjustment is made, the affected nerves should be released, resulting in immediate symptom alleviation.
Muscle Spasms:
Muscle spasms have a cause and effect relationship with misaligned spines. When the spine is misaligned, it pulls on surrounding muscles, causing them to shorten and if left without relief, eventually spasm in an effort to relieve the tension caused by the torque of the misaligned spine.
It makes sense then, when a chiropractor successfully makes an adjustment to the misaligned spine, realigning it into its natural position, the surrounding muscles are relieved from the pulling action and spasms subside because release and relief have been achieved.
Pregnancy-Related Back Pain:
The drug free and non-invasive qualities of chiropractic make it a viable alternative therapy when relieving the all too common back pain of pregnant women. In fact, chiropractic treatment has been advocated for the back pain of pregnancy for so long by midwives and other alternative practitioners that traditional medical doctors now also refer their pregnant patients to chiropractors.
Keeping the body in proper alignment, especially when the body is put under the intense duress, change and instability of pregnancy is probably one of the most helpful practices that should be maintained throughout gestation. Chiropractors specializing in maternity adjustments know how to gently realign the spine without force or putting pressure on the abdomen.
Coccyx Pain:
If you’ve every experienced coccyx, or tailbone pain because of a fall or injury, you know how painful it can be and how little you can do to ease the pain. Fortunately, chiropractic treatment is one of the most effective treatments for coccyx pain. Because the coccyx is the base of the spine, chiropractors can realign it with adjustments, easing the irritated nerves and muscles surrounding the area as the tailbone is eased back into its rightful position.
In addition to adjustments, chiropractors can offer exercise and stretches that may provide additional relief, as well as ice therapy to help with inflammation.
Allergies
Chest Pain
Abdominal Pain
Digestive Disorders
Dyslexia
Insomnia
Knee and Ankle Pain
Muscle Weakness
Numbness and Tingleing
and more; If your condition is not listed, Dr. Lewis offers a no fee consultation to discuss your condition and if chiropractic care is indicated for it.
Wellness and Maintenance Care:
Chiropractic treatment need not be used only as specific relief for a pain issue. It can also be included in any wellness plan as a prescriptive and maintenance practice that keep the body in optimal alignment, allowing joints and muscles to function fluidly and flexibly, supporting a spinal column that maintains a healthy base line, free from irritation and disruption.
Many wellness advocates swear by regular “well visits” to their chiropractor for adjustments to their cervical and lumbar spine. Just as they would never miss a massage, yoga class or meditation session, neither would they miss regularly scheduled appointments with their chiropractor!