When a 2-year-old little girl falls down the stairs what is the typical response? The parents would pick her up and check on her see if there are any notable injuries. If they were concerned about her in any way the parents would take that little girl to the emergency room and get her checked out medically. They may perform X-Rays, a Cat Scan, and other testing. If all those tests come back negative then they would release her back to her parents and tell them that she is going to be okay.
What if when she fell and hit her head the ligaments and muscles that connect the head and neck were damaged. Creating a slight misalignment at the atlas (the top bone in the spine). Once that bone is misaligned and locked out of it's normal position it creates a weakness. This weakness allows the spine to break down and lock into a stressed position. In this stressed position frequently one of the legs will appear shorter than the other when laying flat on your back. And one hip will be lower than the other when in the standing position.
Now in this new stressed position the body begins to grow. With the head slightly tilted to one side and the hips uneven that little girl hits her growth spurt at the age of 8 and a curvature begins to develop. By the time that little girl is 13 she has a 12 degree Scoliosis like the one you see in the picture.
This time the Mom of that 2-year-old little girl is a patient of a NUCCA chiropractor. So after the fall the little girl isn't sleeping well and just isn't acting like herself, she is brought into a NUCCA office to have her alignment evaluated. During the exam the little girl is found to have a one inch leg length difference!
After the exam the little girl is adjusted in her upper cervical spine. Her legs immediately level...the Mom is amazed! That night she sleeps great again and is just like herself again the next day.
Scoliosis? Ear infections? ADHD? Headaches? Digestive problems? There is no way to know for sure. But without a doubt she will now grow up a healthier girl because her spine has been restored to it's normal alignment.
The most common times for a child to develop a misalignment are after birth, when they begin to lift their head, when they begin to crawl and when they begin to walk. After those milestones a child should only be evaluated if they have had a head or neck trauma such as a fall or car crash. About 50% of the kids that are evaluated are misaligned. There will be no other time better than in childhood to correct those problems and allow that child to grow up as healthy as possible.
It is much easier to grow healthy kids than it is to repair damaged adults!
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
Most of us tend to ignore our back, that is, until back pain flares up, resulting in a dull, constant ache and/or a sudden sharp pain. Back pain can be caused by a fracture, sprain, or other accidental injury, can be caused by a medical condition, being sedentary and overweight, or simply be the result of a misalignment of the spine. The good news is that back pain can be prevented. Following are 5 ways to improve the health of your back.
Put in the effort to maintain a healthy weight, 10 pounds within your ideal weight. Excess weight can creep up on you and when it does most of us aren't aware of how seriously it affects us. Extra pounds, particularly in your midsection, will make back pain worse because it shifts your center of gravity and puts strain on the lower back.
Always pay attention to your posture. Maintaining the right posture plays an important role when it comes to preventing back pain due to the fact that muscle strain and pressure on the discs, back joints and ligaments is aggravated by bad posture. Some posture breakdown is outside of our control, we will talk more about that later. But you can maintain good posture when sleeping by attempting to keep your head centered over your neck as much as possible. Avoid sleeping on your stomach, always sleep on your side or back. When sleeping on your side it is important to have a pillow that is supportive enough to keep your head in alignment with your spine. When sleeping on your back it is good to have a pillow underneath your knees in order to take pressure off your lower back.
Always support your lower back while sitting by using a pillow that's specifically designed for the purpose or using a rolled up towel or small pillow. This will help to maintain the normal curvature in your lower back. Remove the support every half an hour for a few minutes to change the position of your lower back. It's also a good idea to invest it a good mattress since most of us spend a lot of time in bed. Take the time to do some research, ask friends and family for recommendations, read reviews and test the mattress you’re considering at the store. It's important to keep in mind that what works for one person might not work for you, so be sure take the time to find the best choice for you. Some of the best mattresses that I’ve seen over the years are the sleep number bed from select comfort and the temperpedic mattress.
Take the time to warm up before exercising or other activities. Jumping right into any activity with cold joints and muscles will definitely increase your risk for injury. There are a number of ways to warm up including Yoga and Pilate moves; you should consider taking a class to learn a variety of moves or look them up online.
Lower back pain is frequently related to changes in posture. Many postural changes are outside of your control. After all nerves tell muscles how to pull on the spine, if the nerves are sending the wrong message your posture will continue to be distorted. Postural adaptations such as your head tilting to one side, shoulders being uneven, hips being uneven are all signs of an underlying problem leading to these types of postural changes.
The spine is an extraordinary arrangement of bones, tendons, ligaments, discs, nerves and muscles, designed to be strong, flexible and protective. Most of us take what the spine does for granted; that is until something goes terribly wrong. When the spine is aligned correctly, it's incredibly stable and strong. When a misalignment takes place at the top of the neck, the spine adapts or compensates for it in an attempt to protect the nervous system, triggering a chain reaction from the top of the spine to the bottom. Upper cervical chiropractors have been helping people who suffer from lower back pain for years by addressing the underlying cause of these postural changes. These patients usually end up experiencing a phenomenal improvement in both the frequency and severity of their low back pain thanks to upper cervical care. And upper cervical chiropractors are able to address these underlying postural changes without any of the popping, cracking or twisting of the spine common with general chiropractic manipulation.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
Just a month after back surgery, Nancy Scatena was once again in excruciating pain. The medications her doctor prescribed barely took the edge off the unrelenting back aches and searing jolts down her left leg. “The pain just kept intensifying,” says the 52-year-old Scottsdale, Ariz., woman who suffers from spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the channel through which spinal nerves pass. “I was suicidal.”
Finally, Scatena made an appointment with another surgeon, one whom friends had called a “miracle worker.” The new doctor assured her that this second operation would fix everything, and in the pain-free weeks following an operation to fuse two of her vertebrae it seemed that he was right. But then the pain came roaring back.
Experts estimate that nearly 600,000 Americans opt for back operations each year. But for many like Scatena, surgery is just an empty promise, say pain management experts and some surgeons.
This Spine Journal study [1] shows that, in many cases, surgery can backfire, leaving patients in even more pain.
The study provides clear evidence that for many patients, fusion surgeries designed to alleviate pain from degenerating discs don’t work, says the study’s lead author Dr. Trang Nguyen, a researcher at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. [3] 27 Million Adults With Back Problems
A recent report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a federal organization, found that in 2007, twenty-seven million adults reported back problems, with $30.3 billion spent on treatments to ease the pain. While some of that money is spent on physical therapy, pain management, chiropractor visits, and other non invasive therapies, a big chunk pays for spine surgeries.
That has some surgeons and public health experts concerned. [4]
You may also want to review the recently published European Guidelines for the Management of Acute and Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain, which specifically states:
"Surgery for non-specific CLBP cannot be recommended unless 2 years of all other recommended conservative treatments — including multidisciplinary approaches with combined programs of cognitive intervention and exercises — have failed".
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
REFERENCES:
Whiplash Leads to Accelerated Breakdown of the SpineAccidents and injuries will tear loose the connective tissue (Muscles, ligaments and tendons) that holds the spine in place. This will create a weakness, which will allow the spine to breakdown and lock into a stressed position. The longer the spine is misaligned the more wearing down of the spinal joints, discs, muscles, etc will take place.
Frequently in upper cervical chiropractic offices we will see patients who have been involved in car crashes. Not only recent car crashes...but car accidents that have occurred 5, 10 or 15 years before or even longer. Based on the extent of degeneration in the spine the original injury to the spine can be dated approximately. Why is that? Well if the spinal balance is altered due to misalignment there will be unequal pressure applied to the spine. Over time this will lead to a breaking down of the bones, ligaments, discs etc. or what is called degenerative disc disease (Bone spurs and disc thinning etc.).
Upper Cervical Chiropractors have been seeing this phenomenon in our offices for years. But now the research is also showing that Degenerative Disc Disease or what is commonly called Arthritis of the spine is a result of accidents or injuries.
Here is what Dr. Mason Hohl an MD and professor of surgery at UCLA Medical Center says...“Follow-up x-rays taken an average of 7 years after injury in one series of patients without prior x-ray evidence of disc disease indicated that 39% had developed degenerative disc disease at one or more disc levels since injury.” 7 years after the injury the discs and other spinal structures are already breaking down! There was an expected incidence of 6% degenerative change in the population over this period of time.
Dr. Hohl goes on to say “Thus, it appeared that the injury had started the process of disc degeneration.”
He goes on to say “In another follow-up study of patients with similar injuries but with preexisting degenerative changes in the neck, it was observed that after an average of 7 years 39% had residual symptoms, and x-ray evidence of new degenerative change at another level occurred in 55%.” So if you already have had an injury that has started the degenerative process and you have another injury it leads to more degeneration in the area.
Why is it so important to get you head and neck alignment evaluated? How many of us have had a head or neck injury that has misaligned our spines? Every day that the spine stays misaligned...more degeneration takes place.
So is it possible to prevent arthritis? Absolutely!
A balanced and stable spine will not degenerate at the same rate as a misaligned and unstable spine.
References: The Cervical Spine-The Cervical Spine Research Society, Lippincott, 1989 Mason Hohl, MD Professor of Surgery/Orthopedics, UCLA Medical Center Page 440
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
If you have ever had the urge to crack your back, have someone hug you and crack it for you, or crack your neck, you are not alone. Self-cracking one's spine or neck is something most people, or perhaps everyone, has done at one time or another.
Though, one's ability to crack their neck or back does not mean it is a good practice. It is a sign that their spine is not aligned, and that they need to seek an evaluation from an Upper Cervical Specialist. Below are some other signs that it is time to come in for a checkup.
If you suffer from one of the above problems, it is time to seek an Upper Cervical Specialist. Self-cracking your back or spine might seem like a good idea, and it may lead to temporary relief, but it will not lead to a healthier back. A person cracking their own spine, or even a General Chiropractor cracking a person's spine, no more leads to a healthier back than the cracking sound of metal not lead to a car crash.
If you have one of the above symptoms, it is important to see a NUCCA specialist who will align your spine without any popping, cracking or twisting of your spine. Once you spine is aligned, your brain will be able to better communicate with your body, and your body will function properly.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
Sciatica is an affliction characterized by pain that extends along the path of the sciatic nerve, which is the largest and longest nerve
in the body. The sciatic nerve travels from the lower back, through the hip and buttock and down the leg where it separates into two branches at the knee.
Sciatica pain is felt along the sciatic nerve's path, deep in the buttock and traveling down the back of usually just one leg and sometimes to the foot. Sciatic pain can also be accompanied by a "pins and needles" feeling, numbness, as well as muscular weakness in the affected leg. In addition, at times the pain feels like an electric shock along the nerve. The pain can vary from a moderate ache to severe pain and is commonly felt when you're sitting, cough or sneeze and is often accompanied by lower back pain.
If your symptoms include severe pain and/or you lose bladder or bowel control, a numb feeling or weakened muscles, seek medical attention immediately.
Causes of sciatica include herniated disc, bone spurs, piriformis syndrome, lumbar spinal canal stenosis and spondylolisthesis. Sciatica can also be caused by tumors on the nerve roots or the spinal cord. Severe back pain that extends to the hips and feet, and causes muscle weakness or lack of bladder or bowel control can be the result of spinal tumors.
Injury to the spine and/or neck can also lead to sciatica. In addition, the stress and increased pressure from poor posture drastically increases the pressure on the neck and the discs of the lower back area, leading to neck injuries, herniations and bulges, basically affecting you head to tow because uneven posture can be specifically tied back to upper neck misalignments.
Upper cervical chiropractic care, can help the body recover from back and neck injuries, restoring spinal health and thereby addressing the underlying cause of the sciatica without the need of surgical intervention. The key to improving your chances of successful rehabilitation is seeking the help of an experienced chiropractor as soon as possible. Putting off treatment will make the recovery process take much longer, and may even cause the build up of scar tissue surrounding the injury. When your head is tilted off kilter and not appropriately balanced over your neck, the rest of the body ends up having to adapt to the position it's in, which can leads to out of balance posture, neck, back pain and even sciatica. A gentle and exact correction of the upper cervical area, putting it back in alignment is frequently all it takes to eliminate the added stress from the lower back and in many cases will help the body relieve the pressure it has been placing on the sciatic nerve, allowing the injured area to recover.
To learn more about this gentle and precise approach to spinal injuries and to find a doctor in your area go to www.upcspine.com or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
Natural Sciatica ReliefSciatica is a painful condition that can result in numbness and tingling in the legs and sharp pains in the lower back, specifically near the hips. So how can upper cervical chiropractic help with sciatica if the back pain caused by the condition is focused in lower part of back? Consider the connection.
The entire spine is all connected. Thus, the area where the pain is presenting currently is not necessarily where the original problem was. For example, whiplash from a car accident could cause an injury to the top two vertebrae. This could affect a person's posture over time. As a result, the alignment of the entire spine could be thrown off resulting in an unequal weight distribution. Finally, it may result in sciatica.
Ultimately, a person could have problems all up and down their spine, while the initial injury in this case was to the upper part of the neck. Thus, to treat the real problem and not just the symptoms, the top two vertebrae need to be properly aligned. Then proper posture can be restored.
Thus, upper cervical chiropractic may be the best way to attain drug-free, natural relief if you are suffering with pain from sciatica. Be sure to visit a upper cervical chiropractic facility to determine if this is the best way to treat your condition. Though it may at first seem counter intuitive to align the upper spine when the pain is lower, this may be your best option.
To find an upper cervical chiropractor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or www.upcspine.com or if you are in the Redwood City, California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
Chiropractic care at Advanced Spinal Care gets results
Most of us don't really appreciate our back and all that it does for us; that is until every move we make causes pain which is usually severe; at this point you'd almost do anything to relieve the pain. The muscles, bones and joints that make up the back are among the body's most important support systems. When any portion of that system is weakened, out of alignment or damaged, it becomes more difficult for your back to bear your weight.
The main reason for back surgeries is to get pain relief and for some people, the result is less pain which comes with additional benefits that included less need for pain medications which means fewer side effects (including addiction), improved physical fitness, being able to get back to work and be more productive, and improved mood. Severe back pain definitely has a negative impact on quality of life which is why those who suffer from it often opt for any treatment that will relieve the pain and knotted back muscles.
In one study, researchers reviewed records from 1,450 patients in the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation database who had diagnoses of disc degeneration, disc herniation or radiculopathy, a nerve condition that causes tingling and weakness of the limbs. Half of the patients had surgery to fuse two or more vertebrae in hopes of curing low back pain. The other half had no surgery, even though they had comparable diagnoses.
After two years, just 26 percent of those who had surgery had actually returned to work. That’s compared to 67 percent of patients who didn’t have surgery. In what might be the most troubling study finding, researchers determined that there was a 41 percent increase in the use of painkillers, specifically opiates, in those who had surgery.
So although many people who decide to have surgery are looking to reduce the amount of painkillers and return to work, this research is indicating that surgery may not be the best approach, even in severe situations.
Having back surgery can be a tough choice and in many cases, people only consider surgery after they've tried everything else without finding relief. Sadly, surgery doesn't always provide significant pain relief for everyone. Learning about back surgery ahead of time and finding out as much as you can about its benefits and risks will help you decide if it's the best option for you.
Most people who are considering back surgery are unaware of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, a condition when a person experiences more pain and problems after their surgery than before. There are also other significant risks including having a reaction to anesthesia or various other drugs, infection, bleeding, blood clots in the lungs or legs, stroke, heart attack, recurrent disc herniation. Even worse, back surgery can cause nerve damage, which can result in pain, paralysis, loss of bladder or bowel control and sexual dysfunction.
The risk associated with back surgery can depend on the kind of surgery and some people are at a higher risk than others. Part of the surgeon's job is to identify the potential problems that may occur with back surgery. Consulting with your physician before having surgery is the best way to understand your personal risk. You'll want to keep in mind however that research has shown that it's difficult for surgeons to predict who will benefit from the surgery and who won't. Because it's difficult for surgeons to predict the outcome of surgery, medical professionals highly recommend having non-surgical approaches before considering back surgery that includes upper cervical chiropractic care.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic doctors focus on the cause of the back pain, not the symptoms themselves by locating and eliminating disturbances to the nerve system. The ultimate goal of upper cervical treatments is to get the spine back in alignment, correct postural problems and address the underlying cause of the pain. By addressing the problem that's affecting the upper cervical area, the body can heal itself naturally without the need of potentially dangerous drugs or surgery.
The upper cervical chiropractic approach requires no popping, cracking or twisting of the spine common with general chiropractic manipulation. This approach focuses on rebalancing the entire spinal column and not just addressing the compensations that are frequently the focus of surgery and other approaches.
To find an upper cervical chiropractor in your area go to www.upcspine.com or if you are in the Redwood City, California area to schedule your evaluation, click here.
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
A Healthy BackMost of us tend to ignore our back, that is, until back pain flares up, resulting in a dull, constant ache and/or a sudden sharp pain. Back pain can be caused by a fracture, sprain, or other accidental injury, can be caused by a medical condition, being sedentary and overweight, or simply be the result of a misalignment of the spine. The good news is that back pain can be prevented. Following are 5 ways to improve the health of your back.
Put in the effort to maintain a healthy weight, 10 pounds within your ideal weight. Excess weight can creep up on you and when it does most of us aren't aware of how seriously it affects us. Extra pounds, particularly in your midsection, will make back pain worse because it shifts your center of gravity and puts strain on the lower back.
Always pay attention to your posture. Maintaining the right posture plays an important role when it comes to preventing back pain due to the fact that muscle strain and pressure on the discs, back joints and ligaments is aggravated by bad posture. Some posture breakdown is outside of our control and we will talk more about that later. But you can maintain good posture when sleeping by attempting to keep your head centered over your neck as much as possible. Avoid sleeping on your stomach, always sleep on your side or back. When sleeping on your side it is important to have a pillow that is supportive enough to keep your head in alignment with your spine. When sleeping on your back it is good to have a pillow underneath your knees in order to take pressure off your lower back.
Always support your lower back while sitting by using a pillow that's specifically designed for the purpose or using a rolled up towel or small pillow. This will help to maintain the normal curvature in your lower back. Remove the support every half an hour for a few minutes to change the position of your lower back. It's also a good idea to invest in a good mattress since most of us spend a lot of time in bed. Take the time to do some research, ask friends and family for recommendations, read reviews and test the mattress you’re considering at the store. It's important to keep in mind that what works for one person might not work for you, so be sure take the time to find the best choice for you.
Take the time to warm up before exercising or other activities. Jumping right into any activity with cold joints and muscles will definitely increase your risk for injury. There are a number of ways to warm up including Yoga and Pilate moves; you should consider taking a class to learn a variety of moves or look them up online.
Lower back pain is frequently related to changes in posture. Many postural changes are outside of your control. After all, nerves tell muscles how to pull on the spine. If the nerves are sending the wrong message, your posture will continue to be distorted. Postural adaptations such as your head tilting to one side, shoulders being uneven, hips being uneven are all signs of an underlying problem leading to these types of postural changes.
The spine is an extraordinary arrangement of bones, tendons, ligaments, discs, nerves and muscles designed to be strong, flexible and protective. Most of us take what the spine does for granted; that is until something goes terribly wrong. When the spine is aligned correctly, it's incredibly stable and strong. When a misalignment takes place at the top of the neck, the spine adapts or compensates for it in an attempt to protect the nervous system, triggering a chain reaction from the top of the spine to the bottom. Upper cervical chiropractors have been helping people who suffer from lower back pain for years by addressing the underlying cause of these postural changes. These patients usually end up experiencing a phenomenal improvement in both the frequency and severity of their low back pain thanks to upper cervical care. Plus, upper cervical chiropractors are able to address these underlying postural changes without any of the popping, cracking or twisting of the spine common with general chiropractic manipulation.
If you would like to learn more about this gentle and precise approach or to find a doctor in your area, go to www.upcspine.com or if you are in the Redwood City, California area and would like to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click here.
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
Unable to Return to Work and Now in More PainAre you considering having back surgery?
Have you already had back surgery and are still struggling with symptoms?
Research is now revealing that back surgery fails a startling 74% of the time!
In the study, researchers reviewed records from 1,450 patients in the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation database who had diagnoses of disc degeneration, disc herniation or radiculopathy, a nerve condition that causes tingling and weakness of the limbs. Half of the patients had surgery to fuse two or more vertebrae in hopes of curing low back pain. The other half had no surgery, even though they had comparable diagnoses.
After two years, just 26 percent of those who had surgery had actually returned to work. That’s compared to 67 percent of patients who didn’t have surgery. In what might be the most troubling study finding, researchers determined that there was a 41 percent increase in the use of painkillers, specifically opiates, in those who had surgery.
“The study provides clear evidence that for many patients, fusion surgeries designed to alleviate pain from degenerating discs don’t work”, says the study’s lead author Dr. Trang Nguyen, a researcher at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
So 3 out of every 4 people who get back surgery were unable to return to work. And of those patients, nearly half of them are likely and more pain as we can see from the increased amount of painkillers that they are taking since the surgery.
Frequently, spinal pain will begin with an accident or injury to the head, neck or spine. These injuries will frequently lead to misalignments in the spinal column. The most common place for the spine, the misalignment is the upper neck. This is because the upper neck is the most movable and therefore the most vulnerable to injury.
When this upper neck area is misaligned it will throw off the delicate balance of the head and the neck. This will lead to head tilt. With as little as three quarters of a degree of tilt the brain will begin to make changes in the posture of the body.
These changes are a result of a reflex built into the brain to always keep the eyes and ears level with the horizon. Once the position of the head is changed the shoulders will begin to slightly tilt, then the hips and eventually it will result in muscular imbalances throughout the entire body and changes in posture from the head all the way down to the toes.
These resulting compensations from the original misalignment in the upper neck are frequently surgeons, physical therapists and general chiropractors focus.
An upper cervical specific chiropractor is focused on correcting this initial misalignment in the upper neck that is the root cause of these other postural changes.
These changes in posture can lead to symptoms of pain, sciatica and disc related problems, due to the uneven pressures that are applied to the discs, nerves and joints when the spine is not properly aligned.
Have you had surgery and are still having pain?
Are you considering surgery?
A natural alternative that addresses the root cause of your problem may be only a step away.
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Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
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