Back painNatural Sciatica Relief

Sciatica 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.

What to Do Next

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:

Request a free consultation

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 backA Healthy Back

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.

Healthy Weight

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.

Good Posture

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.

Support Your Spine

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.

Warm up

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.

Spinal Alignment

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/

NUCCANUCCA Chiropractic

Many people are confused about chiropractors in general.  Maybe you are unsure about why you would see a NUCCA (upper cervical) chiropractor and what exactly an upper cervical chiropractor does.

Today were going to look at 5 of the most common misconceptions people have about upper cervical chiropractors.

Is NUCCA Chiropractic Safe?

Some people may be under the impression that chiropractic adjustments are dangerous. But the truth is general chiropractic is extremely safe. In fact, if you compare chiropractic care to medical treatment, drug intervention has many more side effects. If you just watch television for a while you’ll hear about all the side effects that are associated with medications that are advertised on TV.

Especially when you evaluate the upper cervical chiropractic approach that we take, which is extremely gentle with no crunching, popping or twisting of the spine common with other spinal approaches. This gentle and precise approach is able to effectively address postural issues and spinal misalignments while creating long-term spinal stability.

Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness, stiffness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise. Current research shows that minor discomfort or soreness following upper cervical chiropractic typically fades within 24 hours.

Is NUCCA Chiropractic Just for Bad Backs?

When most people think about chiropractic, they think of someone that is having back pain. But chiropractors have successfully helped people with all sorts of conditions , including sciatica, headaches, neck problems, arm and leg numbness and tingling, and more. There are also many people who just see a chiropractor to prevent problems and stay healthy.

Are NUCCA Chiropractors Well Educated?

Another common misconception is that chiropractors do not have a good educational background. This just isn’t true. After completing undergraduate work, chiropractors go on to receive a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. Between undergraduate and doctoral work, a chiropractor graduating from chiropractic school will have had over 8 years of education beyond high school. The Doctor of chiropractic curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience.

Upper cervical chiropractors go beyond just their general chiropractic education and spend hundreds of postgraduate hours learning there specific technique.

Is It True That Once You See a Chiropractor You Always Have To?

I’ve heard this one many times over the years. But the truth is there is nothing about seeing a upper cervical chiropractor that will force you to keep seeing one. People continue to see chiropractors for their health because they want to, not because they have to.

When you choose to see an upper cervical chiropractor it is generally because you’re having some sort of a health problem. Those that continue to see chiropractors usually have seen significant results. The problem that they came to the office for has improved or is gone or they have seen all the other benefits associated with chiropractic, such as better sleep, more energy, stronger immune system etc.

And the goal in our office is to help you hold your adjustment as long as possible. It is not about being adjusted, thousands of times, it is about keeping your spine in alignment for as long as possible so that your body can heal and function optimally.

Is NUCCA Chiropractic Affordable?

When you compare chiropractic to variety of other things that we spend money on such as braces for teeth, plastic surgery, LASIK eye surgery, etc. the cost of having a healthy, strong, and mobile spine is a great value.

Chiropractic care has been consistently shown to be cost effective. For example, The Manga Report, a 1993 Canadian government study was quoted as saying:

“There would be highly significant cost savings if more management of low-back pain was transferred from physicians to chiropractors… Users of chiropractic care have substantially lower health care costs, especially inpatient costs, than those who use medical care only.”

To find a NUCCA 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 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/

nuccaHow do I know if I’m a candidate for NUCCA?

Many people hear about NUCCA Care and are wondering if they can be helped by this extraordinary type of care. The first step is a consultation where your history, especially any history of head or neck trauma will be discussed.  Next, an examination will be performed.  If after an examination it is determined that the patient is demonstrating significant body imbalances such as head tilting to one side, one shoulder being lower than the other, one hip being lower than the other, rotation in the pelvis etc.

Then the NUCCA Doctor will take extremely precise x-rays of the head and neck to determine the severity and type of the spinal misalignment.  The Doctor will then analyze the x-rays and determine a specific upper cervical correction formula that will work to bring your spine back into alignment.  After the first upper cervical correction the Doctor will take two post x-rays to determine the response of the body to the initial correction.  After the initial evaluation the doctor will be able to estimate the number of corrections needed and the length of time necessary for the spine to be stabilized.

 Self Assessment

To see if you possibly would be a good candidate for NUCCA Spinal Care you can start by asking yourself a few questions and doing a few simple tests:

Frequently body imbalance precedes pain and sickness…so even if your accident, fall, sports injury, or other trauma occurred years prior it may be related to your current health condition.

These are signs of body imbalance and you should be further evaluated for head/neck misalignment!

Will NUCCA change your life?

NUCCA Spinal Care is the missing ingredient for so many people.  Our bodies are designed to be balanced beginning with our head and neck.  Without a properly balanced body all the exercise, nutrition, stress management will be lacking an extremely important ingredient…a properly functioning nervous system.  The nervous system controls every cell in our body.  The brain, brain stem, spinal cord, and nerves that go throughout our bodies work like an intricate network communicating health and healing messages to the body.

If the spinal column is not properly aligned then those messages from the brain will be interfered with.  If the message is going to your heart…the heart will not function as well, if the nerve message controls the stomach and it is interfered with the stomach will not work the way it is designed.  Nerve interference is a very serious and detrimental consequence of body imbalance.  Evaluate your own head/neck alignment or get checked by a NUCCA Doctor as soon as possible.

Don’t wait another day!  It could make all the difference for you and your future!

To find a NUCCA 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 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/

Neck pain and migrainesSevere Migraine and Neck Pain

Neck pain can be an early sign of a migraine or may show up after the episode, leaving sufferer's with a throbbing pain at the back of the neck. According to an online survey generated by the National Headache Foundation, 38% of migraine patients said they always experience neck pain and 31% said they frequently had neck pain along with their migraine headaches.

It is very common for a tightness in the shoulders and neck to cause a cervicogenic headache (or migraine), which is a condition connected to the cervical spine. This occurs because tightness in the neck muscles and joints stimulates nerves in the neck that extend into the head, resulting in the pain traveling to the head, causing a headache. When it comes to the neck and migraine, the same process takes place except that when the signals reach the head it causes a migraine for those who are prone to getting them.

Muscle tightness and neck pain are usually signs of mental or physical stress and posture, all that can be effectively addressed naturally without drugs. Instead of simply opting for medication to treat migraine neck pain, take a look at your overall health and see if any changes need to be made, including finding time to relax, exercise and to learn stress relieving techniques.

Migraine Medication Management

Medication management of migraine and neck pain generally starts with analgesics like aspirin, acetaminophen and NSAIDs, however the results vary from patient to patient. Sometimes a combination of medications is prescribed, however, this approach has the potential for causing rebound migraine. If this approach fails, a cautious use of an opioid can be prescribed, using a sustained release medication around the clock for unrelenting headaches in the hopes of preventing a rebound effect. Invasive practices may also be considered and they include trigger point injections, facet joint blocks, occipital nerve blocks, nerve root blocks, segmental nerve root blocks, etc. it is important to be aware that all of these pharmaceutical approaches have side effects, and do not address the underlying cause of the migraines only attempt to relieve symptoms temporarily.

Natural Migraine Alternative

Symptoms of cervical spine dysfunction usually include tension and migraine headache (cervicogenic headache). Upper cervical chiropractic care is focused on finding and correcting any alignment issue in your neck that can cause not only migraine neck pain, but a number of other chronic health problems and conditions. Because the human response to trauma and injury is to realign the body, down to even the pelvis and hip area, tension is placed on the spine as well as the cranial nerves, nervous system and also affects blood flow. Gentle and safe upper cervical corrections can relieve and even eliminate neck pain, getting the neck and spine back into the correct positions, without jerking or twisting your neck during the procedure.

Correcting underlying neck injuries will frequently decrease or eliminate migraine headache pain. The best and safest approach available to address severe migraine and neck pain is upper cervical chiropractic and positive lifestyle changes that include following a healthy diet plan, getting a proper amount of sleep, exercise and finding a way to reduce tension.

What to Do Next

To find an upper cervical specialist in your area go to www.upcspine.com or if you are in the Redwood City, California area, 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/

NUCCA chiropractor in Redwood City

Want to know how your misalignment is affecting your body?

Advanced Spinal Care now provides our patients with a great tool to see how your body is affected by your unique misalignment.
Advance Spinal Care
The Redwood City chiropractor who offers fast track resolutions to chronic pain with technically advanced NUCCA chiropractic, upper cervical diagnostic methods and treatment protocols.
Find Us
Advanced Spinal Care
643 Bair Island Rd Ste 208
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 595-0500
Follow Us
Office Hours
Mon: Closed
Tue/Thur: 11:30am-5:00pm
Wed: Closed
Fri: 1:00pm-5:00pm
Sat: 9:00am-12:00pm
Sun: Closed
map-markerphoneenvelopefile-pdf-o linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram Skip to content