WE CAN HELP WITH
SCIATICA / PINCHED NERVE / SLIPPED DISC
WHAT IS SCIATICA?
Sciatica is nerve pain that radiates (runs) along the sciatic nerve. The nerve starts in the lower back and passes through the buttocks, posterior thigh, outside back of the calf and into the foot.
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Sciatic nerve pain is often felt at the top of the nerve in the low back, sometimes following the path of the nerve in the leg to the foot, and may occur in either or both legs.
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Sciatic pain may occur in only part of the nerve path rather than all of it i.e. pain in lower back and foot but no pain in between.
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The pain is a result of irritation of the nerve itself either from direct injury or secondary to pain generated by tissues very close to the nerve.
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There are a variety of conditions that can cause Sciatica, so finding a remedy is not always straight forward and getting a chiropractor to provide a full assessment and diagnosis of the cause is an important step to sorting out this problem.
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SYMPTOMS
Pain that originates in the spine and radiates down the back of the leg. Sciatica typically affects only one side of the body however on rare occasions it can affect both.
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PEOPLE MAY SUFFER SCIATICA PAIN DIFFERENTLY
Pain areas: in the lower back and/or buttock and/or hip and/or leg
Pain types: can be mild, severe, radiating, aching or sharp
Pain circumstances: can occur following an injury, or for no apparent reason
Sensory: there may be leg numbness or pins and needles
Also common: burning sensation, foot numbness, limping or muscle weakness. The pain may cause the sufferer to stand or walk in a stooped or sideways leaning posture
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TREATMENT
Treatment depends on the cause.
Seeing Dr Warren to determine the cause of your episode of sciatica is the first step to sorting out your problem.
Treating patients with sciatica is a common practice in chiropractic clinics.
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SUPPORTIVE CARE
Ice pack: Reduces inflammation and dulls the sensation of pain
Exercises: To optimise normal joint mobility and muscle tone once sufficient healing has occurred
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SYNONOMS
Bulging Disc
Pinched Nerve
Disc Bulge
Herniated Disc
Slipped Disc
Low Back Pain
Lower Back Pain
Lumbago
Sciatic Neuritis
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TAKE ACTION TODAY!
Please call our clinic on (08) 9354 7000. Let's discuss how High Road Chiropractic Centre may help your low back pain and leg pain.
HEADACHES
COMMON CAUSES OF HEADACHES?
Any disruption of the complex relationship between muscles, spine and nerves can result in headaches; of which there are many types (see reference 8 below). Approximately 80% of the population suffer from occasional tension-type headaches and up to 3% suffer from chronic tension-type headaches (see reference 9 below). Headaches are not normal. They are an indication that something is not right!
Common types of headaches include:
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Tension headaches
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Cervicogenic headaches
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Migraine headaches
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Many people spend a lot of money on "over the counter" medications each year to treat headaches, while these drugs often can reduce the discomfort being felt, they may not treat the underlying cause.
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HOW CAN MY CHIROPRACTOR HELP WITH HEADACHES?
Good News! Most common forms of headaches respond to chiropractic care.
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Dr Warren (Chiro) at the High Road Chiropractic Centre in Riverton has over 30 years’ experience in helping people who experience headache and migraine pain. After a careful, extensive examination, Dr Warren's aim is to identify the underlying cause which may include spinal misalignments, nerve interference and muscle tension. With this new information, you can choose to have chiropractic adjustments, aimed at helping the situation.
Chiropractic adjustments take the interference or pressure from your spine, helping to relieve tension, increase joint movement and reduce pain. Also if your headaches are caused by poor posture or neck tension, chiropractic may help you.
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WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF MY HEADACHES GO UNTREATED?
If you are starting to get headaches and haven't had them before you should get yourself checked. If you are prone to headaches returning time and time again, you also need to get yourself checked. Remember, headaches may also be indicative of other serious conditions that require immediate attention.
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TAKE ACTION TODAY!
Please call our clinic on (08) 9354 7000. Let's discuss how Chiropractic may reduce your headaches.
NECK / SHOULDER & ARM PAIN
NECK /SHOULDER AND ARM PAIN
Neck / Shoulder and Arm Pain is pain that radiates along nerves that start in the neck and follows them as they go down past the shoulder to the arm and hand. This may occur in either arm, or in both.
It is caused by irritation of the nerve(s) and unfortunately this can happen from several causes, so finding a remedy is not always straight forward and getting a chiropractor to assess and diagnose the cause is an important first step to solving this problem.
SYMPTOMS
The pain originates in the spine and radiates down the nerves that run from the neck all the way to the hands. Neck, Shoulder or Arm Pain typically affects only one side of the body.
Often reported immediately following whiplash style injuries to the neck, but sometimes reported years later following post traumatic degenerative changes.
PEOPLE MAY EXPERIENCE NECK/SHOULDER & ARM PAIN DIFFERENTLY
Pain areas: in the back of the neck, between the neck and shoulder, in-between the shoulder blades, at the point of the shoulder, into the upper arm, forearm and/or hand
Pain types: can be mild, severe, radiating, aching or sharp
Pain circumstances: can occur following an injury or for no apparent reason
Sensory: there may be arm numbness or pins and needles
Also common: burning sensation, arm numbness, hand numbness / tingling limping, muscle weakness
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TREATMENTS
Treatment depends on the cause.
Seeing Dr Warren to determine the cause of your episode of Neck, Shoulder or Arm Pain is the first step to sorting out your problem.
Treating patients with Neck, Shoulder or Arm Pain is a common practice in chiropractic clinics.
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SUPPORTIVE CARE
Ice pack: Reduces inflammation and dulls the sensation of pain.
Exercise: To maintain or improve joint mobility and muscle tone once sufficient healing has taken place
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SYNONOMS
Bulging Disc
Pinched Nerve
Disc Bulge
Herniated Disc
Slipped Disc
Arm Pain
Shoulder Pain
Neck Pain
Brachial Neuritis
Text Neck
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TAKE ACTION TODAY!
Please call our clinic on (08) 9354 7000. Let's discuss how High Road Chiropractic Centre may be able to reduce your neck/shoulder/arm pain
INCORRECT POSTURE
POSTURE PROBLEMS IN THE WORKPLACE
Backs were not designed to spend long periods of time in static positions such as sitting in a chair – a common feature of many modern work station environments. Spending many hours a day in front of a computer can lead to shoulder, arm, hand and neck problems, as well as issues with balance and coordination.
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One study has found that over 45% of office workers experience neck pain. (1)
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Low back pain is one of the most common causes of disability among people of working age, and its impact on industry is enormous. Back problems (back pain albeit upper/mid or low back) are big contributors to lost productivity in the workplace.​ It’s been reported that after headaches and colds, back pain is the third most common reason for taking time off work. (2)
The work-related physical activities that are believed to be related to the onset of low back symptoms include working in the same position for extended periods, lifting heavy weights, bending and twisting, (3)
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COMMON POSTURE PROBLEMS
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Forward Head Posture
Forward head posture is the most common postural defect found in computer operators.(4)
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Round Shoulders
Round Shoulders is distinguished by the hunched over appearance it creates, and is a poor posture that is often associated with office workers and computer operators.
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Rotated Hips
Rotated hips can be caused by holding a poor position for a long period of time, such as sitting at your desk twisting to write as well as looking at the computer.
In severe cases, long term bad posture can lead to Scoliosis, a condition that results in the spine twisting from left to right, instead of running in a straight line from top to bottom. Depending on the severity, scoliosis of the spine can have a detrimental impact on vital organs, such as your heart, liver and kidneys.
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CORRECTING POSTURES
The good news is that postural issues can be corrected, and even, in some instances reversed. (5) & (6)
When in a working environment that requires a lot of desk and computer work, make sure your workstation equipment
is ergonomically sound. See ergonomic tips. (7)
Take regular breaks – in fact you should take a 1 – 2 minute break every 30 minutes you spend sitting at a desk or workstation.
High Road chiropractors can assess your spinal health and provide the chiropractic care needed to improve it.
Our chiropractors can also provide guidance on some exercises that, when done regularly, will help to strengthen your muscles and maintain improved posture.
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TENNIS ELBOW
TENNIS ELBOW
Lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, as it has come to be known, can have many different causes which strain or overuse the elbow joint and surrounding tissues.
If you’re experiencing any of the following, you may have tennis elbow:
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Pain in the outside part of your elbow
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Weakness in your wrist
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Difficulty with elbow flexibility
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A burning sensation around your elbow
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Pain when gripping items
HOW CAN HIGH ROAD CHIROPRACTIC CENTRE HELP!
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Many tennis enthusiasts or other activities in which the forearm or elbow is used extensively, experience tennis elbow and your chiropractor may be able to help. The overuse of your elbow inflames the tissues that connect the muscle to the bones, causing those chronic and painful symptoms.
Sometimes the problem is actually in the wrist, shoulder or spine. The only way to know for sure is a thorough assessment.
We can also recommend other options, such as icing the area, remedial massage or refraining from the irritating activity; helping your elbow to heal and getting you back to normal activity.
MID/LOW BACK PAIN
MID/LOW BACK PAIN
Back pain is a common occurrence in the Australian population. 80% of Australians will experience back pain at some stage and 10% have significant disability as a result. People of all ages are affected by back pain, and although it generally clears up in a few days or weeks, sometimes back pain can be ongoing.
Fortunately, most back pain is caused by musculoskeletal conditions and can be readily treated with great success. Amongst sufferers seeking back pain relief alternatives, chiropractic is a top choice. Back pain can come from numerous sources, such as poor posture, repetitive work strain, accidents, sports injuries and muscle stresses. Also natural processes such as pregnancy can also give low back pain to expecting mothers.
Chiropractors use a hands-on approach to help back pain. This may include a spinal adjustment, various soft tissue techniques and rehabilitation methods. Our aim is to promote correct alignment and allow your musculoskeletal structure to be at it’s best so you can recover without aids. Chiropractors may help with musculoskeletal back pain by allowing the joints to move well that have previously been restricted by injury, trauma or even tension (such as long term sitting).
See your Chiropractor as soon as possible if you experience back pain and one of the following problems:
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Pain down your legs and below your knees
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Numbness or weakness in one or both legs or around your buttocks
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Loss of bladder or bowel control (incontinence)
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Constant pain, particularly at night
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Pain that's worsening and spreading up your spine.
These symptoms are known as red flags. It's important to seek advice as soon as practical.
TEXT NECK
TEXT NECK - text neck, Smartphone neck, iPhone neck or Android neck. (These are not official medical diagnoses).
Regular use of your smartphone may lead to preventable neck/posture problems in the cervical spine that are created by prolonged use of a cell phone, tablet or similar hand-held electronic device.
Using small electronic devices generally means you spend a lot of time with your head bent forward. The problem is - this head action actually takes place in your neck. People get so focused on these devices that they end up holding their neck and upper back in abnormal positions for a long period of time; enough that other people coined the phrase ‘text neck,’ which is essentially referring to postural pain.
“When you hold your body in an abnormal position, it can increase stress on the muscles, cause fatigue, muscle spasms, and even headaches" says Dr Warren, Chiropractor at High Road Chiropractic in Riverton WA.
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WHAT CAUSES TEXT NECK?
When in an upright posture, when the ears are aligned with the centre of your shoulders, the weight of the average head exerts approximately 10-12lbs of force through the muscles of the neck. But when your head is moved forward by one 1 inch, away from this neutral position, the weight of your head dramatically increases. Approximately 6 times as much force can be generated !!! That is the same weight as an average 8 year old, or six Ten-pin bowling balls!!!
If left untreated, a 'text neck' can lead to the inflammation of the neck ligaments, nerve irritation and increased curvature in the spine.
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SIGNS & SYMPTOMS.
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Instant upper back or neck pain when using a handheld device
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Nagging or sharp pain in the neck or shoulders at the end of the day
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General shoulder pain and tightness
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Intermittent or constant headache made worse when looking down or using the computer; and
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nerve related symptoms such as radiating pain, numbness, tingling and/or burning in one or both arms.
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HOW TO PREVENT TEXT NECK
Perhaps the best strategy for mitigating the effects of device usage on your neck is to raise your viewing angle. For this, there are a few things to try. You can put the tablet on a stand or on a table. If you must work with it on your lap, consider propping it up with a pillow.
And if you think holding the tablet up with your hands may reduce your head flexion angle, beware. This positioning will likely tighten up the muscles in your forearms, which can cause an entirely different type of discomfort or pain.
High Road Chiropractic offers common sense approaches to avoiding text neck such as getting and staying physically fit and taking regular breaks from your device. Both strategies are excellent.
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You may also consider engaging with a posture exercise program. If you can only do one exercise, I recommend cervical retraction for neck re-positioning. You might also want to try a posture exercise program.
