Neck Pain Self-Help Techniques

Neck pain can flare up for many reasons. Trauma, posture problems, bad pillows and chairs or excess stress can all cause neck pain.  Research says that the best treatment for neck pain is chiropractic care.  But a good chiropractor is not always available.  Here’s what to do when neck pain strikes:

1. Acute stage: This is the period of time when neck pain first starts and it’s usually very sore and painful.  This stage occurs immediately after an injury and continues for 24 to 48 hours but can be perpetuated for a week or longer if you are careless about your activities and keep irritating it.  Injuries to the neck are similar to a cut on the skin. If you pick your cut, it will bleed again.  Sometimes, you have to wait a week or two before you can, “…pick off the scab.” This analogy also applies to neck pain after an injury.  At this stage, you need to apply the principle of “PRICE” (Protect, Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate).  OK, I guess we’re not going to “compress” or “elevate” our neck but certainly the others apply nicely. To protect the neck, avoid quick/unguarded movements as these can “…pick at the cut” and re-injure the tissue. Rest means you may have to hold back on some activities that are strainful and might also, “….pick at the cut.”  Ice is a WONDERFUL pain killer and anti-inflammatory and should be rotated on/off/on/off/on at 20 minute rotations of ice/no ice/ice/no ice/ice. This creates a “pump-like” action that pushes away the swelling and therefore, reduces pain.  After 24-48 hours, you can alternate ice/heat/ice/heat/ice at 10/5/10/5/10 minute intervals as heat relaxes tight muscles and as a result, can help reduce pain. These self-help techniques can continue for a few days to a whole month, depending on the degree of injury and, how “nice you are” to yourself (so you don’t over do it!)  Cervical traction (home over-the-door traction) can really help a lot too!
2. Sub-acute stage: This stage of healing starts anytime after 48-72 hours and can last 4-6 weeks or more, depending on again, the degree of injury and is “niceness” dependant!  During this stage, the callus (scab) is hardening and its becoming stronger/less likely to “re-bleed.”  During this stage, range of motion, fiber stretching, isometric exercises can slowly be integrated into your program. Progressively harder exercises and re-introduction back into “normal” activities should be emphasized during this stage.
3. Chronic stage: This stage can last from 8 weeks to 1 or more years.  When neck pain persists, determine which activities you can do, including exercises. When “flare-ups” occur, a brief time period with PRI(CE) is nice!  Exercises here can be helpful based on your tolerance and exercise experience.

If pain persists in any of these stages and you want to get relief, call our office.  For more helpful tips log on to www.painfree-greatposture.com.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR NECK PAIN! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306

Fibromyalgia: What Is It And What Can Be Done?

Fibromyalgia is a complex disorder. It is complex because different systems of the body are affected and treatments need to be both comprehensive and specific. Fibromyalgia overlaps with other diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome, which shares many of its characteristics. The patient usually has general fatigue and due to pain, may be impaired in their capacity to work.

Fibromyalgia literally means painful muscles and tendons, and patients will say there are painful areas throughout their body. They may have low back pain, neck pain, headaches, and painful knees. Not every patient will have the same painful areas but all patients will suffer multiple painful sites.

Because of this widespread pain, it is thought that there is a central cause in many patients such as hormone or brain regulation. Cortisol, a stress hormone, can be elevated in many patients.

Many patients also show problems at local (called peripheral) areas such as the spine. They may also have a history of injury to these areas and may have suffered sprains and strains. When these problems occur, the patient may not be able to function as before. They may be unable to do work or engage in physical activities. This can then create a downward spiral because it is movement that most fibromyalgia patients lack. When one does not exercise, spinal pain can become more severe. It is well known that prolonged bed rest actually increases low back pain.

By getting painful disorders of the spine and other joints addressed through chiropractic care, the patient can then re-engage in activities.

Because diet can be so important to overall well being and healing, it needs to be addressed in any comprehensive fibromyalgia treatment program. Many patients have poor diets and many more still are also overweight and obese. Nutrient deficiencies need to be countered, but diet does not end with meat, potatoes, and iceberg lettuce. Certain foods can actually promote more inflammation, which generally means more pain. There are dietary approaches that can decrease the promotion of inflammation.

Patients also need to consider psychological factors such as depression, which can compound the physical problems. Even if the patient is not clinically depressed, chronic pain will alter mood and their motivation to work or exercise. A positive mental attitude is important to adhering to a comprehensive treatment program. The patient is not passive and is instead an active participant in their recovery.

By approaching diet, exercise, spinal health, and other physical and psychological factors, the patient may be more able to decrease some of their fibromyalgia symptoms. Because the symptoms are widespread, a comprehensive treatment program will be the approach that will most likely succeed.

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To Get More Information Log on to: www.stopyourfibronow.com

Chronic Headaches and the Pill Industry

The advertisements are everywhere, at the supermarket, gas station, billboards, or TV, compelling us to ingest another pill for an ill. Nowhere is this more prominent than in the pain pill industry. We are told that simple pain relievers really do the trick to make that nasty headache go away. But have you ever thought about how you the consumer are being manipulated? These over-the-counter drugs are a booming industry and make huge profits for the companies that push them.

Have you wondered why you don’t see an advertisement suggesting that you should see a doctor to get a proper diagnosis, to determine the cause of your headache? Instead, we self-diagnose and self-medicate all while finding no long-term solution for a chronic and long-term problem.

The first question a consumer needs to ask is, “why do I have a headache?”

Why is my body signaling pain? Humans and other animals have a nervous system that warns us of problems by making us experience pain. The pain is a like a fire alarm. What would life be like if the fire department responded to a house fire by cutting the fire alarm? We’d still be in a raging inferno. But when pain is temporarily silenced with medicine, the cause of the pain continues. No one could seriously think that headaches are caused by a lack of ibuprofen in the diet? That’s CRAZY! But these pain pills are consumed by so many Americans, they have almost become part of the national diet. And of course the dirty little secret is that many people double and triple the dosages recommended on the bottle.

The warnings on the bottle don’t seem to help much either. Stomach bleeding, liver and kidney problems are all serious unintended consequences of taking these pills over a long duration. The side effects are even more dangerous if we drink alcohol regularly.

So what’s a person to do? First, get examined by a doctor of chiropractic to determine if there an underlying spinal cause for your headache. The doctor can also rule out rare things that can be causing the headache, such as high blood pressure or a brain tumor (very rare causes). Next, it’s important to realize that pain is a signal and should be embraced rather than ignored or suppressed.

Through natural chiropractic care your headaches can go away without pain pills. Clinical research in the form of randomized clinical trials, have documented the effectiveness of chiropractic care in patients with headaches. The safety profile of chiropractic is far superior to pain medications, including the over-the counter variety.

YOU MAYBE A CANDIDATE FOR DRUG FREE RELIEF!

FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306

Or Log on to: www.painfree-greatposture.com for more information.