Chiropractic + Wellness

The spine is the body's central highway, with the spinal canal as the main lane that handles all the traffic. There are entrances and exits, or spinal cavities, that allow the nerves to branch off the spinal cord and run throughout the body. A traffic jam develops during lane closures, accidents, or construction at an entrance or exit. Lateral recess stenosis causes the narrowing of the spine's lateral recess/Lee's entrance, which can compress nerves, impede nerve circulation, and cause painful symptoms.

Lateral Recess Stenosis

The spinal column provides a strong and flexible structure for the spinal cord. The nerves travel from the spinal cord through various openings and passageways to the rest of the body. One of the openings is known as the lateral recess. Stenosis means narrowing. When a lateral recess in a vertebra develops stenosis, the nerve in that area can get jammed/pinched with no room to move, causing varying symptoms and sensations.

Symptoms

Depending on where the stenosis is taking place (neck, middle or low back), common symptoms of lateral recess stenosis can include:

• Back pain that can spread out to other areas.
• Cramping that can spread out to other sites.
• Radiating pain that worsens with movement and eases with rest.
• Numbness or weakness of the legs or arms.
• Electrical tingling sensations down the leg or arm.

Causes

The National Institute of Health lists the major causes:

Natural Wear and Tear

• Natural aging with gradual degeneration remains the most common cause of stenosis.

Congenital - Born With Stenosis

• Scoliosis
• Achondroplasia - problems with bone formation.

Disease

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Tumors
• Paget's Disease

Natural Aging Process

• Herniated disc
• Spondylolisthesis - vertebra slips forward
• Spondylosis - spinal osteoarthritis

Traumatic Injury

• Automobile crashes and accidents
• Work Injuries
• Sports injuries

Treatment

Lateral recess stenosis has no current cure, but there are options to treat stenosis symptoms.

Chiropractic and Physical Therapy

• A chiropractic physical therapy team can relieve symptoms, restore function, and strengthen the muscles.
• Muscle groups around the stenosis area are built up to take the pressure off of the area, alleviating symptoms.

Medications

• A doctor or spine specialist may recommend or prescribe medication to ease symptoms. These include:
• Tylenol - acetaminophen.
• NSAIDS - Advil/ibuprofen or Aleve/naproxen.
• Muscle relaxers

Steroid Injections

• According to a study, neurogenic claudication is the main reason for disability and loss of independence in the elderly.
• Neurogenic claudication describes pain and weakness in the buttocks and legs during physical activity that originates from the nerves, not the vessels.
• This can happen from inflammation and swelling around a compressed nerve.
• A steroid injection can decrease inflammation for several months.

Surgery

If activity modification, NSAIDs, bracing, and physical therapy don't work or provide adequate relief, a doctor or specialist could recommend surgery.

• Lateral inter-body fusion provides indirect decompression.
• Endoscopic decompression is a new technique.
• Fusion is reserved when there is instability combined with the condition.

Back Problems Chiropractor

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

American College of Rheumatology (n.d.) “Spinal Stenosis” https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Spinal-Stenosis

Arthritis Foundation (n.d.) “Corticosteroids” https://www.arthritis.org/drug-guide/corticosteroids/corticosteroids

Drug Design, Development and Therapy (2014) “Steroid for epidural injection in spinal stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis” https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S78070

Lee, Seung Yeop, et al. “Lumbar Stenosis: A Recent Update by Review of Literature.” Asian spine journal vol. 9,5 (2015): 818-28. doi:10.4184/asj.2015.9.5.818

Liu, Kuan, et al. “Steroid for epidural injection in spinal stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Drug design, development, and therapy vol. 9 707-16. Jan 30, 2015, doi:10.2147/DDDT.S78070

Medline Plus (n.d.) “Achondroplasia” https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/achondroplasia/

Microspine (n.d.) “Endoscopic Decompression” https://www.microspinemd.com/microspine-surgery/endoscopic-decompression/

National Institutes of Health (n.d.) “Spinal Stenosis” https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/spinal-stenosis

Northwest Medical Center (2022) “Lateral Recess/Foraminal Stenosis” https://nw-mc.com/lateral-recessforaminal-stenosis/

NSPC Brain and Spine Surgery (n.d.) Lateral Recess Stenosis https://nspc.com/lateral-recess-stenosis/

Raja A, Hoang S, Patel P, et al. Spinal Stenosis. [Updated 2022 Jul 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441989/

Asthma, coughing, and heavy breathing can contribute to back muscle strain, soreness, and pain. An asthma attack can cause the body to heave during intense gasping, leaving the back muscles physically exhausted. Chiropractic adjustments and decompression can bring back pain relief, strengthen and stretch the spine and spinal muscles, and prevent it from returning, along with asthma management.

Asthma

The bronchial tubes divide into smaller passages called bronchi and then into bronchioles. The bronchioles have tiny air sacs called alveoli, where inhaled oxygen is delivered to the blood. After absorbing the oxygen, the blood leaves the lungs and travels to the heart. Asthma is a lung condition that can affect anyone at any age. Asthma narrows the lungs’ airways causing inflammation in response to respiratory triggers, making it harder for air to travel out of the airways when exhaling. Symptoms include:

• Wheezing
• Difficulty breathing
• Gasping to get air
• Coughing
• Tightness in the chest

Triggers can include:

• Hot and/or humid weather
• Exercise
• Cold air
• Pollen
• Pets
• Viral infections
• Respiratory infections

Asthma Coughing and Back Strain

Asthma symptoms can take a toll on the back muscles and spine. Asthma attacks that cause gasping and heavy breathing cause the primary muscle (diaphragm) that supports breathing to weaken and strain. The diaphragm helps the spine but cannot do so effectively when under constant strain.

Constant Coughing and Spinal Health

Coughing is the body’s way of expelling unwanted foreign bodies. Chronic coughing stresses, strains, and overexerts the spinal support muscles and impacts posture. Individuals unconsciously take on a tense, forward-leaning posture/position that can cause:

• Neck and shoulder stiffness, upper/lower back tightness, disc herniation, and pain.
• Vertebrae subluxations/spinal misalignments can interfere with circulation and nerve function.
• For short-term back pain following an asthma attack or coughing episode, it is recommended to rest, apply heat or ice, and take over-the-counter pain medication.
• Massage therapy and myofascial release can stretch and relax the muscles.
• Chiropractic manipulation relieves the stress on the nerves and muscles and stimulates the spinal cord and nerves to regain proper functioning.

Breathing Exercises and Yoga

Strengthened and conditioned core muscles can help to breathe more efficiently. When breathing normally it is usually a shallow inhale/exhale that does not fill the lungs to the total capacity. Diaphragmatic breathing is a technique to fully engage the diaphragm and abdominal muscles to fill the lungs with air more efficiently. Using the diaphragm correctly will:

• Strengthen the diaphragm.
• Use less energy to breathe.
• Slow down the breathing rate.
• Decrease the work of breathing hard.
• Decrease the demand for continuous oxygen.

Yoga is another core-strengthening technique that encourages focused breathing that can help improve asthma control.

Decompression Neurosurgeon

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, or licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

American Lung Association. Breathing Exercises. (https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/wellness/breathing-exercises) Accessed 3/29/2022.

Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.) “Diaphragmatic breathing.” https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9445-diaphragmatic-breathing

Lunardi, Adriana Claudia, et al. “Musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain in adults with asthma.” The Journal of asthma: Official Journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma vol. 48,1 (2011): 105-10. doi:10.3109/02770903.2010.520229

Rasmussen-Barr, E. et al. “Are respiratory disorders risk factors for troublesome low-back pain? A study of a general population cohort in Sweden.” The European spine journal: official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society vol. 28,11 (2019): 2502-2509. doi:10.1007/s00586-019-06071-5

Solakoğlu, Özge, et al. “The effects of forward head posture on expiratory muscle strength in chronic neck pain patients: A cross-sectional study.” Turkish Journal of physical medicine and rehabilitation vol. 66,2 161-168. 18 May. 2020, doi:10.5606/tftrd.2020.3153

Many complex spinal surgeries take place in a hospital environment. The individual spends a night or two in the hospital, so medical staff can monitor them if any complications arise. However, outpatient surgeries have increased with new developments in minimally invasive procedures, pain management, and home rehabilitation. The improvements compared to traditional spinal surgical procedures are significant. These advancements have made it possible to perform more complex surgeries outside of a hospital. Outpatient surgeries have:

• Accelerated recovery times
• Decreased complications
• Decreased infections
• Healthier overall outcomes

Outpatient Surgery Candidates

Determining if outpatient surgery can be performed effectively depends on the injury/s and/or conditions that the individual is going through. An individual who is debilitated or has underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for complications or do not have support at home to assist with recovery and rehabilitation is recommended to have the surgery done in a hospital. To be considered for outpatient spine surgery, a surgeon looks at:

• Age
• Disease/s
• Condition/s
• Overall health
• Weight
• Body type

Individuals must also be a non-smoker or have quit before surgery, as smoking:

• Interferes with proper healing
• Can accelerate disc degeneration
• Can cause ill effects on the spine and other areas of the body

Recovery times vary on a case-to-case basis and procedure type. Most procedures' recovery time is between three weeks and three months.

Ambulatory Surgery Centers

An ambulatory surgery center or ASC is an outpatient clinic that offers surgical procedures. Standard outpatient procedures include:

• Abdominal hernia repairs
• Cataract surgeries
• Skin therapies

Standalone ambulatory surgery centers offer same-day surgical procedures for individuals that meet specific criteria. Medical staff assess the patient’s condition and determine recovery at home. If issues arise, the individual can be transferred to a hospital. Some facilities are single-specialty facilities, focusing on one medical specialty, and others are multi-specialty, meaning they offer a range of medical services from:

• Orthopedic
• Podiatry
• Pain management services

Procedures

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion - ACDF

ACDF is a two-part surgery. First, the surgeon removes part of an intervertebral disc with bulged and compressed nerves from the spinal cord.  Because there is less cushion, the vertebrae above and below are fused to prevent and eliminate painful movement. The discectomy:

• Provides more accessible access to the vertebrae
• Reduces healing time
• Causes less pain 

ACDF outpatient procedure treats several neck conditions that include:

• Cervical spinal stenosis
• Cervical radiculopathy
• Neck-related degenerative disc disease
• Herniated disc
• Cervical spinal fracture

Individuals recover in the surgical center for one to several hours following the surgery before returning home. Traditional ACDF procedure takes three weeks to three months to recover.

Lumbar Discectomy

A lumbar discectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that repairs a lower back herniated disc compressing the surrounding nerves. This procedure provides compression relief and allows the nerve to heal. A traditional lumbar discectomy takes four to six weeks to recover.

Lumbar Laminectomy

This minimally invasive procedure removes thickened ligaments and lamina from the lower back. This opens the spinal canal space, relieving pressure and bringing pain relief. The surgery commonly treats lower-back spinal stenosis. A traditional laminectomy takes four to six weeks to recover.

Lumbar Spinal Fusion

Outpatient lumbar spinal fusion permanently connects two or more vertebrae in the lower back. The surgery helps stabilize the spine from severe arthritis or herniated disc removal. Spinal fusion has been found to be effective for correcting certain spinal deformities. The surgery involves a short recovery time at the outpatient center, after which the individual can return home the same day. A traditional or open spinal fusion requires a two-to-three-day hospital stay. After four to six weeks and with a doctor's clearance, individuals can return to light activities, with full recovery requiring six months.

Chiropractic Spinal Decompression

References

International Journal of Spine Surgery. (April 16, 2021) “The expanding frontier of outpatient spine surgery.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33900984/

Mayo Clinic. (n.d.) “Spinal fusion.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/spinal-fusion/about/pac-20384523

Neurosurgeons of New Jersey. (July 21, 2019) “Lumbar discectomy recovery timeline: Your guide to recovery.” https://www.neurosurgeonsofnewjersey.com/blog/lumbar-discectomy-recovery-time/#:~:text=The%20overall%20lumbar%20discectomy%20recovery,discectomy%20recovery%20time%20should%20progress

Rothman Orthopaedics. (March 2, 2017) “Outpatient spine surgery: A new way to look at surgery.” https://rothmanortho.com/stories/blog/outpatient-spine-surgery

Individuals believe that maintaining a straight/flat back is healthy. However, the back is made up of natural curves that allow flexibility and optimal movement. If there is a lack of these curves, it can lead to spine issues, discomfort, and pain. A common problem to develop from a spine lacking natural curvature is abnormal kyphosis. This is when the natural curve in the thoracic spine - mid-back or lumbar spine - low back disappears, which results in a flat back. Restoring the curvature can be challenging, as flatback syndrome requires chiropractic adjustments to gently shift and realign the spine back into a healthy curve and re-train the spine to maintain the curve.

Causes of Flat Back Syndrome

Flatback syndrome is usually a result of muscle tightness in the lower back muscles, specifically in the psoas muscle. Or it could be degenerative disc disease, where the cartilage supporting the spine begins to weaken. Other causes include arthritis and osteoporosis. Practicing unhealthy posture habits can worsen these conditions, speeding up the loss of the spine's curvature. Loss of spinal curvature does not occur rapidly, as the body will begin to present with symptoms. The following symptoms could be an indication:

• Fatigue when trying to stand upright
• Balance problems
• Restricted mobility
• Muscle spasms
• Chronic low back pain
• Thigh pain
• Groin pain
• Disc herniation

Back pain and problems with balance are the earliest warning signs of flatback syndrome.

Symptoms

Flatback symptoms usually get worse as the day progresses, with a sense of fatigue and increasing difficulty to stand upright. Individuals tend to flex or bend their hips and knees to get into an upright position. This can become an exhausting process as the day progresses. Individuals can also have symptoms of sciatica and/or spinal stenosis with leg pain and weakness that gets worse when walking. Neck and upper back pain can begin to present while straining to align themselves. The symptoms become disabling, often requiring pain medications that limit the individual's ability to perform daily activities.

Realignment Treatment

A chiropractor must determine the severity of the deviation through a thorough assessment and examination. This shows the loss of curvature to help a chiropractor plan a realignment/remodeling adjustment schedule. Restoring a natural kyphosis is done through a combination of adjustments and bracing. Scheduled spinal adjustments will realign and shift the vertebrae back to neutral, while a back brace supports to prevent any deviation. Stretching and exercising relevant muscle groups is also part of a chiropractic treatment plan. An example is core exercises for strengthening the muscles supporting the spine.

Body Composition

Personalized Nutrition

Because the body is so complex and dynamic, there is no perfect fit when it comes to diet, exercise, or a combination. Fad diets typically recommend that individuals adhere to the same eating guidelines, indicating they will reach an expected result like fat loss. These diets work because they focus on a simple reduction in calorie intake, especially processed and fast foods. The problem is that some of these fad diets can restrict critical nutrients that negatively affect an individual's health. More information about an individual's body and how it works is an excellent resource in improving body composition and overall health. Personalized nutrition is an innovative and favorable approach to preventing and treating obesity and related conditions. This approach identifies:

• Genetic markers
• Dietary patterns
• Environment
• Metabolism

Educated recommendations can be made based on these factors.

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Drabsch, Theresa, and Christina Holzapfel. "A Scientific Perspective of Personalised Gene-Based Dietary Recommendations for Weight Management." Nutrients vol. 11,3 617. 14 Mar. 2019, doi:10.3390/nu11030617

Farcy, J P, and F J Schwab. "Management of flatback and related kyphotic decompensation syndromes." Spine vol. 22,20 (1997): 2452-7. doi:10.1097/00007632-199710150-00025

Lee, Chang-Hyun, et al. "'Lumbar Degenerative Kyphosis' Is Not Byword for Degenerative Sagittal Imbalance: Time to Replace a Misconception." Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society vol. 60,2 (2017): 125-129. doi:10.3340/jkns.2016.0607.001

Lu, Daniel C, and Dean Chou. "Flatback syndrome." Neurosurgery clinics of North America vol. 18,2 (2007): 289-94. doi:10.1016/j.nec.2007.01.007

Wiggins, Gregory C et al. "Management of iatrogenic flat-back syndrome." Neurosurgical focus vol. 15,3 E8. 15 Sep. 2003, doi:10.3171/foc.2003.15.3.8

Back pain usually comes from lifting an object the wrong way or awkwardly moving the body, injuring the spinal structures or muscles. However, sometimes it could be signs/symptoms of a more serious medical condition. The back pain could be caused by:

• Kidney stones or infection
• Urinary tract infection - UTI
• Pancreatitis

How to know when the root cause of back pain is from something else in the body? There are two types of pain that pain specialists look at. These are visceral pain and somatic pain. Visceral pain comes from damage or injury to the organs or organ tissues. This internal pain can radiate to the spine from conditions like:

• Pancreatitis
• Ulcerative colitis
• Crohn's disease
• Gall stones
• Cancers
• Kidney pain
• Urinary tract infections

Somatic pain is injury or damage to the muscles, skin, and soft tissues. It can be caused by:

• Regular wear and tear
• Aging
• Injury
• Sedentary lifestyle

However, visceral pain can cause somatic/bodily pain to flare up. The stress the body is going through because of the medical condition can cause inflammation.

Kidney Infections and Stones

The kidneys are located in the rear of the body toward the middle of the back. The kidneys:

• Filter waste products from the body
• Regulate bodily fluids
• Perform other vital functions.

Kidney infections and kidney stones can easily mimic a sprain or strain in the back. Infections or stones can also present with other symptoms like:

• Fever
• Nausea
• Malaise
• Burning sensation when urinating.
• The pain feels like it's higher and deeper in the back compared to musculoskeletal low back pain.
• Side and groin pain could accompany the back pain.
• The pain does not go away after shifting positions or lying down.

Urinary Tract Infection UTI

Upper urinary tract infections in the kidneys or ureters can cause back pain. Upper UTIs happen when a lower UTI in the bladder or urethra goes unnoticed or does not respond to antibiotic treatment. Infections can occur at any age, with women and older men being more susceptible. The pain usually presents in the lower back and groin area. Other possible symptoms include:

• Pain in the back, sides of the lower abdomen between the lower ribs and hips.
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Frequent urination in small amounts
• Burning during urination
• Strong urge to urinate
• Foul-smelling urine
• Cloudy urine
• Fatigue.

The pain can feel like:

• Cramping pain
• Pressure
• Soreness

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, the long flat organ located in the upper abdomen behind the stomach. It assists digestion and sugar management. The American Pancreatic Association reports acute pancreatitis can make individuals feel sick with moderate to severe abdominal pain that can radiate to the back and often worsens after eating. The pain is felt in the upper to middle back. Other possible symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain that radiates to the back
• Abdominal pain after eating
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Tenderness in the abdomen

The pain can feel like ​a pulled muscle or joint pain that increases and decreases at first and then strengthens after eating or lying down.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases IBD

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are inflammatory bowel diseases not to be confused with irritable bowel syndrome.

• Ulcerative colitis affects the colon.
• Inflamed intestinal areas characterize Crohn's disease.
• Both can cause spreading back pain.

A study found 25% of individuals with IBD have chronic back pain. Other possible symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain and cramps
• Urgent need for bowel movements
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Rectal bleeding
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

The pain can feel mild or severe, like a cramp in the lower abdomen around the low back. It can present in cycles as a flare-up, then goes away. It's essential to read the body's warning signs and not push through the pain or ignore it. If any back pain goes on for more than a week, consult a doctor or chiropractor for a thorough examination. A pain specialist could be recommended if there is chronic back pain from a severe medical condition. A primary doctor or specialist helps keep the medical condition in check, while a pain specialist and/or chiropractor can alleviate chronic musculoskeletal pain from inflammation, irritation, and overstimulated nerves.

Body Composition

Personalized Lifestyle Medicine

Personalized lifestyle medicine develops customized treatment/health plans to fit the individual. It includes:

• Research on how the body works as an integrated system.
• Combines new technology approaches in medicine.
• The relationship between nutrients and gene expression.
• Life and behavioral sciences.

Nutrigenomics testing helps individuals understand the influence of dietary components on their genes, which can help prevent the development of certain chronic diseases.

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

American Pancreatic Association (Pancreapedia). (2015). Pathogenesis and Treatment of Pain in Chronic Pancreatitis. https://pancreapedia.org/reviews/pathogenesis-and-treatment-of-pain-in-chronic-pancreatitis

American College of Rheumatology. (2019). The U.S. Prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Associated Axial Pain: Data from the National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/the-us-prevalence-of-inflammatory-bowel-disease-and-associated-axial-pain-data-from-the-national-health-nutrition-examination-survey-nhanes/

I threw my back out. Most of us have heard and possibly experienced throwing our backs out. But, what does throwing out your back really mean? Find out from our experts. When talking about throwing one's back out, it’s usually a result of twisting, turning, coughing, sneezing, or lifting incorrectly. The medical equivalent to this injury is an ankle sprain. It can be excruciating, individuals might not see or feel a tear, but the ligaments have been injured, causing inflammation and pain. The same thing can happen to the spine.

What it means when you throw out your back.

Most experience acute pain in the lower region of their backs. Individuals can throw out their back at any age doing all kinds of activities. These can range from:

• Changing a tire
• Moving lifting boxes, going upstairs, etc
• House chores/tasks
• Gardening 
• Sports
• Working out
• Bending over to pick up an object

It is more common as individuals age. This is when individuals notice how they could take a serious injury and walk away when they were young. However, with age, something like a cough or sneeze could cause the back to become sprained. When the ankle is sprained, it is immobilized to allow it to rest and heal.

However, it is not as easy to immobilize the spine as large muscles in the back around the spine. 

Any time tissue is injured, the muscles automatically spasm to act as a splint. These spasms usually tend to be the worst part when back pain presents. This is because the back muscles are large; they cause intense inflammation and pain when they spasm. Combined with this, the back can feel like it is stuck, significantly decreasing the range of motion. This type of injury can take a couple of days to reduce and up to two to six weeks to return to normal function.

This is what is really happening

The majority of the time, what has happened is there is a small ligament strain or an annular tear, which is a tear in the ligament that connects the vertebra to the disc. When standing upright and lifting properly, the disc/s work like hydraulics.

When individuals bend over not using their legs, the back part of the spine widens/opens up, and instead of a hydraulic effect, it becomes a cantilever structure. Bending and twisting compound the pressure across the disc. Prevention is key and by using the legs and keeping the back straight, let the hydraulic system do its natural job.

Misconceptions

Chiropractors specialize in difficult to treat musculoskeletal pain conditions. The term threw out one's back is similar to the knee, arm, shoulder being blown out. The terminology can create fear associated with the idea of throwing something out of place, especially when it comes to the spine. When individuals come in with back pain, they can become fearful of what will be found. These include:

• What has happened to my spine?
• Is it going to get better?
• Is this going to be a life-long injury?
• Will I be able to walk normally?

Through research, doctors now know that fear is an inflammatory response. Therefore, when individuals become fearful, their immune system kicks in, causing the pain to worsen.

Treatment

A few things have been proven to work well, along with seeing a doctor, spine specialist, or chiropractor.

Ice and heat

It depends on individual preference. Ice reduces inflammation and pain, and the heat helps to get the blood flowing in and around the area to help heal the injury.

Abdominal support

An abdominal corset is a stretchy band that is worn around the lower mid-section. The abdominal muscles supply support for the lower body. The corset can help take some of the weight off of the spine to help ease discomfort and pain.

Anti-inflammatories

Advil or a prescription Ibuprophen from a physician is better than narcotics. However, if narcotic medications are necessary, they should be short-term, a few days to a week. In addition, individuals need to show caution as they can cause constipation, making back pain even worse.

Chiropractic and Physical Therapy

Seeing a chiropractor and physical therapist can help heal the injury faster. They will strengthen the spinal muscles and educate the individual on stretches, exercise, posture, anti-inflammatory diet for optimal spinal health. Individuals usually take two to six weeks to heal completely.

However, individuals should still be able to do most physical activities once the spine injury heals. Maintaining the back muscles can be achieved with regular exercise, lifting correctly with the legs, and not over-twisting and over-reaching are important elements to prevent back injuries.

Body Composition Analysis

Summer Heat and The Body

How the body reacts to extreme heat. It is a process known as thermoregulation, where the body strives to maintain a temperature between 97.7 to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The hypothalamus, a gland in the brain, is in charge of managing the core temperature. If outside weather is extreme, causing a change in the body’s core temperature, the hypothalamus triggers a specific process to heat or cool the body back to the normal range. When the hypothalamus registers that the body’s core temperature is rising because it’s sweltering outside, it kicks in.

To remove the extra heat, the hypothalamus increases circulation, moving the blood toward the surface, dilating blood vessels so that the heat can dissipate through the skin. When this happens, the veins can protrude, and the skin flushes. Along with increased circulation, the hypothalamus also activates the sweat glands. The evaporation of the water released onto the skin cools the body down, reducing temperature. Finally, the thyroid is activated to lower heat created through the metabolic processes.

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Disc tears: Stat Pearls. (11/17/2020).” Annular Disc Tear.” ”https://www.statpearls.com/ArticleLibrary/viewarticle/17615

Fear and Pain: Journal of Pain Research. (2018). “Assessments of Pain-Related Fear in Individual with Chronic Pain Conditions.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6280906/

Mittinty, Manasi M et al. “Assessment of pain-related fear in individuals with chronic painful conditions.” Journal of pain research vol. 11 3071-3077. 30 Nov. 2018, doi:10.2147/JPR.S163751

Spinal decompression surgery could be a treatment option discussion with a doctor to relieve nerve pain brought on by a spinal condition or disorder. Everything to know about the procedures straight from the experts.

Spinal Decompression Surgery Types: Laminectomy or Laminotomy

Both procedures involve the vertebrae’s lamina, which is an arch of bone that protects the spinal canal.

• In a laminectomy, the lamina is removed almost entirely.
• In a laminotomy, it is a partial removal.

Despite the removal, the large muscles of the back provide sustained protection for the nerves below. Therefore, the spinal nerves are still safe and secure following the procedures. Which one is right depends on the situation.

• A laminectomy is usually performed to treat an arthritic condition of the spinal canal like spinal stenosis.
• Laminotomy is used almost exclusively to remove a herniated disc.
• A laminectomy removes more bone and sometimes the inner edge of the facet joint.
• Ultimately, a surgeon will determine which of the two procedures is best for the individual's needs and condition.

Decompression Surgery

Spinal stenosis or the narrowing of the spinal canal is usually caused by arthritis and overgrowth of the discs and joints. Similar compression issues respond well to non-surgical treatment. But sometimes surgery is necessary to treat uncommon but potentially severe cases. These include patients with:

• Bowel or bladder problems caused by the pressure on the spinal nerves
• Leg weakness that gets worse
• Inability to walk or move for long periods and distance

The objective of spinal decompression surgery is to create space around the spinal cord and surrounding nerves by removing the compressing structure/s. When the cord and/or nerve/s are compressed, physical and neurological symptoms are experienced down the nerve’s pathway. This includes:

• Tingling
• Numbness
• Electric shock sensations
• Radiating/spreading pain
• Weakness

Once the compressed nerves have space to relax and move around symptoms subside.

Laminectomy process

• Lumbar laminectomy is the most common procedure to treat spinal stenosis in the low back.
• It also helps treat herniated discs by allowing the surgeon to easily access the discs to repair any damage.
• The surgeon removes the lamina and ligaments that have thickened and are causing problems to create more space in the canal.
• The surgery enlarges the spinal canal so that pressure is relieved.
• By removing the source of the pressure, the pain caused by the compressed nerves is alleviated.
• An open laminectomy creates an incision of a couple of inches and exposes the spine.
• The muscles of the spine and back are cut through to expose the bone.
• Another technique that surgeons utilize is operating through a tube.
• They've adapted these techniques to be able to decompress both the right and the left sides although they are only operating on one side.
• Both procedures, minimal and traditional accomplish the same goals.
• The difference is the minimally invasive approach involves one or more tiny incisions also known as skin punctures and small instruments designed to separate muscles and soft tissues instead of cutting through them.
• The traditional approach requires a larger incision and instruments that retract, separate and cut tissues.

Laminectomy surgery

• Laminectomies are performed under general anesthesia using a posterior approach/lying face down during the procedure.
• It can be open or minimally invasive sometimes called a microlaminectomy.
• In an open laminectomy, the surgeon makes an incision near the affected spinal area.
• Once the incision is made, a retractor will move the skin, fat, and muscles to the side so the surgeon can access the spine.
• Next, they remove or trim the lamina and thickened ligaments to enlarge the space surrounding the compressed nerves.
• Once done, the retractor is removed and the incision is closed with sutures.
• Minimally invasive surgery or MIS is performed using special instruments like endoscopes and tubular retractors.
• These instruments allow for smaller incisions and less cutting.
• They will also use special eyewear to have a detailed view of the surgical field.
• Sometimes, the surgeon uses an endoscope or a microscope focused down the tube to perform the surgery.
• The portion of the lamina is removed, along with any bone overgrowths/osteophytes and ligament tissue.
• The tubular retractors are taken out so the soft tissue moves back into place, and the incision is closed with dissolving sutures.

Other spinal procedures performed alongside

Laminectomies and laminotomies are typically not performed together. However, a surgeon could perform both if the surgery affects multiple levels of the spine. They can also be combined with other spinal surgeries, that include:

Foraminotomy

• A foraminotomy is also a decompression procedure. But instead of removing part or all the lamina, the surgeon accesses the nerves through the spine’s foramen or the passageway that nerves pass through on both sides.

Discectomy

• This decompression surgery involves the removal of all or part of the damaged intervertebral disc and is utilized for herniated discs.

Spinal fusion

• Fusion is often performed after spinal decompression surgery, as the space that was created by removing spinal structure/s can cause instability to the spine.

Candidates for spinal decompression surgery

Both are common procedures performed by neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons. Laminectomies are considered one of the most effective treatments for spinal stenosis and spinal canal issues like:

• Tumors
• Certain types of infections and abscesses
• Spinal issues involving bowel/bladder dysfunction
• The primary reason for laminectomy is spinal stenosis, most common in individuals over the age of 60.

Other considerations and conditions include:

• Non-invasive treatments that don't improve the condition that includes medication, massage, and physical therapy
• Fusion surgery failure
• Injection treatment failure
• The presence of tumors in or around the spine
• An infection like an epidural abscess
• Neurologic issues
• Bowel or bladder dysfunction
• Cauda equina syndrome

Ask questions about the procedure to ensure you are comfortable with the operation. Here are some questions:

• What are the risks associated?
• Will the surgery relieve all symptoms?
• Not having the surgery risks?
• What is recovery like?

Recovery

• Open or micro, recovery does take time. Following the doctor’s instructions carefully are essential to make a full, healthy recovery.
• Individuals should be careful for about a month following the surgery. But does not mean laying down or being sedentary. Movement is crucial to recovery.
• The patient should not stay in bed or lie on the sofa.
• Wait a week or two before beginning physical therapy if necessary.
• Most will have a weak core, poor posture, and poor body mechanics, the goal is to help develop and strengthen these areas.

Things to help with recovery include:

• Ice/cold packs will help reduce swelling and pain.
• Try not to sit for too long, as sitting is the least comfortable position after back surgery.
• Body mechanic awareness means avoiding too much bending or lifting and using the right body mechanics when bending or lifting.
• Post-operative body movement after surgery is vital and helps prevent post-surgery issues.

Things to do before surgery:

Quitting smoking

• Especially before surgery. Quitting entirely or at least for at least six weeks before surgery will make recovery easier and healthier.

Losing weight

• Speak with a doctor about weight. Just 5 pounds can make a significant difference during recovery.

Blood sugar

• For individuals with diabetes, having an A1C under eight before surgery is ideal.

Every patient’s recovery is different. Recovery time depends on:

• The complexity of the surgery
• Personal medical history
• Health issues

Recovery typically takes about two to four weeks after the surgery. However, it depends on the reason/s for the surgery.

Questions

Post-laminectomy syndrome

• Post-laminectomy syndrome PLS also known as failed back surgery syndrome is a condition where an individual continues to have pain after surgery. Individuals still having symptoms after should speak with their doctor to determine the next phase of treatment.

How long before exercise?

• Returning to the gym or getting into an exercise routine will take some time. It is important to follow the doctor’s recommendations and complete the full course of physical therapy before regular exercise activity can resume. Discuss workout plans with the doctor to determine the best timeline for the spine.

Full recovery?

• Returning to some activity is possible around four weeks after surgery. Full recovery takes longer as each patient’s recovery is unique. Depending on the complexity of the surgery, most return to all activities within 6 to 9 months.

Body Composition Spotlight

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

References

American Association of Neurological Surgeons. “Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery.” (n.d.) https://www.aans.org/en/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Minimally-Invasive-Spine-Surgery

Foraminotomy. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007390.htm. Reviewed November 27, 2016. Page last updated December 21, 2017. Accessed January 18, 2018.

Laminectomy. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007389.htm. MedlinePlus. Reviewed November 27, 2016. Page last updated December 21, 2017. Accessed January 18, 2018.

Mayo Clinic. “Laminectomy.” (n.d.) https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/laminectomy/about/pac-20394533

Mayo Clinic. “Laminotomy.” (n.d) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spinal-stenosis/multimedia/img-20149227

The health of the spine and optimal body performance go hand in hand. When thinking about chiropractic treatment thoughts of cracking, popping, or fixing spinal kinks are what usually come to mind. This is true, however, chiropractic goes much deeper than just adjustments. Regular chiropractic will help maintain overall/optimal health and prevent:

• Painful musculoskeletal conditions
• Disease
• Other health issues

Learn more about the treatment options and benefits that chiropractic can provide.

How Chiropractic Supports The Health Of The Spine

The main focus of chiropractic is on the health of the spine. This is because the spine's health is the base for all other aspects of the body's health. When the spine is properly aligned, nerve energy/communication and blood circulation are optimized to support the body's function. When the body is in proper form the health benefits are numerous. These include:

• Pain alleviation
• Increased energy
• Increased productivity
• Clear thinking
• Improved biomechanics movement
• Improved mood

The chiropractic approach is science-based and is highly recommended for achieving positive health results.

Treatment Options

Chiropractic builds-up the body's nervous system, immune system, and strengthens the musculoskeletal system. What to expect from treatment sessions depends on each individual's specific conditions, needs, and goals. Treatment can include:

Spinal adjusting

• Spinal adjustments combined with other treatment techniques are needed to maintain the body's health long term.

Health Coaching

• Understanding the causes of ill health/conditions will help manage and prevent issues. A chiropractor and a health coach can discuss positive lifestyle modification factors that will help like:
• Posture education
• Exercise tips
• Stress management techniques
• Sleep modification
• Developing healthy diet habits

Deep/Soft tissue massage

• Soreness, stiffness, and connective tissue flexibility problems are common with misalignment. Addressing these areas with physical therapeutic massage will help reinforce proper body alignment.

Prescribed exercise program

• A chiropractic practitioner will recommend exercises for strengthening and stretching muscles, tendons will provide support for optimal body alignment and overall health.

Health Potential

Seeking treatment options for improved health, consider a chiropractic provider. They will address the root cause to help bring out the best on every level. Chiropractic providers are in high demand and will get the body back to its full potential. See what the possibilities can be.

Body Composition Benefits

Best Diet for Weight Loss

Life is about balance and is important to remember that all macronutrients are needed to function properly. Protein does not just affect muscle, it also acts on hormones, enzymes, and antibodies. Carbs are an energy source that the red blood cells use, and without enough fat in the diet, an individual can gain weight by eating more filler foods. The body is a well-refined machine that does not function on fad diets.

The function is obtained through balance and variety in a healthy diet. The best diet for weight loss is not complicated or high-tech. The focus should be on whole unrefined foods, reduced red meat consumption, and plenty of vegetables. But, the food does not have to taste bad or have no taste at all. A too rigid diet can make individuals more likely to revert back into unhealthy eating habits. Try a salad with leafy greens, brown rice, sweet potatoes, avocado, black beans, and cilantro lime dressing. It may be a surprise, how healthy eating can taste amazing.

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

References

Meeker, William C, and Scott Haldeman. “Chiropractic: a profession at the crossroads of mainstream and alternative medicine.” Annals of internal medicine vol. 136,3 (2002): 216-27. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-136-3-200202050-00010

Analgesics are pain-relieving medications, also known as painkillers. These can be over-the-counter and prescription medications. Either could be part of a treatment plan for spine-related pain. Individuals dealing with back or neck conditions, typically take analgesics to reduce symptoms.

• Analgesics are available over-the-counter/OTC and with a prescription
• Prescription analgesics usually include the more powerful form of over-the-counter medications
• Various analgesics are available in topical form
• Analgesics can be specialized with some to relieve pain, with others reducing inflammation/pain

Over-the-counter

Acetaminophen, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and topical analgesics are the most commonly used medications for various pain symptoms. Over-the-counter analgesics are most effective when taken at the first sign/presentation of acute pain. Whiplash, along with muscle sprains and strains are common injuries known to cause short term pain that can be mild to severe. Follow the medication's instructions on dosage recommendations and precautions.

If the medication does not work or helps manage the pain, and/or pain symptoms worsen, contact your healthcare provider. This could be an indicator that a more powerful prescription analgesic is needed to help manage the pain, along with added therapy like physical therapy, and chiropractic to help avoid dependence on the prescription meds.

Acetaminophen

Tylenol is one form of medication taken for different types of pain and is one of the most popular over-the-counter analgesics. Acetaminophen's purpose is exclusively to relieve pain. It does not reduce inflammation.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - NSAIDs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs work to reduce inflammation and pain. Types of over-the-counter These include:

• Aspirin
• Ibuprofen
• Naproxen

Topical analgesics

Topical analgesics like capsaicin cream and salicylates are an alternative to analgesics taken by mouth. These creams, balms, gels, and sprays are applied to the painful area. It is a very common application and is widely used for joint, muscle, and back pain. Salicylates are plant-based chemicals that operate to decrease the body's production of prostaglandins. These are lipids that let the body know that there is a problem causing inflammation and pain.

Prescription

A doctor could prescribe an analgesic as part of a treatment plan to help manage short-term and chronic pain. It is extremely important to precisely follow the doctor's instructions on how much and when to take the medication. Remember that any of these medications have the potential for side effects, which includes the risk of negative interactions when taken with other meds. Be sure to talk with a doctor about potential risks, and keep them informed about all medications like blood pressure and diabetes meds and natural herbs/vitamins/supplements taken for other medical conditions.

COX-2 Inhibitors

Cyclo-oxygenase-2 or COX-2 inhibitors are a prescription NSAID medication type that is formulated to target specific enzymes that trigger inflammation. Inflammation is not just a symptom but can also be a cause of pain related to many different spinal disorders. COX-2 inhibitors have a lower risk of causing/contributing to gastrointestinal problems.

There are other potential side effects and risks associated with COX-2 inhibitors. Potential side effects include an increased risk of cardiovascular problems, like a heart attack or blood clots. COX-2 inhibitors reduce the risk of stomach problems than classic NSAIDs but if gastrointestinal conditions exist to talk with a doctor before taking these medications.

Opioids

These are highly potent analgesics and are no longer the first type of pain-relieving medication that a doctor prescribes. They are now to be the last resort for reducing moderate to severe pain symptoms. These medications work by decreasing the perception and reaction to the pain. Opioids are prescribed for short-term use following surgical procedures and trauma. However, there are different situations where use is appropriate. When opioids are recommended, the doctor will begin with the lowest strength/dosage to manage the pain. Types of opioids include:

• Codeine
• Hydrocodone
• Hydromorphone
• Oxycodone
• Meperidine
• Tramadol

Opioids have an increased risk for addiction and abuse. If an opioid-based medication is prescribed the medication is safe and effective as long as it is used exactly as the doctor instructs. Side effects can include:

• Drowsiness
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Euphoria
• Slowed breathing

A Pain Helper

Analgesic medications are commonly used for various types of pain-causing conditions. When they are used properly with a doctor’s supervision they are safe and effective at managing pain and discomfort. If new symptoms present and/or the pain worsens or becomes different contact your doctor on appropriate instructions.

Low Back and Neck Pain Treatment

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

Disc bulge and disc herniation are some of the most common conditions that can affect the spine of both young and middle-aged patients. It is estimated that approximately 2.6% of the US population annually visits a clinician for the treatment of spinal disorders. Approximately $ 7.1 billion alone is lost due to the time away from work.

Disc herniation is when the whole or part of the nucleus pulposus is protruded through the torn or weakened outer annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc. This is also known as the slipped disc and frequently occurs in the lower back sometimes also affecting the cervical region. Herniation of the intervertebral disc is defined as a localized displacement of disc material with 25% or less of the disc circumference on an MRI scan according to the North American Spine Society 2014. The herniation may consist of nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus, apophyseal bone or osteophytes, and the vertebral endplate cartilage in contrast to disc bulge.

There are also mainly two types of disc herniation. Disc protrusion is when a focal or symmetrical extension of the disc comes out of its confines in the intervertebral space. It is situated at the level of the intervertebral disc and its outer annular fibers are intact. A disc extrusion is when the intervertebral disc extends above or below the adjacent vertebrae or endplates with complete annular tear. In this type of disc extrusion, there is a neck or base which is narrower than the dome or the herniation.

A disc bulge is when the outer fibers of the annulus fibrosus are displaced from the margins of the adjacent vertebral bodies. Here, the displacement is more than 25% of the circumference of the intervertebral disc. It also does not extend below or above the margins of the disc because it is limited by the annulus fibrosus attachment. It differs from disc herniation because it involves less than 25% of the circumference of the disc. Usually, the disc bulge is a gradual process and is broad. The disc bulge can be divided into 2 types. In circumferential bulge, the whole disc circumference is involved. In asymmetrical bulging, more than 90 degrees of the circumference is involved in an asymmetric way.

With so much at stake, our bodies have developed a complex self-defense system to protect the spinal cord and its critical two-way sensory information flow. As the body’s nerve center the spinal cord controls almost all voluntary and involuntary movements throughout the torso, arms, and legs. It also receives sensory input from the torso and limbs. The spinal cord plays a critical role and needs to be defended. The most prominent protection for the brain is the skull, for the spinal cord, it is more complicated.

Self Defense

The spinal cord consists of a bunch of nerves. One of the self-defenses is the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that cushions and nourishes them. On the outside, the spinal cord is protected by the tube structure known as the meninges. Three-layered membranes make up the meninges, each with its own protective role:

• Pia mater
• Arachnoid mater
• Dura mater

Self-defenses do not stop there. Another self-defense includes the vertebrae or the backbones themselves, intervertebral discs, and various muscles and ligaments.

Meninges

The meninges are three layers of membranes that encapsulate the spinal cord at the brainstem from the top to the bottom of the spine. The innermost layer is the pia mater and is attached directly to the spinal cord. It is made up of mostly collagen that has an elasticity that allows the cord to maintain its shape. Next comes the arachnoid mater and is the middle layer.

Its primary role is to maintain the cerebrospinal fluid that fills the subarachnoid space between the pia and the arachnoid. A common condition known as arachnoiditis involves the arachnoid mater. It is a painful inflammation of the membrane that requires medical treatment. It can lead to disability if it is progressive.

Dura Mater

The outer layer is the dura mater and is the toughest. The dura rests on the arachnoid with a small amount of fluid in-between. The epidural space separates this membrane from the wall of the vertebral canal. Although it is tough, tears can occur. Tears can result from:

• Injury
• Epidural injections
• Lumbar punctures
• Complications from spine surgery

Some individuals can even develop tears spontaneously, sometimes as a result of a connective tissue disorder. When the dura tears cerebrospinal fluid leaks out of the space, leaving the brain and spine with less cushion and support.

Postural headaches are worse standing than sitting or laying down and can be severe are the most common symptom of spinal fluid leaks. But these tears typically heal quickly with bed rest.

Cerebrospinal Fluid

Cerebrospinal fluid is the clear liquid that fills the space between the pia and the arachnoid. It is made in the brain’s ventricles with its primary function to protect and nourish the spinal cord and brain. The fluid also removes waste products from the brain. The fluid also plays a role in helping doctors diagnose disease/s.

If a doctor suspects a severe infection or disorder of the central nervous system, they perform a lumbar puncture or spinal tap. The fluid can also contain evidence of inflammation or infection from waste products that the central nervous system discarded into the fluid. A doctor inserts a needle between two vertebrae in the lower back to remove a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid. The fluid is sent to the lab and analyzed. Lumbar punctures can be used to diagnose conditions like:

• Infectious brain and spinal diseases like meningitis and encephalitis
• Nervous system disorders like multiple sclerosis and Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Bleeding in/around the brain
• Brain tumors

To see how the fluid is moving diagnostic images are done by injecting dye know as myelography or radioactive substances known as cisternography into the subarachnoid space before imaging. Lumbar punctures can also be used to measure the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid. 

Vertebrae

There are 33 bones that make up the spine that forms a framework shaping the body and protecting the spine. In a healthy spine, the neck vertebrae curve slightly inward called lordosis, while the middle vertebrae curves outward called kyphosis before meeting the low vertebrae curved inward. This makes the spinal cord flexible and balanced.

Each vertebra has a complex shape with a precise configuration determined by the location in the spine. Many conditions of the vertebrae involve nerves that get pinched/compressed as they exit the spine. Pinched nerves usually result from bone spurs on the vertebrae that crowd the canal and from herniated discs.

Intervertebral Discs

The intervertebral discs are the spine’s shock absorbers. They fill the space between two vertebrae with no direct contact. The endplates of each are coated with protective cartilage which anchors the discs in place. The gel substance part of each disc is called the nucleus pulposus. The tough cover known as the annulus fibrosus wraps around each disc to protect and shape it. There are no blood vessels in the discs and are nourished by the endplates of the vertebrae.

Herniated discs are the most common disc-related condition. When a disc herniates, the annulus fibrosus tears. The tear leaks out the protective gel to bulge out into the spinal canal. With no room in the canal for anything but the spinal cord and spinal fluid, the gel puts pressure on the surrounding nerve/s and the spinal cord itself. This is called myelopathy when the spinal cord gets compressed. Non-surgical treatments are quite successful in healing herniated disc/s.

The spine’s self-defense is elaborate, effective, and complicated. Consult an experienced spine specialist/chiropractor who can produce the best results and benefits.

Severe Back Pain Treatment

There are a variety of products and gadgets that claim to provide quick fast acting back pain relief. Here is a little information about which deliver and hold up to their claims. Back pain stops us in our tracks and we want relief fast. Other than taking pain meds, most of us want a way to achieve natural relief. That's where back pain products and gadgets come into the picture.

For the most part, a lot of the gadgets online, even expensive ones don’t necessarily provide the back pain relief that most of us are expecting. This means they don't remove the pain completely and life goes back to normal. These are made for temporarily relieving pain when symptoms present and through consistent use to strengthen, lengthen,  and stretch out the sore muscles, ligaments, tendons, etc, in a preventative fashion.

We are not knocking these products/gadgets, as we use these ourselves. But remember these are tools that are made to help out with back pain conditions, just like the tools chiropractors, physical therapists, massage therapists utilize in their practices. That being said this article is to help you make wise decisions about which back pain gadgets can help.

Posture Training/Trainers

These are wearable sensors that vibrate when you begin to slouch, sway forward, hunch over, etc. The pain-relief claims that slouching puts a strain on your spine and that improving posture will help prevent strain and pain.

While this is true what the experts thought about this product was that, while it does help maintain proper posture it is not meant to relieve immediate pain, but rather to re-train your body in maintaining good posture. Therefore pass on this product if your goal is back pain relief.

Slouching places added stress on the lower back that leads to strains and back pain. These devices can be helpful, just be aware to not hold yourself in an abnormal position causing more problems.

If poor posture contributes to your back pain, try these:

• Exercise, specifically movements that strengthen the core
• Wear comfortable shoes with low heels
• Foot orthotics
• Balance make sure your head is not too forward

Dr. Jimenez adds that if you exhibit constant poor posture, consult a spine doctor or chiropractor to see if it is a structural issue.

Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation

The QUELL TENS transcutaneous electrical stimulation is a new brand unit that is worn on the calf. The pain-relief claims that it sends out safe electrical pulses that trigger the body's natural pain relief response. The QUELL can help and is just like most other TENS units.

These units activate opioid nerve receptors, which is one of the reasons they provide pain relief. You can get them for under $50 at drug stores and online. Instead of being applied directly to the sore areas, it's worn on the calf and operates on the same TENS principle.  The cost currently is around $300. However, with any TENS unit, be aware that there can be a relief tolerance that builds up and eventually might not work anymore. TENS units work well, but they’re best used in a physical therapist’s/chiropractic clinic because individuals can become habitually used to them.

Percussive Massager/s

This is a handheld massager that generates pulses of deep pressure along with strong vibrations to loosen and release tight areas. The pain-relief claims that it is similar to a deep tissue massage. These work and do help ease pain symptoms, but are not like a real therapeutic massage. There is limited research on these products but most state that percussive/vibrating massage tools, that can cost hundreds of dollars, could be a little better than a traditional massage for relieving muscle soreness. This has yet to be determined.

High-force massagers could exacerbate or cause further/new injury/s other than muscle soreness when used by untrained individuals. However, in a professional clinic setting research suggests that high vibration applied to the back is an effective physical therapy for low-back pain.

Low-Level Laser Therapy

Low-intensity light therapy is used in treating neuropathy pain. The principal is that it triggers biochemical changes in the cells. The pain-relief claims that it reduces inflammation alleviates pain and promotes healing. There is not a great deal of evidence that it helps back pain, but that is only because there is not enough research yet. It doesn’t mean you won’t benefit from it. Laser therapy, which is sometimes utilized in physical therapy and chiropractic clinics, can provide relief for a range of conditions, and this includes back pain.

Simple Massage Tools

These consist of foam rollers, lacrosse balls, wraps, massage pads, and handheld muscle rollers. The pain-relief claims that they provide mini-massages for sore muscles. These work and can help when used correctly.

These products do not have a great deal of published material on the benefits of these tools. But physical therapists have recommended using these tools along with professional chiropractic/physical therapy. These low-tech massage tools can make your back feel better. They are effective for muscle spasms, are gentle to the soft tissues and improve blood flow circulation with very little risk of tissue damage.

Exercise balls can be included in exercise programs that function in extension and flexion postures. Sitting on them to safely engage and strengthen the core muscles is an added benefit and they are great for maintaining proper posture.

LLT Laser Therapy for Peripheral Neuropathy

Q: I'm experiencing back pain more so now. My question is, is this back pain from my baby is it normal or is it something else? I'm a 30-year-old woman in the second trimester with our first child. I would have back pain before I was pregnant but nothing serious, just normal work and a little soreness at the end of the day. There was never back soreness or pain that I thought warranted a visit to the doctor. My doctor says that it is normal from the weight of the baby and there is nothing amiss, but to discuss this with a chiropractor, as there could be some treatment/therapies/exercises to help.

El Paso, TX.

A: Having low back pain before you were pregnant concerns me, as what you are saying sounds like a possible herniated disc bulging or slipped disc. However, I cannot give you an official diagnosis unless I see you as a patient and can't say if it is something else.

But low back pain can be caused by a combination of things. This includes your pregnancy along with:

• Herniated disc
• Disc degeneration
• Age
• Muscle spasm/s
• Daily wear and tear
• Injuries
• Unknown injuries
• Added Weight

These are just a few of the things that could be causing your low back pain. Add pregnancy to this list and low back pain can become unbearable. Your pain can be made worse by a variety of factors.

For example, let's say you were lifting a few pieces of light furniture before you became pregnant, and that slight soreness you felt and thought was nothing could actually be a strain, muscle spasm, or over-stretch that did not cause an injury but is the beginning of an injury waiting to happen.

During pregnancy, a growing belly can put place more pressure on the:

• Intervertebral discs
• Joints
• Muscles
• Ligaments

Hormones that are released during pregnancy can also exacerbate your back pain. The hormone relaxin causes the pelvis and the ligaments of the lower back to gain flexibility. This is in preparation for the delivery and can cause low back pain because of the added flexibility you are more prone to injury, which is why doctors say to take it easy. It could all be a combination of these factors but I would have to examine you, go over your medical history to get a proper diagnosis to create a personalized treatment plan during pregnancy and after if the need is there.

Treatment During Pregnancy

There are several treatment options for back pain. During pregnancy is not the time to experiment with medications or back pain treatments that could cause a negative response or something else to your health. The goal during pregnancy is safety.

Here are four safe therapies for managing back pain while pregnant:

1. Gentle exercise/s like walking and yoga helps alleviate back pain and can also generate an overall feeling of wellness.
2. Physical therapy can decrease your back pain by strengthening the muscles. A physical therapist that has experience working with pregnant women is the best option.
3. Prenatal massage relaxes tense back muscles and reduces stress. Look for a massage therapist that specializes in prenatal massage.
4. Prenatal yoga classes are great for decompressing/destressing during pregnancy.

Discuss all of this with your doctor and all treatment options. It's not a good idea to start a new exercise program when you're pregnant. If there was a regular exercise routine before you were pregnant, you can continue, but you may have to make some adjustments as your body prepares for the delivery. Once the baby is born, you and your doctor can re-evaluate your treatment plan. But regardless of your treatment plan, you should still continue to maintain a proper healthy weight by eating right and exercising regularly to prevent back pain from worsening.

Treatment for Low Back Pain During Pregnancy

Middle back pain is usually caused by unhealthy posture, improper lifting or twisting, and minor injuries like muscle strains, sprains, and herniated discs. Thoracic herniated discs are less common than neck or low back herniations because of the thoracic vertebrae's size and rigidity, but they do happen. Chiropractic care can treat thoracic herniated discs and prevent future episodes.

Thoracic Herniated Disc

The 12 thoracic vertebrae between the neck and the lumbar spine make up the largest and least flexible area. The rib cage adds:

• Protection
• Support
• Stabilization of the spine

Symptoms

Herniated discs happen when the soft, gel-like layer of the shock-absorbing intervertebral disc bulges into or leaks through the disc's tough outer layer. Due to the location, a herniated disc can cause various issues to the middle back, chest wall, and/or abdominal areas around the injured vertebrae. This displacement can cause:

• Inflammation
• Compression to the spinal nerves or spinal cord
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Pain
• Weakness
• If the lower thoracic region is herniated, symptoms can radiate to one or both lower extremities.

Radiculopathy

If the herniation compresses a thoracic spinal nerve, it can cause radiculopathy or pain that radiates down the nerve and out from the spine into the surrounding muscles. The symptoms can present around the rib cage or upper abdominal area. A large disc herniation can compress the spinal cord inside the spinal canal. This is a condition called myelopathy which can cause:

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Weakness in one or both lower extremities
• Sometimes bowel and bladder dysfunction
• In severe cases, paralysis

Causes

Degenerative disc disease and trauma like vehicle collisions or falls are the most common causes of thoracic herniation.

• Individuals between 30 and 50 are more likely to be affected.
• As the body ages, the disc's soft inner layer loses hydration, making it less effective as a shock absorber.
• The tough outer layer loses elasticity, increasing the risk of disc tears.

Chiropractic Care

• A chiropractor or neurologic physical therapist can personalize a herniated disc exercise treatment plan to reduce pain, improve strength and posture, and increase mobility.
• Therapeutic massage can be useful in managing pain and decreasing inflammation.
• Traction therapy
• Spinal epidural injections can be used with physical therapy to help manage pain and allow the body to heal independently.

Recommendations

• Avoid bending, lifting, reaching, and twisting.
• Apply an ice pack or cold compress for 15- to 20-minute intervals every two hours.
• Sit in chairs with a firm back to support the spine.
• When sleeping, place a small pillow under the head and knees to keep the spine in a neutral position to prevent pressure on the herniated region.
• Avoid too much rest, which can worsen the injury.
• Gentle physical activity will maintain circulation and keep the muscles strong.

Surgery

Most cases of thoracic herniation do not require surgery. Surgery could be recommended if there is intolerable pain, neurological issues, and conservative treatments are not working. A spine specialist can determine if surgery is necessary based on the injury's size, type, and location. Spinal surgery will remove all or part of the herniated disc compressing a nerve root. Common surgical procedures include:

• Discectomy
• Laminectomy
• Spinal fusion

Herniated Disc Rehabilitation

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Barrow Neurological Institute. "Herniated Thoracic Disc." Barrow Neurological Institute, August 3, 2022. https://www.barrowneuro.org/condition/thoracic-disc-herniation/.

Court, C., E. Mansour, and C. Bouthors. "Thoracic Disc Herniation: Surgical Treatment." Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research 104, no. 1 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otsr.2017.04.022.

Dydyk, Alexander M, Ruben Ngnitewe Massa, and Fassil B Mesfin. "Disc Herniation - Statpearls - NCBI Bookshelf." National Library of Medicine, January 18, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441822/.

Yoon, Wai Weng, and Jonathan Koch. "Herniated Discs: When Is Surgery Necessary?" EFORT Open Reviews 6, no. 6 (2021): 526–30. https://doi.org/10.1302/2058-5241.6.210020.

Dehydration affects the body physically and mentally but also affects the health of the spine's discs. Spinal discs that lack proper hydration begin to compress, collapse between vertebrae, or cannot refill correctly, causing further compression and increasing the risk of spinal injury. Dehydrated discs can cause injuries like herniated disc/s, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis. Chiropractic treatment offers spinal decompression that will restretch and realign the spine allowing the injury/s to heal and proper disc rehydration.

Spine Support

As crucial as the spine is within daily activities, it is vital to understand its mechanics. The spinal vertebrae discs work to absorb shock when bending, twisting, or flexing to ensure the bones do not rub together. Within each disc is the nucleus pulposus, made up of 85 percent water that provides movement when the spine rotates and moves in various directions. This high water content in the discs helps the spine function. The discs naturally lose some water as the body ages, but dehydration can also occur when individuals do not intake enough water from drinking or in food. If the dehydration is severe, the risk of injury increases or can aggravate existing spine conditions. The loss of hydration in an adult spine can cause a loss of disc height daily. Without proper rehydration, other medical issues can begin to present.

Symptoms

Depending on which discs are affected, the pain or numbness can travel from the neck into the shoulders, arms, and hands or from the lower back down through the legs. Symptoms can include:

• Back stiffness 
• Burning or tingling sensations
• Reduced or painful movement
• Back pain
• Weakness
• Numbness in the low back, legs, or feet
• Changes in knee and foot reflexes
• Sciatica

When the body is dehydrated, it can be difficult to replenish the water in the discs thoroughly, as well as nutrient levels through a consistent loss of fluid. Dehydration disrupts the balance which can lead to an increased risk of injury and increased degeneration. Causes of disc dehydration include:

• Trauma from an auto accident, fall, work, or sports injury.
• Repeated strain on the back from consistent lifting, reaching, bending, twisting, etc.
• Sudden weight loss can cause the body, including the discs, to lose fluid.
• Ankylosing spondylitis.

Spinal Rehydration

The entire body relies on proper hydration with direct water consumption to rehydrate the body but also incorporating fruits and vegetables to aid in hydration. These foods include:

• Watermelon
• Cantaloupe
• Lettuce
• Tomatoes

These foods are made of more than 90% water and contain essential nutrients and help the spine function more efficiently. Proper water consumption is based on age, body size, and activity level. However, to fully heal desiccated discs, spinal injuries, or back pain, chiropractic decompression, and manipulation adjustments are recommended. Non-surgical motorized spinal decompression treatment is gentle. The therapy lengthens and decompresses the spine reversing the pressure within the damaged disc/s creating an intradiscal vacuum that relieves the pressure off the nerve and helps reshape and rehydrate the damaged disc/s.

DOC

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, or licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Djurasovic, Mladen, et al. “The influence of preoperative MRI findings on lumbar fusion clinical outcomes.” The European spine journal: official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society vol. 21,8 (2012): 1616-23. doi:10.1007/s00586-012-2244-9

Karki, D B et al. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Lumbar Disc Degeneration in Symptomatic Patients.” Journal of Nepal Health Research Council vol. 13,30 (2015): 154-9.

Twomey, L T, and J R Taylor. “Age changes in lumbar vertebrae and intervertebral discs.” Clinical Orthopedics and related research,224 (1987): 97-104.

Videman, Tapio et al. “Age- and pathology-specific measures of disc degeneration.” Spine vol. 33,25 (2008): 2781-8. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e31817e1d11

Pregnant and Chiropractic: Many women experience back/pelvis/leg/feet swelling, soreness, achiness, and pain during pregnancy. A growing belly added weight and changes in connective tissue can cause a variety of musculoskeletal strains and misalignments. Chiropractic care provides health maintenance of the spinal column, discs, nerves, joints, muscles, and bones. It is an art and science of adjusting a misaligned body, reducing stress, and promoting health throughout the body. 

Pregnant and Chiropractic

With a primary doctor's clearance, chiropractic can provide safe adjustments. Chiropractors trained to work with pregnant women utilize techniques that avoid applying pressure on or around the abdomen. Benefits of chiropractic during pregnancy include:

• Restores and maintains spinal alignment and balance.
• Helps control symptoms of nausea.
• Improves energy levels.
• Relieves body pain.
• Helps reduce labor time and delivery.
• Restores pelvic positioning and balance, improving standing, sitting, and walking mechanics.
• Improves blood perfusion and better movement for the baby

A chiropractor trained in the needs of pregnant women will also provide exercises and stretches that are safe during pregnancy.

A chiropractor will discuss/recommend treatment options, patient concerns, and a complete medical history assessment. They will monitor symptoms to customize treatments to the individual's specific needs to get the most relief.

Body Composition

Gestational Hypertension

Gestational hypertension develops during pregnancy. It is not preventable and returns to normal levels postpartum. However, there is an increased risk of developing chronic hypertension later if gestational hypertension begins to develop. According to Mayo Clinic, gestational hypertension is diagnosed by the following:

• At least 20 weeks gestation.
• Blood pressure is higher than 140/90 on at least two occasions.
• Must be more than four hours apart.
• There is no other organ damage present.

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Gutke, Annelie et al. "Treatments for pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain: a systematic review of physiotherapy modalities." Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica vol. 94,11 (2015): 1156-67. doi:10.1111/aogs.12681

Poděbradská, R et al. “The effect of physiotherapy intervention on the load of the foot and low back pain in pregnancy.” “Vliv fyzioterapeutických postupů na zatížení plosky a bolesti zad v těhotenství.” Ceska gynekologie vol. 84,6 (2019): 450-457.

Schreiner, Lucas et al. "Systematic review of pelvic floor interventions during pregnancy." International journal of gynecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics vol. 143,1 (2018): 10-18. doi:10.1002/ijgo.12513

Individuals involved in slip and fall accidents lead to around 9 million emergency room visits a year. Recovering from a severe injury suffered in a slip and fall accident requires extensive medical care and physical rehabilitation. Older adults are susceptible to slip and fall injuries. According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injuries of older adults and are a common hazard in nursing homes, where between half of the residents fall each year. The most common injuries sustained include:

Cuts and Abrasions

Cuts and abrasions can be minor to severe. Leg and arm abrasions are the most common, followed by wounds to the head and hips. These injuries require superficial treatment and possibly stitches. However, if the impact of the fall is severe, cuts and abrasions can overlap more severe injuries like concussions and broken bones.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries often do not get noticed, so individuals don't realize they have a mild tissue injury until days or weeks after the fall. Soft tissue injuries can range from minor ankle and/or wrist sprains to severe tears in tendons and ligaments. Left untreated, these injuries can lead to chronic pain conditions making the body more vulnerable to further injuries. Even when individuals feel fine after a slip and fall accident, they are recommended to seek medical care or consult an injury specialist as soft tissue injuries don't often produce immediate symptoms.

Sprains and Strains

A slip and fall accidents often happen as a result of taking an uneven or awkward step. Individuals also often react with their hands in front to try to cushion the fall. Both the awkward step and pushing the hands out can cause the wrist or ankle to tear, causing a sprain or a strain. The ligaments do not circulate a lot of blood, meaning that healing and recovery can take a significant amount of time.

Broken Bones

A fall can result in stressful forces on the bones of the body. In slip and fall accidents, hip, wrist, and ankle fractures are the most common bones that get broken. The older an individual is, the more likely they will break a bone from a slip and fall accident.

Hip Fractures

More than 95% of broken hips are caused by falls, according to the CDC. Hip fractures often require surgery that can include implantation of an artificial hip and hospitalization for about a week, followed by extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Knee Injuries

Knee injuries can result from a slip and fall, especially if the knee gets rotated the wrong way or twisted. Knees are made up of bone and ligaments, meaning it could take a long to heal and recover. Dislocation of the patella is also a possibility that could require knee reconstruction.

Neck and Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder and neck injuries can be the result of landing on the shoulder or neck. They can also occur from overexertion when trying to right oneself during a fall. Neck injuries can range from:

• Muscle sprains
• Spinal injuries
• Paralysis

Shoulder injuries can result in:

• Shoulder dislocation
• Torn nerves
• Collarbone breaks

Even the most minor neck and shoulder injuries can require surgery and rehabilitation.

Back and Spinal Cord Injuries

Severe impact on the body in a slip and fall accident can cause slipped or herniated discs and fractured vertebrae, causing significant pain and limiting mobility. An injury to the spinal cord can lead to temporary paralysis, permanent paralysis, neurologic and sensory impairments. According to the Mayo Clinic, falls cause more than a quarter of spinal cord injuries and the majority of spinal injuries among adults 65 and older.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries occur when an individual hits their head on a hard surface during a fall. Traumatic brain injuries can range from:

• Minor injuries like:
• Minor concussions
• Bumps
• Bruises
• To major injuries like:
• Skull fractures
• Hematomas
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage
• Severe traumatic brain injuries like:
• Brain function issues
• Seizures
• Loss of bodily control

Chiropractic Care

A chiropractor will review imaging scans, medical history, and current symptoms to determine the best form of treatment. Inflammation is common and is the body’s defense to protect the injured area by slowing down the blood flow in that area to allow the body’s internal defenses to repair the injury. Sometimes the body overreacts to the problem and produces far more inflammation than is needed. Depending on the severity of the injury, various massage, manipulation techniques, and tools will be utilized to help the body heal itself.

Body Composition

Recovery and Swelling

Recovery is an essential part of individuals involved in physical training programs and after injury. A significant sign that the body has undergone intense physical exertion and requires recovery is swelling. Swelling occurs for several reasons and is the body’s response to tiny, microscopic muscle tears that arise from intense use. It is possible to see this swelling in body composition results. Recovery is about giving the body a chance to:

• Relax
• Recuperate
• Recover from the swelling to resume normal physical activities.

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Courtney, T K et al. “Occupational slip, trip, and fall-related injuries--can the contribution of slipperiness be isolated?.” Ergonomics vol. 44,13 (2001): 1118-37. doi:10.1080/00140130110085538

Kannus, Pekka et al. “Prevention of falls and consequent injuries in elderly people.” Lancet (London, England) vol. 366,9500 (2005): 1885-93. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67604-0

Reuben, David B et al. “The Strategies to Reduce Injuries and Develop Confidence in Elders Intervention: Falls Risk Factor Assessment and Management, Patient Engagement, and Nurse Co-management.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society vol. 65,12 (2017): 2733-2739. doi:10.1111/jgs.15121

Rosen, Tony et al. “Slipping and tripping: fall injuries in adults associated with rugs and carpets.” Journal of injury & violence research vol. 5,1 (2013): 61-9. doi:10.5249/jivr.v5i1.177

Surgery options when back pain is becoming chronic or so severe that an individual cannot function normally and negatively affects their life. Pretty much everyone experiences back pain at some point. This is often from:

• Lifting heavy/non-heavy objects incorrectly
• Improper posture
• Twisting in an awkward way
• Overreaching
• Muscle spasms
• Physical activity the body is not used to doing

Most cases of backaches and pain go away by themselves or with conservative treatment.  But sometimes, surgery is necessary.

When Surgery Is Necessary

Acute back pain can last for days or weeks and can often resolve with physical therapy, chiropractic, and self-care. Back pain that continues for 12 weeks or longer is considered chronic. Around twenty percent of individuals who experience acute low back pain after a year begin developing chronic back pain. Doctors try to treat most back pain cases with non-surgical approaches.

• They usually begin with physical therapy/chiropractic.
• If that doesn't work, then medication is incorporated.
• However, many individuals do not want to take long-term medication, which is when surgery may be recommended.
• In most cases, surgery is a last resort.

When the pain radiates to the legs or if it is causing problems with bladder and/or bowel function, these are definite signs/symptoms that surgery is needed. If the pain/dysfunction continues after thorough and effective non-surgical treatment, surgery could be recommended to preserve the spine to improve spinal strength and function before the problem worsens, causing further injury and damage. Some of the most common and effective spine surgery options include.

Surgery Options

Microdiscectomy

Microdiscectomy is the most common back surgery in the United States. It is minimally invasive spine surgery. Microdiscectomy patients have low back pain combined with leg pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness. In between the vertebrae are the body's shock-absorbing discs. The discs can begin to bulge out, a bulging or herniated disc, and press on the surrounding nerve roots, causing pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness. A microdiscectomy removes the portions of the disc pressing on the nerve.

It is called micro because the surgeon wears specialized glasses known as loupes that act as microscopes. This is so the surgeon can see the details when they’re operating. The surgery is performed through a small incision in the middle of the back or on the affected side. Patients can go home a few hours after the surgery and return to normal activities within two weeks. The success rate is 85 - 95%, especially if the surgery is done early before the damage begins to spread out.

Laminectomy

The spinal canal contains a special lining. This is where the nerves and ligaments run through. Age, along with normal wear and tear on the body, causes the ligaments to thicken. This is when bone spurs can develop from osteoarthritis, and the discs can begin to bulge or rupture/herniate. This clogs and impinges the space where the nerves should easily flow through. This narrowing is called spinal stenosis. A laminectomy opens up the space relieving the compression/pressure. The procedure requires removing part of the back of a vertebra called the lamina. This enlarges the spinal canal and relieves the pressure on the nerves. The procedure is done through a small incision in the middle of the back but can also be done through a minimal incision. Leg pain improves after surgery. A traditional incision full recovery takes 6 to 12 weeks. The success rate is around 85 percent.

Spinal Fusion

A spinal fusion joins/fuses two or more bones in the spine. This is done when an individual has severe compression of the nerves, severe instability, or spinal revision surgery. A fusion can help stabilize spinal fractures. Other reasons for a spinal fusion are spine deformity, cancer of the spine, and sometimes used for intractable pain. A fusion stabilizes the spine with screws and rods. The disc causing the compression is replaced with a fusion device and bone graft. The surgery is often performed in combination with a laminectomy. Recovery and returning to activities can take around 3-4 months after the procedure. The success rate is 85-90% with pain improvement.

Kyphoplasty

Spinal compression fractures are common in individuals with osteoporosis. When they happen, the pain can be so intense that braces and medication don't help. Kyphoplasty can bring pain relief. It can be performed by a pain management doctor, interventional radiologist, or surgeon in an outpatient X-ray facility and operating room. The procedure involves conscious sedation, sometimes accompanied by general anesthesia. A small instrument is inserted into the vertebra, and a balloon is inflated to make room for bone cement. After the bone cement is injected, patients can go home within a few hours. The success rate is around 85%, and recovery time could be several days.

Disc Replacement

This is a procedure that can replace spinal fusion for certain cases. A disc replacement can be done in the lumbar/low back or the cervical/neck spine. This procedure is performed to treat a pinched nerve and/or spinal cord compression. The injured/damaged disc is removed and is replaced with an artificial disc. The device allows for motion, whereas fusion procedures fuse the bones to stabilize and immobilize the area. Disc replacement is recommended for younger patients that don't have serious arthritis. This is because they still have mobility. If significant arthritis is present, the patient could experience more pain and require spinal fusion. Recovery takes around six weeks. Intense physical activity is off-limits for two or three weeks after the initial recovery period. The success rate is more than 90%.

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion - ACDF

This is a common neck/cervical spine procedure. This surgery is for pain relief, weakness, tingling, and numbness of the arms caused by a pinched nerve or stenosis. The damaged disc is removed through a small incision in the side of the front of the neck. The disc is replaced with a bone graft or specialized spacer and a small plate with screws. This is to stabilize the spine. It is highly effective in relieving pain and in preventing neurological decline from spinal cord compression. Recovery time is around 12 weeks before a full return to normal activities. However, individuals report feeling better after two weeks.

Back Surgery Options

The majority of cases involving back pain get better on their own or with conservative treatment. But if an individual cannot find relief, there are safe and effective surgery options that can help.

Body Composition

When The Immune System Activates

When the body gets sick from a bacterial infection, virus, etc., the body’s defense system activates, causing inflammation. This immune response serves as the first wave of defense against foreign invaders. The infected area becomes red and swollen from increased blood flow. For example, when the nose gets red from a cold, this is inflammation. The reaction is caused by white blood cells known as macrophages, and the proteins they emit called cytokines encourage inflammation. Inflammation that’s triggered by the immune system is normally a good thing. It means the body is releasing a proper amount of hormones and proteins. These activate the white blood cells to start the healing process and work to fight the infection.

References

Low Back Pain Fact Sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Low-Back-Pain-Fact-Sheet

A review of complication rates for Anterior Cervical Diskectomy and Fusion (ACDF). Surg Neurol Int. 2019. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31528438/

Rheumatology Advisor. (2017.) “Back Pain.” https://www.rheumatologyadvisor.com/home/decision-support-in-medicine/rheumatology/back-pain/

The feet are the foundation of the body. The feet carry the body's entire weight allowing for movement with ease. The feet are a complex structure that consists of:

• Bones
• Joints
• Muscles
• Ligaments
• Tendons
• Nerve endings

Because of this, the feet are a high-impact area taking the everyday forces that come from:

• Balancing
• Walking
• Running
• Stopping
• Twisting
• Shifting positions
• Tiptoe reaching

Common Symptoms

Symptoms commonly caused by foot issues include:

• Soreness
• Stiffness
• Leg pain
• Muscle Weakness
• Poor balance

Flat feet, fallen arches, injuries, bone spurs, and other issues can cause problems with the rest of the body. The most common are:

Back Problems

When foot issues are present it's common to change walking postures to avoid pain and discomfort. Individuals often do not realize they are doing it until the awkward postures begin to present with pain and discomfort. Overcompensation combined with unhealthy walking patterns can cause back pain. This is because the spine is becoming misaligned. Balance of the body is crucial. When something shifts the proper balance, the whole spine can shift out of alignment. This is especially true for individuals with flat feet. Flat feet can cause the ankle/s to lose alignment. This leads to problems up the body, from the knees to the hips to the spine and neck.

Joint Pain

Imbalances cause the feet and spine to not absorb shocks from everyday activity properly. This means the rest of the body, especially the joints, have an added job of absorbing the shock/impact. As time goes on the stress and shock can lead to severe ankle, knee, hip discomfort/pain, and malfunctions.

Posture Imbalance

These misalignments cause imbalance and posture problems. When the feet have lost the proper anchoring and alignment, overall posture and balance become affected. This increases the risk for dangerous slip and fall accidents that can exacerbate or cause new injuries. Posture problems are usually the result of the body trying to redistribute weight to reduce the pain and because it works then becomes a bad habit.

Referred and Radiating Pain

The muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the feet connect to the rest of the body. Any pain/issues like calf pain or weakness in the feet can begin to present in the lower leg since that is where the soft tissue is most closely connected.

Foot Problems/Issues

The most common foot problems podiatrists see that lead to the aforementioned ailments.

Flat Feet

Flat feet also known as fallen arches. This is a condition where the feet lack or have lost the arch when standing. This can be quite uncomfortable and creates weight distribution problems. It can be a genetic condition but is also be the result of wearing shoes without arch support for a prolonged time.

Corns and Bunions

Corns are round circles of thick skin on the toes, or on the soles of the feet. The body forms them naturally to prevent blisters, but they could be the result of poorly fitting shoes. Typically they are not painful when they form, but can become irritated over time. Bunions are bumps on the side of the big toe that can cause a bending inward toward the other toes, creating a painful angle. This can cause severe irritation and inflammation in the bump and toes. These can be genetic or caused by structural problems. But they can be caused by tight-fitting shoes or excess pressure on the feet for prolonged periods.

Hammertoe

Hammertoe, also known as mallet toe, is a condition that makes one or more of the toes pointing down rather than straight. Walking can cause pain, and movement of the toe can reduce or stop completely. This is caused by arthritis or an injury, it can be genetic, or the result of poor footwear.

Plantar Fasciitis

This condition causes pain that goes from the bottom of the heel to the middle of the foot. It is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament also located in this area. There is a wide range of pain levels that can range from dull to stabbing. It is often caused by poor footwear with no arch support that has been worn for long periods when walking, standing, and running. Weight gain is another cause, as the added weight could be too much for the foot to manage, causing strain.

Shoes

Individuals that wear high heels, shoes that are the wrong size, or other uncomfortable footwear consistently will more likely develop the aforementioned issues. Shoes with proper support are essential to optimal foot and body health because they evenly distribute the weight of the body lessening the impact from everyday activities.

Foot Orthotics

Another recommended option for alleviating foot issues is custom foot orthotic inserts. These can be fit into any shoe, and are customized to an individual's feet. They’re affordable, and allow individuals to wear their shoes without pain.

Chiropractic & Physical Therapy

Chiropractic and physical therapy can help alleviate the pain that is resultant from foot problems. Seeing a podiatrist can treat the root cause of the condition, but the rest of the body could need chiropractic readjusting from the misalignment/s.

Custom Orthotics

Heat-related illnesses

Heat-related illnesses vary in their severity, but even light symptoms need immediate action to correct the problem before it does become severe.

Heat cramps

When exercising in the heat painful cramps can present. The affected muscle/s might feel hard, spasm, or generate sharp pain. The body temperature could still be within normal limits.

Heat syncope

Syncope is a loss of consciousness, that is usually recognized as exercise-related collapse. However, before this happens, there may be a feeling of lightheadedness or fainting. This happens when temperatures are high and the individual has been standing or exercising for a long time. The same can occur when standing up quickly after sitting for a long time.

Heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion happens when the body temperature exceeds normal limits and rises as high as 104. This can cause nausea, weakness, cold, fainting, headaches, and vomiting. The body continues to sweat, but the skin may feel cold and clammy.

Heatstroke and Sunstroke

Heat exhaustion untreated leads to heatstroke or sunstroke. The body's core temperature is greater than 104 degrees and in a life-threatening emergency. The skin is no longer capable of sweating and can feel dry or moist. Individuals can become confused, irritable, and experience heart arrhythmias. Immediate medical emergency treatment is necessary to stop brain damage, organ failure, and death.

Disclaimer

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the musculoskeletal system’s injuries or disorders. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP, CIFM, CTG*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
phone: 915-850-0900
Licensed in Texas & New Mexico

References

Joint Bone Spine. (December 2014) “Effects of unstable shoes on chronic low back pain in health professionals: A randomized controlled trial” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1297319X14001456

Your Foot Type Matters: Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. (July 2018) “Association between the hyper-pronated foot and the degree of severity of disability in patients with non-specific low back pain” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1360859217303388

How to Find the Right Shoes: International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. (December 2001) “Biomechanical effects of wearing high-heeled shoes” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169814101000385

Whiplash is one of the most devastating cervical/neck spinal injuries. Rapid acceleration and deceleration can be so powerful that it bruises, tears the muscles, ligaments, soft tissue, and herniates the neck's discs. Chiropractic relief can take care of initial and late-onset symptoms. As symptoms develop, they typically take the form of radiculopathy pain. Depending on the severity of the whiplash the types of symptoms that can occur include:

• Swelling of the face
• Neck pain
• Shoulder and arms aching and pain
• Hands can swell and ache
• Loss of mobility
• Numbness or complete loss of feeling
• Symptoms can get worse indicating progressive nerve damage

If left untreated the individual can face long-term, chronic spine problems. Injury Medical Chiropractic Relief focuses on treating the whiplash, radiculopathy, and herniated discs at the source. After assessing the symptoms and the severity we can develop the most optimal treatment plan for the individual.

Radiculopathy

Radiculopathy is the result of a pinched nerve. This sends pain signals throughout the entire length of the nerve. With the neck's nerve bundles, this means the pain travels as far as the face and hands. Tracing the extent of the radiculopathy informs the chiropractor as to which specific vertebrae have been affected.

For example, if the nerve bundle in C7, which is the lowest neck vertebrae gets pinched, it can present in the arms. Another example, if chronic and persistent headaches or cheek pain are presenting, then C3-C4 will be the focus. The key is to look past the site of the pain and find its point of origin. Tracing referred pain quickly will allow the chiropractor to get a handle on the symptoms, even after the accident.

Herniated discs

A major factor in radiculopathy is a herniated disc. Displaced discs are how nerve compression and signal disruption begins. Until the disc/s are realigned, corrected, and reset, the affected nerves will continue to suffer.

The Connection

Make mention of any vehicle accidents throughout life. This can help the chiropractor immensely in diagnosis. A severe case of whiplash can occur even if the airbag does not deploy. The rocking motion of the cervical spine is strong, meaning whiplash can happen at collisions as slow as 5 miles per hour. Whether a minor car accident, a roller coaster ride, or sports, the condition frequently presents long after the accident.

Chiropractic Relief and Realignment

A chiropractor must put together the clues of a condition to hypothesize the cause. If experiencing pain symptomatic with recent neck trauma, it is essential to get checked. Injury Medical Chiropractic Clinic will address the condition before symptoms progress to a chronic condition.

Body Composition

The Function of Skeletal Muscle

Skeletal muscle is one of three major types of muscles in the body. The others are smooth and cardiac muscle. These muscles are attached to the bone by tendons. Skeletal muscles consist of nerves and blood vessels along with connective tissue to operate properly. These muscles consist of cells that come together and form bundles of skeletal muscle fibers.

Strength training stimulates the muscle fibers and combined with proper nutrition causes the muscles to grow. Muscles contract and shorten pulling on the bone and joints. This is what causes body movement. The nervous system sends signals to the nerves in the muscle and trigger contractions. Besides movement, skeletal muscle helps maintain posture, generate body heat, and stabilizes the bones and joints.

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*