Blog - Advanced Chiropractic of South Carolina

May 19 2019

Spinal Surgery – Know the Risks

A chiropractor would advise against invasive treatments such as spinal surgery for minor misalignments of the vertebrae. Spinal surgery comes with its fair share of risks. In other words, complications in the spine can be very serious when they occur. Most patients opt for spinal surgery if they feel that the drugs that they take don’t provide them any relief. Modern medicine has shown a shocking ineptitude for treating back problems so the fact isn’t surprising. Some of the most common complications from spinal surgery include –

Hardware Fracture

A lot of spinal operative procedures employ the use of hardware such as metal plates, screws and rods. Their function is to hold vertebrae in place while a surgeon performs the procedure. The hardware is still in place once the bone heals. However, it does have the potential to move from its position before the procedure is completed. Once a hardware fracture like this happens the surgeon may be required to perform an additional not to mention painful, surgery to replace or remove the hardware completely.

Spinal Cord Injury

The spine runs the risk of being fractured during any type of spinal surgery. The injury can have some serious repercussions if it happens near dura or the nerves that cover the spinal cord which is responsible for connecting the body with the brain. The nerve fibers that branch off from the spinal cord connect to specific parts of the human body and travel through the small opening of the vertebrae. Each of them connects to and is responsible for facilitating the movement of specific parts of the human body. Any damage to the spinal cord during surgery may cause paralysis in certain areas depending on the type of nerves that sustained damages during the procedure.

Persistent Pain

This goes without saying. Any type of invasive procedure comes with its fair share of pain. Spinal surgery is no exception. In fact, persistent pain is one of the most common things patients who undergo the procedure complain about. Patients who end up with chronic persistent pain are the worst off.

While complications like infection are not much of a threat they can have some serious consequences if they occur during complicated procedures like spinal surgery. This is why chiropractors will always advise against it for minor defects of the back and recommend rehabilitative processes to help patients take advantage of their body’s own abilities to heal itself.

Anatomy High-Tech by ??????? ????????

May 19 2019

Chiropractic Treatment for Herniated Discs

Chiropractic Treatment for Herniated Disc

Herniated disc can be a painful complication in the spine. There are many ways to treat a herniated disc, medications, therapies and surgeries. However, a chiropractic care aims to provide more than just treating the condition. Chiropractic care is a conservative form of treatment for disc injuries. In simple words, it is a natural treatment that does not exhibit the use of surgery, nor encourages medicinal use.

What is a Herniated Disc?

The disc acts as a shock absorber between each vertebra in the spinal cord. Discs stop the vertebrae from grinding, and without them, a spine does not function. A herniated disc is caused when the disc becomes damaged, displaced from its original position, or when it becomes less flexible.

What are the Symptoms?

Depending on the severity of the herniated disc, many symptoms can occur. Symptoms usually occur because of nerve irritation, caused by displacement of the inter-vertebral disc. Some common symptoms include;

Sharp and abrupt pain in the back
Muscular weakness and tingling
Numbness
Bower and bladder complications
What does a Chiropractic Treatment Involve?

The aim of chiropractic care is to treat the disc injury to promote overall health, as many health problems can arise from problems in the spine. The treatments involve manually aligning the spinal cord to reduce pain and promote a better posture.

A Herniated disc is treated by applying traction on the patient, while they are strapped on a table with a machine to make sure only the injured area experiences impact. This process is called spinal decompression therapy. The traction makes a vacuum between the disc, thus allowing the herniated disc to be moved back into its normal position. This process is rather slow with multiple treatments, but it ensures optimum range of motion and significantly reduces pain.

Another technique incorporated in chiropractic care, and a more common approach, is pelvic blocking. The patient goes through physical evaluation, laboratory analysis, and neurologic examinations to determine the areas of disc injury. After knowing the injured areas, a chiropractor uses special cushions placed under the pelvis of the patient, and gently performs hand manipulation for treatment.

A chiropractor addresses the whole body of a patient, rather than just the herniated disc. Chiropractic treatments incorporate therapies, nutrition plans, and exercise to ensure well being and to promote health. If you or a loved one is suffering from a herniated disc, a chiropractor can help.

Hands Behind Back by Lilla Frerichs

May 19 2019

Sciatica, Chiropractic and Pregnancy – What to Expect

Sciatica, Chiropractic and pregnancy – What to Expect

Sciatica – What is it?

According to chiropractic practices Sciatica is a common type of pain that affects the sciatic nerve which is a large nerve that extends from an individual’s lower back down the back of each leg. The sciatic nerve also happens to be the largest single nerve in the human body. It is composed of individual nerve roots that branch out from the spine in the lower back and come together to form the sciatic nerve.

A person who suffers from the condition may exhibit the following symptoms –

Burning or tingling sensation down the leg
Weakness or numbness
Difficulty moving the leg or foot
Constant pain on one side of the rear
Shooting pain that increases when the individual tries to stand up
The pain that is associated with sciatica usually extends from the lower back through the back of the thigh and down the leg. It often occurs on one side of the body. It can also be debilitating to some. The symptoms of sciatica also vary according to where the nerve is pinched. For example, an impingement in the lumbar segment 5(L5) never can cause weakness in extending the big toe and in some cases, the ankle.

Sciatica and Pregnancy

Sciatica is also a common condition in pregnant women and usually appears during the third trimester of pregnancy. It is caused when a woman’s expanding uterus ends up putting pressure on the sciatic nerve on the lower spine. The same occurrence is also known to cause lower back pain during pregnancy. The reason the condition occurs during the third trimester is due to the fact that the growing baby shifts into the proper birthing position during this time. This makes the developing fetus rest directly on the nerve which causes the mother major pain in the buttocks. The pain also radiates to the back and legs.

The pain can be constant or intermittent depending on how many times the baby changes position. However, the lower back pain may also persist after birth.

Fortunately there are ways through which a person might be able to rid herself of the pain. Some women say that a cold or hot compress to the affected area can help lessen the pain. Just make sure that the heating pad isn’t too uncomfortably hot. Getting off your feet and walking around can also help you get rid of the pain.

Chiropractic and Pregnancy

There are also patients who have sought out chiropractic services instead of opting for spinal surgery for cases such as these. It is easy to see why. Chiropractic care is non invasive and relies on the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

Due Date Calendar by Anna Langova

May 19 2019

Chiropractic and Pregnancy – The Webster Technique

Birth Without Fear

Every Chiropractor who is experienced in Chiropractic and pregnancy knows how the Webster technique can make a birth easier on an expecting mother. Pregnancy can be an extremely uncomfortable experience for most women. Therefore it isn’t surprising why anything that can relieve some of the discomfort is a welcome prospect.

Why Intervention may be Necessary

The rounded ligaments that suspend a uterus within a woman’s abdomen can tighten during pregnancy. This in turn restricts the space in which a baby in the womb has to move which causes spastic pain to the expecting mother. The restricted space also forces the baby to remain in a breech position beyond 37 weeks.

Chiropractic and pregnancy go hand in hand for this very reason. The pelvic and sacrum almost move as one due to their complex alignment. However, any misalignment of these structures can cause the birth canal to narrow and complicate a baby’s ability to birth naturally. Any complications can also contribute to severe lower back pain for expecting mothers. The pain of carrying a developing child coupled with an eventually painful c-section is a prospect that few women would like to go through. A pelvic area that is properly aligned will help the muscles to loosen up which in turn will allow the complex network of nerves to transmit messages from the nervous system without any obstructions along the way.

The Webster Technique

And this is where the Webster technique comes in. Also known as the Webster In-Utero Constraint Technique this particular process is designed to balance a pregnant woman’s pelvis while reducing the stress to the ligaments. The technique was developed by its namesake Dr. Webster after he experienced his own daughter go through the excruciating pain that is often associated with a baby that develops in the breech position.

The technique is a common one in chiropractic and pregnancy practices especially when it comes to women who carry breech babies. It focuses on relieving the resulting tightness around the rounded ligaments and therefore give the developing baby ample space to move around and position itself for an easy birth.

Non invasive treatments like these stack the odds in the favor of an expecting mother and her child. Chiropractic and pregnancy practices ensure that the whole ordeal isn’t more strenuous or causes more stress to someone than it has to.

Vintage Health Poster by Dawn Hudson

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