When to Seek Chiropractic Care

Sicilia Chiropractic treats a broad range of symptoms from athletic injuries to painful joints and numbness in limbs. Chiropractors also focus on on-going preventive and wellness care. If you suffer from any of these symptoms, Dr. Sicilia can help:

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash is defined as “an injury to the cervical spine caused by an abrupt jerking motion of the head, either backward of forward.” Whiplash usually occurs when the head and neck are unexpectedly or suddenly thrown very quickly in one direction and then rebound in the opposite direction. You might say the head is “whipped around” on the neck. A whiplash type injury doesn’t only occur in automobile accidents. Whiplash injuries may occur as a result of sudden forces to the body such as in contact sports like football, soccer, or boxing, falls, direct trauma to the skull or even a sudden sneeze.

If you experience any of the following after any accident, you may have whiplash:

  • Headaches, head and neck pains, stiff neck, muscle spasms.
  • Restricted head motion.
  • Equilibrium problems, loss of hearing, ringing in the ears.
  • Experiencing eye strain.
  • Feeling light-headed, excessively tired, or blacked out.
  • Experiencing any neuralgia (nerve pain) or neuritis (nerve inflammation).
  • Cold hands or feet, or numbness of arms, hands, shoulders, feet or legs.
  • Experiencing periods of unexplained depression, anxiety, irritability.
  • Unable to concentrate, poor memory.
  • Pains between the shoulders, low back pains, tremors, rapid heartbeat.These types of injuries may develop quickly, or they may not show up for hours, days, or even weeks. Therefore, following even a minor accident, the kind where you just feel “shaken up”, a visit to the doctor of chiropractic is in order. A doctor of chiropractic will make a thorough examination, including the use of x-rays and clinical laboratory tests. Following evaluation, the chiropractor will make the necessary delicate spinal adjustments to correct any misalignment of vertebrae; also alleviating pinching of nerves or constriction of blood supply to the body. Do not put off an early visit to your doctor chiropractic following any accident!

The Doctor of Chiropractic is trained in body mechanics and how to relieve the cause of the symptoms that you have. The term “pinched nerve” is not a clinical term but helps to explain why the symptoms you have may be directly associated with the spine. If you are suffering from radiating pain in the neck, arms, shoulders, back, legs or feet it may well indicate pressure on the nerves as they emit from the spine. Headaches are one of the most common results of nerves being stretched, irritated or compressed by inflammation in or near the spine. The doctor may call it a pinched nerve for easier understanding, and then identify it with a more clinical term on your insurance form. Undue pressure on a nerve may cause an increase or decrease in normal nerve impulse transmission and bring about symptoms from headaches, stomach malfunction, and numbness in the legs. Since the nervous system is the first system formed in embryo, every function of the body is related to the brain and the nerve pathways of the muscles, organs and bones. Your body temperature, speech, vision and balance are all controlled by the nervous system

Specific areas of the spine emit the nerves to specific organs, tissues and muscles in the body. You may have a pinched nerve if you experience any of the following:

  • Dizziness, headaches, nervousness, insomnia, allergies, sore throat, head colds, ringing in the ears, etc.
  • Stiff neck, asthma, arm and shoulder pain, etc.
  • Stomach and digestive orders.
  • Kidney and urinary problems.
  • Bowel and female problems such as menstrual cramps and irregular periods.
  • Low back pains, sciatica, e.g. and knee pains, etc.
  • Swelling of the ankles and ankle discomfort.

The above listed symptoms are just a sample and are not meant to be all inclusive. The Doctor of Chiropractic will normally check and adjust the area of the spine associated with the symptoms you have. This adjustment of the vertebra is done after thorough examination and X-ray to determine the exact location of the trouble.

There are many causes of lower back pain, including sudden injury or jars to the spine, sprains and strains, slips and falls, and other minor accidents. Sometimes unexpected, jerking and off-balance movements can lead to painful conditions some occupations tend to place added stress on the spinal column because of repeated movement or a particular body position used to do the work.

Even a chill or overexerting certain muscles can cause muscular contractions and result in lower back pain. You don’t have to live with lower back pain. Call us for a consultation and to start a treatment program before it gets any worse.

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