Low Back Pain

According to the latest statistics by the American Chiropractic Association and astonishing 

If you are experiencing the slightest bit of discomfort Call Dunnigan Chiropractic for an evaluation and treatment.  Studies in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) and The New England Journal of Medicine state that studies have shown spinal manipulation effective in treating back pain and restoring mobility.

Low Back Pain with Leg Symptoms
(Sciatica & Disc Injuries)

Many people turn to chiropractic care for safe, effective treatment of low back pain with leg pain, numbness, and tingling. While this is sometimes called "sciatica" or a "pinched nerve," there are actually many causes of these symptoms. Common causes include "trigger points" in various muscles, and irritated nerves from stiff and restricted joints and muscles. While a "pinched nerve" usually responds very well to chiropractic care, it is actually a relatively rare condition. In true cases of pinched nerve, you will feel tingling, numbness, and possibly even weakness due to pressure and inflammation on a nerve from bulging discs or bone spurs along the spine. Pressure on these "pinched nerves" can cause your symptoms to travel away from the spine, along the course of the nerve. The nerves of the low back join to form the sciatic nerve, which travels down the leg into the foot. This is why a "pinched nerve" of the low back with symptoms radiating down the leg is often called "sciatica."

A thorough examination including orthopedic and neurologic testing and X-ray or MRI studies, if necessary, will help to determine your exact diagnosis and individualized treatment plan. Manipulation (adjustment) of the spinal and extremity joints is very effective in restoring normal function to the joints, as well as to the surrounding muscles and nerves. This usually leads to a decrease in pain and faster recovery. Part of your treatment may also include some combination of the following: therapeutic exercises, biofeedback, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, moist heat, and ice therapy or myofascial release.

Neck Pain & Whiplash Injuries

Car accidents, blows to the back in sports, and on-the-job injuries can easily leave you with a whiplash injury. While symptoms are often felt immediately, pain may be delayed for days, months, or, in rare cases, even years. In fact, many people wake up with neck pain without being aware of ever having a head or neck injury. The most common symptom of whiplash (affecting 62% to 92% of those injured) is neck pain, and it usually begins between two hours and two days after the accident. This is often the result of tightened muscles that react to either muscle tears or excessive movement of joints from ligament damage. The muscles tighten in an effort to splint up and support the head, limiting the excessive movement. While muscle relaxants and pain killers can relieve some of the discomfort of these muscle spasms, these medications will only cover up symptoms, failing to address the cause of the problem.

An estimated 66% to 70% of those suffering from whiplash complain of headaches. The pain may be on one side or both, on- again/-off again or constant, in one location or more diffuse. These headaches, like neck pain, are often the result of tightened, tensed muscles trying to keep the head stable and, like tension headaches, they are often felt behind the eyes.

Shoulder pain, often described as pain radiating down the back of the neck into the shoulder blade area, also may be the result of tensed muscles. Muscle tears often are described as burning, prickling or tingling pain. More severe disc damage may cause sharp pain with certain movements which are relieved by holding your hand over your head.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you may have a whiplash injury that, if left untreated, can cause far more serious problems months or years later.

Neck Pain with Arm Symptoms
(Numbness, Tingling, Pain)

Many people turn to chiropractic care for safe, effective treatment of neck pain with arm pain, numbness, and tingling. While this is sometimes called a "pinched nerve," there are actually many causes of these symptoms. Common causes include "trigger points" in various muscles, and irritated nerves from stiff and restricted joints and muscles. While a "pinched nerve" usually responds very well to chiropractic care, it is actually a relatively rare condition. In true cases of pinched nerve, you will feel tingling, numbness, and possibly even weakness due to pressure and inflammation on a nerve from bulging discs or bone spurs along the spine. Pressure on these "pinched nerves" can cause your symptoms to travel away from the spine, along the course of the nerve. The nerves of the neck travel down the shoulder and extend into the arm, hand, and fingers. This is why so many neck problems cause symptoms to radiate into the arm and hand.

A thorough examination, in our office, including orthopedic and neurologic testing and X-ray if necessary, will help to determine your exact diagnosis and individualized treatment plan. Manipulation (adjustment) of the spinal and extremity joints is very effective in restoring normal function to the joints, as well as to the surrounding muscles and nerves. This usually leads to a decrease in pain and faster recovery.

Mid Back Pain

Midback pain is often described as "burning" in nature. The pain can also be dull or sharp, intermittent or constant. Some common causes include: scoliosis, poor posture, repetitive movements, misalignment of the vertebrae and/or ribs, and strained muscles. A thorough examination will differentiate between these causes, and appropriate treatment will be rendered. Midback pain often responds well to chiropractic care consisting of spinal manipulation, physiotherapy, and therapeutic exercises. Muscle imbalances can be found in the midback, and a proper exercise program that targets the appropriate muscles is very helpful in relieving symptoms and preventing re-injury.

Muscular Pain

There are many types of muscular pain. Sometimes muscular pain is the direct result of injury to the muscle, as in the case of a muscle pull, tear, or rupture. Other times, the muscular attachment to the bone (called the "tendon") becomes strained in a specific injury, or as the result of repetitive strain. Examples of repetitive strain to the muscle or tendon include prolonged and/or poor sitting postures, repetitive motions, and improper lifting. Most people don't realize that by the time they actually feel muscular pain, the surrounding joints and nerves have also become affected. This is why chiropractic care is so effective in treating muscular pain: because it is comprehensive care that addresses not only the muscles, but also the joints and their related spinal nerves.

Pinched Nerve

Many people turn to chiropractic care for safe, effective treatment of "pinched nerves." While a "pinched nerve" usually responds very well to chiropractic care, it is actually a relatively rare condition. In true cases of pinched nerve, you will feel tingling, numbness, and possibly even weakness due to pressure and inflammation on a nerve from bulging discs or bone spurs along the spine. Pressure on these "pinched nerves" can cause your symptoms to travel away from the spine, along the course of the nerve. The nerves of the neck travel down the shoulder and extend into the arm, hand, and fingers. This is why so many neck problems cause symptoms to radiate into the arm and hand. The nerves of the low back join to form the sciatic nerve, which travels down the leg into the foot. This is why a "pinched nerve" of the low back with symptoms radiating down the leg is often called "sciatica." More common than nerves being "pinched" by bone spurs or discs, nerves can very often become irritated by stiff and restricted joints and muscles. These nerve irritations can cause pain, and even numbness and tingling as well.

A thorough examination including orthopedic and neurologic testing and X-ray or MRI studies, if necessary, will help to determine your exact diagnosis and individualized treatment plan. Manipulation (adjustment) of the spinal and extremity joints is very effective in restoring normal function to the joints, as well as to the surrounding muscles and nerves. This usually leads to a decrease in pain and faster recovery. It is strongly recommend that you schedule an appointment as quickly as possible. In the event that your condition requires medical attention, an appropriate referral would be made promptly. However, surgery is rarely needed and should only be considered if conservative therapy fails.

Spinal Treatment

The landmark of chiropractic health treatment is spinal manipulation, often referred to as an "adjustment". Depending on the patient it may involve either gentle pressure, or a quick thrust to restore normal motion to joints that have become restricted or "stuck". While manipulation may be performed by other physicians, Doctors of Chiropractic have the most extensive experience and education in manipulation, performing 94% of the spinal manipulations in the United States. Numerous scientific studies have proven the efficacy, safety, cost-effectiveness and high levels of patient satisfaction of spinal manipulation. As a result, it is one of only two treatment protocols given the highest recommendation for the treatment of low back pain by the Agency for Health Care and Policy Research (AHCPR), a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Rehabilitation of sports related injuries

Dr. Dunnigan has extensive experience in the treatment of many sports related injuries. He has completed postgraduate training through www.runningdoctors.com (link), training on being a team physician (including how to perform sports physical examinations). Numerous studies have demonstrated that patients who fully understand their condition and engage in an active exercise program get well faster and stay well longer. Whether you suffer from an acute injury or chronic pain, a rehabilitation program will be customized to meet your individual needs. A teamwork approach is adopted, with you as an equal participant in your health care. You will become well educated about your condition and empowered to take an active role in regaining your health, performance, and wellness. Upon completion of your program, you will be stronger and better able to prevent re-injury.

Physiotherapy

Electrical Muscle Stimulation Often referred to as "muscle stim," the therapy involves low levels of electrical impulses delivered to the injured, painful tissues to reduce pain and speed healing. Often described by patients as a pleasant, "tingling" sensation, or "electrical massage," these impulses stimulate the body to release natural pain relievers, called endorphins. These endorphins reduce pain and inflammation, thereby promoting faster healing of the injured tissues. This therapy is often used to treat acute or chronic pain, as well as strains or sprains of the muscles, joints, and soft tissues of the spine and extremities.

Ultrasound

This treatment should not be confused with diagnostic ultrasound, often used in prenatal screening, but is instead a therapeutic procedure that utilizes sound waves to treat injured muscles, joints, and soft tissues. The sound waves vibrate the tissues back and forth, creating a deep, micro-massage effect. In the case of a recent injury, this helps to decrease scar tissue and adhesion formation, which would otherwise interfere with the body's healing process. The sound waves also decrease inflammation by destroying unwanted inflammatory cells. The sound waves also accelerate healing by stimulating the activity of the cells responsible for cellular and tissue repair. In chronic cases, special settings are used to create a deep-heating effect, heating the tissues far below the skin's surface. This heat, along with the vibrations that are caused by the ultrasound, help to "melt away" the muscle spasms and "knots" felt in our muscles.

Traction and Decompression

Whether applied manually or mechanically, the benefits of traction are similar. It helps to to reduce pressure on cervical (neck) or lumbar (lower back) discs. Traction is ofter referred to as decompression or distraction effectively reduces joint and nerve pain, pressure, and inflammation, caused by degerneration or bulging or herniated discs. This procedure is comfortable to the patient and the treatment does not last long.

Ice Therapy

Ice therapy or cryotherapy is often thought of as the therapy of choice for acute injuries. Actually, the application of ice over any painful tissue is usually effective at any stage of an injury. It works by constricting blood flow to the tissue, thereby reducing swelling, pain, and muscular spasms. It is very important to use ice correctly. It should be used for a maximum of 20 minutes, but may be applied each hour. Also, it is important that you do not apply the ice directly to the skin. Instead, wrap the ice pack in a paper towel or thin damp cloth prior to applying to the injured area.

Heat Therapy

When using heat we strongly recommend that you use moist heat.  The use of moist heat is effective in treating conditions that are more chronic in nature. It is not recommended that heat be used within the First few days or weeks of a new injury, especially when any signs of swelling are present. The best forms of heat are in the form of a warm bath/shower or a moist heating pad. Avoid "dry" heating pads, as they can promote additional swelling and inflammation.