Muscle Spasms

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A muscle spasm occurs when the muscle tenses up and does not relax. This can result in inflammation, tremors, twitches or throbbing, which is generally uncomfortable and painful.  Muscle spasms are generally caused injury or illness, including:

  • Car accidents
  • Injuries
  • Slip and Falls
  • Dehydration
  • Poor posture
  • Improper neck support
  • Sitting in front of a computer for long periods of time
  • Heat
  • Artery blockages
  • Diabetes
  • Renal diseases

One of the best ways to help prevent muscle spasms is to stretch before engaging in any physical activity including exercise and sports. Once we discover the cause, we can treat muscle spasms using a combination of chiropractic care, massage, trigger point injections, Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) and physical therapy.

Knee Pain

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Knee pain and stiffness is a common condition. The knee is subject to direct force each time you take a step and even when standing in place. The knee acts as a hinge for the leg but is much more complex as it twists and rotates as well. The knee relies on bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage to work together for it to properly function.

A major cause of knee pain is when the fluid filled sack in the knee joint, called the Bursa, loses fluid and eventually causes bone to bone contact resulting in pain. Osteoarthritis is another cause of knee pain.  People with osteoarthritis are encouraged to utilize non-impact methods of exercise such as cycling or swimming.

Knee pain symptoms can vary. Often times the pain can subside on its own within a few days or weeks. Sometimes the pain can become constant or radiate into other body parts, such as the upper back or feet.

Knee Pain Video

Patients with knee pain may experience:

  • Swelling and Stiffness
  • Redness and warmth to the touch
  • Weakness or Instability
  • Popping or crunching noises
  • Limited range of motion
  • Pain with standing, walking or running

Knee pain can be caused by injuries, arthritis, problems with ligaments, tendons or fluid-filled sacs (bursa) that surround the knee joint. Knee pain can also be linked to problems with the cartilage, ligaments and bones that form the joint itself.  Excessive weight, lack of muscle flexibility or strength, sports and previous injuries can also contribute to this painful condition.

Knee pain treatment may include:

Hormone Imbalance

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Hormone imbalances can negatively affect various systems in the body.  There are several types of hormones that can become imbalanced including: estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, thyroid and insulin

Symptoms of low hormones vary with each person and can include:

  • Fatigue
  • Mood swings
  • Low libido
  • Sugar and/or salt cravings
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Weight gain
  • Chronic inflammation
  • Hot flashes

Once we determine what hormones are out of balance, we develop a hormone replacement treatment plan designed to ease symptoms.  We use bio-identical hormones rather than synthetic hormones to help ensure your replacement hormones are of the same molecular make-up.

Fibromyalgia

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Fibromyalgia is a long-term or chronic syndrome associated with a widespread pain in muscles, soft tissues and bones. It can be accompanied by fatigue, interrupted sleep, memory loss and mood swings. Symptoms of fibromyalgia are considered subjective. This means there is no test to determine the cause and is often misdiagnosed for another condition. This exact cause of fibromyalgia is not certain, but factors that may contribute to it include infections, trauma, stress and genetics.

Fibromyalgia is associated with pain and tenderness in muscles, soft tissues and bones. Often these areas of pain or tenderness are called trigger points. A trigger point is a discreet knot or tight, ropy band of muscle that forms when muscle fails to relax. The knot often can be felt under the skin and may twitch involuntarily when touched (called a jump sign). The trigger point can trap or irritate surrounding nerves and cause referred pain — pain felt in another part of the body (e.g., pain from a heart attack that is felt in the jaw or arm). Scar tissue, loss of range of motion, and weakness may form over time.

Patients with fibromyalgia may experience:

  • Fatigue
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Sleeping but not feeling rested
  • Headaches
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Painful menstruation
  • Pins and needles
  • Sensitivity to heat and cold
  • Trouble focusing
  • Pain or dull aching in the lower abdomen

We have various treatments for fibromyalgia including:

Chronic Pain

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Pain is categorized into two types, chronic and acute.  Acute pain generally comes on suddenly.  It is usually caused by something specific such as a cut, burn or broken bone. In most cases, acute pain will go away within a few months.  Chronic pain is ongoing pain usually caused by an injury, disease or condition, can occur anywhere in the body and lasts more than 12 weeks.  AHC helps patients with chronic pain by first identifying its root or source then developing a customized treatment plan.

Ankle/Foot Pain

Ankle and foot pain can range from aching, burning, and tingling sensations to severe chronic pain.  Ankle and foot pain can be caused by a variety of conditions including:

  • Arthritis
  • Bursitis
  • Bone diseases
  • Planter fasciitis
  • Gout
  • Corns
  • Bunions
  • Calluses
  • Warts
  • Injuries
  • Diabetes
  • Tendinitis
  • Nerve damage

AHC has numerous treatment options depending on the type, cause and location of the pain.

Arm Pain

Injuries, joint inflammation, compressed nerves and various other issues can cause arm pain. AHC evaluates the source of the pain then developed a customized treatment plan which may include:

  • Injections (muscles, ligaments and/or joints)
  • Chiropractic care
  • Physical therapy
  • Ice
  • Elevation
  • Rest

Arthritis

Arthritis is painful condition that can affect any joint in the body, including knees, hips, wrists, fingers, toes and ankles.  According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are more than 100 different types of arthritis.  The types we most commonly see in our office are rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.

Arthritis is inflammation of the joint.  This results in symptoms such as:

  • Joint stiffness
  • Chronic pain
  • Sensitivity / pain that intensifies in cold weather
  • Fatigue
  • Joint tenderness and/or redness
  • Nodules on the joint

AHC will develop a comprehensive treatment plan for patients with arthritis which may include chiropractic manipulation, joint injections, prescribed exercise programs, therapies to increase blood flow and other treatments as recommended by our physicians.

Bursitis

Bursae are the fluid-filled pockets located between muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones.  Inflammation of the bursae is referred to as bursitis.  Bursitis can occur in any area of the body. Common symptoms of bursitis include:

  • Joint pain and/or stiffness
  • Pain flare-ups during exercise
  • Stabbing sensation
  • Decreased range of motion

Although the symptoms of arthritis and bursitis are similar, AHC’s physicians can distinguish between the two conditions and develop a customized treatment plan designed to manage and ease pain and symptoms.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition caused when tendon swelling causes the “tunnel” in the wrist to shrink and compress the median nerve.  The most common treatment for carpal tunnel is surgery, which often has a mediocre to poor efficacy. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

  • Numbness that begins in the index finger and/or thumb
  • Sharp, radiating pain
  • Tingling, burning or feeling like “pins and needles” in the fingers and/or hands

Sports that utilize wrist movement (i.e. tennis, golf) and other activities involving repetitive use of the wrist (i.e. typing) can increase risk for carpal tunnel syndrome.  AHC treats carpal tunnel syndrome by reducing swelling, calming the nerve and managing the pain without the use of narcotics.

Disc Herniation

Disc herniation, also known as a bulging disc, is a condition where a disc in the spine essentially ruptures and irritates nearby nerves.  Herniated discs can happen to anyone of any age as a result of trauma to the spine, accidents, poor posture and heavy lifting.  Some patients even report that a sneeze caused their disc to rupture.

We can treat disc herniation with a variety of therapies including chiropractic care, injections, physical therapy and supervised weight loss.

Hand Pain

Hand pain can be caused by numerous conditions including gout, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, Lupus, injuries, cysts, accidents and trauma.  AHC uses a variety of treatments to ease hand pain including:

  • Chiropractic adjustments of the small bones within the hand
  • Chiropractic adjustments of the wrists
  • Injections into tendons, ligaments, joints to reduce inflammation and pain
  • Therapy to strengthen muscles in the hand/wrist
  • Ultrasound therapy to reduce inflammation and pain

Headaches/Migraines

Headaches and migraines can stop a person in his or her tracks.  When headaches and migraines occur on a regular basis, intervention is needed.  AHC uses a combination of therapies to treat people suffering from chronic headaches and migraines, including

  • Stretching and traction
  • Chiropractic care
  • Massage
  • Physical therapy
  • Stress reduction training and techniques

Joint Pain

Joint pain is often very painful and can occur in any joint in the body. It is usually caused by inflammation of part of the joint (i.e. ligaments, tendons, cartilage, bones, muscles, etc.) or the entire joint. We utilize numerous treatments for joint pain including:

  • Chiropractic adjustments
  • Physical therapy
  • Myofascial release
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Joint injections
  • Regenerative treatments
  • Durable medical equipment (i.e. braces)

Joint Pain Video

Leg Pain

Leg pain can result from a number of diseases or conditions, the most common being:

  • Broken bones or fractures
  • Strained muscles
  • Inflammation
  • Nerve damage
  • Blood clots
  • Varicose Veins
  • Sciatica
  • Infections
  • Diabetes

We evaluate leg pain then prescribe appropriate therapies to treat it, including physical therapy, injections, massage, electric nerve stimulation and ultrasound.

Sciatica

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body.  Any type of pressure on the sciatic nerve can cause pain and discomfort from the lower back all the way down to the feet.  The most common causes of sciatica are bone spurs, herniated discs, misaligned spine and spinal stenosis.  Chiropractic care is the most common treatment for sciatica.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is caused by the shrinking of the gaps between the vertebra which compresses the nerve and cause pain and discomfort. Symptoms of spinal stenosis include:

  • Tingling and/or numbness in the back, hip, shoulder or leg areas
  • Muscle weakness and cramping
  • Pain that is worse during activity

Surgery is the most common treatment for spinal stenosis.  However, we believe in prescribing a customized treatment plan that involves a combination of chiropractic, injections and physical therapy to alleviate pain.

Back Pain

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