The Benefits Of Chiropractic Care For Sufferers Of Compression Fracture

It can happen to anyone who experiences a car accident or an unfortunate slip, but for a contact sports athlete, the possibility of compression fracture is something of a clear and present danger, especially football players or those who compete in mobile sports. Unfortunately, the signs aren't always obvious. Sometimes it’s easy to chalk the discomfort up to the normal aches and pains one will usually experience after heavy exercise. Any athlete is advised to have a regular physician and to get regular checkups to make sure that any health problems are caught early on while they’re still manageable. One sign of spinal injury that you might not expect would be pain in the kidneys and darkly colored urine. This is usually a sign of little more than some kidney damage that will heal on its own, but can also have its roots in lower back compression fracture, so any abnormality in the body is a good enough reason to talk to a doctor, as seemingly minor injuries might actually be signs of something much more serious. Of course, this advice doesn't just apply to athletes, but rather, anyone who experiences seemingly minor health problems, because you never know when a small problem is just a symptom of a bigger problem.

Luckily, compression fractures of the posterior area don’t usually develop into more serious problems and the physician or chiropractic care professional probably won’t recommend much more than some over the counter painkillers and a bit more rest than usual.

If a compression fracture affects up to 25% of the vertebral body height, then chiropractic care should almost certainly be employed. Patients suffering from such injuries are considered stable and don’t have much to worry about beyond the expected discomforts, but attention must be given nonetheless. Experienced complete chiropractic care professionals will recommend stretches and exercises to keep the healing process on track and prevent the atrophy of muscular tissue.

With compression fractures that affect between 25% and 50% of the vertebral body height, the severity of the injury is a clinical decision. Beyond 50%, more drastic measures may need to be taken and time is of the essence. If the injury is still new, the patient can recover completely by undergoing a procedure known as ‘vertebroplasty’. This is a minimally invasive method wherein a needle enters the spinal column and applies a kind of cement that will seal the fractures. After this procedure, the doctor may recommend recuperative therapy with a chiropractic care professional to ensure that the rehabilitation process goes smoothly. If neglected, though, these injuries can get worse over time through little more than regular daily activity and never heal properly, possibly requiring expensive, high risk, invasive surgery and pricey medicine.

Chiropractic Care As A Possible Treatment For Migraines

Perhaps one of the most important amongst literally hundreds of stress relief benefits chiropractic care can offer would be what treatment can do for headaches and migraines. A migraine headache can be accompanied by visual and gastro intestinal-disturbances, both of these can improve with the aid of chiropractic cause. The cause of migraines remains unknown, but most experts agree that it probably stems from a problem with cranial blood circulation, or blood not flowing evenly to and from the skull.

Not only has complete chiropractic care been shown to be the safest and least expensive of migraine treatments, in many cases it is the only treatment available. While some studies have linked certain types of chiropractic adjustments to an increased possibility of suffering a stroke, it should be noted that getting rid of strokes drastically reduces that risk. Even with the minimal risks involved, chiropractic care is inarguably the safest way to deal with migraine and associated problems. Alternative treatments for migraines may include heavy medication or trepanation, the latter of which is certainly not recommended and isn’t recognized as a legitimate medical procedure by most professionals in the field.

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a newly classified form of migraine, suspected to be related to genetic disorders or inherited from the parents. It is only one of many different types of migraines, though. Other types of migraine include basilar artery migraine (BAM) this is a type of migraine associated with such visual disturbances as vertigo, as well as decreased hearing and decreased levels of consciousness. There may be a connection between BAM migraines and epilepsy, though there is still research to be conducted before this link can be considered conclusive. For BAM, unfortunately, chiropractic care will only aid in improving the senses and blood flow to the brain, as there is, as of this writing, no known treatment for the condition, though sufferers are recommended to avoid medication that would decrease blood flow to the skull.

Coital migraines involve headaches experienced during orgasm or intercourse thanks to the build up of pressure in the vertebral venous plexus (VVP) during intercourse. This affects the posterior circulation of the brain and can result in migraines. A chiropractic care professional will likely recommend proper exercise, diet and pre-coital stretching to combat and prevent this problem.

While, again, the exact cause of a migraine has yet to be determined to any significant degree, there is definite negative correlation in the amount of blood flowing easily to and from the brain and the occurrence of migraines. The goal of chiropractic care in the treatment of migraines is to prevent them by stimulating proper communication through the spine and nervous system and to address the accessory effects of a migraine (gastro-intestinal, vision related, blood flow, etc).

The Sometimes Unexpected Benefits Of Chiropractic Care

Everyone has at least a rough idea of what a chiropractor does (ask most people and they’ll at least say ‘that’s a bone doctor, right?’) and so, the benefits of chiropractic care are sometimes obvious. There’s no doubt that someone with an injured knee will, more often than not, find their condition improving after sufficient treatment and therapy are given by a professional in the field of chiropractic care. The benefits of chiropractic care go a little deeper than that, though. A person in need of chiropractic attention might not just be someone with an obvious physical injury, aching joints or a misaligned spine, there are also potential benefits for seemingly unrelated conditions and ailments such as poor eyesight or gastrointestinal maladies.

Many chiropractic professionals find themselves in the fortunate position of telling a surprised or even worried patient that yes, it is normal to experience certain changes that one might not list as being one of the benefits of chiropractic care. In the late 1990s, a study was conducted and reported in The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Interviewers each surveyed twenty consecutive patients who had just received treatment from 87 Swedish chiropractic professionals. Of the 1,504 patients, 26% were finding it easier to breath, 25% felt their gastrointestinal system had improved, 14% found their eyesight improving and 14% claimed improvements in blood flow and heart rate.

For the uninitiated, the results seemed to have been merely perceived by the patients, something of a placebo effect, but chiropractic professionals were left unsurprised. The benefits of chiropractic care are felt first by the nervous system and musculoskeletal system, including the spine, so it stands to reason that, once the body’s main network is set to function properly, it’s only natural that other areas will follow suit, as every piece of the human body relies on a healthy spine and nervous system.

This is not to say that the benefits of chiropractic care are omnipotent, of course. We all know that every field of medicine and therapy has its limits, and a capable professional will know these limits and recommend a patient to another professional with the right qualifications should their needs be beyond what chiropractic care can provide for. Still, the fact that some patients will come out of their first chiropractic session and enthusiastically (and sometimes wrongly) recommend every one of their friends, regardless of the ailment, to their chiropractor, should serve as evidence of just how far the benefits of complete chiropractic care can reach. Chiropractic care is not ‘The Answer’, but it is surprisingly effective for areas of the body reaching well beyond the back and joints.

Considering Alternative Chiropractic Care For Neck Pain

Besides, of course, sudden, violent trauma to the neck, injury can alternatively be caused by prolonged minor abuses, such as incorrect posture or neglecting to stretch before heavy physical activity, or even something as seemingly harmless as an uncomfortable chair or mattress. An injury along the neck can result in not only pain, discomfort and limited mobility of the neck, but seemingly unrelated issues thanks to poor communication through the nervous system and limited blood flow. These issues may include troubles with vision or hearing, headaches and limited mobility of the rest of the body.

Complete chiropractic care might seem the obvious choice for anyone suffering from neck pain, however, the practice is still considered an alternative form of care by many professionals in the medical and insurance industries. A chronic neck pain sufferer will probably be recommended prescription drugs, physical therapy or even surgery, long before anyone brings up the possibility of safe, cost-effective chiropractic care as a solution. It is advised to mention the possibility of meeting with a chiropractor when discussing the problem with your physician. Of course, many family doctors are as distrusting of chiropractic care as anyone and someone seeking a capable solution for their neck pain may be stuck having to find a competent chiropractor all on their own as the alternative may be more expensive, painful, time consuming and less effective.

Contrary to popular belief, chiropractic care of the neck does not involve any dangerous twisting, jerking or yanking on the head and further injury is not a common result of chiropractic neck care. Chiropractic patients are thoroughly diagnosed by the doctor to determine exactly what area of the neck needs adjustment, there is no element of the random or any kind of trial and error involved in this treatment, chiropractic care is as professional and exact as any alternative method of treatment may prove. If delivered by a trained professional, chiropractic care is not going to cause further injury or paralysis or anything of the sort.

There is a common myth that chiropractic care of the neck is painful. On occasion, some slight discomfort may be experienced, but this is usually caused by the injury itself and the swelling and soreness that indicate that it is improving. Chiropractors will recommend daily exercises and stretching routines to help alleviate this strain. The need to adhere strictly to the chiropractor’s recommended exercise routine can’t be stressed enough, alternatively, you can neglect these exercises, relying solely on the adjustment, and seeing minimal, rather than full recovery from a neck injury.

The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Chiropractic Care

Before making any major decision, there should always be the process of weighing the pros and the cons. It is only common sense that something as important as your health isn’t a decision to be made lightly. Chiropractic care is no exception and for all the health problems it can solve, there are several it will prove ineffectual against. Below you will find the advantages and disadvantages of chiropractic care listed, hopefully giving a clear idea of the limits and abilities of chiropractic care.

The Advantages of Chiropractic care:

Chiropractic care is non-invasive. Surgery on the joints will involve cutting, stitching and anesthetic, often for problems that could’ve been solved by external manual manipulation by a competent chiropractor.

Chiropractic care is relatively quick and inexpensive. Where a lot of medical fields rely heavily on expensive equipment and pricey prescription medicine, chiropractic care professionals use little more than their hands, keeping costs down, and all but the most serious musculoskeletal issues might be handled over just a few chiropractic care sessions.

Chiropractic care is effective on not just the musculoskeletal system, but on everything dependent upon the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. In fact, the first instance of chiropractic care in the United States was in the late 19th century, involving a patient who was complaining, not of joint or spinal aches and pains, but of deafness. His hearing troubles were cured by a chiropractor who subsequently established his own successful practice.

The Disadvantages of Chiropractic care

It may seem that chiropractic care can do just about anything and while it is certainly versatile, there is a disadvantage in that it is also limited as it can’t address problems as severe as surgery as medicine can correct. Chiropractic care works best as a preventative measure and as a means of correcting minor to moderate irregularities in the musculoskeletal system and related areas of the body. Intensive tissue damage, injury and disease are a little beyond what chiropractic care can solve, though chiropractic care shouldn’t be ruled out as a recuperative measure after appropriate treatment has taken place.

Some patients consider chiropractic care to be addictive. Where other methods of treatment work slowly, over time, chiropractic treatment can be immediate. The popping sound a chiropractic patient hears and the immediate added mobility makes for a kind of viscerally pleasing effect and some patients wind up becoming pseudo-hypochondriacs, looking for excuses to go back to the chiropractor’s office just because the process is so sensually satisfying.

Armed with the above list of advantages and disadvantages, it should be easy to determine whether or not to talk with your doctor about the possibility of seeking complete chiropractic care.