Day: June 3, 2012

CHIROPRACTIC FOR ACUTE BACK PAIN

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Acute or sudden onset back pain can be due to a number of causes. It’s easier than you think to sprain or strain the tendons, muscles and ligaments that support the spine, especially if we are out of shape. While sports injuries are common, sudden onset back pain may also be a result of just bending over to pick something up off the floor.

Weakened muscles may suddenly go into spasm from performing the simplest movements. If you have a sedentary lifestyle or are carrying a few extra pounds, that can weaken the structure supporting the back, which can lead to acute back pain. If your spinal discs, ligaments and muscles are chronically unbalanced, it can lead to a misalignment in your spine and create the perfect conditions for sudden onset back pain.

Another common cause of acute back pain is a vertebral compression fracture due to osteoporosis. This type of fracture can happen at any time, even simply from sneezing, coughing, or rolling over in bed, if the osteoporosis is sufficiently advanced. Acute back pain usually follows a vertebral compression fracture. This pain usually lasts for four to six weeks, when it becomes a more chronic type of aching pain.

Chiropractic therapy has been proven to be an effective tool in treating and reducing acute back pain, and does so in a safe and cost-effective manner. Conventional medical treatment has not been as successful; in fact, federal research agencies recommended that adults with acute lower back pain first seek treatment using spinal manipulation, as it is safe, effective and requires no drugs.

A study published in “The Spine Journal” in December, 2010, found that patients had positive results after treatment with chiropractic manipulation, as opposed to no improvement in the control group treated with pain medication and physical therapy. The researchers reported that after 16 weeks, “78% of patients in the group were still taking narcotic analgesic medications either on a daily basis or as needed. The chiropractic manipulative therapy is associated with significantly greater improvement in condition-specific functioning.”

So if you find yourself suffering from sudden onset back pain, consult your chiropractor, who can determine the cause of your pain and provide safe, effective tretment, so it doesn’t become chronic.

ALLERGY SEASON SURVIVAL TIPS

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While many look forward to spring and its abundance of flowers, for allergy sufferers it’s more likely to be a season of stuffy noses, sneezing and itchy, watery, irritated eyes. For some symptoms may also include sore throats and headaches. Fortunately, there are things you can do about this.

Find out the source of your allergy. An allergist can pinpoint the plants and pollen causing your sensitivity.

Avoid the outdoors. During allergy season spend as much time as possible indoors, especially in the mornings and on warm, dry, windy days, when pollen counts are the highest. If you normally run in the park, consider joining a gym for the spring and run on a treadmill.

Wear a hat outdoors and wash your hair often. Hair is a magnet to pollen; wash your hair when you go to bed so there’s no transfer onto your pillow. If you normally use gels or sprays, avoid them during allergy season. They are “pollen magnets”.

Wash your linen and clothes more often. And when you do, don’t hang them outside to dry. They just pick up pollen from the air.

No window fans. Use an air conditioner or “recirculate” setting. The fan will just take the pollen in the air and spread it around.

Use a saltwater nasal spray. 1 tsp of table salt with 8 oz of water used twice a day can help wash allergens out of your nasal passages.

Eat allergy-fighting foods. Foods rich in Vitamin C – oranges, broccoli, grapefruit, kale, brussels sprouts, green tea, berries, apples.

Sniff the RIGHT flowers. YES to periwinkles, gladiolus, iris, begonias, orchids and bougainvilleas. NO to daisies, sunflowers, zinnias, dahlias, chrysanthemums, lilies, gardenias, narcissus, and star jasmine.

Your dog! Wash his feet off when he comes in. Pet dander can also trigger, so bathe your pets often and wash their bedding when you wash your own.’

Leave your shoes by the door. Avoid strong fragrances. Wear movie-star sunglasses – the larger the better. Helps keep pollen from being blown into your eyes..