Pregnancy pain- Below the belt!
One of the most common pains during pregnancy is usually not complained about. Most, if not all, pregnant women experience pain or stretching just below the belt line and a few inches to either side. It will act like a catching or stretching pain in the morning while trying to roll over or sit up. This is Round Ligament pain.
The round ligament is attached from the uterus to the anterior (or front) abdominal wall. It starts out relatively small, but grows dramatically and will be much larger and longer by the end of pregnancy. It grows to be able to keep up with the growing size of the uterus. While the uterus grows the round ligaments can become very taut (or stretched) and cause a catching sensation when trying to move. Most women excuse this a ‘normal pregnany pain’ and just accept that it will go away after they deliver. They are correct in that it is normal, but there is help to reduce that pain or discomfort as well as avoiding the consequences for having those ligmanets become too tight.
So why is it a good thing to help those ligaments relax? Because those ligaments can be the source of low back pain! If they are tight it can cause additional tension inside the pelvis and may result in intrauterine constraint. In some cases this may contribute to improper fetal (baby) position for birth. When these ligaments are allowed to relax there is less stress on the uterus and low back pain can be reduced or eliminated.
If you are pregnant and are experiencing any pain- even if you think it is ’normal pregnancy pain’- please contact our office to schedule an appointment. We have amazing discounts for first time pregnancy patients and would love to explain to you how we can be of assistance to you- not only through our treatment, but also with education and home care advice. We specialize in pregnancy chiropractic care and are certified with the Webster Technique which focuses on the pelvis.
Our office is in Draper, Utah just off of 12300 south. Call 801-810-4144 to schedule an appointment! Don’t forget to ask about our first time patient discounts!
Posture During Pregnancy
There is little information published that can help pregnant women to understand more fully what proper posture is during pregnancy. Is it best to remain seated? Should comfort be the ultimate goal? Do I have to endure low back or midback pain? Am I going to have to endure poor sleep throughout pregnancy? We have answers and hope for all these questions.
Seated, standing, and lying down each have recommended postures or positioning that can help decrease pain and allow the body to function optimally.
- Seated: avoid maintaining a semi-sit position (leaning back or slouching) in a chair or soft seat. For some, if this position is frequented it may actually be the cause of low back pain or even a complicating factor with improper fetal position (breech). When sitting this way the sacrum – the portion of the pelvis in the posterior- is pressed or jammed and results in increased stress on the SI joint. This joint is the common offender for pregnancy back pain. Instead find a chair or seat that gives strong support of the back and encourages proper posture in the lumbar region.
- Standing: the position to avoid here is ‘hip sinking.’ This is the common position assumed when standing for any extended period of time. It is best described as leaning to one side with the hips allowing the pelvis to tilt sideways. This is another major culprit of low back pain. Try to maintain even weight from side to side. If this is difficult continue to move around by walking.
- Laying Down: Because the time spent on the back during pregnancy must be limited the recommendation is to lay on the side. To avoid any rotation in the lumbar spine or pelvis a firm pillow placed between the legs is needed. This will along the spine and pelvis to maintain structural integrity while decreasing stress on the joints. Finally, it is best to avoid any maintained posture whenever possible. Do not sit for longer than 20-30 minutes. Try not to stand for any longer than 30 minutes either. The best solution for this- walking. Mild, relaxing motion will help to balance the muscles and keep structure optimal. Avoid climbing stairs too often as this will increased strain on the SI joint.
If you are experiencing pain during your pregnancy please know that there are options for you. Receiving chiropractic care from a pregnancy certified physician during pregnancy is safe, gentle, and effective and can provide you with additional resources that birthing professionals don’t often provide. Also, there are additional benefits to receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy outside of simple pain relief- including improved sleep, improved mobility, and decreased labor and delivery times. Call 801-810-4144 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Reynolds.
Severe Upper Back Pain
Sever upper back pain is very limiting. Most patients who report this type of problem usually are unable to work and frequently have difficulty driving to our office. The term ”paralyzing” has even been used to describe this type of pain. The good new? It is commonly not a serious injury or condition and many patients report significant reduction is pain with one visit to our office. Occasionally upper back pain can be related to more serious conditions, but it usually is a simple rib joint dysfunction. For our purposes we are going to address the most common source of upper back pain.
This type of severe upper back pain begins almost spontaneously with stabbing pain located just to the side of the spine and in between the shoulder blades. This occurs when a rib joint is dysfunctional- meaning that where it attaches to other bones (vertebra in the back, sternum in the front) the joint can not move or function the way it is supposed to. Common reasons for this dysfunction are muscle imbalance, poor posture, certain unguarded movements, or even just strain from repetitive improper motion.
What can we do about it?
By adjusting the rib, vertebrae, and other joints the dysfunction will be reduce and proper motion restored. Some muscle therapy may be required to improve healing time. And most importantly a full examination of the structures involved should be completed in order to isolate the exact cause in each individual patient. Once we have identified the source of the problem we can help the patient make the corrections (minor or major) in order to prevent the problem from recurring.
How many visits will it take to eliminate the pain from one particular episode?
Usually the first adjustment provides significant pain relief. We often recommend 2-3 treatments to optimize healing time and give us opportunity to educate the patient on how to avoid the problem again. This amount of treatment will also help us to identify other potential causes that could result in other problems in left untreated.
If you currently have sever upper back pain please contact our office to schedule an appointment. We create our schedule to allow for same day appointments and often we are able to get you in for treatment within a few hours. Call 801-810-4144 to schedule.
Natural Relief For Joint Pain- Cold Laser
Are you looking for natural relief for joint pain? Do you endure pain just to be able to function at a minimal level? Do you avoid activities that you love because the pain just is too excruciating? Have you tried to find relief but haven’t found anything that is worth the side effects? We have good news for you- There may be a new treatment for you to try. Cold laser therapy is a fantastic way to find joint pain relief. It is based upon adding light or energy to each individual cell helping it to function at a healthier state. This therapy enjoys a wide range of benefits.
First, it has no significant side effects when properly applied. “Cold” laser means that it does not create heat inside the tissues it is targeting. This prevents it from incurring inflammation. Additionally, it doesn’t simply hide the pain, but helps the area to heal faster by providing it with energy. In our opinion, this therapy is vastly superior to any synthetic drug or surgery due to its natural effects. In addition, this therapy is affordable and can be applied to almost any condition other than to the eye or thyroid gland.
Cold laser therapy has been tested for use on neck pain, carpal tunnel pain, and for plantar fascists to name a few. For each of these and many more conditions it has seen great results with no side effects. For some this therapy is a fantastic, conservative and natural alternative to surgery. It can reduce pain, help tissues to heal, and avoid any damage to the liver, stomach, blood stream, or any other body system. These organs and systems are allowed to function without interference and may actually be improved.
There are different types of cold lasers on the market today. Some of the brands have specific wavelengths that have been tested to provide specific benefits- neurological improvement, superficial tissue healing, and decreased inflammation. The laser therapy we provide includes two different laser wavelengths which optimize pain relief and tissue healing in one treatment. We combine this treatment with our chiropractic care to provide patients with the best possible pain relief.
For a treatment to be successful it not only needs to provide pain relief, but it also must provide that relief in a long-lasting manner. When chiropractic care is used in conjunction with cold laser therapy we are more likely to see that relief being enjoyed for a long period of time. This is due to our approach of finding the source of the pain, along with its contributing factors. This not only provides relief, but corrects the cause of the condition and prevents recurrence.
If you are interested in natural relief for joint pain consider cold laser therapy. Chiropractic adjustments supplemented with cold laser therapy have a very high success rate at pain relief and elimination. Contact our office to schedule a no charge consultation with Dr. Reynolds to answer any questions you might have concerning this treatment of any other treatments that we can offer. Call 801-810-4144 to schedule today.
How To Relieve Neck Pain
Let’s talk about how to relieve neck pain. Neck pain is a common complaint after a motor vehicle collision. It is also a common concern among football players and other athletes. Some individuals think that their best solution is to receive massage therapy. Although this can be a very helpful therapy other structures besided the muscles are likely involved. The source of the neck pain needs to be addressed. This commonly includes a complete analysis of the spinal curve of the cervical spine. If trauma has occurred each structure should be evaluated for injury- ligaments, discs, nerves, joints, and muscles.
Ligaments attach bone to bone. They are structured to provide stability and do not receive much blood flow. As such, if they are damaged they generally do not heal as quickly as other structures, such as muscles. Ligaments are often involved in any trauma injury because they are so important for stability and are positioned to support. If lagaments are injured it is referred to as a sprain.
Discs are similar in that they are positioned between each vertbrae and act as shock absorbers. They have a higher rate of blood flow, but do not possess strong abilities to heal. If the discs have been damaged it often effects the nerve root that travel through the spinal column and exit at each vertebral level. Often when discs are damaged and no care provided they can become the source of pain and nerve endings will actually begin to innervate the damaged tissue resulting in pain sensation being reported to the brain.
Muscles are like ligaments in that they are almost always effected with neck trauma. They are also likely involved when the problem is postural or related to injury. Muscles also support the skeletal structure. There is high blood flow through muscular tissues which allows for quicker healing time than most tissues, although the process can still be very painful. If treated properly recovery speed can be increased.
Damage to joints of the spine can be very painful. The worst thing for a joint is to stop moving. When this occurs the joint begins to degenerate and make it more difficult to maintain function. When examining the cervical spinal joints it is also important to note that a range for proper curvature exists. If the curve is significantly decreased or even reversed the neck will be more susceptible to injury and symptoms such as pain or discomfort. Muscle pain will also be present as one of the responsibilities of the muscles is to protect against further injury by strengthening the area. If muscles are relaxed without addressing the issue of the spinal structure the pain may increase instead of resolve.
All of these structures- ligaments, discs, joints, and muscles abenefit from receiving chiropractic care.
The best way to relieve neck pain is to receive chiropractic adjustments. Then , follow up with an analysis of daily neck health habits. The effects of a chiropractic neck adjustment are many. First, they can restore proper motion at each segment. Additionally, inhibitory neurons fire to help reduce or alleviate the pain. Muscles also are affected by adjustments in that they reflexively relax.
When evaluating the neck, stress must also be analyzed. This includes physical, chemical, and emotional stress. Physical stress can include posture and positioning while standing, seated, and lying down. The emotional stress component is also very important when addressing neck pain. This can greatly affect pain levels.
So what is the best answer for the questions how to relieve neck pain? First, contact our office to schedule an appointment. We will walk with you through a complete history of your condition and establish a treatment plan that you can take part in and that will help you to find relief from pain and increased health. 801-810-4144.
Natural Joint Pain Relief
Natural joint pain relief is something that is searched for frequently in our society. Many people continue to try new pharmaceutical products or nutritional supplements that claim to have fantastic results, just to find out months or years later that those products were harmful and full of side effects that could be life altering. Here we will address truly natural ways to find joint pain relief.
So what is natural? The easiest, but sometimes non-definitive definition is “a compound that can be found in nature.” This would preclude anything that is created synthetically in a laboratory setting, such as pharmaceuticals. There can be value utilizing pharmaceuticals for pain relief, but this article is focused on finding pain relief without the need for such substances.
Natural pain relief is one of the many benfits of chiropractic care. Chiropractic has seen many miracles in its history. There have been many recent studies to try to understand exactly what the chiropractic adjustment provides as far as pain relief. We are just now beginning to understand the science and biology involved in the natural pain relief that chiropractic provides. How about side effects? Very few. The most common side effect of chiropractic care is discomfort or soreness. This usually last for a few hours, if at all, then subsides. The process of being adjusted is very natural and can provide significant pain relief for joint pain sufferers.
So why chiropractic? The worst, most unhealthy thing that can happen to a joint is lack of motion. If a joint does not move properly for long periods of time- say for weeks or months- it may provide its owner with significant pain. As a joint stops moving it begins to lose its ability to move and degeneration begins. The most effective way to restore health to that joint, and thereby provide natural pain relief, is to restore proper motion.
Most patients who enter our office never having received chiropractic care leave with a smile and with significantly decreased levels of pain. This is such a wonderful experience for us because these patients initially show such apprehension before treatment. During their first few visit patients frequently comment on how much better they feel and tell us they wish they would’ve come in sooner. During those same visits we offer patients an overview of chiropractic, its philosophy, and our approach to a natural pain relieving process. We also show how we can not just provide pain relief, but how we can help patients on their way to optimal health and wellness.
One of the most vital portions the treatments we provide is home care. Health involves more than simply coming in for treatment or care. It involves certain activities that a patient may need to add or eliminate from their lifestyle or activities of daily living (ADL’s). This will help optimize the care you receive during your visits.
Other sources of natural joint pain relief include massage, essential oils, changes in diet, and moderate exercise. Most of this can be included in your visit to a chiropractor. Contact us today and schedule an appointment to find your natural joint pain relief. 801-810-4144.
How To Relieve Neck Pain From Sleeping
What is the trick on how to relieve neck pain from sleeping? The answer is in the question: sleep habits. We spend almost one-third of our lives sleeping, but we rarely put any sort of priority on our sleep habits. This includes sleep equipment (mattress, pillow, etc.), bodily posture or positioning, as well as approach to sleep (time allowed, routines, etc.).
As a chiropractic physician, I consult with patients daily about their lifestyle habits and preferences. I find that there is a definite correlation between neck pain and poor sleep habits, the easiest to identify being preferred sleeping position. Admittedly, it is easier and much more common to find ways to alleviate neck pain by improving posture while awake, sleeping posture must be addressed if the pain relief is going to be long lasting.
Let’s look at different sleep positions, their benefits, and their potential shortcomings.
- Sleeping on the back: This is a preferred position due to the uncomplicated nature of the spine and its curvature. If the neck is supported with an above average pillow ans the low back isn’t susceptible to stress this position might suit you well on almost any occasion.
- Side-sleeping: This is another good choice for healthly sleepers, but requires additional equipment. With the assistance of a pillow placed between the knees this posture allows for high levels of comfort. By placing the pillow between the knees the possibility of rotation in the lumbar spine (or low back) is diminished. One tendency with this position is to sleep with one arm under the head, which is not recommended and is not considered optimal for the shoulder or the neck. This positioning may create compression on the structures of the shoulder leading to numbness, tingling, or even weakness in the arm or hand. A supportive pillow is advised to help avoid this pitfall.
- Stomach-sleeping: Those who sleep in this position can experience neck pain, arm pain, low back pain, and more difficulties breathing at night. I have also found that those who prefer this position often find it extremely challenging to change this habit. If you sleep on your stomach and have yet to experience any neck or low back problems do not assume you are out of the woods here. Sometimes pain doesn’t express itself until after additional stress has been added. By then it may be much more difficult to change your sleeping position.
So how do you relieve neck pain from sleeping. First address your sleep habits. In our office, we can help walk you through this process by asking certain questions and evaluating your neck to see what is causing certain issues.
The next step in relieving neck pain from sleeping is to seek corrective care. Once you identify the problem it is time to fix it. We provide each patient with an in depth treatment plan which includes exact diagnoses, frequency of visits, modalities (treatment types) to be done during each visit, home care, useful recommended products, and treatment outcome markers and goals. These treatment plans target correcting the source of the problem, not just pain relief. Each patient has the option to chose a pain relief treatment plan or a corrective care plan. We strongly suggest to nearly all patients that a corrective care package is the most effective plan because the problem is addressed and corrected. With a pain releif plan sometimes the issue can return if the patient hasn’t completelycorrected lifestyle habits.
Our invitation to you is to setup an appointment with Dr. Reynolds to find out how to relieve neck pain from sleeping and discuss your sleep habits. We can also we can help you make correct changes to your lifestyle which can optimize the benefits of healthy sleep and eliminate all neck pain from sleeping. Call 801-810-4144 to schedule.
Back Pain In The Morning
Have you ever experienced back pain in the morning? Do you wake up and struggle to get yourself out of bed because of pain? Have you tried different ‘miracle remedies’ for back pain but have never found a solution? Don’t give up. There is always hope. Let’s first help you find what the source (or sources) of your pain is, then we can look for solutions.
We need to address your sleeping position, your mattress, your pillow, your sleep habits, and some of your basic everyday habits or lifestyle during the waking portion of your day. You may need to spend a few days paying closer attention to yourself, your habits, and your posture or body positioning to be able to isolate the best possible solution to your back pain in the morning. This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition or disease. It is simply meant to help provide options or solutions that the consumer can contemplate or ask his or her healthcare provider about.
As far as the mattress goes, you may want to try different types of mattresses to find which best suits you. Most mattress sellers allow for a money back trial. Don’t just search for the mattress that feels the softest or most comfortable on first contact. In fact, for ‘bad backs’ we find that firmer mattresses provide much better results. Some of the more popular brands are sleep number, temperpedic, and intellibed. These are sometimes priced higher and you may be able to find an improvement in your sleep by using a less expensive brand.
If your back pain is a lower back issue than consider your sleeping position. If you sleep on your back you may need to better support your lumbar (low back) spinal curve by placing a firm pillow under your knees. This lessens the pressure on the lumbar spine and allows for easier sleep. If you sleep on your side you will need to use that same pillow, but place it between your knees. This will decrease the chances that you are causing a rotation in your lower lumbar vertebrae which may be the source of your morning pain. If you are sleeping on your stomach your first step is to learn how to sleep on your side or your back. Your back and neck with thank you in the long run as this position is very strenuous on all portions of your spine.
The steps listed above are good things to be aware of when trying to overcome back pain in the morning. Yet the most beneficial thing you could do for your pain is to seek chiropractic care. We help our patients address each of these issues as well as inspecting the spine and muscles to help identify what the main issues are. Chiropractic adjustments are also very effective at decreasing pain, increasing mobility, and improving healing. Our office can also provide you with exercises and stretched that reduce back pain, promote spinal health, and empower the patient as to which habits may be helpful and which to avoid. Home care exercises are always included with our treatments. Call 801-810-4144 to schedule an appointment today. Don’t delay your care. You will be glad you spent the effort to help yourself awake refreshed and pain free each day.
Back Pain In Early Pregnancy
One of the most common complaints we hear is back pain in early pregnancy. This can occur in patients who are pregnant for the first time or in women who have had one or more previous pregnancies. For those who have been through pregnancy before this pain is usually not new their first bout with this complaint, but that is not always the case. Either way there is a treatment available which can help to manage the pain or even completely resolve the issue altogether.
When looking for the source of back pain it is important to understand the many changes that occur in the body during pregnancy. Hormones have an enormous impact on the entire system. The one that is most influential with back pain is Relaxin. As you may have guessed, this hormones effect is to loosen the ligaments of the body, particularly in the pelvis, to prepare for labor and delivery. As a result, those joints that depend heavily on the ligaments may be weakened and more susceptible to biomechanical or physical stresses.
The most common place for this to express itself is the sacroiliac or SI joint. This joint is found at about the waist line on the back and includes two bony landmarks that can readily be felt on either side of the spine. If you have experienced back pain in early pregnancy and have been able to point directly to one of these two points it is highly likely that you have SI pain. There exist a few popular habits that can contribute to the dysfunction of this joint after relaxin has begun to take effect. All of the following may be habits that seem inconsequential and never have resulted in back pain previously, but remember that the joint is now loosened and preparing for labor and delivery making it less capable of enduring any moderate stressers.
- Leg crossing while seated
- Hip sinking (leaning toward one side while standing- usually seen in mothers carrying children)
- Sitting cross-legged on a flat or soft surface
- Driving a large vehicle in which one leg is constantly being lifted or overused.
So how can we help? Chiropractic has been successful for many years at helping to identify and correct imbalances and stresses on the body. More specifically, our office is certified in the Webster Technique- a technique created specifically for the treatment and management of pregnant women. Here we focus on the entire pelvis, including the sacrum (part of the SI joint) and associated ligaments, in a effort to restore balance, decreased tension and stress, and allow for proper motion.
We have seen fantastic success in helping pregnant women reduce or eliminate low back pain in early, middle, or even late pregnancy. The result of such sucess means that these women see a significant increase in mobility, improved sleep quality and quantity, and enjoy shorter labor and delivery times. In short, they are able to enjoy their pregnancy and can continue to function throughout pregnancy. Let’s face it, life doesn’t slow down or get easier when you become pregnant. Our goal is to help you stay happy and healthy. When you can stay active most of the concerns that can occur during pregnancy can be resolved.
If you are experiecing back pain in early pregnancy contact our office and schedule an appointment with Dr. Reynolds to begin finding relief from your discomfort. We also have no charge consultations to help answer your questions. We have two locations in Salt lake City, Utah and Draper, Utah. Call 801-810-4144 to schedule.
Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction- SPD
“I feel like my body is going to split in two. The pain is almost unbearable. I don’t even want to move.” This is a common expression of a pregnant woman who is experiencing SPD or Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction.
SPD is where the joint of the anterior (or front) of the pelvis isn’t functioning properly. This can occur during pregnancy when the hormone relaxin has taken effect loosening the ligaments of the pelvis to allow for labor and delivery. As the joint loses the support of the ligaments it begins to be susceptible to aberrant motion or painful separation at the joint. When there is misalignment pain occurs and loss of function soon follows. After this pain begins it is difficult to perform such simple tasks as getting in or out of a car or standing up. In fact, any movement might prove painful and difficult.
So how can chiropractic help with SPD? We are Neuromusculoskeletal specialists; we work with the nerves, muscles, and joints. We can help to position the joint correctly and allow for proper movement. By adjusting the joint proper function returns and muscles tone is stimulated via the nervous system. The best way to help reduce the chance of malposition or dysfunction returning is to strengthen the muscles of that region, specifically the leg adductors- those that bring the legs together. These muscles are located on the medial (inner) side of each leg and attach to the pubic rami very close to the pubic symphysis joint. We provide our patients with certain simple exercises that help reduce their pain and allow them to return to normal function. By strengthening this joint and having the joint in proper position most of the discomfort can be avoid or alleviated. It is essential to find a chiropractor who is experienced in pregnancy care, not just one who utilizes the same technique and approach during pregnancy as with any other patient.
Additional benefits of receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy include:
- Pain relief
- Increased mobility
- Improved sleep
- Optimal positioning of fetus
- Shorter labor and delivery time
There are other therapies that can prove very useful during pregnancy. Massage therapy is a great way to help the muscles to stay balanced. We recommend Salt Lake Prenatal Massage to our patients. It is a fantastic clinic and can provide experienced pregnancy massage therapy that is unparalleled.
If you are suffering (and we do mean suffering) from SPD please contact us today to schedule an appointment. We would love to help you get back to normal function. 801-810-4144. We have offices in Draper, Utah and Provo, Utah.
