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 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.
Cold Laser Therapy
We are excited to announce the addition of a new service to our clinic. Cold Laser Therapy (also referred to as Low Level Light Therapy- LLLT) is now available. This service can be received in conjunction with chiropractic adjustments and other therapies or can be experienced without other treatment options.
What does Cold Laser Therapy do? It reduces pain by altering the levels of specific compounds that are active during the inflammation process. It also stimulates the mitochondrion in each cell to increase the production of ATP causing an increase in oxygen delivery and use in the cells. This improvement of biochemistry allows for an increase in overall cell energy and is used to transform live cells from a condition of illness to a healthy, stable state. General therapeutic laser biological effects include increased cell growth, increased metabolic activity, faster wound healing, anti-inflammatory action, increased vascular activity, reduced fibrous tissue formation, and stimulated nerve function.
Cold laser therapy is widely used for treatment of acute and chronic conditions. Below is a short list of conditions that have been shown to be treated successfully with Cold Laser Therapy: (* denotes conditions we have seen in our office)
- Ligament sprains (including ankle sprains)*
- Muscle strain (such as a hamstring or shoulder muscle)*
- Auto Collision injuries*
- Tendonitis*
- Arthritis (rheumatoid & osteoarthritis)*
- Elbow and wrist pain
- Back pain*
- Neck pain*
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Bursitis
- Earaches*
Here are some of the advantages of cold laser therapy treatments.
- Easy to apply
- Extremely safe
- Non-Toxic , Non-Invasive
- Painfree application
- No side effects
- Highly effective in reducing pain (more than 90% efficacy)
- Superior pain relief over analgesics, NSAID’s and other medications
- Significantly reduces the possibility of surgery
If you wish to receive Cold Laser Therapy for any condition please contact our office at 801-810-4144. We would be glad to assess your condition and help identify which treatment options would be optimal for your care and answer any questions you may have. Our office is located in Draper, Utah. We are a chiropractic pain relief clinic.
How Many Visits?
Who hasn’t heard the myth that once you see a chiropractor you’ll have to keep going back for the rest of your life.
Most chiropractic patients arrive at their doctor’s office with months or years of problems. They are in pain and just want to get relief. Most often it hasn’t dawned on them that their condition is a result of months or years of habits, behaviors, and stress that have allowed pain to result. This can even be true when the source of the pain is an acute injury.
Chiropractic is a unique profession. Our philosophies and protocols differ from the traditional allopathic approach. We do not proclaim that all your problems can be cured with a magic little pill. We do not suggest that we go ahead and open you up to see if there is something we can find wrong with you. We much prefer to help you make small changes to lifestyle, posture, or biomechanics that can help result is significant changes.
When determining how many visits or treatments one might need there needs to be an understanding about expected outcomes. Which of the following is your purpose for treatment?
- I want to find out if this pain is serious
- I want pain relief only
- I want to do something I currently am unable to do because of pain/discomfort (i.e. play with kids, golf, ski, sleep)
- I want to be healthy & well
- I want to stay healthy & well
Those who are seeking to be healthy and well and to stay that way will find that chiropractic can be a fantastic source for assistance towards that goal and may seek care throughout their life. Those who simply want pain relief may simply choose to be treated a handful of times. The key here is that the patient determines what their purpose for treatment is.
So, how many visits do you need? You decide. But first, come see how we can help you.
We have offices in Draper, Utah and Salt Lake City, Utah. Call 801-810-4144 to schedule.
Referred Pain
Referred pain is when pain is felt in a different place in the body then where the source of the pain is located. This is very common with the shoulder and neck. A muscle trigger point in a rotator cuff muscle can elicit pain into the forearm and hand. Neck problems can present as pain in the shoulder or arm. Ankle pain may be resulting from a low back issue. The best way to isolate and diagnose the problem is through a physical examination and history. The cause of such pain can be from muscle trigger point (AKA muscle knots), pain from nerve involvement, or pain resulting from other tissue conditions such as adhesions.
Headaches are another good example of this. Some headaches are actually a result of bad posture, causing certain muscles to become overworked and begin to present as headaches. A very common presentation of this is a headache that begins in the base of the skull and starts to creep up the back of the skull to the top of the head. The usual suspects include the suboccipital muscles and have that before mentioned pain referral pattern.
What are the alternatives to seeking chiropractic help? Here are a few options (and explanations why they are less than ideal).
“If I wait long enough maybe it will just go away”
-Pain is an indicator from your body that there is something wrong or out of balance. By ignoring it the condition often worsens. Even if the pain goes away the cause remains. Yes, sometimes pain can be temporary and harmless, but that occurs far less frequently than commonly thought. It’s best to identify the cause before the results have a chance to become devastating.
“I can just take some ibuprofen”
-The holistic response to this is “your pain is NOT an ibuprofen deficiency.” Can over the counter medications be useful? Absolutely. But remember that they should only be used as a functional ‘band aid’ to allow the person to function. They are never the long term solution to bodily pain. My recommendation to patients is to use them only if you are not able to stay active and only for a short period of time.
“I just need to exercise more or get in better shape”
-Physical activity is a fantastic way to help the body heal itself and maintain its own optimal function. There is more to the story here, though. Most people do not perform exercises to perfection. By performing an exercise short of perfection there is an increased chance of injury during and after the exercise. Proper stretching and warmup and are essential for the body to avoid trauma to muscles, joints and ligaments.
So, what should you do if you’re experiencing pain in the shoulder, head, arms, or legs to which you can’t figure out the cause? Contact our office in Draper or in Salt Lake and schedule an appointment for a physical examination and treatment. 801-810-4144.
Low Back Pain Advice
Low back pain is one of the most common complaints seen in a chiropractic office. It is also one of the most common reasons for missing work. Below are some great tips to follow as well as some common pitfalls that individuals fall into when dealing with low back pain. These tips should be used to help avoid aggravation and hopefully manage low back pain until a qualified healthcare provider can be seen. Call 801-810-4144 for a free consultation with Dr. Reynolds at our Draper, Utah office.
- ICE: Apply ice to the low back region. If using an Ice Pack make sure to place 1-3 layers of fabric between the skin and the pack. Use the ice on an 80 minute cycle: 20 minutes on, a full 60 minutes off. AVOID HEAT for the first few days after a low back injury or flare-up. After a few days
heat can be used pre-activity to help improve movement. - 90/90 position: The best position for your back is to lie down on your back with your legs and feet resting on a chair- leaving your hips bent at a 90° angle as well as your knees. This will decrease the pressure on the lumbar spine and provide some relief.
- Anti-inflammatory: Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) is great at helping to reduce acute (short term) inflammation which commonly accompanies low back pain. The side effect of an anti-inflammatory is pain relief, but the reduction in inflammation is much more beneficial to the healing process. This can be used for a few days (following directions on the bottle) without concern- Long term use is discouraged. Do not take more than 800mg at a time. An alternative to Advil is Aleve (naproxen sodium).
- Sleeping Position: the best sleeping position is lying on your back with a pillow under your knees, or lying on your side with a pillow between your knees. Avoid sleeping on your stomach as this places your back into extension and may result in increased pain.
- Avoid greasy/fatty food: A healthy diet can help decrease inflammation and promote healing. It is common for back pain victims to seek comfort foods- pizza, hamburgers, fast food, etc. Try to avoid those foods as they may perpetuate your condition. Also drink plenty of water.
- Keep moving: Walking is a great exercise that may help to alleviate some of the pain. DO NOT PUSH YOURSELF. An easy walk around the block may be the answer to help loosen things up.
- Topical Analgesics: Using a product such as Biofreeze can help decrease pain and allow for activity. This can relax the muscles which are commonly responsible for most of the pain.
- Neutral Pelvis: Be sure to sit, stand, lift, and move with the proper biomechanics. The ‘Neutral Pelvis’ exercise is a great way to train your body how to move properly and avoid aggravating your back pain.
- Stretching: Mild stretching can also alleviate or decrease low back pain.
- Knee to chest: great to use while lying in bed. Also useful while seated on the floor.
- Hamstring: seated or lying down on back with legs in the air.
- Avoid the following: (The activities can be done, but should be modified)
- Standing or sitting for extended periods of time (over 20 minutes). If needing to stand for more time place one foot on something higher like a step. This will reduce the pressure on the low back.
- Crossing your legs while seated (crossing ankles is allowed)
- Repetitive rotating movements- vacuuming, raking, etc.
- Bending forward while rotating (one of the most common causes of low back injury). This is common while doing dishes or laundry, making the bed, or brushing teeth.
- High or thick heeled shoes. These can aggravate the back by increasing extension in the lumbar spine.
