Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Common Causes of Neck Pain

You never know when you might have a new pain in the neck - you wake up from a nap or you move in a seemingly harmless way, and all of a sudden, you feel a twinge. Neck pain is, as implied by the expression, at least an annoyance if not an outright miserable experience. Especially as it relates to muscular issues (which account for a good number of neck pain cases), the pain can descend suddenly and stick around for an inordinate amount of time. This is particularly true if you don’t get the right kind of treatment. At Living Well Medical in NYC, we deal with neck injuries and pain of all types, so we’re familiar with most causes. Here we’ll be discussing a couple of them. Of course, if you have questions, we’re here to answer them.

Muscle injury/tension

Those of us who are very active or have jobs that require strenuous activity will perhaps be familiar with neck pain from a muscle injury. Repetitive motions can overtax muscle tissue causing pain and inflammation. With neck pain, it usually is indicated by difficulty with a certain range of motion.

Injuries of this type can typically be treated with manual therapies like physical therapy, Active Release Techniques, the Graston Technique, and/or chiropractic.

Herniated Spinal Discs

Neck pain because of a herniated disc is a much different affair than a muscle problem. Pain is of a different variety, shooting and burning, sometimes extending out into the arms and upper back. It tends to be much more severe, although that is a case by case thing.

In order to be sure you have a herniated disc, MRIs and nerve tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

Spinal disc herniation often requires a more multidisciplinary approach to get the best results. One of the staples of treatment in our office is spinal decompression with the DRX9000, a cutting edge non-surgical technology specifically designed for the relief of pain related to herniated discs.

As a practice that focuses on pain relief, neck pain is one of the most common problems we see. If neck pain has been a problem for you and just won’t go away, give us a call. We have experience treating just about any kind of pain. Call us today at 212-645-8151 and come on in. We’re here to help.

- Dr. Shoshany, NYC Chiropractor

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Getting Treated for a Herniated Disc

A herniated disc is a pain unlike anything else. To say it completely interrupts your life is a total understatement. To say it can be absolute misery is perhaps too bluntly saying it like it is. The main point is, for people suffering with a herniated disc, getting relief is nearly the only thing on their minds. At Living Well Medical in NYC, we’ve been helping people find lasting relief and even go back to being pain-free for years, and we do it without surgical intervention.

Herniated disc treatment programs at our New York office generally involves many different facets to improve overall wellness. Changes in nutrition and diet, physical therapy to improve muscle stability, chiropractic to adjust the spinal alignment, acupuncture to relief pain and stress, and a wealth of other soft tissue techniques like massage and Active Release can all constitute a full pain relief program at Living Well Medical. However, a major component that contributes to lasting benefits is spinal decompression therapy.

This therapeutic device is relatively new as a treatment for herniated, bulging or prolapsed discs, but the results it has achieved have pushed it to right near the top of the non-surgical back pain treatment list.

By applying closely monitored and computer-regulated amounts of stretch to the spine in the areas of herniation/bulge, pressure on the injured discs can be relieved, allowing them to pull badly needed nutrients and fluids into themselves. In so doing, damaged disc structures may be repaired and pain relieved. The device allows patients to lie down and relax during treatment; many even fall asleep during a typical treatment session.

The advancements in non-surgical pain relief like spinal decompression therapy have enabled us to help people in numbers we were not able to before. If a herniated disc is at the core of your pain, contact our office @ 212-645-8151 and ask about spinal decompression. We want to help you stop the pain.

- Dr. Shoshany, NYC Chiropractor