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Forward Head Syndrome

Monday, May 9th, 2011

Individuals experiencing ongoing neck pain and stiffness may be dealing with a common and correctable condition known as forward head syndrome. Also referred to as forward head posture, this condition is usually the result of abnormal, long term neck posture or sudden and intense trauma to the neck. The condition is often under-diagnosed which may result in mistreatment or under-treatment of the condition. When this occurs the problems associated with forward head syndrome will continue to plague the patient. Here we look more closely at this condition and how patients can find relief from the symptoms associated with it.

What Causes Forward Head Syndrome?

Despite the common misdiagnosis of forward head syndrome, this condition is the most common cause of pain in the head, shoulder and neck region. Patients suffering from forward head syndrome usually fall within two categories. The first are patients who have experienced some form of trauma to the affected area. Injuries from car accidents, sporting accidents and other sprains and strains to the neck are common causes of this condition. The second group of people suffering from this condition do so as a result of poor or abnormal neck posture. Poor neck posture is often the result of driving, working on a computer, reading and any number of occupations or hobbies which require constant and long term straining of the neck.

Effects of Forward Head Syndrome

When your neck is not properly supported by your spine, there is automatically more pressure put on other muscles and joints to compensate. Poor posture affects many other areas of your body beyond the area immediately affected. For example, holding your head at an abnormal angle does not just affect your head, neck and shoulders. Your blood pressure, lung capacity, mood and most other functions of your body are affected by poor posture. Whether your poor posture is the result of habitual straining or an unavoidable trauma, the end result is the same; long term pain and unnecessary suffering. Improper diagnosis and failure to treat the condition can lead to a life long battle to ease pain and function normally, with patients often robbed of energy in the process and unable to participate in activities they enjoy.

Treatment for Forward Head Syndrome

There is relief for patients suffering from forward head syndrome. With the proper diagnosis and treatment, patients can correct the problem and eliminate the pain and suffering that is commonly reported. Some of the possible options for patients with forward head syndrome include spinal adjustments, exercises specifically designed to treat the condition and changes which improve the posture. Depending on the severity of the condition and the underlying cause creating the poor posture, one or all of these options may be needed to correct the problem. Regardless of which option or options are used, correcting neck and shoulder posture in the present and future are key to reversing the condition. Without proper posture, the success of other treatments will eventually be lost with the return of pain and other negative side effects from this condition.

Your Tulsa Chiropractor,

Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.

www.MarshallChiropractic.com

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Chiropractic Treatment for Numbness and Tingling

Monday, June 7th, 2010

People who work jobs that involved repetitive motion day after day may tend to experience episode of tingling arms or legs. It is a situation that seems relatively harmless but if let go, can lead to some serious consequences.

What is Paresthesia?

When you experience any type of numbness or tingling, sensations often referred to as ‘pins and needles’ throughout any part of the body, it may be directly linked with your spinal nerves. The sensations of feeling as though your arm or foot has ‘fallen asleep; is medically referred to as paresthesia. Spinal nerves that are pinched or irritated in some manner may be directly related to the tingling or numb sensations you feel through other areas of your body. Generally, the sensations will be felt in specific parts of the body like the tips of fingers or your hand or foot but the nerves can also affect your whole leg or arm area. Tingling and numbness are also caused by other issues such as a misalignment of the vertebral bone, a herniated disk, or spinal stenosis, which is the narrowing of the space from where the nerve leaves the spine.

What Are the Treatment Options?

While some symptoms can be successful alleviated using anti-inflammatory medications or ice treatments, they essentially will not correct the problem. If the numbness or tingling sensations aren’t properly dealt with, the pain will continue to return and each time it will last a bit longer and hurt a bit worse. If left totally untreated, the condition can actually become permanent.

It is important that people who experience numb or tingling in arms, legs, or other areas of the body have the cause of the symptoms diagnosed as soon as possible to prevent the permanence of the condition from setting in. Dysfunction in the nerves can be corrected by correcting the spine to prevent further irritation. A chiropractor will work to restore normal positioning and motion of the spine and bones through proper manipulation. Depending on the diagnosis, different techniques will be used to relieve nerve pressure. In some cases, manipulation will be delayed and a few days of immobility of the neck and spine will be recommended.

What Causes Tingling and Numbness?

There are several issues that can cause numb or tingly sensations in the body. A major injury where the spine has been traumatized is a factor. Having a herniated disk caused by repetitive motion and heavy lifting is also a factor. Spinal degeneration is caused by aging of the spine, when the disks begin to lose water and start collapsing. The added pressure of the disks on nerves can cause numbness and tingles.

How Are Problems Diagnosed?

Licensed medical professionals will ask specific questions about your symptoms and your life style to determine what course they will take for diagnosis. They will also examine your neck and spinal column for mobility issues and pain levels. X-rays or an MRI may be used to show the actual spinal column, disks, and nerves to locate the source of the pressure or irritation. In some situations, the imaging test will not provide conclusive answers about the source of the numbness or tingling and additional testing may be necessary.

It is essential that you see a licensed health care provider for an appropriate diagnosis when your limbs or other parts of your body lose feeling without warning. Even if your lifestyle does not dictate a nerve issue, there could be many factors involved in nerve irritation. The best thing you can do is act fast as the symptoms start so you can find the treatment you need before the condition worsens.

Your Tulsa Chiropractor,

Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.

www.MarshallChiropractic.com

Posted in numbness, numbness and tingling, south Tulsa chiropractor, Tulsa chiropractic, Tulsa chiropractor, tulsa chiropractors | No Comments »

Chiropractic Care and Surgery Prevention

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

Chiropractic is derived from the Greek language. Its meaning is “done by hand.” Chiropractic Care has been around for well over a century and uses the hands to manually manipulate primarily areas of the spine. Chiropractic doctors believe that spinal manipulations release blockage from spinal nerve roots which in turn not only relieves pain, but also helps the body to heal and to prevent all types of illness.

Chiropractic care for years was not recognized by most of the medical community and many people called Doctors of Chiropractic quacks. Over time however, it has begun to be recognized as a viable means to treat back pain and other ailments. Today, chiropractic care is sought out and has become the most popular form of alternative treatment in the United States. Most medical insurance companies now cover chiropractic care and it is not uncommon for Medical Doctors to refer patients to a chiropractor.

One of the most common reasons people visit a chiropractor is for the relief of back pain. Almost 90% of the population will at some point in their life suffer from some type of back pain. There can be a number of reasons for the back pain including injury, pinched nerves, slipped or ruptured discs and so on. Of the people who suffer from back pain, many have severe symptoms causing them to miss work and be in constant pain.

When back pain symptoms are severe, some will look to surgery. Surgery success rate for back problems is however quite low. In fact, so many people who have back surgery relapse that the medical community refers to it as the “failed back surgery syndrome.” Over half of all back surgery patients will have a relapse at some point. Some individuals will relapse within just a few months after surgery while others may have relief for a year or more.

For over a century chiropractic care has provided relief for people with back pain and has helped millions prevent surgery. Pain from all types of back problems, in many cases, can be identified and treated by chiropractic care. From disk hernias, disk protrusions to unknown back pain, chiropractors are able to, in many cases, reduce the pain to manageable levels and even eliminate it. Chiropractic care, unlike other types of back pain relief, gets to the core of the problem and corrects it.

A study published in June 2007 in the Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics Journal showed just how powerful chiropractic care can be. The study was conducted over several years by a chiropractor and a physician who were looking to determine if chiropractic care could indeed help prevent surgery. The results were astonishing and showed that patients who sought out chiropractic care, along with other alternative medicine, had surgery 60% less often than those that did not. They also spent 85% less money on pharmaceuticals.

People considering back surgery should seriously look at the dangers of the surgery and its success rate. Chiropractic care is non-evasive and very affordable. Before undergoing the knife, you may find relief in the trained hands of a chiropractor.

For those individuals who have already gone through the procedure of one or more back surgeries that have failed, and are looking for other alternative to their back pain, consulting with a chiropractor may be a life changing event. Chiropractic care has helped many people who have suffered long term back pain, even those who have already gone through surgical procedures.

When seeking chiropractic care to help prevent surgery, you will most likely be set up on a vigorous treatment plan, at least at first. You may need to make visits to your chiropractor a couple of times a week at the beginning. A good chiropractor will also educate you on simple things you can do to help prevent further injury and pain.

Your Tulsa Chiropractor,

Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.

www.MarshallChiropractic.com

Posted in post surgery chiropractic, post surgery chiropractic care, prevention, south Tulsa chiropractic, south Tulsa chiropractor, surgery, Tulsa chiropractic, Tulsa chiropractor, tulsa chiropractors | No Comments »

Chiropractic Treatment for Scoliosis

Friday, April 9th, 2010

What is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that occurs in close to 5% of the population globally. It is usually diagnosed between the ages of 12 and 16, although adults can also suffer from this condition. If the curvature is left untreated, it will get progressively worse with time, which in turn can lead to further health complications including problems with the heart and lungs and digestive tract and excruciating pain.

Scoliosis can happen anywhere along the spine and is usually accompanied by the vertebrae and rib cage rotating within the body. The reason a curve is formed lower down in the spine is due to a loss of the curve in the neck of the patient. As the curve disappears in the neck area, the rest of the spine and surrounding muscles are left to compensate for carrying your head. Extreme cases of scoliosis can have a curve of 30 degrees and sometimes more.

The exact cause of scoliosis is still unknown, although there are a number of contributing factors. Illness, trauma, injuries, other diseases and even day to day activities like sitting at a computer all day can all precipitate scoliosis in a patient. A great deal of research has also shown that this condition can be passed from parent to child genetically.

How to Treat Scoliosis

Treatment for scoliosis can take one of three forms, or all three depending on the person. Chiropractic treatment, bracing and surgery are the most common forms of treating someone with scoliosis. The goal of all types of treatment methods is to reduce the pain felt by the patient, as well as the curve of the spine.

During bracing, the person suffering from scoliosis must wear a correctional brace at all times. There are different types of braces, but the newer styles are lightweight and flexible. They work by exerting a light resistance on the body, so that the muscles reform and the spinal curve can be reduced. These are best used on children who are still growing, particularly those during their first growth spurt.

The spine is fused to a metal rod to hold it in place during scoliosis surgery. This treatment is usually only recommended for those patients with an extreme deformity or who have had no success with the other methods of treatment. Unfortunately, the rod can corrode over time, so it is likely that part or all of it will need replacing. This is an invasive surgery and many people are trying alternative ways to cure their scoliosis before committing to this procedure.

While the goal of chiropractic treatment for scoliosis is to reduce pain, straighten the spine and improve movement of the body, the ultimate aim is to halt the progression of the disorder and to avoid surgery if at all possible. During a chiropractic treatment, the ligaments and tendons will be loosened, the spine will be re-adjusted and then the muscles will be retrained so that they will hold their correct position. This should lead to better posture in the person, as well as increased flexibility and movement.

Chiropractors use a number of different techniques to treat scoliosis. At all times, a complete history of the scoliosis diagnosis and changes for the better or worse are documented through the use of x-rays. Using and comparing subsequent x-rays of the patient’s spine, the chiropractor can actually measure the curvature of the spine. This information is vital in determining the best methods of treatment for each patient. Spinal adjustments using specialized equipment, coupled with stretching and exercises can be very beneficial in the treatment of scoliosis. Contrary to those who advocate surgery, treating scoliosis with chiropractic techniques is all about movement instead of rigidity. Of course, with all treatment methods, success comes down to the willingness of the patient to take part in any and all prescribed measures.

Your Tulsa Chiropractor,

Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.

www.MarshallChiropractic.com

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Five Reasons to See a Chiropractor

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

5 Reasons Too See a Chiropractor

Many people want to know when to visit the doctor. Some may ask themselves, “Is it too soon or am I being silly going to the doctor for this?” But sometimes they may be overlooking a serious condition that needs the attention of a doctor. Once they decide to go to the doctor the next question is, “what type of doctor do I go to?”

Chiropractors are specialty doctors for musculoskeletal pain, mainly back pain. They specialize in joint and muscle pain and have been mostly known for treating back or neck pain.

So you may now be asking, “when do I go to the chiropractor?” Here are a few good reasons to visit a chiropractic physician.

Are you in pain? If you are, your body may be trying to tell you something. Pain the in neck and back area are the most commonly treated areas for chiropractors, but extremity pain is also in their scope of practice. Extremity pain such as knee, hip, shoulder or wrist pain has been successfully treated by chiropractic care for years. If it is a muscle or a joint a chiropractor can most likely help.

Prevent a surgery. A recent WebMD article states that chiropractic care may reduce certain surgeries by 32%. Low back pain that radiates into the leg is most likely caused from a disc impingement. While this condition may eventually need surgery a chiropractor may be able to prevent the surgery altogether.

Get checked for scoliosis. This should be done in most schools but can sometimes be overlooked or missed. Chiropractors are trained to check even the slightest degree of curvature of the spine. This is a very important point for kids. Most scoliosis in adults will not cause too many problems as long as it is not severe. Teenagers and younger children should be checked regularly as there are many things they can do to help the scoliosis from becoming a major problem.

After an auto accident. After any accident for that matter. Sometimes pain may not show up for days or even years after a serious accident. Make sure there are no major problems after an accident whether you are in pain or not. By getting checked you may safe yourself a lot of trouble in the future.

Prevent pain or future problems. Have you ever wondered how degeneration happens to the spine? When there is a misalignment to a joint, then there is a decrease in movement or range of motion which over time will cause the joint to degenerate. Many years ago after a total knee replacement surgery a patient’s knee would be put into a cast immediately in order to heal. What started happening to a patient that had this done was there knee began to degenerate due to the lack of movement. Today after a total knee replacement, a patient’s knee is put into a device that keeps the knee moving, instead of a cast, in order to prevent this from happening. The reason is now we know that calcium deposits and scare tissue will form quickly in a joint that is immobilized. When a segment of your spine is not moving, over time it will degenerate also just like the knee would in a cast. That is why it is good “spinal hygiene” to get a chiropractic adjustment periodically. Three major things can happen to a joint in the spine if it is misaligned for an extended period of time. First atrophy will happen to the nerves. Nerves will get smaller. Atrophy to the surrounding muscles tissue of the spine, muscles will get smaller and lose tonicity. The last thing that will happen is an actual structural change to the bone itself, eventually fusion of the bones and loss of joint space can occur.

If you have never been to a chiropractic doctor remember some of the things that may warrant a visit. And you will be sure to have a healthy spine for years to come!

Your Tulsa Chiropractor,

Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.

www.MarshallChiropractic.com

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Tulsa Chiropractor Helps Headaches

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

Marshall Chiropractic
& Wellness Center
6703 E 81st St., Suite E
Tulsa, Ok. 74133
(918) 494-0929

www.MarshallChiropractic.com

Tulsa Chiropractor Helps Headaches

Do you or someone you know suffer from headaches? Headaches can come in many forms. Migraines, tension, stress induced are just few types of headaches all of which chiropractic care can help.

If you would like to see if chiropractic care can help you feel free to call anytime to schedule your free consultion. We accept most health insurances and have many gentle treatment options that will work for you. I look forward to helping you!

Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.

www.MarshallChiropractic.com

Posted in headaches tulsa chiropractor, Tulsa chiropractic, Tulsa chiropractor head aches, www.marshallchiropractic.com | 1 Comment »

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Thursday, November 13th, 2008

6703 E. 81st St., Suite E
Tulsa, OK 74133
(918) 494-0929
Fax 494-0927

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Hello Again,

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which a nerve is compressed in the wrist area. To avoid permanent nerve damage, carpal tunnel syndrome should be treated as early as possible by a chiropractic physician. Nerve entrapment can be caused by many things including the very small carpal bones of the wrist. Did you know there are 27 bones in one hand!

Treatment includes chiropractic joint mobilization or adjustments, strengthening and stretching of the surrounding soft tissue. Applying cold packs to reduce inflammation may also be helpful as well. Resting the affected hand and wrist, avoiding activities that may worsen symptoms and immobilizing the wrist in a splint to avoid twisting or bending can also be beneficial.

Did you know that your friends and family that are experiencing elbow, wrist and hand pain can be helped at Marshall Chiropractic & Wellness Center?

Did you know?

-Carpal Tunnel symptoms usually begin gradually. Burning, tingling, itching, and/or numbness in the palm, thumb, index, and middle fingers are most common.

-The dominant hand is usually affected first, possibly due to repetitive motion.

-Symptoms often first appear while sleeping. As symptoms worsen, tingling may be felt during the day.

- Research shows certain B-vitamins may relieve the symptoms on a cellular level.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.

http://www.MarshallChiropractic.com/

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