Conditions Chiropractic can treat

• BACK PAIN
• SLIPPED/PROLAPSED DISCS
• LEG AND SCIATICA
• WHIPLASH
• NECK, SHOULDER AND ARM PAIN
• HEADACHE AND MIGRAINE
• "WEAR AND TEAR", ARTHRITIS AND JOINT PAIN
• SPORTS INJURIES
• PREGNANCY AND CHIROPRACTIC
• CHILDREN AND CHIROPRACTIC

BACK PAIN

As you go through life, a slight loss of proper movement of the bones/joints can interfere with the healthy working of your spine, and the nerves that pass through it. This can lead to pain. Chiropractic treatment, unlike painkilling drugs, treats the cause of pain, not just the pain itself. Here at the clinic your chiropractor will carry out a full examination (including x-rays if appropriate) and ask you questions about your posture, medical history and lifestyle, to try and discover the cause of your back pain and offer a diagnosis of your complaint.

Then your treatment will begin, often with gentle, specific adjustments (the Chiropractic word for manipulation) done by hand, to free stiff joints and remove spinal nerve irritation. 

Your chiropractor may recommend ice, or heat treatment and massage.  Scientific research shows that you should remain active. Prolonged bed rest weakens the bones and muscles and reduces your chances of a full recovery; so you may also be advised to take often gentle exercise to ease your pain, and help your body to recuperate. 

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SLIPPED/PROLAPSED DISCS

Spinal discs are fibrous rings, containing a soft gel-like “cushion”, between each of your spinal bones (vertebrae). Discs cannot slip, because they are attached to the vertebrae, but the term “slipped disc” can mean disc damage such as a bulge, (prolapse), a tear or rupture (partial or total). 

The resulting pressure or irritation on the nerves that exit your spine can cause pain in your back, or “referred” pain over an area through which the nerves pass. 

LEG PAIN/SCIATICA

Leg pain/sciatica, for example, is leg pain caused by nerve irritation or pressure in the lower spine.

At The Chiropractic Clinic your chiropractor will explain the cause of your pain; it may not be a “slipped disc” as many other problems have similar pain patterns.

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WHIPLASH

Your pain and misery as a result of a whiplash injury might not feel any better if you were told that there is no evidence of injury on your x-rays. However this is often the case, because initially nothing may show up on an x-ray unless the accident was very severe. Symptoms can take months or even longer to appear. The problem may be in the muscles and ligaments, which do not appear on x-rays.

Normally, the joints at the back of your neck glide over each other and are self-lubricated, but a whiplash injury forces them together, damaging the surrounding area, which includes nerves, muscles, ligaments and discs. There are tiny receptors in the ligaments around the neck called proprioceptors. These relay information to your brain about the position of the joints. If these ligaments have been damaged due to whiplash, you may experience dizziness or light headedness as well as:-

• Neck pain
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Poor concentration
• Arm pain

Your chiropractor at the clinic may decide to take a special series of x-rays to show any abnormal movement that would help diagnose a problem in your neck. After taking a medical history your chiropractor will then examine your neck and, if appropriate, treatment will begin with often gentle, specific  adjustments to your neck. Other rehabilitation techniques may be suggested as well as prescribing supervised neck strengthening exercises.

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NECK SHOULDER AND ARM PAIN

Your neck supports the weight and movement of your head – quite a job, since an adult’s head can weigh between ten and fourteen pounds! It also contains the vast majority of nerves that reach from your brain to the rest of your body, like a pipe full of fibre-optic cables. With the amount of driving, computer work and TV watching that most of us do, it is not surprising that we need a little Chiropractic help to keep our necks doing their job properly.

Loss of proper joint movement may cause irritation of the nerves that come out of your spine. This, in turn, can lead to pain where the nerves end. Brachialgia means 'pain in the arm' and may be caused by nerve irritation in the neck. This is why your neck may be treated if you consult one of the chiropractors at The Chiropractic Clinic about shoulder and arm problems, including frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Chiropractic, unlike painkilling drugs, treats the cause of pain, not just the pain itself. Your chiropractor will carry out a full examination (including x-rays if appropriate), and ask you questions about your posture, medical history and lifestyle, to help diagnose the cause of your neck, shoulder or arm pain.

Then your treatment will begin, often with gentle, specific adjustments (the Chiropractic word for manipulation) done by hand, to free stiff joints and remove spinal nerve irritation. 

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HEADACHE AND MIGRAINE

Headaches are so common that almost everyone takes the odd one now and again for granted, but you may be suffering more than you can cope with. Your chiropractor can treat many of the causes of headaches.

Migraine is a severe headache, accompanied by other symptoms which may include increased sensitivity to light or sound, nausea or visual disturbances that can last for hours or even days. Problems affecting the vertebrae (bones of your spine) in your neck may also cause headaches and may be a contributory factor in migraine.

Your chiropractor will be able to identify a loss of proper movement in the vertebrae and associated areas and, by treating them, improve their movement. This reduces stress on the muscles, joint and nerves which may be causing the headache or migraine.

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'WEAR & TEAR', ARTHRITIS AND JOINT PAIN

People often talk about wear and tear of the joints.  This can also be called arthritis, osteoarthritis spondylosis, degeneration, spinal decay or degenerative joint disease. There are many forms of arthritis and it can affect people of all ages. 

The most common form is osteoarthritis which means that there are irreversible degenerative changes in the joints. Whilst Chiropractic cannot reverse these changes, it can promote healthier joints by improving their function and mobility, decrease pain and discomfort and help slow any further wear and tear. 

Chiropractic can also decrease pain and speed up recovery.

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SPORTS INJURIES

Whether you are an amateur sports enthusiast or a top-flight professional, your body is prone to the same kinds of injuries.  Repeated stresses can lead to a slight loss of proper movement in the bones of your spine (vertebrae) and joints, which in turn can interfere with the healthy working of your muscles and nerves. 

At The Chiropractic Clinic we often see patients with:-

• Hamstring and calf strains
• Achilles tendon injuries
• Groin and thigh sprains
• Lower back pain
• Neck pain
• Tennis elbow
• Shoulder sprains (rotator cuff injuries)
• Tendonitis
• Sciatica (often confused with hamstring pulls!)

Unlike painkilling drugs, Chiropractic gets behind the cause of an injury, rather than just treating the injury itself. We will carry out a full examination (including x-rays if necessary), and ask you questions about your sporting life, posture, medical history and lifestyle, to discover the cause of your injury or poor performance and make a diagnosis.

Then your treatment will begin, often with gentle, specific adjustments (the Chiropractic word for manipulation) done by hand, to free stiff joints and remove spinal nerve irritation. Treatment will normally be followed by a rehabilitation plan to strengthen the injured area, improve your flexibility and prevent future flare-ups.

PREGNANCY AND CHIROPRACTIC

Chiropractic can help you to enjoy your pregnancy and avoid some of the more uncomfortable effects including changes in posture, due to weight gain, that cause pain in your back, buttocks groin and legs. 

Because of the way in which ligaments and muscles are attached to the pelvis, effects of postural strain may influence the positioning of your uterus and therefore the birth canal. 

Ensuring that this area of your body is functioning correctly may make the potential trauma of birth easier for both mother and baby. 

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CHILDREN AND PREGNANCY

Chiropractic often recommends that children receive check-ups, particularly if there has been any trauma. Many children suffer neck or back pain, headaches or other joint problems which are put down to “growing pains” when Chiropractic can provide fast, effective relief. 

Chiropractic is drug-free and effective for your whole family. It involves safe, often gentle, specific adjustments, done by hand to unlock joints that are not moving properly. This allows your body to use its own healing ability to keep you fit and healthy. 

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