Being in pain is never a pleasant experience, and back pain can be exceptionally debilitating. When your back hurts, it becomes difficult to walk or move around normally. At Sizemore Chiropractic and Rehabilitation, we specialize in helping patients with back pain and other spine-related issues. Here are four common mistakes we see people make that may exacerbate their back pain issues.

Ignoring the Pain for Too Long

In some situations, a minor injury leads to back pain that only lasts a few days or a couple of weeks. However, it’s a mistake to ignore back pain for too long, assuming that the issue will go away on its own. If your pain is the result of a spinal injury, you may be making the problem worse by continuing to move normally despite the discomfort. By coming to Sizemore Chiropractic and Rehabilitation, you can get a diagnosis and treatment plan that can help treat the underlying issue. Once you get the proper diagnosis, you can get a recovery plan that may include exercise, massage therapy, or another treatment option.

Poor Posture

Standing up straight can do more than make you look more confident. Fixing your posture can help alleviate your back pain. Poor posture doesn’t hurt your back immediately, which is why it can be so detrimental. Over time, the stress that poor posture places on your spine can lead to anatomical changes. These changes can cause back pain by constricting your blood vessels and nerves. Additionally, poor posture can cause problems by increasing the stress on your muscles, discs, and joints. Getting an alignment from Sizemore Chiropractic and Rehabilitation can alleviate back pain that results from poor posture.

Remaining Inactive

It’s not uncommon for people who are experiencing back pain to take it easy and rest. However, spending too much time relaxing can make the problem worse in the long run. Your body needs physical activity to keep the system flexible and limber. Keeping your back and supporting structures flexible and robust means that they can better support your spine, hasten the healing process and minimize the chance of future pain or injury. Strengthening your core muscles can also help alleviate back pain since it reduces the stress on your spine.

Smoking

You should already have a long list of reasons to not smoke, but if you’re experiencing back pain, you just gained another reason to quit. Besides being bad for our heart and lungs, smoking is also bad for your spine. Smoking prevents nutrients from reaching your spinal disks, which is necessary to keep healthy. Some studies have suggested that tobacco smoke, plus the nicotine in cigarettes, causes spines to age prematurely, leading to people experiencing back issues earlier than expected. Smoking also makes you more sensitive to chronic pain and slows the natural healing process. Several studies have found that back pain is more common in people who smoke than in those who don’t.

If you need help finding relief for back pain, Sizemore Chiropractic and Rehabilitation can help. We use a comprehensive treatment plan that helps alleviate back pain by addressing the root cause from multiple angles. If you have any questions about what we can do for you, send us a message online.

Damage to the spine, and the pain and symptoms that it brings, affects patients in many different ways. At Sizemore Chiropractic, we have the skills, resources and experience to help, and a compassionate and attentive approach to chiropractic care. Let us help you to pursue better holistic health, and heal what hurts!

Auto Accident Injuries

Sometimes chiropractic problems come from out of the blue. Maybe you’re on a routine trip in the car, and suddenly you’re the victim of a back end collision.

These types of trauma can cause issues such as whiplash and various forms of spinal conditions that can cause a lot of chronic pain and suffering over time. Read about the experience of Nancy and Troy on our website, and how Dr. Leslie Sizemore approached healing in the situation.

Spinal Problems: The Pain of Aging

Other types of spinal damage happen over time.

Think of them as general “wear and tear” on the body.

For instance, in a condition called cervical spondylosis, the discs in the spine dehydrate and shrink as the patient ages. Secondary problems like osteoarthritis and bone spurs can develop.

This is a very common condition that often requires some type of response and treatment.

On our website, Karen talks about her struggle with cervical spondylosis and her visit to Dr. Leslie.

“I can literally say, without reservation, Dr. Sizemore has given my life back to me,” she says. “I’m doing all the things I used to do and loved to do prior to the onset of unbearable pain caused by cervical spondylosis. I am thankful for her every day! With C5 and C6 in such terrible shape, I was doomed to a life riddled with severe pain or faced with the possibly surgery to alleviate the symptoms. Thank you Dr. Sizemore for taking the challenge to embark on years of education which has changed lives, just like mine, for the better.”

We are glad to be able to help Karen and others suffering from this condition to alleviate some of the challenges they face as they age.

Nerve Problems

Our spines are intricately connected with muscles, nerves and various fascia, and tissues that can insulate and support spinal health. However, it’s easy for nerves to become trapped, pinched or blocked due to range of motion issues or various other types of impact.

Dr. Sizemore is experienced in helping patients with diverse nerve problems. In consulting with patients, she is often able to recommend less invasive treatments such as adjustments and spinal manipulations, rather than extreme options like surgery and drugs.

That’s part of our philosophy – that we help patients to choose the best and least invasive treatments that work. In some cases, drugs and surgeries are necessary, but where medications can be habit-forming and surgery requires dedicated recovery, some patients are able to benefit from natural chiropractic alignment and other methods to regain better health and alleviate pain and symptoms.

Ask Sizemore Chiropractic about how we can help you! Find out more on our website about how we approach your health and help you to improve your quality of life.

If you are experiencing back or neck pain, or other types of discomfort throughout your body, you may need a chiropractic adjustment. A chiropractor can align your spine properly and help relieve pain, pressure, numbness and many other issues. Not all chiropractors are the same or offer the same services. You have to be careful about who you trust to adjust your spine. Here are some tips to help you choose the right chiropractor.

Services

There are many different types of chiropractic services. Some use tables, some you manual movements; some use heat and cold therapy. If you have never been to a chiropractor before, it can be hard to decide which treatments you want or need. In most cases, the chiropractor will check out your spine and choose the service he or she thinks will help you the most. Be sure to research each type of adjustment and chiropractic services, so you know what to expect and can make the right choice.

Experience

You want to choose a chiropractor who has been making adjustments for a while. Your back and spine are delicate, and you don’t want someone who is inexperienced, working on them. Don’t be afraid to ask your chiropractor about his or her schooling, how long they have been practicing, and what type of training and courses they have taken after graduation. Most won’t mind your questions. You can also research the chiropractor online before you go to find the answers to these questions. You can also search online to see if other patients have left testimonials about the chiropractor.

Cost

Chiropractic session can be expensive. Many chiropractors take insurance. Others may offer payment plans. Chiropractors in private offices may offer different rates than those who work with other larger clinics. If you are concerned about the cost of a chiropractic service, talk to the billing department and see if you can come up with a payment plan that works for you. Many chiropractors are willing to offer some services at lower costs than others. If one chiropractor doesn’t take your insurance, don’t be afraid to check another.

A chiropractor can help treat your neck and back pain. If you are having other issues, you may still benefit from a spinal alignment. Your general physician can refer you to a chiropractor, or you can find one on your own. Most do not require referrals. There are probably several chiropractors in your area, so take your time when trying to choose the right one. You don’t have to live with back and neck pain or numbness in your arms and legs. There are treatment options that can relieve these symptoms and improve your quality of life.

A chiropractor is trained in treating problem body areas – like the neck and back – to prevent and resolve various health issues.

Patients seek help from chiropractors for a variety of painful health conditions. That’s why the chiropractic treatment and techniques vary from patient to patient.

What is an adjustment?

A chiropractic ‘adjustment’ is done to treat specific issues, such as misalignment of vertebral joint, poor posture, and other spine-related problems. Here are some of the key benefits of getting an adjustment to improve your overall health.

Improves posture

Many people are developing neck issues at a younger age now, thanks to sitting in front of a computer for hours on end or leaning over a phone the whole day. A chiropractic adjustment can help with the neck issues and bad posture caused by this.

Regular chiropractic adjustments are also known to help align the curves and tilts in your spine, leading to an improved posture. If you have a curve in your neck, this can be particularly helpful for you.

Supports neurological health

If your nervous system is not working as it should, your entire body will feel out of alignment. A misaligned nervous system, along with the misaligned skeletal and muscular structure can wreak havoc on your overall health.

That’s where a chiropractic adjustment can be a godsend; it balances and relaxes your body to relieve the stress, allowing you to better manage your daily life.

Boosts immune system

Another major benefit of a chiropractic adjustment is it helps remove subluxations that prevent the nervous system from functioning efficiently. And we all know a healthy nervous system is essential for a strong immune system.

Once your immune system starts working better, you will start recovering from infections and ailments a lot faster.

Regularizes sleep cycles

It’s a fact that a backache, neck ache, and other neurological issues lead to high stress and poor rest. Since an ‘adjustment’ offers stress relief, they also improve your sleep patterns.

Chiropractic adjustments have also worked wonders in treating children who suffer from chronic bed-wetting.

Balances blood pressure

According to the Human Journal of Hypertension, a single session of chiropractic adjustment in the cervical area has the same effects as taking two blood pressure lowering pills.

There have been other studies that support the fact that chiropractic sessions are highly beneficial to raise low blood pressure levels in hypotensive patients.

Relieves sciatica pain

Chiropractic adjustments can also initiate back pain relief better than most medical treatments available today. According to The European Spine Journal, these ‘adjustments’ have a success rate of 72% in treating sciatica-related symptoms for life; something no other medical treatment offers.

Other than these key health benefits, chiropractic adjustments also offer some other healing solutions. For example, a single session of adjustment could provide relief from frequent headaches and migraines for many patients.

It is an inability to adapt due to decreased sun exposure and increased sugar intake and stress.

Sugar and Your Immune System

The immune system is the body’s defense system designed to fight off bacterial infections, viral infections, the flu, cancer or anything else that may try to harm you. Most of the time, the body’s immune system wins, but unfortunately that’s not always the case. As the holiday season approaches, the temptation of sweets surrounds us from Halloween throughout the end of the Holiday season. This increase in sugar intake can be enough to weaken your immune system resulting in sickness.

 

What can you do to strengthen your immune system?

Vitamin D

10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure or Vitamin D3 supplements

Vitamin C

Eat raw red peppers, strawberries, and oranges or Vitamin C supplements

Sleep

The average person needs 7-9 hours of sleep to heal and reset the body

Avoiding Sugar

Eating or drinking too much sugar curbs immune system cells that attack bacteria. This effect lasts for at least a few hours after drinking a couple of sugary drinks.

Exercise

Walk for 30 minutes a day

Chiropractic Care

Research has shown that chiropractic care boosts the immune system. White blood cells, which eat and destroy bad cells, are enhanced through chiropractic care.