Back Clinic Complex Injuries Chiropractic Team. Complex injuries happen when people experience severe or catastrophic injuries, or whose cases are more complex due to multiple trauma, psychological effects, and pre-existing medical histories. Complex injuries can be serial injuries of the upper extremity, severe soft tissue trauma, and concomitant (naturally accompanying or associated), injuries to vessels or nerves. These injuries go beyond the common sprain and strain and require a deeper level of assessment that may not be easily apparent.
El Paso, TX’s Injury specialist, chiropractor, Dr. Alexander Jimenez discusses treatment options, as well as rehabilitation, muscle/strength training, nutrition, and getting back to normal body functions. Our programs are natural and use the body’s ability to achieve specific measured goals, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, unwanted surgeries, or addictive drugs. We want you to live a functional life that is fulfilled with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, and less pain. Our goal is to ultimately empower our patients to maintain the healthiest way of living.
Sciatica pain can radiate to the knee. Individuals with sciatica do report unique/unusual knee pain that was never there and no past or recent physical injuries. Sciatica is the culprit, as the knee muscles are powered and controlled by nerves in the lower spine. Irritation or compression of these nerves can cause symptoms that can include: random back pain, hamstring tightness, weakness in the hips or quadriceps, the development of bunions, and knee pain and/or weakness. Chiropractic treatment can release the compression, heal the sciatic nerve, and alleviate knee problems.
Sciatica Pain Can Radiate To The Knee
Spine conditions that can cause sciatica include:
Disc herniation – Where the inside of the discs leak out and compress and/or irritate surrounding nerves.
Spinal stenosis – The spinal canal begins to narrow, not allowing enough space for the nerves to rest comfortably, resulting in compressed nerves.
Spondylolisthesis – A condition that occurs when a vertebrae slips forward onto the vertebrae below it.
Any can cause irritation, inflammation, or compression of the sciatic nerve leading to painful sensations that extends from the lower back down through the leg.
Symptoms
Common knee symptoms that may be experienced with sciatica include:
A dull ache, warm sensation, or sharp pain around the knee.
Bunions form from weakened stabilizing muscles that affect walking, running, and standing posture.
As sciatica pain can radiate to the knee, individuals will usually also experience pain in their buttocks, thigh, calf, and/or foot. The nerve sensations and other symptoms in the knee can be felt through a branch of the sciatic nerve known as the peroneal nerve.
Duration
The knee pain will last as long as sciatica does, depending on the type of sciatica, whether it is acute or chronic.
An acute sciatic episode usually resolves after a few weeks, with possible future flare-ups.
Chronic sciatica is a long-term condition that does not resolve independently and necessitates intervention by a specialist.
Chiropractic Treatment Plan
Depending on the diagnosis, a chiropractor will develop a personalized treatment plan to address the root cause and heal the injury. The treatment plan will include therapeutic massage, posture training, and at-home self-care to help heal and prevent future sciatica.
Massage Rehabilitation
Physical therapy and therapeutic massage will loosen and relax the muscles, nerves, tendons, and ligaments.
Heat and ice, exercises, and stretches will prepare the muscles and nerves for chiropractic decompression adjustments.
Posture Training
Training will be provided to maintain the back, hips, knees, and feet in proper alignment.
Training on removing pressure from the lower back and restabilizing the rest of the body.
Training on proper body mechanics, safe lifting techniques, and injury prevention.
Self-Pain Management
Training on self-care habits that include healthy weight, core strengthening exercises and stretches for the back muscles, and proper rest for a full recovery.
An anti-inflammatory diet to reduce/eliminate inflammation and achieve a healthy weight and a nutrition plan to maintain overall health.
Surgery
Surgery is the final option when conservative treatments are not working.
Treating Severe & Complex Sciatica Syndromes
References
Dydyk AM, Khan MZ, Singh P. Radicular Back Pain. [Updated 2021 Nov 2]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546593/
Hirabayashi, Hiroki, et al. “Characteristics of L3 nerve root radiculopathy.” Surgical neurology vol. 72,1 (2009): 36-40; discussion 40. doi:10.1016/j.surneu.2008.08.073
Jandre Reis, Felipe Jose, and Adriana Ribeiro Macedo. “Influence of Hamstring Tightness in Pelvic, Lumbar and Trunk Range of Motion in Low Back Pain and Asymptomatic Volunteers during forwarding Bending.” Asian spine journal vol. 9,4 (2015): 535-40. doi:10.4184/asj.2015.9.4.535
Jeong, Ui-Cheol, et al. “The effects of self-mobilization techniques for the sciatic nerves on physical functions and health of low back pain patients with lower limb radiating pain.” Journal of physical therapy science vol. 28,1 (2016): 46-50. doi:10.1589/jpts.28.46
Dislocations impact the joint and are injuries that force/knock the bones out of position. Dislocations can be caused by a motor vehicle collision, falls, sports trauma, or weakened muscles and tendons. However, less impact/force is needed to dislocate smaller joints. Dislocations commonly occur at the shoulders, ankles, knees, hips, elbows, fingers and toes, and the jaw. The experience causes swelling, inability to move, and pain. A joint dislocation chiropractor can manipulate, reset, rehabilitate and strengthen the affected area and rebalance the body.
Joint Dislocation
The region where two or more bones come together is a joint. Each has a primary function, but their functions overlap. The joints allow the bones to move/articulate the skeletal system. Maintaining the body’s balance requires mobility and stability.
Mobility is the ability to move the body without restriction.
Stability is maintaining equilibrium, healthy posture, and support during movement.
The stable joints do not dislocate easily because their structures are not as flexible.
Mobile joints are at an increased risk, as they can move in almost any direction.
The kinetic chain is a sequence of joints forming an alternating pattern of stability and mobility that create a solid platform for dynamic movement. However, any joint can become dislocated, causing the affected area to become unsteady or immobile, strain or tear the surrounding muscles, nerves, and tendons which are the tissues that connect the bones to a joint.
A joint can be partially dislocated/subluxation or fully dislocated.
Joints dislocated previously have an increased risk of re-dislocating because the surrounding tissues that hold the joint have been torn or overly stretched.
Symptoms
Symptoms vary depending on the severity and location of the injury. Common symptoms include:
Instability
Loss of ability to move
Swelling
Bruising
Pain
Visible deformation
Increased Risk
Various factors can lead to joint dislocation, including:
Weakness of the supporting ligaments and muscles from natural wear and tear/age or lack of physical conditioning.
Older individuals with poor balance are more vulnerable to falls that can knock joints out of place.
Young children developing have more elastic supporting ligaments and are prone to falls, collisions, and other injuries.
Previous dislocations with overstretched or torn supporting tissues.
Repeated dislocations are likely to follow the shoulder, knee, and hip.
Physical activities like extreme sports, contact sports, or sports that involve quick body shifts, twists, and turns on the feet.
Physically demanding job.
Operating heavy machinery/equipment.
Joint hypermobility is common in children and around 5% of adults. It can be caused by weak or loose ligaments, weak or loose muscles, and/or shallow joint sockets.
Joint Dislocation Chiropractic
Treatment will vary based on the severity of the injury and the dislocated joint. Depending on the location and severity, a chiropractor will perform different movements/manipulations to realign the joint and strengthen the area.
Significant force could be necessary to pull the bones apart to realign them back into their proper position.
The joint may need to be pulled out and rotated slightly before being put back.
The focus is on increasing ligament strength.
Once the joint is back in place, it may need to remain immobile, possibly using a sling or splint to help fully heal the injury.
Physical therapy exercises will be recommended to strengthen the muscles and ligaments around the joint to support it optimally.
Shoulder Pain Chiropractic
References
Dizdarevic, Ismar, et al. “Epidemiology of Elbow Dislocations in High School Athletes.” The American journal of sports medicine vol. 44,1 (2016): 202-8. doi:10.1177/0363546515610527
Hodge, Duncan K, and Marc R Safran. “Sideline management of common dislocations.” Current sports medicine reports vol. 1,3 (2002): 149-55. doi:10.1249/00149619-200206000-00005
Prechel, Ulla et al. “The Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Dislocation.” Deutsches Arzteblatt international vol. 115,5 (2018): 59-64. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0059
Skelley, Nathan W et al. “In-game Management of Common Joint Dislocations.” Sports health vol. 6,3 (2014): 246-55. doi:10.1177/1941738113499721
Reflex pain is a complex condition that involves the body’s pain withdrawal reflexfailing to turn off after the event that triggered the pain, so the pain sensations continue. This is a neurological condition known as the withdrawal reflex. It occurs when the body and brain undergo a chain of reactions to remove an affected body part from dangerous situations/stimuli. A typical example is a vehicle crash or accident. During the process, the body’s reflex muscle\s in the injured area tighten to protect the specific body part/s from further damage.
The reflex can feel like a muscle spasm that goes away over time. However, in the case of reflex pain, the signals keep firing. Reflex pain can occur all over the body as the muscles overcompensate to handle the prolonged pain; secondary injuries often develop. An example could be reflex pain in the ankle caused by injury or problems in the hips and back, where the individual tries to avoid moving the ankle in a specific way to prevent and avoid the pain symptoms. Individuals with reflex pain also experience headaches and referred spine and extremity pain. Reflex pain can become a cycle of symptoms that include:
Unusual tightness
Stiffness
Pain
Contracture – hardening or shortening of the affected muscles, tendons, or other tissues.
Decreased functional abilities.
Somatic Pain
Somatic pain causes receptors in tissues including the skin, muscles, connective tissues, joints, and skeleton to be activated. Stimuli like force trauma, vibration, extreme temperature, or inflammation/swelling activate these receptors. The pain is often described as:
Aching
Gnawing
Cramping
Sharp
Somatic pain is often localized to a particular area that is constant and stimulated by movement. There are two types.
Superficial painoccurs when everyday injuries activate pain receptors in the skin and mucous membranes.
Deep somatic pain occurs when stimuli activate pain receptors deeper in the body, including the tendons, joints, bones, and muscles. Deep body pain usually feels more like aching.
Pain can be confined to a local area or radiate to other areas of the body, depending on the extent of the injury.
Somatic pain can come from a variety of different potential causes that include:
Injury to joints or bones.
Trauma.
Fall or collision that damages connective tissues.
Sometimes these reflexes can stay in the on position and keep the body from achieving full relaxation.
In the nervous system, a body part is stimulated, and the message travels through the spinal cord and into the brain. The information is processed, then sent back through the spinal cord to the level that activates the specific body part. The reflexes transmit faster staying at the same spinal level without having to travel to the brain and back again.
During reflex pain, the body’s muscles are unable to relax, which is necessary for motion/movement. This prolonged contraction generates added pain and causes imbalances that can decrease excitabilityin the muscles. This can increase the activation of brain receptors that receive pain signals to respond by telling them to shorten and contract.
Therapy
Body misalignment can cause muscles to spasm, causing the nerves to stretch in an awkward way, compress, and get twisted and tangled around other nerves or other tissues. This disrupts communication resulting in pain, illness, and ailments that can lead to other health problems. Chiropractic care can address reflex pain by realigning the spine and improving joint motion and nerve conduction.
Chiropractic restores the body to its full and proper function by activating the natural healing abilities. Manual and mechanical spinal decompression realigns the vertebrae, reducing swelling, blockages, and nerve stress. A comprehensive examination will identify potential dysfunctional areas of the body using palpitations to identify which muscles are involved. Once identified, chiropractic, massage, and physical therapy options can be prescribed to rebalance the body’s muscles, and restore their ability to contract and relax normally.
Patient education will be provided concerning self-assessment techniques, instruction on how to treat pain, and an anti-inflammatory diet.
An exercise and stretching program will help maintain the adjustments, keep the body flexible, and strengthen the body.
Patients are helped to understand how to take control of their pain.
Spinal Decompression Testimonials
References
Biurrun-Manresa J, Neziry A, Curatolo M, Arendt-Nielson L, Anderson O. Test-retest reliability of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex and electrical pain thresholds after single and repeated stimulation in patients with chronic low back pain. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2011;111:83-92
Derderian C, Tadi P. Physiology, Withdrawal Response. [Updated 2021 Nov 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544292/
Muir, J M, and H Vernon. “Complex regional pain syndrome and chiropractic.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 23,7 (2000): 490-7. doi:10.1067/mmt.2000.108816
Neziri A, Haesler S, Steen P, et al. Generalized expansion of nociceptive reflex receptive fields in chronic pain patients. Pain. 2010;151(3):798-805
Szynkowicz, Peter, and Anthony Petrucci 4th. “Chiropractic Care of a Patient With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1 (CRPS-1): A Case Report.” Journal of chiropractic medicine vol. 19,2 (2020): 145-151. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2020.05.001
Yezierski R, Vierck C. Reflex and pain behaviors are not equivalent: Lessons from spinal cord injury. Pain. 2010;151(3):569-577
Forearm pain refers to soreness, aches, or discomfort between the wrist and the elbow. An injury or inflammation can affect any tissues, including muscles, bones, blood vessels, tendons, and the skin. The causes usually include overuse injuries, pinched nerves, accidents causing trauma, lifting or heaving heavy objects, sports injuries, and fractures. If left untreated, issues like chronic muscle pain and decreased and disrupted blood/nerve circulation can develop, leading to numbness and weakness. Chiropractic treatment can release tension, massage, reset, and stretch the muscles to expedite healing.
Anatomy
The forearm comprises the radius and ulna, which extend the forearm’s length and cross at the wrist.
The Radius
This bone starts at the elbow and connects to the wrist on the thumb side.
Ulna
This bone begins at the elbow and connects to the wrist on the side of the little finger.
Muscles
Several muscles operate to rotate the forearm up/supination and down/pronation and flex and extend the fingers.
Causes
Forearm pain can happen to anyone and is usually related to traumatic or repetitive use injury. In other cases, pain may be associated with a benign growth, like a cyst or possibly a malignant tumor. Common causes include:
Pulled and/or strained muscles
Muscle ruptures or small tears
A direct blow, fall, or any extreme twisting, bending or jamming action.
Tendonitis from tennis or golfers elbow.
Tennis elbow is caused by inflammation or tiny tears in the forearm muscles and tendons outside the elbow.
Golfers’ elbow is on the inside of the elbow.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a repetitive stress disorder that affects the nerves and tendons of the wrist and forearm.
Musculoskeletal Causes
The musculoskeletal causes involve issues in how the forearm components operate together.
Repetitive actions like lifting, gripping, and typing can compress nerves and blood vessels throughout the forearm.
Forearm problems like dislocations or sprains can also lead to chronic inflammation and pain.
Traumatic Causes
Traumatic causes include those that result in injury to components of the forearm.
Anything that causes a direct injury to the forearm, including an automobile crash or accident, fall, or a direct hit, can fracture bones in the forearm.
A sprain can twist or stretch a ligament or tendon.
Activities that cause bending, twisting, quick sudden movement or direct impact can result in sprained multiple ligaments in the forearm.
Chiropractic Treatment
Healing forearm pain depends on the type of injury, location, and cause of the pain. Chiropractic addresses arm pain, tingling, and numbness in ways often overlooked by general physicians.
A chiropractor will perform a physical examination to determine if there are any underlying causes.
They may apply an ice pack to help control inflammation before the massage.
The chiropractor will perform gentle adjustments to the wrist, arm, and shoulder.
They may recommend a forearm brace to help retrain positioning and movement.
They will recommend exercises and stretches to strengthen and maintain the adjustments.
Carpal Tunnel Pain Treatment
References
Ellenbecker, Todd S et al. “Current concepts in examination and treatment of elbow tendon injury.” Sports health vol. 5,2 (2013): 186-94. doi:10.1177/1941738112464761
Shamsoddini, Alireza, and Mohammad Taghi Hollisaz. “Effects of taping on pain, grip strength and wrist extension force in patients with tennis elbow.” Trauma monthly vol. 18,2 (2013): 71-4. doi:10.5812/traumamon.12450
Suito, Motomu, et al. “Intertendinous epidermoid cyst of the forearm.” Case reports in plastic surgery & hand surgery vol. 6,1 25-28. 28 Jan. 2019, doi:10.1080/23320885.2018.1564314
Injury Medical Spinal Decompression: Spinal decompression therapy/treatment can be surgical or non-surgical, with differences in the procedure, recovery time, and results. Individuals who experience compression-related problems can have severe and prolonged spinal conditions that can lead to various health issues. Individuals experiencing persistent or chronic neck, back, or leg pain should know the differences between surgical and non-surgical spinal decompression. Spinal decompression aims to relieve pressure on the discs and reduce stress on the nervesto eliminate the pain associated with compression on the spine,restoring optimal circulation and improving spinal function.
Surgical Procedure
It is invasive, must be performed by a surgeon, and can have a recovery time of up to 6 weeks.
Surgery is usually suggested as a last resort after alternative therapies have not succeeded or when the compression is so severe that surgery is the only option.
Surgical spinal decompression is directed towards removal to reduce pressure instead of adjusting or stretching the discs.
In cases of severe nerve compression, surgery can be an effective option.
Risks include infection, damage to the spinal cord, and blood clots.
Types of Spinal Decompression Surgery
Types of surgeries; spinal fusion could be necessary to stabilize the spine. Common types of back surgery:
Discectomy
This procedure removes a portion of the disc to relieve pressure on nerves.
Laminotomy
The procedureremoves a small portion of the bone or a section of the bony arch to increase the size of the spinal canal and relieve pressure.
Laminectomy
The procedureremoves theentire bony arch or lamina to increase the size of the spinal canal and relieve pressure.
Foraminotomy
This procedure removes bone and other tissue to widen the openings for the nerve roots to pass through.
The procedure removes a vertebral body along with discs.
Injury Medical Spinal Decompression
Surgery for a damaged/injured spine is not always necessary. Treatment regimes vary depending on each individual’s medical condition. Non-surgical motorized spinal decompression is a non-invasive back treatment that uses a mechanized decompression table to slowly and gently stretch the spine. The therapy gradually relieves the pressure on the compressed nerve root/s resulting in reduced or complete alleviation of pain.
Oxygen, water, and nutrients circulate abundantly, promoting healing as the discs re-hydrate, and are re-nourished, improving and enhancing spine function. Individuals can enjoy increased levels of mobility, strength in the spine and muscles, and more flexibility.
Descompresión Espinal Con La DRX9000
References
American Spinal Decompression Association: “Spinal Decompression Therapy.”
Daniel, D.M. Chiropractic and Osteopathy, 2007.
Macario, Alex, and Joseph V Pergolizzi. “Systematic literature review of spinal decompression via motorized traction for chronic discogenic low back pain.” Pain practice: the official journal of World Institute of Pain vol. 6,3 (2006): 171-8. doi:10.1111/j.1533-2500.2006.00082.x
For older individuals, experiencing frequent low back pain could turn out to be a sacral fracture. They tend to occur in individuals over the age of 60 often because there has been a degree of bone loss. Sacral fractures tend not to be the first thing doctors think of when low back pain symptoms are presenting. They are often not picked up on X-rays and are either not diagnosed early enough to take steps or not diagnosed at all. However, they are common.
Sacrum
The sacrum is shaped like a triangle and comprises five segments fused into one large bone. It sits at the base of the spine, between the two halves of the pelvis, connecting the spine to the lower half of the body. It stabilizes the body when walking, sitting, or standing. The nerves in the lower spine control the bowels bladder and provide sensation to the region.
The two dimples that can be seen on individuals’ backs are where the sacrum joins the hipbones or the sacroiliac joint.
The point where the low back joins the sacrum can develop discomfort, soreness, and pain.
This area experiences stress from bending, twisting, reaching, lifting, carrying during physical activities or sitting for long periods.
Sacral Fracture
Most sacral fractures result from trauma, like slips, falls, and automobile accidents. Stress fractures that happen without a specific injury are also called insufficiency fractures.
Types of Sacral Fractures
Low-energy fractures usually happen to older individuals with weak bones due to osteoporosis.
An individual trips on something, lands hard on their butt, lifts a heavy object awkwardly, or over-exerts themselves from some physical activity.
Then persistent back or buttock pain begins to present.
The pain is often centered in the lower back, the hips, and butt.
It is more than just back achiness.
The individual goes to the doctor, and X-rays are ordered.
A lot of the time, these fractures are missed on X-rays.
The doctor may diagnose a sprain, but the pain symptoms do not improve.
Sometimes there is no apparent cause for the pain.
It can be misdiagnosed as a lower back compression fracture or urinary tract infection.
High-energy fractures are due to trauma and are more common among the young.
The individual sustains injuries from an auto accident, has fallen from a significant height, or suffers a sports injury.
It results in severe pain.
A woman who has just had a baby and gone through some bone loss because of the pregnancy can experience a sacral stress fracture.
For individuals that have been to a doctor and had an X-ray that reveals no fracture, and there is no improvement after 5 to 7 days, it is recommended to schedule another appointment and ask for a CAT scan or MRI, which is highly effective at finding a sacral fracture.
Treatment
Treatment consists of resting the bone but still being safely active in most cases.
Medication is prescribed for pain relief.
Many individuals have been found to do well with anti-inflammatory medications, topical medications, and lidocaine patches.
Older individuals may be recommended to use a walker during the treatment/healing process.
Depending on the severity, crutches may be recommended.
Engaging in regular exercise is not recommended, but too much bed rest is also not recommended.
Too much rest may not allow the injury to heal correctly, worsen the injury, and/or cause new injuries.
Chiropractic and physical therapy are not recommended to let the sacrum naturally heal.
After the pain subsides, chiropractic and physical therapy can be implemented to maintain agility and flexibility and strengthen the pelvic and core muscles.
In some cases, if the bone does not heal correctly or some other issue, sacroplasty could be recommended. This is a minimally invasive procedure that injects bone cement into the fracture. It offers quick and long-lasting pain relief with a low percentage of complications. It is considered low risk and can be done by an interventional radiologist or spine surgeon.
Prevention
To minimize the risk of a sacral fracture, it is highly recommended to maintain bone strength. This consists of:
Try to keep moving with different exercise stretches, or take a lap around the building.
References
Gibbs, Wende Nocton, and Amish Doshi. “Sacral Fractures and Sacroplasty.” Neuroimaging clinics of North America vol. 29,4 (2019): 515-527. doi:10.1016/j.nic.2019.07.003
Holmes, Michael W R, et al. “Evaluating Abdominal and Lower-Back Muscle Activity While Performing Core Exercises on a Stability Ball and a Dynamic Office Chair.” Human factors vol. 57,7 (2015): 1149-61. doi:10.1177/0018720815593184
Santolini, Emmanuele et al. “Sacral fractures: issues, challenges, solutions.” EFORT open reviews vol. 5,5 299-311. 5 May. 2020, doi:10.1302/2058-5241.5.190064
The temporomandibular (tem-puh-roe-man-dib-u-lur) joint TMJ acts as a sliding hinge that connects the jawbone to the skull. There is one joint on each side of the jaw. TMJ jaw disorders are also known as temporomandibular disorders – TMD. These disorders affect the connecting point between the jaw and the skull that causes swelling and pain in the joint and the muscles that control movement. The disorder can be caused by a combination of factors, like stress, genetics, arthritis, or injury. The symptoms, pain, and discomfort are often temporary and can be relieved with self-care and nonsurgical treatment like chiropractic.
Jaw Disorders
If the jaw is not moving correctly or becomes imbalanced, it can stress the temporomandibular joint. If this happens, the jaw muscles and the neck and shoulder muscles can tense up and over time become fatigued as they overwork to compensate and keep the jaw balanced. The bones that interact in the joint are covered with cartilage and are separated by a small shock-absorbing disc to maintain smooth movement. Jaw disorders can happen if:
The disc erodes or moves out of alignment.
The joint’s cartilage is damaged by arthritis.
The joint is damaged by impact trauma like hitting the head from a fall or sports accident.
Individuals that have been in an automobile accident.
Other factors include:
Tension or stress can cause individuals to grind or clench their teeth, known as bruxism.
Symptoms of TMJ vary from case to case. These symptoms might include:
Problems with opening or closing the mouth
Difficulty or pain while chewing
Pain or tenderness of the jaw
Pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints
Aching facial pain
Neck and shoulder pain
Headaches
Aching pain in and around the ear
Dizziness
Locking of the joint
Clicking sound
Grating sensation
Chiropractic Relief
Chiropractors can help with TMJ by alleviating tension and dysfunction in the shoulder, neck, and jaw. Once the dysfunction is relieved, it reduces the pressure on various nerves. Treatment includes:
Manipulation of the jaw joint so it can move easily
Not all carbs are equal, with some having a more significant effect on insulin levels than others. For individuals with diabetes or insulin resistance, this is important. A food’s Glycemic Index – ranging from 0 to 100 – indicates how a particular carbohydrate will affect blood sugar and insulin levels.
Foods that digest quickly are high on the index.
Foods that digest slowly are lower on the index.
Foods high on the GI scale, include potatoes and white bread, are quickly broken down. This is what happens when going through a sugar rush that comes crashing down minutes later. Foods low on the GI scale, include sweet potatoes and whole oats, are digested gradually. This results in a steady rise in blood sugar levels. The following factors may influence the GI scale:
Food processing
The more processed the food, the higher the GI.
Fat and acid content
Foods high in fat, acid, or carbs eaten with fat or acid tend to have a lower GI.
Fiber content
Fiber slows down the rate of digestion, leading to a gradual, healthy rise in blood sugar levels.
Ripeness
Ripened fruits tend to have a higher GI than unripened fruit.
References
Alcantara, Joel et al. “Chiropractic care of a patient with temporomandibular disorder and atlas subluxation.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 25,1 (2002): 63-70. doi:10.1067/mmt.2002.120415
DeVocht, James W et al. “A pilot study of a chiropractic intervention for management of chronic myofascial temporomandibular disorder.” Journal of the American Dental Association (1939) vol. 144,10 (2013): 1154-63. doi:10.14219/jada.archive.2013.0034
Pavia, Steven et al. “Chiropractic Treatment of Temporomandibular Dysfunction: A Retrospective Case Series.” Journal of chiropractic medicine vol. 14,4 (2015): 279-84. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2015.08.005
Rubis, Lisa M et al. “A collaborative approach between chiropractic and dentistry to address temporomandibular dysfunction: a case report.” Journal of chiropractic medicine vol. 13,1 (2014): 55-61. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2013.10.003
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