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Spinal Cord Injury Therapies El Paso, Texas

Spinal Cord Injury Therapies El Paso, Texas

Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury/s are separated into two phases: There is the primary injury and the secondary injury.

The primary injury refers to the physical trauma to the spine. This could be a:

  • Car accident
  • Sports accident
  • Severe fall
  • Other traumatic events

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Spinal Cord Injury Therapies El Paso, Texas

 

When the primary injury happens, neurological injury to the nerves and spinal cord can take place in the form of:

 

Compression

  • The compressing of the spinal cord/nerves can cause an impact of bone, disc, and ligaments against the tissues. This is because the spinal canal becomes narrowed and shifts out of proper alignment. This causes the nerves to get pinched during the injury.

 

Stretching

  • Tissues get stretched beyond what they’re capable of so the spinal cord can suffer serious damage with the slightest trauma directly to it. Complete cutting or severing of the cord is rare.

 

Blood supply inadequacy

  • The injury can cut off or significantly reduce blood supply to the cord and nerves. If the microscopic blood vessels get damaged almost instantaneous hemorrhage or bleeding into the spinal cord.

 

Spinal cord damage can be seen on an MRI immediately after trauma.

Secondary injury is a cascade of events that occur after the initial trauma, which is the body’s attempt to heal the injury.

This could be seconds, hours, days, and weeks afterward. Several factors play a role in how severe secondary injury will be.

The body releases chemicals in response to trauma. These chemicals cause inflammation, decreased blood flow, and cell death.

Treatments/therapies for spinal cord injuries usually directed at one or more steps during this cascade. Goals of treatment:

  • Decrease inflammation
  • Increase blood flow
  • Reduce scar formation
  • Slow degradation and cell death

 

imaging and diagnostics el paso tx.

 

The overall treatment of a spine injury is focused on stabilizing the injury. Once that has been accomplished, there are two following goals:

  1. Transplanting nerves
  2. Nerve regeneration

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Spinal Cord Injury Therapies El Paso, Texas

 

Treatments for Spinal Cord Injury

Treatment priority is to reduce the effects of primary and secondary injuries. One is to immobilize the spine to prevent further injury. This typically happens at the scene of the accident and can be done with a hard collar or brace. IV fluids and medications to maintain blood pressure and possible administration of oxygen may be used. These techniques are fairly standard to deal with primary injury/s.

Surgery could be needed to remove physical impingement/compression on the nerves, restore blood flow, and provide room for subsequent inflammation to help the body heal itself.

Sometimes surgery takes place later to restore the alignment of the bone and correct any deformities that may have occurred. This is as important as decompression for maximizing a patient’s rehabilitation. Stabilization from surgery can help patients sit upright, walk, and maintain proper weight on the trunk. It also helps to avoid developing posture problems in the future.

Methylprednisolone is a steroid that’s considered a neuroprotective agent. This is the only drug treatment supported by the medical community to be used immediately following the primary injury. There is still debate among the medical community as to the effectiveness of this steroid. To date, it has not been defined as a standard of care by any major medical associations.

 

Treatment Research

Other treatments have been proposed and proven successful in animal trials. These treatments first go through animal trials before human trials. Replicating the benefits in humans is still quite difficult to achieve. There were 100 different treatments that do work in animals, however, methylprednisolone is the only treatment that has demonstrated consistent results.

Reasons why research for spinal cord injuries is tough:

Anatomical differences in animal’s spinal cords: While rodents are typically used for most research, their spinal cords have the ability to create stepping patterns without signals from the brain. That means that after a spinal cord injury with no treatment they can learn to walk again. The human spinal cord cannot do this.

The differences between actual injury and a simulated one: Actual injuries that result in trauma to the spine usually have neurological compression that exceeds that seen in the animal models during the simulated injury. This means that treatments that are effective in animal trials where there is less trauma to the bones and nerves than�when the same treatments are tried for actual injuries, could be less effective because the injury/s are more severe.

During spinal cord treatment tests, researchers typically use mild/moderate spinal cord injuries. Human injuries can vary from one extreme to another that they are either too severe for therapy or too mild that they recover without treatment.

Doing the same experiments and research on animals and humans is complicated: There are all kinds of variables in animal research that can’t be controlled in human studies. There are different models of injury, that happen at different times and are treated with different medications, and all contribute to inconsistencies. The results significantly change the accounts of how useful any given treatment is, especially when comparing the animal studies and human studies.

Example –� Treatments in a laboratory are begun within one hour after injury simulation. This doesn’t happen in clinical settings, because typically, first responders at accident sites work to stabilize the patient’s airway, and spine before they are transported to an emergency room. Replicating that procedure with actual first responders can be quite difficult to do in clinical studies.

Promising Treatments

There are promising treatments in spinal cord injury:

  • Hypothermia
  • Naloxone
  • Corticosteroids

All three have shown positive results in animal trials. But there have been varying results in human trials. While these are positive results, further research from scientists and physicians is needed to develop a highly effective treatment for spinal cord injury.

Hypothermia treatment has piqued a great deal of interest based on a case of its use on a professional football player, that suffered a spinal cord injury. It was a success, but unfortunately, other human studies utilizing this treatment failed to demonstrate the same benefits and some believe the risks outweigh the benefits. Physicians believe that the player’s positive outcome was the result of a less severe injury and early decompression, and not necessarily from the hypothermia treatment.

Researchers debate that freezing reduces blood flow in the injured spinal cord but that it could worsen the secondary injury/s.

Conclusion

Treating spinal cord injury research is still a major focus in the medical community. With progress taking place there is still not yet the major breakthrough. Continued investigation into treatments for spinal cord injuries will go on until spinal injuries are no more.


 

Severe *Sciatica”* Pain Relief | El Paso, Tx (2020)


 

NCBI Resources

Spinal injury or trauma can result in myofascial pain syndrome, but lifestyle factors usually have a hand in the condition. Poor posture over a long period,�for example,�sleeping in an awkward position can cause physical muscular stress on the spinal muscles.�Mental and emotional stress can present itself through muscle tension�that helps the development of trigger points.

The�trapezius muscle, that extends from the back of the neck down the shoulders and upper back, is the most common site of spinal trigger points and myofascial pain because of the significant amount of pressure that the muscle has to bear and its susceptibility to whiplash.

 

SCI-Spinal Cord Injury Chiropractic Care El Paso, Texas

SCI-Spinal Cord Injury Chiropractic Care El Paso, Texas

Spinal Cord Injuries Are Not Only Caused by Trauma

When people think of spinal cord injury/s or SCI’s, traumatic events like a major auto accident, hard fall, severe sports injury or intense work injury come to mind. It is true that auto accidents are the leading cause, however, non-traumatic accidents and diseases like a spinal tumor can also cause spinal cord injuries.

These types of injuries involve damage to the spinal cord that can temporarily or permanently affect its functionality. Spinal cord injuries are divided into 2 categories: traumatic and non-traumatic. Even with non-traumatic injuries the impact or severity is not lessened and the aftermath can have a devastating effect on a person�s life.

 

Spine Trauma Imaging Diagnostics Evaluation | El Paso, TX Chiropractor

 

Spinal Cord Injury Trauma

  • Vehicle crashes: Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of traumatic spinal cord injuries, and they account for 40% of all SCI’s.
  • Falls: Falls are the second cause of traumatic spinal cord injuries, and they account for 32% of injuries.
  • Sports: Sports and recreational activities cause around 9.0% of traumatic spinal cord injuries.
  • Violence: Violent acts, like gunshot wounds or a stabbing cause around 14% of spinal cord injuries.

Spinal cord injuries occur more in men than women with 80% of cases affecting men.

Although people of all ages can experience SCI, there are activities/events that increase the risk that affects different age groups more than others. An example is high-impact actions like motor vehicle accidents and sports injuries occur more in young adults. Conversely, spinal cord injuries caused by a fall happens more in adults over age 60.

Regardless, SCI occurs more in the neck or cervical spine. Around 60% of cases involve the neck, followed by the mid-back or thoracic spine that averages to around 32% of injuries. Although most people experience low-back pain, only 9% of spinal injuries occur in the low back and tailbone or lumbosacral spine.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 SCI-Spinal Cord Injury Chiropractic Care El Paso, Texas

 

Understanding SCI Trauma

Damage to the spinal cord not only affects the area where the point of impact occurred. The primary injury can also damage cells, dislocate the vertebrae and cause spinal compression. It can also trigger secondary injuries, that cause a series of biological changes. This can happen within weeks or months after the injury.

The secondary injury cascade processes:

Glial cells along with the nerve cells in the spinal cord begin to die. These cells provide nutrients and other support to the nerve cells in the central nervous system. This consists of the brain and spinal cord.

The blood vessels in the spinal cord lose their ability to function, and this reduces the blood supply to the cord. When the blood supply becomes inadequate it is called ischemia. Blood vessel injuries expose the cord to inflammatory cells that in turn cause swelling. When the spinal cord becomes inflamed the spinal cord gets more and more compressed. If this happens�the initial injury progressively worsens.

This changes the cord�s structure and its normal operation. The secondary injury cascade can interfere with the cord�s ability to heal itself. This means an individual could experience permanent nerve pain and dysfunction.

 

Non-traumatic SCI

Spinal cord damage does not only happen with traumatic events. An SCI can also be caused by non-traumatic diseases in the spine. Tumors are the leading cause, but infections and degenerative disc disease can also cause serious damage.

Non-traumatic SCI’s happen more than traumatic based ones. �The incidence of traumatic SCI in North America comes to around 54 cases per one million people. With the incidence of non-traumatic SCI is around 1,227 cases per million people.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 SCI-Spinal Cord Injury Chiropractic Care El Paso, Texas

 

Healthy Spinal Cord Injury Outcomes

Spine researchers are making great strides in developing optimal protective and regenerative treatments to improve spinal cord health after these injuries occur.

Currently, innovative medical, surgical, cell-based and alternative treatments are furthering the medical community�s understanding of SCI’s. This is dramatically improving the quality of life and creating positive futures for individuals who experience these injuries.


 

Car Accident Injury Rehabilitation | El Paso, Tx (2020)

 


 

NCBI Resources

The muscles in the back keep the spine moving and functioning properly.�When the spine or�abdominal muscles are�weak this creates a higher probability of a back strain or injury. Having strong, healthy spine muscles are important because they function in maintaining correct posture, which in some cases, causes chronic back pain because of poor posture.

If�only one part of the body is�strengthened like the back is not enough. Therefore strengthening the rest of the body is a must. These include the body�s core and leg muscles. Total body strength will reduce back pain and can help perform regular activities, like�lifting heavy objects much easier, with more confidence and with a lesser probability of injury.

 

Sciatica and Chiropractic Nonsurgical Care El Paso, TX.

Sciatica and Chiropractic Nonsurgical Care El Paso, TX.

Sciatica is pain that can be accompanied by numbness, tingling and occasionally weakness along the course of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the thickest in the body and is formed from nerve roots exiting the spine, and extend into the buttocks and down the back of the legs to the toes. Common causes of sciatica along with non-surgical treatment options are presented by a chiropractor and a physical therapist.

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Sciatica and Chiropractic Non-Surgical Care El Paso, TX.

 

Causes of Sciatica and Non-Surgical Care

 

Compressed Lumbar Disc also called lumbar radiculopathy

Probably one of the most common causes of sciatica that I treat. About 90% of patients have a positive response to alternative/conservative treatment. I use x-rays as a guide to follow where the nerve is compressed and where the best manipulation areas are for me to adjust. Spinal manipulation is a very safe procedure and most cases will heal without surgery.

Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C. and a practicing physical therapist� �Combined with chiropractic treatment and massage, we may use a topical steroid combined with electric stimulation or ultrasound to adjust/release the area where the nerve is compressed.”

Lumbar traction is also used to reduce the size of the disc herniation and combine this with exercises, which are customized to the patient. Extending back and flexing exercises are also incorporated into the treatment plan and each is made specific to the patient. Patients may experience muscle spasms or joint stiffness, which is also relieved by massage therapy and joint mobilizations. Patients could also be trained on Kinesio tape application to relieve pressure and relax muscles.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Sciatica and Chiropractic Non-Surgical Care El Paso, TX.

 

Remember that strengthening the core is the key to reduce the risk of worsening the injury and getting new ones.

 

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

This is a condition that can be difficult to treat because of the mechanical nature of the compression on the nerves. The cause is often a combination of osteoarthritis, disc bulging and spinal holes that have narrowed�called neuroforamen. Physical therapy consists of traction, stretching, exercises, and chiropractic to lessen pain and inflammation.

 

 

Spondylolisthesis

This condition can be caused by trauma or degeneration of the spine. Conservative care is highly beneficial.

Extending the spine can worsen symptoms, therefore flexion-based exercises are what we recommend. Therapeutic exercises are utilized for abdominal strengthening and core stabilization. We get the patient to increase hip extension to reduce stress on the lumbar spine.� Manual therapies can also be used to control inflammation and alleviate muscle tightness or spasms.

 

Piriformis Syndrome

Piriformis syndrome also responds positively to conservative treatment. We look for the main cause when we see piriformis syndrome. This type of injury happens when a patient has a job or play a sport where they shorten and overuse the muscle.

We create a custom treatment/exercise program based on what is found structurally. Most of the time the piriformis muscle gets over-used because the hips are weak, so strengthening the hips and the core is key. Sciatic nerve mobilization can also help increase�sciatic nerve mobility. This can be achieved with instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization/Graston technique along with deep tissue massage will get optimal results.

 

 

Pregnancy

Sciatic symptoms often do present in pregnant women, which can make the pregnancy miserable. Our goal is to reduce symptoms and restore normal function with gentle exercise, massage, and hot/cold therapy.

The pelvic girdle is what we focus on, along with core stabilization, and Kinesio tape application to stabilize the girdle because of ligamentous laxity or loosening of the hips.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Sciatica and Chiropractic Non-Surgical Care El Paso, TX.

 

Trauma

Any kind of trauma that hits the gluteal area can become inflamed and spasm and bind around the sciatic nerve. We focus on relieving the pain and inflammation with manual therapies, and gentle exercises. These are based on what is found from the examination and how intense/extensive the trauma was.

Light spinal mobilization and massage have been proven to activate the body’s natural painkillers to alleviate and release the tight muscles. More rigorous exercises are brought in to the treatment plan as the patient gets stronger. These will strengthen their core and get them back to regular activities, job, and their sport.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Sciatica and Chiropractic Non-Surgical Care El Paso, TX.


 

*Effective Non-Surgical Treatment* for Sciatic Nerve Pain| El Paso, Tx


 

NCBI Resources

You may be suffering from�sciatica if you have ever experienced a shooting, nerve-like pain down one of your legs. The sciatic nerve can be impacted by a number of different things, including injury and degenerative diseases, that can lead to sciatica. Fortunately, chiropractic can be an effective non-surgical treatment for sciatica.

A car accident can easily damage the spine and soft tissues. An auto accident may cause a misalignment of the spine, a herniated disc, or other injuries that cause symptoms of sciatica.

 

Work/Personal Injuries from Repetitive Movements El Paso, Texas

Work/Personal Injuries from Repetitive Movements El Paso, Texas

Certain jobs or�daily�activities require us to do the same action over and over again. It can be enjoyable but these repetitive movements can cause serious injury to the body. Most affected are the:

  • Hands
  • Wrists
  • Elbows
  • Shoulders
  • Neck
  • Back

These injuries are quite common in the United States and are referred to as Repetitive Motion Disorders (RMDs).

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Work/Personal Injuries from Repetitive Movements El Paso, Texas

 

Repetitive Motion Disorders

Repetitive motion disorders are musculoskeletal conditions caused by movements/motions done over and over. RMDs can be caused by:

  • Muscle/ligament friction from unnatural or awkward motions like twisting the arm, wrist, hands or other areas of the body where repeated motions are used.
  • Incorrect posture/positioning when doing these movements.
  • Overdoing it, either trying to go faster or with added strength that really strains the muscles.

RMD’s cause symptoms because of muscle fatigue, inflammation, and swelling or compression of the nerve’s tissues. Examples include:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when the tunnel of bones and ligaments in the wrist begin to pinch the nerves in the fingers and the muscles around the thumb.
  • Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa that’s between the tendon and skin, or between a tendon and bone/s.
  • Tendonitis�is inflammation, irritation, and swelling of a tendon/s.
  • Epicondylitis (elbow pain) is inflammation, soreness, and pain on the outside of the upper arm around the elbow.
  • Ganglion cyst occurs when tissues surrounding specific joints get inflamed and swell up with fluid.
  • Tenosynovitis happens when the lining of the sheath that surrounds a tendon gets inflamed.
  • Trigger finger can be a painful or painless clicking, snapping, or locking of a finger/s.

 

 

All of the above conditions can be caused by other means and not repetitive movement/s.

RMD Work Risk

Jobs vary all over, but if repetitive movements are how the job gets done those individuals have a higher risk to get a repetitive motion disorder. There are professions and activities that increase the risk that include:

  • Assembly/factory linework
  • Carpentry
  • Computer work like typing, digital/graphic design where a digital pad/pen and mouse are the main tools that have to keep moving
  • Gardening
  • Lifting children like at daycare
  • Meatpacking
  • Playing musical instruments
  • Sewing
  • Sports

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Work/Personal Injuries from Repetitive Movements El Paso, Texas

 

RMD Symptoms

Symptoms of these disorders can include:

  • Pain, soreness, pinching and stiffness in the fingers, hands, wrists, forearms, elbows, shoulders, neck and back
  • Tingling or numbness.
  • Swelling or redness around the area.
  • Loss of flexibility and strength.
  • There could be no visible sign of injury or pain, but individuals find that the normal and easy tasks they’re used to become more and more difficult to do.

Injuries that are caused by repetitive movements often develop gradually. This is the time when the symptoms are mild and come and go, so the individual just works through it and doesn’t think about it. It’s not until the symptoms get very painful and debilitating that the individual realizes that something is wrong, and then they seek medical attention. Don’t wait, as soon as you feel a tingle, slight pinch, or a little soreness and you feel that it stems from your work’s repetitive movements, get in touch with a doctor or chiropractor before it becomes excruciating.


 

*BEST* Heel Spurs Treatment | El Paso, Tx (2020)


 

NCBI Resources

Safely Operating Tools that Cause Whole-Body Vibration

There are power tools that vibrate no matter what and�transmit vibration into the operator�s arms and hands, legs, and feet.�Using a tool like this can cause a condition called white finger or�Raynaud�s Phenomenon�to present.

The symptoms include:

  • Aching in the wrists and muscles of the forearm
  • Tingling sensations
  • Numbness
  • Whiteness in the fingers from restricted circulation

This type of vibration from riveting tools, grinders, pneumatic hammers, drills, and chain saws will affect the whole body�s well being.

 

Repetitive Motion Disorders (RMDs) and The Spine El Paso, TX.

Repetitive Motion Disorders (RMDs) and The Spine El Paso, TX.

How RMD’s affect the spine

Most repetitive motion injuries or RMDs affect the arms and hands. However, they can also happen in the spine.

The majority of back injuries, especially in the workplace, are often the result of long-term repetitive wear and tear on the:

  • Muscles
  • Ligaments
  • Tendons
  • Spinal discs

Repetitive work motions like:

  • Pulling
  • Reaching
  • Twisting
  • Bending

All of these movements can weaken and stress the spine and increase the risk of injury.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Repetitive Motion Disorders (RMDs) and The Spine El Paso, TX.

Treatment for RMD’s

When first treating an RMD, the first step is to reduce or stop the motions that are causing the symptoms. Other therapies include:

  • Ice therapy reduces pain and swelling.
  • Medications like cortisone and anti-inflammatory’s also reduce pain and swelling.
  • Chiropractic/Physical therapy relieves soreness and pain in the muscles and joints and strengthens the muscles to help prevent future injuries.
  • Splints relieve pressure on the muscles and nerves.
  • Surgery in rare cases can help relieve symptoms and prevent permanent damage.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol Ste. 128 Change of Weather Worsening Back Pain El Paso, TX.

Prevention

RMDs can be prevented. Here are some important tips to reduce�repetitive motion injury:

  • Take frequent breaks to avoid overuse of muscles with little rest breaks of whatever muscles/ligaments you are using.
  • Regular exercise along with stretching and relaxation helps build strength, increase mobility, range of motion and prevent future injury.
  • Look at your posture to make sure it is correct for the task at hand. This helps the elbows, wrists, hands, and spine maintain alignment during repetitive motions.
  • Don’t stay in a single position for too long. Change your posture frequently during any type of activity to relax one set of muscles and use another set, then switch and so on and so forth.
  • Practicing correct form and technique will go a long way in preventing a repetitive injury.
  • Avoid over-reaching, stretching and twisting.
  • Use protective equipment and gear.
  • Have a properly designed workstation with office or work equipment at the proper height, distance and allows you to work safely and comfortably.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Repetitive Motion Disorders (RMDs) and The Spine El Paso, TX.

Staying Healthy

Staying healthy and avoiding RMD’s is first priority if you work at a job or regularly participate in activities where repetitive motion/s and movement/s are used.

Give yourself time to rest, exercise, and implement proper techniques. See a doctor or injury chiropractor if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed. Ergonomically evaluating the causes is an important part of the diagnostic evaluation for patients with these conditions.

Therefore, mapping out a customized treatment plan for changing the way you work/perform these motions is the ultimate goal.

We focus on what works for you. We also strive to create fitness and better the body through researched methods and total wellness programs. These programs are natural and use the body�s own ability to achieve goals of improvement, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, surgery, or addictive drugs.

We want you to live a life that is fulfilled with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, less pain, proper body weight and educated on how to maintain this way of life. I have made a life of taking care of every one of my patients.


 

The “LIFE CHANGING” Foot Orthotics | El Paso, Tx (2020)

 


 

NCBI Resources

Barring traumatic injury due to an accident, working in a factory environment can cause problems with mobility, pain, and flexibility. The�nature of the job�places specific demands on the human body that can lead to certain types of injuries and health conditions, which include:

  • Repetitive motion injury � When a worker performs the same task that involves the same movements over and over, it can lead to certain types of injuries. Carpal tunnel is a common repetitive motion injury.
  • Overexertion � Lifting, pulling, even standing can take a toll on the body, especially when it is done without adequate breaks. The person can get muscle fatigue, pulled muscles, and pulled tendons.
  • Body movement injuries � When the worker is continuously reaching, twisting, crawling, and bending, it can cause problems with the muscles and joints.

 

House Sciatica Self-Care Therapies El Paso, Texas

House Sciatica Self-Care Therapies El Paso, Texas

Most of us know what sciatica means and that is low back pain that radiates/spreads into the buttock down into the leg and sometimes into the foot. The pain can be mild to excruciating, but fortunately, if it is mild�sciatica can usually be alleviated in 3 months.�These are a few non-invasive conservative treatment therapies that can be done at the house.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 House Sciatica Self-Care Therapies El Paso, Texas

 

Here are a few at the house sciatica remedies for people who started experiencing sciatic nerve pain or whose pain is not severe. But you should get a doctor�s approval before trying any of these at the house therapies.

If sciatica has been present for a few weeks or the low back and leg pain has become debilitating you should see a doctor.

House Tip 1. Exercise is OK & Beneficial

It might seem strange to exercise when you�re in pain, but research has shown that too much rest can aggravate back and leg symptoms.

Remember this is not a hardcore burning massive calories exercise, but a gentle exercise routine that you can work into your day.

These Exercises should not be painful or strenuous.

A walk around the house is a great form of physical activity that keeps your spine strong without worsening the injury.

Make your spine stronger with core exercises, but make sure they will not exacerbate your sciatica symptoms. And remember that exercise triggers the release of endorphins to reduce the pain.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 House Sciatica Self-Care Therapies El Paso, Texas

House Tip 2. Start Stretching

Start doing gentle stretches regularly. Stretching will improve your spinal flexibility and motion range and also builds core strength. Most stretches can be done while watching your favorite show/movie.

 

House Tip 3. Ice Packs and Heating Pads Help

Alternating heat and ice therapy can bring relief from nerve pain. Ice helps reduce inflammation, and heat generates blood flow to the areas of pain that speeds up healing. Both help reduce muscle spasms that usually come with sciatica.

Apply the ice pack for 15 minutes once every hour, and then bring the heat for 15 minutes every 2 or 3 hours. Remember to protect your skin when using these pads, and never sleep with the heat or ice pads.

 

House Tip 4. Change Your Posture

If you are working at your desk or just relaxing, don’t stay in the same position too long, as it can make the pain spike.

Therefore move around and change your posture every 20 minutes. Using the correct posture for various activities will help take the pressure off your spine and reduce symptoms.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 House Sciatica Self-Care Therapies El Paso, Texas

House Tip 5. If You Need To Use Medication Properly

Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications can help ease symptoms when they present. These medications can relieve inflammation and pain, whereas acetaminophen (Tylenol) only reduces pain.

However, there are health risks, so make sure to discuss their safety with your doctor.

Examples include:

  • Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
  • Aspirin (Ecotrin)
  • Naproxen (Aleve)

 

Woman holds her back as she experiences sciatica in the work setting.

The Remedies Are Not Working

Recognize when at the house remedies are not reducing your symptoms. When the treatments aren’t helping, it could be time to see a doctor, chiropractor or spine specialist.

People including myself want to avoid the doctor. It could be knowing how to use your health insurance or if you don�t have any. Whatever the reason do not opt for the ignorance is bliss and hope it will all go away.

If you need help figuring out how to use your insurance here at Injury Medical our staff are trained to help guide you through the process. And if you don’t have insurance we can still help and work out different types of plans.

Now there are sciatica symptoms that warrant immediate medical attention. In these rare cases, holding off medical care could cause permanent nerve damage.

If any of the following occur, please see your doctor as soon as you can:

  • There is severe throbbing/stinging pain in your low back and legs
  • Nerve associated symptoms like:
  1. Weakness
  2. Numbness
  3. Tingling
  4. Electric shock-like pain
  • The pain is not improving after 2 weeks
  • The pain gets worse, even with house therapies
  • Loss of bowel or bladder control

At the end of the day reducing sciatica symptoms doesn�t always mean having to use an extreme treatment approach. Relieving sciatica symptoms at the house with light exercise, ice/heat therapy, correct posture, and medication can help speed up recovery. The most important thing you can do is to take it seriously and call your doctor or chiropractor if relief is not happening.

Please contact our chiropractic team today to schedule an appointment if you are experiencing symptoms of sciatica. We are ready to help you feel better and get back on your feet again!


 

*Effective Treatment* for Sciatic Nerve Pain| El Paso, Tx


 

NCBI Resources

A study cited by the health magazine�Prevention�found that sixty percent of sciatica sufferers who failed to get relief from other treatments found their symptoms improved after chiropractic care. In fact, they got the same level of relief as those who went through surgery � without any of the serious side effects that so often come with surgical procedures.

Chiropractic is effective for treating sciatica because it gets to the source of the problem � relieving pressure on the sciatic nerve.

 

Phone Related Neck and Head Injuries El Paso, Texas

Phone Related Neck and Head Injuries El Paso, Texas

Head and neck injuries related to phone use are on the rise. Since the first iPhone was released, according to a study in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

Doctors are warning cell phone users to be especially careful when:

  • Walking around and texting

It is a distraction and one of the leading causes of head and neck injuries.

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Phone-Related Neck and Head Injuries El Paso, TX.

 

2,501 reported cases of phone-related head and neck injuries that lead to emergency room visits between January 1998 and December 2017 found in a nationwide database. Injuries in teens and young adults aged 13 to 29 years old were about 40%, in women (55%) and men (45%).

 

Common Phone Injuries

Common injuries include:

  • Cuts
  • Bruises
  • Abrasions
  • Internal injuries usually happen around the eyes and nose
  • Possible trauma to the brain

Over 41% of these injuries happened at home and were minor with little or no treatment needed. Around 50% of injuries were a result of distracted driving and 30% from distracted walking.

 

 

Any type of phone distraction in and out of the home puts you and others at risk for:

  • Falls
  • Slips
  • Trips

All of which can lead to injuries and other possible consequences (e.g. a busted phone).

More individuals are getting injured because of phone use while moving around and not paying attention to what’s around them.

Children

 

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 126 Phone-Related Neck and Head Injuries El Paso, TX.

 

Children under the age of 13 were at higher risk to suffer a mechanical injury like parents accidentally dropping the phone on their child or children hitting themselves in the face. For example, ninety cases of injuries occurred while playing Pokemon Go.

Spending as little as two to four hours a day hunched over a smartphone is enough to make a serious impact on the body over time. And though two to four hours may not seem like a long time, it isn�t hard to arrive at two hours by adding several 15-minute or half-hour segments together.

For teenagers, specifically, two to four hours on a smartphone has changed as of now teenagers spend around seven to eight hours on their phones. Spending twice as much time on afternoons or the space between classes or lunch. Think about the impact of 1500 plus hours of bad posture throughout the year. There is no surprise that teenagers are at risk.

The lasting impact of text neck and distracted phone use on today�s young people will be costly. Therefore, the public needs to be educated about the risks of distracted phone use and reducing this distracted behavior.


 

*Neck* Pain Chiropractic Care El Paso, Texas

 


 

NCBI Resources

If you begin noticing pain, spasms, or irritation around the neck, shoulders, or back make an appointment with a professional chiropractor. Explain when the pain occurred, the severity, and the activity that started it. A simple adjustment may be all that is needed to get re-aligned and gain relief from pain caused by overuse. A chiropractor can also help decrease the chances of the injury worsening over time.

 

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