At Manning Wellness Clinic chiropractic, acupuncture and massage new patients call the office because they are suffering from some sort of pain. Most often, they report that the pain is in their back, neck or shoulder–or sometimes, all 3. And often times, although they try to pinpoint the exact cause of the pain, they just can’t. Maybe they slept wrong; maybe they bent to pick something up; maybe they did nothing more strenuous than sneeze. All of these simple movements can cause stress to a joint or nerve, especially if, at some point in the past, there has been some damage. Dr. Manning will first work to diagnose the cause of the problem, and then address ways to not only relieve the pain, but correct the underlying issue. If your injury requires care beyond Chiropractic, we work with a network of doctors and will refer you to an appropriate specialist.
We diagnose and treat many of the most common causes of low back pain including:
- Injury or overuse of muscles, ligaments, and joints.
- Pressure on nerve roots in the spinal canal. This can be caused by:
- A herniated disc, sometimes brought on by repeated vibration or motion (as during sport activity or when using a machine or lifting in the wrong way) or by a sudden heavy strain or increased pressure to the lower back.
- Osteoarthritis, usually caused by years of improper joint function. When osteoarthritis affects the small joints in the spine, it can lead to back pain. Osteoarthritis in other joints, such as the hips, can cause you to limp or to change the way you walk. This can also lead to back pain.
- Spondylolisthesis, a defect that allows one vertebra to slide over another.
- Spinal stenosis, or narrowing of the spinal canal, which is usually caused by getting older.
- Fractures of the vertebrae caused by a lot of force, such as from an auto or bicycle accident, a direct blow to the spine, or compressing the spine by falling onto the buttocks or head.
- Spinal deformities, including curvature problems such as severe scoliosis or kyphosis.
- Compression fractures. These are more common among post-menopausal women with osteoporosis and in men or women after long-term corticosteroid use. In a person with osteoporosis, even a small amount of force put on the spine, as from a sneeze, may cause a compression fracture.
Neck and shoulder pain:
Neck pain is a common complaint. Most causes of neck pain aren’t serious. Neck muscles can be strained from poor posture — whether it’s leaning into your computer at work or hunching over your workbench doing hobbies at home. Wear-and-tear arthritis also is a common cause of neck pain. But although the pain may not be a sign of a serious underlying issue, it is something that can greatly affect your day-to-day function and ability. For that reason alone, it is well worth treating now to avoid continued discomfort and limited function in the future.
Neck and shoulder pain can be classified in many different ways. Some people experience only neck pain or only shoulder pain, while others experience pain in both areas.
What Causes Neck Pain?
Causes of neck pain include:
- Abnormalities in the bone or joints
- Trauma
- Poor posture
- Degenerative diseases
- Tumors
- Muscle strain
What Causes Shoulder Pain?
The shoulder is a ball and socket joint with a large range of movement. Such a mobile joint tends to be more susceptible to injury. Shoulder pain can stem from one or more of the following causes:
- Strains from overexertion
- Tendonitis from overuse
- Shoulder joint instability
- Dislocation
- Collar or upper arm bone fractures
- Frozen shoulder
- Pinched nerves (also called radiculopathy)
How Are Neck and Shoulder Pain Diagnosed?
- We offer X-rays in our clinic: Plain X-rays can reveal narrowing of the space between two spinal bones, arthritis-like diseases, tumors, slipped discs, narrowing of the spinal canal, fractures and instability of the spinal column.
- If needed, we will refer out for anMRI: Magnetic resonance imaging is a noninvasive procedure that can reveal the detail of neural (nerve-related) elements.
