The primary symptom of a cervical headache mimics other kinds of headaches closely, namely disabling pain. Sometimes vertigo, nausea, sensitivity to loud noises or bright lights, or other nerve problems accompany the pain, but these are also common to other kinds of headaches. So what’s so different about a cervical headache? The difference is in the source of the pain itself.

If there is a problem with the cervical area of the spine, blood flow from the arteries that traverse this area can be compromised. Less blood flow to the brain translates to headache. However, because of the way the nerves are interconnected in the brain, the nerve impulses that register pain come in ambiguously, and the brain may tend to interpret these signals as a pain in the head instead of in the neck.

Compromised blood flow from arteries in the neck is only one way a cervical headache may arise. Other causes could include rheumatoid arthritis in the neck area or a habit of sleeping in awkward neck positions. A trauma such as whiplash can initiate a series of recurrent cervical headaches.

Conventional medicine is often baffled by such headaches, before and after diagnosis. If a medical doctor does determine the correct cause of the pain, they are often at a loss as to what would be an appropriate treatment. Often medication is prescribed, but medication only masks the symptoms without addressing the underlying problem, and is contraindicated in the use of children and even some adults due to the side effects. Perhaps therapy or surgery may be recommended to manage symptoms when they’re severe enough to warrant the possibility.

When a chiropractor examines a patient who complains of headaches, the examination would include a palpitation of the area under the occipital bone. Tenderness in this area would tend to point toward a cervical cause for headaches. Also, if the patient’s headaches increase in length or intensity due to head or neck movement, this also would lead towards a diagnosis of cervical headache. Often the pain will begin in the back of the head and radiate toward the front of the head.

Chiropractic adjustments are among the most effective treatments available for a patient suffering from cervical headaches. A chiropractic adjustment improves the structure of the spine, thereby reducing the strain on the spine and nerves and thereby reducing or even eliminating the cause of the headache in the first place. Reducing the stresses on bones, muscles, nerves and spine that come from within or without is what chiropractic care is all about.

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Why are some joints susceptible to this condition and others not? Osteoarthritis can happen at any joint in the body, but there are some known and suspected risk factors. Age is definitely a risk factor, even though sometimes young people will sometimes develop the condition. Sometimes a genetic predisposition to creating defective cartilage in the body will lead to osteoarthritis. Being a woman is a risk factor, even though it’s still unknown why this is. Injury or overuse will predispose a person to develop this condition. Obesity increases risk of osteoarthritis, even in the non-weight-bearing joints of the hands.

Symptoms of this condition come on slowly and gradually worsen; joint pain and swelling being the primary symptoms. Eventually many who have this condition will find themselves facing disability and being unable to work or function normally.
Conventional medicine offers no cure for osteoarthritis. There is none at the present time. Management of the condition is the key, to allow one so afflicted to live as normal a life for as long a period of time as possible. The patient’s treatment plan will depend on the current level of pain, and as the pain rises, so does the strength of the drugs and the invasiveness of the therapies recommended. Those who struggle with mild symptoms would do well to look down the line at what treatments are recommended for severe pain, and evaluate their options before they are forced into extreme treatments for the sake of pain reduction.

There can be great benefit to chiropractic management of osteoarthritis, and even prevention. If an injury has been sustained or a genetic predisposition exists, then prevention becomes even more important. It’s believed that the body is capable of ‘learning’ from chiropractic manipulation. If the body lives in a normal state, it’s easier to keep that normal state than to try and move the body to a healthy state from a state of disease.

A chiropractor can advise an osteoarthritis sufferer on what kind of treatments will be most beneficial, and what kinds of lifestyle modifications to make depending on the patient’s individual situation. Chiropractic manipulation has the prospect of reducing pain and increasing mobility and function of afflicted joints. Supplementation such as glucosamine sulfate can create a positive result in some patients. Recommended stretching and flexion exercises can bring about significant improvement. There is much that can be done to slow or stop the progression of osteoarthritis.

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A person can either be born with spinal stenosis or have it come upon them as the result of the degenerative processes of old age. Osteoarthritis is the main cause of spinal stenosis, although other factors can come into play as well. Herniated discs can be the reason. A toughening of the ligaments in the back over time can cause narrowing and inflexibility in the back. Swelling or a bone break from an accident or other trauma can set the stage for stenosis. Those who suffer from conditions that lead to dwarfism will have less space for the nerves in the backbone, and stenosis can occur. Any tumor or other abnormal growth in the spinal tissues will reduce the amount of available space in the spine and also begin stenosis symptoms.

What are the characteristic symptoms of spinal stenosis? Think back pain that starts slowly and grows greater as space narrows further. Compression on the nerves in the spine can cause growing pain or discomfort in the back and outer limbs. There may be weakness of the arms or legs, or numbing or cramping sensations. The pain is sometimes relived by stretching or flexing exercises, since these movements temporarily open up new space in the spinal area. More serious and worrisome symptoms might be a disruption of bowel or bladder area, or sexual dysfunction. Symptoms such as these constitute a true medical emergency, and a doctor should be sought right away.

When faced with a diagnosis of spinal stenosis, practitioners of conventional medicine have many possible options to choose from. Medication, physical therapy, rest, a back brace, or epidural injections are some of the possibilities, and they do help sometimes. Sometimes they don’t, or they come along with unacceptable side effects. Some treatments have to be limited, to avoid the possible side effects. If the pain continues past the safe limit of medication, surgery may be considered, but it also holds no guarantees of success.

The medical establishment has always been slow to recognize and acknowledge the value of chiropractic care. Yet, even modern medicine will grudgingly agree that, in the treatment of spinal stenosis, chiropractic has its place. Chiropractic manipulation restores the natural flow of blood and nervous system impulses within the spine. Traction or spinal decompression therapy can be very effective for opening up new space within the spine and relieving pressure on nerves and blood vessels. All treatments used by chiropractors are natural and non-invasive, and are based around the view that the body seeks a point of homeostasis or balance. Chiropractors seek this balance of all body systems in their treatment of patients.

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A patient may feel cheated, as if the surgery should have cut the pain away. Unfortunately, that is not the point of back surgery. Back surgery only modifies existing anatomy. When back surgery is unsuccessful, it’s indicative that the point of the spine that was thought to be causing the pain was actually not the right point. Scar tissue accumulation after the operation can cause further pain, often coming on slowly about 6-12 months after surgery has occurred. Technical problems with the delicate process of surgery itself can occur.

If the part of the nerve that was compressed previous to surgery remains compressed, the pain will continue post-operatively. Even when one disc is fused with another, other discs on either side can also degenerate later and cause further problems. Careful rehabilitation is necessary after surgery, and if this aspect is neglected or mishandled, pain can once again recur…pain that can leave the patient completely disabled.

Once the conventional medical doctor has pulled out surgery and it fails, there is little more that can be done to relieve the source of the pain for the patient. Additional surgery may not be considered for at least a year. Temporary pain relief on a very permanent round of powerful drugs may become the norm for the FBS patient. Yet there are complications with using such drugs long-term, as they can become toxic. Spinal cord stimulation is available to some patients, and considered “minimally invasive”, although it once again involves surgery, with the familiar surgical complications.

If you or someone you know is considering the possibility of spinal surgery, it is imperative that you consider the services of a chiropractor and the benefits you could derive before you decide to go under the knife. Even if you’ve already had surgery, chiropractic care can still be an option for you or a loved one in the relief of continuing back pain. A chiropractor will look at many facets of your life, and not just the back pain, to determine the possible causes, and to design an individualized treatment program that will utilize such factors as appropriate adjustments, rehabilitative exercises, and nutrition and lifestyle management to create the best overall solution. Relief of back pain can be possible, even after back surgery. Still, the most effective solution to the problem of failed back syndrome is prevention of unnecessary surgeries in the first place.

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Bone spurs (also called osteophytes) can result from long-term stress. They most commonly form around the joints of the foot, spine, and shoulder, but a bone spur can form on any bone in the body. Those who are engaged in frequent physical activity, such as athletes or dancers, can be prone to bone spurs. They are also a common side effect of osteoarthritis. When cartilage is destroyed by the existing arthritic condition, the body steps in to try and repair the damage, and bone spurs occur. Sometimes bone spurs are simply a side effect of the body’s normal aging process, and can actually be of benefit to an aging body. Bone spurs can reinforce joints that are losing cartilage in some cases.

Bone spurs can quietly exist in the body without causing any problems. It’s not uncommon for a patient to have an X-ray for a different problem, and discover bone spurs that are asymptomatic. It’s when the new growth of bone comes into contact with other tissues and causes trauma over time that a problem develops. Symptoms can include swelling, tearing of nearby tissues, and pain, depending on how much damage is being done. There can be some lost motion if a joint is affected. Symptoms can also vary with the area of the body being affected.

When a doctor discovers bone spurs on an X-ray, no treatment will be initiated unless there are obvious symptoms that the spur is doing some damage in the body. If the pain is great, some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines may be prescribed. Surgery may be indicated if the spur is causing a lot of distress or damage. This is especially the case when arthritis is involved, and often bone spurs will be removed while a doctor is surgically repairing arthritis damage.

A chiropractor can’t make a bone spur go away, any more than a medical doctor can. Chiropractors don’t operate – a costly and invasive procedure that should only be considered seriously when all other less invasive treatments have been rendered ineffective. When a patient approaches a chiropractor for treatment for a bone spur, the patient has to understand that a bone spur may not actually be the problem. Many bone spurs cause no problem whatsoever. Just because a bone spur exists doesn’t mean it’s automatically the source of whatever pain or discomfort a patient may be experiencing.

A chiropractor would initiate an examination to determine if chiropractic adjustment would be safe to do on the patient, and proceed cautiously with a course of treatment to see if any improvements are made. Other therapies may be called into play, such as ultrasound or deep soft tissue mobilization, depending on the patient’s situation. Chiropractic treatment is scientifically sound and holistic in nature, and can be very effective.

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This condition is common in old age. It’s most common in women, but men can also be affected. There are many factors that contribute to the development of osteoporosis. A great reason why women are more prone to osteoporosis than men results from the natural lowering of estrogen levels as women enter menopause. When men get osteoporosis, it’s often due to a loss of testosterone. A family history of osteoporosis or belonging to a Caucasian or Asian ethnic group also increases a person’s risk. Other factors, such as a sedentary lifestyle, diet, or medications, are a little more controllable.

Osteoporosis is a symptom-free disease, until a fracture occurs. People who don’t actually have full-blown osteoporosis can have low bone density (osteopenia) and also never know until the damage is obvious. When a bone breaks, it can happen in one of two ways. The fracture can be either a crack, as often happens with hip fractures. It can also be a compression fracture, as usually happens in the wrist or spine, which are also common areas from fractures to happen. When many small fractures in the spine occur over time, back pain and the familiar-looking hunchback occurs (known as dowager’s hump).

A medical doctor will tend not to emphasize lifestyle measures to prevent osteoporosis. It’s understandable. Most conventional medical doctors are trained to respond to disease when it appears. When a diagnosis of osteoporosis is made, a doctor will recommend lifestyle change when appropriate, such as quitting smoking or alcohol intake, exercise and diet changes. However, since doctors are not trained in how to create such sweeping lifestyle changes, a patient will often have to look to other experts for such advice. There are some medications that can help build bone density, but such powerful medications often come with equally powerful side effects.

Chiropractic care is at its most effective when it’s utilized for prevention, and nowhere is prevention more important in health care than in preventing osteoporosis. A chiropractor knows that proper diet, weight-bearing exercise and proper levels of supplementation from childhood to adulthood will strengthen bones and protect them from abnormal bone loss. Still, all is not lost if a person has discovered they have osteopenia or osteoporosis. Lifestyle factors, combined with proper medical treatment, can have a great strengthening effect on bones. Special low-force chiropractic treatments protect brittle bones, and allow the body to continue to be safely manipulated to keep the nervous system in balance and allow healing to happen without being hindered.

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The causes of epilepsy are seldom known for sure. Illness can trigger seizures. Brain damage from trauma can be a factor in the development of epilepsy. Some kinds of epilepsy are inherited genetically, and can be the hardest kind to control.

The main symptom is epilepsy is seizure activity. These seizures can come to a person in different manifestations. Some people may stare into space, and not be able to concentrate on any structured activity. They may enter a sort of dreamlike state while they are awake, experience strange feelings or sensations, make strange repetitive movements, or even lose consciousness. These partial seizures are not as noticeable as generalized seizures, where a person may fall down, lose consciousness and/or experiences muscles spasms all over the body.

The symptoms experienced by an epilepsy sufferer may lead some to believe that the patient is not sound mentally, but that is seldom the case. A person who has seizures is not any less mentally sound than any other person. In fact, sometimes the opposite is true. Some people in history who have suffered from epilepsy include Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Fyodor Dostoyevsky, among many other talented and distinguished people.

A diagnosis of epilepsy is not usually made until the patient has had two or more seizure episodes that could not be connected to another disorder. Once it’s been established that a patient has epilepsy, treatment will depend upon the doctor determining accurately what kind of epilepsy is involved, which is a tricky process at best. Sometimes medications are effective; sometimes not. All drugs come with minor to major side effects. A change can be effected with diet, but specialists will need to be consulted, since most medical doctors are not trained in dietary treatment of disease. More serious cases may be treated with surgery on the brain, which is a very invasive and delicate procedure.

A theory within the chiropractic community is that the spinal structures of the upper cervical area have a correlation with blood flow in the cerebellum as well as an effect on neurotransmitters in the brain. When manipulations are performed to release subluxations in this area, the result is a reduction or sometimes the complete cessation of the abnormal nerve signals that characterize epilepsy. No firm promises of cures can be made by either the medical establishment or by chiropractors; each case is unique in its characteristics. However, there are many stories of epileptic patients’ conditions being dramatically improved by the use of chiropractic treatment. Chiropractors aim to balance the body systems, release blockages that affect the nervous system, and to that end, those who suffer from epilepsy may stand to receive great benefit from chiropractic treatment, especially when medical treatment becomes ineffective or insufficient.

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When a person comes down with this illness, it can be difficult to tell. Early symptoms have a tendency to mimic other diseases, and a doctor often has to perform many tests in order to rule out other conditions before a diagnosis of ALS can be made with any confidence. There can be pronounced muscle weakness in many areas of the body, especially the extremities. There are problems with swallowing, speaking or breathing. How ALS affects one person or another can be very varied, which also makes diagnosis difficult. Weakness in the muscles and eventual paralysis are the only symptoms common to all ALS sufferers, who are more commonly men than women.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis sometimes run in families genetically, but more often, the cause of ALS, or why one person is affected and not another, remains a mystery. Studies have been done on environmental and dietary factors, but nothing substantial has resulted yet. One other theory is that ALS may be an autoimmune response; when the body’s immune system attacks itself instead of foreign bodies, resulting in nerve damage.
Unfortunately, this disease has no cure and can only be managed to allow the patient the maximum comfort and expression possible. Once a diagnosis of ALS is made, there are many treatments available through conventional channels of medicine. One drug in particular, called riluzole, seems effective in slowing the rate of deterioration somewhat. A doctor may recommend other drugs to deal with the side effects of the disease. Therapy can be made available to keep the patient’s muscles functioning optimally as long as possible.

Where does chiropractic treatment fit in with an ALS patient? While there are no large-scale studies that have been done on the effectiveness of chiropractic care for ALS patients, there is anecdotal evidence that indicates chiropractic care produces some improvement in symptoms. Chiropractic subluxation adjustments, along with dietary and lifestyle changes, are what chiropractors do best, and should be considered as part of anyone’s treatment plan. Alternatives to medical treatments like chiropractic consider the patient’s whole self and how that self functions optimally, as opposed to being focused on one body part or system.

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Doctors and researchers still don’t know exactly why diabetes happens to any kind of individual in particular; the process of breakdown is unclear most of the time, especially in Type 1 diabetes. There may be genetics reasons. In Type 2 diabetes, there are some factors, such as a sedentary lifestyle, a high-fat, high-sugar diet, a person’s ethnicity or family history that would tend to indicate a person at risk. If a person is diagnosed with pre-diabetes, sometimes successful lifestyle management can be enough to bring balance to the body’s systems and prevent full-blown diabetes from developing.

Many people may have diabetes and not know it; there are many who are not diagnosed. When glucose levels are too high, the body tries to compensate by urinating more frequently to get the excess sugar out. This extra urination can also spark a greater desire for drinking fluids. Weight loss without trying can happen, mostly with Type 1 diabetes. When cells don’t get the glucose they need to make energy, and insulin can’t help them, a person can become very fatigued. Other possible symptoms include blurry vision, or dry skin, or a tingling feeling in the hands and/or feet, or a slower-than-normal healing response to cuts.

When Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed, insulin injections and diet and exercise changes will be prescribed. This regimen must be followed for the rest of the patient’s life. Type 2 diabetes also must be managed throughout the lifetime of the patient, but lifestyle adjustments to control blood sugar levels may be enough without the addition of insulin injections. Gestational diabetes most often resolves itself once the baby is born, but is a reliable indicator of the development of an additional gestational diabetic condition with subsequent pregnancies, as well as the development of Type 2 diabetes later in life.

Chiropractic treatment can bring great benefits to the organ systems of the body of a diabetic patient. Balancing the nervous system through chiropractic manipulation and lifestyle management has been shown in anecdotal evidence to reduce the diabetic’s need for medications, and to improve their overall quality of life. While chiropractic care cannot claim to cure diabetes any more than conventional medicine can, there can be a significant improvement to a diabetic’s quality of life when chiropractic care is added as part of a medical management program for this condition.

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Why does Bell’s Palsy happen? There are a few known factors, including viral infections from diseases such as meningitis or even cold sore or shingles viruses. If these viruses target the nerves by the face, Bell’s Palsy can result. Since the facial nerves pass through a narrow corridor of bone on either side of the face in order to get to the brain, any swelling in this area will hinder the effectiveness of those nerves. This disorder has a tendency to more often affect those who are pregnant, or who also manage a diabetic condition.

The symptoms of Bell’s Palsy tend to emerge one to two weeks after a viral infection, and set in quickly. Such symptoms are visually alarming, and the person who experiences this disorder may initially feel that they’re having a stroke. The face may seem hard or unresponsive, on one or (more rarely) both sides. There may be a loss of ability to taste anything on one side of the tongue. Eyes droop and tear up excessively, or perhaps only one side of the face works while the other side droops. The difference between a stroke and Bell’s Palsy is that, with a stroke, there are other symptoms in different areas of the body as well. If symptoms are confined to the facial area, chances are good the prognosis will not be a stroke. In severe cases, nerves may be permanently damaged or make new connections that permanently change how nerve messages are sent.

There is no medical treatment at the moment that is more effective than another. The good news is that, in most patients, the symptoms will resolve themselves within a matter of weeks or months, depending on the severity of the damage. In an unfortunate few, symptoms remain or recur at different intervals. Some medication can be prescribed to deal with the symptoms, and should only be taken with a doctor’s recommendation to reduce the chances of bad drug interactions. Other than that, conventional medicine has very little to offer Bell’s Palsy sufferers.

Chiropractic treatment for Bell’s palsy, on the other hand, can be very effective in managing the aftereffects of a viral attack on facial nerves. Often the very reason that symptoms are appearing in the first place is because the nerve that controls that side of the face has become compressed or swollen and chiropractic treatment can target the actual source of the problem, rather than simply mask the symptoms. Treatments such as electrical muscle stimulation and chiropractic adjustment have shown good results in treatment of patients with Bell’s Palsy.