chiropractic

Patient question about Vertigo.

Q) For the past 5 years I have noticed when I wake up in the morning I get extremely dizzy. It feels like the entire room is spinning. Its a little scary but lasts only a couple of minutes then goes away. I have been to my primary medical doctor and other specialists in the past. They take my blood work which they tell me is normal then give me medication. The medications they gave me doesn’t seem to be doing anything except making me tired all the time. Some of my friends have been treated by a Chiropractic Neurologist with great results. How does a Doctor of Chiropractic Neurology fix vertigo?

A) Vertigo is a common problem, especially in the elderly or after a head or neck trauma. Vertigo is a sense of dizziness or spinning, sometimes associated with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and sweating.
It can have many causes and in most cases is a treatable condition. The treatment used obviously depends on the cause which is why chiropractic neurologist Dr. Matthew Hoffman will do a thorough examination when you first come in for treatment.
One of the most common causes of vertigo and dizziness is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), also called Benign Vertigo or Positional Vertigo.
There are other, more serious, causes of vertigo such as stroke, tumors, anemia, heart problems and neurological diseases such as MS, which is why Dr. Hoffman performs and extensive neurological examination.
The inner ear contains fluid that allows the brain to sense movement along with a nerve plexus in the neck to maintain balance. The cause of BPPV is a dislodgement of small calcium carbonate crystals, known as otoconia, which then float in the inner ear fluid. These crystals strike against the sensitive nerve endings and cause the symptoms of BPPV.
Normally BPPV is misdiagnosed and treated with drugs, such as Stemetil and Compazine (prochlorperazine), a sedative, which has many serious side affects and does not address the cause.
A Chiropractor can form diagnosis and deliver the right treatment, which can help you get rid of this disabling condition, and quickly.
The condition is treated by certain repositioning maneuvers and spinal adjustments. Dr. Hoffman is trained to perform these maneuvers , which are a simple and well-tolerated technique that will cure BPPV in the majority of patients.
Dr. Hoffman will move you into specific positions to move the otoconia where they wont cause further symptoms. This maneuver combined with cervical(neck) manipulations to realign the nerve messages properly, is an extremely affective means of alleviating the vertigo.

What caused your Vertigo?

Have you ever experienced or felt that you or your surroundings were moving or spinning? If you have, then you have fallen victim to a vertigo attack. Vertigo attacks happen when you have a sudden feeling that you yourself and the environment surrounding you are in motion. Though many have took vertigo to just be some kind of common dizzy spell, it is not. In fact, it is very far from that. Unlike common dizzy spells, vertigo actually gives you the illusion of motion. This is why you can feel that you or your surroundings are moving even if everything is completely still.

There are two types of vertigo: subjective and objective. You experience subjective vertigo when you feel as if you yourself are moving. Inversely, you experience objective vertigo when you feel as if your surroundings are in motion.

Vertigo may be considered a condition in itself but it is actually also a symptom of other conditions. This means that when you have vertigo, you could actually be suffering from a more severe condition and you must seek chiropractic treatment services immediately.

FACTORS THAT CAN CAUSE VERTIGO

The following are factors or conditions that may be the reason why you have vertigo.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

BPPV is known to be the most common form of vertigo. It is described as a sensation of movement that originated from swift movements of the head towards a certain direction.
This vertigo is rarely something to worry about and can be easily treated in any wellness center or chiropractic treatment center.

Labyrinthitis or Vestibular Neuritis

In simple terms, this means the inflammation within the inner ear.
It is characterized by sudden vertigo that may be related to some hearing loss.
Viral or bacterial inner ear infection is the most common cause of this condition.

Meniere’s disease

This condition has three symptoms. The symptoms include vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss.

Acoustic Neuroma

This is considered to be a type of tumor found in the nerve tissue that can cause vertigo.
One-sided ringing in the ear and hearing loss are also other symptoms of this condition.

Cerebral Hemorrhage

This refers to any bleeding into the back of the brain.
This causes vertigo because it leads to a decreased blood flow to the base of the brain.
A person with this condition would also experience headaches, difficulty walking and inability to look towards the side of the bleed.

Multiple Sclerosis

This condition can cause sudden or abrupt vertigo

Head and Neck Injuries

Any head trauma or neck injury can lead to the development of vertigo. But this would usually subside right away.

Migraine

Migraine is known to be a severe form of headache.
The vertigo in this condition is followed by a headache.

Arteriosclerosis

This is characterized by the hardening of the arteries.
This could result to vertigo because it decreases the blood flow to the brain.

Many factors that caused Neck Pain

Neck pain is a very common condition. It can affect most anyone at any given point in their lifetime. So there is no doubt you have experienced that struggle of having neck pain and discomfort. It is a very bothersome condition. But, like many other people, you may have overlooked it. Most people tend to make assumptions as to why they have it and then ignore it until time heals it.

But one has to recognize that this neck pain, if untreated, can actually lead to more serious conditions. That is why it is very important to know the factors that may have caused your neck pain so you could further prevent it and avoid the need for serious treatments.

Neck pain varies from a simple stiff neck to a more severe problem which could later on call for surgery. It is basically just pain in the neck region and this pain can be looked as any stiffness, soreness, tightness of muscles and hardness found in the neck region. The pain can even extend from the neck down to the shoulders and shoulder blades, and up to the head. If you are in Bourbonnais, IL, then you can go to one of their many chiropractic treatment centers to avail of the chiropractic services in Bourbonnais.

Many factors could cause the occurrence of neck pain. Recognizing and understanding these factors would help you prevent neck pain from bothering you again in the future and keep that neck pain from developing into worse conditions. These factors are:

1.Personal Injury

Personal injury is definitely a major reason for neck pain. When the neck is injured, it is weakened. It would not have its usual strength and power that is has to support your head. Your neck would have to constantly strain itself to provide support for your head and for your various movements. This makes an injured neck more vulnerable to neck pain. That is why it is wise to take special care when dealing with an injured and traumatized neck.

2.Uncomfortable Sleeping Postures

How you sleep at night would determine how your neck would feel when you wake up the next morning. Falling asleep in a difficult sleeping position totally guarantees neck pain the next morning. This is because falling asleep in a difficult and uncomfortable sleeping position means that you would maintain that same compromising posture all throughout your sleep. Your neck will be strained the whole night and that’s not good news at all.

3.Very Poor Body Mechanics

This is a very important factor. Body mechanics include your posture and everyday movements. If your posture and everyday movements are actually compromising for your neck, we you want to change them. You have to make it a point to make your neck alignment the overall focus of your posture and all your everyday bodily movements. Keep in mind that every time you compromise your neck, you take it one step closer to damage.

Understanding these factors that can cause neck pain can be of great help to you in the prevention and early treatment of your neck pain. It is a big plus to be living in Bourbonnais. Experiencing neck pain in Bourbonnais is not a hassle as there are a lot of chiropractic services available to help in the treatment and diagnosis of your neck pain.

A sign to Neck Pain

It’s a beautiful day in Bourbonnais, Illinois and you can’t help but play another good game of golf. But as you swing, you notice an ache in your neck. And you wake up the next morning to a stiff and painful neck. What do you do about it?

Well, most people would just shake it off and wait for time to heal their neck pain. Maybe throw in a few anti-inflammatories or two, a little bit of massage, and all is well. But then, there are times when neck pain can get pretty serious and you would have to take immediate action to treat it. So when exactly can neck pain be deemed normal and when can it be considered a critical situation?

Neck pain is actually a very common condition that attacks everyone at a certain point in their life. It happens more frequently to women than to men. Neck pain can be considered normal when it is only but a mild discomfort. It may be a pain that has resulted from a bad sleeping position and will subside after a day.

But there are certain conditions that would require early assessment. These conditions cannot and should not be ignored. Suffering from herniated disc is one. Of all the conditions, this is the least severe. In fact, greater than 90% of herniated disc cases would not even require any interference. It is still important, however, to take extra care in day to day activities so as to not worsen the situation. There are a number of indistinguishable symptoms that are common to both a musculoskeletal injury and a herniated disc. Only time could tell for sure.

These symptoms include neck pain, stiffness, head ache and reduced range of motion. Aside from herniated discs, there are other conditions that are more serious. These conditions are severe enough to cause lasting damage to a nerve or to your spinal cord. As for symptoms, it wouldn’t take a neurologist to recognize them and once confirmed, you should go seek early attention from your physician. You should start worrying when you are experiencing neck pain that is associated with numbness of your hands or arms, any electrical shocks going down your spine or arms, any weaknesses in pushing, pulling, grasping or walking.

If you are having any difficulty in picking things up or manipulating them with your fingers, you may be victim to subtle and sometimes confusing nerve damage. If you are experiencing any of the abovementioned symptoms and neck pain in Bourbonnais, you should not fret. There are lots of chiropractic services in Bourbonnais available and always ready to give the best treatment for your neck pain. They will decide whether or not you need an MRI of the cervical spine. This test would tell you if you are at risk for any further and more severe spinal cord or nerve injury.

You have to make it a point to avoid assuming anything and have your condition treated. Immediate action is the key to avoid severe conditions. Though your stiff and aching neck usually gets better in a few days, it would be helpful to know when to really worry about it and take it seriously.

How effective is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture, as a term, is very popular as most people have probably encountered it on their favorite television shows, in newspapers, and maybe even through the internet. The common perception of acupuncture is that it is a painful process that involves having to poke through the patient’s skin with long and scary looking needles. Though there is a little bit of truth to this perception, the practice of acupuncture is not limited to only this. In fact, acupuncture is much more than what people perceive it to be.

WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?

In order to fully understand how acupuncture works, one has to be able to grasp the idea of acupuncture itself. First off, one should realize that the term acupuncture does not necessarily refer to only one procedure. It actually refers to a whole family of procedures used to stimulate points in the body.

The most common process of acupuncture is the one that involves the penetration of the skin with long, metallic needles. This procedure is done by a qualified acupuncturist or practitioner. At times, this procedure may also be done through electrical stimulation.

Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years. The Chinese were the first to practice it. They believed that the body comprised of two contrasting yet inseparable forces called yin and yang. The balance of the forces would determine the body’s overall health. A disease would mean that the body’s forces are imbalanced and the flow of the body’s “qi” (vital energy) along meridians (pathways) has been blocked. This is where acupuncture comes in.

HOW ACUPUNCTURE WORKS

Acupuncture cleverly targets certain bodily points and stimulates them. The most popular acupuncture procedure makes use of long metallic needles to do so. These needles stimulate the points and eliminate the blockages that stagnates the qi in our body. When our qi is flowing again, the balance of yin and yang is restored and the body becomes healthy again. This is just the main idea on how acupuncture works.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR FIRST TRY

When you first try out acupuncture, you should expect the practitioner to ask you a few important questions regarding your health conditions, behaviors and lifestyle. He does this so he could diagnose you accordingly. You should help him by informing him about all the treatments or medications you are currently taking as well as the medical conditions you are suffering from.

You have most likely pictured acupuncture to be a painful process but that is not at all true—if you are in the hands of a qualified practitioner, that is. If you are situated in Illinois, you can find good acupuncturists in Bradley. You may also want to try out acupuncture in Bourbonnais or avail of the discount acupuncture in Kankakee County.

Most people would feel none to minimal pain as the needles are inserted into their skin. Some find acupuncture energizing while some find it relaxing. Effective Acupiuncture treatment will not just end after one session, however. It may even take a period of several weeks or months to finish.

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