(415) 421-1115

Supreet Shah

Facet Joint Syndrome: Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

by

The work of a joint is to connect two or more body bones to facilitate motion. In our spine, facet joints are the joints that connect two or more vertebrae. Like any other joints in the body, facet joints allow effortless motion in the intervertebral disc. This functionality caters to the stability of each motion segment. Unfortunately, because of age or any accident, a person can get damage in his facet joints which leads to facet joint syndrome.

The Facets are located in the neck, upper back, and lower back. They exist in pairs, one on each side of the spine and at each level of the spine. They are essentially synovial joints, similar to the joints we have at the knuckles and the knees.

If it’s acute, it can be like a sharp shooting pain. If it is more chronic, it can tend to present duller and achy, sometimes paired or coupled with muscle spasms.

Causes of Facet joint syndrome

The Facet joints are one of the most overlooked when it comes to back pain. About 15% to 45% of all back pain originates from these facet joints. There are millions of people with back pain who have inflamed facet joints.

The leading cause of facet joint syndrome depends on the affected region of the spine. For instance, if you are experiencing facet joint pain in your lower back, it is probably because of your age.

With age, our body structure which supports the spine, like the intervertebral disc and facet joints, gets wear and tear due to strain and physical activity. In addition, the intervertebral disc comprises water, and our growing age affects disc hydration, ultimately reducing the disc height. Such things lead to lower back pain.

Symptoms of the Facet Joint Syndrome

Well, the facet joint pain usually presents as more localized pain versus radiating pain or traveling pain. So you can have localized pain in the neck or the lower back. When they get bad enough, facet joint pain can radiate to other parts.

For instance, if facet joints in the neck are compromised, the pain will radiate into the upper back and the arm. Similarly, if facet joints in the lower back are experiencing the pain, you may experience pain down into the glutes and the high hamstring area. Facet joints can present as pain, but they can also present as muscle spasms and just dull and achy pain in general.

Besides, joint pain can worsen because of specific movements such as forward bending and twisting motions.

Let’s know more about the symptoms of facet joint syndrome as per the affected joint.

Cervical Facet Joint Syndrome

Cervical Facet Joint Syndrome causes neck and shoulder pain, which will restrict motion. Thus patient will find it difficult to rotate the head with ease. Facet syndrome in the cervical spine may also lead to a headache.

Thoracic Facet Joint Syndrome

This syndrome causes pain in the mid-back. In addition, this restricts the patient from several body movements such that a patient may need to move their entire body to the left or right to see in that particular direction.

Lumbar Facet Joint Syndrome

This causes pain in the lower back. Patients will feel pain in the lower back or sometimes in the buttocks. But the pain will never go below the knees. Such inflammation causes stiffness and makes it difficult to stand straight and get up from the chair.

Which is the most common facet joint syndrome?

Degenerative Joint Syndrome is the most common one. Around 60% of adults over the age of 65 have some sort of the arthritic change in their necks. And over 90% of adults over the age of 65 have some kind of degenerative or arthritic changes in their lower back. Now the facet joints and the discs work together.

So when the facet joint is compromised, the discs also tend to get involved, causing a duel, and both of them mostly feed off of each other and cause you pain. Therefore, through chiropractic treatment, we will address both, the disc and the facet joint when working with a patient with some of these symptoms.

Diagnosis of Facet Joint Syndrome

Your chiropractor will feel tenderness around the facet joint and do palpation or push into the spot to diagnose the condition.

When you visit the doctor’s clinic, he will check your medical history and do some physical and neurological exams. The physical test includes bending, walking, or twisting your body. This will help the expert to know the exact pain point in your back. The neurological examination checks your nervous system and may test your reflexes and responses.

While neurological tests and physical examination will inform the doctor about your condition, a diagnostic injection is necessary to confirm the facet joint syndrome. In such injections, the doctor will give local anesthesia to the suspected joint pain site. A decrease in pain immediately after injection shows that the doctor can know the source of pain and can plan further treatment accordingly.

Sometimes your doctor may observe the inflammation area and then perform other tests that diagnostically could be x-rays that could look at the joint spacing and if there’s any inflammation around that facet joint. There is also a slew of orthopedic examinations that can be done during treatment and consultation. The most expert way to diagnose facet syndrome is through imaging, the orthopedic test, and of course, touch and feel.

Is it possible to repair facet joints?

That’s a complicated question because once a facet joint has degenerated or deteriorated, doctors cannot re-grow the bones, but they can manage it pretty well. Of course, if you’re catching your facet syndrome a little bit on the earlier end of things, your specialist can start to stop things in their tracks and begin to reverse the process through good treatment.

Treatments for facet joint syndrome

After confirming your facet joint syndrome, your doctor will probably start with nonsurgical treatments. This may include anti-inflammatory medications and physical exercise. Some exercises give strength to your lower back and help prevent facet syndrome. But there are some holistic ways to treat this syndrome. For example, your specialist may go with hot and cold therapy based on acute or chronic pain to cure the syndrome.

If your facet joint syndrome is very new and acute and there’s inflammation, we may start with some cold or Cryotherapy followed by heat therapy and then contrast treatment. At our San Francisco clinic, we utilize cold and hot therapy and other therapies such as Chiropractic and Acupuncture. One big thing to understand when it comes to facet joint pain is that it can sometimes pop up for numerous reasons. For example, when you may go to pick up something heavy off the ground, or sometimes it’s random; you just kind of wake up with it or maybe sleep incorrectly. So we’ve seen these conditions pop up for many different reasons. But regardless of the reason, we treat all types of facet joint syndrome at our San Francisco clinic here at Truspine.

One thing that has worked for our patients is getting them into a supportive brace. Wearing a supportive brace between flare-ups can help reduce the discomfort that comes with facet syndrome. Pairing that supportive brace with treatment or therapy at our clinic can help. So Chiropractic treatment can help to take pressure off the facet joint syndrome through a technique called Spinal manipulation therapy or adjustments. Adjustments are quick forces into the joint to help to decompress the joint and reduce inflammation. We do offer Chiropractic therapy here at our San Francisco clinic.

Another beneficial therapy is Acupuncture. Acupuncture can be beneficial in helping to ease the tension or pinching of the nerves to help relax the muscles around the nerve, especially if your facet syndrome presents with any radiating or traveling pain. Other than that, we love to pair our Chiropractic and Acupuncture care with exercises to ensure that once we get rid of your facet syndrome, it stays away and doesn’t come back. So strengthening the muscles around the facet joint is much more helpful.

Can massage therapy help facet joint syndrome? 

The short answer is no. Facet joints are deep, and massage therapy is more superficial.

Can massage help in any aiding with the recovery process?

Yes, once the acute phase has been completed, then massage therapy can aid in helping you recover from facet joint syndrome.

How long does facet joint syndrome take to heal?

It depends on how long you’ve had your pain and many other factors. But typically, we can resolve the facet joint syndrome at our San Francisco clinic in about four to six weeks.

Can facet joint syndrome or pain heal itself? 

The body is self-healing, but sometimes it needs a push in the right direction.

And we believe our chiropractic care paired with Acupuncture and other therapies can help you on your way.

What are the best exercises for facet joint syndrome? 

The top three exercises for facet joint syndrome are planks, child’s pose, and cat-cow stretch.

What is the best sleeping position for facet joint syndrome? 

We typically recommend patients suffering from facet joint syndrome sleep on their side with a pillow between their knees and try to keep their body in a neutral position as possible. The proper pillow and mattress are also recommended.

Conclusion 

The best medications for facet joint syndrome are NSAIDs, Acetaminophen, and a type of muscle relaxer. However, we highly recommend seeking professional help before attempting to try one of these medications for your pain.

Are you suffering from back pain? Does it become a part of your life? Do you know 60% of people suffer from back pain, which can be Facet joint inflammation? Give us a call at Truespine, our San Francisco clinic, to get correctly diagnosed.

Can Chiropractic Care help cure your facet syndrome? We’ve cured plenty of facet joint syndrome victims at our clinic. You can schedule an appointment with our San Francisco chiropractor to get correctly diagnosed or have a free 15-minute phone consultation.

Active Release Technique (ART): An effective treatment for chronic pain

by

Our body has incredible techniques of self-healing if we give proper stimulation to it. Active Release Technique (ART) is a simple way to heal chronic pain without the need for any surgery. This non-invasive treatment involves massage and body movement to heal chronic pain which happens because of problems in ligaments, muscles, nerves, tendons, and fascia.

This technique causes the breaking of scar tissues which are also called adhesions. This allows proper blood circulation in the body and increases flexibility and release of entrapped nerves for faster healing. The main aim of ART is to allow joints to move freely without any stiffness.

The active release technique is a movement-based technique that’s very specific, where it targets muscles from their origin to their insertion point, to break up scar tissue and muscle adhesion.

What kind of conditions can be treated with the active release technique?

Chiropractors, doctors, physical therapists, and massage therapists use this technique to treat many chronic and acute pains. In the case of soft tissue injuries or traumatic accidents, ART is an effective treatment.

There are various conditions with which the active release technique can help, which include neck pain, lower back pain, tennis elbow also known as epicondylitis, golfer’s elbow, and tension headaches. The active release technique can also help with pains that are more uncommon such as:

  • Shin splints
  • Chronic tension or headaches that can stem from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Shoulder strains and sprains
  • Rotator cuff injuries
  • Peripheral nerve entrapments such as Sciatica
  • Plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is pain at the bottom of the foot, which we found that the Active Release Technique can really help combined with Shockwave Therapy.

Active Release Technique for treating scar tissue

The active release technique is very good at breaking up scar tissue. The scar tissue is basically fibrous tissue, which makes the muscle harder to move, and we sometimes lose a little bit of mobility. Scar tissue can be between muscle and muscle, muscle and ligament, and ligament and nerves. The active release technique works really hard to break up these scar tissue or muscle adhesion.

Once ART breaks up the scar tissue, patients may experience the below benefits:

  • Relief in muscles stiffness
  • Feeling of restoration in fingers and toes
  • Enhanced flexibility and strength
  • Less inflammation and joint pain.
  • Relief while doing exercise or other physical activity

ART is not much relaxing as a massage; it may be uncomfortable for patients. But once done, you will get a chance to participate in all physical activities and get relief from pain. This makes this technique worthwhile.

So what is scar tissue? 

Scar tissue is fibrous tissue that’s crisscrossed and can cause impairment in mobility. It is a collection of collagen and cells which covers the injury site. The way it does that is if scar tissue is blocking the blood flow, then we can see some of that tingling and numbness in the extremities.

Signs of scar tissue

  • Stiffness in the neck, knees, back, or elbow
  • Pain during exercise
  • Pain at the bottom of the foot near the heel
  • Tingling or numbness in the fingers
  • Decrease in flexibility or limited motion
  • Reduced strength
  • Inflamed joints

The active release technique has a multitude of benefits, including the increase in ranges of motion and mobility, which ultimately allows you to perform your activities at a much higher level.

Side effects of Active Release Technique (ART)

Patients may find some residual soreness and sometimes a little bit of pain and bruising. But most of our patients have recovered relatively well and quickly, ultimately resulting in less pain, less chronic pain, and just better movement throughout their day.

Who can benefit from the Active Release Technique (ART)?

Many star athletes, amateur athletes, or weekend warriors who want to do something adventurous in their life, prefer ART. Hence all age groups can take advantage of this technique with the help of a licensed provider.

Can the Active Release Technique replace surgery?

Sometimes we get the question of whether the active release technique can help prevent surgery. Lots of times we have been able to delay or even prevent surgery. An example, we got one patient in our clinic who’s been coming to us for a few months now for carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is where we lose blood flow and have nerve collisions because of the tightness around the wrist.

We’re able to release that through active release techniques or ART, which help them get a better feeling and less pain into their hands, ultimately preventing surgery altogether. They’re super thrilled to visit us at our San Francisco clinic. This can definitely arise in other parts of the body and the active release techniques can help even prevent surgical interventions. So if you or your loved one is suffering from any sort of musculoskeletal injury at any of the extremities, give us a call, and let’s get you on our schedule so we can see what’s going on and see if the active release technique or ART is the best type of therapy for you.

What to expect during an ART treatment?

This technique involves physical exams and treatment all at once. After knowing your pain area, your practitioner will sense the tightness or unusual muscle movement in the affected area. This is an examination phase.

After problem detection, your practitioner will manipulate the affected area with suitable movements. Such a technique will stretch the soft tissues and will break the adhesion which causes pain.

An expert practitioner should perform this technique. If you think that this technique will cure you, contact us.

Final Word

If you’re suffering from any sort of sports injury or any joint issues, give us a call at our San Francisco clinic. We have many different providers at our clinic that are trained to perform active release techniques and can get you better as quickly as possible. So you can go back to doing what you love.

 At our San Francisco clinic, we are versed in treating many different injuries with active release techniques. Get on our schedule with one of our trained providers so we can get started.

You can schedule an appointment with our San Francisco chiropractor or have a free 15-minute phone consultation.

Herniated Disc: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

by

What is exactly a herniated disc?

It is a problem with one of the rubbery discs that sit between two strong vertebrae. These two strong vertebrae hold the disk in between. Sometimes, this disc can start to move and shift. This can happen if you place some extra stress on that disc through some sort of movement or impingement. Sometimes, this moving or shifting can lead to feeling back pain and even radiating pain.

Herniated_Disc_Treatment
“Designed by Freepik”

Can a herniated disc heal on its own once you do have it? 

The simple answer to this question is sometimes it can and sometimes it can’t. It depends on how significant the herniation is. A smaller herniation can tend to go away on its own. While a moderate to a bigger herniation can cause a little bit of extra stress. In that case, you may need some outside help, and that’s where Chiropractic comes in.

Can a chiropractor heal a herniated disc?

Yes, the chiropractor uses a series of techniques to heal a herniated disc. About 70% of these discs are made of water and as they are alive, they can regrow. Doctors then put the disc back into place. But it’s not as simple as just kind of poking it back in. A chiropractor will use some techniques to guide the disc to go back in between the two vertebrae. Now, the techniques that a chiropractor can use will vary.

The most common technique is the deflection distraction technique, which makes use of a chiropractic table. The Chiropractic table will move up and down at the posterior end, where the lower back is. The pumping mechanism of the table will allow the nutrients to flow to the disc. It will also allow the water and the nutrients to get to the disc for its proper healing. So, an MRI is the best way to diagnose a herniated disk than an X-ray. An X-ray will only look at the bone while an MRI will look at the water weight. And so the expert will be able to see the soft tissue through that.

The experts look at the vertebrae bones and the spine in the MRI. If they find lesser room between the two vertebrae, that means the disc has kind of pushed out. The experts want to bring the disc back in over some time. They can do it through this flexion-distraction and the pumping mechanism of elongating the spine. Experts give some exercises and stretches that are in conjunction with the injury. The recovery time may vary depending on the severity of the discs and the exercises.

What activities should you do or which ones should you avoid? 

Let’s start with the avoiding ones, which will be any sort of high-impact exercises. So don’t get involved in running, jumping, box jumps, and jump rope in case of a herniated disc. The pounding and the high impact of these exercises will cause more stress at that level. Exercises and stretches that may be more indicated may be low-force ones, for example, the Cat-Cow stretch or a forward fold. These exercises kind of decompress the lower back and take pressure off the disc. The common one we recommend for patients is to lie on their stomachs on a fitness ball. This exercise can help to open up the back. It can also open up the disk space to give it a little bit more room. So these are activities which you can do but again, it’s all on a case-by-case basis.

Can you massage a herniated disk?

Unfortunately, no. The disc is deep enough that our hands can’t necessarily reach it. But these exercises and stretches and therapies will help in a more non-direct way.

What is the most common treatment for a herniated disc? 

Preference is given to flexion-distraction and chiropractic adjustments for the herniated disc. In case of any radiating pain or nerve pain, acupuncture can work for that injury. The treatments for nerve pain depend on where the nerve pain is. A lot of times, nerve pain paired with your herniated disc could be nerve impingement.

Once the herniated disc gets pushed on and squeezed, it can start to push out along the adjacent nerves. These nerves can start to cause pain down the arms or even down the legs. Nerve pain indicates that your herniated disc was a little bit more significant. And hence it needs a little bit more attention.

The nerve pinched can present in many different ways. It can be a sharp shooting pain, it can be numbness, it can be a tingling, and it can be muscle weakness or fatigue. For example, if it’s sharp shooting pain down the leg, that would be called sciatica pain and that would be the sciatic nerve. If it’s going down the posterior part of the leg, sometimes there’s a weakness in the leg, and experts can check that with muscle testing. Sometimes they may see that the herniated disc is causing numbness down at the feet. It can be a case of some nerve impingement. Here, the nerves do not get the proper flow, and doctors should address this at that time. And for that, experts start to add in other therapies such as laser therapy and acupuncture. These are good adjacent or complementary therapies if you have the nerve portion as part of your herniated disc issue.

What is the treatment for an L5-S1 herniation?

An L5-S1 herniation means that there’s a herniated disk at the lowest part of your back. Now, that can cause impingement of a nerve or a series or a bundle of nerves. Sometimes with L5-S1 herniation, you’re going to see a sciatica impingement or the sciatic nerve being impinged. This can cause sharp shooting pains down the posterior of the leg. And this pain can go all the way down to the foot. Now, there are treatments for this as well. Of course, chiropractic is going to be number one. Chiropractors make sure that they take pressure off the disk through chiropractic manipulations or chiropractic adjustments, or spinal adjustments. This will help take pressure off immediately and give you more long-term relief.

Are there any self-care treatments to try at home for L5-S1 herniation?

Experts also try to provide some short-term relief as well through Palliative care. This includes figure four stretching, lacrosse ball rolling and foam rolling. And these are more treatments to help alleviate pain while at home. You can take a look at our separate blog about the top five sciatica exercises. It would be a great beginning point to see if we can get some at-home care.

What is the treatment for herniated disc at C5-C6?

C5-C6 is close to the lowest part of the neck, and treatment for a herniated disk at C5-C6 is another big request we generally see. In case of nerve impingement; one can feel the pain down the inside of the arm, down all the way into the fingers. Now, that can present in many different ways. It can be a sharp pain, it can be tingling and it can be numbness. And that also needs to be addressed along with the herniated disc.

Again, the preferred treatment for the herniated disk at the C5-C6 is going to be chiropractic care. We want to immediately take pressure off of the disc, off of the nerve. Secondary would be using massage techniques down into the arm, using ART or Active Release Technique. It releases the muscles that follow that nerve all the way down in the arm. And finally, laser therapy can help immediately reduce inflammation at the nerve level. This therapy also gives you instantaneous relief.

What is a treatment for a bulging disk? 

Herniated disc and bulging disc are very synonymous. So the treatment would be very similar for a bulging disc. Primarily it is chiropractic care, and possibly acupuncture and laser therapy as well. If there’s any sort of nerve impingement with that bulging disc.

We at Truspine Clinic in San Francisco offer Chiropractic and Acupuncture therapies. We also offer Shockwave and Laser Therapies as per the requirement.

Have you or anyone you know suffered from a herniated disc? We would like to know more about your experience. You can book your appointment with our San Francisco chiropractor or try our free 15-minute phone consultation.

Chiropractic Treatment to effectively heal the Iliotibial Band Syndrome

by

Iliotibial band syndrome or ITBS is caused by irritation in the tendon called the iliotibial band by rubbing against hip or knee bones.  This tendon is on the outside of the leg and goes from the top of the pelvic bone to the knee. When the condition is too tense this tendon rubs against the bones. Several reasons are there which cause tightening of the Iliotibial band. A lot of those reasons fall under the category of repetitive stress injuries. This implies many endurance sports like cycling and running may result in IT band syndrome.

These types of sports generally have a flexion-extension portion, which can cause friction in the IT band over a period of time. The IT band is a connective fibrous tissue that spans from the point of the hip down to the lateral part of the knee.  With repetition and overuse, there could be some friction at the distal part of the IT band, causing inflammation or edema formation. Sometimes it can actually feel kind of like a sharp stingy pain. So basically, the band can rub on these bony areas at the lateral knee, causing extra friction. 

Diagnosis of Iliotibial band syndrome

Diagnosis happens by pushing the spots of tenderness.

Your doctor will move your hip away from the body while giving support to your knee. The patient may feel pain in such a condition and won’t be able to move the hip very far.

Knee movement at various angles to see whether it is paining or not.

It can feel more like a stinging or sharp pain at the distal lateral part of the knee. And not always, but sometimes you can also see some edema or swelling in that region. Pain is felt with the knee bending at 30 degrees.

How long does it take for an Iliotibial Band to heal?

Patients can surely recover from Iliotibial band syndrome or ITBS. The recovery time depends on person to person. Usually, ITBS is caused because of pelvic imbalance or some biomechanical dysfunction. Although this syndrome is not age-specific, it usually affects endurance athletes or amateur athletes. Taking proper rest and keeping yourself away from high-impact activities is one of the treatments. Your doctor will suggest some therapies and exercises for you to recover faster.

Usually, patients can see relief from pain in a couple of weeks. But for complete resolution, it may take 6 weeks depending on the activity level of the patient.

Which exercises are best?

You may require a healthcare specialist to treat this syndrome. We provide various types of treatment for quick recovery of this syndrome.

Stretching and strengthening:

Strengthening the gluteus muscle and stretching the IT band shortly thereafter can offload the IT band. We help patients with such exercises and provide them with videos to do it later on.

Therapy:

The best therapy would be a combination of different therapies. This includes chiropractic, acupuncture, shockwave therapy, and laser therapy. All are beneficial in helping with IT Band syndrome. We provide shockwave therapy to break the friction or scar tissue that forms because of repetitive stress injury. Patients usually feel better after shockwave therapy.

Graston therapy and Active Release Technique:

Active release technique, take off the pressure surrounding the IT band. Although the IT band is not a muscle. But we work on the muscle near the band to treat the pain. Graston therapy involves pinning and stretching certain muscles to break up any scar tissue in which friction is present.

Surgery:

When therapy and exercise don’t work for patients, healthcare specialists may recommend surgery. But it will be the last option.

How do you prevent Iliotibial band syndrome?

  • Many healthcare experts will recommend patients to do foam rolling, but not in the IT band area. They can do rolling at the muscles around the structure.
  • As ITBS is a pelvic imbalance and biomechanical imbalances, chiropractic treatment can be a prevention measure for this syndrome. Chiropractic can help bring proper balance to the pelvis so that there is no imbalance within the muscles on both sides of the body.
  • Do stretching, warm up, and take a rest for some time after exercise.
  • Run with shorter strides
  • Stretch the IT band, thigh muscles, hip muscles, and hamstrings.

Should we massage the Iliotibial band syndrome?

Massage is strictly not allowed as it can irritate the already inflamed area. Patients are supposed to take rest and follow the specific therapies as per specialist recommendation. Stay away from exercises that cause aggravation like running, cycling, or other high-impact activities. Never walk on hills in such conditions, as it will put extra stress on your joints which can pull the IT band.

Is Iliotibial band syndrome curable?

Yes, it is completely curable and preventable Patients need to do regular therapy followed by exercise, stretching, and strengthening the muscles around the IT band to completely eliminate the Iliotibial band syndrome. You should not get involved in exercise or activities that can aggravate the pain such as running or cycling until you get complete relief from the pain.

How do I check if I have Iliotibial band syndrome?

Patients may feel pain in the lateral part of the knee, i.e. outside of the knee. Sometimes they may get a feeling of bone bruise or bone pain. The best way to check is to touch the knee part and feel any sharp or stinging pain. Also, you can bend your knee by 30°C to check the pain. If you feel the pain, probably you have ITBS. Of course, the official way is to visit the healthcare center. You can take help from a chiropractor, acupuncturist, or physical therapist. He will focus on the pain point so that he can officially give it a good diagnosis.

Causes of Iliotibial band syndrome?

The main cause of this syndrome is friction which lies where the IT band crosses the knee. A fluid-filled sac named ‘bursa’ is present in our body which helps the IT band glide effortlessly over the knee while we bend and stretch our knee. But in the case of a rigid IT band, bending creates too much friction. This causes swelling of both the IT band and bursa which leads to Iliotibial band syndrome or ITBS.

Usually, this syndrome occurs because of excessive physical activity or we can call it Repetitive Stress injuries or RSI. So utilizing the knee over and over again, going through a flexion-extension motion can cause extra stress outside of the knee, causing ITBS.

Wrap Up!

So, are you facing an issue of Iliotibial band syndrome? Or do you feel its symptoms? We at Truspine Clinic in San Francisco offer Chiropractic therapies such as Active Release Technique, Graston Therapy, and Shockwave Therapy to treat Iliotibial band syndrome or ITBS.

You can schedule an appointment with our San Francisco chiropractor or have a free 15-minute phone consultation.

Acupuncture-and-Its-Benefits

Acupuncture and Its Benefits

by

In the case of various health issues, people first try standard therapies. Then, people switch to alternative medicine when these therapies fail to give the expected results. There are several forms of alternative medication practised today. In this article, we will discuss the concept, process, and benefits of Acupuncture in detail. Let’s begin with the idea of Acupuncture.

What is Acupuncture, and How Does It Work?

Acupuncture uses thin needles put into different places on the body called acupuncture points. These points lie along Meridian pathways that carry Chi or energy to other body parts. Acupuncture works to unblock those areas where the power may be stagnant because of illness or injury or some chronic disharmony in the body. It allows the body to function naturally by restoring the balance that was once there.

Relief after an Acupuncture session

After an acupuncture session, the body becomes highly relaxed. It resets the nervous system and puts you in a more parasympathetic state than a sympathetic one. Sometimes you will feel sleepy; sometimes, you may have more energy. It depends on the cause of the treatment on that day.

Immediate Effect and Time Required for Relief or Improvement

Acupuncture often generates an immediate effect experienced as body relaxation and better sleep that evening. However, in some cases, patients who have chronic issues and delay treatment may require therapy for a longer period. For example, if you visit the acupuncturist with back pain you’ve had for five years, it’ll take several sessions for recovery. Some people feel much better after one or two treatments. Usually, results are expected within four to six weeks. Your consistency with treatment will determine the final result.

How Long Does the Effect of Acupuncture Last?

It simply depends on what you’re coming in for. In most cases, the effects of Acupuncture can be permanent after a few sessions, or it can require maintenance. Initially, it is necessary to visit an acupuncturist regularly until the symptoms don’t come back. Experts usually recommend weekly visits for about four to six weeks until your symptoms aren’t returning. In case of signs return after some period, the maintenance and upkeep wellness visits can help the patient. You can visit monthly or maybe seasonally for such a purpose.

Dos and Don’ts After an Acupuncture Session

After the acupuncture session, patients must listen to their bodies. People coming in for physical ailments must avoid doing exercise or activity involving that particular body area. Those who come for detox are not supposed to drink alcohol. Experts usually ask people to drink lots of water after Acupuncture. They also suggest resting if they can and resting if they feel like it. If you must go on with your work and are tired, you’ll be fine to drink a coffee if you need to.

Preparation for First Acupuncture Session

You need not prepare much for Acupuncture. Many patients try to wear loose clothing, which is not necessary. Experts ask people not to come on an empty stomach or complete, just somewhere in between. There is no strict rule of eating much or less before Acupuncture to make or break the treatment.

During the first session, experts have an in-depth conversation with patients about what they’re coming in for and their medical history.

Then, the patients are asked to get on the table so that experts can take their pulses. Then the other diagnostic measures are done, such as palpation of the abdomen, neck, and other body areas. After that, the expert will begin the treatment by starting slowly. The expert will ask you to inhale and exhale with the first couple of needles. Some people are susceptible to Acupuncture, whereas others are not sensitive.

Frequency of Acupuncture Sessions

Unless someone is extremely ill or elderly or has a child, the experts say you can’t overdo it with Acupuncture. Acupuncturists usually recommend a cadence of once a week. However, it is undoubtedly acceptable to do more than that. Typically, people proceed with that speed whenever they’re first starting. 

Comparison Between Acupuncture and Physical Therapy

Comparing acupuncture with physical therapy, people recover very quickly from acupuncture. Even though the recovery depends on the injury, physical therapy seems to be a long-term process. Acupuncture immediately relaxes the tight muscles in acupuncture Points. And it also allows the body to function the way it did before the injury. Physical therapy chips away bit by bit. Acupuncture will expedite your process. Physical therapy is essential, and most people opt for it. But, you will get a lot quicker results if you also do Acupuncture.

Who Can Opt for Acupuncture Therapy?

Everybody can benefit from acupuncture therapy. Acupuncture is not done on kids younger than five to seven. And also, if you’re very elderly, it will be very light. There are no other parameters than age to get Acupuncture done. Being too young, kids don’t need this therapy. And the older people are too weak to have a lot of Acupuncture done. But people with ages anywhere in between can opt for this for anything. It may be a cold or flu, a sore neck or back, allergies, indigestion, anxiety, etc.

Process of Acupuncture Session at True Spine

Before Acupuncture Session

  • We begin with an in-depth conversation when you come for your first acupuncture treatment. You can share any pertinent information that you feel is important for us, along with your medical history and reason for coming.
  • We ask you many questions about things that might seem unrelated to what you’re coming in for. Acupuncture strives to treat the entire person. Anything from your past life is perhaps significant to what you’re coming in for.

During Acupuncture Session

  • After that, we will let you get comfortable on the table and will begin the treatment with a diagnosis. It includes Chinese pulse taking and palpitation of the abdomen. Depending on what you’ve come for, the neck, sometimes the feet, or different areas.
  • If you’ve come for physical pain, we’ll take a good look at the body’s structure. The way you stand and your neck or arm moves(if it’s a separate issue).
  • Then we will begin the treatment by giving you the breathing cues. So you inhale, we insert the needle, and you exhale. We’ll continue needling till all of the hands are in. We’ll continue the treatment depending on how nervous you are that day.
  • Usually, people start to feel nice and relaxed and fall asleep at the table. Some of them get to a pleasant meditative state. Then we let you rest in the room with the lights off, warm bed, and feet heater on for about 20 minutes.

After Acupuncture Session

  • We leave you with a button in case you feel uncomfortable. You can press the button, which will alert us to come in and check on you. So after 20 minutes, we return and get the needles out. We check in with you to see how you’re feeling, and you’ll be on your way.
  • At True Spine, we make sure you’re entirely comfortable. We allow you to understand what was done that day and what you can expect in the upcoming days. We’ll give you that briefing before you leave. We’ll tell you when we want to see you again, and you’ll be on your way.

Benefits of Acupuncture

The benefits of Acupuncture are far and wide. It is helpful for pain relief, stress, anxiety, and insomnia. Experts do work with allergies, fertility, and the digestive system. Let’s look at the following benefits of Acupuncture for various health issues.

  • Acupuncture for Fertility

Acupuncture is widely studied for fertility and can be beneficial on many levels since it regulates hormones. If stress is the factor, it relaxes the patient. It can also build an endometrial wall if that is a factor. Several factors lead to infertility these days. Acupuncture can also be done with IVF for people looking to get pregnant naturally.

  • Acupuncture for Back Pain, Neck Pain, and Other Body Pain.

Pain is one of the most common reasons people seek out Acupuncture. Some people suffer from upper back and neck pain due to poor posture. Few others suffer from low back pain due to exercise or injury. Acupuncture works to relax these muscles and decrease inflammation. There’s another form of Acupuncture called trigger point acupuncture. It is more effective at relaxing tight muscles and gives excellent results.

  • Acupuncture for Nausea and Vomiting

Acupuncture is perfect for all sorts of nausea. It’s good at relaxing the vagus nerve. It helps those who have a vagal response that often causes them to be nauseous or dizzy. Other reasons for nausea can be related to how your digestive system works further down the line. It decreases inflammation in the intestines and helps the digestive system function smoothly.

  • Acupuncture for Migraine and Headaches

Acupuncture is excellent for migraines and headaches. People have a lot of tension at the back of their heads or eye strain due to looking at a screen. Acupuncture is excellent for relaxing muscles around the back of the neck and the eyes. We can deal with the hormones; whose imbalance is causing a headache. So Acupuncture works for multiple factors causing a headache.

  • Acupuncture for Anxiety 

We’re all overworked and stressed out these days. Everyone’s nervous system is on a high. So we do a lot of Acupuncture to decrease the sympathetic response from the nervous system. Acupuncture is also excellent for depression. It helps to relieve long-held emotions and helps the body and your mind in processing. You often feel much lighter and much more relaxed after an acupuncture session.

  • Acupuncture for Insomnia

We treat insomnia with Acupuncture by regulating the nervous system of people. They are overworked and constantly on the go, and it’s difficult for them to turn it off at night. We also work with the adrenals in this state. It’s difficult for the adrenals to get on a regular rhythm, which interrupts the circadian rhythm. When melatonin increases at night, cortisol is still very high. It won’t allow melatonin to turn on and will help you to turn it off and go to sleep.

  • Acupuncture for Weight Loss

Acupuncture can decrease the way your brain thinks of the stimulus. So it will allow you to eat only when you are hungry. Acupuncture also allows the digestive system to function more smoothly. You can process your food effectively. You don’t have all the bloating, constipation, and toxicity build-up from a sluggish digestion system.

  • Acupuncture for Sciatica

Sciatica is one of the main reasons people come in for Acupuncture. The piriformis muscle becomes highly tight due to poor posture or injury. This is where the sciatic nerve runs through the glutes. We can relax the piriformis muscle around that nerve and decrease the nerve pain. In addition, the imbalance of the sacrum bone, which is at the base of your spine, also often leads to sciatica. Acupuncture can realign the sacral joint to avoid pressure and further imbalance.

  • Acupuncture for Sinus

Acupuncture is excellent for sinus issues. If someone has chronic sinusitis, it decreases the inflammation in the sinuses. It also allows the body to process the flame more effectively. So, in case of an allergy, it will help with the histamine response. If it’s a chronic inflammation of the sinuses, it will decrease the inflammation and flame produced in response to that inflammation.

  • Acupuncture for Stress

If you’re coming in for any ailment, we always work with stress-relieving points on you. It’s straightforward to relax the nervous system and feel euphoric after Acupuncture. It’s one of the best benefits of Acupuncture and one of the main things we see in almost all of our patients.

Risks Involved with Acupuncture

  • Pneumothorax

The puncturing of the lung is the most significant risk for Acupuncture and is called pneumothorax. Since the needles are thin, they do a very tiny puncture. In that case, you would have blue lips and a bit of difficulty in breathing. You would also need to go to the hospital. So, pick the acupuncturist wisely who knows what he’s doing.

  • Nerve Damage

Choose your acupuncturist wisely to avoid the risk of nerve damage. Correct placement and depth placement of the needle should never damage a nerve. But it can happen if you have somebody that does not know what they’re doing.

Conclusion

Now you are aware of the concept of Acupuncture and its benefits. You can opt for Acupuncture as a remedy for any of the above health issues. You will get the best acupuncture treatment with True Spine.

Are you dealing with pain, injury, or inflammatory conditions? You can schedule an appointment with our San Francisco chiropractor or have a free 15 minutes phone consultation.

Chiropractic Treatment: A Blessing for Back Pain Relief

by

Many of you might have experienced back pain in your life at least once. Being an unpleasant situation, we try to eliminate it as soon as possible. Today, we will know about types of back pain conditions and Chiropractic Treatment for back pain relief.

Back Pain and its Types

We can separate back pain into two broad categories: upper back pain and lower back pain. Doctors consider upper or mid back pain as one part and the other one as lower back pain. Both types of back pains require different treatments.

Some of the specific back pain issues include facade syndrome, disc herniation, lumbar sprain strain, day-to-day backaches due to sitting for a long time, sleeping incorrectly, and other reasons. These issues are treated differently with chiropractic or acupuncture techniques.

Chiropractic Treatment for Back Pain

The majority of the people suffering from back pain want relief from it and hence choose chiropractic treatment. It is a non-surgical treatment that focuses on spinal manipulation and mobilization. The theory behind this treatment is that the proper alignment of the spine, muscles, and surrounding structure enables our body’s self-healing process without medication or surgery.

Chiropractic treatment is an alternative method for patients suffering from pain in their joints, muscles, connective tissues, bones, and tendons. This treatment uses the manipulation technique to restore the mobility of joints that get restricted due to tissue injury caused by some reasons.

Chiropractors v/s Regular Doctors

Patients suffering from back pain have two primary options: visit a regular doctor or go to the chiropractor. There is a difference between a regular doctor and a chiropractor because the regular doctor falls under conventional medicine, and the chiropractor comes under holistic medicine.

In conventional medicine, doctors prescribe a combination of muscle relaxers, pain relievers, and inflammatory reducers. These medicines usually help the patient manage the pain, but they do not necessarily cure it. At the same time, chiropractors go to the root of the problem, which can be a stuck joint, a muscle sprain, or a strain that they focus on.

How does Chiropractic Treatment work on Back Pain?

There are a few different ways in which chiropractors treat the back pain of patients. The use of chiropractic adjustment for specific joints is one of these ways. HVLA technique or high-velocity low amplitude thrust technique is used to unstuck the particular joint. To identify these sticky joints, expert chiropractors use the feel or touch approach.

The other techniques used by chiropractors include the Graston Technique, which is a soft tissue technique. They also use the active release technique, which involves manual therapy. Knowing where the inflammation has formed and which joints are stuck is important for this Treatment. Chiropractors use the palpation technique for this purpose. Once they are aware of the root cause to focus on, the treatment is provided to the patient accordingly.

Number of sittings and duration required for Treatment-

This is a major concern for almost all patients with back pain. Most patients want to recover soon so that they can enjoy their life again. The number of sittings required for treating back pain and the duration of recovery differs from person to person. The reason behind this is the severity, and the delay in starting the treatment is different in each case.

Chiropractors try to provide relief from back pain at the earliest. In the case of chronic back pain, the time required for recovery is more than the general backache. The number of sittings needed is more in such cases. Some people have an assumption that they have to visit a chiropractor for a lifetime, which is wrong. You can stop the treatment once you feel the relief and the chiropractor gives you some exercises for a future course.

Advantages of Chiropractic Treatment for Back Pain-

Chiropractic treatment provides you with many health advantages and relief from back pain. Some of the chiropractic benefits are as follows-

Relief from neck pain and back pain-

Chiropractic treatment relieves patients suffering from back pain and neck pain. Chronic pain takes time to recover, but this treatment helps to achieve good results.

Non-surgical treatment-

Chiropractic treatment is a non-surgical option available for back pain and joint pain patients.

Help in treating Scoliosis-

The abnormal curvature developed in the spine is known as Scoliosis. This causes abnormal posture and back pain. Chiropractic treatment helps in treating patients with Scoliosis.

Relief for patients with Sciatica-

The sciatic nerve gets damaged due to some pressure and causes severe pain from the lower back to the legs. This condition is referred to as Sciatica. Chiropractic treatment provides relief to patients with Sciatica.

Helps in reducing inflammation-

Chiropractic treatment reduces inflammation and provides relief to patients.

Helps in joint pain and muscle tension-

After getting chiropractic treatment, people suffering from joint pain and muscle tension experience relief.

Improved athletic performance-

This benefit is more inclined towards the sportspeople or athletes. Chiropractic treatment improves the performance of sportsmen and athletes.

Side effects of the Treatment-

Like other therapies, some patients experience side effects after having chiropractic treatment sessions. These side effects include extra soreness in the area of pain, inflamed muscle, and pushback in the joint. In such cases, chiropractors always recommend at-home palliative care. It includes stretching and icing, which helps manage pain after treatment sessions.

Conclusion

Now we have understood the concept of chiropractic treatment and how it provides relief for back pain. Being a non-surgical treatment, it avoids further health issues. Thus, we can say that- ‘Chiropractic treatment is a Blessing for patients suffering from back pain.’

Are you dealing with pain, injury, or inflammatory conditions? You can schedule an appointment with our San Francisco chiropractor or have a free 15 minutes phone consultation.

Graston-technique-for-plantar-fasciitis

Graston Technique for pain relief – Age group, Benefits, and Side effects

by

Whether you love sports or heavy exercise in the gym, injuries are common in such things. Hence, it is very important that you maintain and take the necessary steps to prevent any injury. It can happen due to wrong posture or intense workout. Graston Technique is extremely helpful in pain relief.

Graston Technique is used for various conditions. Many people know that the Graston technique is used for giving relief from sharp pains like plantar fasciitis. In this blog, you will know everything about the Graston Technique and how it is effective.

What is Graston Technique?

Graston Technique is basically a manual therapy. It is a technique of assistant mobilization and most of the clinics can do this therapy. It uses steel instruments for various body parts. Mainly, this technique is helpful for scar tissues. Hence, physical therapists use various advanced techniques and tools to scan the injured part and treat them.

Moreover, the process is simple, but it can become complex. It is because of the inflammatory response in the joints and soft tissues. As the scar tissues break, the body disposes of them naturally. To explain it simply, the crisscross fiber breaks down, and aligned fiber appears.

In this way, the joints start moving in a better way and give smooth function flow. Another best fact about the Graston technique is that it is non-invasive as well as safe. Thus, this technique can help to heal the injury fast compared to other techniques.

Graston Technique for pain relief

What are the different conditions the Graston technique is used for treating?

Mostly, people think of the Graston technique for treating soft tissue. But it is also significant for various other conditions. It can treat inflammatory conditions related to arthritis. These are the other different types of conditions in which the Graston technique is useful.

  • Tennis elbow
  • Golfer’s Elbow
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Tendonitis and others

Gaston Technique Safe or Not

As said, professionals with proper licenses can only perform the Graston Technique. Therefore, it is safe and you can opt for it. Nowadays, many practitioners are using the Graston Technique for pain relief as it is one of the safest and most effective ways to heal fast.

Side Effects of Graston Techniques

Talking about side effects, there are not many adverse effects of the Graston technique. You may experience some side effects such as bruising on the treated area. But it only lasts for a few hours. It is because of the breaking up of scar tissues and the capillaries. Have a look at the following list:

  • Pain and Discomfort after getting the Graston massage
  • Bruising in the area of treatment
  • Release of Spontaneous connective tissue, which happens when the scar tissues release from the healthy tissue

From the above information, you can understand that these side effects are common. Also, it is important for re-stimulating your healing cycle. It is not possible to eliminate or prevent the bruises after the therapy. Moreover, if you face any other issues, you should call your therapist.

Muscle Scraping and Graston Technique

Many people compare the Graston technique with muscle scraping. Even some providers also call it muscle scraping. But, muscle scraping is intense as compared to the Graston technique. They use various tools which are mainly made of stainless steel and are of different shapes. Thus, the practitioner knows which tool to use with appropriate pressure.

Graston Technique San Francisco

Is there any downtime for the Graston Technique?

Moreover, there is not much downtime for the Graston technique. But, it largely depends on the injury type the person is suffering from. There is no doubt that there will be a recovery period if you have an acute injury.

For that, it is best to warm the patient’s body before starting the therapy. It can also include moving the patient around to get a better flow.

Is it possible to do the Graston technique at home?

There are several tutorials available online for doing the Graston technique at home. But patients should take advice from the experts for doing this. It is simple; the experts know the pressure points and techniques.

On the other hand, it can be really problematic if you hit the wrong part with inappropriate pressure. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you should always visit your chiropractor for better results.

Preferred Age Group for doing Graston technique for Men, Women, and Children

Another crucial fact about the Graston technique is that anyone with injuries can avail of this technique. The prominent reason is that it mainly focuses on the injury. The practitioner thoroughly checks the patient to understand the intensity. Then, they start their therapy to treat injuries to soft tissues.

Graston technique for treating plantar fasciitis

The Graston technique can be used for a variety of conditions. Many patients know that this technique is used for treating plantar fasciitis. It is a sharp pain that occurs at the bottom of your foot. Anyone with age 20+ can experience such pain.

This technique involves using a metallic tool that helps get into your foot muscles. It has been observed that the Graston technique speeds up the recovery process. So, if you are too suffering from plantar fasciitis, you must opt for the Graston technique.

How Often You should do the Graston technique?

The Graston technique can be done once a week. Sometimes, your therapist can also recommend twice a week. Therefore, it depends on the intensity of the injury. Hence, it is better to opt for the best therapist and get the best results. You can see the results just after 3-4 sessions.

Is the Graston technique the right option?

Additionally, the results can differ from one place to another. It is better to consult your expert to give you a brief idea. Graston technique can really help you gain comfort and release pain from the affected area. So, are you looking for the best chiropractor in your area? We are located in San Francisco. Please give us a visit and our team will let you know everything about the Graston technique and will answer all your queries related to it. You can undergo treatment in our clinic to get relief from pain.

Conclusion:

Graston Technique is an evidence-based treatment that when combined with rehabilitative exercise, can cater to better results. Some patients may notice an improvement by the end of the first or second week. Correct treatment through this technique can give you a pain-free life.

Are you dealing with pain, injury or inflammatory conditions? You can schedule an appointment with our San Francisco chiropractor or have a free 15 minutes phone consultation. 

What Is Shockwave Therapy & How Can It Treat Plantar Fasciitis?

by

This article will discuss shockwave therapy and how it cures plantar fasciitis. Shockwave therapy proves to be the best among the other options available to treat plantar fasciitis. So let’s understand those concepts and why this therapy is best.

What is Shockwave Therapy?

In this therapy, the sound waves or acoustic waves go deep into the muscle, tendon, or ligament. It is a non-invasive, outpatient alternative to surgery for people suffering from joint and tendon disorders.

Patients looking for an alternative to conventional treatments like orthotics and injections find this treatment very useful. For example, shockwave therapy helps people with tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, knee pain, shoulder pain, and plantar fasciitis. 

How does it work?

Shockwave therapy helps treat tennis elbow, heel pain, and degenerated tendons. After completion of diagnosis, the therapy starts with the probe. Firstly, your doctor will apply gel to the skin of the concerned area. Next, he will do a non-invasive probe to that part of the body.

An electric charge will create focused energy on the area of concern. These shock waves heal the tissues by creating force. After the session ends, your doctor will remove the gel from the skin.

Is Shockwave Therapy painful?

The main complication involved in this treatment is pain and hypersensitivity. These issues generally resolve with time. The active participation of the patient makes this treatment more successful.

High energy wave may require local anesthesia, as it causes some pain, whereas low energy wave therapy doesn’t require anesthesia. Pain and disability may persist if the treatment is not successful.

What is Plantar Fasciitis & where is the pain in plantar fasciitis located?

The plantar fascia is at the bottom of the foot. In this disorder, the inflammation takes place in the foot’s heel. The patient may feel a sharp pain in the morning or after long durations of activity.

To be precise, Plantar Fasciitis is the pain at the heel, specifically in the calcaneus bone. The patient may feel pain in the morning after the rest of the whole night. Also, the long walks or running sessions can cause pain in this area. Shockwave therapy treats plantar fasciitis.

What is the cause of plantar fasciitis? Who is affected by this disease?

Repeated stress and tension on the feet can cause inflammation in the plantar fascia. This results in plantar fasciitis. There is no particular reason for this disorder. But the following categories of people are more prone to plantar fasciitis-

  • People between the age group of 40 to 60 years.
  • Athletes and sportspersons who do more exercises which cause stress on heels.
  • People with flat feet, a high arch, or a typical walking style can suffer from plantar fasciitis.
  • Obesity causes stress on the feet. Hence over-weight people are prone to this disorder.
  • The people with occupations that keep them on their feet regularly for a long time.

Does obesity contribute to plantar fasciitis?

Obesity is one of the factors causing stress on the feet. An overweight person puts added pressure on the plantar fascia. The extra weight causes heal pain, which puts a load on joints and ligaments.

Consulting a doctor for suitable weight-loss methods and doing exercises regularly will help avoid the risk of plantar fasciitis in the case of overweight people.

 Signs/symptoms of plantar fasciitis:

If you are suffering from one or more signs/symptoms present below, then there is a possibility that you have plantar fasciitis-

  • Pains in the bottom and nearby area of the heel.
  • Increasing pains after a workout.
  • Pain in the arch of the foot can be a symptom.
  • Worst pain in the morning and standing after sitting for a long duration.
  • The swollen heel can also be a sign of plantar fasciitis.
  • Continuing pain for months.
  • 80% of people have reported tight Achilles as a symptom.

How can shockwave therapy cure plantar fasciitis?

If the conservative treatment options did not work in the early days, there were limited choices like steroid injections, custom orthotics, or invasive surgeries for plantar fasciitis. Unfortunately, these options cannot be used in the long term since they can weaken the tendon.

Shockwave therapy is a quick, gentle, non-surgical treatment option which helps reduce the pain from plantar fasciitis. Currently, this treatment is highly effective and the most advanced therapy available for plantar fasciitis.

In this process, the special probe delivers pressure to the concerned area and triggers the body’s self-healing process. This results in the formation of new blood vessels. Thus it is a very effective treatment.

What are the home remedies to treat plantar fasciitis? (primary solution to treat the pain before visiting a chiropractor)

The majority of the people with plantar fasciitis recover within 10 months by following home remedies. They are:

  • Stretching the calf muscles.
  • Avoid walking bare feet. Use well-cushioned, sturdy and supportive shoes.
  • Use arch supports, appropriate shoe inserts, or custom-made foot orthotics.
  • For reducing tightness in the calf muscle, use a night splint.
  • Massaging the affected area can also give relief.
  • Apply ice on the area for 10 to 15 minutes, three to four times per day.
  • Restrict physical activity along with prolonged standing.
  • Take over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen.
  • Lose weight and use crutches.

What are the therapies for plantar fasciitis other than shockwave therapy?

The treatment options other than shockwave therapy are as follows:

Physical therapy- A therapist teaches exercises to the patient that requires stretching of plantar fascia and Achilles tendon to strengthen lower leg muscle.

Night splints- Wearing a splint can keep the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon in a stretched position overnight while the patient sleeps.

Orthotics- Using custom-fitted or off-the-shelf arch supports distributing the pressure on the feet more evenly.

Walking boots, crutches, or canes- Using one of these products for a longer duration as per recommendation from the health care provider.

Other procedures- If the above options do not give results, then the other options like steroid injection, surgery, and ultrasonic tissue repair can help to get relief.

Why is shockwave therapy better than other therapies?

We have seen options other than shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis. They have their limitations as follows:

  • Steroid injections cannot be used for a long time since they can weaken the tendon.
  • Wearing a particular shoe for a long time for custom orthotics is not convenient.
  • Invasive surgeries are risky because of the side effects and an extended downtime which is not favorable.

But in shockwave therapy, there is no risk, no inconvenience of wearing the particular shoe, and no injections are involved. Besides these factors, this therapy is quick, gentle, advanced, and highly effective. These features make it better than other therapies.

What are the side effects of plantar fasciitis?

Some effects may not be strictly known as side effects, but they are observed if the plantar fasciitis is left untreated. They are:

  • Chronic heel pain hinders daily activities.
  • The change in walking style to avoid pain can lead to hip, knee, foot, and back problems.
  • Heel spurs, ligament tears, ankle pain, pelvic instability, osteoarthritis, etc.
  • Plantar tears, plantar rupture, and plantar fibromatosis are some of the consequences.

How many shockwave therapy sessions are required to treat plantar fasciitis? How long does it take to cure this?

The number of sessions and duration required for treatment varies from person to person. It is also dependent on the intensity of the pain. But average, three to four weekly sessions/sittings are necessary for complete healing.

Some people start feeling relief immediately after the session, while others feel it 2 to 4 hours after the session. There is no downtime required. Patients can join back their routine activities after the sessions.

Exercises for plantar fasciitis:

We have already understood that this disorder requires rest and not significant activity. So there is no need for any rigorous exercises for this treatment. Only some stretching exercises are sufficient and helpful for relief. They are as follows-

  • Calf stretches.
  • Rolling stretches.
  • Seated foot stretches.
  • Towel curls.
  • Marble pickups.

With the help of these exercises and proper rest, the patient will feel relief very soon.

Are you dealing with a sharp pain at the heel after a walk, running session, or early in the morning when you get out of bed? You are most probably suffering from Plantar Fasciitis. Shockwave therapy has a success rate of around 60-80%.

Talk to us by booking a free 15-minute phone consult or schedule an appointment for an in-person assessment and initial treatment. 

Treating Plantar Fasciitis with Shockwave Therapy

by

In this blog, Dr. Supreet Shah explains how shock therapy works and how it can help to treat Plantar Fasciitis.

Shockwave therapy is a medical device that allows chiropractors to carry high-energy sound waves to painful spots and muscular-skeletal tissue. 

Plantar Fasciitis is the sharp pain in the heel area. For instance, a person might feel this pain early in the morning while stepping out of bed or right after a running session. People with the occupation that keeps them on their feet or sitting for long hours can also experience this sudden pain in the heel area. 

It is that fibrous tissue at the bottom of the heel that causes somebody pain. Shockwave therapy is used to emit sound waves deep into those tendons and ligaments to help break up scar tissue. This eases the pain and the tension, of Plantar fasciitis. Shockwave therapy greatly improves mobility and helps to eliminate the pain more permanently.

Are you dealing with physical pain?  Are you in search of optimal health, but don’t know where to start?

You can talk to one of our doctors about your issues and the most appropriate treatment by booking a free 15-minute phone consult or by scheduling an appointment for an in-person assessment and initial treatment. Begin your journey to wellness.

Is Neuropathy Curable?

by

“Is neuropathy curable?” That’s the leading question from my neuropathy patients. You’re not alone. At least 20 million Americans have this often crippling condition, and scientists believe many more cases go undiagnosed. It’s important to see specialists who are experts at the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral neuropathy. Let me explain more about this condition and whether there’s a cure.

What are Neuropathy Causes?

Although many conditions or injuries can cause peripheral neuropathy, diabetes is the most common since chronically elevated blood sugar levels damage your nerves. Other causes include:

  • Trauma or Intense Injury (e.g., car accident, sports injury)
  • Repetitive Stress Injury
  • Alcoholism
  • Some medications (chemotherapy)
  • Some autoimmune diseases (e.g., Sjogren’s syndrome, Guillain-Barre syndrome)
  • Infections (e.g., HIV, Epstein-Barr, Lyme disease, shingles)
  • Nerve compression or entrapment due to excessive growth (e.g., tumors, cysts)
  • Kidney or liver disease
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Vitamin deficiencies

Sometimes it can be challenging to identify your exact cause of peripheral neuropathy. This is why it is important to have a neuropathy professional do a thorough examination.

What Are Your Symptoms?

The term peripheral neuropathy describes many types of disorders rather than a single neuropathic disorder due to its varied location and extent of the damage. Everyone experiences the disease in different ways.

For example, depending on which nerves are damaged, you may experience symptoms related to the function of the affected nerves. Some people notice symptoms related to temperature or touch while others have symptoms related to movement or even blood pressure. Symptoms may be felt at hands, feet, or both. The term peripheral neuropathy describes many types of disorders rather than a single neuropathic disorder due to its varied location and extent of the damage. Everyone experiences the disease in different ways. Neuropathy treatment for feet and hand symptoms may be similar.

The most common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include:

  • tingling, numbness, or prickling sensations in the feet or hands. This could feeling could spread up the arms or legs
  • pain that may be sharp, throbbing, or burning
  • high sensitivity to temperature or touch (e.g., pain when the bedding rests on your feet)
  • possibility of failing coordination and muscle weakness
  • feeling like you’re always wearing socks or gloves
  • trouble moving and in severe cases paralysis

Less often neuropathy affects your autonomic nerves and may cause symptoms such as changes in blood pressure or heart rate which may make you dizzy, digestive or urinary problems, heat intolerance or issues with sweating, and weight loss.

Is Neuropathy Curable?

The answer to this question depends on the nature and extent of your nerve damage. That’s why seeing a specialist soon after you exhibit symptoms of neuropathy is essential. Some cases of peripheral neuropathy can be reversed or cured with treatment.

For many people, however, the focus is on preventing further nerve damage from taking place and managing the associated symptoms. At Truspine, our experts evaluate your unique case to customize a treatment plan for optimal results.

Neuropathy Cure

In all cases, treatment usually begins by identifying and managing the underlying medical cause when possible. This helps your provider best understand what therapeutic modalities will help control and alleviate your symptoms.

Your primary care provider may prescribe medication to help manage your pain, including topical medications, which contain numbing agents, and oral medications. Your physical therapist may help improve mobility and balance. A neuropathy specialist will be treating the underlying cause through a proven approach.

Lifestyle changes also play a significant role in managing and treating peripheral neuropathy. Eliminating (or limiting) alcohol, making sure your blood sugar stays controlled through a healthy diet and staying physically active to help maintain a healthy body weight are important steps in reversing or managing neuropathy.

Ready to learn more about neuropathy and the treatments that may work for you? Consider a free phone consult or schedule an in-person assessment. No one should live in pain.

Treatment For Neuropathy In Legs and Feet

by

For most people seeking treatment for neuropathy in legs and feet, they describe their symptoms as prickling or tingling, numbness, burning pain, a sharp throbbing, and difficulty sleeping. Additionally, you also may lose muscle strength, experience a loss of balance, or have difficulty walking. These are the words that my patients often use to describe the pain they are experiencing that is caused by peripheral neuropathy.

The majority of people needing treatment for neuropathy in legs and feet have a metabolic, mechanical, and/or hereditary condition. The common cause for people requiring treatment for neuropathy in legs and feet are metabolic or chemical factors. These most commonly include medications, chemo/radiation, diabetes, toxic chemicals, and excessive alcohol.

foot pins and needles

What Causes My Neuropathy?

Diabetes is by far the most common type of metabolic condition creating peripheral nerve damage. Prolonged elevated blood glucose can cause damage to the small blood vessels which provide nourishment to the nerves. Approximately 70% of people with diabetic conditions will need treatment for neuropathy in legs and feet.

As a patient exploring treatment for neuropathy in the legs and feet, you may have a mechanical cause of nerve damage. A more prevalent cause of peripheral neuropathy results from mechanical conditions of the spine and extremities. These mechanical conditions may result in compression or entrapment of the peripheral nerve. This can result from a spinal disc herniation, protrusion, bulge, degenerative disc disease, stenosis, and/or nerve compression or entrapment. Physical compressions or entrapments decrease the oxygen and nutrition to the nerves. Some neuropathy sufferers commonly develop sensory loss symptoms-sharp, burning pain, numb, tingling, pins & needles and/or loss of motor function-as the nerves are compromised.

Some of those affected may seek neuropathy treatment for feet due to hereditary conditions. While it is less common, some may have genetic predisposition for developing nerve damage. Most of these conditions are uncommon and affect an estimated 1-3% of the population. Charcot Marie Tooth is typically the most common forms of hereditary conditions in patients seeking treatment for neuropathy in legs and feet.

Diseases Causing Tingling in One Foot

Tingling in one foot may be due to a specific, underlying disease or disorder that causes nerve damage including:

  • Diabetic Neuropathy
  • Alcoholic Neuropathy
  • Guillain-Barre syndrome (autoimmune nerve disorder)
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD, also called peripheral vascular disease, or PVD, which is a narrowing or blockage of arteries due to a buildup of fat and cholesterol on the artery walls, which limits blood flow to the extremities)
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Shingles
  • Vitamin deficiency, especially thiamine, vitamin B12 and folate
  • Hypothyroidism

Learn more about neuropathy that affects other parts of the body and how to treat it.

5 Treatments for Foot Neuropathy

  1. Eating Healthy Foods—Eating fruits and vegetables and other foods rich in B vitamins will help nerves to talk to each other better. If you have diabetes, managing blood glucose levels with medication and by eating a proper diet is essential.
  2. Supplements For Neuropathy—Your nerves require minerals like magnesium and calcium for proper functioning. I like to think of supplements as an insurance policy. If you do not get enough from your diet, the extra vitamins and minerals are there as a back up.
  3. Medications For Neuropathy—There are common prescription medications for neuropathy. These neuropathy medications may alleviate some of your symptoms.
  4. Medical Laser Therapy—This non-invasive therapy is cutting-edge technology in neuropathy pain treatment. Deep tissue laser therapy helps repair the damaged cell by increasing stimulation and decreasing inflammation. The nerve now has the ability to repair and regrow
  5. Neuropathy Surgery—In more severe situations, surgery may be necessary to release swollen and compressed nerves.

If you’ve experienced symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, you know just how challenging living a healthy lifestyle can be. You may have experienced physicians telling you that prescriptions, injections, and surgery are the only options to manage your symptoms of neuropathy. I’m here to tell you that’s simply not true. Here’s what I believe… Natural healing beats quick fixes; Finding solutions beat masking symptoms. If you are looking for neuropathy relief, taking your life back starts at our clinic.

fertility-acupuncture

Acupuncture For Fertility

by

Although one of the main objectives that human beings have in life is to procreate and leave offspring, nowadays, a large part of the population cannot or has problems in doing so. Fertility problems affecting both men and women are increasing as genetic, environmental, and pathological factors become worse and more difficult to prevent and/or treat.

Read more

Click badge to read why our patients love us.

Google Rating
5.0
Based on 166 reviews
js_loader
tuespine-logo-tagline-footer-svg

Get real pain relief with chiropractic, acupuncture and innovative therapies. Experience true care delivering overall wellness.

Facebook-f Instagram Linkedin

Our Location

Our clinic is conveniently located in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco next to the Bay Club.

Recent Posts

Quick Links