A chiropractor primarily focuses on issues with the spine – the structure that provides support for your back. It consists of around 24 bones and 23 discs that cushion those bones. Unfortunately, an injury or the aging process can cause the vertebrae and discs to shift out of alignment, or you could damage the disc during an injury. Your back and neck also have soft tissue that could become injured.
Fortunately, with care from a chiropractor in Bessemer, AL, you may heal and have less pain from a neck or back problem.
So, which conditions can a chiropractor treat?
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease classifies as a condition that affects the discs in your spine. With this issue, your discs begin to wear out, dry out, or develop small cracks and tears in the outer shell.
The discs act as shock absorbers and help you maintain flexibility in your spine. Therefore, as they change from degenerative disc disease, you may have pain, numbness, or tingling in that particular area, and it may affect your range of motion.
Herniated Disc
A chiropractor can help if you have a herniated disc – a problem that occurs when the shell of a disc develops a small crack or tear.
The contents may then seep through this tear and possibly cause pain, weakness, numbness, or burning. Sometimes, these symptoms will affect your upper or lower extremities, depending on the location of the disc herniation.
Bulging Disc
This condition arises when the contents of a disc places pressure on the shell of the disc. As a result, the disc becomes larger.
A bulging disc is less likely to cause symptoms than a herniated one. However, it’s still possible that you could experience pain, numbness, tingling, or burning from this condition if the disc places pressure on the nearby nerves or soft tissue.
Whiplash
Whiplash is an injury that affects your neck. Although you could experience it from a personal injury, whiplash most commonly comes from a rear-end automobile accident. Specifically, the impact from the collision propels your neck forward and then backward rapidly, placing pressure on the soft tissue and nerves.
When you have this condition, you may have any of the following symptoms:
- Neck pain that worsens when you move your neck
- Loss of range of motion in your neck
- Headaches
- Sleep disturbances
- Irritability
- Mood changes
- Difficulty concentrating
- Fatigue
- Ringing in your ears (tinnitus)
Spinal Stenosis
A chiropractor may help if you have spinal stenosis – a condition that occurs when your spine narrows. The narrowing will place pressure on the nerves in your spinal cord.
For many, it’s not an issue. The ones who have symptoms might have pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness.
Strain or Sprain
These two issues can cause you pain, muscle cramps, and a decrease in your range of motion and function. A strain occurs when you have an injury to a tendon or muscle in your back. A sprain, on the other hand, is an injury that occurs when you stretch or tear a ligament in your back. You could develop a back sprain if you fall or twist suddenly, while a strain is an overuse injury.
Neck and back pain can keep you from doing what you enjoy. The pain may even interfere with you sitting and relaxing comfortably. Fortunately, a chiropractor from Premier Chiropractic Center has the ability to diagnose and treat a variety of issues, such as whiplash and herniation, so you’ll have less pain.
Contact Premier Chiropractic Center, serving Bessemer, AL, and the nearby region, to manage chronic back pain or assist with healing an acute problem. We’re here to help, so give us a call to schedule your first appointment by calling 205-519-4024.