Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are the number one cause of orofacial pain. Jaw pain, earaches, headaches, or neck pain are common symptoms of TMD. TMD is an umbrella term that describes a number of different conditions all with the same primary symptom: jaw pain.
Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a set of more than 30 conditions that cause jaw joint and muscle discomfort. “TMDs” are disorders caused by the temporomandibular joint (“TMJ”). Everyone has two TMJs, one on each side of the head just in front of the ears. Muscles and ligaments surrounding and attached to the TMJ control its movement. Problems with any of these structures can lead to TMDs.
Chiropractors are health care professionals who diagnose, treat, and prevent disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system, including nerves, bones (including the spine), muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Chiropractors have a doctorate degree and are accredited by the DC (Doctor of Chiropractic) upon passing a 3 part board exam. The amount of education is extensive. Both DC’s and MD’s are strong in basic sciences and clinical diagnostics, where one degree may have slightly more training than another in any specific area. Chiropractors focus on the musculoskeletal system instead of MDs, who focus on diseases or what we know as internal medicine.
After an assessment, a chiropractor will find an area that’s locked up. Now, what most chiropractors do is adjust in extension and rotation. What Dr. Joshua Konu at Human Integrated Performance does is flexion and rotation to reduce any detrimental effects. Rotate the area that’s locked up and apply a high-velocity, low amplitude force to the area.
Yes. Sciatica pain is often caused by misalignment of the spine, which puts pressure on the nerves in your lower back or buttocks. A chiropractor can adjust subluxations (misaligned vertebra) that are believed to cause nerve interference. This adjustment takes the pressure off the sciatic nerve, allowing for better blood flow promoting healing within your body. With sciatica, many people experience pain in the sciatic nerve, which pierces through the piriformis. When the piriformis is tight, it squeezes on the sciatic nerve, resulting in sciatica. One approach involves reducing the tension in the piriformis, which will help release the tension on the sciatic nerve. Another is also treating the blowback as one unit with the sciatic nerve to decrease the Sciatic nerve’s inflammation.
A chiropractor is a health care professional who diagnoses and treats disorders of the neuromuscular system. Chiropractic services focus on the musculoskeletal system: back pain, neck pain, joint pain in your arms or legs, and headaches. Using spinal manipulation as their primary choice of treatment, chiropractors treat patients with manual adjustments and manipulations to joints and muscles.
There is no concrete answer as to how often you should see a chiropractor. Typically, someone suffering from low back pain would come into their chiropractor on a weekly basis for a few weeks up to a few months. It depends on the patient, but an average person in good health should see a chiropractor once or twice every month for regular maintenance. If you are experiencing a reoccurring issue or have recently been involved in an accident or a fall, your needs may be more advanced and require more frequent treatment.
Most health insurance plans in Alberta will cover chiropractic, but you should always check with your insurance provider to ensure that you are fully aware of your coverage. Based on your plan, some insurance will only cover a percentage of your chiropractic treatment.
Look for a chiropractor that uses the diversified treatment style because it is evidence-based. You should be cautious of practitioners that overpromise or claim that they can cure serious illnesses. Chiropractors can provide a lot of benefits, but they cannot cure diseases.
Yes, chiropractic treatments can help with spinal stenosis. A chiropractor won’t be able to cure the condition, but they may be able to relieve some of the pressure on your nerves. Spinal stenosis is a condition that occurs when the spinal canal begins to narrow, which puts pressure on the nerves running through the spine. For example, if two of your vertebra are pressing on one nerve, you may experience pain or numbness in your arms or legs. Chiropractic adjustments can help reduce this type of pain by freeing up space for the nerves and allowing better blood flow, promoting healing within your body. A good chiropractor will also provide you with exercises that can help manage the symptoms of spinal stenosis.
The crack or pop that you hear is the formation of gas within the joints. That crack is not indicative of a successful adjustment. The actual adjustment comes from putting the force through the joint, the high velocity, low amplitude, adjustment, or force to the joint space. One issue some chiropractors have is “chasing the pop,” where they seek out the sound instead of going based on their physiological assessment.
