What you need to know…
Pain Killer Hands CHIROPRACTIC treatment, which emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. In the preservation and restoration of health.
Every engineer, architect, builder and carpenter knows the importance of a proper foundation in constructing a building, for this insures durability and long life. Any slight change or shift in the foundation can cause a great amount of deviation in the top part of the structure and, perhaps, ultimately, its collapse. This is a great parallel to our health and specifically the structure of our body. The musculoskeletal system (muscles and bones) makes up the framework for our bodies. The nervous system helps to determine the tone of these muscles, which position and stabilize joints. All three of these elements working in harmony determine our posture and ability to function. When one of these aspects is out of alignment the other two are impacted.
One of the important things is the alignment and function of the neuromusculoskeletal system (that’s nerves, muscles and bones). Spinal alignment has a critical impact on how the muscles and even the nerves of your body will function. If spinal alignment is off then other joints including hips, knees, feet shoulders, etc. will have to adapt to these challenges. This can create stress states that will create trouble over time. Usually these problems aren’t apparent immediately, but over time the alignment problems can introduce increased stress on a joint that you might want to use later for something other than compensating for poor posture or alignment.
PKH always inspect spine to look for potential issues with misalignment, fixation, and joint irregularity but these misalignment, fixations and joint irregularities can also be present in the extremities. The extremities they mean the numerous joints present in the body including the jaw, ribs, shoulders, elbows, wrist, fingers, hand, hip, knee, ankle, toes, and the foot. These problems in the extremities may also lead to chronic spinal issues.
A Healthy Spine Leads To A healthy Life
No part of your body escapes the dominance of your nervous system. Improper function of the spine & skeletal system due to slight misalignments can cause poor health, even in areas far removed from the spine and spinal cord itself. Misalignments can also reduce the ability of your body to adapt to its ever-changing environment. Even the slightest malfunction of your spine may alter the regular transmission of nerve impulses, preventing that portion of your body from responding optimally.
The body’s foundation is formed by the pelvic girdle. When this bony structure consisting of hip bones and the lower bones of the back is level, there will be maximum balance and stability in the spinal column. When the pelvic girdle or any of the vertebrae (bones making up the spinal column) become tilted or rotated out of their proper position, dramatic changes may occur in the body.
These misalignments can cause pressure on the discs that separate the vertebrae. (The condition of the disc is the key to the patient’s health problem in many cases.) Vertebra can become misaligned either from the cumulative effects of several minor episodes or from a single accident. Nature frequently is able to cope with these jolts to the spinal column without assistance. Sometimes, though, vertebrae tilted or rotated out of their normal position can be too much for nature to deal with effectively.
In order to more fully understand what occurs, we should know that the discs are really pads between the vertebrae and consist of a spongy substance surrounded by fibers of cartilage. When there is misalignment of a vertebra, there is uneven pressure on the disc causing it to swell and protrude. (One often hears this referred to as a slipped, herniated or ruptured disc.)
When it results in the pinching or compressing of the nerves that run through that particular area. These compressed nerves often become inflamed and impede the proper transmission of impulses to the section of the body controlled by these nerves. A seemingly endless list of ailments and pain may be brought about by these misalignments.
For complete and lasting results, all of the misaligned vertebrae & skeletal joints must be identified, located and corrected to their normal position.
WHAT IS A CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT?
The word chiropractic is literally translated from Greek as “done by hand.” Chiropractic is the largest and most popular drug-free health care system in the world and has been a blessing to millions of people worldwide since its discovery in 1895 by D.D. Palmer. Chiropractors work primarily with the spine because the nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) controls and coordinates ALL functions of the body. The innate wisdom or intelligence of the body is expressed through the nervous system at all times. A chiropractic adjustment is usually applied by hand but other limited force techniques including table drops or instrument adjusting can be used with similar results. With each adjustment a force is introduced into the spine in order to restore motion into the joints of the spine. The increased motion of the spine allows for better mobility, decreased pain and most importantly, it eliminates future nerve interference caused by global distortions in the spine. The adjustment is painless but if the “cracking” is bothersome then the aforementioned low force techniques can be used according to patient comfort. To understand Chiropractic you need to acknowledge the supremacy of the nervous system. Your immune system, endocrine system, digestive system and all the other systems of the body are not separate from the nervous system; in fact they are controlled by it. However, messages sent between the brain and body through nerve transmissions can be interfered with by subtle spinal misalignments called “subluxations.” Chiropractors remove these interferences in the nervous system by adjusting the misplaced vertebrae back into position and allowing the body to naturally heal itself with increased coordination and communication between the brain and the body. The clearance of nerve interference is how chiropractic can help a variety of conditions including some of those listed.
Your condition is not listed? Do not worry because this is only a partial list of what chiropractic can help. In fact, chiropractic care can actually help prevent these problems and many others from developing. Just remember that your nervous system controls EVERYTHING in the body and that any interference in the nervous system can lead to dysfunction in the body. Therefore, it is vital to have your spine checked regularly, EVEN IF YOU DON’T HAVE PAIN. After all, most of the nervous system is not pain oriented; you can have a subluxation and not feel pain!
What are spinal discs?
Disc is a cushion between vertebra and provide shock absorption, protecting the spinal cord and ensuring flexibility of the spine. Weight is transmitted through vertebral column and thus through disc. Disc is made up of inner circular nucleus pulposus and outer annulus fibrosis. Nucleus pulposus is soft and thick gelatinous substance. Central nucleus pulposus expands with pressure and helps to absorb the shocks during weight transmission and movements of vertebral column. Lastly they act as a fulcrum to direct the type of movement through which each vertebra travels.
Accelerated pressure changes within disc and horizontal expansion of nucleus pulposus secondary to pressure results in disc bulge into annulus fibrosus. Annulus fibrosus is tough membrane and resist tear in healthy young individual. Illness such as disk degeneration weakens the fibrous annulus and disk bulge herniate through the torn or broken annulus fibrosus known as herniated disc
What is stenosis?
Spinal stenosis is created by the narrowing of the spinal canal. This narrowing may be caused by mechanical problems or by abnormalities in the aging spine. It may or may not result in low-back pain, limping, and a lack of feeling in the legs. Stenosis is often a degenerative condition. It may exist for years without causing pain or discomfort, but a fall or an accident can trigger characteristic stenotic pain. Numerous factors can cause stenosis, such as thickened ligaments, expanding infection, abscess, a congenital or developmental anomaly, degenerative changes, vertebral fractures or dislocations, or a spinal cord tumor.
Since spinal discs have a very poor blood supply, they also depend upon the circulation of joint fluids to bring in nutrients and expel waste. If a spinal joint loses its normal motion and this pumping action in impaired, the health of the disc deteriorates. Like a wet sponge, a healthy disc is flexible. A dry sponge is hard, stiff, and can crack easily. This is how many disc problems begin. The chiropractic approach to disc problems is to help restore better motion and position to the spinal joints. Besides reducing disc bulging, better spinal function helps decrease inflammation so the slow process of healing the surrounding soft tissues can begin.
The most common disc problem suffered by adults is Degenerative Disc Disease. This occurs when the disc nucleus loses water and small tears develop in it. The body then forms osteophytes (bone spurs), along the edges of the vertebra and the disc space narrows. We used to believe that this was a function of “wear and tear” as we aged. The most recent evidence shows that, most often, there is a hereditary link to the development of degenerative disc disease. Degenerative disc disease can also be caused by trauma/injury.
Here is a list of other most common disc problems you may experience:
What Is The Vertebral Subluxation?
In simplest terms, a subluxation (a.k.a. Vertebral Subluxation) is when one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebrae) move out of position and create pressure on the Disc. When the spongy disks between the vertebrae become compressed and bulge/squeezes out and it can push against the spinal cord and nerve roots or irritate spinal nerves. Spinal nerves are the nerves that come out from between each of the bones in your spine. These spinal nerve irritations make an interruption in the flow of neural impulses or transmission of nerve messages from the brain to the body and / or from the body to the brain. When the herniated/bulged disc compresses a nearby nerve, the result can be a pinched nerve. A pinched nerve may cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or legs. Which is believed to be the primary process that causes disease in patients. The substance that makes up the disc's jelly-like core can also inflame and irritate the nerve, causing additional pain. This condition can be caused by a number of factors, including physical stress, trauma or injury. Postural pressures on the body and / or traumatic impact usually lead to this condition called subluxation.
The spinal cord is the communication pathway for nerve impulses to and from the brain. These messages determine the health and function of virtually every cell, tissue, organ and system of the body. Vertebrae protect these nerves; even a small change in the position of the spinal bones can have a profound adverse affect on these delicate nerve tissues.
The VERTEBRAL SUBLUXATION COMPLEX
Chiropractors are remarkably unique in the health care field as they are the only health care professionals trained to detect and treat a condition referred to as the " Vertebral Subluxation Complex". Chiropractors have found vertebral subluxations to be responsible for and contribute to a number of spinal and extra-spinal disorders.
What Is The Subluxation Complex?
Through extensive research and study chiropractors have identified 5 components of the vertebral subluxation. Collectively, these elements are known as the "subluxation complex".
- Kinesiopathology – the loss of normal vertebral positioning and motion in relation to neighboring vertebrae
- Myopathology – pathological changes occurring in the spinal musculature which includes hypertonicity, spasming, fibrosis, weakness and improper or inappropriate functioning
- Neuropathology – irritation or injury to spinal nerve roots through compression, stretch or more commonly chemical irritation from nearby spinal structures
- Histopathology – pathological changes which occur to the spinal tissues such as abnormal bony growths off the vertebral bodies and joints, fibrosis and adhesions of spinal muscles and ligaments, as well as dehydration and degeneration of spinal discs
- Pathophysiology – the biochemical changes taking place in the spinal region which include inflammatory biochemicals from injured tissues and biochemical waste products
Each component of the subluxation must be eliminated for proper healing to occur and for the rehabilitation process to be successful. While full understanding of all components is not necessary, you should be aware of the complexity involved. Patients should also be aware that pain is but a small element of most diseases and disorders. Pain is a very poor indicator of your need for further treatment as pain generally subsides well before tissue healing and mechanical normalization has completed.
What Causes Subluxations?
Vertebral subluxations have a great number of different causes all of which the average individual is exposed to daily. These causes can be described in terms of physical, chemical, and emotional causes.
Physical causes include acute trauma to the body, repetitive motions affecting the spine, bad postural habits, improper workstation habits and design, and weak or imbalanced spinal musculature. Chemical causes include poor dietary and nutritional practices, drug and alcohol use and abuse, and the ingestion of chemical toxins in the foods we eat, air we breath, and water we drink. Chemicals which are harmful to the body decrease the body's ability to function optimally and reduce the ability to successfully adapt to and withstand internal and external stresses - making us more susceptible to spinal subluxations and the consequences of these subluxations.
Emotional causes refer to stress. Excessive stress or inadequate stress management skills can deplete the body of the ability to sustain normal functions. The impact of emotional stress on physical health is well documented in the medical research and can have devastating effects on the immune system, making the body susceptible to injury and disease.
How Are Subluxations Corrected?
Chiropractors learn a number of different chiropractic techniques and procedures to correct vertebral subluxations. Most of the procedures involve the application of a chiropractic spinal adjustment to the affected vertebrae.
Chiropractic adjustments involve the application of a quick but gentle corrective force into the "subluxated" spinal vertebrae. The adjustment can be delivered manually through the hands or can be applied through the use of a specialized tool. Subluxations generally require multiple treatments or adjustments for complete normalization to occur. Similar to straightening teeth, correcting malfunctioning and malaligned vertebrae requires time for the tissues to accept this new position as "normal".
How Can I Tell If I Have A Vertebral Subluxation?
The only accurate way to determine if you suffer from subluxations is to receive a chiropractic evaluation. However, a number of signs and symptoms are commonly associated with the vertebral subluxation and include:
- neck pain, tenderness, soreness and stiffness
- back pain, tenderness, soreness and stiffness
- headaches
- dizziness or balance problems
- spinal muscle spasm, tightness or weakness
- reduced spinal mobility
- pain, numbness or tingling in the extremities
- joint pain and stiffness
- low energy
- poor overall state of health
- poor tissue healing
Individuals who are not currently experiencing pain or other discomforts are not necessarily "subluxation free". As previously described, pain is a very poor indicator of disease processes, including the presence of subluxations. Subluxations are similar to cavities in that many times a significant amount of damage is present before symptoms such as pain are felt. This is why we recommend, like your dentist, that individuals seek periodic spinal evaluations to check for the presence of subluxations and other spinal abnormalities, even in the absence of pain.
Causes of Misalignment
A misalignment is a complex of functional and/or structural and/or pathological changes to the Spine & Skeletal joints that compromise optimal function of the nervous system, which also influences organ function and general health.
Unfortunately, many outside factors can cause misalignments, to appear in the spine & skeletal frame. Injuries, accidents, tension, and overworking the muscles can all lead to misalignment. You may not even realize your spine is out of alignment, but you will more than likely notice some of the resulting side effects which can, and often do, occur: Headaches, insomnia, anxiety, depression, joint pain, digestive issues, and chronic fatigue are just some of the many ways in which your body may be telling you that you have a vertebra out of alignment. This is because the body is thrown off balance and must work harder to compensate for spinal misalignments, not to mention that the central nervous system is unable to perform to the best of its ability.
MYONEURAL- KINETIC ASSESSMENT
When a joint, tendon, muscle or ligament suffers damage, stress or an injury, their nerve sensors (proprioceptors) send improper or false signals which confuse the brain. The brain responds by sending false controlling signals to the muscles and tendons. These muscles then become neurologically tight or weak causing dysfunctional joint movement through a process known as “neurological inhibition”. If left uncorrected, this leads to weak links and abnormal muscle pull patterns in the movement chain, resulting in chronic pain, re-injury, deterioration and/or decreased athletic performance.
Often these improper controlling signals of muscles cannot be fully corrected with traditional physical therapies. Muscles that have been neurologically inhibited could not be strengthened effectively with normal exercises and stretches, (this is why you can stretch a muscle every day and it still always feels tight!). If the sensors of the tightened muscles are not corrected to begin with, the foot and ankle can quickly become restricted again following any soft tissues release or joint mobilisation/manipulation. The nervous system must first be reset to allow other treatment to work the way they should. We strengthen and lengthen every pair of muscles in your lower body that is neurologically weak and tight and causes dysfunctional body movement.
Natural health care without drugs or surgery
PKH treatments is a natural form of health care that uses spinal & skeletal joint manipulation to correct these misalignments and restore proper function to the nervous system, helping your body to repair and heal naturally. PKH doesn't use drugs or surgery. Rather, a Manual spinal & skeletal manipulation to the application of a precise and accurate force to a specific part of the spinal & skeletal segment to corrects the misalignment, permitting normal nerve transmission and assisting your body to recuperate on its own.
The purpose is to keep your spine and all the associated nerves healthy. PKH treats all peripheral joints, including jaw, ribs, shoulders, elbows, wrist, fingers, hand, hip, knee, ankle, toes, and the foot. Proper nerve function allows your body to continually regenerate and maintain optimal health, and prevent disease.