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Chronic Back Pain Conditions That Affect Mostly Women

I am a woman, hear me roar— or shriek from back pain, if you are one of the many women who battle an aching back on a regular basis. 

Ladies, we’ll give you the disappointing news first: studies have shown that there are a handful of back conditions that tend to affect women more than men. It’s a bummer that your gender marker could automatically make you more susceptible to certain painful conditions. Perhaps even a little unfair? 

So for our female readers suffering from chronic, nagging back pain, we offer this post in hopes that you’ll take heart in learning conservative care and preventative options exist. Let’s delve into the more common back conditions that affect women in particular.

Fibromyalgia 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fibromyalgia is twice as common in women as it is in men. Disappointingly, the cause of fibromyalgia is largely unknown and there is no known cure. Though hormonal levels may play a role, there has yet to be conclusive evidence found in research to support this theory. However, there are constructive ways to treat the pain and achiness for a better quality of life.  And that’s a huge win!

Just what is “fibromyalgia?” It’s a condition that causes aching and pain all over the body and is generally chronic in nature. Some of the more common symptoms include extreme fatigue, sleep trouble, headaches, and numbness or tingling of the hands and feet. Because the nature of each case can differ significantly, treatment, in turn, needs to be customized. 

So where do you start? Figuring out what’s best for you can be tricky, but as you learn more about your condition and how your body reacts to treatment, you’re better prepared to make adjustments and plan for the future. Basic home care is a good place to begin, including: 

  • Getting good quality sleep–you’ve no doubt heard the importance of sleep a million times before, but it’s true. Your body needs sleep to recover and heal, particularly when you’re trying to ward off aches and pains.
  • Reducing stress— we know…easier said than done. Helpful practices often include practicing meditation and potentially seeking counseling for more extreme cases. 
  • Exercising regularly, even if that just means walking around your neighborhood. 

Though fibromyalgia can happen seemingly randomly, you should also be aware of the more common triggers. For women, the hormonal changes that happen during menopause and pregnancy can sometimes flare up an already existing fibromyalgia case. Extreme stress, both short and long-term, as well as drastic changes in weather, can also touch off this condition. 

Compression Fractures From Osteoporosis 

This is a big one, especially in women who are approaching, are in, or past menopause. In fact, of the estimated 10 million Americans with osteoporosis, a whopping 80% are female. Women, in general, have smaller, thinner bones than their male counterparts. Couple that with the sharp decline in estrogen (a hormone that greatly contributes to bone health) during menopause, and the risk for fracture significantly increases. 

Compression fractures from osteoporosis usually happen in the front of the spine, collapsing an already thin bone. This leads to sharp acute pain in the back, which can turn chronic when left untreated. If you’re experiencing acute back pain that was not present before, seek medical attention. Compression fractures often go misdiagnosed as general back pain; pay close attention to your symptom patterns so that you can help give your practitioner the full story.

To treat a compression fracture with conservative care, a couple of days of bed rest immediately following the fracture are generally recommended. However, be careful not to stay inactive for too long, as this can worsen the overall effect of osteoporosis and put you at risk for other fractures. Some back bracing can help under the instruction of a doctor, as well as some gentle physical therapy exercises. 

How Chiropractic Can Help Women With Back Pain

When you’ve tried home care and it just isn’t providing sufficient relief, you’re experiencing more intense pain on a more frequent basis, or, when you want a more proactive approach to preventing back pain altogether, it’s time to seek professional care. Chiropractic care can provide the relief you are seeking. Gentle, chiropractic adjustments help to alleviate pressure in your joints and allow your entire body to function better, provided there is no fracture present. Plus, your practitioner can recommend the best at-home exercises to keep your healing on the track outside of the office, beneficial for both fracture and non-fracture cases.


Ladies, you know the importance of taking care of yourself; schedule your chiropractic appointment online or call (626) 469-7478.





This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for in-person advice or care from a medical professional.

8

4 Common Types of Arthritis (And The Best Treatment For Each)

If you think you may be suffering from arthritis, you’re certainly not alone. In fact, it’s the leading cause of disability in the U.S., with 54 million adults and 300,000 babies and children living with arthritis of some kind. Just what is arthritis, what causes it, and what are the best ways to manage the pain and discomfort?

Understanding Arthritis

Arthritis isn’t actually a name for a single disease. Instead, it’s become a colloquial way to describe joint pain. There are over 100 types of arthritis and related medical conditions, and while it’s most common among women and strikes more frequently as people age, anyone can be diagnosed with arthritis.

Joint swelling, pain, stiffness, and a decreased range of motion are the most common symptoms of arthritis and they show up differently for each patient. The symptoms may be mild, debilitating, or fall somewhere in between. Sometimes these symptoms seem to clear up for a while; other times, they just keep getting worse. 

Severe arthritis often results in chronic pain and an inability to perform routine activities, like walking or climbing stairs. Permanent changes to your joints may be visible to the naked eye but usually only seen via x-ray. 

The Most Common Types of Arthritis

Degenerative Arthritis

Also known as osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis is the most common type of arthritis. Degenerative arthritis occurs when the cartilage gradually disintegrates, causing your bones to rub against each other, and resulting in joint stiffness, pain, and swelling. The pain may become chronic as time goes by and the joints continue to lose strength. Some patients will eventually require a joint replacement.

Risk factors include being overweight, a history of degenerative arthritis in your family, your age, and previous injuries such as a torn ACL.

Adjusting your lifestyle may reduce the risks or delay the onset of degenerative arthritis. Preventative recommendations include:

  • Making time for both rest and regular physical activity.
  • Maintaining a healthy body weight.
  • Strengthening your muscles around the joint to provide more support.

Inflammatory Arthritis

The immune system is supposed to keep the body safe from disease, but sometimes it can mistakenly attack something in your system that’s not dangerous at all. With inflammatory arthritis (also known as rheumatoid arthritis), the immune system attacks the joints, resulting in joint erosion and even organ damage. A combination of genetic characteristics and environmental factors can cause this autoimmune disease. For example, smoking cigarettes is an environmental factor that can trigger rheumatoid arthritis in genetically-susceptible people.

Early diagnosis is critical to minimizing permanent joint damage.  Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are often used to reduce pain, restore function, and prevent additional joint damage.

Infectious Arthritis

Compared to the causes and symptoms of other types of arthritis, infectious arthritis is rather straightforward: bacteria, a virus, or a fungus enters the joint and triggers inflammation. Food poisoning, sexually-transmitted infections, and hepatitis C are all examples of the types of organisms that can infect the joints.

Although sometimes infectious arthritis becomes chronic, antibiotic treatment often clears up the joint infection.

Metabolic Arthritis

As the body breaks down purines, an element that’s found in human cells and in many foods, it forms a substance called uric acid. Sometimes the body naturally produces more uric acid than is needed, causing the growth of needle-like crystals in the joint. When this happens, patients often feel sudden or extreme joint pain. If uric acid levels aren’t quickly reduced through diet and other medical measures, chronic pain and disability may result.

Diagnosing Arthritis

Your doctor will usually conduct a physical exam to check for swollen joints and loss of motion, plus blood tests, and imaging scans may be used to determine which type of arthritis you have. A rheumatologist, a doctor specializing in arthritis, is often called in for both uncertain diagnoses and when inflammatory arthritis is suspected. You may be referred to an orthopedic surgeon when joint replacements and other joint surgery is required. 

For most joint pain, there are steps you can take to effectively relieve your pain and discomfort, including incorporating chiropractic care into your treatment.

How Chiropractic Care Treats Arthritis Pain

Chiropractic care is a preferred treatment for many arthritis patients because it is a safe, non-invasive, and non-addictive alternative to prescription and over-the-counter pain medications that come with so many unwanted side effects.

Treatment for arthritis pain may include chiropractic adjustments, gentle pressure applied to the spine, and other joints to reduce restrictions and misalignments. By improving your spinal health, joint mobility, and the functioning of your nervous system, your body can better manage the pain and swelling that comes with arthritis.

Though every patient’s chiropractic treatment plan and results are different, many arthritis patients experience significantly-reduced pain and discomfort, decreased inflammation, and an improved range of motion and flexibility.


Is chiropractic care a good fit for your arthritis pain and discomfort? Make an appointment online or call us at (626) 469-7478, to explore how we can create your customized treatment plan to help you feel better now and in the future.

Young woman suffering from headache while working in office

Common Causes of Migraines and How to Effectively Treat Your Headache Pain

Migraine headaches are among the most prevalent — and the least-understood — medical conditions in existence. 

Approximately 13% of the world’s population suffer from migraines at some point in their lives. Because the symptoms vary so significantly from one patient to another, they can be challenging for mainstream medicine to diagnose and treat. 

As most patients can attest, migraine headaches can be disruptive to everyday activities. From reduced productivity to missing work completely, strained relationships to broken commitments, those who suffer from migraines often feel the stress of disappointing people in their life because they’ve got another migraine. 

Do you know who is more susceptible to migraines, men or women? And what are the common causes and best options for treatment? Read on for the answers to these questions and more!

It’s impossible to plan your life around debilitating pain that may strike at any time. Patients often describe their migraine headaches as a throbbing pain radiating from deep inside the head, often from just one side. Lasting from several hours to many days, migraines may also cause sensitivity to sound and light, or cause nausea and vomiting. 

One in five people also report disturbances in their vision called “auras” just before the onset of a migraine. Common auras include blind spots, flashing lights or stars, or zigzag lines.

Who Gets Migraines

While anyone can get a migraine, women are three times more likely to suffer from migraines than men. Migraine headaches often run in families and are also associated with certain nervous system conditions as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Migraine Causes

While there is no definitive, universally-accepted answer as to what causes migraines, several hypotheses have gained traction over the years, including:

  • Overactive pain-signaling from the brain’s sensory neurons.
  • A disordered nervous system, possibly in the brain stem.
  • Low levels of the brain chemical serotonin. 
  • Emotional issues or disrupted energy in the body.
  • Vitamin B or other mineral deficiency. 
  • Negative reactions to certain foods. Wheat/gluten, milk, sugar, yeast, corn, citrus fruits, eggs, aspartame, and MSG have all been linked to migraines to some degree.
  • Reactions to some medications.
  • Lack of sleep.
  • Genetic susceptibility. Research has shown that 70-90% of migraine sufferers have family members who also experience them.
  • Environmental triggers. Smells can sometimes set off a migraine.

Migraine Treatment

Many patients instinctively reach for over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, but these medications often don’t provide relief. Mainstream doctors tend to prescribe triptans or drugs that decrease inflammation and change the flow of blood within the brain. While these medications may cut down on the frequency of migraines or reduce the headache symptoms, they don’t address the root cause, and ultimately, the migraines return. Additionally, prescription drugs may cause brain fog, other unpleasant side effects or trigger “rebound headaches,” often as troublesome as the original migraine.

To effectively treat migraine headaches, you must address the underlying cause. Chiropractic treatment is focused on getting to the bottom of what’s producing your migraine headache. There are no one-size-fits-all solution; chiropractic care zeroes in on the unique characteristics of your migraines. 

What to Expect at Your Appointment

Chiropractic treatment includes gently moving, stretching, and placing subtle pressure on the spine to let your body heal itself naturally. You’ll likely experience instant pain relief at your chiropractic appointment, followed by reduced migraine frequency in the coming weeks and months. Your individual treatment plan will take your overall health into consideration and may include lifestyle adjustments such as drinking more water, getting more rest, taking a hot bath, or making sleep more of a priority in your life. Home exercises designed to reduce tension and discomfort in your neck and spine are often recommended in between office visits.



Wondering what your individual migraine treatment plan might look like? Schedule an appointment online or call us at (626) 469-7478, to discuss your headache pain and get to the root cause of your migraines. It’s time to say goodbye to the nasty side effects of prescription medications and finally experience lasting relief.


 

Note: This article is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for personalized advice or care from a medical professional.

22

7 Reasons To Visit A Chiropractor After A Car Accident

In the swirl of post-accident events, many people overlook the lingering ramifications of the initial impact. Never just assume that because you feel fine today, your healing journey is complete. Injuries that resurface months or years later will be much more challenging to address. 

If you’ve been in an accident—even if seemingly minor—here are 7 reasons to schedule a chiropractic appointment immediately after your crash.

1. Treat Inflammation X-Rays Miss

Why do so many car accident survivors wake up feeling sore even though x-rays appear normal? Those aches and pains are actually micro-tears in your ligaments and muscles that cannot be diagnosed by an x-ray. Rather than reach for over-the-counter pain meds, chiropractic care uses spinal manipulations to realign your spinal column and release a natural anti-inflammatory substance, which also mitigates soreness in your body.

2. Uncover Invisible Injuries

Whiplash, an injury caused by a severe jerk to the head, is often marked by symptoms including headache, nausea, soreness, dizziness, or pain in the neck and upper back.  It’s surprising for many people to learn it can take many hours or even days for these symptoms to emerge. The best course of action is to visit a chiropractor as soon as possible to make sure there aren’t lingering issues that might suddenly flare-up.

3. Greatly Reduce Stiffness and Discomfort

A stiff body after a car accident is often the result of scar tissue in the muscles. While many doctors simply advise patients to wait and let the scar tissue work itself out, non-invasive chiropractic techniques can quickly break up this scar tissue and promote quick healing.

4. Skip The Side Effects of Drugs

Too often, patients intend to take painkillers for a short period following their car accident, then realize they’ve become dependent or addicted to the medication. Chiropractic care provides pain relief without the risks and side effects of these drugs.

5. Jumpstart Your Body’s Own Healing Process

If you suffer a neck or back injury in a car accident, the inflammation that develops can lead to even more problems. Inflammation bogs down the healing process slowing blood and nutrients from reaching key areas of your body. Chiropractic adjustments mobilize your spine and restore your body’s proper range of motion, enabling your body to heal much more quickly.

6. Prevent Chronic and Painful Conditions From Developing

Post-accident chiropractic care may prevent minor injuries from growing into serious, long-term problems. When you see a chiropractor immediately after being involved in a car accident — even a seemingly-minor one — you may be preventing chronic and painful conditions from developing.

7. Document Your Injuries For Legal Claims

If you weren’t at fault in your car accident, you may consider taking legal action. When you seek out chiropractic care post-accident, you’ll be creating a record that may be submitted to your attorney or insurance company to fully document the extent of your injuries.

Better Safe than Sorry

When you’re involved in an accident, scheduling a chiropractic exam should be one of your follow-up activities. While you may feel fine initially, symptoms may develop in the days to come.  Don’t take risks– a chiropractic exam will uncover hidden injuries, provide appropriate treatments, and ensure your body is healed naturally.

Make an appointment with us online or by calling our office at (626) 469-7478 to learn how we can create your customized treatment plan to jumpstart your healing process.



This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for in-person advice or care from a medical professional. For diagnosis and treatment of your specific condition, schedule an appointment with our office.