Importance of Chiropractic Care in Piriformis Syndrome

Piriformis Syndrome is a neuromuscular disorder that is caused due to compression or irritation in sciatic nerve by unusual enlargement of piriformis muscle. Piriformis is a flat shaped muscle that is situated in the buttocks and arises from the front portion of the sacrum. This causes pain or numbness to the sacroiliac region of body and pain is felt exceedingly while running and climbing stairs.

Following are some causes and symptoms of Piriformis syndrome:

Causes:

• Compression in sciatic nerve by overgrowth of bone or herniated disk in spinal cord is the major factor for piriformis pain.

• Foot Dysfunction is the most common factor responsible for piriformis syndrome. It is due to improper pronation while running or walking.

• Lack of exercise in your daily activity can cause inflexibility to the muscle, joints dysfunction and nerve entrapment. These problems can be responsible for piriformis syndrome.

• Subluxation is the partial dislocation of joint or any other part of body organs which can cause nerve pain that finally results in the piriformis syndrome.

Symptoms:

• Pain in the lower back or buttocks radiating down the legs is the most common symptom found in the patients suffering from piriformis syndrome.

• Soreness in the affected area of the muscle.

• Pain due to walking, running or after sitting for a long time.

• In some of the cases, weakness, acne, or changes in sensation are also found in the patients suffering from Piriformis Syndrome.

Treatments and Therapies:
First of all, try to avoid position or postures causing chronic pain. Consult a specialist doctor or physical therapist who will schedule stretches or exercise according to the need to overcome the pain after completing diagnosis. There are several additional treatments like anti-inflammatory drugs, ice and heat, hamstring stretches and chiropractic care that can be practiced to get rid of piriformis pain. Chiropractic services play a vital role for the treatment of piriformis syndrome as it helps to regain proper functioning of pelvic and spinal joints.

Trigger point therapy, flexibility exercises, massage and stretching techniques to strengthen your muscles are some effective therapies that should be used to get better results for the treatment of piriformis syndrome.

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Is Your Sleeping Position Right or Needs a Change?

Everybody knows that getting enough sleep is important. In fact, you’ve probably read numerous accounts of all sorts of studies that show how important getting enough sleep really is. However, for many people, the quality of sleep they have is often considerably worse than it should be for a variety of different reasons.

Your mattress could be at fault, you could be stressed about your family life or work, or you could just be using the wrong pillow. One thing that many people simply don’t think about when it comes to their quality of sleep though is the position that they sleep in.

That’s because most of us just assume that any position that’s comfortable when our heads hit the pillow is good enough. The truth is that the sleeping position you were most comfortable in as a kid may not be the one that’s best for you.

Over time, the wrong sleeping position can result in serious back pain and really cause problems for you. If you suffer from back pain, keep reading to learn which sleeping position could be best for you and which ones you should avoid at all costs.

If you don’t, back pain could be a major issue for you the rest of your life!

1. Sleeping on Your Back
   
   Many doctors and specialists will tell you that sleeping flat on your back is the best thing you can do for yourself if you experience chronic back pain. The reason sleeping on your back can work so well should be obvious ― it works to keep your spine straight and you’ll avoid twisting your neck and spine through the course of the night.
   
   
   However, many people find it difficult to sleep on their backs if they aren't used to it. For some, particularly those people who sleep on their stomachs, switching to a position where they sleep on their sides for a while may be necessary to make the transition.
   
   
   If you find it difficult to sleep on your back because of lower back pain you may want to consider a mattress topper that’s a bit firmer. Soft mattresses can work well for people who don’t weigh much, but people over 150 pounds may experience some discomfort and back pain when attempting to sleep on their backs.
   
   
   One of the only bad things about sleeping on your back is that it can make sleep apnea and snoring worse.
   
   
2. Side Sleeping
   
   Sleeping on your side is something that you've probably been doing since you were a little kid if you do it on a regular basis. Unfortunately, sleeping on your side can throw your spine out of alignment and make the next day nearly unbearable if you have chronic back pain.
   
   
   While not sleeping on your side can be very difficult, there are a few things you can do to make side sleeping a bit more comfortable and result in less back pain. The most important is to keep your spine straight and properly aligned, and this can be done by putting a pillow that isn’t too thick between your knees. This will help to keep your spine from dipping.
   
   
   The other major thing that you should do if you regularly sleep on your spine is to make sure you aren’t using a very thick pillow or more than one pillow to rest your head. This could throw the top part of your spine and your neck out of alignment in a serious way; resulting in chronic pain that could last for days.
   
   
3. Stomach Sleeping
   
   Sleeping on your stomach is really the worst position according to many doctors and back pain specialists. The reason sleeping on your stomach is so bad is because it forces your neck to turn one way or another while you sleep, and this turning of the neck is going to greatly throw your spine out of alignment. Over time, this can cause serious neck, shoulder and back problems.
   
   
   If you absolutely must sleep on your stomach, using a pillow that’s made of very soft materials or memory foam that contours to your body specifically is your best bet. However, trying to get out of the habit of sleeping on your stomach will wonders for reducing back pain and isn’t an impossible task.
   
   
   The good thing about sleeping on your stomach is that it will help to reduce snoring and sleep apnea, which could result in a better night’s sleep for you if you have those issues on a regular basis.

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How to Overcome Side Effects of Painkillers

Painkillers are a common treatment for back problems or other types of chronic pain. These drugs are usually safe and can provide pain relief when taken as directed by a physician. However, certain painkillers can have dangerous permanent side effects, so they should be used with caution.

The following information will help you understand the dangers of these pharmaceutical drugs:

Physical Side Effects

The term "painkiller" is meant to reflect short term pain relief. Even though we have been told for years that aspirin is safe it can actually cause irritation in the stomach lining and even cause and intensify ulcers. In the most extreme cases aspirin can lead to severe internal bleeding. A majority of conventional painkillers contain aspirin.

Another reason to be careful with painkillers is that they can cause a heart attack or stroke. Despite claims in the past by health professionals in the media that taking an aspirin a day can prevent a heart attack, recent studies show the opposite to be true. Taking aspirin on a regular basis may temporarily relieve chronic pain, but it also increases the risk of heart attack or stroke due to its high salt composition.

Mood Swings and Addiction

Taking high doses of painkillers can trigger mood swings, irritability, lack of energy and depression. Even more troubling, it can be physically and psychologically addictive. This body and mind alteration can lead to irrational behavior, such as doing things out of desperation to satisfy cravings for the drugs.

Alternatives to Painkillers

Chronic pain can be treated in ways other than pills. Overcoming pain without resorting to drugs is best. For back problems, regular chiropractic massage or acupressure helps.

Ask your doctor about other drug-free alternatives such as:

• Recovery groups
• Psychiatric therapy
• Power of positive thinking
• Healthy diet, exercise and stretching

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When You Should Seek Alternative Treatments for Chronic Pain

Chronic pain affects more than 100 million Americans every year. Recurring or chronic pain is often indicative of much larger health issues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, sciatica, and spinal stenosis.

In most cases, doctors help their patients to manage their pain, so they can live a productive life. With chronic pain, the cause is often progressive- it will continue to get worse over time.

When the diagnosis involves continuing and increasingly intense care, researching alternative health care can provide you with treatment options that can slow down or halt the progression of the disease.

• Pain Medications No Longer Work to Sufficiently Control Pain.
  
  Taking pain medications for long periods of time can cause the body to need more and more of the drug to remain effective. Many patients who continually deal with chronic pain may decide to choose alternative therapies and treatments to avoid increasing the amount of medications they take.
  
  Once a medicine begins to become ineffective, the only recourse is to increase the dosage each time it is taken. Too many prescription drugs can cause other health issues on top of the chronic condition causing the pain.
  
  
• Severe Side Effects from Medications or Other Treatments.
  
  Certain medications can have severe side effects. They can cause headaches, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, disorientation and drowsiness. The more medications a person takes, the higher risk of one or more medications counteracting another. This can be disastrous if not caught right away.
  
  Side effects and contraindications are common among prescription medications. They can also occur with natural remedies as well, but the instances are few and far between.
  
  
• To Avoid Surgery, If at All Possible.
  
  Some conditions progress to the point where surgery may be recommended in an attempt to control pain. The risks involved with having surgery, however, are often greater than the benefits of the surgery.
  
  In some cases, surgery can create scar tissue that will end up causing just as much or more discomfort than the original condition. With chronic conditions, surgery may be recommended as a last resort. Chronic conditions can cause the body to weaken making surgery a risky choice.
  
  
• Lost Faith in Conventional Care.
  
  When an individual is treated for the same condition for several years with little to no overall improvement, they can become discouraged with the level of care they are receiving.
  
  When a person is no longer being helped by one type of medication or treatment, they will seek other forms of treatment. For example, a person who is suffering from debilitating forms of arthritis may choose to use massage therapy and herbal supplements to control their pain, inflammation, and discomfort.
  
  
• Natural Remedies Offer Additional Benefits.
  
  Natural remedies offer many benefits over and above what they can do for a single issue. A person who takes a specific herb or combination of herbs to reduce inflammation and control pain will also get an abundance of vitamins and nutrients.
  
  While a person is taking a remedy for a specific condition, the benefits of that remedy work on the body as a whole. Massage therapy not only reduces pain and inflammation, it also improves circulation and flushes toxins from the body.
  
  Herbal supplements offer nutritional benefits without the need for additives and preservatives.
  
  
• Alternative Healing Methods Address the Cause, Not the Symptoms.
  
  The main difference between alternative therapies and conventional forms of medical treatment is how they work.
  
  Prescription medications are designed to serve a specific purpose and control a specific group of symptoms. Natural remedies also have properties that work to alleviate symptoms, but the difference is in how the person is treated.
  
  A natural health practitioner looks at the person as a whole, and determines what is causing the symptoms to occur. By discovering and treating the original condition, the symptoms will eventually diminish.
  
  If the condition is chronic the symptoms may not go away, but their progression may be dramatically slowed or halted altogether.
  
  
• Alternative Therapies Takes into Account Mental, Physical, and Emotional States of the Body.
  
  Conventional doctors normally only take into account a person's physical symptoms. A natural health practitioner, on the other hand, considers the mental and emotional state as well.
  
  A person who is under high levels of stress may be susceptible to chronic health conditions. By relieving stress and allowing a person to relax, symptoms associated with chronic conditions can be reduced.

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Why Chiropractic Treatment Is Preferable for Pinched Nerves

Pinched nerves refers to a condition where the tissues surrounding the tendons, muscles, or bones are damaged, resulting to impaired functioning of the body. The symptoms are usually weakness, mild or chronic pain, or tingling numbness when doing daily activities like walking.

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How Infrared Cold Laser Therapy Yields Various Therapeutic Results

Many people are familiar with the idea of laser technology and how it has therapeutic benefits. In fact, there are even television commercials that advertise laser therapy for everything from skin care to pain relief. What most people don’t understand is that there are two different types of laser therapy that are particularly popular.

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