For many individuals who frequently complete repetitive tasks such as sewing, typing, lifting weights, using handheld tools, or other tasks involving repetitious hand movement, an ailment is commonly reported. This condition can be described as a tingling, shooting pain that comes with numbness or weakening of the hands. These symptoms are often attributed to a medical condition entitled carpal tunnel syndrome. Unfortunately, symptoms related to carpal tunnel syndrome may reduce your ability to work and can interfere with the ability to easily complete daily tasks. However, rest assured!  You do not need to suffer these pains alone and without hope for recovery. There are many treatments that a chiropractor can implement that may help relieve your pain and help you recover faster, without the need for surgery, so that you may get back to the things you love.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a frequently experienced condition that comes along with numbness, tingling, and pain in the wrist, hand, and arm. This condition occurs when the median nerve is compressed, which is why this condition is also sometimes referred to as simply median nerve compression. This condition is named for the narrow pathway of bones and ligaments found at the base of the hand, called the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel pathway encompasses the median nerve and tendons that allow bending of the fingers and feeling to the index, middle, ring fingers, and thumb. When the surrounding tissue of the tendons found through the carpal tunnel becomes inflamed due to irritation, it will place pressure on the median nerve leading to weakness, pain, or numbness in the wrist and hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms will usually come on gradually. This condition may begin with occasional tingling or numbness of the fingers. In addition, many individuals report that they have experienced a feeling of their hands being swollen, despite no visible swelling. Typically, the dominant hand will exhibit the most symptoms and will be affected first. Additionally, another common symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome is being awoken in the middle of the night and feeling the need to shake your wrists or hands. As symptoms worsen with time, even completing activities such as driving or lifting objects can become difficult. Because of the tendency of carpal tunnel syndrome to worsen over time, it is essential to understand that without treatment, you are unlikely to find relief from your symptoms as they progress. Statistically, women are 3x more likely than men to develop carpal tunnel syndrome, but many men who work with their hands also come to develop this condition. Additionally, individuals with metabolic disorders or conditions affecting the nerves are more susceptible to developing this condition, as are individuals who have experienced prior injury to their wrist, are overweight, or who are prone to fluid-retention. The risk of developing this condition is not particular to any specific injury but rather any work that involves repetitive motions such as cleaning, hammering, assembly line work, and more.

How is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Diagnosed?

There are various methods in which carpal tunnel syndrome may be diagnosed. A medical professional may order imaging tests such as MRI’s, X-rays, or an ultrasound to get a better look at your bones and surrounding tissues. Your doctor may simply tap your wrist or have you flex your wrist to make note of any pain or numbness experienced. Finally, a doctor may order a nerve conduction study or electromyogram that measures your muscle’s electrical activity and electrical signals in your arm.

Can a Chiropractor Treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

In many cases, after a patient is diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, they are referred to a surgeon for evaluation. While surgery is an option for treating carpal tunnel syndrome, many individuals may not know that they can seek alternative treatment from a chiropractor. As chiropractors, we prefer less-invasive approaches to treating carpal tunnel syndrome. Chiropractic treatment can quickly reduce pain, numbness, and tingling while aiding the tissue surrounding your wrist to heal faster. When you visit Atlas Total Health Chiropractic for carpal tunnel syndrome treatment, we will take a multi-pronged approach tailored to your specific needs. Patients typically receive a combination of treatments, including soft tissue work, dry needling, and other exercises to relieve their pain and get them back to the activities they enjoy without invasive surgery. Every patient is unique and will require different treatments with different anticipated timelines for recovery but exploring your options such as receiving treatment from a chiropractor as opposed to jumping into invasive treatments such as surgery is always a good idea. Are you ready to relieve your carpal tunnel pain efficiently and fast? Call Atlas Total Health Chiropractic today at (866) 668-0108 or contact us online to schedule your consultation and get ready to get back to optimal health quicker.

Many individuals may believe that all chiropractors are more or less the same, but as is the case with any other doctor, this is not the truth. In fact, results may differ drastically depending on which chiropractor you go to see. Like any other medical professional, some doctors are more efficient and effective at providing treatment than others. However, not all chiropractic doctors are the same. Patients may receive drastically different results while being treated by one chiropractor compared to another. Therefore, when selecting the best chiropractor for you, it is imperative that you ask the right questions so that you receive the results you deserve and find the best fit for you.

How to Select the Best Chiropractor

Many people don't know how to find the best chiropractor for them, so they may choose the office nearest to them without determining if this is the best office to suit their needs. However, when looking for a chiropractor, there are some things you should be on the lookout for that will indicate you've found the best fit.

1. Ask Friends, Families, and Groups for Recommendations

When seeking a medical professional, such as a chiropractor, a wonderful place to begin is by asking for recommendations. Whether asking your doctor, asking a massage or physical therapist, or asking friends and family, it is a good idea to gather personal recommendations. Additionally, many athletes, sports teams, groups, and athletic clubs include members who receive chiropractic treatment. Ask members of any athletic group you belong to (such as a golf club, basketball team, or running group) if any of them have a chiropractor they see that they would recommend. Receiving a recommendation (or several), is a wonderful place to begin your search, especially if the recommendation comes from somebody who's obtained desirable results from seeing that chiropractor.

2. Look at Reviews

Another important thing you should consider when looking for a chiropractor is to look at the chiropractor's reviews. However, it is essential to glance at more than the star ratings. Search for any good or bad comments indicating how patients were treated, how they felt, what the office was like, and if they would recommend the chiropractor to others. Reviews are essential to get a feel about a business's reputation. Reviews may be found on Google, a Facebook page, Yelp, Healthgrades, or other online sources. Ensure you take the time to look through the reviews, rather than just taking the rating at face value. Personal accountings of the patient experience can divulge much more about the practice beyond good and bad.

3. View Their Educational Content

At Atlas Total Health Chiropractic, we strive to maintain an educational approach to treating patients. We like to talk to them to ensure that our patients understand why they are in pain, what we are treating it, and what they can do while back at home to manage their health. When looking at prospective chiropractors, peruse their educational content to see if educating their patients is a priority in their practice. The simplest way to begin is to view the chiropractor's webpage. Does the practice have a blog? If so, does it have educational posts that are helpful? Are conditions and methods of treatment explained in a manner you can understand? In today’s age, social media is now another excellent spot where you may find educational content that a business has to offer. Look for a chiropractor you are contemplating contacting on social media to see if they are creating helpful content on those platforms. These platforms will often help you to get a better feel for the office and what they may be able to do for you.

4. Inquire About Their Experience Treating Your Specific Issue

After contacting a new chiropractic doctor regarding a consultation or during your consultation, inquire about their experience with treating your particular injury or pain. For example, if you are suffering from whiplash after a car accident, ask the chiropractor how frequently they treat this issue or ask them to discuss with you some facts surrounding a few patients who had similar issues and what their treatment and results were like. Chiropractors specialize in various areas, so inquiring about the specific issue you are dealing with will provide a good indication as to whether or not this chiropractor is the best fit for you. If you feel that this chiropractor rarely treats the condition you are experiencing or do not feel like you have received clear answers during your consultation, it may be best if your search for another chiropractor.

5. Inquire About Which Techniques They Use

As every medical professional is different and will implement different techniques. In chiropractic care, there is a broad range of available treatments that patients may benefit from, including but not limited to laser therapy, decompression, adjustments, dry needling, and more. A chiropractor that utilizes a wide range of techniques is also dedicated to evolving and improving with medical advancements. Keep in mind that many individuals may have visited a chiropractor previously and did not receive the results they were seeking. Sadly, this occurs frequently, and we find this happening often. Many individuals will seek us out after feeling like they have tried everything, which may include other chiropractors. As is the same with other medical doctors and professionals in the medical industry, if one chiropractor did not provide you with the relief and treatment you deserve, it doesn’t mean that it isn't possible. It is likely that you just haven't found the right chiropractic doctor for you yet. If you are in the Chattanooga area, we would love to meet with you and see if we are the right chiropractor for you. Call (866) 668-0108 today or contact us online to schedule your consultation. We will explain how we can help you feel better quicker and get you back to optimal health.

Are you experiencing persistent or debilitating back pain? Well, you are not alone. In fact, nearly 31 million U.S. Citizens experience low-back pain at any given moment, and back pain is the leading cause of individuals seeking chiropractic treatment. Back pain may range from a slight nuisance to your daily activities to crippling chronic pain. The good news is that a chiropractic doctor can provide pain relief. While an injury may trigger back pain, many individuals are unsure as to what causes intense spikes in pain. Evaluation from a chiropractor can lead to a greater understanding of what is causing your pain and what options you have for treatment relative to your unique situation. After just one chiropractic adjustment, you may see a reduction of spasms, reduced muscle and spine pain, and an improved range of motion. Chiropractors often use a multidisciplinary approach to treating issues such as severe back pain. For example, your chiropractor may show you exercises for you to complete at home to strengthen and stabilize your back so that you will be less likely to experience back pain in the future. Additionally, your chiropractor may recommend other treatment methods to incorporate into your individualized care plan, such as massage, physical therapy, hot and cold therapy, dry needling, nutritional counseling, and more.

Here's How to Fix Severe Back Pain

To fix a patient's severe back pain, first, your chiropractic doctor will have to discuss what is causing the pain. There are several different types of back pain, but there are three leading causes: discogenic, joint-related, and muscle-related.

1. Discogenic Back Pain

Discogenic back pain is caused when the discs found in the back between the vertebrae are compromised. These discs may tear, bulge, herniate, extrude, and may irritate nerves that are located nearby. Discogenic back pain is common and is associated with activities that increase pressure on the intervertebral discs. With discogenic back pain, simple actions such as bending, sitting, sneezing, and coughing may exacerbate pain. For example, patients experiencing discogenic pain will almost always experience pain when making a forward bending motion. Furthermore, many individuals who suffer from sciatica experience this type of back pain due to a herniated disc in the lower back. When a herniated disc places pressure on the sciatic nerve, a patient will often feel radiating numbness, tingling, burning, and pain from hip to foot. After evaluation and discovering that a patient is experiencing discogenic back pain, your chiropractor will create an individualized plan that focuses on preventing herniations from worsening, providing pain relief, and stretching the surrounding muscles along the spine to aid in the prevention of disc herniation occurring down the line.

2. Joint-Related Back Pain

Joint-related back pain will occur when spinal joints become restricted, degenerate, or become adhesive. Each vertebra has two sets of facet joints in the spine, which provide mobility and support. As with all joints, these facet joints are composed of cartilage that can become thinned and worn and restrict normal motion. When it comes to joint-related back pain, when the bone attempts to adjust to having less support, inflammation and osteoarthritis may occur. Additionally, bone spurs may grow as the body tries to compensate for lost cartilage. These bone spurs may pinch nerves and further lead to back pain. When we see a patient experiencing joint-related back pain, our mission is to reduce pain and help support the joint through treatment that can include exercise to strengthen surrounding muscles and deep tissue work. In addition, if you are experiencing this type of back pain, it is crucial to try to maintain proper posture to maintain spinal alignment and prevent future issues.

3. Muscle-Related Back Pain

Muscle-related back pain occurs when joints and discs emit signals to muscles to tense to help protect weakened areas. This type of pain may also be referred to as myalgia pain. This type of back pain may also occur from poor posture, repetitive tasks, and strain. For example, back muscle strains may result from excessive weightlifting, improper lifting techniques, poor posture, or repetitive motions such as golfing. Additionally, this type of pain is frequently seen in car accident victims. If the pain you are experiencing is due to muscle-related back pain, the pain will be localized to one area and will not radiate. Instead, you may experience spasms, tenderness, and muscle stiffness. This type of pain can come on quickly and usually lessens with rest. When we determine a patient is experiencing muscle-related back pain, our mission is to reduce pain and relax the surrounding muscles to prevent further pain. This may be accomplished through various methods, including laser therapy, dry needling, deep tissue work, and more. As can be seen, treatment options for severe back pain vary from case to case, as each patient will have different needs. The treatment you will need will depend on the cause of your back pain. Our goal is to ensure that our patients leave our office in less pain than they came in with during their first visit. After your pain is treated, we will work to show you have to prevent back pain in the future and how to stabilize your back. We love helping our patients recover quicker and helping them to stay clear of pain in the future. If you are experiencing severe back pain, call Atlas Total Health Chiropractic at (866) 668-0108 or contact us online. We can't wait to help relieve your pain and help you to get back to the things you love.

In the event that you have sustained an injury involving your joints, your physician may recommend that you see an orthopedic surgeon. In many cases, chiropractic treatment may be a safe, drug-free alternative to invasive surgery, but many individuals are unaware that this is an option available to them. In fact, often, chiropractors treat patients who were led to believe they would require surgery. Instead, after chiropractic treatment, they were able to feel better without going through a surgical procedure. Although surgery may be the best option for some patients, for many others, they have another alternative that can be less costly, less invasive, and drug-free. Additionally, many patients find that surgery can worsen chronic issues or return after some time has elapsed. Chiropractic treatment may help you avoid having to undergo surgery or a subsequent surgery after an initial surgery failed to solve the problem.

Is Chiropractic Care an Alternative to Surgery?

If you happen to suffer from a musculoskeletal or joint issue, the most typical course of action to take for treatment is to seek out the care of an orthopedic surgeon or a chiropractor. Both orthopedic surgeons and chiropractors treat patients who are experiencing pain caused by musculoskeletal issues. The goal of the chiropractor and orthopedic surgeon is to help rehabilitate those who suffer from musculoskeletal or joint issues and to help them feel better and experience a better quality of life. However, the method to obtain these results differs in these two medical practices. A chiropractor will use non-invasive techniques such as soft tissue work, adjustments, dry needling, and laser therapy, while an orthopedic surgeon will use surgical interventions to treat these issues. For example, in one case, a patient opted to have rotator cuff surgery in an attempt to alleviate pain and treat her frozen shoulder symptoms. This patient's symptoms gradually worsened after surgery until their range of motion was nearly wholly restricted. This patient was told that they would require another surgery, but instead, this patient sought the evaluation of a chiropractor. Over the course of several months, the patient's range of motion was improved from a range of treatments, including physical therapy and soft tissue treatment. This chiropractic patient saw the results they were looking for without undergoing additional invasive surgery and subsequent recovery time. Interestingly, in a related study conducted in the state of Washington, it was found that when workers with social security disability claims for back injuries chose to see a chiropractor before meeting with an orthopedic surgeon, only 1.5% had surgery. In comparison, 42.7% of whom an orthopedic surgeon evaluated before meeting with a chiropractor underwent surgery. This study indicates that the first doctor you see following the initial diagnosis of your condition has a significant impact on the likelihood of being persuaded to have surgery. Additionally, this study shows us that those who chose to receive chiropractic treatment very rarely went on to undergo surgery. The results of this study are astounding, as it can be observed inferentially that the type of treatment a patient sought was primarily responsible for determining whether or not they would receive surgery. Many individuals, including patients mentioned in the above-aforementioned study, were unaware that they had a choice to seek non-invasive alternative care from a chiropractor. Of course, the right treatment plan and course of action depend on many factors, including the extent of the injury, risks associated with the proposed surgery, recovery time, and personal choice. Therefore, we believe it is best to explore your options and understand what alternatives you may have before making permanent decisions, such as surgical treatment. Chiropractic treatment can be a successful alternative to surgery, and in many instances, we believe surgery should be treated as a last resort. Chiropractic care can treat a wide range of issues, including, but not limited to:

• Disc Injuries
• Foot and Ankle Pain
• Headaches
• Hip Pain
• Knee Pain
• Muscle Pain
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Repetitive Strain Injuries
• Sciatica
• Shoulder Pain
• Sports Injuries
• Vertigo
• Whiplash

If you are presently experiencing discomfort from an injury or chronic pain, we want you to know the extent of your treatment options, including chiropractic care. While surgery is the right option for some patients in some situations, many individuals can see relief from their symptoms without having to undergo an invasive procedure. Therefore, we believe that you shouldn't make a permanent decision without understanding all of your options. Here at Atlas Total Health Chiropractic, our experienced team of chiropractic doctors is available to provide you with an assessment and discuss your unique needs so that we may create an individualized treatment plan for you. From there, you will be able to make an educated decision regarding the treatment options available to you. Want to see if chiropractic treatment could be an alternative to surgery for you? Call (866) 668-0108 or contact us online to schedule your consultation, and we will explain how we can help you feel better and back to optimal health as soon as possible.