What Chiropractors Do & Why They Do It | El Paso, Tx (2020)

By

-

What Chiropractors Do & Why They Do It | El Paso, Tx (2020)

Dr. Alex Jimenez, a chiropractor in El Paso, TX, Kenna Vaughn, Truide Torres, and Astrid Ornelas discuss what it is that they do and why they do it. Chiropractic care is a safe and effective, alternative treatment option that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of a variety of health issues associated with the musculoskeletal and nervous system, including neck pain, back pain, low back pain, and sciatica, among other health issues within the scope of chiropractic care. Dr. Alex Jimenez utilizes spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, among other well-known chiropractic care treatment methods and techniques, to help provide pain relief and promote overall health and wellness. Dr. Alex Jimenez, Kenna Vaughn, Truide Torres, and Astrid Ornelas discuss how they patients, from chiropractic care to educating them on diet and lifestyle changes, to help patients achieve their nutrition and fitness goals. According to Dr. Alex Jimenez, Kenna Vaughn, Truide Torres, and Astrid Ornelas, chiropractic care and functional medicine are treatment options that can naturally support well-being. – Podcast Insight

If you have enjoyed this video and/or we have helped you in any way
please feel free to subscribe and share us.

Thank You & God Bless.
Dr. Alex Jimenez RN, DC, MSACP, CCST

Subscribe: bit.ly/drjyt

Facebook Clinical Page: www.facebook.com/dralexjimenez/
Facebook Sports Page: www.facebook.com/pushasrx/
Facebook Injuries Page: www.facebook.com/elpasochiropractor/
Facebook Neuropathy Page: www.facebook.com/ElPasoNeuropathyCenter/
Facebook Fitness Center Page: www.facebook.com/PUSHftinessathletictraining/

Yelp: El Paso Rehabilitation Center: goo.gl/pwY2n2
Yelp: El Paso Clinical Center: Treatment: goo.gl/r2QPuZ

Clinical Testimonies: www.dralexjimenez.com/category/testimonies/

Information:
Clinical Site: www.dralexjimenez.com
Injury Site: personalinjurydoctorgroup.com
Sports Injury Site: chiropracticscientist.com
Back Injury Site: www.elpasobackclinic.com
Rehabilitation Center: www.pushasrx.com
Functional Medicine: wellnessdoctorrx.com
Fitness & Nutrition: www.push4fitness.com/team/

Twitter: twitter.com/dralexjimenez
Twitter: twitter.com/crossfitdoctor

Lumbar Stenosis Surgery for Sciatica

By

Dr. Alex Jimenez

-

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Lumbar Stenosis Surgery for Sciatica — Backache Concept. Man Massaging Aching Back Suffering From Pain Sitting In Bed At Home Waking Up In The Morning

Lumbar stenosis surgery for sciatica, like any type of surgical procedure does not always yield the most successful results. This is why it’s important to carefully and methodically assess all of the personal risk factors. Sciatica causes severe pain and surgery could be an option and hopefully of last resort. However, it’ is important to first attempt non-surgical/non-pharmacological treatment/s for six to twelve weeks before surgery to relieve symptoms and root cause. A full course of conservative treatment could include:

Physical therapy
Chiropractic
Aerobic exercise
Pain meds
Epidural steroid injection

Table of Contents

Sciatica and Stenosis

Sciatica can be caused by stenosis. This is when the spinal canal narrows, constricting, and pinching the nerves specifically the sciatic. Around ninety percent of cases stem from a herniated disc compressing the nerve roots. The damaged disc extends out and pinches the roots of the sciatic nerve. This pinching causes:

Pain
Numbness
Tingling
Muscle weakness

If it stays like this for a long time an individual can experience incontinence, along with permanent nerve and muscle damage.

BulgingandHerniatedDiscs ElPasoChiropractor

Lumbar Stenosis Surgery Options

Lumbar stenosis surgery depends on the cause of sciatica: A single herniated disc could be pressing the nerve, which would only require the removal of just that portion of the disc that’s causing the compression. This procedure is known as a discectomy or microdiscectomy.

If the stenosis is caused by a bone problem like an arthritic bone spur, then space has to be made in the canal. This means a portion of the lamina or the back of the spinal column. This is called a hemilaminectomy. Sometimes the whole lamina has to be removed. This is known as a laminectomy.

third and fourth lumbar vertebrae lumbar vertebra lumbar spine vertebral bone

If there is the instability of the spinal column, some of the lumbar vertebrae will be fused together to prevent further instability and added nerve compression.

A non-operative treatment course lasting a few weeks to months could reduce swelling in the nerve and improve sciatica symptoms. What happens is sometimes the disc gets reabsorbed over time and does not irritate the sciatic nerve.

Surgical Success

If the non-surgical options yielded minimal positive results or completely failed and surgery is the last resort talk with your surgeon to discuss the risks and benefits. The discussion will focus on factors like:

Age
Health status – levels of wellness and illness
Underlying conditions
Bodyweight
Smoker
Type of work

Individuals sixty-five and older, multiple health problems, being overweight or a smoker will place an individual at a higher risk of post complications from surgery. Studies found individuals who underwent surgery for sciatica from lumbar stenosis, identified added risk factors that could affect the outcome including:

Depression: this was because there were patients that continued to have sciatica symptoms after surgery. This means they are more likely to take antidepressants or anticonvulsants.
Quality of life from health perspective was low.
Previous spine surgery

Knowing about these factors and the possible success of sciatica surgery is something to keep in mind. The best way to understand what and how the surgery will be beneficial is to understand the risks and to remember that the risks are not the same for everybody.

Optimization

Surgical success depends on making sure patients are optimized before surgery. Increasing the chances of successful surgery after conservative treatment/s a surgeon will ask the patient to take these steps:

Weight loss is difficult, but it has been shown to improve surgical outcomes.
A healthy but sensible diet with a moderate calorie deficit is essential.
Light aerobic exercise, such as stationary or recumbent cycling can help keep the body’s blood flowing properly.
Exercising with pain is difficult but it will increase the cardiovascular system along with keeping the heart and lungs healthy enough to undergo surgical stress.
If the exercising causes too much pain ask the doctor about anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxants, or steroid medication along with the non-surgical treatment that can provide relief allowing exercise to resume.

Quit smoking

Smoking increases the rate of spinal degeneration and impairs the body’s ability to heal properly and optimally after surgery. If the surgery is elective, meaning it is not a medical emergency, then it is strongly encouraged to quit smoking before surgery. This will increase the chances of eliminating the habit. Don’t be afraid to get support. cancer.org/smokeout.

Pro-activeness

If taking antidepressant/s for depression, do not quit taking the medication thinking it will improve sciatica surgery success. Mental health is extremely important. The same goes for anticonvulsant meds as well. Stopping anticonvulsant medication for spinal surgery will more than likely cause extended damage or pre/post-surgical complications. Pre-existing conditions like depression means bringing the mental health provider and other specialists into the pre-surgical discussion.

Chiropractor Sciatica Symptoms

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

Chiropractic Testing and Treatment for Chronic Pain

By

Dr. Alex Jimenez

-

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Chiropractic Testing and Treatment for Chronic Pain — Physiotherapist examining mans back in clinic

Finding ways to manage chronic pain is a priority. Chiropractic testing and treatment could be an option that is effective and affordable. Various chiropractic care can help manage chronic pain caused by a condition like herniated disc/s. Chiropractic testing involves diagnosing the root cause/origin of the pain. Getting a proper diagnosis usually involves:

X-rays
CT scan
MRI
DNA

Table of Contents

Chiropractic testing

The correct diagnosis is essential to creating an optimal treatment plan. It is a complicated disorder that can be difficult to treat because it can present with no apparent cause. But, researchers are working to find answers to many of the questions surrounding chronic pain. When treating spine-related pain other tests can include:

Discography
Bone scans
Nerve studies
Electromyography
Nerve conduction study
Myelography

A pain specialist might consult with and refer the individual to a neurosurgeon or orthopedic spine surgeon to determine if the pain requires surgery. This is because untreated and not fully treated chronic pain is one of the leading causes of limited mobility and flexibility. Other associated issues are:

Sleep disorders
Problems with focus
Depression

There are some experts that believe tests like MRIs are overused. There is a fear that too many tests could expose individuals to unnecessary radiation and increase medical expenses. However, determining the cause/s holds the key to a successful treatment plan. Therefore, choosing the right diagnostic strategy will help in:

Creating the most effective and optimal treatment plan

Quality of life improvement

Prevent potential complications

Reduce the cost of diagnosis

Reduce the cost of treatment

Chiropractic Management

Chronic pain does not respond to typical pain management techniques. Chiropractic management deals with chronic pain inflammation and muscle tension. Chiropractors use a variety of non-surgical techniques like:

Soft Tissue

Manual release therapy stretches the muscle/s while pressure is applied
Trigger point therapy applies pressure on the area of the tensest muscle/s
Instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy uses a tool/s to apply gentle pressure.

Manual Therapy

When the joints are not moving correctly, a chiropractor may utilize this technique to regain a full range of joint motion. This is accomplished through joint mobilization which is slow, gentle stretches of the affected joint and manipulation, which are quick but gentle movement/thrusts that stretch the joint.

Exercise Therapy combined with Self-care

A chiropractor will provide simple therapeutic exercises and stretches that can be done at home to help with the pain and to help with prevention. Also provided:

Safe lifting techniques
Posture exercises/tips
Dietary strategies to manage pain and prevent re-injury

Once diagnosed with a pain condition, a chiropractor will develop a unique customized treatment plan. Don’t be afraid to talk with your chiropractor. The more they know the better the treatment plan. Once the pain is fully addressed, patients will be able to gradually increase daily activities.

New Patient Chiropractic Care Intake Forms

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

Chronic Pain Treatment/Management

By

Dr. Alex Jimenez

-

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Chronic Pain Treatment/Management — Female Physiotherapist inspecting her patient. Medical check in a physiotherapy center.

There are various chronic treatment/management options available. Chronic pain treatment focuses on treating and managing the root cause and underlying condition that is causing the pain. The physical and psychological aspects of chronic pain need to be balanced in order for a treatment plan to work.

That is why a complete treatment plan can sometimes be necessary to address both the physical and psychological factors generating the pain. Because of this treatment plans often involve different pain specialists working in conjunction with a customized treatment/management plan according to the individual’s needs. This can include a combination of treatment protocols, like:

Health coaching
Psychological therapy
Chiropractic
Physical therapy
Medication
Acupuncture
Yoga, Pilates

Treatment/Management

The focus of chronic pain treatment is to:

Lessen pain frequency and intensity
Help individuals get back to work
Improve mobility and flexibility
Maintain quality of life
Reduce or eliminate reliance on pain meds
Reduce possible re-injury or new injury
Reduce mental and emotional symptoms like anxiety and depression

Pain Meds

Non-Opioids

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications are usually the first treatment for chronic mild to moderate pain. Examples are ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen. These medications work by blocking enzymes and reduce prostaglandins throughout the body that cause pain and swelling. Acetaminophen used in Tylenol is similar to these medications but works differently. Instead, these meds block the production of inflammatory chemicals in the brain.

Opioids

Opioids are narcotics and can be extremely powerful pain relievers. These are used to relieve severe pain symptoms temporarily. Narcotics work by blocking the pain signals before they get to the brain. However, these meds are highly addictive and can lead to abuse. Doctors prescribe narcotics when non-opioids and all forms of non-pharmacological treatment/s fail or don’t work in providing sufficient pain relief. Examples include:

Buprenorphine
Fentanyl
Hydrocodone
Oxycodone
Hydromorphone
Methadone
Morphine
Tramadol

Anticonvulsants

Anticonvulsants or anti-epileptics are used to treat seizures. They can also help in relieving pain that is associated with nerve injury/damage and fibromyalgia. Examples include:

Gabapentin
Pregabalin
Carbamazepine
Lamotrigine

Muscle Relaxants

Muscle relaxants can be used for chronic pain but there is division among medical experts as to how effective they are and of their addictiveness. Plus there are few studies supporting their use in individuals with chronic pain.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are hormone-based medications that help reduce inflammation. They are generated naturally in the body while some are synthesized in a laboratory. Injectable steroids can help relieve pain brought on from pinched nerves or joint disorders.

Antirheumatics

Antirheumatic meds are used to control and manage rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. They prevent or inhibit the immune system and help reduce joint damage. Examples include:

Methotrexate
Leflunomide
Hydroxychloroquine
Sulfasalazine

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are used to treat anxiety disorders and depression disorders but are also used to relieve chronic pain. They are used to treat pain caused by:

Arthritis
Migraine
Nerve damage
Fibromyalgia

These medications increase the brain’s chemical levels like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. They can also be used even when an individual has no depression symptoms. Examples include:

Amitriptyline
Venlafaxine
Paroxetine.

Alternative Treatment

Alternative treatment/management can also help with the pain. It’s recommended to discuss any type of alternative treatment with a doctor or medical professional. Doctors encourage alternative treatments along with keeping a journal of how an individual feels after a series of treatment sessions. If the individual feels better, and the treatment is working, then consider continuing for an extended period. Here are some alternative treatments/therapies to think about.

Acupuncture: Works by releasing endorphins, the natural pain-relieving chemicals, and affects the brain region that controls serotonin, the chemical that regulates mood.
Massage: Helps relieve pain by keeping muscles, ligaments loose and proper blood flow throughout the body
Meditation: Has been shown to help improve pain perception and reducing depressive symptoms
Hypnosis: Has been found to be useful in treating cancer and back pain

Psychological Therapy

Psychotherapy, also known as talking therapy could be part of a chronic pain treatment plan. What it does is to help improve the associated symptoms/conditions which include:

Depression
Anxiety
Fear of pain

Psychotherapy has shown promising results and has various forms. They are:

Acceptance/Commitment Therapy

Acceptance commitment therapy is short-term psychotherapy. There are two approaches to pain perception. One, it teaches the individual to accept things beyond what they control. Second, it encourages the individual to feel things the way they are, work towards relief instead of questioning and being skeptical. It opens an individual’s psychological perspective. It can be used to treat low back, leg, and neck pain.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

This therapy educates individuals on pain, mood, behavior, and how they all relate to each other. It also trains an individual on relaxation strategies. Individuals learn techniques to replace negative thoughts concerning their pain with positive thoughts. Cognitive-behavioral therapy has been shown to be effective in treating pain caused by:

Spinal cord injury
Chronic migraines
Fibromyalgia
Rheumatoid arthritis
Irritable bowel syndrome
Osteoarthritis
Multiple sclerosis
HIV/AIDS
Cancer

Early and aggressive treatment/management of chronic pain can make a significant difference. Knowledge is power so make sure you understand all options before deciding which to take.

Sciatica Pain Treatment Relief

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

Chronic Pain Diagnosis

By

Dr. Alex Jimenez

-

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Chronic Pain Diagnosis — Doctor showing model of bone to patient who is suffering from pain in his shoulder

Getting an accurate chronic pain diagnosis is essential to creating the most optimal, highly customized treatment plan for the individual. Depending on the severity and cause of pain, individuals could require various pain specialists/therapists combined with a primary physician. These could include:

Chiropractor
Physical therapist
Neurosurgeon
Pain medicine specialist
Physiatrist
Rheumatologist
Orthopedic spine surgeon

Table of Contents

Chronic Pain Diagnosis

Over time chronic pain symptoms can change or alter and need reevaluation. This could mean having to adjust treatment and management but that is exactly what it is, an adjustment to the treatment plan flowing with the symptoms as they come and go while keeping to the objective of. Chronic pain diagnosis entails a series of tests, as well as, a full review of symptoms and medical history. A doctor will ask a series of questions concerning symptoms and pain triggers. These questions could include:

When did the pain begin?

Describe and rate the pain, is it shooting, electrical, burning, throbbing, dull, or sharp?

Has there ever been an injury at or around the problem area?

What activities/actions/movements relieve and worsen the pain?

Is there a history of mental illness, like depression or anxiety?

Labs

Tests will be ordered to identify physical/non-physical causes that could be the cause or contributor. Possible tests include:

Blood

Blood tests are used in the diagnosis of infections and inflammation. Individuals with infection/s or inflammatory disorders have high levels of white blood cells and inflammatory reactive substances like C-reactive protein. Blood tests also help determine the presence of rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or cancer. If rheumatoid arthritis is present, the blood analysis will show positive results for proteins known as rheumatoid factor.

Urine

Urinalysis is commonly used to check for gout. This is a type of arthritis that causes high blood levels of uric acid. A doctor may order a urine test for a patient using prescription pain meds.

Spinal tap

A doctor inserts a needle into the lower back and a sample of cerebrospinal fluid is collected. Cerebrospinal fluid is clear and protects the brain and spinal cord. A cerebrospinal fluid analysis helps to diagnose disorders of the central nervous system and certain cancers.

Musculoskeletal/Neurological tests

A musculoskeletal exam looks at posture, joint mobility, muscle stiffness, tightness, and swelling in or around the area, as well as the rest of the body. An example is a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. A detailed spine examination is done to identify deformities and moving/walking posture. A neurological examination is used to check:

Muscle strength
Touch reaction
Balance
Overall sensation

A neurological exam can also be used to test:

Memory
Alertness
Mood
Behavior

Imaging

Imaging provides detailed images of the body’s organs and bones. Doctors use these to:

Spot fractures or inflammatory alterations in the bone/s
Focus on details of a bone and surrounding structures
Differentiate between growths, infections, or fractures
Identify nerve/s injury or damage

X-Rays

X-rays are standard in the diagnosis of fractures. An arthrogram is an x-ray that uses a contrasting agent to check and identify joint disorders.

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images. Magnetic resonance imaging helps in diagnosing:

Low back pain
Fibromyalgia
Osteoarthritis
Migraine
Pelvic pain
Peripheral neuropathy

Electrodiagnostic

EMG – Electromyography

EMG’s are used to diagnose disorders of the muscles and nerves. Electrical activity in the muscles is recorded to see how the impulses/electrical signals are transmitting from the nerves to muscles.

An EMG could be required if an individual has:

Numbness
Muscle weakness
Muscle pain
Tics

Electromyography is also used to identify conditions that can cause chronic pain like:

ALS – Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Radiculopathy from pinched nerves in the spine
Muscular dystrophy

Nerve Conduction

A nerve conduction study measures the speed of electrical signals passing through a nerve. It can identify:

Carpal tunnel syndrome
Herniated disk disease
Sciatic nerve injury/damage/abnormality

A doctor can order both an EMG and NCS in combination.

Back Pain Chiropractic Care

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

Anybody Can Have Chronic Pain

By

Dr. Alex Jimenez

-

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Anybody Can Have Chronic Pain — Sport pain. Woman in sport gym with ache. Sporty blonde female with sporty equipment. Studio shot.

Anybody can have chronic pain. Adults typically complain of joint pain, low back pain, and neurogenic pain. While children and teenagers are more likely to have more headaches, abdominal pain, leg, and hand pain. Regardless there are individuals that have a higher risk because of their age, gender, and job. It isn’t always clear what causes chronic pain. There are several possibilities:

Injury – Even after the injury has healed, the nerves keep sending pain signals to and from the brain. Doctors are still not sure why this occurs.
Disease – Conditions can cause chronic pain like fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis.
Nerve problems – Part of the nervous system can be injured, the nerves themselves. This is called neuropathic pain.
Unknown Cause/s – Pain that presents with no obvious injury, disease, or nerve problem.

Table of Contents

Military Veterans

Chronic pain is quite common in veterans according to a National Veterans Affairs Study. Around one in five veterans receiving primary care have chronic pain. While one in ten has chronic pain syndrome. Veterans recently served in a war, tend to report a variety of causes for their pain. This includes:

Multiple injuries
Brain trauma
Muscle injuries
Bone/s injuries

Athletes

Most sports require a certain level of fitness. Athletes train with all types of activities to help maintain their body’s. Unfortunately, they are still not immune to chronic pain. Chronic pain is common with:

Gymnasts
Football players
Soccer players
Runners
Basketball players
Ballet dancers

Common chronic conditions for athletes:

Low back pain
Leg pain
Stress fractures or cracks inside a bone
Tendinitis
Diabetes
Recurrent fractures
Spinal stenosis is a narrowed spinal canal, which creates added pressure on the nerves that travel through the low spine into the legs

chiropractor takes notes on lady with back pain in gym

Seniors

Age is a high-risk factor for chronic pain. Around 30-40% of individuals older than sixty-five have or are beginning to deal with chronic pain. The severity in anybody forty-five to sixty-five is the greatest. Common conditions that cause chronic pain in older adults are:

Cancer
Arthritis and gout
Heart disease
Kidney disease
Damaged nerves
Stroke
Shingles

Women

Men and women experience pain differently. Several factors contribute to this. These include:

Hormones
Menstruation
Puberty
Reproductive health

Women have a higher risk of developing disorders that cause chronic pain. Examples include:

Arthritis
Brittle bones
Migraines
Irritable bowel syndrome

Anybody dealing with chronic pain, finding relief can be difficult and time-consuming. Individuals are often sent back and forth between primary care, specialists, and therapists for a solution.

Improved Nervous System

When there is a communication breakdown between the brain and the body’s tissues, organs, and cells it can lead to a variety of health problems. There are many chronic and even degenerative health conditions that are impacted by the nervous system. Studies have shown that chiropractic is a highly effective treatment for numerous neurological conditions which include:

Ataxia
Autism
Cerebral palsy
Epilepsy
Multiple sclerosis
Parkinson’s
Tourette’s Syndrome
Vertigo

Anybody can seek treatment and they will experience the benefits. Chiropractic provides a safe, effective treatment for an improved nervous system function. The type, frequency, and intensity of treatment depend on the patient and condition. Chiropractic positively affects the nervous system and as a result, positively affects the whole body.

Chronic Body Pain Treatment

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

Causes of Chronic Pain

By

Dr. Alex Jimenez

-

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Causes of Chronic Pain — Man sport pain. Handsome guy in sport gym back pain and led. Studio shot.

Several conditions and factors can cause chronic pain. Usually, these are conditions that accompany normal aging, which affect bones and joints. The top three are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia. Other common causes are nerve damage and injuries that fail to heal properly.

Table of Contents

Spinal Cord and the Nerves of the Corresponding Organs

Fibromyalgia

Individuals with fibromyalgia experience unexplained pain in almost every part of their bodies. Doctors and scientists are still trying to figure out what causes fibromyalgia. Currently, scientists think a part of the condition comes from an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain. They believe the imbalances play a critical role. Fibromyalgia can create:

Tender areas
Muscle pain
Headaches
Long-term back pain
Long-term neck pain

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis causes severe sporadic or non-stop aches and pain in the knees, hips, spine, and feet. Associated symptoms include joint stiffness, swelling, and limited joint mobility. Individuals with osteoarthritis could have some pain throughout their lives. According to the CDC, around fifteen million adults with arthritis have severe pain in their joints.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis causes continual aching that affects multiple joints. The hands, wrists, and knees are the most affected joints. Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis can present alternate symptoms, like joint stiffness, swelling, and fever.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the brain and the spinal cord. What happens is the immune system targets and damages the protective covering of the nerves themselves. The brain can’t properly and effectively communicate with the body. Multiple sclerosis causes pain in the legs, feet, arms, and hands. Associated symptoms include burning, prickling, or stabbing pain just about every day.

Sciatica

Sciatica can cause mild to sharp, electrical burning pain that travels from the lower back through the buttocks to the back of the leg and even into the foot. Chronic sciatica lasts for three months or more. The condition is more common in adults age 40 and older.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome causes pain and numbness in the:

Hand
Wrist
Forearm
Thumb
Index finger
Middle finger
Ring finger

Common causes include:

Repetitive hand movements
Rheumatoid arthritis
Diabetes
Underactive thyroid gland
Some women experience carpal tunnel during pregnancy

Injury Trauma

Around half of the cases involving chronic pain are linked to physical trauma and injury. Individuals hospitalized after a serious injury often report chronic pain symptoms within the first year. Scientists are still unsure of how injuries lead to chronic pain. They believe several factors increase the risk. These include:

Pre-injury depression
Anxiety
Alcohol use
Family history of chronic pain

Individuals that have sustained multiple injuries are at higher risk for chronic pain.

Spinal Injuries

One of the most common causes of chronic back pain. The lower back is the area likely to be affected. Certain types of chronic pain can have more than one cause. For example, general back pain could be caused by a single factor or a combination of factors like:

Poor posture
Improper lifting of heavy objects
Improper carrying of heavy objects
Being overweight places added strain on the back and knees
Abnormal curvature of the spine
Wearing high heels too often
Sleeping on a worn-out mattress
Degenerative disc changes

Combat Injuries

More than half of combat-related injuries are the result of explosions, from landmines, and shrapnel. Nearly all injured soldiers have to deal with some type of pain and many have a traumatic brain injury. A traumatic brain injury can cause chronic headaches. Delayed treatment and repeated injuries in injured soldiers make up for most chronic pain cases.

Sports Injuries

Sports injuries and chronic pain is nothing new. Studies found that 1 in 2 football players deal with chronic pain in their retirement. This along with sleep problems and mild-severe depression. Both can contribute to chronic pain. Athletes are continuously exposed to high-risk injury situations. Having the pressure of performing optimally and winning can take a toll on an athlete’s health.

Weight

Obesity does not directly cause chronic pain, but it does raise the risk. Around 40% of individuals that are obese also experience mild to severe chronic pain. Plus, individuals that are severely overweight are more likely to develop a condition that can cause chronic pain like diabetes, arthritis, and fibromyalgia.

The source of chronic pain can be very complex. It can start with an injury or illness and develop slowly without the individual realizing it until it has become a full-blown chronic condition. This fact alone makes recommending a single course of treatment risky and is why health care providers recommend a number of different types of treatment options.

Chiropractic Care on Personal Injury

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

How Does Pain Become Chronic?

By

Dr. Alex Jimenez

-

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 How Does Pain Become Chronic? — Millennial guy in sportswear suffering from back pain wgilejogging at park, copy space

How does pain become chronic? Pain can be a complex condition, as it involves both physiological and psychological components. When an individual experiences an injury, the damaged tissues trigger and send pain signals to the brain. This is how the body alerts that there is something wrong, and thus prevents further damage. Those pain signals travel to the brain, stimulate the nerves, and cause a sensation known as pain.

Table of Contents

Nerves and the brain

Nerves control the body’s functions like the organs, sensation, and movement. The nervous system receives information and generates the correct response. Two major types of nerves are sensory and motor. Sensory nerves relay information like touch, temperature, and pain to the brain and spinal cord. Motor nerves relay signals from the brain back to the muscles, which causes them to contract voluntarily or reflexively. The peripheral nervous system is the combined millions of nerves throughout the body. The peripheral nervous system’s nerves relay signals/messages to the central nervous system, which is comprised of the brain and spinal cord.

When pain becomes chronic the brain fails to process these signals correctly and the individual continues to feel pain after the injury has healed or improved. As time goes on the nerves that send the pain signals are more methodical in their signaling. This means more signals than normally will be sent and are far more intense. Conditions like cancer and diabetes can cause tissue and nerve damage throughout the body.

Acute vs. Chronic

Acute pain has a short duration of around three months or less. The causes are usually clear and not as difficult to diagnose. The underlying factor/s like an injury is resolved the pain also goes away. As the pain is gone, the individual no longer has problems carrying out daily activities. A few causes of acute pain are:

Surgical procedures
Dental procedures
Bone fractures
Burns
Open wounds
Childbirth

Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts three to six months with some conditions going for years. Individuals can experience chronic pain weeks and months possibly years after the injury took place. And it can happen without any apparent cause. Many cases often involve more than one factor. This causes significant problems with daily activities. When pain becomes chronic it is often associated with conditions like cancer, diabetes, and arthritis.

CP and CPS

Chronic pain is defined as any type of pain that persists for six months or longer. Chronic pain syndrome is a collection of conditions that are associated with chronic pain. These conditions can make the pain worse or cause other complications like sleep problems, anger, anxiety, and depression.

Causes

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes chronic pain syndrome. It often starts with an injury or painful condition such as:

Arthritis
Broken bones
Back pain
Cancer
Headaches
Joint problems
Muscle strains and sprains
Repetitive strain injuries
Fibromyalgia
Nerve injury/damage
Lyme disease
Ulcers
Inflammatory bowel disease
Irritable bowel syndrome
Surgery

Diagnosis

A doctor will go over an individual’s medical history, illnesses, or injuries that could have started the pain. They will ask questions to learn more about the type of pain being felt and how long. Questions can include:

When did the pain begin?
Where on the body does it hurt?
What does the pain feel like – Throbbing, Pounding, Shooting, Sharp, Pinching, Stinging, Burning
The severity of the pain on a scale of 1 to 10
What sets the pain off?
What makes it worse?
Have any treatments helped?

Imaging tests can show if there is joint damage or other problems:

Computed tomography is a powerful X-ray that generates detailed images.
Magnetic resonance imaging uses magnets and radio waves to take pictures of the organs and structures.
X-rays use radiation in very low doses to create images of the body’s structures.

Talk with a chiropractor to understand how a customized treatment plan for chronic pain is developed.

Chronic Hand Pain Treatment

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

Chronic Pain and Chronic Pain Syndrome

By

Dr. Alex Jimenez

-

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Chronic Pain and Chronic Pain Syndrome — A businesswoman at the desk indoors in office, feeling pain in neck.

Chronic pain, depending on the cause, can last up to six months or even longer. Individuals with chronic pain can have physical effects that generate added stress on the body. This includes:

Tense muscles
Limited moveability
Lack of energy
Appetite change

Some examples of chronic pain are:

Arthritis pain
Cancer pain
Low back pain
Neurogenic pain comes from nerve damage to the brain or other areas of the body
Psychogenic pain comes from processing errors of pain signals in the brain.

Table of Contents

Common Complaint

Chronic pain is a common complaint nowadays, especially from older individuals. And it is possible for an individual to have more than one chronic pain condition at a time. Some conditions that can cause chronic pain include:

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

This causes extreme fatigue and pain that comes out of nowhere.

Endometriosis

This is a painful condition in females, where the cells that line the inside of the uterus, instead grow outside.

Fibromyalgia

This causes widespread pain throughout the body.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

This is a long-term disorder that can cause inflammation in the digestive tract.

Interstitial Cystitis

This causes mild to severe pain in the bladder.

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction

This causes severe pain and stiffness in the jaw.

Effects: Physical and Mental

Long-term pain can severely affect work, everyday activities, and social life. It’s common for individuals to have problems with sleep, appetite, concentration, and mobility. These individuals are more likely to be depressed, anxious, and irritable. Chronic pain increases the risk of anxiety and mood disorders.

Chronic pain syndrome is both physical and mental

Around twenty-five percent of individuals with chronic pain will continue with a condition known as chronic pain syndrome. Emotional effects that accompany chronic pain often include depression, anger, anxiety, and a fear of re-injury. This type of fear can limit an individual’s ability to return to regular work and activities. Experts believe that there is a problem with the nerve/s system and glands used to handle stress. This makes them feel pain differently. Other experts believe that chronic pain syndrome is a learned response. This is because when in pain, individuals have a tendency to repeat bad behaviors even after the pain is gone or has reduced. Research suggests that psychological problems on their own are not behind chronic pain syndrome. It appears to be linked to abnormalities between specific glands including the hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal glands, and the nervous system. The abnormalities control reactions to stress, injury, and trauma. This could explain why people experience pain differently. Understanding chronic pain means understanding the anatomy of the nervous system, which is highly complex. Through the nerves, the nervous system transmits messages to and from the brain.

It can affect people of all ages and sexes, but it’s most common in women. Interference in an individuals’ daily life can take a tremendous toll. Chronic pain syndrome can be challenging to treat, but it is possible. Optimally, this will be a combination of treatments like psychological counseling for anxiety, depression, etc. Physical therapy combined with chiropractic treatments to realign the spine and work out tight and tense muscles, joints, ligaments and keep them loose, along with relaxation techniques will help relieve the pain and the other symptoms.

Chronic Pain Rehabilitation

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

Chronic Pain Throughout the United States

By

Dr. Alex Jimenez

-

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Chronic Pain Throughout the United States — Side view of senior man sitting with neck pain on bed at hospital ward

Chronic pain is pain that does not stop and persists for weeks, months, and years. It also describes pain that continues long after the injury that caused the pain has healed. It affects millions of people with debilitating side-effects that can range from low-self esteem, depression, anger. Chronic pain costs over $600 billion each year. Pain is subjective and is different for everyone. Regardless of how severe it is, pain that goes on for a long period can be crippling. The United States population reports having more pain than people in other countries. One in three Americans says that they experience pain often and very often. There are individuals that experience severe pain every day.

Table of Contents

Definition

The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as:

“An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage.” IASP Terminology

For the layman, pain is a highly discomforting experience. It can be brought on from an injury or could be the brain is having problems processing pain signals correctly. Pain can vary in its:

Severity
Time/s when it presents
Location
Involvement of other areas of the body

Pain could be limited to where the injury occurred, but pain could affect the whole body. Terms to describe pain include:

Aching
Burning
Cramping
Dull
Electric
Intense
Sharp
Shooting
Stabbing

Causes

What causes chronic pain is not always clear and can be challenging to diagnose the root cause. There are possibilities like:

Injury – Even after an injury has healed, the nerves can still send pain signals to the brain. Medical experts are unsure why this happens.

Disease – There are conditions that can cause chronic pain. Fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, headaches, and shingles are a few examples.

Nerve issues/problems – the nerves of the nervous system can be injured themselves. This type is known as neuropathic pain.

Unknown/Other – Pain can develop, even with no obvious injury, disease, or nerve problem.

Chronic pain is biological. As nerve impulses keep signaling to the brain. This combined with social and psychological factors can impact an individual’s treatment and health. An example is having negative emotion/s like anxiety. Emotions like this have a tendency to aggravate and exacerbate chronic pain.

Those who just think about their pain and discomfort seem to have greater disability than those who try to work through it and stay positive. It’s the same with work-related injuries in the United States, where those who don’t like their jobs have a much more difficult time recovering compared with those who like their jobs. This is why the referral of a psychologist could be part of the treatment plan. A psychologist can educate a patient on how to use various relaxation techniques/tools. This can help them see and understand their pain and learn how to best combat the pain.

Living with chronic pain in the United States

Life changes are an essential part of effective treatment for chronic pain. Proper regular sleep is a must, as the body needs to heal itself and during the sleep cycle is when it happens. Living with chronic pain is a very challenging and difficult task. Taking care of yourself is the main objective. Proper sleep, a healthy diet, moderate exercise, stress management, and proper treatment will get an individual back to as normal a life as possible with chronic pain. The aim for individuals is to figure out/learn everything they can about what is causing the pain. Understand the limits and work within them. Keep an open mind and try new ways to manage the pain. Research scientists believe that major advances in neuro medicine will generate more and better treatments for chronic pain.

Depression & Chronic pain

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

Golf Injuries and Prevention

By

Dr. Alex Jimenez

-

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Golf Injuries and Prevention — Pretty young woman playing golf. Golf Concept.

The most common causes of golf injuries are playing and practicing too excessively, improper swinging mechanics, and little or no physical conditioning. Pain meds either over-the-counter or prescribed, bracing, and surgical procedures are how symptoms are treated instead of the root cause/s. If the cause/s are addressed then injury prevention comes naturally.

Table of Contents

Overuse

Driving requires a great deal of effort and power that puts tremendous stress on the body. When done too frequently, injuries can result. The body can take all kinds of forces thrown at it. But there is a limit as to how much it can take before an injury occurs. Too many swinging reps while playing and practicing could cause trauma to the muscles and connective tissues, which leads to inflammation and pain. Swinging and hitting with bucket after bucket of balls to improve performance will raise the risk of injury. Try practicing swinging without hitting any balls through imagery/imagination. This has become a standard tool utilized by athletes. Practice the perfect swing mentally without the risk/threat of overusing your arms and back.

Mechanics

Improper body and swinging mechanics can lead to injury. The constant swinging, bending, squatting, and walking places added stress on muscles that can lead to a shoulder sprain/strain, elbow pain, and rib fractures. Back injuries can happen when bending far too forward while in swinging motion. Common swing mistakes that can contribute to low back pain.

S-Posture

This can happen when golfers are told to stick out their rear but what happens is that they over arch their lower backs which cause hyperlordosis. This is known as an S-Posture and it inhibits the abs and glutes. Or this also happens with a lower crossed syndrome.

Early Extension

This is a term that comes from a forward swinging movement where the lower body does not rotate from the top of the backswing to follow-through. The hips and pelvis do not turn with the body. Spinal posture is extended, the head rises up and the pelvis moves toward the ball’s position. When this happens the spine’s muscles over-activate and force the spine into a fast extension. Forward movement of the lower body toward the golf ball can be a sign of early extension.

Early Extension

Ideal Position

Reverse C

This happens at the swing’s finish being in a full hyperextension position. It places added compression on the lower back right facet joints.

Overextending, Flexing, and twisting excessively, awkwardly, and improperly increases chances of injury. A bit of advice is to have your swing analyzed by a golf pro/instructor to make sure you have proper form and technique. Preventing back injuries can be achieved through proper body mechanics by properly lifting the golf bag and properly teeing the ball.

Conditioning

Muscles will be weak and inflexible when there is no conditioning. This causes them to become highly susceptible to injury. The spine is exceptionally vulnerable to increased pressure during a golf swing. This happens from rotating while leaning forward. When the low back and abdominal muscles do not have adequate strength or flexibility the high reps of swinging will eventually cause pain. With a golf-specific strength and flexibility program, the risk of injury is lessened along with improved performance. Programs like these don’t have to be complicated or take a long time. Stop potential golf injuries from happening by avoiding excessive practice sessions, swinging correctly, and regularly practicing golf-oriented strength and flexibility exercises.

Sports Injury Chiropractic Treatment

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

Spinal Injury Could Cause Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction

By

Dr. Alex Jimenez

-

11860 Vista Del Sol Ste. 128 Spinal Injury Could Cause Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction — Mid section of senior woman having back pain in bedroom at home

Spinal disorders and injuries could cause a nerve injury through compression or damage causing Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction also known as Bladder Dysfunction. Neurogenic bladder disorder means an individual is having problems with urination. Neurogenic involves the nervous system and the nerve tissues that supply and stimulate the organs and muscles to function and operate correctly. Neurogenic bladder dysfunction causes the nerves that control the bladder and muscles in urination to be overactive or underactive.

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Constant bathroom visits
Control in urination is limited
Complete involuntary urination
Sudden urge/s to urinate
The bladder is unable to hold urine
The bladder fails to empty completely
Overfilling of the bladder creates intense pressure causing accidental leakage

Nerves of the Bladder

The brain and spinal cord function as the headquarters with the spine as the body’s highway that transmits and relays signals/messages to and from the bladder. In the low back, the spinal cord splits apart into a bundle of nerves called the cauda equina.

At the end of the lumbar spine is the sacrum this area is known as the sacral spine. The sacrum is the backside of the pelvis between the hip bones. The nerves in the sacral spine branch out and become part of the peripheral nervous system.

Blog Image Anatomy of Pelvis and Force Distribution e

These nerves provide and stimulate bladder sensation and function. When these nerves become compressed, inflamed, injured, or damaged in some way, organ dysfunction can present. This is when any of the symptoms listed above can develop and progress.

Potential Causes of Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction

Spinal Cord Injury/s are a common cause of neurogenic bladder dysfunction. The spinal cord does not have to be severed to cause paralysis below the injured part of the spine. If the spinal cord gets bruised or there is improper blood flow, the spinal cord’s ability to send nerve signals can become inhibited. Cauda Equina Syndrome happens when the nerves spinal roots become pinched or compressed. It is rare, but it is a serious medical condition that requires immediate medical attention. Causes of cauda equina syndrome include:

Low back disc herniation
A tumor in or near the low back
Spinal fracture
Infection
Spinal stenosis which affects the spinal canal
Trauma like an auto accident, personal/work/sports injury
Spinal condition from injury or present from birth

Treatment

The treatment depends on the cause or causes of neurogenic bladder dysfunction. A primary physician could call upon a bladder specialist like a urologist, nephrologist, or urogynecologist to collaborate and coordinate the treatment plan. If the dysfunction is caused by a nerve root compression, a spinal procedure (discectomy) is performed to decompress and relieve the pressure on the nerves.

Nutrition and Fitness During These Times

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

Chiropractic and The Benefits for Children’s Health and Wellness

By

Dr. Alex Jimenez

-

11860 Vista Del Sol Ste. 128 Chiropractic and The Benefits for Children’s Health and Wellness — Smiling physiotherapist giving back massage to girl patient in clinic

Chiropractic adjustments for children’s health is nothing new, but it could be something new for parents. Do children really need chiropractic adjustments? Chiropractic physicians, also known as DC’s provide techniques and treatments that pediatricians don’t offer. Chiropractors offer non-invasive options, before referring an individual to a pain specialist that might only prescribe medication/s and surgery. The body’s central nervous system controls everything. Birth itself can be physically traumatic for some infants. Therefore, receiving an adjustment can improve neurological input and correction, allowing for healthy development.

If involved in sports or some type of physical activity, chiropractic helps recovery from injuries progress faster and is less traumatic than disruptive therapies like pain-meds or surgery. Chiropractic medicine takes into account the entire person when there is an adjustment/correction in one area, it supports and corrects the other areas. Depending on the chiropractor, other techniques and specialties like acupuncture, craniosacral, nutrition, and more could be incorporated into a patient’s treatment plan. Here are a few ways chiropractic can benefit children’s health.

Table of Contents

Non-invasive

Chiropractic treatment is holistic and non-invasive. For children’s health, adjustments help with proper growth and development by removing or limiting digestive issues like:

Nursing
Re-flux
Colic
Constipation

Other issues for where pediatric chiropractic care can be utilized include:

Allergies
Asthma
Bed-wetting
Colds
Ear infections
Attention deficit disorder
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Autism

However, unlike adults, children, and especially infants, chiropractic medicine focuses on mobilization that places a lower amount of pressure on the area, rather than manipulation associated with chiropractic for adult treatment that places more pressure on the area being adjusted.

Nutrition

Parents who are considering chiropractic treatment for their children’s health and wellness should also expect nutritional health coaching for optimal health. Chiropractors go through extensive training in nutrition and are qualified to offer nutritional plans that are part of the treatment. Proper nutrition is important for everyone’s health. But for children who are growing and developing, it is essential that they get the nutrients they need for optimal spine health and development. Some foods and food additives can cause behavioral issues. These foods include:

Dairy
Artificial colors
Sugar
Preservatives
Other food allergens

Chiropractors can help parents and caregivers by testing and identifying behavioral triggers whose root cause could be nutritional that is improper or deficient for children’s health.

Wellness Philosophy

Educating parents and families about the benefits of proper nutrition and fitness are essential for children’s health and wellness. Families need to follow the principles of:

Eating whole foods
Junk food minimalization
Electronic device limits
Playing/exercising regularly

These are strategies that will reduce childhood obesity that is causing a range of problems for health care like Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Excess weight in young children and if it goes on for a long time creates a higher chance of earlier death in adulthood. From a psychological perspective, it is important to understand that during childhood kids can develop a negative body image, leading to low self-esteem, and causing depression. This can lead to serious mental health issues.

Safe

Overall, chiropractic care for children is safe and highly effective. Children typically have a positive response or no response. If you’re considering chiropractic for your child, there are many resources to help make an informed decision. For more information, visit the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association to find a chiropractor.

Personalized Medicine Genetics & Micronutrients

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

Chiropractic Physician For Pain Management

By

Dr. Alex Jimenez

-

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Chiropractic Physician For Pain Management — Osteopath doing a tensor fasciae latae treatment on a muscle in the thigh of a young woman on his examination couch in the clinic

Individuals with chronic pain, whether back, neck, arm, hips, etc, want to avoid surgery or drug treatments. This is where a chiropractic physician comes in with natural/alternative medicine combined with conventional approaches to pain management. New pain assessment and management standards now require hospitals to provide or inform and educate individuals on pain treatment options that are not drug-based. These include:

Chiropractic
Acupuncture
Physical therapy
Massage therapy

The Centers for Disease Control also have guidelines for prescribing pain meds for chronic pain that say physicians need to:

“Provide Safer, More Effective Care for patients with chronic pain” and that “non-opioid therapy is preferred for chronic pain outside of active cancer, palliative, and end-of-life care.” CDC

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Chiropractic Physicians For Pain Management

A widely recognized and highly effective form of pain management is chiropractic treatment. A chiropractic physician is trained and equipped with a wide range of diagnostic tools and treatment/rehabilitation options to bring relief from pain without surgery or drugs. Many chiropractic physicians are trained or incorporate acupuncture and physical and massage therapy into their pain management plans. The ability to provide this type of range of care is why many individuals keep a regular chiropractic regimen to keep them loose, limber, and in top form.

Table of Contents

Myths

Individuals that have pain believe they have to live with it and that it’s just part of the wear and tear on the body. It is true that the body wears down, however continual pain does not have to be part of the cycle. Chiropractic adjustments keep the body balanced and in proper alignment bringing relief and providing pain prevention.
Then there are those that believe the answer is muscle relaxers or pain meds, not realizing that chiropractic can offer relief.
The most common myth is that chiropractic physicians only treat back pain. Chiropractic doctors treat a wide variety of acute and chronic pain syndromes including:

Headaches
Sports injuries
Auto Accident injuries
Personal injuries
Work injuries
Athletic performance enhancement
Neuropathy
Fibromyalgia
Stress
Fertility
Pregnancy

Chiropractic Pain Management

Chiropractic physicians’ principal focus is on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems and their impact on the health of an individual. They often work collaborate with the individual’s primary or emergency health care providers in diagnosis, treatment, and management for their health condition/s. They take into account various factors that are affecting their patients’ health, which include:

Trauma
Stress
Posture
Body mechanical dysfunction
Exercise
Nutrition

Treatment options vary depending on every individual’s specific needs and personal situation. A treatment plan could consist of a chiropractor recommending therapeutic massage, stretches, and exercises as part of a daily regimen combined with manual adjustments to:

Reduce pain
Prevent musculoskeletal deterioration
Improve strength
Increased range of motion

Another treatment plan could include soft tissue massage therapy to augment/enhance muscle and ligament function. The primary aim of a chiropractic physician is to identify the source of the pain and return the body to its proper alignment and function. These adjustments to gain proper alignment allow the body to heal itself without medication or surgery.

The Benefits

Chiropractic therapy as a no-meds approach to pain management has gained support. The misconceptions and myths are being debunked as individuals and science are seeing the effectiveness of chiropractic for many pain-related conditions. Many job insurance plans cover chiropractic. Medicare and Medicaid include chiropractic services and are offered at military facilities/clinics. The benefits of chiropractic include:

The risk of pain meds dependence is significantly reduced
The causes of pain and treating them naturally is the goal
Reduces inflammation
Improves athletic performance
Natural rehabilitation for auto, personal, sports and work injuries
Health coaching

Treating Severe & Complex Sciatica Syndromes

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

Massage Therapeutics Can Improve Health and Well Being

By

Dr. Alex Jimenez

-

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Massage Therapeutics Can Improve Health and Well Being — Female Physiotherapist inspecting her patient. Medical check in a physiotherapy center.

Massage therapeutics is not about the candles, aromatherapy, and the spa. Although those items can be beneficial for relaxation etc, the massage part of the therapy is just that. An intense manual manipulation of the body’s tissues. Made to work out/relax tight, knotted, spasmed, and inflamed muscles, ligaments, and tendons back to a normal and relaxed function. This can be caused by injury, stress, awkward motion/s, etc. Research done by the American Massage Therapy Association shows that 50% of individuals asked for a therapeutic massage for musculoskeletal/stress issues.

More physicians, specialists, and surgeons are recognizing the health benefits that massage therapeutics can bring and are sending their patients to certified/licensed massage therapists for treatment. There is now a high demand for massage therapists with the career possibilities being one of the strongest in the health care industry. Massage therapy is the manual manipulation of muscles and soft tissues including:

Connective tissues
Ligaments
Tendons

This is all done with the focus of improving an individual’s health and overall well-being. Licensed certified massage therapists are highly-trained and highly-versed in anatomy and physiology. Many often work with chiropractors preparing patients for the chiropractic adjustment/s by loosening up the muscles/tissues, then after with a light massage to ease the soreness of the adjustment and if necessary with continued visits with a mild to intense massage session to keep the areas loose and mobile.

Massage therapeutics effectively treats several medical conditions, sports injuries, automobile accident injuries, personal injuries, and helps prevent health problems connected with stress. Research shows that these medical conditions can be significantly improved or even healed with massage therapeutics.

Table of Contents

Fitness

Top professional and weekend warrior athletes can benefit from massage therapeutics. Massage has been shown to help:

Reduce muscle tension
Improve exercise performance
Prevent injuries

Low Back Pain

The guidelines for treating chronic back pain. Now the suggested guidelines state that alternative treatments/therapies like massage, chiropractic, physical therapy, and acupuncture should be utilized before prescription medication, which is now the last resort, is implemented.

Headaches

Head and neck massage reduces chronic tension headaches, along with the stress that often comes with headaches.

Compromised Immune System Function

Myofascial massage has been shown to improve the nervous system, which is crucial to a healthy immune system. Through massage which increases blood circulation helps to increase the activity of T cells, which recognize and destroy cells that are infected with viruses. Stress reduction has been found to be a universally recognized benefit of massage therapeutics, and can also strengthen the immune system.

Blood Pressure

Improved blood flow with massage therapeutics can also bring blood pressure down and elevates heart health.

Fibromyalgia

Currently, there is no cure for fibromyalgia, but studies are showing a definite connection for those that receive myofascial massage therapeutics and improved quality of life. Reduced pain and anxiety, and quality sleep were has been experienced by individuals getting regular massage therapy.

Cancer Pain

A common symptom for individuals battling cancer is pain, which can be mild to severe. Used in conjunction with other pain management techniques recommended by doctors, massage therapeutics have been shown to reduce pain along with anxiety symptoms.

PTSD

Those with post-traumatic stress disorder can benefit from massage therapy. Massage can help reduce:

Anxiety
Stress
Depression
Pain associated with trauma/images/memories

Massage is often recommended as a companion for PTSD psychotherapy. Therapists are well established at many medical clinics and hospitals. With the opioid epidemic, the need for safe, natural, and effective pain therapy, then massage therapists can definitely help out.

Chiropractic Care Massage Therapy

Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*