Family Tree Chiropractic OKC

Visit our Chiropractic Office in OKC

Family Tree Chiropractic

(405) 653-9544

12325 N May Ave
Oklahoma City
OK
73120

 

Call Now (405) 340-4400
  • Home
    • Pain Relief Tips & Tricks
    • Office Tour
  • Services
    • Chiropractic
    • Chronic Pain
    • Cold Laser
    • Spinal Decompression
    • Neck Pain & Headaches
    • Back Pain
    • Massage
    • Health Product Recommendations
  • Our Team
  • Forms
    • New Patient Application (English)
    • Pediatric Form (English)
    • Formulario de Paciente Nuevo en Español
    • Formulario Pediátrico en Español
    • Knee Severity Assessment
  • Contact
  • Blog

Apr 30 2024

Neck Disc Injuries – Cervical Disc Prolapse and Chiropractic Treatment

1024px-FEMA_-_32323_-_FEMA_photographer_Mark_Wolfe_working_at_a_computer_in_Findlay,_OH_JFONeck disc injuries are contracted by individuals mostly because of the different body postures, during work. The long hours spent in front of the computer start to take their toll, and individuals experience tingling pain and sometimes a numb feeling in their arms and fingers, which are signs of a neck disc injury. Chiropractic is very effective in the treatment of individuals suffering from different neck disc injuries, like cervical disc prolapse.

What Is Cervical Disc Prolapse?

Cervical Disc Prolapse is a medical term for a slipped disc in the neck of a patient. A slipped disc condition is more common in the back than in the neck, and individuals in the 30 to 50 age bracket are more prone to this medical condition.

The 7 vertebra, the bones which constitute the spinal cord, have discs in between each bone. The 7 vertebra are termed from C1 to C7, and a slipped disc in the neck is more common between the C5 to C6 and the C6 to C7 vertebra.

In cervical disc prolapse, the discs have a tough outer covering which tends to degenerate because of the constant exertion and movement experienced by an individual, especially when engaged in different work related activities like operating  a machine or a computer for a long number of hours. In extreme cases, where there is acute degeneration of the outer fibrous layer of the disc, the soft nerves become exposed, and bulge out of the disc. This results in extreme pain for the individual as the disc exerts pressure on the nerves, causing inflammation.

In some cases, the disc might slip towards the back and the side, which causes extensive pain in the shoulder and arm of the individual. A slipped disc in the neck, or cervical disc prolapse, might also exhibit symptoms like a numb feeling or pins and needles in the whole arm, and pain in case of any neck or shoulder movement.

Chiropractic Treatment for Disc Injuries

Chiropractic is a non-invasive form of treatment, which focuses on the treatment and prevention of different musculoskeletal disorders, muscle strains and disc injuries. Chiropractors provide different treatment methods which include massages, joint adjustment procedures for pain and strains in the back and neck areas of the body. Spinal manipulation is a forte of chiropractic, in which it focuses on relieving the pain of the patient and improving muscular disorders, to facilitate movement. It is gaining popularity as a highly effective treatment method for neck and spinal pains and strains.

Image used under Creative Commons Licensing: 32323 – FEMA photographer Mark Wolfe working at a computer in Findlay, OH JFO.jpg

Written by Admin · Categorized: Chiropractic · Tagged: chiropractic, disc injuries, neck pain

Apr 30 2024

Diagnosis and Treatment Options for Back Pain

Chances are very good that your back is hurting as you are reading this very post.  Why do I say that?  I say that because 70-85% of the population in this country will suffer from back pain at some point in their life.  In fact, at this very instant, it’s suspected that 31 million Americans are suffering with back pain!  Only the common cold beats out back pain for trips to the doctor.  Most importantly, back pain is the number one cause for people over 45 not being able to do what they want.  Whether it is work or play, back pain keeps them down.

If you are experiencing back pain now, you must know the cause of your pain to treat it correctly.  The first step to finding the right treatment for your low back pain starts with finding the right doctor.  Important questions to ask yourself include:

1)       Did your back pain come from a trauma?

2)      Do you have a history of cancer?

3)      Have you had any recent infection or fever?

4)      Is your pain acute (new) or chronic (old and recurring)?

5)      What treatments have you tried?

6)      What works and what doesn’t work long-term?

Types of back pain:

Back pain can be as simple as a minor sprain/strain or as complex as a metastatic cancer.  Don’t worry about the serious one yet; thankfully most back pain is non-organic in form, meaning that it comes from mechanical problems instead of more serious causes like infections, inflammatory arthritis, tumors, etc.  However, it is very important that you choose a doctor who can at least recognize each of the more serious, although more rare, causes of back pain and make the proper referral for you.  Regardless of whether you visit your family medical doctor or chiropractor, each of them should identify the serious causes of back pain and make the proper referral since neither one of them specializes in these more rare causes of back pain.

Treatment options for back pain:

Treatment for back pain varies greatly.  Just stay up after 11:00 one night and watch the infomercials.  Millions of people search every day for the “cure” for back pain.  Either they search to relieve their own pain, or they search to find out how to make more money.  Back pain is prevalent enough that it resides on the minds of a significant number of people at any given time.  Although the purpose of this post is NOT to offer medical advice, I will provide a summary of the most common treatment options:

1)       NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) – This includes drugs like acetaminophen, ibuprophen, aspirin, etc.  These drugs target the inflammation process specifically.  (Look for a post in the future about how to beat inflammation without drugs, but it’s too big of a topic for this post).  If you read the label you notice that these drugs are for “temporary relief of minor pain.”  Sure, these drugs can temporarily relieve the pain; however, they do not either correct the cause of the inflammation nor the mechanical malfunction or injury that initiated the inflammation.  In my opinion, these drugs should only be used to ease your pain while you are trying to actually fix the cause of your back pain.

2)      Prescription Medications – These medications require a trip to your medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy.  I’m not here to meddle in your medicines, frankly I don’t want to.  This topic is between you and your doctor.  But once again, the purpose of these drugs is to reduce your symptoms, not fix the problem.  My opinion is the same with these drugs as with the NSAID’s.

3)      Chiropractic Care – Chiropractic care has been around as long as medicine, is licensed in all 50 states, and has shown to be much more cost-effective than the traditional medial route.  Blue Cross/Blue Shield recently performed a study where chiropractic care was shown to be 66% less costly than traditional medical treatment.  One study revealed that 87% of patients gave their chiropractic treatment a rating of 8/10 and 56% gave their chiropractic treatment a perfect 100%!  Obviously I’m slightly biased to this treatment, but that’s what I do and I see it work.  Chiropractic treatment helps restore the normal motion of the back pain causing joints!  Many chiropractors also incorporate physical therapies and nutritional treatments that aid in helping reduce or eliminate back pain quickly and helping to keep it away.

4)      Spinal Decompression – I have been using spinal decompression in my office for over seven years.  I have seen tremendous results when this treatment is properly applied to the correct candidate.  The goal in spinal decompression is to reduce disc bulges, herniations and degeneration.  Most of my spinal decompression back pain patients also have radiating arm and/or leg pain.  Most of these patients have also had an MRI performed to rule out any contraindications to this treatment.  Most of these patients are also being co-treated with a pain management doctor and/or a surgeon.  This is more serious treatment for back pain because it’s a more serious cause of back pain.  You can watch videos about spinal decompression treatment and results at https://chirooklahomacity.com/t2/document/1spinal_decompression.

5)      Physical Therapy – This treatment focuses on reducing inflammation and pain while stretching and strengthening the injured muscles.  In my opinion, physical therapy has outstanding success post-surgery.  I think that’s where they really shine.  In fact, physical therapy combined with chiropractic care can help the patient tremendously.  This is also why I incorporate physical therapy treatments with my back pain patients.

6)      Massage Therapy – This treatment helps the patient relax while reducing muscle tension, spasms, and inflammation.  The right massage therapy compliments chiropractic treatment very well.  This is why we have full-time, licensed, massage therapists on staff.

7)      Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI) – This treatment is one of the most invasive and risky procedures mentioned.  ESI’s are performed by taking a long needle and puncturing the lumbar spine around the area of pain.  The purpose of these shots is to inject a steroid into the injured area to reduce the inflammation.  This can be helpful in the more severe cases of back pain, but once again, in my opinion it is very important to correct the cause of the back pain while the patient feels better, instead of them going out and overdoing it and injuring their back more.

8)      Spine Surgery – There are several types of spine surgeries.  Sometimes spinal surgery is the only option.  I refer surgical candidates when they present.  Sometimes we co-treat and hope to hold off surgery, sometimes it’s an immediate trip to the operating table.  Thankfully, we work with conservative surgeons who are not “knife happy.”  I only refer to the best!

9)      Acupuncture –I have to admit, I don’t know a whole lot about acupuncture.  Some patients swear by it and some don’t.  Acupuncture has been around for a long time and focuses on meridian, or “energy channels,” throughout the body.  The thought behind acupuncture is that it “balances” these “energy channels.”

10)   Exercises/Yoga/Pilates – Proper exercise has been shown to strengthen the core and back, thereby preventing back injuries.  I do NOT recommend these treatments when your back is injured.  Chiropractic care, physical therapy and massage are my first response.  When we release you from you treatment, I recommend that you hire a very good personal trainer/instructor to help you strengthen your core.

11)   Cold Laser Therapy – Cold laser acts on the cellular level to speed up the healing process.  This treatment helps reduce back pain by decreasing the healing time.  I use this when patients have inflammation, muscle spasms and pain.

I’m sure there are several additions to the list above but we will stop at this for now.  If you have already tried all of the above methods with no relief, I might not be able to help you.

Dr. Carter’s Back Pain Relief Plan:

My approach to treating back pain is to first find out the cause.  If the cause is due to an infection, inflammatory arthritis, tumor, etc., then my goal is to get the patient to the proper doctor immediately.  Thankfully, this doesn’t happen very often because most back pain is mechanical.  Secondly, some cases are “border line” cases which require co-treatment with other professionals.  I regularly refer to medical doctors, osteopaths, pain management doctors, and surgeons.  I have a working relationship with them where the patient always benefits.  We take a team approach to helping the patient as much as we can.  Thirdly, and most commonly, I take the following approach to back pain:

1)       Consultation – This is where you, the patient, sit down and tell me your story.  My goal here is to listen to you, really listen.  New patients to my office regularly ask my receptionist how long this will take.  Really, there is no good answer to this question.  It’s quite simple though.  I’ll take as little time or as much time as you and I need to determine the cause of your back pain.  This can be as little as 5 minutes to more than an hour.  Most consultations are around 10 minutes though.

2)      Evaluation – This is where I do the proper medical and chiropractic tests to determine the severity of your back pain.  I take the information you shared with me in the consultation and perform tests that help me to determine the cause of your back pain.  These tests include standard measures of your vital signs, like your medical doctor would do, specific orthopedic tests to determine if there is any joint dysfunction, and neurological tests to establish if any nerve damage is evident.  The results of these tests help me determine the severity of your back pain.

3)      X-Rays –X-rays are a helpful diagnostic tool that helps me to rule out fractures, dislocations, tumors, infections, and more.  Not everyone needs x-rays, but if you do, we take them, process them, and analyze them in-house.  I make it a point to only order x-rays when medically necessary and to share those results directly with you, the patient, as soon as possible.   Most times we can go over your x-ray findings the same day.  Sometimes I need more time to study, analyze, and research the cause of a patient’s back pain.  This can take a couple days.

4)      Advanced Diagnostics – Some cases of back pain are just bad, that’s all there is to it.  Some back pain is caused by serious injury.  Some back pain is caused by repetitive stress.  Most, if not all, patients with radiating arm and/or leg pain should have an MRI performed to make sure there isn’t anything on the spinal cord, spine or nerve root that could cause them further injury with the treatment.  Also, x-rays are designed for bones, not soft-tissue.  MRI is more specific for finding soft-tissue pathology.  Sometimes we need to perform electrodiagnostic testing to determine the effect of the nerve damage.  I only order these tests when medically necessary.

5)      Treatment – Treatment begins only when we know what we are doing.  This means steps 1 & 2 must be performed first, and sometimes step 3 and/or 4.  My first goal is to not hurt you or make your pain worse.  My second goal is to get you the treatment you need.  Most back pain cases that I accept in my clinic receive a combination of treatments.  These treatments may include one or more of the following:

  1.  Chiropractic adjustment
  2. Massage and/or Manual Therapy
  3. Intermittent spinal traction
  4. Stretching exercises
  5. Strengthening exercises
  6. Spinal Decompression
  7. Cold Laser
  8. Trigger Point Injections
  9. Nutritional Counseling

So there you have it, back pain in a nutshell.  This post is definitely not all-inclusive, but should help you out with your back pain treatment options.  Look for more information in my future back pain posts.

Sincerly,

 

Micah D. Carter, DC, CCST

 

Written by Admin · Categorized: Chiropractic · Tagged: Back pain, back pain diagnosis, back pain options, Back pain relief, back pain treatment, chiropractic in oklahoma city, chiropractor 73120, chiropractor in oklahoma city, chiropractor Oklahoma City, oklahoma city chiropractic, Oklahoma City Chiropractor, quail creek chiropractor

Apr 30 2024

Chiropractors – Helping Alleviate Back Pain, One Treatment at a Time

download (2)Back pain is a problem that affects 15-20% of all Americans every year. From the general rigors of every day work to the excess weight many carry around on their body, back pain gets to us all. However, there is an easy and non-invasive way to that very pain. Chiropractors have worked for over a hundred years, perfecting their art and liberate people from their back pain.

Causes of Back Pain

For most people, back pain is usually moderate to severe. For most, the cause of pain is simply the rigors of a busy life. For others, it is a consequence of obesity. However, depending on the weight of the person and the extent of their current back pain, the pain can naturally vanish or may become worse.

Techniques

Most chiropractors use a range of techniques such as spinal manipulation and mobilization to help the joints in the spinal column enjoy a greater degree of freedom, alleviating back pain. For example, many spinal manipulation techniques help realign the spinal column and bring it back into its original form. However, this requires multiple treatments. Then again, spinal mobilization is a gentler technique many chiropractors use to treat patients.

Reasons for Preference

Possibly the most important reason why over 40 million Americans prefer their chiropractors to regular physicians is the fact that they use non-invasive techniques to alleviate pain. Without using drugs and surgery, the risk of side effects and infection is virtually zero.

Another reason why most people prefer chiropractors to regular physicians is due to the fear of pain. Regular medication may prove to be discomforting or painful, as in the case of surgery. Fortunately, the alternative is not.

Chiropractors use their hands at certain points to help your body not only relax but adjust itself to a better spinal position. By combining adjunctive therapy with spinal mobilization, not only are they able to ‘work out the kinks’ but ensure that the pain does not happen again, at least for a while. You need to remember that most long-lasting effects are obtained through constant periodic treatment.

Chiropractors have spent over a century trying to perfect their art and help people without ever having to make an incision or provide harmful drugs. Using their hands and the body itself, they are able to not only help alleviate back pain but also prevent it – one treatment at a time.

Image used under Creative Commons Licensing: Chiropractor by doctorwonder

Written by Admin · Categorized: chiropractor · Tagged: Back pain, Chiropractor

Apr 30 2024

Importance of Blending Chiropractic Care with Back-Strengthening Exercise

Side_PlankBack problems often are a result of a bad posture that could cause severe pains.  Restoring the back to its original and natural condition takes time, and a combination of chiropractic care with the recommended exercise can dramatically enhance recovery.

A combination of the two provides numerous benefits.  Exercise keeps muscles in their proper tone, increases blood circulation around the body, improves digestion and develops a better lifestyle all together.

The following back-strengthening exercises complement the healing process greatly:

Hip Bridge

The Hip Bridge exercise strengthens those muscles near the lower back that play an important role in stabilizing the spine.

It can be carried out by lying on the back with the feet flat and about hip width apart; the knees should be bent.   The arms should be relaxed.  The person then squeezes their buttocks as they lift their hips in a straight line towards the shoulders.  After around 3 seconds, return to the starting position, slowly.

Around 12 repetitions are recommended.

Bird Dog

The bird dog exercise aims at strengthening the lower back, hip, butt and thigh muscles.

The person kneels on the floor with both hands spaced out about a shoulder-width apart.  Tuck in the belly towards the spine and raise one leg straight backwards while raising the other hand in opposite direction.

Hold in this position for 15 seconds and then return to starting point, carrying out the same procedure on the opposite side hand and leg.

Side Plank

The side plank exercise strengthens the lower back.  It is done by the following method:

The person is to lie on their right side, straight from head to the feet while resting on their forearms.  The elbow should be directly under their shoulder.  The abdominals are to be gently contracted and the hips slowly lifted off the floor – in the same straight position.

This position should be held for at least about 30 seconds before lowering the hip.

Lunge

Lunge exercises enhance a person’s overall control of their body.  This tends to protect the spine in daily activities, such as walking and running or even stair-climbing.

Starting off with the abs gently contracted.  The hands are placed on the hips; the person then takes a big step-forward using the right foot while sinking the right knee at a right-angle.

The person should then slowly return to the starting position, switch the legs and repeat – 10 repetitions are recommended.

Image used under Creative Commons Licensing: Side Plank.jpg

Written by Admin · Categorized: Chiropractic · Tagged: Back pain, chiropractic, exercises

Apr 30 2024

Chiropractor Oklahoma City shares intermediate level abdominal exercise.

Involves no equipment.
This exercise works the abdominal, oblique internal/external, iliopsoa muscles.
The purpose is to increase abdominal strength and muscular endurance.
The benefits include improved stability, functional strength and injury prevention.

Begin lying on floor.
Lift knees so that a 90º position is attained at hip and knees. Place hands beside ears. Activate core.
Lift shoulder off floor approximately 6 inches attempting to bring elbow toward opposite opposite knee so that both simultaneously meet.

Return to start position and repeat on opposite side. Continue alternating sides until recommended repetitions are complete.

© 2005-2010 WebExercises, Inc., Patent Pending, All Rights Reserved.

Written by Admin · Categorized: Chiropractic · Tagged: abdominal exercises, Back pain, back pain diagnosis, back pain options, Back pain relief, back pain treatment, chiropractic in oklahoma city, chiropractor 73120, chiropractor in oklahoma city, chiropractor Oklahoma City, core exercises, oklahoma city chiropractic, Oklahoma City Chiropractor, quail creek chiropractor

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • Next Page »
Family Tree Chiropractic Oklahoma City
12325 N May Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73120

(405) 653-9544
https://chirooklahomacity.com

Chiropractic Hours:

Monday: 9AM–1PM 3–6PM
Wednesday: 9AM–1PM 3–6PM
Thursday: 9AM–1PM 3-6PM

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Directory Sitemap
Notice of NonDiscrimination

© 2025 Family Tree Chiropractic OKC - Powered by GotchaLocal.com