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Even though many of us know the basics of what acupuncture is, few people have actually had any experience with it. It is a treatment that has been used for centuries that originated in China and has a large base of people who swear by it. It is meant to help balance the flow of energy through the body by helping to open pathways to “chi”, which is the life force that everyone has according to the belief. This is done by inserting needles into specific spots on the body in an effort to clear the meridians (those are what the pathways practitioners believe you to have are called) and allow your energy to flow correctly once again.

There is a different view as to what acupuncture does and why it seems to work. Many people believe that the reason acupuncture works is because you are hitting certain points in the body such as nerves, muscles, and connective tissue. It may also help to boost the painkillers that your body naturally creates. This is why it is often suggested when you have pain in specific spots, such as tooth pain, headaches, back and neck pain, and menstrual cramps. It has also been suggested for things like nausea after surgery or chemotherapy, arthritis, fibromyalgia, respiratory problems, and even labor pain.

As with any type of medical treatment, it is important that you find someone who is certified to do the treatment. Due to the fact that you are using needles, it is important that they be sterile and the majority of people will now use disposable, single-use needles to ensure the sharpness and cleanliness. Even still, there are some reasons why you shouldn’t undergo acupuncture. If you have a pacemaker or bleeding disorder, or if you are taking blood thinners, you should talk to your doctor first. If you are pregnant you should also be careful, as there is evidence that some acupuncture treatments may cause premature delivery.

If you are interested in talking more about acupuncture, call DiBella Chiropractic today. We are open to many different treatments just as long as they are safe and helpful. The main thing at the end of the day is you and your health and comfort. If you are unsure about acupuncture or any other kinds of treatment that you may have heard about, come in and talk to the doctor. It certainly doesn’t hurt to ask and you never know if you will find the thing that makes you feel great!

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome seems to be more common today, but that doesn't mean that it's any better to deal with. Carpal Tunnel is a condition that causes pain, numbness, and tingling that travels from the arm, down through the hand. It happens when one of the main nerves that travels through the center of the wrist, the median nerve, is compressed or pinched at the wrist joint. It gets worse over time if it is left untreated, so early diagnosis is key. If caught early enough, carpal tunnel can be treated with a simple wrist brace, a lack of certain motions, and careful hand positions. However, if it is not addressed and the activity causing the pressure on the nerve is continued, the damage will only continue to worsen. It can quickly reach a point where surgery is required to reduce the pain and relieve the pressure causing the damage to the nerve.

There are a few reasons why there seems to be such an increase in carpal tunnel syndrome diagnoses lately. The most common belief is that people are spending more time on computers. Typing on a keyboard lends itself to a certain position of the hands and wrist, which causes an increase in pressure on the median nerve. Some people try to use cushions under the wrist on both their keyboards and mouse pads in an attempt to combat this. Although this won't completely prevent carpal tunnel, it can only help to keep prolonged pressure off of your wrists. Keeping your wrists elevated slightly is a good way to reduce the damage to the nerve. While there are other factors that can increase your chance of getting carpal tunnel, such as family history and other health conditions, anything you can do to mitigate your risk is worth the effort.

If you have been experiencing any sort of numbness, tingling, burning, or hand and wrist pain, especially centralized in your thumb or middle fingers, give DiBella Chiropractic a call right away. If you are experiencing any weakness or pain that travels up your arm and into your shoulder, let us know when you call to set up your appointment. We will do our best to get you into our office quickly and see if your symptoms are due to carpal tunnel. If they are, we can work with you to deal with your pain without jumping to medication or surgery, so call us today!

Although most people understand that sciatica is a word that refers to pain, it seems like very few people actually know exactly what sciatica truly is. It can definitely be difficult to keep track of all of the different types of pain that you can have, even when you only focus on one specific type. Sciatica, however, is a fairly common issue that a lot of people suffer from. So what is sciatica and what do you need to watch for if you think you have it?

The term sciatica comes from the sciatic nerve, which travels from your lower back to your hips, buttocks, and down both legs. When you have any amount or type of pain that travels along this nerve for any reason, it falls under the label of sciatica. There can be any number of reasons for the pain, but it is most commonly due to a herniated disk, bone spurs, or a narrowing of the spine. These three issues may be fairly common, but that doesn’t mean they are pleasant to deal with. In fact, the pain from sciatica can be, and often is, completely debilitating. The swelling and numbness that comes with it is concerning enough. You should always take the first sign of symptoms seriously and seek medical assistance immediately before it gets worse.

The symptoms of sciatica seem straightforward, but they can be confusing when experiencing them. People often experience pain which radiates down their leg from the spine, but they may also experience numbness, muscle weakness, or tingling in the leg. People may only have one of those symptoms in one area of the leg, and a different symptom in a different spot. The pain may feel like anything from a dull ache to sharp, stabbing pain, a burning sensation, or even an electrical shock. It may feel more intense if you sit for extended periods of time, if you stand for too long, or if you spasm, like with a strong cough or sneeze. These widely varying symptoms are why you need to go to a doctor if you suspect you have sciatica.

If you think you are suffering from sciatica, call DiBella Chiropractic. Surgery is rarely needed, but you definitely need medical assistance. If your back hurts, you should have a professional look at it. Come in, and see how much better we can make you feel today!

One of the most common injuries we see after someone is in a car accident is whiplash. I'm sure by now we all know whiplash is bad, but what exactly is it? What kind of treatment do you need to receive for it? There are dozens of questions that people have about whiplash, and they don't often get asked until after someone has already been diagnosed. While we obviously don't want you to end up diagnosed with whiplash, we always think it is a good idea to be familiar with the signs and symptoms, so here is a brief overview of the disorder:

Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a sharp, fast head movement front to back that resembles the movement of a whip. This usually occurs as the result of a car accident, but is also sometimes seen in abuse cases and sports injuries. Often, a case of whiplash will result in the victim having neck pain, stiffness, and headaches. It can, however, also include loss of movement, tingling or numbness, dizziness, fatigue, blurred vision, irritability, trouble focusing, memory issues, depression, tenderness, tinnitus, and sleep difficulties just to name a few. While it is always important to see a doctor after a car crash, it is even more important to do so if you suddenly develop even a single one of these symptoms so that you can get the proper treatment and documentation for whatever you may need it for.

Most people who develop whiplash can often self-treat it until it gets better within a few weeks, but you always want to double check that any pain you feel isn’t from something like muscle damage or a fracture. It is especially important to seek medical attention if you have had whiplash before, are older, or have a pre-existing condition that can be aggravated by a condition like whiplash. It is different for every person, so it is always a good idea to get checked by a doctor just in case you have more risk factors and don't even know it.

Receiving chiropractic care after a car accident is one of the best things that you can do for yourself. If you were hurt in a crash, you need to come into DiBella and let us help you with your pain. Getting the proper care is important, so we will do everything we can to get you back to normal. Call us today and see what a difference it makes!