Chiropractic Blog

Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterised by the presence of chronic widespread pain and tenderness to light touch (allodynia). It occurs most commonly in females aged between 55 and 64 years. Other symptoms can include moderate to severe fatigue, needle-like tingling in the skin, prolonged muscle spasm and weakness, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic sleep disturbances. Many patients with fibromyalgia experience cognitive problems affecting concentration and memory. This is termed “brain fog” or “fibrofog”. Anxiety and depression may also be present

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is defined as persistent pain that continues beyond a 3-month period. Acute low back pain (ALBP) on the other hand, describes pain that has been present for a period of less than 6 weeks. Symptoms in both chronic and acute low back pain range from a mild occasional ache, to severe and debilitating pain. CLBP is the most expensive cause of pain and disability in adults of working age.

In most cases, absolutely yes. The twenty-four moveable bones of the spine are each separated by discs composed of an inner jelly-like substance called the nucleus pulposus, surrounded by a tough outer fibrous ring called the annulus fibrosis. These discs allow one bone to move on the other, as well as creating a gap for nerves to exit from the spinal cord. The discs absorb 90% of the wight that goes through the spine and provide a degree of shock absorption. The remaining 10% of the weight rests on the small joints at the back of the spine called facet joints.

The term used to describe what your chiropractor does to your spine is called an adjustment. There are many ways to perform an adjustment and this will vary depending on the patient, age and particular spinal imbalance that is present.

If you are driving down the freeway and the red light on your dashboard begins to flash, warning that your engine is running low on oil, you have three options. You can ignore the flashing light and hope it will go away; you can pull out the light so it can longer flash; or you can stop at the nearest service station and fill up with oil.

In this example the sensible option is obvious. But many people face these types of health choices every day. For a variety of reasons many do not stop and fill up with oil.