Author: We Care Chiropractic

If you’re searching for How Much A Chiropractor Costs, you’re one of the thousands of Americans who are seeking a Chiropractor and want to know what to expect to pay.

On average, chiropractor adjustments cost $65 per session for the US in 2022 with average prices of chiropractic care ranging from $30 to $200 per session. Your actual price depends on the chiropractor’s experience, location, and if you have insurance, according to CharlotteWelnessCenter. Most experienced offices will offer free chiropractic care consultations.  At our chiropractic clinic in Glendale, Arizona we provide affordable chiropractor services with and without insurance.

How Much the Average Chiropractic Visit Cost?

Normally, chiropractic services will range between $30 – $200 per session. Each type of treatment will have a different cost. For instance, your initial consultation that is done by a chiropractor may be free, while a normal therapy session is about $65. The more intensive or advanced care will add to the amount that is charged for your treatment, as will the frequency that you have to have chiropractic therapy. Chiropractic treatments will need to be repeated regularly for a certain amount of time in order to become and even remain effective. If you have decided that you want to pursue chiropractic treatment, your chiropractor will give you more information about expected costs at your first appointment.

Chiropractic Care Cost Factors

Chiropractic care is able to treat a variety of conditions, relieve symptoms, improve posture and enhance your well-being. When you compare it to other treatment options, it is even more affordable. Below we examine the cost factors that influence chiropractic treatments.  The primary cost factors are the experience of the chiropractor, the location of the clinic, and whether or not you have health insurance.

The Chiropractor’s Experience

Based on the information provided by the American Chiropractic Association, a chiropractor needs to complete 4 years of pre-medical undergraduate courses, then have an additional 4 to 5 years of specialized training. This does include taking courses for chiropractic methods, health science, human musculoskeletal anatomy and much more. It also does involve 1 year of practical work which allows the student to hone their skills by working with patients while under the supervision of a professional. Only after they complete this program, which is over 4,000 hours of work, is a person able to be accredited to become a chiropractor. This is just a baseline level for experience that a chiropractor should have, but there are some practitioners will have additional years in practice.

How Experience Affects Cost

Chiropractors that have more experience and years of practice may actually cost more. Other reasons a chiropractor might charge a higher rate include:

• Has a stable client base who needs their assistance and time.
• Have increased their skills by working with hundreds of patients.
• Have taken additional courses or updates to continue their education for their original training.
• Have invested more capital, time, and energy into their technology, office space, and equipment.

Because of this. most patients tend to feel safer and are willing to pay more for their knowledge and experience. However, you can still save money and receive high-quality care by being seen by a doctor that has great skills but only a few years in practice. You can also lower expenses by working with a chiropractor that is in training, being guided by an experienced professional, in an established practice.

The Location of the Chiropractic Clinic

The prices for chiropractic care may be different based on their region based on the cost of living, demand, and taxes for this service in the location.

The location of the chiropractic clinic may even affect the price of your therapy. For instance, a chiropractor that is in Beverly Hills is going to be more expensive than one that is in Montana. Naturally, chiropractic treatments are going to be more expensive in towns or counties where there is more of a desire for these services. It is for these reasons that you may decide to see a chiropractor that is further from your home to save a bit of money. However, if you do this, then you will need to factor in your commuting and travel costs for treatment.

The location of the clinic can affect the cost. Chiropractors are allowed to operate from private practice, in a hospital, or in a medical center. These new offices that offer luxury amenities or offer more advanced treatment tools will typically cost more.

Chiropractic Care and Insurance

Even though it is considered an alternative or complementary medical service, many insurance plans will cover a part of the chiropractic costs. This does include the largest providers of health insurance such as Medicaid, Medicare and federal health care plans for active duty and veteran US military members. Chiropractic treatments may even be covered by workman’s compensation.

While many insurance providers will help to pay for the costs of chiropractic care, parts of the coverage may vary. If you have been referred to a chiropractor or you are planning on getting chiropractic care, you need to ask your health insurance provider about the following:

• How many visits a year are covered under your insurance?
• What percentage of costs will you help to pay for?
• Does chiropractic treatment count towards my deductible?
• Will I need to provide a co-payment whenever I visit the chiropractor?
• Am I able to reimburse my chiropractic expenses?
• Do you include radiography costs in the coverage as many chiropractors will take x-rays of the musculoskeletal system to diagnose and create treatment plans?
• Do you cover the initial costs of chiropractic exams?
• Do I have to go to a specific, approved chiropractor in order to apply for coverage?
• Will you help to cover supplements, vitamins, or orthopedic tools such as garments, pillows, or home physical therapy equipment if it is recommended or prescribed by my chiropractor?

Understanding the answers to these questions can help you to make a choice about the chiropractor that you pick and the amount of money that you budget in for your treatment.

Chiropractor Cost Without Insurance 

You will have to pay for chiropractic care out of pocket if your health insurance doesn’t cover your visit to the chiropractor, or you don’t qualify for financing or have medical insurance. If this is the case, this might force you to find ways to make additional money or save up for treatments.

There are some practices or clinics that will provide discounts or even additional treatments for those who can pay upfront. Paying for chiropractic care out of pocket will also help you to pick the chiropractor that you feel comfortable with since you won’t be limited by your insurance requirements. If you need to pay for your treatment outright, then finding an affordable provider may be more important, but you still need to make sure that you are receiving high-quality service.

There are many clinics that will need payment on the day of or before your treatment, however, there are some that will require that you prepay for a package of treatments so that you can get desired results. If you are deciding to pay out of pocket for your chiropractic care, then you need to speak with the clinic to find out if you can use cash, check, or a credit card.

Learn more about chiropractor costs without insurance.

Glendale Chiropractic Care

If you are looking for affordable yet professional chiropractic care in Glendale, Arizona; We Care Chiropractic Clinic can help!  We specialize in providing relief from a wide variety of common chiropractic problems, such as auto accidents, headaches, disc problems, neck pain, back pain, work injuries and much more.  In addition to our chiropractic care, we also offer massage therapy.

Call Today to find out what we can do for you

623-825-4444

To cure degenerative disc disease naturally you can use physical therapy, exercise, yoga, chiropractic adjustments, dietary supplements, and eating healthy.

85% of people will have some evidence of degenerative disc disease by age 50.

The pain from degenerative disc disease can be debilitating and affect quality of life.

In this post we’ll explore how to treat this pain naturally and live better.

How To Cure Degenerative Disc Disease Naturally

Degenerative disc disease is caused by aging.  As we age the discs between our vertebrae dehydrate and can’t absorb shock.  So when we walk the discs don’t cushion as they once did.  Ligaments and bones also thicken and become less flexible with age.  While muscles can repair themselves discs receive very little blood flow and don’t repair.  While the discs cannot be repaired; quality of life can be restored naturally.

Physical Therapy

Passive and active physical therapy treatments can help reduce the pain and discomfort from degenerative disc disease.  These treatments include approaches like spinal traction, deep tissues massage, and treating your condition with alternating heat and cold.  Physical therapy exercises also will help improve your stability, strength, flexibility, and range of motion.

Exercise

Exercise can increase strength around the degenerating discs.  With greater strength comes better stability and support that leads to improved mobility.  Types of exercise that help treat degenerative disc disease include: swimming, cycling, walking, and pilates.

Yoga

While yoga is exercise it is also mental relaxation.  It helps you improve your range of motion via muscle strengthening positions and stretching.  By improving your core strength it will help support your spine and relive some of the discomfort associated with degenerative disc disease.  In addition to helping with physical relief yoga is known for managing stress and anxiety.

Chiropractic Adjustments

Chiropractic adjustments that help treat degenerative disc disease aim to reduce inflammation and improve spinal range of motion.  Techniques that chiropractors use to treat this disease include hand held instruments, flexion-distraction techniques, and spinal manipulation to restore movement.  Other treatments your chiropractor might recommend are ultrasound treatment, electrical stimulation, and therapeutic massage.

Acupuncture

A healthy body is full of energy that’s flowing freely through it.  When we have disorders or diseases such as degenerative disc disease it hinders the free flowing energy.  Acupuncture treatment is designed to heal you through directing energy to specific locations in your body.  This can help reduce inflammation, discomfort, and pain associated with degenerative disc disease.

Massage Therapy

While a massage when you’re in good health is a luxury having massage therapy for degenerative disc disease is practically a necessity.  It will help you reduce stress by relaxing and help treat the muscles around your spine.  Degenerative disc disease forces the muscles around your spine to support you so you don’t feel the full discomfort of your degenerated discs.  This causes them to work harder and be under more strain.  Massage therapy helps reduce muscle discomfort and restore better quality of life.

Dietary Supplements

While dietary supplements cannot be the only approach you utilize to treat your degenerative disc disease they can add to the success of conventional treatments.  Discuss using the following treatments to help naturally manage your symptoms associated with DDD.  Dietary supplements that many patients have found therapeutic include white willow bark and turmeric supplements.  These two supplements are long known for helping reduce pain and inflammation.  Discuss your options with your healthcare professional before adding these to your approach.

Eating Healthy

One of the main causes apart from aging that lead to degenerative disc disease is being overweight.  While you can’t go back and avoid degenerative disc disease now, you can reduce the discomfort by eating healthier and losing weight.  This will make it so your body can more easily hold your spine in a comfortable position.  Also better nutrition will support overall better body health and reduce strain.

Degenerative Disc Disease Chiropractor

If you live in or near Glendale, Arizona; We Care Chiropractic can help treat your degenerative disc disease.  While there’s no cure for it you can live better through chiropractic treatment and using the natural treatment approaches listed in this post.  For more information about how we can help you live better with our chiropractic treatments please give us a call at (623) 825-4444

If you’re searching for “what is whiplash” or “how to treat whiplash” this post will give you a better understanding of both.  Often times a neck strain is referred to as whiplash. Even though it is normally associated with a car accident, any blow or impact that can cause your head to jerk backwards or forward can cause whiplash. This sudden force will stretch and tear the tendons and muscles within your neck.

A neck strain will often affect professional and amateur athletes. Those who play in contact sports such as football are very much prone to a neck strain.

A neck strain can often be confused with a neck sprain. They are actually different. A neck strain will be caused by damage to the tendons, or muscle, bands of tissue that connect the bones to the muscle. A neck sprain is caused by ligaments tearing which are tissues that connect bones to each other.

There are differences between a sprain and a strain which will not mean much to you. The symptoms, causes and the treatment of a neck sprain and a neck strain are very similar.

Symptoms of Whiplash

Whiplash pain is hard to ignore. The symptoms can include:

• Headaches that are located at the skull base that go towards your forehead.
• Tenderness
• Stiffness or pain when moving your head to look over your shoulder.
• Pain when moving your head from back to front or side to side.
• Range of motion is decreased, tightness in your neck, and pain. The muscles can feel knotted or hard.

There are times where the neck strain pain is immediate and then in other cases it could take hours or even days before you neck starts to hurt.

The blow that will cause a neck strain can often cause a concussion as well. Concussions can be very serious, and you will need to see a doctor right away. You will need to have emergency care if you have a headache that is getting worse or it is continuous, if you have trouble talking or weakness, or if you are nauseous, unconscious, excessively sleepy, dizzy or confused.

In order to diagnose a neck strain, a doctor will examine you thoroughly. You may also have a CT scan, x-rays, or other types of tests to rule out any other problem.

Treatment for Whiplash

There is some good news: with a bit of time, whiplash will heal on its own. To help with recovery, you can:

• Apply moist heat only after icing for 3 days. You can use heat on your neck after the swelling has went down. You can take a warm bath or use a warm, wet towel.
• Ice the neck in order to reduce swelling and pain as soon as possible after the injury. Do this for 15 minutes every 4 hours for 3 days. Wrap the ice in a thin cloth or towel to prevent skin injury.
• Take prescription medications or other medications if recommended by your doctor. NSAIDs such as Motrin, Advil, ibuprofen or even Aleve or Naproxen can help with swelling and pain. Just remember that medicines will have side effects. Do not use them on a regular basis unless directed by your doctor. Check with your doctor before you take them with any other medications or if you have medical issues. If an over-the-counter medication does not work, then muscle relaxants and prescription painkillers may be needed.
• Use a neck collar or brace in order to provide support if it is recommended by the doctor. However, they are not meant to be used for long term because they can weaken muscles in the neck.
• Other treatments such as massage and ultrasounds can help.

When will the whiplash feel better?

The recovery time will be based on how serious the whiplash is. Many cases will resolve itself in a few days. Other neck strains can take weeks or months to fully heal. Just keep in mind that everyone will heal at a different rate.

Once all the minor symptoms of the neck strain have been relieved, your doctor may want to begin rehab treatments. This will help you to be more limber and strengthen neck muscles. It can also help you to reduce other chances of neck strains and help you to recover.

You may begin with gently stretching your neck that will get more vigorous as you heal. Do not start exercising until you talk to your doctor.

Whatever you decide to do, do not rush anything. People who play in a contact sport will need to be really careful that they are healed before playing the sport again. The doctor will give the okay for you to go back to regular activity when you are ready. Do not try to go back to your normal activity level until you are able to:

• Rock you head from side to side without stiffness or pain
• Rock your head forward and back without stiffness or pain
• Look over your shoulders without stiffness or pain

If you begin to push yourself before you are fully healed, you may end up with permanent injury and chronic neck pain.

Preventing Whiplash

There isn’t a lot to do when it comes to whiplash prevention that can be caused by an accident. to prevent whiplash caused by an accident. However, there are a few things to do to help reduce the risk of it:

If you work in the same position all day, such as an office worker, take regular breaks to exercise your neck and stretch.

Practice neck exercises that help to increase strength and to keep your muscles limber and strong, especially if you were diagnosed with a prior case of whiplash.

Professional Whiplash Treatments

If these tips haven’t resolved your pain, or if you’d just feel better having a professional look at your whiplash and neck We Care Chiropractic is Glendale Arizona’s source for whiplash treatments.  Our team offers both chiropractic treatments for whiplash but also massage treatment.  With a combined care approach we help the residents of Arizona get back to feeling better and get past their whiplash symptoms more quickly. For more information or to schedule whiplash treatment in Glendale AZ please call 623-825-4444.

If you’re searching for lower back pain treatment you’re not alone.  Over 22,000 people search for it each month and are seeking relief.  Read about the wonders of chiropractic treatments for lower back pain on this post.

Causes of Lower Back Pain

Most people will feel the effects of lower back pain at least once during their life time. Lower back pain can be caused from being in or having some type of accident or engaging in an activity that causes the muscles to be overly strained, causing the tendons and ligaments to be strained. Lower back pain can also be from misaligned vertebrae. This type of pain can range from being mild to being extremely painful, and it can also become debilitating. Those who experience lower back pain finds it to be very annoying.

Lower Back Pain & Aging

Lower back pain happens more with older people than it does in younger people. For the record, lower back pain is not classified as something that only happens to elderly people. This is because it is quite common and can be from a number of different causes, including a minor sprain or a muscular strain. Lower back pain can only be classified as one of three categories, which are the acute, sub-acute, or the chronic

Acute Lower Back Pain

LBP. Acute lower back pain will last around 4 weeks or less, and sub-acute can last anywhere from 4 weeks to 12 weeks, whereas, chronic lower back pain will continue to hurt for more than 12 weeks.

Lower Back Pain Chiropractic Treatments

Depending on the severity of the pain and the doctor’s diagnosis, the treatments will vary. For instance, the pain may be mild enough that hot packs and/or over the counter pain relief may relieve it. On the other hand, it could be severe enough that surgery might be the only option for relieving the pain. Among the alternative treatments available are those that a Chiropractic Doctor gives. A Chiropractic can perform spinal adjustments and physical therapy modalities, including massage therapy. It’s important that a misaligned lumbar joint be treated and also the soft tissue surrounds it for a sprained or strain. Combining the treatments for both of these will make recovery more rapid.

Effective Treatments You Can Trust

A lot of patients believe that the methods of treatments used by the Chiropractic are effective, yet others remain skeptical. Considered to be a safe method of treatment for those who have acute and chronic lower back pain, spinal manipulation, along with Chiropractic care is effective. An injury that happens suddenly from moving around the furniture, lifting incorrectly, or being tackled, would be considered to be acute LBP. Whereas, it is more common for people to have acute lower back pain than it is for them to have chronic lower back pain.

In fact, Chiropractic care would be more beneficial in relieving lower back pain that is acute, than it would be for chronic lower back pain. A Chiropractic Doctor needs to know a patient’s medical history before being able to decide if a patient should have a spinal manipulation. Spinal manipulation is not for those who suffering from osteoporosis, including several other conditions relating to health, for it is contraindication.

It is left up to the patient to decide on whether they want to use this method or not. Although there are other methods that help to relieve pain, like physical therapy, there are a number of testimonies which confirm that the treatment given by a Chiropractic gives faster results and that it is also much more soothing, and many of the patients are saying they are getting relief after having only one treatment!

Glendale Lower Back Pain Chiropractic Treatments

The treatments that Chiropractic’s offer is seriously worth giving a try. However, be sure to see a Chiropractic that has many years of experience in order to be certain you are going to be getting a treatment that is going to be effective, and to be on the safe side. These treatments will not just make you feel better, they will also help you to function better too! The treatments can help you to say good riddance to lower back pains.

To schedule lower back pain chiropractic treatments
in Glendale call  (623) 825-4444

A lot of Glendale residents are asking “Does medicare cover chiropractic care?”  Scores of people end up with back and neck pain which can be treated with chiropractic visits.  For some seniors the cost of chiropractic care can be a challenge, but in many cases Medicare may cover some or all of the cost to receive chiropractic care.

If you are one of those people who has chronic musculoskeletal pain in the neck, back, and in the joints having regular scheduled Chiropractic adjustments may be integral for long term treatments. Being under the care of a Chiropractor is something that may be done alone, or it could be combined with other types of medical treatments, however, there are no drugs involved when you are under the care of a Chiropractor alone.

Just as it is with other kinds of medical care, if you are not covered by some type of insurance things can get costly, and rapidly. This is especially true for those who are on a limited income. It would be wise to find out more on whether or not Medicare is going t cover the care of a Chiropractor.

Medicare Part B & Chiropractic Treatments

In fact, Medicare Part B does cover a limited amount of Chiropractic treatments. Which includes a manual manipulation and also a manipulation that uses a hand-held device for the correction of a spinal subluxation (when the vertebrae bones are not aligned properly). On the other hand, Medicare Part B will not cover the initial physical examinations needed, x-rays, diagnostic services, physical therapy, acupuncture, orthopedic devices, nutritional supplements, and Chiropractic treatments that are for anything beside the spinal subluxation.

Moreover, if you fall into one of the following categories Medicare will cover the Chiropractic treatments: 

• You have been diagnosed with a condition of spinal subluxation.
• You have a condition which your referring physician has made a recommendation for a manual manipulation to try and improve that condition.
• You have been diagnosed with a chronic condition of neuromusculoskeletal and it is going to require treatment for pain, swelling, numbness in limbs, inflammation, etc.

Part B Deducibles

You will have to pay the deductible for Medicare Part B, plus 20% of the amount that was approved by Medicare for the Chiropractic services. You will also be responsible for covering any other fees for the Chiropractic services which was not approved by Medicare. Unless your physician states that it is medically necessary, Medicare limits your Chiropractic visits to only one time per day and as long as there are signs of improvement this same coverage will stay in effect. The Medicare coverage will end for these visits at any time it begins showing there is no more improvements being made.

Chiropractor Participation

Always check with the Chiropractic you are intending to use Medicare with to make certain they are going to accept it, as there are many Physicians, Chiropractors, and other medical professionals who will not accept patients that have Medicare for their medical insurance. However, you will still be responsible for your Medicare deductibles, co-pays, out-of-pocket expenses. Should the Chiropractic not accept assignment (Medicare), there is always the option of you paying the Chiropractic for the treatment as an out-of-pocket expense, you can then turn around and bill Medicare yourself and they will send you the payment in a matter of weeks.

Medigap & Supplement Insurance

Moreover, should it turn out that your Chiropractic does not take participation in the Medicare program, nor will they pay for any of the treatments. However, if you have some coverage with the Medigap/Medicare Supplement Plan, you just might get out of having to pay the Chiropractic at all or at most, very little for the treatments. You can ask the manager of your plan just how much coverage that you have.

Chiropractic Treatment in Glendale Arizona

If you’re interested in getting more information about receiving chiropractic treatment in Glendale, Arizona please give us a call.  We can help you explore you options for receiving chiropractic treatment through your Medicare or insurance coverage so you pay little to nothing at all.

Please call 623-825-4444 for more information or to schedule.

If you’re searching for “lower back pain relief” maybe you forgot the correct way to go about lifting something that was very heavy. There is also the possibility that it a degenerative disease, such as arthritis. No matter what the cause is, after the onset of lower back pain, it is difficult to shake it off.

Furthermore, there is approximately one out of every four Americans who has complained of having bouts of lower back pain. In fact, nearly everyone at one point or another, is going to experience back pain during their life time.

Occasionally, it is obviously serious, especially if you were injured, and your legs are feeling weak, numb, and/or they are tingling. Then it is time to call the doctor.

Lower Back Pain Prevention & Treatment

Some lower back pain is a way of life for many Americans but there are things that patients can do to minimize or alleviate a good portion of the discomfort.  Read through some of these great ways to prevent, reduce, and remove lower back pain from your life.

Put it on ice:

“During the 24 to 48 hours after an injury, putting ice on it would be the best thing as it is going to help in reducing inflammation,” according to E. Anne Reicherter, PhD, PT, DPT, and associate professor in the Physical Therapy department of the University of Maryland, School of Medicine. “Something warm will feel good to the injury, however, this is merely covering up the pain and is not doing anything for the swelling, nor does it help to relax the muscles. In fact, heat will actually increase the inflammatory process,” she says. If after 48 hours, you are wanting to begin using heat on the injury that will be fine,” claims Reicherter. She went on to say, “Regardless of which you are using, heat or ice, it should be removed every twenty minutes for the skin to breath (rest). Should the pain continue to pe4rsist, speak with your doctor.”

Keep it moving:

“Our body was designed to be able to move, and so was our spines,” says Reicherter. You need to continue with your daily activities. Things such as, making our beds, going to work, and walking the dog. After you began to feel better, start taking up regular aerobic exercises, such as bicycling, swimming, and even walking, which will help to keep your back and the rest of your body more mobile. Of course, you do not want to overdo it. Never try to run in a marathon at times when your back is hurting.

Continue being strong:

As soon as your lower back pain has stopped hurting, you can begin keeping future episodes from flare-ups by working those muscles in the lower back, those back extensor muscles included. “These help in maintaining a proper posture and alignment in the spine,” says Reicherter. When you keep your hips, pelvic, and abdominal muscles strong, it will give your back more support. However, you should avoid abdominal crunches, as they will actually put more strain on your back.

Stretch regularly:

Being slump in your desk chair all day is a bad thing. Be sure to get up and move about every 20 minutes or so throughout the day. “This is because the majority of us have a lot of bending forward during our work, and that makes it significant to take the time to stand-up, stretch backwards some during our daily routines,” says Reicherter. Also, do not forget about stretching those legs as well. Many people find that regular stretching, such as with yoga helps.

Think ergonomically:

Make sure that your work space is set-up so that hunching forward will not be an issue, for instance, reaching for your computer monitor and/or your mouse. Always use a chair at your desk that fits the lower part of your back and make sure you place your feet firmly on the floor.

Control your posture:

When you slump, it is harder for the back to be able to support your weight. Pay close attention at times you are lifting heavy items. You should never bend from your waist, for the proper way is to bend from the knees.

Give heels a break:

Turn in those heels for shoes that are flat, they should not be more than one inch in height. High heels create an unstable posture, while increasing the pressure on the lower spine.

Kick the habit:

If you smoke, it can most certainly put you at more of a risk to get osteoporosis in your spine, as well as other problems with the bones. Having osteoporosis can do damage to compression fractions in the spine. Recently, research has found that smokers have more of a chance to get lower back pain as compared to non-smokers.

Keep your weight under control:

It is important to keep your weight in a healthy range for your height. There is too much stress place on the spine when your overweight.

Use over the counter pain relief medications:

Aspirin and ibuprofen, such as Advil, Nuprin, Motrin, and naproxen sodium, which is Aleve, Naprosyn, and Anaprox, are anti-inflammatory medicines and they can all be helpful in reducing back pain. Another over the counter option that helps the management of back pain is acetaminophen, which include Actamin, Tylenol, and Panadol. Always check with a doctor or pharmacist regarding the interactions of over the counter pain relief medications when taken with any medicines you are on. There are some people who have to take certain medications for medical conditions like ulcers, liver diseases, and kidney disease which need to avoid certain other medications.

The doctor should be called if:

• If you have lower back pain that is severe and after several days it has not went away, or should it hurt even when you are laying down resting.
• Your legs become weak or have numbness in them, or it is a problem to stand and walk.
• Should you lose control of your bowels and/or bladder.

All of these could be potential signs of a nerve condition or it could be an underlying medical condition which needs to get treated by a doctor.

Phoenix Valley Chiropractic Care

If you have persistent lower back pain, have been in an accident, or injured while working or playing sports We Care Chiropractic of Glendale Arizona is here to help.  We know living with back pain is a constant distraction.  The aching, pain, tightness, and limited mobility prevents people from getting work done and enjoying free time.

Contact our caring team to find out more about how you can schedule treatment for lower back pain or ask questions by calling (623) 825-4444.

If you’re searching “What is degenerative disc disease?” you or someone you care about is experiencing neck or back pain.  Understanding the causes and treatment for this disorder helps cope with and manage it.

DDD or Degenerative Disc Disease is the breakdown of spinal intervertebral discs which occurs naturally. Despite the name, DDD isn’t considered a disease and it isn’t progressively degenerative. Disc degeneration is often the effect of daily stresses and minor injuries that causes your spinal discs to lose water gradually as the rigid outer shell called Annulus weakens. Whenever the discs begin to weaken and start to lose water, they start to collapse. This causes pressure on the nerves in your spinal column which causes weakness and pain.

Pain & Quality Of Life

Although DDD isn’t always symptomatic, it can cause chronic or acute lower back or neck pain as well as nerve pain depending on the location that the affected disc is in and how much pressure it has placed on nerve roots.

Normal radiographic findings for DDD are often vacuum disc, osteophyte formation, end plate sclerosis, black discs, and disc space narrowing.

DDD can also affect your quality of life. Disc degeneration is a disease of macro/micro trauma as well as aging, although for many people it isn’t an issue, but for some it can cause chronic pain that is quite severe if it isn’t treated.

The term for DDD is a misnomer because it isn’t a disease or degenerative. It isn’t a disease because the degenerative changes within the spine are common and natural for the general population.

Disc Health & Water Loss

In your spine, there is a disc between each vertebra. A well-hydrated, healthy disc will have a lot of water in its center called the nucleus pulposus, which cushions and flexes for the spine. Much of the stress caused by daily movements is transferred to these discs and the water allows them to absorb the shock. At birth the nucleus pulposus has 80% water. But as we age, minor injuries and natural daily stresses cause the discs to lose water as annulus weakens.

The water loss causes the discs to be less flexible and causes the narrowing and collapse of the gaps in the spinal column. While the space that is between the vertebrae will start to get smaller, and this puts extra pressure on the discs which cause tiny tears and cracks to happen to the annulus. If there is enough pressure, it could cause a herniated disc.

As the vertebrae below and above the affected disc collapse, the facet joints on the back of the spine can shift which affects their function.

The Body’s Reaction To DDD

The body may react to the closing gap by creating a bone spur around the space to stop excess motion. This can cause issues if the spurs start to grow into the spinal canal and begin to put pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots which will cause pain and affect nerve functions. It is called spinal stenosis.

For women, there is evidence that estrogen loss is associated with lumbar disc degeneration, which happens during the first 15 years of loss. The role of sex hormones in skeletal disorders are being discussed for both genders.

Symptoms and Signs

DDD can cause upper neck and lower back pain, but this isn’t always the case. The amount of degeneration doesn’t tell how much pain a patient has. Most people will have no pain while others with the same amount of damage could have chronic and severe pain. Pain will depend on where the affected disc is and how much pressure is being put on the spinal column and nerve roots.

DDD is a common source of back pain and will affect 30 million people each year. Symptomatic DDD will have varying locations of pain based on the disc location. If the disc is in the lower back, it could cause lower back pain, sometimes hip pain and pain in the legs, thighs, and buttocks. If the pressure is on the nerves, there could be weakness or tingling in the knees and legs.

A degenerative disc in the upper neck can cause pain in the hands, neck, shoulders and arm. If there are nerve issues it could cause tingling in the fingers.

The pain is often felt or becomes worse with movement like twisting, sitting, lifting and bending.

After an injury, some discs may cause pain due to inflammation and the pain will come and go. Some will have nerve endings that go deeper in the annulus than others, which make it more likely for pain to happen. Healing the trauma to the annulus may cause scar tissue and pain from the disc as the nerves become inflamed. DDD can cause a debilitating condition that may have a negative impact on your life. When pain from DDD is severe, traditional treatments are ineffective.

Mechanisms

Degenerative discs may show degenerative fibrocartilage as well as clusters of chondrocytes, which is a sign of repair. Inflammation may be present as well. Anexamination of disc fragments for DDD is common to ensure it isn’t cancerous.

Fibrocartilage will replace the mucoid material of the disc which changes with age. There may also be splits within the annulus, which causes herniation. There may also be disc shrinkage that causes folding or prolapse of the annulus that causes secondary osteophyte formations. Findings of DDD include spinal stenosis, spondylolysis, protrusion and/or subluxation of the vertebrae.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of DDD will consist of looking at your medical history, physical exam to find poor range of motion, muscle weakness and tenderness as well as MRI to confirm and rule out other causes.

Treatment

Often DDD can be treated without surgery. A combination of treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, traction, or steroid injections may give relief without causes symptoms.

Surgery may be needed if regular treatments aren’t working within a few months. If back or leg pain limits your daily activities, if there is numbness or weakness in your legs, if it is hard to stand or walk, or if the physical therapy or medication isn’t working, then surgery may be needed which is often a spinal fusion. There are multiple surgical options of DDD.

The most common treatments are:

• Cervical corpectomy: This removes part of the vertebra and intervertebral discs to decompress the cervical spinal cord and nerves. A bone graft and possibly a metal plate and screws to stabilize the spine.
• Anterior Cervical Discectomy and fusion: This uses a small incision in the front of the neck to reach the cervical spine. The intervertebral disc is removed and replaced with a plug of bone, and it will over time fuse the vertebrae.
• Foraminotomy: This enlarges the vertebral foramen to help increase the nerve pathway.
• Facetectomy: This removes part of the facet to create space.
• Dynamic stabilization: This is done after a discectomy where a stabilization implant is put in. This can be with pedicle screws or a wall ligament. These devices take pressure from the disc by rerouting the pressure. Similar to fusion, the implants allow mobility by allowing extension and flexibility.
• Laminotomy: This removes a small part of the lamina to relieve pressure on nerve roots.
• Laminoplasty: This allows the spinal canal to be reconstructed to make room for the spinal cord.
• Intervertebral disc annuloplasty: This heats the disc for 15 minutes at high temperatures to seal the disc and kill nerves that are irritated by degeneration.
• Spinal decompression: This a simple procedure that enlarges the IVF for a few hours by causing rehydration of spinal discs.
• Intervertebral disc arthroplasty: Artificial disc replacement or total replacement is a procedure that replaces discs with artificial discs in the spinal column.
• Microdiscectomy: Part of the herniated disc is removed.
• Spinal laminectomy: This treats spinal stenosis by relieving pressure. Part of the lamina is trimmed or removed to widen the spinal canal to create room for spinal nerves.
• Percutaneous disc decompression: This eliminates or reduces a small part of a bulging disc by using a needle.
• Chiropractic treatments:  Chiropractors can help ease pain and manage symptoms of your degenerative disk disease.

New Treatments For Degenerative Disc Disease

There are new treatments that are coming out still in clinical trials. Glucosamine injections may give some pain relief without causing more aggressive treatments. In the United States alone, artificial disc replacement is viewed as an alternative to fusion in certain patients, yet in Europe it is more widely used, where multilevel disc replacement is quite common. Stem cell therapies for adults are still being developed.

Are you wondering “Do I Need A Chiropractor” because you have bad paid in your body, back or neck? If so, this guide should help you figure out which type of treatment is best for the specific type of pain your experiencing.

The human body is an intricate and delicate mechanism, and it hurts when it breaks down. When this happens, you need to diagnose the symptoms and seek treatment, be it chiropractic treatment, medicine, or a massage. The best treatment would be determined by the problem you’re facing, the extent of it, and your preference. If you prefer all-natural treatments over medicinal treatment, you could choose between chiropractic adjustment and massage therapy. Both treatments take different approaches to facilitating your nervous system to heal, and both work with the goal of restoring your wellness and health.

Type of Pain and Patient’s Need

We’ve all experienced or will experience at some point, pain in hard tissue like the joints and spine, or in soft tissue likes ligaments and muscles.Both sudden pains caused by accidents or injuries and chronic pains rooted in day to day habits disturb the musculoskeletal system in your body. Tissue damage within your body can cause you to loose mobility or limit it, and both chiropractic and massage therapies work well in restoring this.

For individuals that prefer a drug-free treatment, both massage therapy and chiropractic care hold similar appeal and may be difficult to choose one over the other. In such a situation, the extent of the pain, its severity, and the patients insurance options and medical history must be considered to choose the most suitable treatment.

Massage Therapy

This is best for muscular pain and other muscular issues like spasms, tension in overworked muscles, and muscular strains. Massage therapy is considered by many to be a luxury treatment designed to pamper your body, however it is far from it. The therapy has medical properties that aid in managing pain and boost recovery.

By manipulating muscles and soft tissue, massage has a positive impact on your nervous system as well. Massaging the muscles stimulates healthy flow of energy and fluids and massaging soft tissue in the back can help align the spine.

Massage therapists, however, are not licensed to adjust joints and spine or prescribe medicines for the purpose like chiropractors can, but they can suggest homeopathic remedies in addition to the massage therapy they are providing.There are a number of massage therapies that exist today ranging from Swedish and deep tissue massages to trigger point and cranial sacral therapies.All these massage therapies promise benefits like:

• Boosting the Immune System
• Rejuvenating the Skin
• Increasing the Flow of Blood
• Reducing Anxiety
• Aiding athletes, cancer patients, and expectant mothers with healing properties

When Do You Need a Chiropractor?

If you are suffering from disorders of the nervous system or musculoskeletal disorders, you should consider chiropractic care. Where massage therapy targets muscles and soft tissue, chiropractic care targets hard tissue like the joints and spine. Chiropractors are trained and licensed to realign the spine and prescribe medicine as well as therapeutic exercise; they may often massage as well in their treatment.Common back and neck pains are often resolved by spinal adjustment and manipulation during the course of the treatment. Other ailments that chiropractic care effectively resolves include:

• Pain in the joints
• Headaches
• Infections in the ear
• Tendonitis
• Tension
• Acute sleeplessness

Chiropractors also hold authority to order medical tests like blood work and x-rays, and can also diagnose medical conditions.

A Combination of the Two Treatments

Rather than choosing one over the other, you may also want to consider receiving both treatments side-by-side to target chronic pain and other muscular conditions. For this reason, many if not all chiropractors will often start their treatment with massage therapy to warm up the body before the adjustment. Massaging the muscles before the adjustment releases the tension within them, allowing for the adjustments to last longer as tightened muscles also mis-align the joints. Aligning the joints through chiropractic treatment, in turn, encourages quicker healing in soft tissue. It can be said that the two treatment complement one another.

Whether you’re choosing one over the other or a combination of both, it should be noted that results take time, and you should not expect all your issues to be resolved in one appointment. It is advisable to complete the care plan that your therapist designs for you.

Glendale Chiropractor Treatment

If you need chiropractic treatment in Glendale We Care Chiropractic offers the care that returns you to a better quality of life. Our chiropractic services are a great resource for many people who have problems associated with back pain, migraines, whiplash, and all sorts of disorders and accidents.

Call Today – 623-825-4444