By: Dr. Chris Edwards

Stucky Chiropractic Center

We are not talking Kleenex! Do you ever have that nagging pain in your neck and shoulders? You’ve tried icing, heat, Biofreeze, even rubbing against the corner of door frame and you just can’t seem to get it to go away! So you get a massage and finally get some relief for a few days, but then it comes back again!

So you keep up the cycle, ice, heat, door frame, massage. While you are able to get some temporary relief from the problem, now it is creeping down into your elbows and hands with some numbness and tingling also.

Why? Why? WHY?

From time to time these problems occur in our bodies and it’s not just the neck and shoulder pain, it can occur anywhere. Besides postural distortions you may have problems with Repetitive Use Syndrome, soft tissue adhesions, and scar tissue from a previous trauma (like a fall, surgery, or car accident). Over time, these problems can result in localized aches and pains, poor function of the affected area or surrounding areas, and even in subluxation of the spine and extremity joints. All which range from mildly annoying to really ruining your day because you can’t do the things you need and want!

So what can you do about it? Actually there are several things you can do that are effective treatments.
Deep tissue massage- this lets the massage therapist dig in really deep to the affected areas and get the knots and fixations out. This will require multiple visits. Rarely can a therapist correct something that you have been developing for years in one visit.

• Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)– This is a newer therapy that has enjoyed significant success. LLLT does two things; it energizes cells and helps them communicate better between each other. The result- faster healing of the affected area.
• Graston Technique– This is an instrument assisted technique used to break up scar tissue and tissue adhesions. Coupled with some simple rehab exercises done at home, this therapy works for those really tough and stubborn areas!
• Chiropractic Adjustments– Ultimately the function of the spine and nervous system will play an integral part of the healing process, so keeping the spine and the affected extremity joints moving properly will be very important!
• Stretching after regular exercise, proper posture, a well (or best possible) designed work station, recuperative sleep, and good diet are all things you can do on your own to better manage these unwanted and annoying aches and pains.

Speak with your Stucky Chiropractic doctor if you have an annoying problem that you just can’t seem to shake. One of the above treatment options may give you the nudge you need to get over that problem and do what you really want, and that’s to live well!