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ConditionsWhat we help with
Here's what each problem can feel like, what usually causes it, and how chiropractic care may help. Each section also lists signs that mean you should see a medical doctor first.
Your spine, region by region
The spine has 24 movable vertebrae stacked in three curves, sitting on the sacrum. Discs between the vertebrae act as cushions, and nerves branch out at every level. When joints get stiff or muscles get irritated, the pain often shows up close by, though nerve irritation can send it down an arm or leg.
Low back pain
Pain across the lower back from lifting, bending, sitting for long stretches, or waking up stiff.
What it can feel like
- A dull ache or sharp pain across the low back
- Stiffness that's worst in the morning or after sitting
- Pain when bending, lifting, or getting out of a car
- Muscle spasm or a feeling that your back might "give out"
Common causes
- Lifting or twisting with poor mechanics
- Long hours sitting at a desk or behind the wheel
- Weekend projects after a sedentary week
- Weak or deconditioned core and hip muscles
How chiropractic care may help
After an exam to find which joints and muscles are involved, care may include spinal adjustments, soft tissue work, and simple exercises to do at home. You'll also get practical advice on sitting, lifting, and sleeping so the same thing is less likely to come back.
Get medical care right away if you have
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the groin or inner thighs
- Weakness in a leg that's getting worse
- Back pain with fever or unexplained weight loss
- Pain after a serious fall or car crash
Neck pain
Stiffness and soreness in the neck and shoulders, often from screens, driving, or sleeping wrong.
Request a visitWhat it can feel like
- Stiffness when turning your head to check a blind spot
- Tight, sore muscles across the shoulders
- Pain that builds through the workday
- Waking up with a "crick" in your neck
Common causes
- Looking down at phones and laptops for hours
- Monitor too low or too far to the side
- Sleeping on a pillow that's too high or too flat
- Stress that settles into the shoulders
How chiropractic care may help
Care may include gentle adjustments or mobilization of the neck and upper back, work on tight muscles, and a few stretches and posture changes for your desk and car.
Get medical care right away if you have
- Neck pain after a car crash, fall, or blow to the head
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in an arm or hand
- Stiff neck with fever and headache
- Trouble with balance, walking, or coordination
Headaches
Tension-type headaches that start at the base of the skull or wrap around from tight neck and shoulder muscles.
Request a visitWhat it can feel like
- A band-like pressure around the head
- Pain that starts at the base of the skull
- Headaches that follow long screen sessions
- Tender spots in the neck and upper shoulders
Common causes
- Stiff joints in the upper neck
- Forward head posture at a desk
- Stress and poor sleep
- Clenching the jaw
How chiropractic care may help
Some headaches come from the neck. Dr. Carter will ask about your headache pattern and examine your neck and upper back. If your headaches look like they come from something else, he'll tell you and point you to the right kind of doctor.
Get medical care right away if you have
- A sudden, severe headache, the worst of your life
- Headache with confusion, weakness, slurred speech, or vision changes
- Headache with fever and a stiff neck
- Headache after a head injury
Sciatica and leg pain
Pain, numbness, or tingling that starts in the low back or buttock and travels down the leg.
Request a visitWhat it can feel like
- Pain that runs from the buttock down the back of the leg
- Numbness or pins and needles in the leg or foot
- Pain that's worse with sitting or coughing
- One side affected more than the other
Common causes
- Irritation of a nerve root in the low back
- A bulging or herniated disc
- Tight muscles deep in the hip
- Long periods of sitting
How chiropractic care may help
The first job is finding where the irritation is coming from. Care may include adjustments, gentle movement work, and positions and exercises that ease pressure on the nerve. Dr. Carter will also check your strength and reflexes so any changes are caught early.
Get medical care right away if you have
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the groin area
- Weakness in a leg or foot that's getting worse, such as foot drop
- Symptoms in both legs
- Leg pain with fever
Desk posture and stiffness
Tightness between the shoulder blades and a general stiff, hunched feeling from long days at a desk.
What it can feel like
- Aching between the shoulder blades
- Rounded shoulders and a stiff upper back
- Feeling tight after a full day of sitting
- Discomfort that eases when you get up and move
Common causes
- Hours in one position without breaks
- Laptop work without a separate keyboard and screen
- Car commutes on I-95 and I-295 on top of desk time
- Little movement during the week
How chiropractic care may help
Care may include adjustments to the mid back, work on tight chest and shoulder muscles, and a short routine you can do at your desk. Dr. Carter can also walk you through a quick check of your workstation setup.
Get medical care right away if you have
- Chest pain or pressure, or pain with shortness of breath
- Pain after a fall or crash
- Pain with fever or unexplained weight loss
- Pain that wakes you at night and won't ease with position changes
Staying active
Aches and stiffness that keep you from running, golf, fishing, paddling, yard work, or chasing kids.
What it can feel like
- Low back tightness after a round of golf
- Hip or back stiffness after a long run
- Shoulder and upper back strain from paddling or casting
- Soreness that lingers longer than it used to
Common causes
- Ramping up activity too quickly
- Repetitive one-sided motions, like a golf swing
- Stiff joints that limit how you move
- Not enough recovery between sessions
How chiropractic care may help
The goal is to get you back to what you enjoy. Care may include adjustments, soft tissue work, and mobility exercises matched to your activity, plus guidance on how to build back up.
Get medical care right away if you have
- A joint that is swollen, hot, or won't bear weight
- Pain after a hard fall or collision
- Numbness or weakness in an arm or leg
- Chest pain or shortness of breath during exercise
Not sure which one fits?
Call and describe what's going on. You'll get a straight answer about whether a visit makes sense.