Many young children go through the cycle of wanting to be an astronaut, a veterinarian, and a firefighter when they grow up. Often times, their parents have their own ideas of what their children should grow up to be, too. But for Tuck Clinic’s Dr. Tiffany Grace, she and her mother were in alignment on what she should grow up to be from a young age.
Dr. Grace’s mother had suffered from migraine headaches and could never seem to find relief until she sought treatment from a chiropractor. From the age of four, Tiffany heard her mother praise the practice for her relief and insisted that she or one of her brothers became chiropractors. All of the siblings nodded and shrugged it off, as most kids do until Dr. Grace started seeing the chiropractor as a swimmer in high school. Though she never really experienced pain, she noticed a huge difference in her performance if she got an adjustment prior to race day. From that point on, she knew she wanted to help people improve their lives in the same way.

Providing Pain Relief and Preventative Care

“I love my practice. Day in and a day out, I get to see people improve and live better lives because of what we’re able to do here,” says Dr. Grace about daily life in chiropractic care. “They can go from being debilitated to being able to do the things they want to do on a regular basis.”
Despite what some may think, paying a visit to Dr. Grace at the Chiropractic Clinic in Rocky Mount doesn’t have to mean that you’ll be going forever. We work with patients to change their lifestyles so that they can function on their own.
“We’ll always be here and there’s certainly a benefit to maintenance care, but treating acute pain doesn’t have to be long term,” says Dr. Grace.
One of Dr. Grace’s biggest wins as a chiropractor is having the opportunity to treat families, specifically infants and children. Though not typically the first thought on the top of a parents’ mind for treating their children, chiropractic care can be extremely beneficial to growing little ones.
“It’s very rewarding to see kids on maintenance and wellness care that don’t suffer from ear infections or colic,” says Dr. Grace. Even growing pains can be relieved through the right chiropractic adjustment.

Beyond the Clinic Walls

Beyond the walls of her office, Dr. Grace enjoys spending time with her own two little boys. Bode and Drew are six and four and keep her very busy with sports, church and friends. She enjoys running and often competes in local races. In her free time, she enjoys spending time helping rescue dogs with the Franklin County Humane Society.

When most people think of their ‘go-to’ family doctor, the first thing that often comes to mind is a general physician or pediatrician to go see when an illness pops up. When you feel a cold take a turn for the worst, you often call in for an appointment to get some antibiotics. Or maybe you take your little ones there to find a solution for an ear infection. On the contrary, Megan Sawyers’ family calls Dr. Grace at Tuck Chiropractic Clinic in Rocky Mount, VA for situations like these.

From Migraine Relief to a Lifetime of Wellness

About a decade ago, Megan Sawyers had recently relocated to Franklin County and was in search of someone to help her find relief from her recurring migraines. When she asked around, she got a lot of recommendations for Tuck Chiropractic Clinic. What started as a simple visit for a migraine quickly became a longstanding relationship for the overall wellness of her entire family of five.
After a quick X-ray and her first spinal adjustment, Megan really began to see the benefits of chiropractic care. Not only was her head pain relieved, but she was also receiving adjustments that also helped her back and neck feel better. After building a relationship with Dr. Grace and telling her about her troubles with her infant son’s ear infections, Dr. Grace invited her to bring him in for his very first adjustment.
“In my opinion, those adjustments saved him from having to get tubes put in his ears,” Megan recalls the fast relief her son found from his treatment.
Pediatric Chiropractic care is something that Dr. Grace and Megan are very passionate about. Research suggests that chiropractic may be able to help children with health problems that aren’t necessarily musculoskeletal in nature, such as colic and ear infections. Megan believes her children are living proof.
After bringing her son for more sessions with Dr. Grace and continuing her own wellness and maintenance program, she decided to bring her other children to see Dr. Grace from birth. She’s very proud to say that her daughter, who is nine years old, has only ever received one round of antibiotics in her life. She believes that her chiropractic care, combined with the right healthy habits has kept her family happy and healthy.

Becoming an Advocate for Wellness Care

As someone who works in the public school systems, Megan has the unique opportunity to talk to parents and fellow teachers about her experiences at Tuck Chiropractic Clinic. She jokes that she tells anyone who will listen about her experience.
“It completely changed my viewpoint of the entire medical field. I bring my children to the chiropractor instead of a medical doctor because I know that an adjustment can provide real benefits to their health,” says Megan. “It’s a totally different outlook on how to treat your bodies for everything.”
Because chiropractic care takes a non-invasive, non-medicated approach to health and wellness, the body is able to be treated as a whole instead of targeting just the symptoms. With a deep understanding of how the musculoskeletal system can affect the rest of the body, chiropractors are able to provide a well-rounded care program that both relieves pain and encourages healthier living through diet and exercise.
Over the past ten years, Megan Sawyers and her family have witnessed these benefits time and time again. But more than the chiropractic care they receive, they receive the care and attention of Dr. Grace, someone who is truly committed to the wellness of her patients. Though they only go in about once a month for their maintenance appointments, everyone at the office knows them by name and Dr. Grace will always ask how everyone is doing and tries to find any way she can help the Sawyers family live a happy, healthy life.

If you’re into natural healing and wellness, it’s likely that you’ve already heard of acupuncture and how it can be used with chiropractic adjustments to further release tension in the muscles. Dr. Foster, from our Bedford Clinic, practices acupuncture’s not-so-distant cousin: dry needling. In this technique, doctor uses sterile, fine needles to go deep into muscle tissue to stimulate the nerves in the muscle to release tension. Where manual adjustments typically focus on the skeletal system, these techniques can focus on the muscles – providing a true musculoskeletal treatment.
“In short, what we do as chiropractors focus on the nerves and the pain associated with them,” says Dr. Foster. “Dry needling helps the muscular element of pain by breaking up tight muscle fibers along with scar tissue and allowing them to heal correctly.”

How Does Dry Needling Differ from Acupuncture?

The biggest difference between acupuncture and the dry needling technique is where the doctor targets the needles. Acupuncture is an Ancient Chinese technique that targets “meridians” throughout the body. These meridians are thought to be channels of energy, or “Chi”, that influence the flow of energy in the body. The concept suggests that the needles unblock any energy that is backed up from tension.
In dry needling, the doctor focuses on myofascial trigger points and tender points in the soft tissue throughout the body instead of the meridians. While there may be some crossover, the trigger points are more related to the points where the nervous system and musculoskeletal system are showing abnormal levels of pain and tension – focusing on the root of the problem rather than the energies of the body. One or a number of needles are used depending on the area in treatment and the technique can be administered over multiple sessions. While we are using needles to go deep into the muscle tissue, a lot of patients barely feel it as there is little to no pain and rarely any bleeding with this procedure.
Another way these two techniques differs is the training involved. Often times, acupuncture requires a masters degree so most administers of this technique are restricted to only being able to provide acupuncture services and do not have the ability to diagnose as primary care providers. Dry needling when performed by a chiropractor, after 7-8 years of schooling, requires further specialized training and as a doctor, we have the ability to both diagnose and treat the patient, striving for the best results possible for each patient’s condition.

How Dry Needling Can Help You Heal Faster

In Dr. Foster’s experience, the addition to dry needling to his practice has really taken his treatments to the next level. After receiving dry needling in the past and seeing firsthand the marvelous benefits, he knew he wanted to be able to supplement his other adjustment techniques to provide an added benefit and level of relief to his patients.
“Usually within 2 to 6 visits of including dry needling with their regular treatments, people are seeing a substantial difference with most patients wishing they had tried it sooner,” says Dr. Foster.
Because Tuck Clinic is adamant about tracking outcomes and progress with patients frequently, he has been able to watch treatment plans provide faster resolution and relief with longer lasting benefits. When Dr. Foster is able to combine dry needling with his regular treatments, patients are treated wholly through their skeletal and muscular systems. The added benefits of dry needling help the muscles react to the skeletal adjustments faster, helping patients find continued relief quickly and more efficiently. The dry needling technique is also affordable. Dr. Foster is so devoted and passionate to help the people of his hometown that he has extended this service as the most affordable around. With a flat rate of $35, you won’t have to worry about an acupuncturist’s session or hourly fees.
To learn more about this technique, set an appointment with the chiropractors at Tuck Clinic in Bedford today!

When Amanda Terry walked into the offices of Tuck Clinic in Woodlawn to tell us about her experience with Dr. McKown, she was all smiles. You could tell that they had built a solid relationship that went far beyond a transactional treatment, but was built upon a foundation of trust and genuine care. However, we can imagine that her first visit to the office 5 years ago wasn’t quite as chipper. She had suffered from migraines since childhood and the issues only continued to worsen as she grew into adulthood.
“I tried every medication and technique you could try – from ibuprofen to prescription medications, nasal spray, specialty diets – I even tried a staple in my ear. Nothing worked,” says Amanda. “I was missing a lot of work and school and it got to the point where I had four migraines a week where I would lose vision and my speech was slurred.”
She had never tried chiropractic before but she had exhausted all of her other options. Her grandparents were familiar with Dr. McKown at Tuck Clinic and so she made her first appointment. After a series of x-rays, Dr. McKown discovered a pinched nerve that was causing her migraines and preventing her from finding relief through all of the other methods she had explored. What started out as a lost hope with no idea of what was going on with her body, turned into a moment of clarity and, finally, relief.
“I went once a week for a little while. Then my visits went down to once a month. I noticed a difference pretty immediately,” she recalls. “I would say it knocked my frequency of migraines down from ten a month to one a month.”
These days, Amanda almost forgets that she even had such severe migraines for most of her life. She often finds that if she gets a severe migraine out of the blue, it’s likely because she hasn’t been to see Dr. McKown in a while. She is now a lot more aware of her body and what it needs now. She’ll even come into the clinic before and after long trips to make sure her back stays in good shape, too.
“I really like the whole idea of overall wellness that lies behind the practice. It took her 3 years, but I finally started to do yoga! Over time, I’ve learned that exercise and wellness can really help calm my mind and help to ward off migraines.” says Amanda.
When talking to other people about seeking chiropractic care, she sometimes battles some preconceived notions. She simply argues that she is the living proof they need to show the value in the care that chiropractors are able to provide. After over 20 years of suffering, she can now function through her day to day tasks without worrying about being struck by a debilitating migraine.
“This is truly the only thing that has ever stopped them. I am proof,” she says.
She also adds that people try to use too many excuses. They don’t have the time to go often enough to get results. Or it costs too much money. But when she realized that she was missing her classes that she was paying thousands of dollars for at Radford University and missing the work that was paying for them, the money excuse was out of the question. Tuck Clinic can provide affordable treatments that far outweigh the cost of not being able to live your life properly because of pain.

 
At Tuck Chiropractic Clinic, each and every one of our doctors takes great care in providing a custom, comprehensive plan to each individual that walks through our doors. Because there are varying levels of pain, there are varying timelines of care. At times, we find joy in delivering fast, life-changing relief. Other times, we are granted with the opportunity to build long-standing relationships that contribute to an individual’s wellness for years to come.
Either way, our doctors will only recommend the appropriate level of care for you, individually. When Deana Fralin came to the Tuck Chiropractic Clinic in Cave Spring, she was pleased to find out it wouldn’t take long until she found relief for her headaches.
Deana has been suffering from headaches since the age of five, at varying levels of severity. As someone who tends to avoid taking an excess of medications, headaches were something she just had to deal with. That is, until she had a 3-week long tension headache at the end of the holiday season. She knew her medical doctor would simply prescribe pain medicine to her, so she decided to take the plunge and seek out chiropractic care.

We Make It Easy to Feel Better

As someone who works in the healthcare industry herself, she knows the ins and outs of finding the best care.”I did some research and saw that a lot of people had been satisfied with their service,” said Deana about finding Tuck Chiropractic online. “I was able to fill out all of my paperwork online. In one to two hours, they had already called me to set up an appointment and they were able to get me in the very next day.”
To anyone who hasn’t been to a chiropractor before, the first session can be a little intimidating – but Deana said she was met with pleasant, professional people who’s priority was to make her feel comfortable and feel like she’s informed and involved in the process.
At her first session, Dr. Susan Kilmer sat down with Deana to review her patient information and have a face to face conversation about her pain problems. After discovering that her pain wasn’t isolated to her head, and had begun to migrate to her neck and back, Dr. Kilmer walked her through a conservative care plan that catered both to her pain and her personal schedule. She started with what to expect from the treatments and how long it should be until she begins to feel relief. Deana’s plan includes multiple sessions of neck adjustments and ultrasound therapy a week, that taper off in frequency over time. Eventually, she will only have to come in to Tuck Clinic “as needed”.

And When You Feel Better, You Live Better

For the first time in weeks, Deana has been headache free for an extended period of time. At the time of her interview, she had been seeing Dr. Kilmer for 6-8 weeks – which happens to be how long it’s been since she suffered from a headache. With a clear, pain-free mindset, she’s now able to live a better life. Instead of laying down in a dark room to sleep the pain away, she’s spending time with her family. Instead of getting distracted by her neck and shoulder pain at her desk, she’s being more productive at work.
As it stands now, Deana will complete the care plan that Dr. Susan Kilmer has provided in the next few weeks. It is our sincere hope that her headaches will be far and few between as a result of the care that we have been able to provide – but if we do see her again, all we’ll simply smile and say, “We’re here to help.”
Whatever the future holds for Deana Fralin, she says one thing is for sure, “It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

What Is Acupuncture?
Through common misconception, many associate acupuncture with intimidating needles or painful poking and prodding. Ironically, acupuncture is a century-old practice meant to restore your balance of energy along meridians of the body. Dr. Jennifer Rathmann of the Tuck Chiropractic Clinic in Blacksburg states:
“Similar to blood vessels and nerves that flow through your body, there are channels of energy or what the Chinese call ‘Chi.’ Sometimes there is too much or too little chi and the needles stimulate the points with the most abundant areas of chi to regulate it.”
Acupuncture is performed to unblock or rebalance the flow of energy throughout the body through a series of thin needles placed strategically along meridians of the body. Needles used in this technique are relatively pain-free with the purpose of reducing chronic pain in a natural way.
How Does It Work?
The beginning steps of acupuncture start with a medical exam, rather than an actual procedure. During this exam, questions about pain level, health and overall function are asked. After, your care provider or chiropractor will look for places on your body where chi is potentially blocked.
Using landmarks across the body, thin needles are placed along meridians. While some are placed deeper than other, several needles are used to restore the sense of chi. Treatment times range from 15 minutes to an hour, dependent upon personal needs. On average, a treatment lasts about 20 minutes.
Medical professionals at the Tuck Chiropractic Clinic in Blacksburg use a technique called “Surround the Dragon.” This technique stimulates points around the area of pain with the belief that providing an external stimulus to the muscles causes them to relax. According to Dr. Rathmann, “there is also a pattern called ‘Master Energy’ points which help regulate the chi and are often effective for the relief of stress, anxiety, fatigue and improvement of general overall well-being.”
What Are the Benefits of Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a great option to consider for anyone suffering from chronic back and neck pain, migraines or headaches, joint pain, or shoulder pain. We always suggest a conservative care model, that avoids drugs or medication if at all possible.
According to the Archive of Internal Medicine, acupuncture has proven to reduce chronic pain by up to 15% when used for a variety of pain sources, primarily chronic back pain. This pain can result from physical stress, poor sleeping habits, past injuries, pregnancy, or muscle tightness.
In addition to physical pain relief, this treatment can increase mood, regulate sleep and improve the overall immune system. Finally, well-placed needles have proven to boost immune cells that seek out or destroy infection. Collectively, acupuncture improves overall wellness through the use of meridians along the body.
Where Can I Receive Treatment?
Acupuncture is an alternative technique that few medical professionals can provide. Tuck Chiropractic Clinic offers an assortment of treatment options for pain, one of which is acupuncture. Tuck Chiropractic Clinic offers acupuncture at its’ Blacksburg location for those looking for relief outside of traditional methods.
If you’re interested or have question about acupuncture, contact us and make the first step to a healthier lifestyle today!

Tension headaches are often caused by a buildup of tension in the neck and shoulders, a result of sitting in one position for too long.

Four Types of Headaches

Understanding headaches and knowing the most effective treatments for them can be vital as you try to gain relief from them.  Migraines, tension, and cluster headaches can present with a wide spectrum of similar symptoms of varying intensity. Each type requires a slightly different treatment approach. The best way to tell what kind of headache you have is to examine the intensity and combination of symptoms.

1. Tension: Tension headaches are the most common type of headache, often caused by tension in the neck. Chronic stress, poor posture, and a sedentary lifestyle can contribute to neck tension. The pain typically is described as a dull ache, often accompanied by a feeling of pressure. Tension headaches usually are relatively short in duration, usually resolving within a few hours.
2. Migraine: Migraine headaches are frequently caused by triggers: certain foods, light, sounds, or smells. Hormonal changes and a genetic predisposition can affect the frequency of migraines. Migraines can strike suddenly and typically have moderate to severe levels of sharp pain. They often are accompanied by symptoms like sensitivity to light, visual symptoms, nausea, and pain in the temples.
3. Cluster: Cluster headaches are not caused by triggers or tension but by irregularities in the hypothalamus, which is why they often occur at the same time every day. Unlike pain from migraine or tension headaches, cluster headaches typically focus behind or around one eye, with agonizing pain radiating outward. These types of headaches do not often respond to usual headache treatments and should be treated by a neurologist. However, secondary problems that result from cluster headaches — such as tension in the neck and even depression — can often be treated.
4. Sinus: Unlike the three types of “primary” headaches above, which are not caused by another physical problem, sinus headaches typically occur in conjunction with sinus infection. They are relatively rare — often what people assume to be sinus headaches are actually migraines. Sinus headaches typically manifest as a deep, continuous pain in the forehead, cheekbones, or bridge of the nose, and can be aggravated by head movements. Sensitivity to light and nausea are not typical symptoms of sinus headaches.

Identifying and Avoiding Migraine Triggers

Since migraines often are caused by triggers, identifying your triggers is the first step toward prevention. Triggers can be different for everyone, but common ones include:

• Smells like perfume and cigarette smoke
• Large amounts of caffeine
• Loud noises
• Dehydration
• Hunger
• Glare
• Not maintaining a good sleep schedule

Some triggers are unavoidable, such as a whiff of secondhand smoke or loud noises in your work environment. Even an activity like a high-intensity workout could set off a migraine.
To help identify your triggers, try keeping a journal of all your activities before a migraine comes on. This can help you narrow down contributing factors, and help you avoid them in the future.

Tips for Coping With Migraines and Other Headaches

Sometimes migraine triggers are unavoidable, and cluster, tension and sinus headaches can strike without warning. So what can you do to help prevent or relieve the pain?
As with any other medical condition, it is important to consider all the factors and treat the whole person rather than just the problem. Frequent headaches can cause emotional issues, as well as secondary medical issues. Here are a few ways to reduce the impact and frequency of your headaches or migraines:
 

1. Pay Attention to Your Emotional and Mental Well-Being. Migraines are very commonly associated with anxiety or depression. There can be a social stigma associated with having frequent migraines. You may be afraid that friends and family won’t understand the pain you are experiencing. Pursuing treatment for stress or anxiety, and using coping techniques such as meditation are just as important as avoiding triggers and treating physical symptoms.
2. Pay Attention to Warning Signs. Sometimes migraines appear after signs like irritability, nausea, or mild pain. Some people also experience auras, symptoms that come before a migraine, which can include mental fog, seeing shimmering lights, numbness or tingling in the face or hands, or a heightened sense of smell, taste, or touch.
3. Take Breaks to Stretch. If you have tension headaches, take frequent breaks to stand up at your desk and stretch or relax tight muscles in your neck and shoulders to avoid tension buildup.
4. Change Your Diet. If caffeine, alcohol, or certain foods are causing more frequent migraines, try taking a break and note whether your symptoms improve. Foods that can trigger migraines include onions, some types of fruit, and aged cheese.
5. Ask Your Doctor About Supplements. Magnesium supplements have helped some migraine sufferers dramatically reduce the frequency of their headaches. It is important to ensure supplements don’t interact with your other medications.
6. Reduce Stress. Controlling stress in your life is extremely important if you suffer from frequent migraines. Try taking a warm shower or using warm compresses to help ease symptoms. Meditation and yoga are often helpful in reducing stress, as well.

Chiropractic Care for Headache Relief

While these tips are all helpful, you may need additional care to adequately manage your headaches. Consider conservative chiropractic care, which is noninvasive and can effectively complement traditional medical treatment.  Many Americans get real relief from headaches with chiropractic care that targets the cause of the headache itself.
A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics compared spinal manipulation and a commonly prescribed migraine medication, amitriptyline, and found that spinal manipulation was just as effective in reducing the intensity of migraines.
More research in this area is still necessary, but many of our patients at Tuck Chiropractic Clinic have found headache relief through chiropractic care.
For more information on the types of headaches and how chiropractic care can treat them, visit our headache treatment page or make an appointment with one of our experienced chiropractors.

Tuck Chiropractic Clinic specializes in comprehensive treatment for neck pain, low back pain, headaches, sciatica, and many other ailments. Chiropractic is effective for relieving pain and restoring proper function to the entire body.
Headaches in the back of the head are one of the more debilitating conditions we treat at Tuck Chiropractic Clinic.
The bad news is that these headaches are often caused by long-term postural difficulties. These postural habits are difficult to break and these headaches are tough to manage on your own. Typically, medications are minimally effective and these headaches quickly begin to ruin a patient’s life.
The good news is that headaches in the back of the head/top of the neck respond very well to chiropractic care. By adjusting the joints at the top of the neck, the muscles relax and the headaches improve quickly. When all the joints are moving well and the muscles are more relaxed, postural retraining is more effective.
One habit to be mindful of is having a chin-jut posture. If you are sitting at the computer or driving and your head is forward with your chin jutting out you are more likely to get a headache in the back of the head because those muscles get short and tight in that posture. Focus on keeping your chin back and feel as if you’re sitting tall to decrease these headaches.
If that doesn’t work, give your local Tuck Chiropractic Clinic a call for a proper evaluation!
If you suffer from neck pain, low back pain, sciatica, headache, or other issues dealing with the spine or body, call Tuck Chiropractic Clinic in Roanoke, the NRV, or Southwest VA today! We’re here to help!

Tuck Chiropractic Clinic specializes in comprehensive treatment for neck pain, low back pain, headaches, sciatica, and many other ailments. Chiropractic is effective for relieving pain and restoring proper function to the entire body.
Abraham Lincoln once said if he was given 4 hours to chop down a tree, he would spend three hours sharpening his ax. The same should hold true for us as we enter spring, the season of increased physical requirements.
We often find ourselves in a position of “needing to count down a tree” this time of year. We have spring cleaning lists, gardens to prepare for the planting of flowers and vegetables, and repairs that need to be made to lawn equipment. Instead of rushing forward to take a bunch of hacks at that tree, it may be better to step back, assess our upcoming requirements, and properly prepare ourselves for what may come. We often overlook the biggest tune-up needed: our chiropractic adjustment!
Prior to lifting a bunch of “stuff” that should have been discarded long ago or crawling around the yard pulling weeds or sitting for hours on a lawn tractor, we need to make sure that these routine activities will not be leading us to painful and debilitating injuries. A good chiropractic check up is most certainly on my list of “To Do’s” prior to sitting on my lawnmower for a few hours. It’s easier for me to perform my yard duties with a tuned spine that to suffer through the weekend in pain and discomfort. Before I clean out and donate the clothes that my children have quickly outgrown, I ensure that lifting bags will not subject me to “throwing something out.” And, before my seasonal allergies have the opportunity to get into full swing, I get adjusted and start a hydration regimen that will help to keep the itchy eyes and sneezing at bay.
Make sure when you’re listing your yearly regimen that you include a trip to your local chiropractor so that they can help you “sharpen your ax” and keep you functioning through out the much anticipated upcoming spring.
If you suffer from neck pain, low back pain, sciatica, headache, or other issues dealing with the spine or body, call Tuck Chiropractic Clinic in Roanoke, the NRV, or Southwest VA today! We’re here to help! www.tuckclinic.com

For over 30 years, at Tuck Chiropractic we have treated literally thousands of patients. Most assume patients who consult a chiropractor to be very active people such as construction workers or athletes. However, these patients make up a very small percent of our practice. Across America, 40-50% of people are suffering from chronic back pain.
The chronic pain patients we see have injuries commonly known as cumulative type traumas.
These would be defined as small injuries, accumulating over time, into a major injury. To explain this to patients, I use this example: If you were to walk on the side of your foot all the time, eventually you will sprain your ankle.
If you are in pain, these are important questions to answer:
Is my pain new or reoccurring?
If you have never had this pain before and you can attribute it to a specific injury or activity, there is a possibility that no care is needed. Our suggestion is to apply ice to the area of pain for periods no longer than 20 minutes. If the pain does not subside, seek professional advice. If it is a reoccurring type pain, you could be developing a chronic pain condition. It is best to address this immediately. We find some of our patients are developing degenerative joint disease, an irreversible condition.
What if I cannot attribute my pain to a specific event?
Do you engage in activity regularly (perhaps working at a computer or working on a factory line)? This activity, over time, creates the same result as a single trauma. If this is the situation, a “two-pronged” approach usually is necessary. First, you must address the injury to get it to heal. Second, you must look at your activities and do what is called an ergonomic analysis.
No matter what the cause of your pain, you do not have to live with it. Pain is a signal in your body that something is wrong and should be corrected. Some of our patients explain pain away as a sign of old age. Whether you are 17 or 97 there are things that can be done to relieve your pain and get you back to living your life to the fullest.