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Cervical radiculopathy Treatment Sarasota and Tampa Bay
It is estimated that 85 out of 1,000 Americans suffer from cervical radiculopathy, which is a technical term for neck disc bulge and arm pain. Cervical radiculopathy refers to the sharp searing pain one feels down the arm resulting from compression of nerves in the neck due to a disc bulge. There other causes of shooting pain down the arm such as tight neck muscles that entrap the nerves that supply the arm, however in this article we will focus on disc issues, their causes, and how you can often avoid surgery and pain by correcting spinal misalignment in the upper cervical spine. In our Sarasota office, we specialize in a chiropractic technique called Blair upper cervical. Over the past twenty years we have helped hundreds of patients who are suffering from cervical radiculopathy, but don’t take our word for it listen to what our patients have to say:
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In my 41 years of life, I’ve generally been a healthy active person. Days after Christmas 2017, my neck started to have sharp pain. The pain then went down my left shoulder blades, through the scapular area then down my left arm. Then my left arm went numb...It was a type of chronic pain I’ve never experienced before! Days later, my left ear was clogged and I couldn’t hear clearly... the symptoms are worse than labor pains!!!! And I have 3 kids!
I immediately went to a medical doctor and they ran tests to make sure it wasn’t a stroke. They wanted to prescribe me prescription medication, however, I refused. I was miserable! It disturbed my sleep, I was starting to get irritable & depressed. I was wondering if I was going to live like this and adjust my entire life... I was then advised to see an orthopedist. They did an MRI and diagnosed me with Cervical Stenosis and Radiculopathy. I was given 4 options: 1) Live with the pain 2) Figure out how to manage the pain 3) Do some epidural type treatment 4) or surgery where they would infuse a metal plate to keep my vertebras spaced out so that it wouldn’t pinch my nerves.
Immediately, I scheduled with Dr. Hall for my second opinion. After my first visit and adjustment, I was able to sleep that night. The pain was there, however, the intensity wasn’t as high. Dr. Hall also made sure for me to NOT take any ibuprofen..so the next 2 days, I went without taking the ibuprofen. That night, the pain was starting to intensify again, however, I resisted taking ibuprofen because I knew I was going to see Dr. Hall that day. The next morning until my appointment, the pain had decreased. I didn’t need any adjustments made. Dr. Hall was very thorough and explained how we have to give our bodies time to heal and that it’ll fluctuate....
It has been only 4 days since I started treatment with Dr. Hall, and honestly, I’m starting to see light at the end of this tunnel... I have hope that this pain will go away. I can honestly say that my pain is about 85% gone!!!!
I am left speechless, yet again. I know of Dr. Hall because he treated my son when numerous doctors just wanted to prescribe him dangerous prescription drugs for his Post Concussion Syndrome.... however, that’s a whole other review to write about :) When you walk into his office and sit in the lobby, you’ll see a sign. It says EXPECT MIRACLES... I’ve experienced 2 so far...... Thank you Dr. Hall!
If You Have Cervical Radiculopathy How Can You Reverse It?- Cervical Radiculopathy Treatment Sarasota and Tampa bay
If a cervical disc is COMPLETLY compromised and the nucleus is prolapsed surgery is necessary. However if you have a disc bulge measuring 8 mm or less we have found that these cases respond wonderfully to Blair upper cervical technique. When a disc is injured and bulging it puts pressure on the spinal cord and sometimes also affects the spinal nerve. This structural abnormality is the end result of one big trauma or longer term repetitive stress on the disc due to imbalanced posture. Once the disc has bulged the deep layer of muscles surrounding the spinal vertebrae become spastic as a protective mechanism. This increased muscle tone increases the pressure between the vertebrae and makes it difficult for the disc to “pop” back into its normal configuration. With this said , the brainstem which is located inside of the top two cervical vertebrae, controls the postural muscle tone throughout the spine. If one of these top two vertebrae are misaligned from their normal position from a prior injury the posture becomes imbalanced which makes the weight distributed unevenly on the discs throughout the spine. Over time this repetitive imbalanced stress makes the discs susceptible to weakness and bulging.
To reverse this process one must get the upper cervical spine clear of any spinal misalignment. Once this occurs the postural muscles can rebalance and the inter disc pressure can reduce due to less spasticity in the muscles leading to healing and reduction in disc bulge. The disc does not have to go back to go back to normal to eliminate pain. Often a 7 mm disc bulge only has to reduce to 3mm for the patient to be pain free. We have found that 80 percent of radicular disc cases in the neck and back respond well to precision upper cervical correction.
What exactly does an upper cervical doctor do?
Blair Upper Cervical doctors are specially trained to locate spinal misalignments in the upper cervical spine and correct them. Spinal misalignments are located by running a battery of neurological tests that locate the spinal segments that have been injured and misaligned by a prior neck injury.
Once located, precision imaging in the form of digital x-ray or cone-beam computed tomography (Cbct) is used to precisely determine which joint has misaligned and the angulation of the misaligned joint. Each person’s anatomy is different and therefore imaging is used to uncover the blueprint to be used to correct each patient’s individual misalignment pattern. Once this information is gleaned, a gentle, light correction is made without twisting, popping, or pulling. The patient is then monitored over time to ensure that the correction is holding. If the testing indicates the need for another correction, then it is performed. However, the goal of Blair Upper Cervical Care is for the patient to stay in “adjustment”. It isn’t the correction that produces healing. It is the removal of nerve irritation and the adjustment “holding” in its normal position that allows the body to function better and proceed through a healing process.
This is how Blair Chiropractic care can often help remove the underlying cause of many who suffer from cervical radiculopathy, occipital neuralgia, tinnitus, vertigo, Meniere’s disease, neck pain, migraine headaches and other chronic health problems by supporting the body in healing itself.
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