MIGRAINE PAIN RELIEF, LANGHORNE PA

Migraines are extremely painful, recurring headaches that are sometimes accompanied by other symptoms such as visual disturbances — seeing an aura — or nausea. There are two types of migraine — migraine with aura, formerly called common migraines, and migraine without aura, formerly called classic migraines.

If you have a migraine with aura, you may see things such as stars or zigzag lines or have a temporary blind spot about 30 minutes before the headache starts. Even if you don’t experience an aura, you may have other warning signs in the period before the headaches starts, such as a craving for sweets, thirst, sleepiness, or depression.

Signs and Symptoms

The headache from a migraine, with or without aura, has the following characteristics:

• Throbbing, pounding, or pulsating pain
• Often begins on one side of your head and may spread to both or stay on one side
• Most intense pain is often concentrated around the sides of the forehead
• Can last from 4 – 72 hours

These symptoms may happen at the same time or before the headache:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or even vertigo (feeling like the room is spinning)
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Visual disturbances, like seeing flashing lights or zigzag lines, temporary blind spots, or blurred vision
• Parts of your body may feel numb, weak, or tingly
• Light, noise, and movement — especially bending over — make your head hurt worse; you want to lie down in a dark, quiet room
• Irritability

Symptoms that may linger even after the headache is gone:

• Feeling mentally dull, like your thinking is not clear or sharp
• Sleepiness
• Neck pain

Triggers

Migraine triggers can include the following:

• Emotional stress (Mental strain that can lead to hormone imbalances)
• Chemical stress (Various triggers such as sweets, alcohol, caffeine, smoking)
• Physical stress (History of old injuries that were never corrected and left undetected nerve damage, tissue damage, etc)

Treatment at Our Office

Chiropractic care or spinal manipulation therapy has been a proven method for individuals seeking an alternative for migraine treatment. Research has shown that in the case of tension and migraine headaches, Chiropractic Care can be as effective, if not more effective, as preventative medications in helping to keep off the onset of migraines. Once a migraine has begun, chiropractic therapy, a natural treatment method, can also greatly reduce the painful symptoms if care is given in a timely manner.

Chiropractic treatment deals with many of the causative factors in regards to migraines such as relieving the restriction in movement in the neck, muscle tension in the neck, as well as muscle tension in the upper back and shoulders which when it is not corrected can lead to posture problems that may influence migraine occurrences and severity. Many Migraine sufferers have neck dysfunction. At our clinic, the doctors will examine your neck to determine if there is any dysfunction that may be the root cause of the migraines. In that case, x-rays may be warranted allowing for very specific treatment.

Treatment we use may include:

• Active Release Therapy
• Spinal and Extremity Adjustments
• Massage Therapy
• Traction Devices
• Shockwave Therapy
• Exercises
• Electric muscle stimulation
• Heat/Cold Therapy
• Nutritional Supplements

To determine the cause of your pain and fix it naturally, call us at 215-750-8006!

HIP, KNEE, ANKLE & FOOT PAIN RELIEF, LANGHORNE PA

Imagine you lean more to one side due to some structural misalignment, and instead of evenly distributing weight on both sides, there is more load on one of the extremities…wouldn’t that joint wear out faster and maybe hurt more? This is why alignment matters and Chiropractic is so helpful for so many people with not just spinal pain, but extremity pain as well.

Hip pain can also be caused by muscle strain around the hip, direct trauma (injury) to the hip joint or it may be referred pain from the joints or muscles of the spine. Chronic (long standing) hip pain may be due to “wear and tear” of the joint (osteoarthritis) or in some rare cases, a progressive inflammatory disorder. If you do have hip pain, it may be something as simple as a muscle strain or a joint with restricted movement that Chiropractic can help restore.

Knee pain may be caused by leg muscle strain or injury to the hip, knee or ankle joints. Injuries to the knee are very common in sport. The knee is under constant use and suffers from muscle strains and ligament sprains. The knee is prone to wear and tear and problems with the knee cap often occur due to muscular imbalances, posture and the biomechanics in the feet. Therefore, if someone’s pelvis is out of alignment they may be tilting to one extremity more, creating more mechanical pressure on that knee. However knee pain may also be caused by “referred pain” from the back, pelvis, hip and ankle.

Foot and ankle pain, plantar fasciitis and more may result from a direct foot trauma to the joints, ligaments or muscles. Inflammation around the feet can cause pain to stand and walk. Additionally, foot and ankle pain can also be caused by injury to the sciatic nerve, which originates in the low back, sometimes regardless of any pain in the actual low back.

Hip, knee, ankle, foot pain can be debilitating as it is the foundation we walk on. Just about all musculoskeletal (joints and muscles) ailments of the hips, knees, ankles and feet can benefit from manual therapy.  Here at Tucker Chiropractic Center, we aim to restore normal function to your joints and muscles as well as your nervous system using gentle specific adjustments to free stiff joints and remove nerve irritation.

Treatment may include:

• Active Release Therapy
• Spinal and Extremity Adjustments
• Massage Therapy
• Traction Devices
• Shockwave Therapy
• Exercises
• Electric muscle stimulation
• Heat/Cold Therapy
• Nutritional Supplements

To determine the cause of your pain and fix it naturally, call us at 215-750-8006!

HERNIATED DISC TREATMENT, LANGHORNE PA

What is the spinal disc?

The spinal disc is a cushion that sits between each vertebrae of the spine.

What happens with a ‘herniated disc’?

As the spinal disc becomes less elastic, it can rupture. When the disc ruptures, a portion of the spinal disc pushes outside its normal boundary–this is called a herniated disc. When a herniated disc bulges out from between the vertebrae, the spinal nerves and spinal cord can become pinched.

What are the symptoms of a herniated disc?

When the spinal cord or spinal nerves become compressed, they don’t work properly. This means that abnormal signals may get passed from the compressed nerves, or signals may not get passed at all. Common symptoms of a herniated disc include:

• Electric Shock Pain
  Pressure on the nerve can cause abnormal sensations, commonly experienced as electric shock pains. When the compression occurs in the cervical (neck) region, the shocks go down your arms, when the compression is in the lumbar (low back) region, the shocks go down your legs.
• Tingling and Numbness
  Patients often have abnormal sensations such as tingling, numbness, or pins and needles. These symptoms may be experienced in the same region as painful electric shock sensations.
• Muscle Weakness
  Because of the nerve irritation, signals from the brain may be interrupted causing muscle weakness.
• Bowel or Bladder Problems
  These symptoms are important because it may be a sign of cauda equina syndrome, a possible condition resulting from a herniated disc. This is a medical emergency, and you should see your doctor immediately if you have problems urinating, having bowel movements, or if you have numbness around your genitals.

All of these symptoms are due to the irritation of the nerve from the herniated disc. By interfering with the pathway by which signals are sent from your brain out to your extremities and back to the brain, all of these symptoms can be caused by a herniated disc pressing against the nerves.

How is the diagnosis of a herniated disc made?

Making the diagnosis of a herniated disc, and coming up with a treatment plan depends on the symptoms experienced by the patient, the physical examination findings, and the x-ray and MRI results. Only once this information is put together can a reasonable treatment plan be considered.

The Research

Almost 50 years of research, experience and technology have contributed to the development and evolution of specific conservative treatment for disc disease. One of the leading pioneers is Dr. James Cox, a leading researcher and well renown physician. To this day chiropractors, engineers and researchers continue to document its benefits. The latest findings of a federally funded research project at the National University of Health Sciences, Palmer Research Center, and Loyola Stritch School of Medicine/Hines VA show that Cox technique allows for safe and natural increase in disc height and nerve spacing. Dr. Tucker was fortunate enough to train and certify in this technique with Dr. Cox directly.

Research articles include success with radiating pain, hip pain, sciatic nerve damage, cyst related pain, testicular pain and more. MRI pre and post treatment has revealed reduction in disc herniation size (JMPT, Vol. 19, no 9).

According to another research project (Johnson, Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1981) less than 5% of patients with low back and leg pain require surgery. Making this treatment option a successful and more importantly, safe initial treatment option.

In another randomized, clinical trial funded by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, patients with radiating pain did significantly better with flexion/distraction technique.  Overall, this treatment provided more pain relief than active exercise. (European Spine Journal 2006:15)

In addition to a multitude of research, many of the individual case studies we have in our clinic continue to provide daily successes.  Cases that are considered “surgical candidates” improve and reach full resolution.

Treatment for Spinal Disc Problems

Specific Chiropractic techniques can re-absorb some of the herniated disc material. Dr. Tucker is certified in a post-gradual technique that is safe and gentle, which is geared to treat disc problems without drugs, injections or surgery. Cox Flexion-Distraction and Decompression is a non-surgical, doctor-controlled, hands-on specially designed chiropractic technique. This instrument permits the effective administration of flexion-distraction and decompression adjustment and manipulation. There is no twisting to this treatment.

Well researched and documented, flexion-distraction and decompression helps relieve spinal pain and return patients to their desired quality of life by …

• dropping intradiscal pressure to as low as -192mm Hg
• widening the spinal canal foraminal area by 28%
• reducing pressure on the spinal nerves
• returning motion to the spinal joints

The goal of Cox Technic is to help the spinal pain patient go from “pain” to “no pain” as quickly as possible following the “rule of 50%” which governs the Cox Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.

Evidence based Cox Technic is appropriate for conditions causing low back and leg pain as well as neck and arm pain. It also reduces pain attributable to …

• disc herniation
• a slipped disc
• a ruptured disc
• facet syndrome
• stenosis
• spondylolisthesis
• other conditions

Other treatment may at Our Office may include:

• Active Release Therapy
• Spinal and Extremity Adjustments
• Massage Therapy
• Traction Devices
• Shockwave Therapy
• Stretching Protocols
• Electric muscle stimulation
• Heat/Cold Therapy
• Nutritional Supplements

To determine the cause of your pain and fix it naturally, call us at 215-750-8006!

DISC PROBLEMS, LANGHORE PA

What Are Spinal Disc Problems?

Spinal discs are rubbery pads between the vertebrae. Only a person who has experienced a damaged spinal disc understands the agony and helplessness it brings. The pain can be excruciating. Every movement seems to make it worse. This pain is a warning signal that you should heed. If you take appropriate action, the discomfort usually stops, and the problem can be corrected.

Understanding Spinal Disc Problems — Herniated Disc

Under stress, a disc’s inner material may swell, pushing through its tough outer membrane. The entire disc can become distorted or bulge. With an injury, all or part of the inner material may protrude through the outer casing at a weak spot, pressing against surrounding nerves. If further activity or injury causes the membrane to rupture or tear, the disc material may further extrude, causing pressure on the spinal cord or the nerves that radiate from it. This may result in extreme pain. In the beginning, there may be spasms in the back or neck which will greatly limit your movement. If nerves are affected, you may develop pain that moves into a leg or an arm.

The Research

Almost 50 years of research, experience and technology have contributed to the development and evolution of specific conservative treatment for disc disease. One of the leading pioneers is Dr. James Cox, a leading researcher and well renown physician. To this day chiropractors, engineers and researchers continue to document its benefits. The latest findings of a federally funded research project at the National University of Health Sciences, Palmer Research Center, and Loyola Stritch School of Medicine/Hines VA show that Cox technique allows for safe and natural increase in disc height and nerve spacing. Dr. Tucker was fortunate enough to train and certify in this technique with Dr. Cox directly.

Research articles include success with radiating pain, hip pain, sciatic nerve damage, cyst related pain, testicular pain and more. MRI pre and post treatment has revealed reduction in disc herniation size (JMPT, Vol. 19, no 9).

According to another research project (Johnson, Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1981) less than 5% of patients with low back and leg pain require surgery. Making this treatment option a successful and more importantly, safe initial treatment option.

In another randomized, clinical trial funded by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, patients with radiating pain did significantly better with flexion/distraction technique.  Overall, this treatment provided more pain relief than active exercise. (European Spine Journal 2006:15)

In addition to a multitude of research, many of the individual case studies we have in our clinic continue to provide daily successes.  Cases that are considered “surgical candidates” improve and reach full resolution.

 The Adjustment Technique

Patients with disc disease are treated more conservatively than other less involved cases.  The treatment we utilize at Tucker Chiropractic Center implements a form of disc distraction that separates the compressive pressure that causes most disc bulges/herniations.  “Some patients are heard saying, Oh, I wish someone could just pull me apart! The technique does just that and much more in a safe, controlled manner.  This technique is a gentle, non-force procedure which aids the spine in healing properly and to ensure a pain free future.  Cox Flexion/Distraction technique is the well documented, researched, proven effective, non-surgical technique for decompressing spinal nerves and treating low back pain.  During a treatment on this instrument, you will lie on your stomach (or on your side if you are in acute pain, and the device can adapt for pregnant patients) while the doctor maneuvers your spine to relieve spine nerve pressure. ”  Other technique options are also utilized to assist the patient to achieve optimal outcomes.  They will vary based on an individual basis.  Some other techniques, may include ART, drop technique, nueromechanical instruments, trigger point treatments and other various therapies.

Treatment Science for Spinal Disc Problems

Specific Chiropractic techniques can re-absorb some or all of the bulging disc material. Dr. Tucker is certified in a post-gradual technique that is safe and gentle, which is geared to treat disc problems without drugs, injections or surgery. Cox Flexion-Distraction and Decompression is a non-surgical, doctor-controlled, hands-on specially designed chiropractic technique. This instrument permits the effective administration of flexion-distraction and decompression adjustment and manipulation.
Well researched and documented, flexion-distraction and decompression helps relieve spinal pain and return patients to their desired quality of life by …

• dropping intradiscal pressure to as low as -192mm Hg
• widening the spinal canal foraminal area by 28%
• reducing pressure on the spinal nerves
• returning motion to the spinal joints

The goal of Cox Technic is to help the spinal pain patient go from “pain” to “no pain” as quickly as possible following the “rule of 50%” which governs the Cox Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.

Evidence based Cox Technic is appropriate for conditions causing low back and leg pain as well as neck and arm pain. It also reduces pain attributable to …

• disc herniation
• a slipped disc
• a ruptured disc
• facet syndrome
• stenosis
• spondylolisthesis
• other conditions

Other treatment may at Our Office may include:

• Active Release Therapy
• Spinal and Extremity Adjustments
• Massage Therapy
• Traction Devices
• Shockwave Therapy
• Stretching Protocols
• Electric muscle stimulation
• Heat/Cold Therapy
• Nutritional Supplements

To determine the cause of your pain and fix it naturally, call us at 215-750-8006!

HEADACHE TREATMENT, LANGHORNE PA

If you have a headache, you’re not alone. Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea.

Headache sufferers spend billions of dollars on over the counter medications with poor outcomes. Headaches cost American businesses approximately millions of days of lost productivity adding up to many direct or indirect costs.  Around 10% of emergency department visits each year are for headaches. What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? There is a better alternative.

Research shows that spinal adjustments – the primary form of care provided by doctors of chiropractic – is an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck. Most headaches are actually called cervicogenic which means there is neck dysfunction and tension that’s causing the headache.

The Foundation for Chiropractic Education announced the evidence reports showed among the many options for care available, chiropractic was shown to have superior results.  Compared to amitriptyline use, chiropractic had favorable results for patients with tension-type headaches. Compared to various soft tissue procedures, chiropractic care produced sustained improvement in headache frequency and severity for patients with cervicogenic (from the neck) headaches. Compared to other physical treatment methods (physiotherapy, acupuncture, and electrical stimulation) the evidence supporting chiropractic appears to be more robust.

Headache Source

“The greatest majority of primary headaches are associated with muscle tension in the neck,” says Dr. George B. McClelland, a doctor of chiropractic from Christiansburg, VA. “Today, Americans engage in more sedentary activities than they used to, and more hours are spent in one fixed position or posture. This can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back and scalp, causing your head to ache.” “Doctors of chiropractic undergo extensive training to help their patients in many ways – not just back pain,” says Dr. McClelland. “They know how tension in the spine relates to problems in other parts of the body, and they can take steps to relieve those problems.”

What Can a Doctor of Chiropractic Do?

Doctor’s of chiropractic may do one or more of the following if you suffer from a primary headache:

• Perform chiropractic adjustments to improve spinal function and alleviate the stress on your nervous system.
• Provide nutritional advice, recommending a change in diet (to minimize triggers) and perhaps the addition of certain vitamins.
• Soft tissue techniques to decrease muscle tension and spasms.
• Offer advice on posture, ergonomics (work postures), exercises and relaxation techniques. This advice should help to relieve the recurring joint irritation and tension in the muscles of the neck and upper back.

Our Office

Ultimately headaches are not due to a deficiency of medications in ones blood.  The root cause must be determined to help correct the underlying condition.  Our doctors perform a detailed consultation and examination to ascertain a diagnosis to develop a treatment plan. In the physical exam, the doctor will observe your posture, range of motion, and physical condition, noting movement that has abnormal function or causes pain. The doctor will feel your spine, note its curvature and alignment, and feel for muscle spasm. If a neurological exam is warranted, the doctor may test your reflexes, muscle strength and sensory testing. Also, if needed, the Doctor may take x-rays and/or order other tests. Once all of the information is collected, a report of findings will be delivered to you and treatment will begin.

Treatment may include:

• Active Release Therapy
• Spinal Adjustments
• Massage Therapy
• Traction Devices
• Shockwave Therapy
• Stretching and Exercise Protocols
• Electric muscle stimulation
• Heat/Cold Therapy
• Nutritional Supplements

To determine the cause of your pain and fix it naturally, call us at 215-750-8006!

Our office offers the following services to help with body fat reduction and to achieve your desired body fat % and weight loss:

Cleansing program

Liver and kidney detoxification designed to cleanse your body of toxins. This 9 day program will raise your body’s pH balance levels which will lead to better health and body mass index. This is for individuals who want to lose weight quickly and are committed to a strict program.

Supplements to balance hormones

Home Exercise Recommendations

At our office we first schedule a consultation to discuss the goals and needs of each patient to review the best strategy to assist in a weight loss program.

LOW BACK PAIN RELIEF, LANGHORNE PA

Chiropractic care is a way to diagnose and treat health problems that affect the nerves, muscles, bones, and joints of the body. The back is a complicated structure of bones, joints, ligaments and muscles. You can sprain ligaments, strain muscles, rupture disks, and irritate joints, all of which can lead to back pain. While sports injuries or accidents can cause lower back pain, sometimes the simplest of movements—for example, picking up a pencil from the floor— can have painful results. Outside of traumatically induced pain, gradual repetitive injuries can also cause back pain, such as excessive bending, twisting or sitting which can take a toll on the spine.  In addition, arthritis, poor posture, obesity, and psychological stress can cause or complicate back pain.

Back Pain Facts & Statistics

Although chiropractors care for more than just back pain, many patients visit chiropractors looking for relief from this persistent condition. Actually, millions of Americans experience low-back pain at any given time. According to WebMD, among people seeking back pain relief alternatives most choose chiropractic treatment. Millions of Americans visit chiropractors annually to avoid more drugs, injections and surgery. Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work and one of the #1 reasons people go to the emergency room. Americans spend billions each year on back pain. Experts estimate that as many as 80% of the population will experience a back problem at some time in their lives.

With today’s growing emphasis on treatment and cost effectiveness, Chiropractic care is receiving more widespread attention. Chiropractic spinal adjustments are proven to be gentle, safe and effective. It reduces pain and helps patients get back to work sooner.

In fact, after an extensive study of all currently available care for low back problems, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research—a federal government research organization—recommended that low back pain sufferers choose the most conservative care first. And it recommended spinal adjustments as the only safe and effective, drugless form of initial professional treatment for acute low back problems in adults.

A patient information article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association also suggested chiropractic care as an option for people suffering from low back pain–and noted that surgery is usually not needed and should only be tried if conservative care doesn’t help.

In 2013 in Spine, a well known orthopedic journal, a double blind randomized controlled trial with over a hundred patients, spinal manipulation was compared to placebo and an anti-inflammatory drug.  These patients were recruited from 5 outpatient practices and criteria were numerous and strict. Outcomes included a self rated physical disability, function, off-work time, and medication.  Patient outcomes in the spinal manipulation group were better than the anti-inflammatory group and clinically superior to placebo.

At Our Office

During your visit to our office, the doctor of chiropractic will perform a detailed consultation and examination to locate the source of your pain. This will involve a series of questions about your current condition, followed by physical and neurological exams. In the physical exam, your doctor will observe your posture, range of motion, and physical condition, noting movement that causes pain. The doctor will feel your spine, note its curvature and alignment, and feel for muscle spasm. A check of your lower extremities may also be in order. During the neurological exam, the doctor may test your reflexes, muscle strength and sensory testing. If warranted the Doctor may take x-rays and/or order other tests. Once all of the information is collected to develop a specific diagnosis, a report of findings will be delivered to you and treatment begins.  In most cases, back pain responds extremely well to gentle Chiropractic care.

Treatment may include:

• Active Release Therapy
• Spinal and Extremity Adjustments
• Massage Therapy
• Traction Devices
• Shockwave Therapy
• Stretches/Exercises
• Electric muscle stimulation
• Heat/Cold Therapy
• Nutritional Supplements

To determine the cause of your pain and fix it naturally, call us at 215-750-8006!