Your Complete Guide to Elbow Pain

Elbow pain, often known as ‘Tennis Elbow,’ is one of the most common nagging injuries that people face. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always go away on its own and can make it difficult to participate in your normal activities.  Fortunately, though, there’s information you can learn that can help you manage and treat this condition. Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about tennis elbow and how you can treat it.

So, What Is Tennis Elbow?

Also known as ‘lateral epicondylitis,’ this condition arises after continuous or strenuous use of the tendons in your elbow. This typically occurs after long-term repetitive motions of the arm or wrist.

Although it has the term ‘tennis’ in its name, this condition isn’t limited to this sport. In fact, it’s common for plumbers, carpenters, etc. to experience the same issues.

Over time, the pain that’s localized to the elbow can eventually spread to the arm or wrist. 

What Are The Symptoms?

The most common symptom of tennis elbow’s general elbow pain. But, you may find that this pain is exacerbated when performing actions like stirring a pot, turning a doorknob, etc. 

Even something as simple as drinking from a cup of coffee may be enough to cause discomfort.

Tennis Elbow: How Can I Treat It?

Fortunately, this condition has a handful of treatment options for you to choose from. The one that’s best for you will likely depend on how severe your tennis elbow is.

Let’s explore a few of the most notable options for tennis elbow treatment.

Exercises

For minor cases, all you may need to do is perform a few rehabilitation exercises for a short period of time. These involve:

• Clenching your fist while squeezing a soft object (such as a shirt or towel)
• Holding very light weight (approximately 2 lbs.) while slowly extending and flexing your wrist
• Twisting a towel in opposite directions at once (each hand should twist opposite from the other)

These movements will serve to target the area that’s inflamed, strengthening it over time and possibly eliminating the issue altogether.

KT Tape

This type of tape is applied directly to the elbow. It can serve to relieve pressure and increase circulation, notably reducing your recovery time.

This is best applied by a professional, though, and the average person likely won’t get the most use out of it as they could if they did it on their own.

Chiropractic Help

Although many people tend to think of chiropractors as professionals who help manage back pain, they also have plenty of experience in relieving joint pain, as well.

Someone who’s experiencing long-term tennis elbow will often find relief through a visit to a chiropractic office. So, keep this option in mind if basic treatment methods haven’t worked for you.

Managing Elbow Pain From Tennis Elbow Can Seem Difficult

But it doesn’t have to be.

With the above information about this type of elbow pain in mind, you’ll be well on your way toward getting the treatment you need.

Want to learn more about how we can help? Feel free to get in touch with us today to see what we can do.

Understanding Hip Flexor Pain: The Causes and Symptoms of Aching Hip Flexors

Did you know that the average American adult spends up to 6.5 hours a day sitting?  For teens, that number is even higher. On average, teenagers ages 12-19 spend about eight hours a day sitting. This position keeps our hip flexor muscles flexed constantly, and rarely leaves room for extension of the hip flexor. This fact could be one of several reasons for hip flexor pain in a wide range of people, both young and old. Hip flexor pain also commonly occurs in people with less sedentary lifestyles who remain more physically active. 

If you’re experiencing pain or strain in this region, you’re likely wondering why. How can you relieve this aching feeling? What can you do to combat it?

We answer all this and more below.

Causes and Symptoms

The hip flexors, located near the groin/inner thigh area, can cause noticeable pain that disrupts many day-to-day activities. 

Hip flexor pain is most often caused by people who overuse their hip flexors—in particular, athletes. If you’re actively using your hip flexors (for example, if you’re a runner), you may notice pain there more often than those who don’t use them.

Some common symptoms of hip flexor pain include:

• Muscle pain, which can be present at all times, or in specific movements, like when bringing the knee up towards the chest (for example, walking upstairs)
• Muscle spasms
• Decreased mobility 
• Acute achiness
• Front hip pain

Often, people change the way they walk to compensate for pain on one side, which can cause limping or various issues with the side they’re now leaning on for support.

These symptoms can range from mild and annoying to severe and debilitating. 

How to Stretch and Strengthen the Hip Flexor

If you’re noticing pain while the hip is flexed, you can combat it by allowing the muscles to extend instead. This opposite motion allows your hip and inner thigh muscles to lengthen.

You can try various exercises and yoga poses to achieve this, such as:

• High or low lunges
• Pigeon pose
• Three-legged dog pose (raising one leg high, extending through the spine, from a downward dog)
• Gate pose (essentially, a kneeling side bend)
• Reclined pigeon pose (an ideal posture for those with especially tight hips)
• Bound angle pose, commonly called diamond or butterfly

Postures like bridge pose can not only lengthen but also help to strengthen the hip flexor muscles. 

How to Treat Hip Flexor Strain

Other than stretching and lengthening through the hip flexor muscles, you can also allow your body some rest time. If you’re an active person, perhaps you include more recovery days into your routine.

Chiropractors can also help treat hip flexor pain and strain.

They can achieve this by identifying the cause or root of the problem and then through assisted stretching, ensuring the proper alignment. Improper alignment while stretching may cause more strain, but a professional can ensure you’re doing things correctly.

Chiropractors can also determine if the pain is coming from somewhere else, such as the pelvis.

Stay Hip Healthy

Now that you know some common causes of hip flexor pain, as well as solutions, you can begin to get some much-needed relief.

We at Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness can help you feel even better with personalized treatments to restore flexibility and mobility. 

New patients, click here to begin the appointment process. We can’t wait to help you get your life back!

What Is Shoulder Bursitis (And How Do You Treat It?)

According to the CDC, one out of every five Americans suffers from chronic pain. And 8% of chronic pain sufferers admit that it impacts their daily life.  If you’re suffering from pain that makes it hard to work or enjoy life, it’s time to do something about it. Instead of suffering in silence, reach out for help. If you suffer from chronic shoulder pain, you may be experiencing shoulder bursitis. Keep reading to learn more about this condition and how to treat it. 

What Is Shoulder Bursitis

Shoulder bursitis, or bursitis of the shoulder, is the painful inflammation of your shoulder joint. 

To get more technical, the condition is caused when the shoulder bursa is irritated. The bursae are liquid-filled sacs found near the joints in your body. When the bursa sac is irritated, it becomes inflamed and increases in size — meaning there is less room for the tendons and muscles in your shoulder to move around. 

What Are the Symptoms

How do you know if you’re suffering from a bursitis shoulder and not another condition? There are a few specific symptoms you should look out for, including:

• Reduced range of motion in your shoulder
• Pain around the tip or outside of your shoulder
• Pain when your shoulder is touched
• Pain when you lift your arm 
• Swelling and redness around your shoulder

If these symptoms are combined with a fever, you should seek medical attention immediately as you may be dealing with an infection. 

Common Causes

Now that you know what shoulder bursitis is and what the symptoms are, you may be wondering what caused it. 

The most common cause of shoulder bursitis is simply the overuse of your shoulder. Any repetitive motion can irritate the shoulder bursa, causing inflammation and pain. Many times, shoulder bursitis is caused by playing sports that involve your shoulder muscles, such as tennis, baseball, or even weight training. 

Shoulder bursitis can also be caused by a traumatic event, such as a car crash or a fall. If your shoulder area is injured during the event, bursitis may occur. 

KT Tape for Shoulder Bursitis

The good news is that shoulder bursitis is treatable with the help of a good chiropractor. 

One of the most effective treatments involves Kinesiology Taping (KT tape). This treatment involves a thin, stretchy athletic tape placed on the injured area to provide support. A trained chiropractor can apply the tape in a way that relieves both the pain and inflammation. The chiropractor can also align the shoulder joint making sure to decrease inflammation to the area and letting it properly heal. 

The great thing about KT tape is that it provides relief for the entire time that it is on your body. Once applied, the tape can generally  work for five days. 

Receive Chiropractic Care for Your Shoulder Bursitis Today! 

If you’re tired of suffering from shoulder bursitis, it’s time to receive chiropractic care. 

Our team at Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness are here to help you recover. With years of experience, our team is dedicated to providing you the best care possible. 

Click here to book an appointment at our office in North Creek near the Mill Creek Town Center. 

Lean on Me: What’s the Best Treatment for Shoulder Tendonitis?

Here’s what you should know about shoulder tendonitis treatment in Mill Creek, Washington so you can make an informed decision.

Shoulder tendonitis is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain. Also known as shoulder impingement, this condition causes inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons. It can make it different to hold your arm in certain positions, play sports, or even sleep.

Rotator cuff abnormalities affect 9.7 to 62% of the population. The risk of developing shoulder tendonitis and other related conditions increases with age. 

Athletes are more likely to develop this condition. Baseball and volleyball players, swimmers, and weightlifters face the highest risk. Manual labor and falls may cause injuries to your shoulder too.

Getting adequate treatment in a timely manner may help prevent complications. Therapeutic exercises combined with proper rest and chiropractic care can speed up your recovery.

Shoulder Tendonitis Causes and Symptoms

This condition is common in both athletes and middle-aged people. Baseball players, tennis players, and bodybuilders, and other athletes who use their arms overhead are at higher risk. Occupations that involve manual work may lead to shoulder pain and inflammation too.

Rotator cuff tendonitis, or shoulder tendonitis, causes tenderness and swelling in the front of your shoulder. Its symptoms may resemble those of other injuries or conditions, which is why it’s important to see a doctor. These may include:

• Shoulder pain and soreness
• Mild swelling
• Clicking sounds when using the shoulder
• Sharp pain when lifting your arm
• Stiffness and limited range of motion

These symptoms are typically due to overuse of a muscle or tendon, but they may also result from trauma to the shoulder or inflammatory diseases.

If you have shoulder pain, your doctor may recommend an MRI scan, X-rays, or other diagnostic tests. First, he will try to rule out bursitis and other disorders with similar symptoms.

Know Your Treatment Options

After a physical examination, your doctor will prescribe a treatment plan based on your age, symptoms, and other factors. A combination of strengthening exercises, massage therapy, and rest is effective in most cases.

Chiropractic care offers a non-invasive approach to shoulder tendonitis treatment. This form of therapy can help relieve muscle tension and strengthen the affected tendon, leading to pain relief.

Your chiropractor may also recommend bracing, ice therapy, and other techniques to decrease inflammation. As you begin to heal, he may prescribe gentle exercises to strengthen your shoulder and increase its mobility. 

Side-lying external rotations, doorway stretches, and supine passive arm elevation are just a few examples. The pendulum exercise can help too. Consistency is the key.

With proper care, your symptoms should subside within two weeks to one month. Surgery should be your last resort.

Relieve Shoulder Pain Naturally

Shoulder tendonitis can be debilitating. The sooner you do something about it, the lower the risk of complications.

At Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness, we provide chiropractic care, massage therapy, and custom exercise programs in Mill Creek, Washington. If you’re struggling with shoulder pain, we can develop a treatment plan that fits into your lifestyle.

Don’t make any compromises when it comes to your health. Reach out to our team to discuss your needs and see how we can help!

Chiropractic Solutions for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) has been associated with poor work-related ergonomics and repetitive motion for years, but did you know that it can also be caused or exacerbated by other health or illness issues as well as injuries to the wrist and hand.  That’s right, CTS can be a problem even if you never type or text for long stretches of your day.  So how do you know if what you are experiencing is actually CTS?

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

CTS is defined by a pronounced pain, numbness, or weakness in your wrist from unrelenting pressure on the median nerve that runs along the arm through your wrist and hand.  Carpal tunnel problems are common in the U.S. with an estimated 3 million people seeking treatment per year.  Similar to tendinitis of the wrist that is defined by more general swelling and inflammation in the tendons and muscles, CTS is a compression disorder that, once diagnosed, can usually be fully resolved.

Common Causes for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome 

Physiologically, the median nerve moves or glides through a passageway or sheath in your wrist to your hand and then to your fingers allowing you to grip and hold things.  When the sheath becomes inflamed or irritated, it swells thereby constricting movement and blood flow and causing the numbness and pain usually associated with CTS.

There are a variety of things that can cause this to happen including:

• Gender – CTS is more common in women than in men,
• Injuries such as a wrist fracture or dislocation,
• Repetitive hand motions using fine motor skill, such as typing, texting, using a mouse, or needlework,
• Diabetes or chronic illnesses that increase nerve damage,
• Rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory conditions, and
• Obesity or pregnancy (though carpal tunnel usually resolves following birth).

What are the Symptoms of CTS?

Starting out insignificantly but growing over time, you may begin feeling a tingling or numbness from the thumb to the middle or ring fingers (never the little finger).  From there, you may feel pain or a sensation like an electric shock that runs the length of your arm to your fingertips.  Additionally, the symptoms may travel up your arm when gripping or using hand muscles to hold or grip something.  With the symptoms of CTS becoming worse at night, you might experience numbness when sleeping or a weakness in the hands or arms.

First, Try Home Treatment

Minimizing stress can help to reduce or alleviate the pain and numbness associated with CTS so try these at home or work:

• Review and improve ergonomic layout of workspaces
• Use good posture
• Relax your grip – type lightly
• Be sure your hands stay warm; cold temperatures make pain and stiffness more likely 
• Take short, frequent breaks to gently stretch hands and wrists and alternate between different tasks if possible
• Try NSAIDS and anti-inflammatory medication for pain relief
• Use wrist immobilizers to provide some relief

How Chiropractic Care May Bring Added Strength to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment

If home treatment and solutions don’t resolve the problem, you may want to seek a chiropractic evaluation as an alternative to traditional medical treatments or surgery.  With CTS, the median nerve can be investigated for its entire length originating in the cervical spine down the arm to the fingers.  Less invasive than traditional surgery and a better alternative than drugs to manage pain, chiropractic care encourages a holistic approach that looks at causes and solutions in addition to pain relief, including proper body mechanics, nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle.

Contact us at Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness to learn more about easing the pain of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and prevention for the future.  With years of experience, our team is dedicated to your good health and driven by results!

A Complete Guide to Tennis Elbow Symptoms and Treatments

Are you having aches on the outside of your elbow? Does your pain get worse when holding objects or shaking hands? These are potential symptoms of tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, a condition that affects 1 to 3% of the population. Despite its name, this injury isn’t always related to playing tennis. In general, it’s due to overuse of the forearm muscles and tendons. Repetitive movements, such as typing, painting, and weightlifting, are often the culprits. Tennis elbow symptoms vary from mild to severe. At first, you may notice pain on the outside of your upper forearm. Over time, the pain may worsen and affect your grip. Luckily, tennis elbow responds well to conservative treatment. Surgery is only required in severe cases. Let’s take a closer look at its symptoms and treatment options so you can take the steps needed to regain your mobility.

What Is Tennis Elbow?

Lateral epicondylitis, also known as Tennis Elbow, is the most common overuse injury affecting the elbow. It’s caused by repetitive movements of the forearm muscles, which put stress on the tendons that connect your elbow to these muscles.

Playing sports or repeating certain arm movements may cause small tears near the bony lump on the outside of the elbow. In the long run, these small tears lead to wear-and-tear of the tendons. As a result, you may experience pain and inflammation.

Athletes and manual laborers are at greater risk of developing tennis elbow. Simple changes, like stretching before exercise or manual work and using power tools rather than hand tools, may help prevent this painful condition.

Early treatment is crucial for a successful recovery. If left unaddressed, this injury may worsen and lead to complete tendon rupture. Therefore, it’s important to recognize its symptoms and reach out to a chiropractor or physical therapist before it’s too late.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of lateral epicondylitis is elbow pain that worsens gradually. The pain is usually felt on the outside of your elbow and may travel down your forearm toward the wrist.

Golfer’s elbow, a similar injury, causes pain on the inside of the elbow.

Lateral epicondylitis may also cause pain when bending your elbow, extending your arm, gripping small objects, writing, or typing. Over time, your elbow may become painful to touch.

You may experience these symptoms in one or both arms. Pain may worsen when you straighten your wrist, raise your hand, open a door, or make a fist. These issues can affect your range of motion and interfere with your day-to-day activities.

Treatment

Generally, chiropractic care or physical therapy is the first line of treatment for acute tennis elbow. Braces, exercise therapy, and manual adjustment can make a world of difference. Corticosteroid injections are typically recommended in more severe cases and may not work for everyone.

Resting the affected muscles and tendons is essential. Applying ice to the outside of your elbow may provide temporary relief. If necessary, you may take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the pain and swelling.

Once the inflammation subsides, you can perform stretching and strengthening exercises, such as wrist turns and towel twists. A physical therapist can help with that. They may also recommend kinesiology tape (KT) to relieve the pain and prevent further injury.

Regain Your Flexibility and Range of Motion

Tennis elbow symptoms can affect your quality of life and keep you from doing the things you enjoy. You may have a difficult time playing sports, painting, writing, or even cooking. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Our team in Mill Creek, Washington can help you regain your flexibility and ease the pain. Depending on your needs, we may recommend chiropractic care, KT tape, tennis elbow exercises, and more.