Wellness Archives - Page 19 of 31 - Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness
Postpartum Back Pain

Postpartum Back Pain

by | Jun 2, 2020 | Advice, Hormone Balance, Injury, Pregnancy, Wellness

Relief for New Moms: What You Need to Know About Postpartum Back Pain & How to Finally Get Some Relief!

Postpartum-related back pain is not uncommon. Up to 75% of women experience some sort of back pain after giving birth.

Are you experiencing back pain after pregnancy? Do you have soreness and nagging stiffness in your back from poor posture due to strained abdominal muscles?

Relieving postpartum back pain might take a back seat to caring for your new baby, but there is help out there. Chiropractic care for postpartum back pain might be just what you need to relieve your postpartum back pain!

If postpartum back pain is the last thing you have time to deal with right now, keep reading to find out what you need to know to get relief!

Postpartum Back Pain

Some women suffer from back pain during pregnancy and some women experience back pain immediately following childbirth.

This is because pregnancy hormones loosen up in your joints and ligaments. Couple that with carrying the extra baby weight, pushing during labor, and picking up your newborn and it wreaks havoc on your back.

How Long Does Postpartum Back Pain Last? 

Postpartum back pain can last for weeks or even months after giving birth. Your body stretched and grew to make room for your baby and now it is slowly trying to go back to normal. This can cause a lot of pain in your hips and lower back.

In addition to all of that, you are lifting and bending to take care of your newborn. You may be too exhausted and too busy to stretch and keep up with regular exercise to keep the pain away.

The longer you neglect your body, the longer the pain may last.

Natural Relief for Postpartum Back Pain

Rather than relying on medications to relieve back pain, there are some natural treatments that will have you feeling better. Let’s take a look at a few.

1. Pelvic Tilts 

Start off your morning with some pelvic tilts to stretch and strengthen your lower back muscles. Lie on the floor and bend your knees. Your feet should be flat on the floor.

Lift your hips and squeeze your buttocks. Start off slowly and work up to ten every morning.

2. Be Mindful of Your Posture

While carrying and breastfeeding the baby, check that you are practicing good posture. Keep your shoulders down and back and keep your back straight.

3. Be Careful When Lifting and Carrying

You’ll do a lot of lifting and carrying after the baby is born…baby, baby carrier, and diaper bag. Remember to lift with your legs and distribute weight evenly.

4. Chiropractic for Postpartum Back Pain

A chiropractor can restore your pelvic balance and adjust your back through chiropractic manipulation.

Get the Relief You Need  

Now that you know how to find relief from postpartum back pain, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We at Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness offer natural and reliable pain relief.

Book an appointment today. We’ll have you fixed up and feeling better with our excellent care and outstanding service.

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Hip Pain

Hip Pain

by | May 29, 2020 | Advice, Injury, Orthotics, Wellness

Hip Pain Treatment: Natural Remedies and Solutions for Hip Joint Pain

The hip is one of the most complex joints in the body. Supported by muscles, it allows us to move however we want—whether we’re walking or jumping.

At the same time, it can be affected by a wide range of disorders. Take hip dysplasia, for example, it occurs when the hip socket doesn’t fully support the ball at the upper end of the thighbone.

What other causes of hip pain are there? Find the answer by reading the rest of the post—we’ll also be going over how you can treat it!

Common Causes of Hip Pain

Arthritis is the most common cause of chronic hip pain. More specifically, it can be due to osteoarthritis (wearing down of cartilage due to age) or rheumatoid arthritis (cartilage and bone are destroyed by the body’s immune system).

Other common hip pains that are reversible are, joint misalignment and ligament tightness, osteoarthritis, are easily reversible with proper chiropractic care. 

Another possible cause is trochanteric bursitis, a condition that occurs when the bursa—a liquid-filled sac near the hip joint—becomes inflamed.

Last but not least, it can be due to a hip fracture. While it can happen to everyone, it generally affects older adults, especially those with osteoporosis.

Hip Pain Symptoms

The extent of the pain depends on the cause. For example, arthritis will generally cause stiffness or swelling in addition to pain.

As for hip fractures, an individual will typically experience pain when they stand, straighten, or lift their leg. In some cases, the pain can also radiate down to the knees.

Natural Treatments for Hip Pain

There are ways to treat hip pain without taking any medications. Here are some remedies that you might want to try:

Cold and Heat 

It’s possible to treat the pain by applying heat or ice. Pick whichever helps you most and apply it to your hip area as needed.

If necessary, you can also switch between hot and cold packs. For the best results, apply it for 20-30 minutes at a time, two to three times a day.

Stretching 

Stretching can help ease tightness and discomfort in the hips. For example, you can do a standing stretch, kneeling stretch, or supine stretch.

Keep in mind, however, that the stretch that you’re doing shouldn’t be painful. Stop immediately if there’s any pain.

Rest 

Rest the affected joint as much as possible so that it has a chance to heal. Avoid doing things that require you to put pressure on the hips.

Similarly, you don’t want to sleep on your side if you have hip pain—that can make things worse.

Going to a Chiropractor for Hip Pain

Chiropractors can use various techniques to resolve your hip pain. For instance, they can perform an adjustment if the pain is due to a joint misalignment.

They can also work with you to create a personalized stretching and exercise routine. As it is, this is great for strengthening and increasing the range of motions in your hips.

Seeking Treatment For Hip Pain 

And there you have it—a short guide on what hip pain is and how to treat it. Remember, you don’t want to wait too long before seeking treatment!

Thinking of giving chiropractic care a try? Contact us to make an appointment if you’re in the Mill Creek area!

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Wrist Pain

Wrist Pain

by | May 27, 2020 | Advice, Injury, Wellness

Wrist Pain 101: Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Solutions

The wrist is a complex joint that’s made up of eight small bones. Without them, your hand wouldn’t work nearly the same way!

Keep in mind, however, that it’s also prone to injury. In fact, wrist injuries account for almost 25% of all sports injuries. Whats’s more, is that there’s always a chance that it can lead to a long-term disability.

Are you experiencing wrist pain? Want to know why it’s happening and how you can treat it? Then make sure to read the rest of the post—we’ll be going over everything that you need to know!

What is Wrist Pain?

Wrist pain refers to any discomfort that’s felt in the wrist. The exact pain, however, depends on the cause. For example, some people may experience dull pain whereas others may experience a pins-and-needles feeling.

More often than not, it will affect the bones, tendons, or ligaments in the area.

Causes for Wrist Pain

Several conditions can cause wrist pain—one of them being carpal tunnel syndrome. Relatively common, it occurs when the median nerve becomes pinched or compressed.

Gout and arthritis are two other causes. The former is caused by a buildup of uric acid whereas the latter refers to inflammation of the joints.

Aside from that, certain sports such as golf, tennis, or baseball; along with certain careers such as hair dressers, mechanics and plumbers, (basically anything that involves repetitive movements of the hand) can also cause injuries to the wrist, which can result in pain.

Splints Used for Wrist Pain

One of the best ways to treat wrist pain is to wear a splint. It’ll prevent you from moving it in a certain way so that you won’t irritate it further.

In doing so, it’ll help ease the pain. Not only that, but it can reduce swelling as well.

Keep in mind, however, that not all splints are the same. For example, you’ll want to pay attention to the material, support, and sizing.

When in doubt, you can always ask your health care provider for recommendations.

Chiropractic Treatments For Wrist Pain

Chiropractic care isn’t just for back pain, it can help with your wrist pain as well. For instance, a chiropractor can perform a wrist adjustment if there’s a misaligned bone.

Even if manual adjustment is not an option (it depends on the source of the pain), there’s an instrument that they can use to deliver quick, low-impact impulses to the wrist.

In some cases, they may also refer you to another health care provider. At the end of the day, it all depends on what they find.

Treating Wrist Pain 

The bottom line is—there are multiple ways that you can treat wrist pain. Generally speaking, the sooner you address the problem, the better! If anything, you don’t want to wait until it gets worse before getting it checked out.

Thinking of going to a chiropractor? Don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule an appointment!

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Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles Tendonitis

by | May 19, 2020 | Injury, Orthotics, Wellness

Pain, Pain, Go Away: What’s the Best Treatment for Achilles Tendonitis?

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the human body. What does it do? It connects your calf muscles to your heel.

Without it, you wouldn’t be able to walk properly!

As it turns out, however, there are many diseases that can affect the tendons. Take rheumatoid arthritis, for instance, it can cause chronic inflammation.

Injuries can affect the connective tissues as well. In fact, they’re one of the main causes of Achilles tendonitis, which affects up to 18% of athletes.

Luckily, the condition is treatable. Interested in knowing what the best treatment for Achilles tendonitis is? Because that’s what we’ll be going over in this post!

Where is the Achilles Tendon Located?

The Achilles tendon is a thick band of fibrous tissue that’s located at the back of the lower leg. More specifically, it connects the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles of the calf to the calcaneus aka heel bone.

Despite its size and strength, it’s vulnerable to injury—even with the small sacs of fluid protecting it at the heel. 

Causes for Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis occurs when the tendon becomes inflamed. Generally speaking, this can be caused by any repetitive movements.

That’s the main reason why athletes are more prone to the condition. Those who participate in sports such as tennis, softball, volleyball, and track and field, are particularly susceptible.

Certain factors can play a role as well. For example, an individual will be more likely to experience tendonitis if they exercise without warming up. A sudden increase in physical activity can also strain the tendon.

Best Treatment For Achilles Tendonitis (Without Medications)

There are ways to treat Achilles tendonitis without medications. For one thing, you can use the RICE method. Here’s a brief overview of how it works:

Rest: Avoid putting weight or pressure on the tendon for 1-2 days—that’ll allow it to heal faster. Consider using crutches if you need to walk.

Ice: Apply ice to the tendon for 15-20 minutes at a time. The cold will help bring down any swelling or inflammation. It’s a good idea to wrap the ice pack with a towel so that it won’t damage your skin.

Compression: Compress the injury by wrapping athletic tape around the tendon; this will prevent excessive swelling. However, don’t wrap it too tightly or else it’ll affect your blood flow.

Elevation: Raise your foot so that it’s above your chest—you want it to be higher than your heart. This is an effective way of reducing bruising and swelling.

Chiropractic Treatment for Achilles Tendonitis

Chiropractic adjustments can help relieve pain. After all, it’s not uncommon for misaligned joints to put extra stress on the Achilles tendons and feet.

Your chiropractor may also opt for Active Release Therapy (ART). Basically, it involves breaking up scar tissue in the tendon, leg, and foot. Not only will this help with the pain but it’ll also prevent further complications.

Dealing With Achilles Tendonitis

While most cases are minor, it never hurts to go see a doctor or even a chiropractor—they’ll be able to determine the best treatment for Achilles tendonitis that’s right for you.

For those of you who are in the Mill Creek area, feel free to contact us to see how we can help!

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Pelvic Pain

Pelvic Pain

by | May 16, 2020 | Advice, Injury, Pregnancy, Wellness

Understanding Pelvic Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Why does my pelvis hurt?

There could be a number of culprits behind your pelvic discomfort, ranging from serious medical conditions to temporary pain. If you’re experiencing any type of pelvic pain, there are a few steps you should take next. 

We’ve put together this guide to walk you through the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for pelvic pain. 

So let’s get started. 

What Is Pelvic Pain and Where Is It Located?

Pelvic pain is most commonly associated with women, but men can experience it as well. This type of discomfort is located around the pelvic bone area, the reproductive organs, or other non-reproductive internal organs. 

The exact pain you feel will vary depending on the cause of the condition and your personal pain tolerance. You might feel sharp pain, dull throbs, sensitivity, mild discomfort, etc. 

What Causes Pelvic Pain?

There are many different reasons your pelvis might hurt. 

For example, the source of the pain may be a medical condition, an infection, or an injury. Because of this, you should never ignore pelvic pain. The pain is your body telling you something is wrong, such as:

  • Appendicitis 
  • Bladder disorders
  • Broken pelvic bone
  • Hernias
  • Intestinal problems 
  • Kidney stones
  • Kidney infection 
  • Nerve conditions 
  • Pelvic disorders 
  • Prostatitis 
  • STDs
  • Testicular conditions 

Women may experience additional types of pelvic pain as well, including things like:

  • Cervical or uterine cancer
  • Endometriosis
  • Fibroids
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Ovulation
  • Miscarriage

If you start to notice any discomfort in your pelvic area, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. They’ll be able to catch any potential problems before they get worse, and they can recommend the best treatment options. 

However, just because you feel pain in your pelvis doesn’t mean you should panic. It may not be a serious problem, and there may be a few simple ways to take care of it. 

How to Relieve Pain in Your Pelvis 

The best way to relieve pain in your pelvis pain is to take basic, over-the-counter pain medications, such as Advil or Ibuprofen. After you talk to your doctor, they may also prescribe stronger medications or antibiotics. It can also be beneficial to visit a chiropractor. 

If the pain you’re feeling is due to menstrual cramps, a heating pad can also help lessen the pain. You can use an electric heating pad or, if you don’t have one, a hot water bottle will do the trick, too. 

In some cases, you might not get full relief until you receive the right treatment. 

Natural Pelvic Pain Treatment

Since pelvic pain can indicate a serious medical condition in some cases, you should always follow your doctor’s recommended treatment options. However, there are several natural remedies for pelvic pain that can help ease your discomfort as well. 

Again, heat is a good thing to try first. This will help relax your muscles if they’re cramping. You can also give yourself a pelvic massage, which can reduce your pain. 

It can also be helpful to change your diet. You might want to avoid certain foods, such as:

  • Gluten
  • Dairy products
  • Processed foods 
  • Sugars 
  • Red meats

In some cases, eating more fruits and vegetables and whole grains can prevent pelvic pain from developing or getting worse. 

Can a Chiropractor Help Relieve Pelvic Pain?

The short answer to this question is yes. 

If your pelvis pain isn’t caused by an internal problem, it can also form if your body is out of alignment. Getting chiropractic adjustments can reposition problematic areas in your body, which can relieve the pain. 

Not sure where to find a chiropractor in the Mill Creek, Washington area?

We can help! Don’t hesitate to reach out to us to learn more or set up your first appointment today. 

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Coccyx Pain Treatment

Coccyx Pain Treatment

by | May 14, 2020 | Advice, Injury, Pregnancy, Weight-Loss, Wellness

Understanding Coccyx and Tailbone Pain, Causes, and Treatment

The spine is made up of 33 individual bones. More specifically, they’re divided into four main regions—the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacrum spine.

At the bottom of the spine is the coccyx aka tailbone. While it’s considered vestigial (aka no longer necessary), it does have a few important functions.

That is, it serves as the insertion site for tendons, ligaments, and muscles. In addition to that, it supports you while you’re sitting.

Like the rest of the body, however, it can be affected by various conditions.

What causes coccyx and tailbone pain? How can you treat it? Want to know? If so, be sure to read the rest of the post!

Where is the Coccyx/Tailbone?

The tailbone is made up of four small bones that are fused together at the bottom of the spine. Triangular in shape, it is located just below the sacrum.

In fact, it connects with the bony structure through the sacrococcygeal joint. When you move, there is also a slight movement between the sacrum and the coccyx.

What Causes Pain in Your Coccyx?

A number of things can cause coccyx pain. For example, the tailbone can start hurting if you sit on a hard chair or bench for a long period of time.

Injuries such as falls can also cause bruising. In some cases, it can even lead to fractures.

While anyone can experience tailbone problems, those who are overweight are more prone to issues. For one thing, more weight puts extra stress on the coccyx. 

How to Treat Coccyx Pain

Assuming that there’s no fracture, the pain should go away on its own within a couple of weeks. In the meantime, there are over-the-counter medications that you can take to relieve the pain.

Aside from that, you can apply heat or ice, both of which should help with the discomfort. The way you sit matters as well—that is, you want to make sure that your feet are flat on the ground and that your back is pressed against the chair.

There are also donut-shaped pillows that you can get that’ll help relieve pressure from the tailbone area.

Chiropractic Treatment for Tailbone/Coccyx Pain

Depending on the injury, the tailbone can move out of alignment. When this happens, it can irritate the tissues and nerves around the area, which can be quite painful.

That’s where chiropractors come in. They’re able to fix the underlying problem by correcting the misalignment.

In addition to that, they might suggest massage therapy. Not only will that help reduce inflammation but it’ll also promote muscle recovery.

Understanding Coccyx and Tailbone Pain

Now you know all about how to treat coccyx and tailbone pain. Remember, you don’t always have to go for medications—there are many other options!

Are you in the Mill Creek, WA area? Looking for a chiropractic clinic? Feel free to reach out—we’d be happy to help!

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