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Heel Spurs

Heel Spurs

by | May 14, 2020 | Informational, Injury, Orthotics

Do you have a sharp pain in your heel when you stand or walk? Can you feel a small, bony lump underneath foot when you try to investigate the cause of your pain? If you can feel a small lump protruding from the bottom of your foot, then you might have a heel spur or other wise known as an Achilles spur. What is a heel spur, and what heel spur treatment options are available? Here’s what we want you to know about living with foot pain.

What is a Heel Spur?

A heel spur is a calcium deposit on the underside of your heel. The deposit causes your bone to stick out, which can cause significant pain when you put pressure on it when you stand or walk.

Although heel spurs aren’t uncommon among younger people, they become more common as you get older.

What Are the Symptoms of Heel Spurs?

If you have a heel spur, you’ll experience pain all day – beginning when you stand up in the morning. It won’t take overuse to flare up. Your pain will be sharp in the morning and simmer as a dull ache until you go to sleep at night.

You may also experience heat radiating from the area. In some cases, you can even see the spur sticking out from your heel.

While heel spurs are best associated with heel pain, only 50% of people who have heel spurs experience any pain at all. It’s not uncommon for people to live with heel spurs for years and never realize it.

What Causes Heel Spurs?

The calcium deposits that cause heel spurs usually take several months to build up and cause you any grief. But what causes those deposits to occur in the first place?

Your foot is a complex web of tendons, muscles, ligaments, and bones. When any one of them becomes injured, inflamed, or irritated, it can wreak havoc on your whole foot. Some of the common causes can be:

  • Long periods of standing
  • Standing on hard ground
  • Repetitive stress
  • Injuries
  • Age-related shrinkage of the fat around the heel
  • Poorly-fit shoes

If you experience a heel spur, the most likely cause is a strain on your plantar fascia or another muscle and ligament around your heel. It can also be caused when you repeatedly tear the membrane over your heel bone.

Because heel spurs are so closely linked to the plantar fascia, it’s not uncommon to confuse heel spurs with plantar fasciitis.

Can Chiropractic Care Treat Spurs?

Chiropractic care can help you deal with both heel spurs and plantar fasciitis. As chiropractors, we ensure that your foot’s biomechanics operates the way it should. Chiropractic care can help stretch your calf muscles, provide taping to protect the fascia, and prescribe custom foot orthotics for arch support.

You Don’t Have to Live with Painful Feet

Chiropractic care can help relieve your pain and keep you walking right.

Are you ready to walk without pain? Get in touch to learn how Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness can help you put your best foot forward.

 

Foot Pain

Foot Pain

by | May 14, 2020 | Advice, Informational, Injury, Orthotics

Do You Have Foot Pain? Here’s What It Could Mean

Our feet probably don’t get the appreciation that they truly deserve. They have to bear weight whenever we stand and they help us get to where we want to go. Due to all this strain and stress, foot pain is fairly common.

When you experience foot pain, that means that you’re feeling discomfort or pain in one or more parts of your foot. Those parts can include the heels, soles, arches, and toes.

The pain can be severe or mild. It can also last for a short time or it can be an ongoing issue. Constant feet pain can be a major burden but that doesn’t mean the pain can’t be relieved.

Continue reading and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about foot pain.

Causes of Foot Pain

Foot pain can occur due to a medical condition or certain lifestyle choices. Wearing shoes that don’t fit properly is one of the most common causes of foot pain. High-heeled shoes can also lead to foot pain because they put a good amount of pressure on the toes.

Injuries from sports and high-impact activities, like aerobics or jogging, can also lead to foot pain.

If you have arthritis, you may very likely experience foot pain. There are 33 joints in your foot, and arthritis can impact any of them. And people who have diabetes may end up with nerve damage or ulcers in their feet.

You’re also more at risk for experiencing constant feet pain if you have a foot injury, are pregnant, or have obesity.

Symptoms of Foot Pain

Foot pain can lead you to limp or have an unsteady gait. You can also experience paresthesia, which is a burning or tingling sensation in the affected area. Sometimes, the pain can be so severe that you can’t move it at all.

Home Remedies for Foot Pain

The home remedy that will best help you will depend on the cause of your pain and how severe it is. With that said, applying ice to the affected area can usually help.

You also might want to take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever. Make sure that you rest your foot as much as possible and keep it elevated. In order to prevent rubbing on the affected area, you can use footpads.

How Chiropractic Can Help Foot Pain

A chiropractor understands the importance of body mechanics in daily life. They take into account your strength, flexibility, stability, and mobility when they look to find the true cause of your foot pain.

The feet are the foundation of the body. If they’re not working properly, it can lead to a whole bunch of other problems in the body.

A chiropractor can examine your posture and form. They can even make crucial assessments just from the way you walk. Sometimes, a chiropractor can simply pull on your foot in a specific way and relieve a great deal of your pain.

If you’re experiencing persistent pain in your feet, it’s important that you consult a chiropractor before things get any worse.

The Importance of Treating Constant Feet Pain

As we can see, people who experience constant feet pain should not hesitate to resolve the issue. If you’re experiencing pain in your feet or other areas of the body, we can help. Contact us today and see what we can do for you!

Back Pain During Pregnancy

Back Pain During Pregnancy

by | May 14, 2020 | Advice, Informational, Injury, Pregnancy

Chiropractic Relief for Pregnancy Back Pain

Pregnancy is one of the happiest times for a couple to experience.  There is the excitement of a new baby, the anticipation of the changes he or she will bring, and the hopefulness of a growing family.  As part of the changes a woman’s body will go through, back pain during pregnancy is quite common but chiropractic care can help through out the pregnancy to relief the aches and pains.

What Are the Causes of Pregnancy Back Pain? 

If you think about it, it’s no wonder you are experiencing discomfort…you are gaining weight in an isolated area very quickly, your center of gravity is shifting, and you are undergoing hormonal changes meant to assist in the birthing process.  Usually starting in the second half of pregnancy, many women begin to feel pain in their lower back and pelvis at the sacroiliac joint.

This pain can begin after periods of standing or sitting with no breaks, following a restless night of sleep, or during stressful times and is caused by:

  • Weight gain—a woman usually gains between 25 and 35 pounds during her pregnancy with most of it carried in the belly area putting additional stress on the lower back.
  • Shifting gravity—a woman’s “center of gravity” is in a constant state of flux during pregnancy as each day brings new weight gain, shifting posture, and possibly an altered gait.
  • Hormonal changes—Relaxing, a hormone meant to aid childbirth, causes muscles and ligaments in the pelvic region to loosen and relax so that the baby can be born more easily. This often causes pain in the back and spine as the relaxing muscles aren’t providing adequate support.

How to Relieve Back Pain

Understanding that back pain is common and isn’t an indication of something abnormal is a good first step in relieving unnecessary stress during a pregnancy.  Here are some good techniques to maintain back strength and help make the new Mom comfortable throughout her pregnancy:

  • Practice Using Good Posture
    • Stand straight
    • Keep your shoulders back
    • Use a wide stance for the best support
    • Sit using a chair that supports your back
    • Forget the high heels for now
    • Use good body mechanics when lifting
    • Sleep on your side
  • Gentle, moderate exercise helps by strengthening the back muscles and increasing flexibility—yoga is an excellent choice for pregnancy
  • Wearing a belly belt to support the weight
  • Warm baths and ice packs intermittently
  • Alternative therapies such as chiropractic care and massage

Chiropractic Care and Back Pain During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, chiropractic care can be beneficial in a number of ways, including alleviating back pain, as well as pain in the hips and joints.  Used in conjunction with massage and exercise, chiropractic care during pregnancy seamlessly harmonizes with whatever birthing method and care team you have chosen, i.e., traditional OB-GYN, midwifery.

Regular chiropractic visits can promote and establish pelvic balance and alignment creating a healthier environment for the baby and less pain for the mother during pregnancy.  In fact, there is research that suggests chiropractic care improves a woman’s ability to have a successful natural birth and reduce the time she is in labor.

In Mill Creek, Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness has compassionate and experienced providers available to answer your questions and to discuss a pregnancy-supportive care plan, including alleviating back, hip, and pelvic pain brought on by the pregnancy itself.  If you are seeking relief for the discomfort of back pain brought on by pregnancy, consider the benefits of managing that pain through chiropractic care.

All of us at Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness wish you a safe and happy pregnancy with terrific health and freedom of movement.  Please contact us at our Mill Creek location to discuss the natural and healthy benefits of chiropractic care during and after your pregnancy.

PIP Insurance in Washington State

PIP Insurance in Washington State

by | Apr 15, 2020 | Advice, Informational, Injury

What You Need to Know About PIP Coverage in Washington State

At a minimum, liability auto insurance is mandatory in Washington State.  However, did you also know that you benefit from carrying personal insurance protection (PIP) as supplemental coverage?  As an extension of auto insurance, PIP covers medical expenses for you and anyone injured in an accident, including pedestrians and cyclists.

You sometimes hear this type of insurance referred to as “no fault” insurance, because a person is covered whether or not they were at fault for the accident.  It’s also different than “bodily injury” coverage which pays for any injuries to another person, but not to you.

Is PIP Insurance Required in Washington State?

While there is no Washington PIP statute that requires you to have this type of coverage, insurance companies are required to offer it to customers and to obtain a written rejection from the client if they decline coverage.  If you choose to opt into PIP coverage, Washington State statute defines minimums for PIP insurance that must be observed by carriers, including:

  • Up to $10,000 for reasonable and necessary medical and hospital expenses for each person injured in an accident with a 3-year window to access care
  • Wage replacement up to $200 per week with a $10,000 maximum
  • Funeral expenses up $2,000 for each person
  • Loss of services up to $200 per week ($5,000 maximum) to pay non-family persons for work you can’t accomplish, such as household chores or lawn care

To further define medical expenses, most insurance companies include ambulance services, medical and surgical care, hospital stays if required, chiropractic care, dental care, and medications.

What Types of Auto Accident Injuries Benefit from Chiropractic Care?

When the body sustains the force of an auto accident (even at relatively slow speeds), some injuries are outwardly obvious (and should be treated by the appropriate care provider), and some are not seen or even felt until later.  With impact injuries, it’s a good idea to be evaluated by a chiropractor to find effective pain relief without medication or to prevent long-term pain.  These types of symptoms may be signs of whiplash or other related auto accident injuries:

  • Neck pain
  • Sore back
  • Shoulder pain
  • Neck range of motion issues
  • Low back pain
  • Blurred vision
  • Headaches
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Sciatica
  • Knee pain
  • Loss of feeling
  • Feelings of depression and anxiety

How Does a Chiropractor Treat Auto Accident Injuries?

With an initial evaluation, your chiropractor can assess the extent of your injuries and present a natural and effective treatment plan and prognosis.  With an effective course of treatment that may include chiropractic manipulation, stretching and massage, nutritional counseling, and exercise, your body can heal and return to normal daily life.

At Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness in Mill Creek, Washington, we are experienced at naturally treating auto accident injuries and are well versed in PIP auto insurance coverage requirements.  Leave the complicated claims process to us.

If you have sustained an auto accident injury, trust the chiropractic professionals at Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness…contact us today!

Treating Sciatica With Orthotics

Treating Sciatica With Orthotics

by | Apr 2, 2020 | Informational, Injury, Orthotics

Treating Sciatica With Custom Orthotics

Sciatic pain can make it difficult to make it through routine activities. If you’re an athlete or active individual, sciatic pain can sideline you from your favorite sports or fitness activities until the underlying issues resolve. Seeking chiropractic care can help relieve pain associated with the sciatic nerve and the alignment issues that cause this pain. Along with adjustments, your chiropractor can recommend orthotics to provide the foot support you need to keep sciatic pain away! Read on to see how your chiropractor can treat sciatica with orthotics!

What is Sciatic Pain?

The pain you know as sciatica (or sciatic pain) is the symptom of underlying alignment issues. It’s not an injury, but it can be the result of injury to the muscles, bones, and connective tissues of your back and buttocks.

Symptoms

Those who report sciatic pain know that it can be excruciating. The sciatic nerve reacts to misalignment or injury, creating sharp pains when you try to move. You might experience:

  • Pain that starts in the low back and continues down the back of the thigh. In severe cases, the pain extends into the lower leg and foot
  • Pain in only one side of your leg or buttock
  • Numbness or a “pins-and-needles” sensation of the affected leg.
  • Severe or shooting pain in your low back or leg that keeps you from bending over or from side to side
  • Burning or shooting pain in the back of the hip

Prolonged symptoms can lead to inactivity that worsens your condition. At the onset of these symptoms, seek chiropractic help to get you moving again!

Treatment

When seeking help for sciatica pain treatment, your Mill Creek chiropractor can apply spinal adjustments to help realign your spinal column. Often, sciatic pain emerges from your body’s attempts to compensate for poor alignment. Chiropractic adjustments help realign your spinal column to its proper position, helping your body move as it should.

Your chiropractor might also recommend regular massage therapy or acupuncture to help ease tight muscles and sciatic nerve pain. They may also treat the sciatica with orthotics.  By treating the sciatica with orthotics, this will help maintain proper long-term alignment and help correct a tilted pelvis and other issues that contribute to poor alignment and pain.

Orthotics provide additional stability, support, and shock absorption to help your body better hold adjustments and alignment. Customized orthotics address your specific needs to help maintain the work your chiropractor performs during adjustments.

Prevention

To prevent additional issues with sciatic pain, it’s critical to adopt good habits! Regular exercise and a healthy diet helps keep your body in excellent alignment. Strong bones and tissues can maintain proper alignment, while extended periods of inactivity could prolong your sciatic pain.

If your Mill Creek chiropractor recommends custom orthotics for sciatica, be sure you wear them! Consistent use helps prevent future recurrences of sciatic pain.

Sciatic Pain Relief

Sciatic pain relief is possible! The chiropractors at Amazing Life and Wellness are here to help identify where your body needs adjustments to help with pain relief. We can also prescribe you the exact custom orthotics for additional support and comfort.

Contact us to schedule an appointment.

Sciatic Pain in Mill Creek

Sciatic Pain in Mill Creek

by | Jan 31, 2020 | Advice, Informational, Injury

What to do if You Experience Sciatic Pain

Well, Spring will be here in no time!  It’s been a long winter and people are anxious to get outside, enjoy the sunshine, and get active.  The problem is that lots of people overdo it!  Instead of easing into it and being gentle with their bodies, they go full tilt.

Without using proper stretching techniques and building up their exercise regime, they run the risk of a pinched sciatic nerve and are sidelined with pain and numbness from their back running down one leg or the other.  But how does this happen?

What Causes You to Experience Sciatic Pain?

Sciatica or sciatic pain can be caused by a herniated disk or arthritic bone spur in your lower back that pinches the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body running from your spinal column down each leg.  But it can also be caused by overuse and, frankly, physical deterioration.  It’s a common problem and one that an estimated 40% will experience in their lifetimes.

It often feels like burning or tingling sensations in the buttock and affected leg with accompanying lower back and hip pain.  If you are at the point where you are experiencing bladder weakness or severe numbness or pain, it’s important to seek professional help as soon as possible.

What’s the First Step Once You Experience Sciatic Pain?

It’s recommended that you explore the benefits of chiropractic care in Mill Creek to help alleviate the problem and also position you to not suffer a recurrence.  There are several things that you can try at home before your appointment to help reduce the pain and numbness:

  • Stretching is extremely important to help alleviate the pinched nerve pain.
  • Hot and cold applied intermittently. Ice helps to reduce inflammation, while heat can encourage blood flow to the back and leg. This can also help reduce the spasms that often accompany sciatica.
  • Vary your posture every 20 minutes.
  • Walk and move around as much as you can. This also will help with the pain and spasms.
  • Avoid foods that cause inflammation:
    • Sugar
    • Artificial Trans Fats
    • Refined Carbohydrates
    • Processed Meats
    • Alcohol

When you visit your chiropractor, he or she will evaluate your symptoms and then recommend a course of treatment.  This will usually be a holistic and natural approach that often includes chiropractic manipulation and mobilization, supported by massage therapy, lifestyle evaluation and recommendations on stretching and exercise, as well as natural nutrition counseling.  The goal is to provide a comprehensive overall plan that resolves the pain and points the patient in a healthy direction.

Sciatica is painful, but there ARE solutions!  In Mill Creek, Amazing Life Chiropractic and Wellness is your comprehensive solution center.  We are ready and available, so please contact us at our Mill Creek Location for an appointment when you experience sciatic pain.  We would love to discuss the natural and healthy benefits of chiropractic manipulation.