Are you sidelined by tension headaches? Do they cause you to be absent from work or ineffective while you’re there? Do they interfere with your family and social life? Most people have experienced more than one tension headache in their life. If you are someone who’s had a tension headache, then you know that the pain usually feels like an intense, but dull ache in your head. Such pain is commonly accompanied by a sensation of tightness or pressure along the forehead or on the sides and back of the head. Sometimes, you might feel a tenderness of your scalp, neck and shoulder muscles, and periodically you may experience a loss of appetite or even nausea.

Most tension headaches are defined as mild to moderately intense, but the severity of the pain varies from one person to another, and can vary from one headache to another in the same person. Would you describe your tension headaches as occurring frequently? Did you know that if your headaches take place fifteen or more days a month for a minimum of three months, they’re viewed by healthcare professionals as chronic?

The good news is that if tension headaches are interfering with your life, once in a while or chronically, chiropractic treatment can help. For over twenty years Dr. Helwig has been helping the Oak Lawn Community to get out of pain, whether an individual is suffering from back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, hip pain, knee pain, foot pain, and headaches. That right! Chiropractors don’t just treat back pain. They address the entire musculoskeletal system!

So, if you are suffering from tension headaches that have kept you from living your life fully, call your Chiropractor in Oak Lawn today. Get your life back!

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Non-trauma knee problems: The most prevailing cause of non-traumatic pain is poor mechanics of the knee joint and the corresponding stress on the soft tissues of the knee. The patella or knee-cap is normally the area affected because frequently the patella does not move adequately on the femur during bending of the knee causing unusual stress on the tendons, cartilage and ligaments. This specific condition is often called chondromalacia patella (CMP) or Patella Femoral Syndrome (Knee Cap Pain). This problem is due to imbalances in the quadriceps muscles of the thigh that connect to and move the patella. Lower back problems, especially in the sacroiliac joints, are one of the foremost reasons for imbalances in the muscles associated with knee movement, and resultant knee problems. Pain and dysfunction can also be caused by imbalances in the muscle groups that attach to the knee. For example, the muscles on the inside of the thigh, when strained and tight, can cause pain on the medial or inside of the knee.   Insufficient foot mechanics that produce gait abnormalities such as pronation, are one more cause of mechanical knee pain.

The correspondent pain from overuse is most generally noticeable during activity, especially stair climbing, running, jumping, and following standing after prolonged sitting. Many women are likely to be predisposed to painful overuse ailments for anatomical reasons, although such conditions are often related to wearing high heels on a regular basis.

The main treatment for mechanical or overuse injuries to the knee is to re-establish proper balance of the muscles, restore proper movement to the patella and other joints of the knee, and to correct any subluxations of the sacroiliac joints and bones of the foot.  In specific cases, a brace is used to help with the alignment of the patella or to secure the joint. Chiropractors, such as your chiropractor, are highly experienced in administering the correct diagnosis and care of these problems.

Knee problems due to trauma: Traumatic injuries commonly happen during activities that involve running and jumping, particularly. When the knee is pulled or twisted beyond the capability of the ligaments that hold the joint together, tearing of these tissues can occur creating a sprain. The muscles that give motion to the knee can also be torn during injury causing a strain or pull of the muscle. As with a sprain, a muscle strain can range from a mild injury that needs little treatment to a extreme injury needing surgery. The knee also is comprised of two special “cartilages” – the menisci – between the tibia and the femur that provide for smooth motion and cushioning. These cartilages can also be torn during trauma, and often necessitate surgical repair, or even removal if damaged severely.

Traumatic knee injuries can cause severe pain and swelling and require urgent examination and treatment. In most instances a competent chiropractor, such as your Chiropractor, can treat these problems, but there are some injuries that require the dexterity of an orthopedic surgeon. Nevertheless, it is crucial to stabilize the injured joint immediately and to use ice on the hurt area, if possible, until the injury can be evaluated.

If poor mechanics, overuse problems, or traumatic injuries are not fixed at an early stage, the tissues of the knee joint, expressly the cartilage, will begin to wear out sooner or later. If tissue and cartilage erode, the bones will rub together unprotected and changes such as bone spurs can take place. This painful affliction, known as degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis, often increases with age. Common treatment may involve medications such as NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Nevertheless, there are natural anti-inflammatory supplements that produce excellent results such as rosemary, glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, bioflavinoids, curcumin. Conservative treatment, such as chiropractic, can be extremely helpful in alleviating the pain. Your San Jose chiropractor is will gladly discuss anti-inflammatory supplements. In addition, people can frequently aid themselves by keeping their weight down, doing exercises (especially in the pool), and wearing cushioned shoes or insoles.

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