The Mystery of Frozen Shoulder

Frozen Shoulder and Treatment

Frozen shoulder, AKA adhesive capsulitis, is inflammation of the capsule in the shoulder joint and therefore causes pain and stiffness in the shoulder. The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint with a capsule that surrounds the joint. Frozen shoulder causes the capsule to becomes inflamed and thickened which results in less synovial fluid (lubrication) and the formation of adhesions in the joint. Pain is present with active and passive range of motion. This means pain is produced when the patient moves the arm him/herself and when the arm is relaxed and moved for him/her by the doctor. The cause is not fully understood, and seems to have no connection with previous injury, arm dominance, or occupation. Certain risk factors can increase the chance of developing this condition. The most prevalent risk factor is diabetes while others include stroke, thyroid disease, cardiac disease, lung disease, RA, and other autoimmune conditions.

Frozen Shoulder and Treatment - Metairie Louisiana - Chiropractic Remedies

Frozen shoulder occurs in 3 stages:

  1. Freezing (Painful) Phase: pain continues to get worse and worse with severe night pain.  As the pain worsens the shoulder losses range of motion. This typically lasts 6 weeks to 9 months but can be shortened with chiropractic treatments.
  2. Frozen (Stiff) Phase: pain may actually improve, but range of motion is greatly diminished. Daily activities become increasingly difficult, if not impossible to perform.  Activities such as tucking in the back of one’s shirt, reaching for a high shelf, combing hair, or fastening a bra. This typically lasts 4-6 months but can be shortened with chiropractic treatment.
  3. Thawing (Resolving) Phase: pain and range of motion slowly improve. This typically lasts 6 months to 2 years depending on the shoulder severity and the timing of chiropractic remedy.

Affects of Frozen Shoulder

Many women between the ages of 40-60 are affected by Frozen shoulder, which is estimated to be 2-5 percent of the population. It is referred to as “Fifties Shoulder” in Japan. Schedule an appointment with our chiropractic office in Metairie if you have the symptoms of Frozen Shoulder.

Frozen shoulder can take up to 30 months to fully resolve if left untreated. In most cases, treatment with the Niel-Asher Technique (NAT) will speed up recovery by about 10 times. NAT focuses on trigger point therapy to the long head of the biceps and in the muscles that make up the rotator cuff. Along with the trigger point therapy, adjustments to the upper cervical spine and mild physical therapy have been proven to speed up the process of this condition. NAT is a “hands-on” method that utilizes the body’s natural healing mechanisms.

Patients may call our office in Metairie to set up an appointment with Dr. LeBourgeois and he can treat your Frozen Shoulder with chiropractic remedies. Our office provides chiropractic services and a convenient location adjacent to East Jeff Hospital in Doctor’s Row.  Please feel free to call our office at (504) 372-4062 or send us a message from our contact page.

Sciatica Is A Real Pain In The Butt!

Sciatica Nerve Pain and Sciatica Treatment - Metairie Louisiana

 

Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve in the body, which causes it to be easily irritated. The symptoms of sciatica are pain, tingling, or weakness in the lower extremity that starts from the lumbar or pelvic region and radiates down the back of the leg to the foot.

There are many causes of sciatic nerve irritation or compression:

  • Herniated or bulging disc compressing the sciatic nerve
  • Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal cord or exiting nerve roots between each vertebrae) as a result of a disc herniation or degenerative disc disease
  • Piriformis Syndrome which is a condition in which the piriformis muscle, located deep in the buttock region, spasms and pinches the sciatic nerve
  • Pregnancy due to the extra weight and stress put on the spine, in addition of altered pelvic biomechanics which occurs as the baby grows

Although the pain associated with sciatica can be severe, the majority of cases resolve with conservative treatment within a few weeks. The most common treatment protocols for sciatica include:

  • Chiropractic adjustments to realign and mobilize the spine to take pressure off of the nerve
  • Decompression therapy to rehydrate and removed the increased pressure on the intervertebral disc
  • Myofascial release to the piriformis muscle
  • Rehabilitation to the core and pelvic muscles

The Benefits of Chiropractic Care To Pregnant Patients

 

Chiropractic Care - Pain Relief -Metairie - Louisiana - Pregnancy Care

Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy is becoming a more accepted and more common practice utilized by expecting mothers; in fact, many Obstetricians are now encouraging and referring their patients to chiropractors. A properly aligned spine and hips can help make pregnancy and delivery more comfortable. The old way of thinking was, “pregnancy is supposed to be uncomfortable and sometimes painful”, or “well, it’s only for a few months”. By getting regular adjustments throughout pregnancy, this process can be much more pleasant than women think.

The most common complaint throughout pregnancy is low back pain. This is due to spinal dysfunction related to changing load distributions within the motion segments of the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints. As the fetus develops during gestation, this weight is projected forward and the lumbar lordosis is increased, placing extra stress on the intervertebral disks and facet joints. Also, as the baby grows, the body is required to make room for the baby; it does this by expanding the pelvic ring. However, if the pelvis is not moving properly, this altered motion can stress the muscles and compress spinal nerves resulting in symptoms such as muscle spasm, sciatica, leg pain, and sharp pains in the low back area. Other common symptoms during pregnancy are headaches, carpal tunnel, rib pain, and nausea; and yes, chiropractic care can help with all of these symptoms listed!

Pain relief is not the only reason chiropractic care is beneficial to pregnant women. Proper spinal and pelvic alignment allows room for the baby to grow, develop, and move. This reduces the risk of having a breeched baby. If an expected mother discovers that her unborn child is in the breeched position, a Doctor of Chiropractic skilled in the Webster In-Utero Technique can naturally correct the baby’s position.

Most women who receive chiropractic care throughout their pregnancy experience a faster delivery which is much safer for both mom and baby; a properly aligned pelvis allows more room for the baby to enter the world with little resistance, and greatly reduces the risk of the Ob to have to resort to suctions, fracturing the child’s clavicle, or performing an emergency C-section.

Chiropractic adjustments are completely safe to both mother and baby; there are no known contraindications to chiropractic care during pregnancy. The ligamentous laxity brought on by pregnancy often makes adjusting comparatively easy using the gentlest of movements. The equipment used when adjusting pregnant patients is specifically tailored for both safety and comfort.