Acetaminophen Doesn’t Help Your Lower Back Pain

Acetaminophen Doesn’t Help Your Lower Back Pain

acetaminophen doesn't help lower back painDo you pop Tylenol for your lower back pain? A new study shows it doesn’t work. Trying an alternative method to managing your back pain could be worthwhile, especially if it affecting you doing simple daily tasks. Plus, you could always look here for more information on how you could effectivly manage your back pain.

The study followed 1600 people for four weeks and it was released in The Lancet, a respected medical journal.

The group was divided into thirds with one third taking acetaminophen, the ingredient in Tylenol on an as needed basis. Another group took it three times a day and the third group took a placebo. None of the participants knew which group they were in.

Both groups tracked their pain daily on a scale of 1-10 for the duration of the study. Here’s the shocker: Each group reported roughly the same amount of pain daily throughout the four weeks.

No matter if they were taking sugar pills or a thrice daily recommendation of acetaminophen the pain was the same.

Three Months Later

Three months later, approximately 85% of the participants were pain free no matter which group they’d been in.

So, is the upshot that acetaminophen doesn’t work? While further studies will be conducted, this could be a surprising finding for most patients and doctors alike.

Lower back pain is one of the most common complaints and is notoriously difficult to treat because there can be so many variables. Lower back pain can contribute to a diminished quality of life. If your back pain has been caused by a fall you may want to speak to a Pittsburgh slip and fall lawyer about any legal action you would like to pursue.

What Does Help Lower Back Pain?

Alternative therapies like massage therapy, gentle yoga and chiropractic can relieve lower back pain effectively and quickly.

Massage therapy

Another study on lower back pain assigned patients a weekly massage for 10 weeks. The results were promising.

After 10 weeks, 36% and 39% of patients who received the weekly massages said their pain was gone or nearly gone. Around 4% of those who had not received massage could say the same.

Yoga

Practicing a few gentle yoga stretches can alleviate lower back pain. For example, lie on the floor on your back and draw your knees to your chest. Next, rotate your knees to the left and stretch your arms out so you make a “T” shape. Then, turn your head so you’re looking in the opposite direction.

Repeat on the other side.

Chiropractic Care

As a chiropractor, I start any treatment plan with Xrays and your medical history so we can have a baseline. We need to know what the symptoms are and what your body shows.

Then, I adjust your spine, shoulder, neck so everything is in alignment.

It only takes a few minutes and it doesn’t hurt. If you have a desk job, you likely sit with your head and shoulders hunched forward for hours at a time. This posture affects your whole body and can cause lower back pain. Old sports injuries, the way you’re sleeping, car accidents and other facts of life may also cause lower back pain. Some people might use liposomal cbd broad spectrum hemp extract and there has been people saying that this approach has been helpful.

The Xrays will give some idea of the problem so we can develop a treatment plan that works for you. It may include some physical therapy type exercises and regular chiropractic adjustments. You may even feel relief within the first visit.

If you’re in the Doylestown, Pa. why not stop in and see if our techniques will alleviate your lower back pain? Here’s what to expect on your first visit.

Are Your Cortisone Shots Helping?

Are Your Cortisone Shots Helping?

Cortisone Shots for Back PainIf you’ve been getting cortisone shots for back pain and you don’t feel pain relief, it may not be your imagination.

A recent study presented at the International Spine Invention Society Annual Meeting found that only about 34% of patients who receive these injections feel any relief.

Also called epidural steroid injections (ESIs), these shots are commonly used to reduce inflammation caused by sciatica and herniated discs but they don’t work in the majority of patients.

The reason they don’t work is unclear. Plus, The Department of Orthopedic Surgery says using corticosteroid injections can weaken bones and reduce your calcium levels.

A recent study found even more shocking news.

If you’re having the injections in the lumbar area rather than the cervical spine region, they can increase your risk for vertebrae fracture by 21%. That’s 21% every time you get an injection!

That’s a high risk for something that has such a low rate of benefit.

What Are Cortisone Shots Anyway?

Your body naturally produces cortisone when you’re stressed. Back injuries, which are most often caused by trip and fall accidents amazingly, always result in a lot of inflammation. Your spine is an incredibly important part of your anatomy so these natural reactions are designed to protect it. Cortisone is a natural steroid that reduces this inflammation so you’re in less pain. Ideally, the injections reduce inflammation thereby reducing your pain.

Many people suffering with back pain have multiple shots and don’t feel relief at all or only feel relief for a few weeks. They’re an expensive option for something that may not work and that may have dangerous side effects. Additionally, studies show if they do work in the short-term, you may only find relief for a few weeks or months.

You deserve better.

Alternative Treatments

Your goal is be pain free. By reducing inflammation naturally through a series of chiropractic adjustments, we can help you reach that goal.

Chiropractic care helps reduce inflammation because we re-align your spine which is the life line of your body. Your spine has 31 pairs of nerves in it. If you’re suffering with sciatica or a herniated disc, your spine can be putting pressure on one or more of those nerves which causes pain and inflammation. When we re-align your spine, we take the pressure off. Basically, it’s a natural way to reduce inflammation.

If you’re in the Central Bucks region, give us a call. We can re-align your spine and help you find pain relief. Conveniently located in Doylestown, Pa. we have a new patient special.

Help for Back Pain after an Accident

Help for Back Pain after an Accident

Pain After AccidentThere’s nothing like a car accident to wreak havoc on your body. This is especially true as you get older. As you likely know, aging bodies’ aren’t as resilient as they once were. This means you might feel the effects of an accident in a way you wouldn’t have when younger.

For example, if you’re in a fender bender, you may think your car got the worst of it and your body is fine. However, it’s pretty common not to feel pain right away. It can take six weeks or more for you to feel the effects of whiplash or to start feeling back pain after an accident.

In fact, one study from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine showed more than 70% of people felt muscle soreness and neck and back pain after an accident even six weeks later.

So, if you were in an accident a few weeks ago and you’re only now starting to feel soreness or pain, that could be connected. Additionally, it makes sense to see a medical professional right away. That way, you can be checked for a concussion or whiplash. Sometimes, it can take weeks for inflammation to set in. That inflammation causes pain and it may be more than a couple of ibuprofen can easily handle.

In fact, this study shows motor vehicle accidents are a big reason people have spinal injuries and seek chiropractic help. Of course, there are a lot of factors that go into injuries – from the type of vehicle to the speed of impact. So, it makes sense to get checked out to make sure you’re ok.

Why Chiropractic Care After a Car Accident Makes Sense 

Dr. Jeff McQuaite in Doylestown, Pa. will x-ray you to see if there are any red flags. An x-ray, of course, will show the alignment of your body and where potential problem areas exist. For example, you could damage your neck if you slung it forward and back. Commonly known as whiplash, neck injuries are common after accidents. Or, if an airbag inflated, you might have some internal damage to your organs.

So, having an x-ray is a good idea. Next, Dr. Jeff will give you a treatment plan for your follow up care. He may also recommend a massage to relieve any stiffness.

Even if it was a simple rear-end at a stoplight, the jolt to your body (no matter if you’re on the receiving or not) is traumatic. You don’t want to neglect your health because it can be problematic later.

 

 

 

The Non-Surgical Approach to Sciatic Nerve Pain

The Non-Surgical Approach to Sciatic Nerve Pain

Non-Surgical Approach to Sciatic Nerve PainAccording to webmd.com, sciatic nerve pain will affect roughly 40% of the population. It’s not that surprising since the sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It runs the length of the spine, through the pelvis and into the leg so there is plenty of opportunity to pinch something, strain something or otherwise hurt yourself. Sciatic nerve pain can be debilitating and can send you hobbling to your bed, you’ll want to get to the bottom of it so you can be healed. If you’ve been suffering with sciatic nerve pain for awhile and your doctor recommends surgery, here are a few options you may try beforehand. Physical Therapy – an experienced physical therapist will show you certain exercises to help relieve back pain. Lying on your back on the floor with your knees to your chest and your arms around your legs can reduce pressure on your spine so you feel better. Acupuncture—this Traditional Chinese Medicine approach inserts tiny needles at different points in your body to release blockages. You rest on a massage table for 15 or 30 minutes with the needles in you (you don’t feel them once they’re inserted). This changes the energy flow in your body and can help relieve pain. Chiropractic Care – Sitting, walking and even sleeping can whack our body out of alignment due to the habits we pick up. Chiropractors adjust your spinal column to realign it with your body. This can reduce pressure on pinched nerves or discs and put them back to where they need to be so you feel good again. MassageMassage therapy doesn’t only feel good in the moment, but it has positive long term effects. When you combine it with chiropractic care, massage helps your muscles maintain the correct alignment of your bones. Yoga – Gentle yoga can be helpful for reducing back pain. You may be able to find a teacher who specializes in yoga for sciatica and other back pain, to find them, ask around. Alternatively, if you want to become a registered yoga teacher yourself but don’t know where or how to start, go to https://www.siddhiyoga.com for more information. If you’re dealing with sciatic nerve pain in Bucks County, Pa. Dr. Jeff McQuaite offers a comprehensive approach to healing. He starts with a full set of xrays and will go over them with you to determine a treatment plan that’s right for you. See the new patient offer here.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help with Pain Management

How Chiropractic Care Can Help with Pain Management

Chiropractic Pain ManagementChiropractors do far more than just “crack” backs so if you’re looking for a cheap chiropractor in houston, rest assured that you will be able to feel the difference. They can help you manage pain of all kinds from relieving chronic headaches to carpal tunnel and even asthma!

It might sound a little crazy but chiropractic care takes a holistic approach to your health. That means everything is considered and the goal is to get (and keep) your body in alignment. There is a growing demand for more holistic approaches to treating pain. CBD Balm and chiropractor services are the most popular methods. CBD balms can be applied to certain areas that are causing pain and may be inflamed, and they can be used until you can get an appointment with a chiropractor. You can also find that sometimes you might be a little sore after your first chiropractic session so using the balms after sessions can help you recover a little quicker.

Rather than saying, “Oh, you have a hurt shoulder?” and offering pills or a surgical approach, your chiropractor will actually re align the shoulder with the rest of your body. That relieves the pain.

Here’s the science behind it.

Depending on your habits like how you stand, sleep or walk, your body gets used to certain things and makes adjustments as needed.

For example, if you spend long hours at the computer and your monitor is too high, you can get a neck cramp. It’s like sitting in the front row at the movie theatre. Your muscles will find a new way to arrange themselves to accommodate your desk posture and you’ll realize you’re having a chronic neck pain.

Pain Management and Your Chiropractor

Your chiropractor will put your neck back in alignment with the rest of your spine which will relieve your neck pain. Of course, if you leave your computer monitor where it is, you won’t have fixed the problem. Maybe you don’t even know that’s the source of your problem!

If you’re not familiar with the specifics of an ergonomic workspace, take a look at this article on setting up an ergonomic desk.

And, if you’re like a lot of people, you’ve let it go months or years so you may find your pain management works best with a combination of chiropractic care and massage therapy. The massage therapy helps stretch the muscles and keep the newly realigned bones in place.

The good news is for many chronic and acute injuries, pain management can be handled with safe chiropractic care and you can avoid surgery.

If you’re in the Doylestown, Pa area, Dr. Jeff McQuaite offers a full range of x-rays to new patients as part of their new patient consultation. Isn’t it time for you to feel better?

Discovering Your Natural Back Pain Treatment

Discovering Your Natural Back Pain Treatment

Natural Pain TreatmentAre you looking for natural back pain treatment? 80% of Americans experience back pain at some point in their lives. Many of you live with chronic back pain and lose tens of hours of your lives hurting.

For many patients, natural back pain treatment can be a combination of:

1 Adjusting your workspace – Are your shoulders perpetually hunched over a computer? Many Americans are taking on the appearance of a modern-day hunchback. Shoulders rolled forward, a chair that’s not the right height, your computer monitor being too low—all of these can contribute to neck and back pain.

Ideally, your monitor is at eye level. Your arms, wrists and backs are supported by your chair. You may need an ergonomic keyboard or a back support in your chair. If any of these are set-up incorrectly, you might want to look at moving your desk and its components around. Alternatively you could also look into purchasing some new products that can help you sit with a more comfortable posture, such as this 32 inch computer monitor to make viewing easier, for example.

2 MassageRegular massage can help relieve back pain and when used in conjunction with chiropractic care, it can make a huge difference. The reason is simple; chiropractic adjustments manipulate your joints while massage manipulates your muscles. One complements the other.

3 Regular chiropractic careChiropractic adjustments are natural back pain treatment. It’s common for bones to be out of alignment. When they are, they can cause pressure on nerves or organs which can lead to back pain. When your chiropractor adjusts your spine everything is back into place.

Of course, most people’s bodies have adjusted to the “out of place” bones and they’ll creep back. Massage helps your muscles re-adjust to their “rightful” place.

Dr. Jeff McQuaite always welcomes new patients with an X-ray to see where the problems lie. Then, he usually offers a treatment plan that includes hot and cold therapy plus electric muscle treatment (lying on the table with the electric sensors delivering steady buzzing feeling on your sore muscles.)

Most patients enjoy the stem cell treatment and find it relaxes them.

You deserve natural back pain treatment. If you’re in the Central Bucks County area, try Dr. McQuaite and feel relief. Crawl-ins are always accepted.

Discover Natural Pain Relief in Bucks County, Pa.

Discover Natural Pain Relief in Bucks County, Pa.

Natural Pain ReliefNatural pain relief is less expensive, less invasive, and often more successful than traditional Western medicine.  You may have found this yourself if you’ve sought out acupuncture, massage therapy, and chiropractic care for your pain relief.

If you’re like many of our health-conscious patients, you’re looking to discover natural pain relief in Bucks County, Pa. You’ve heard chiropractic care can reduce dependence on prescription pain killers and you want to know more. Or, maybe you’re new to the Doylestown area and are looking for a reputable chiropractor.

We’re happy to help you find natural pain relief. First, let’s address the importance of the spine real quick. If you’ve ever heard the phrase, “the spine is your lifeline,” then you have an idea. It connects your body from head to toe and allows you to bend and move in all the ways you do. Keeping it healthy and flexible is important to your mobility and overall health.

Chiropractic Treatments Have Many Benefits Beyond Back Pain

Since your body is connected, from one part to another, it makes sense to treat the whole body.

Reduce tension headaches

Do you have tension in your shoulders and neck? In other words, you’re like millions of Americans. This tension can travel up your neck and cause your head to ache. Researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, NC, found that spinal manipulation from chiropractic care gave immediate relief to participants.

Relieve arm, neck, and back pain – Your spine has thousands of nerves. These nerves connect your spine to every part of your body and as a result, many common and chronic pains are due to a misalignment with those nerves that can be corrected with chiropractic care. We’re talking about pain like carpal tunnel syndrome and shoulder pain brought on by repetitive tasks.

Boost your immune system – Your immune system and your central nervous system are closely related. As you may know, when your spine is out of alignment, it puts stress on other parts of your body to compensate because bones, ligaments, and tendons aren’t where they need to be. It’s annoying to your nervous system like having a pebble in your shoe. If not treated, it can weaken your immune system over time.

Minimize Sciatic Pain – The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. It runs down the back, through the buttocks, and into the lower leg. It can feel like pins and needles or numbness in the foot or leg. Or, it may be debilitating pain as it affects everyone differently. Chiropractic care reduces the pressure on your affected muscles or organs to relieve your pain. If you’re in sciatic pain, chiropractic care may be able to help!

Treat Allergies – Food and seasonal allergies are indications of a weakened immune system. (Do you sense a theme here?) Subluxation is a term that refers to your bones being out of place. For example, when your spine is out of alignment, it affects everything else including your nervous system. As a result, many of my patients with seasonal allergies find natural treatment with chiropractic care.

As you know, your body is a sophisticated instrument requiring regular maintenance to stay healthy.  For instance, when you choose healthy foods, plenty of sleep and exercise, and natural pain relief, you may find you have plenty of energy and stay healthier.

In summary, if you’re in pain, discover natural pain relief in Bucks County, Pa. McQuite Chiropractic offers an initial free consultation to see if chiropractic treatment can help you. You deserve to feel your best!

How Chiropractic Care for Shoulder Pain Helps You

How Chiropractic Care for Shoulder Pain Helps You

Shoulder PAinShoulder pain can stem from a number of causes including a rotator cuff injury, carpal tunnel syndrome or a pinched nerve. These can be chronic, nagging and even debilitating pains.

Five muscles make up your shoulder. Together they allow you to type, play golf, drive a car, even wash your hair. When one or more of these are injured, you may feel the pain radiating down your arm and into your hand. Or, it may be more concentrated in your shoulder. Either way, it will get in the way of completing daily tasks and your enjoyment of life.

Shoulder pain can show up in a variety of ways including swelling, recurring pain or the lack of mobility in your arm, neck or shoulder area.

If you’re suffering with shoulder pain, you can ice it for 15-20 minutes to numb it. Then, come in to see your chiropractor and get an Xray. This will determine the source of the pain so your chiropractor can recommend a treatment plan. Because, after all, you can’t heal something if you don’t know what the problem is.

How Chiropractic Care Relieves Shoulder Pain

Your chiropractor will make a determination based on your Xrays. He or she will manipulate the tendons and muscles in and around the area of pain as necessary and make adjustments that will re align your body.

This “resets” your muscles and bone structure so they return to their rightful positions putting your body back into alignment, so you don’t feel chronic pain. Your chiropractor will often prescribe therapeutic exercises and make other recommendations for healing too so you start feeling better quickly.

How Quickly Will You Find Relief?

While some people feel immediate relief, others may take a couple of visits before they feel better. A series of regular visits will help your body heal so you can get back to doing the things your love – pain-free.

If you’re in the Central Bucks, PA area, Dr. Jeff McQuaite has a terrific new patient special.

Prevent Running Injuries with a Chiropractor

Prevent Running Injuries with a Chiropractor

Prevent Running InjuriesAh, Spring….if you’re a runner, chances are you’re eager to get off the treadmill and run outside again. Maybe you’re gearing up for one of the Spring 5K’s and need to get into top form.

Unfortunately, many runners set themselves back by weeks because they overdo it at the first sign of warm weather. Don’t be one of those!

In addition to your running and nutrition plan, a Chiropractor Castle Hill can help prevent running injuries that can set you back weeks in your training. There are multiple reasons running injuries can occur including ill-fitting shoes, overexertion, or acute injury such as a torn ligament or broken bone.

Two chronic injuries common to runners are plantar fascitis, which is a tearing (or overstretching) of the connective tissue at the bottom of the foot, and achilles tendonitis, which connects the heel with the calf muscle.

Don’t Be Sidelined with a Running Injury This Spring!

In order to protect yourself from these and other injuries, it’s important to start slow and not come bursting out of the gate like a bull in the bull ring as soon as the daffodils start poking through the ground. Slow and steady will warm up your muscles and help your body acclimate.

It’s often better to under do it at first. Err on the side of caution those first few runs.

Three Ways to Prevent Running Injuries

  1. Change It Up: When you vary your running surfaces – pavement vs. dirt or grass for instance, your body will make allowances and adjustments for each. This is beneficial because it’ll work your muscles differently. When you run the same course consistently, your muscles get used to that surface and the way you run on it which won’t vary much. This puts you at a greater risk of injury.
  2. Build Strength: You’ll also want to do regular strength training in order to build up the muscles around your joints. The muscles protect your joints and help distribute the weight so that when you run, your joints aren’t taking all the shock.
  3. Maintain Alignment: Regular chiropractic care will keep your body in alignment. Your chiropractor will adjust your spine, neck and pelvis as needed. If your spine or pelvis is out of alignment, this will put pressure on certain joints/muscles and can lead to injury. When you’re in alignment, the weight is evenly distributed and there is less risk of injury.

Dr. Jeff McQuaite is a Doylestown area chiropractor who can help you prevent running injuries this spring and he has a great new patient special.

Can You Avoid Carpal Tunnel Surgery?

Can You Avoid Carpal Tunnel Surgery?

Has your doctor recommended surgery for your hand and wrist pain? Do you want to explore other options before going the surgery route? After all, carpal tunnel surgery can leave you unable to use your hand for up 12 weeks!

There may be other solutions.


Ergonomic workstation – carpal tunnel is a repetitive stress injury. It’s essentially a pinched nerve running down your forearm and into your hand. It’s aggravated by slumping and looking down for long periods. Check your posture. Rounded shoulders and upper back are typical of hours at the computer.
If you’re hunched over your computer all day, it can lead to neck and back pain as well as carpal tunnel problems.

You can adjust your work area by adjusting your chair and raising your monitor so it’s eye level.

Ergonomic keyboards and wearable wrist supports can help too. Making these changes to your work area is a good place to start to reduce the amount of pain that you’re experiencing. Unfortunately for some people, this won’t help with their pain and if this is the case, it’s time to start thinking about some alternative treatments. Many people in recent years have turned to natural products such as 100% cannabis oil and cannabinoids to help treat chronic pain, and they can provide some relief from the symptoms of carpal tunnel. Cannabis has been used for hundreds of years to treat pain and help muscles relax so it might be something that can help. Be sure to do your research on sites like budbuddies.ca before purchasing any strain. It may be that you would prefer to take these orally, or you could smoke it. Alternatively, before having to consider the possibility of having surgery, you may want to try a product such as kratom which is known to help with issues like chronic pain. So you might want to Find Kratom Near Me if you’re looking for help with managing your pain. Check with your doctor first if you would like more information.

Carpal TunnelChiropractic treatment –Your spine connects to your arm, wrist and hand through nerves, muscles, tendons and a series of bones. When these bones and muscles are out of alignment, this will contribute to your chronic pain. Chiropractic adjustments will realign your spine and reduce pain.
Regular massage—a monthly massage can help your muscles release tension so they’re more pliable. When combined with regular chiropractic treatments, you’ll get the most benefit.
The chiropractic adjustment realigns your spine while the massage realigns your muscles and helps them hold your spinal adjustment longer.

When used in conjunction these three options may reduce your need for carpal tunnel surgery. Considering the pain of surgery and the downtime, isn’t it worth it? After all, surgery on your dominant hand can leave you unable to work for up to three months.

If you’re in the Doylestown area, Dr. Jeff McQuaite will take Xrays to establish a baseline and offer you a full range of options.