Chiropractors are known for helping with back pain but did you know that they can do so much more to improve your overall wellness? A chiropractor should never just deal with one area of the body and not consider symptoms from the rest of the body. Total body wellness should always be the goal so if you’re having headaches or your wrists hurt from typing all day or you randomly have feet pain, speak up! Make sure you tell your doctor everything that is going on.
Your body is a powerful source of energy and is constantly trying to tell you things. Do you ever spend a few days being really stressed out and tired and then all of the sudden you are sick? Your body was trying to tell you to slow down and rest by making you tired. Before we get sick or get hurt, our body tries to warn us with symptoms to try to avoid the trama. However, most of us don’t listen. Try listening to your body more and look out for these signs to avoid serious injury.
Pain while standing or sitting
There are many studies floating around about how sitting all day is not good for your body. If you have a desk job where you need to sit hours throughout the day, a chiropractor can help you in more ways than you think. Not only will they be able to assist in correcting your posture (which is connected to your overall wellness) but they can give you exercises and suggestions for how to get through the day without pain.
To combat this, standing desks have become a new office trend. However, if you’re using a standing desk or just standing anywhere for a long amount of time in the wrong shoes, you can damage your feet, legs, hips and back. Alternatively, if you start to feel pain after only an hour or two of standing, something more serious might be going on. A chiropractor can help you find the root of the problem and keep you on your feet longer.
Pain while running or walking
Soreness is normal when you’re active, pain is not. Pain will feel like stabbing, stinging, numbness or burning sensations. It will stop you in your tracks and make you think “what was that?” If this happens while walking or running, stop and slow down. Pain while running or walking may indicate an issue in your feet, legs, knees, hips or back. Chiropractors can help with any of these areas – yes, even your feet and knees. Most athletes turn to Physical Therapy first but chiropractors can go deeper into the problem. They work with your bones, joints, ligaments and muscles to help correct the problem at its core. Additionally, they can use techniques such as cold laser therapy and therapeutic kinesio taping to obtain more long-term results.
Headaches
Getting headaches often is not common and is certainly not normal. They can be caused by anything from stress to the weather pressure changes, a chiropractor can help you relieve the pain. They are experts at relieving tension and stress from the neck and shoulders as well as being able to help clear sinuses and alleviate pressure. If you’ve ruled out your eyes as the cause of your headaches, a chiropractor can properly diagnose and may be able to help you with almost any other type of headache.
Jaw Pain (Temporomandibular Joint)
That’s right, jaw pain might not be from your teeth. Most people, unknowingly, hold their stress and tension in their neck, shoulders, face and jaw. Additionally, if you grind your teeth at night, you will likely have jaw pain. Your chiropractor may be able to help you combat these symptoms if they are up-to-date on TMJ (temporomandibular joint adjustments. If you’re having jaw pain, call your local chiropractor and ask if they would be able to help. If they can’t, they will likely have a recommendation for who can. In the Toms River area? You’re in luck! Dr. Phil Altieri knows the treatments and adjustments to ease TMJ pain and release tension from the jaw utilizing the latest protocols and therapies!
Inability to do Household Chores
Does the laundry, mopping, vacuuming or doing the dishes cause you pain? Does bending over to pick things up or clean tables hurt? Does the thought of doing yard work such as lawn cutting, raking leaves or planting make you wonder if you’ll have trouble moving the next day? If the answer is yes, you need to see a chiropractor. If your body is stopping you from participating in regular-everyday tasks and chores, something is wrong! Stop ignoring the signs and get to a chiropractor before a more serious injury takes place.
Chiropractors are versatile doctors who are always mindful of total body wellness and optimal function. When treating with a chiropractor, no matter how many times you’ve seen them before, make sure you inform them of any new symptoms that have popped up since your last visit. If you have trouble remembering what happens between your visits, write things down. Even if it happened a week ago, your chiropractor may be able to help. Always remember that your body is constantly communicating with you, so be sure to listen.
Dr. Phil Altieri has been treating patients in Ocean County and Toms River for 20 years. His patients go to him for everything from chronic pain, to sports injuries to whole family wellness care. To learn more about how Dr. Altieri can help you, give us a call (732) 270-4800.
