Cody B. Doyle DC, DIANM | Chiropractor Roanoke Tx 76262 | Board Certified Chiropractic Orthopedist

Board Certified Chiropractor Serving Patients in Roanoke, Keller, and Fort Worth Texas

Archives for August 2017

Dr. Doyle’s Chiropractic Treatment for Your Herniated Disc

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herniated disc painOften referred to as a slipped disc, a herniated disc is caused when the soft nucleus inside the center of a vertebra pushes through to the outside. This is a result from natural wear and tear or an injury. Many patients who experience a herniated disc report never noticing symptoms of this condition, while others explain back, leg, arm, and foot pain. Roanoke, TX chiropractor Dr. Cody Doyle non-surgically corrects herniated discs through musculoskeletal manipulation. After an extensive evaluation of your spine, Dr. Doyle will create an individualized treatment plan for you.

Rather than looking at the damaged section of the spine, Dr. Doyle considers the spine as a whole. He looks for signs of muscle loss or weakness, as well as checks the condition of your nerve paths through reflex testing. Your posture plays a large factor in his evaluation. At the end of your consultation, you can expect a detailed treatment plan for your herniated disc, along with a few suggested lifestyle changes.

Roanoke, TX chiropractor Dr. Doyle holistically manages your lower back pain through spinal manipulation to ease your discomfort. For more information, call 817-767-5430 to schedule your appointment today.

What Causes a Herniated Disc?

The most common cause for a herniated disc is aging. As you grow older, the jelly-like nucleus inside each vertebra dries up. This is referred to as disc degeneration and causes weakness. Like many other medical conditions, smokers are believed to have a higher risk of disc degeneration because less oxygen reaches the disc, which results in faster degeneration.

Other risk factors include:

  • Gender (men between 30 and 50 years of age)
  • Improper lifting
  • Weight (such as being overweight)
  • Staying seated for long periods of time

Herniated Disc Symptoms

Most of the time, a herniated disc is asymptomatic. However, some patients report muscle spasms, muscle weakness, extremity numbness, and pain in the back, arms, feet, and legs.

A herniated disc is the most common cause for back pain and sciatica (leg pain). With proper pain management, most patients experience relief after a few weeks.

Non-Surgical and Surgical Treatments

There are many methods for treating herniated discs. Some patients find relief through NSAIDs (nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as Tylenol or Advil. Non-surgical treatment also includes physical therapy or an epidural steroid injection. Dr. Doyle recommends rest and relaxation, along with regular chiropractic care. If your herniated disc is severe, Dr. Doyle may recommend you to a surgeon, where you will receive a microdiskectomy.

However, most patients find pain relief through chiropractic treatments. The most common method that Dr. Doyle will perform is the flexion-distraction technique. During this procedure, a special table is used to stretch the spine, or distract it. This technique incorporates gentle rhythmic pumping to help the nucleus back into its intended position inside the vertebra. Patients don’t feel discomfort when undergoing this procedure.

Your detailed treatment plan will include the most appropriate method for pain relief, as well as recommendations on managing herniated disc discomfort at home. Dr. Doyle will suggest various lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of slipping another disc. He will also recommend ways to live a healthier life, such as implementing a diet enriched with fruits and vegetables and daily exercises to practice.

Call 817-767-5430 to schedule your chiropractic appointment with Dr. Doyle in Roanoke, TX.

Is Your Back Pain Caused by a Bulging Disc?

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bulging discIf you have recurring back pain or sciatic nerve pain, you may have a bulging disc. Sometimes referred to as a slipped disc, a bulging disc can cause unbearable pain in the lower or upper back, shoulders, neck, and arms, as well as pain in the legs, thighs and feet. Unlike a herniated disc, a bulging disc may come on slowly, or may be triggered by a sudden event or injury.

Symptoms of a Bulging Disc

A bulging disc may occur in any section of the spine, though it most frequently happens in the lumbar (lower) region of the back.

The most common symptoms of a bulging disc include:

  • Pain or tingling in the neck, shoulders, arms hands or fingers
  • Upper back pain that radiates into the chest or abdomen
  • Pain in the buttocks, thighs or feet
  • Sciatic pain in one leg, when the disc compresses the sciatic nerve

What Causes a Bulging Disc?

The spine is composed of a number of bones (vertebrae) that are separated by discs of cushioning layers of collagen. These discs absorb shock and allow for flexible movement of the spine. When the shape of the disc protrudes outside the circumference of the vertebrae, it can put pressure on the nerves in your back, and lead to painful symptoms.

A bulging disc may develop slowly over a period of years, yet not cause any noticeable symptoms until it protrudes enough compress a nerve root or the spinal cord itself. A family history of disc problems may make you may be more likely to develop a bulging disc.

It may also develop as a result of:

  • Disc degeneration that comes with aging
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Injury or overstretching the spine
  • Bad posture or poor orthopedic support
  • Lifting with the back, rather than the legs

Without treatment, a bulging disc can develop into a herniated disc, which may

How is a Bulging Disc Diagnosed and Treated?

If you have back pain, your doctor will use imaging tools such as x-ray, CT scans and MRIs to locate the affected disc. With a positive diagnosis, your doctor may recommend surgery or non-surgical treatments, depending of the severity of the bulge and your symptoms.

For a professional examination and diagnosis for Roanoke bulging disc, contact Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture today!

Non-Surgical Treatment with Dr. Doyle

Whether you have already received a positive diagnosis of a bulging disc or not, Dr. Cody Doyle can help!

During your consultation, Dr. Doyle will perform a detailed physical examination and diagnostic scans, listen to your symptoms, and create a customized plan for alternative treatments to address your unique needs.

Dr. Doyle may use a combination of treatments to treat a bulging disc, including chiropractic care and acupuncture. Adjustments to the spine can relieve the pressure on the disc and reduce the nerve irritability that causes pain, muscle spasms and inflammation in the back and legs. While acupuncture cannot correct the bulging of the disc tissue, it can relieve the swelling and pain that results. If your bulging disc is not severe enough to warrant surgery, acupuncture may help keep painful symptoms at bay.

Physical therapy and lifestyle modifications may also be used to help alleviate your symptoms and promote proper alignment of the spine and discs.

Why Choose Nonsurgical Treatment?

More and more people are turning to complementary therapies to avoid surgery these days. There are a lot of good reasons to do this. Surgery requires hospitalization and strong pain medications, and can cost an arm and a leg, even with good insurance!

In the past 20 years, Dr. Doyle has successfully treated more than 100,000 patients with a broad range of health concerns, including spinal conditions. He has experience treating bulging discs and can offer you a personalized approach to managing your pain.

Call us today for Roanoke bulging disc treatment! To reach our Roanoke, TX office, contact us online or call (817) 767-5430. For La Grange, TX patients, contact us online or by calling (979) 968-6400.

 

Roanoke Bulging Disc Treatment – Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture

How to Have a Better Quality of Life with Degenerative Arthritis

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hands with degenerative arthritisDegenerative arthritis, better known as osteoarthritis, affects approximately 27 million American adults who are over the age of 25 years old. It is also the leading form of arthritis in the United States. As you age, your chances for developing arthritis increase dramatically. If you suffer from this joint condition, then you’re familiar with the symptoms: stiffness, mild swelling, pain when moving, and limited range of motion.

Arthritic patients often experience a decrease in quality of life due to the limitations placed on them. For most patients, arthritis pain increases throughout the day, which makes evening outings uncomfortable and sometimes impossible. Dr. Cody Doyle in Roanoke, TX uses a holistic approach to managing arthritis pain. He restores your quality of life by manipulating the musculoskeletal system in the body through acupuncture.

To learn more about how Dr. Doyle uses acupuncture to manage arthritis pain, call 817-767-5430 to schedule your appointment in Roanoke, TX today.

Degenerative Arthritis and Acupuncture 

Acupuncture is derived from Chinese culture and designed to open blocked meridian channels. According to the Chinese, the body has roughly 20 invisible channels (meridian channels). There are approximately 2,000 acupuncture points that are connected to various sections of these channels. Qi, the body’s natural energy flow, moves throughout the meridian channels. When the channels become blocked, energy builds up at that blocked spot and results in pain and/or illness.

Dr. Doyle inserts specialized acupuncture needles into various points in the body to open the blocked channels. Endorphins are released when the needles make contact with the blocked channels and naturally fight painful sensations in the body. Quality of life improves when pain is properly managed.

By holistically manipulating the musculoskeletal system, Dr. Doyle stimulates neurotransmitters, such as cortisol and endorphins, which reduces inflammation and aids arthritic pain felt in stiff joints. Unlike NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), there are no side effects with acupuncture treatment. Some patients feel that this nonsurgical treatment is ineffective, however there is limited, yet promising, research about the significant effects of acupuncture and degenerative arthritis.

At-Home Pain Management

Along with acupuncture care with Dr. Doyle, there are changes that can be made at home to manage degenerative arthritis pain. After receiving treatment with Dr. Doyle, you can begin to make small changes to improve your quality of life.

Get Moving

Although arthritic patients experience stiffness and pain, it’s important to stay active. Degenerative arthritis causes pain when you attempt to move, however once you make the movement, the pain stops. Dr. Doyle encourages his arthritis patients to participate in physical activities, such as taking a short walk in the morning when pain is less severe. If you’re a fan of the water, you could do a few laps in the local pool to get your joints moving. Regular exercise has also been shown to reduce stress, a key contributor to inflammation in the body. Exercising not only reduces the side effects of arthritis, but can promote healthy bones, strong muscles, and mental clarity.

You Are What You Eat

A great way to promote a healthy body and happy joints is to eat anti-inflammatory foods, such as:

  • Yogurt
  • Fresh vegetables
  • Fresh fruits
  • Green tea
  • Cook with oregano, basil, or ginger

For more information about acupuncture, call 817-767-5430 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Doyle in Roanoke, TX.