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

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Ask the Chiropractor: Can my diet be causing my lower back pain?

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Dr. Cody B. Doyle

Cody B. Doyle, DC, DIANM

According to the CDC, approximately 30% of people in the United States have suffered from an episode of low back pain in the last 12 months.  Low back pain is one of the most common causes of missed time from work and can have a negative impact on an individual’s quality of life. I am often asked whether or not a patient’s diet can affect their lower back pain.

While dietary factors do not cause all lower back pain, there is evidence to suggest that consuming certain foods can result in an increased inflammatory response, which can be a factor in complaints of lower back pain.

Some foods can help reduce inflammation, and others can worsen it. That is why you should pay attention to what you eat if you have back or neck pain. Now may be the time to adopt an anti-inflammatory diet!

If you are dealing with inflammation in your back or neck, you will want to avoid some foods which can increase your body’s inflammatory response.

Adding foods to your diet that decrease inflammation should also be part of your management strategy.

The chart below highlights some foods to add and some to avoid. Visit this link for a free infographic containing a more detailed list of anti-inflammatory foods that could be beneficial.

Foods that INCREASE Inflammation Foods that DECREASE Inflammation
 

Refined Grains

  • Grain flour (wheat, corn, oat)
  • Bread
  • Pasta
  • Tortila
  • Donuts and other sweets                             
  

Nuts (Raw or Dry Roasted)

  • Almonds
  • Macadamia
  • Walnuts
  • Pecans
  • Brazil nuts
  • Almond or coconut flour
Bad Fats
  • Trans Fats
  • Margarine
  • Corn Oil
  • Safflower Oil
  • Peanut Oil
 Green Vegetables
  • Green leafy (spinach, kale, dark green lettuce)
  • Broccoli
  • String beans Cauliflower
  • Just about everything!
Refined Sugars
  • Table Sugar
  • Fructose
  • Confectionary Sugar
 Fruits
  • Berries
  • Tomatoes
  • Apples
  • Melons
  • Just about everything!
Cured Meats
  • Cold Cuts
  • Bacon
 Meats
  • Grass-fed beef
  • Grass-fed pork
  • Grass-fed lamb
  • Pasture-range chicken
  • Wild game

COVID-19 Have You Stuck at Home? It’s a Great Opportunity to Start Taking Care of Your Back!

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While we know this is a difficult time for many, being stuck at home can be a great opportunity to practice self-care. If you’re someone who suffers from back pain, take this time to learn some simple and effective ways to relieve it.

In this blog, Dr. Cody Doyle discusses the best back and shoulder stretches, how to sit and sleep properly, and exercises to improve your back health.

Back and Shoulder Stretches

The proper stretches can relieve pain by helping you maintain flexibility, promote range of motion, and improve blood flow. Choose a few of the following stretches to complete daily and spend 30 seconds on each stretch.

In this list, we’ll tell you the name of the stretch, what type of pain it helps with, and the steps to complete it.

1. Neck side bend and rotation: neck and upper back

  • Sit or stand facing forward
  • Tilt your head to the right
  • Hold for 10 seconds
  • Roll your head to the left slowly
  • When you reach your left shoulder, hold for ten seconds
  • Roll back to the right shoulder

Repeat this stretch two to three times.

2. Shoulder roll: shoulders and upper back

  • Stand up straight
  • Place your arms at your sides
  • Roll your shoulders from the back to the front in a circular motion five times

Repeat two to three times.

3. Overhead arm reach: shoulders and upper back

  • Sit up straight on a chair
  • Face forward
  • Place your feet flat on the ground
  • Put your right arm straight up
  • Reach to the left
  • Bend at the torso—you should feel a stretch in your shoulder and middle of your back
  • Return to the original position

Repeat five times then switch to your opposite arm.

4. Chair rotation: upper, mid, and lower back

  • Sit sideways in a chair
  • Place your feet directly in front of you on the ground
  • Rotate your torso to the right and reach for the back of the chair
  • For ten seconds, hold yourself in that position
  • Use your arms to rotate your torso further

Repeat three times for each side.

5. Cat cow: mid and lower back

  • Get down on your hands and knees
  • Place your palms right under your shoulders
  • Place your knees directly under your hips
  • Inhale and pull your pelvis in while rounding out your mid back
  • Pull your navel into your spine
  • Drop your head
  • Hold for three to five seconds
  • Breathe out and return to the original position
  • Tilt your face upward
  • Allow your back to sink towards the floor
  • Hold for three to five seconds

Repeat this stretch five times.

Other Helpful Stretches

The Cleveland Clinic offers short videos that show what each of these stretches looks like. They also include several other stretches, including:

  • Pec stretch
  • Child’s pose
  • Knee to chest
  • Butterfly
  • Thoracic extension

Best Sitting and Sleeping Practices

Lower back pain makes everything in life more difficult—even sitting and sleeping! It may take between 10 and 20 days for your back to heal, but learning how to sit and sleep properly will certainly help ease the pain.

Sitting

To reduce the pain in your lower back, follow these guidelines:

  • Sit as little as possible and only for 10 to 15 minutes at a time
  • Use a pillow or rolled-up towel for back support while sitting
  • Place your feet directly on the floor in front of you (use a stool if necessary)
  • Sit in a firm chair with armrests
  • Adjust your chair height
  • When turning, turn your entire body

Sleeping

Good, restful sleep is essential to living a healthy life. It’s also a great time to let your back muscles rest and reset. These five tips will help support your back and give you better sleep.

  1. Find the right position.

There are ways to support your back without having to completely change your sleeping position. If you’re a side-sleeper, slightly bend your legs at the knees and pull them towards your chest, then place a pillow between your legs.

Those who sleep on their backs should put a pillow under their knees and head. For additional support, roll up a small towel and place it under the back.

Sleeping on your stomach is one of the worst positions for your back. However, you can lessen the pressure on your lower back by placing a pillow under your lower abdomen and pelvis. Sleep with a pillow under your head as long as it doesn’t cause more strain on your back.

  1. Get a new mattress.

Mattresses today come in all levels of comfort. It can be difficult to decide whether a firm mattress or soft mattress is better for your back, but the best thing to do it try them out. Pay attention to how your back feels after you’ve slept in a hotel bed or at someone else’s house.

Placing your mattress on the floor will give it more support than when it is sitting on a box spring. Try this for a couple of nights to see how the extra support affects your pain. You can make your mattress softer by adding a mattress topper. As a bonus, you’ll avoid the expenses of buying a brand-new mattress!

Talk to a chiropractor to help you determine whether a firm or soft mattress is best for you.

  1. Be careful when getting in and out of bed.

So many people throw their backs out while getting in and out of bed. To avoid further pain in your back, make slow movements and avoid bending at the waist.

When getting into bed, sit on the edge of the bed, then as you lie down on your side, bring your legs into the bed. Once your settled, adjust to the proper sleeping position.

  1. Exercise your core.

Strengthening the muscles in your abdomen, hips, pelvis, and lower back eases back pain and lowers the risk of muscle spasms. We’ll discuss some of the best exercises to relieve back pain in the next section.

  1. Do yoga before bed

Yoga doesn’t just reduce your back pain, it also lowers stress levels and encourages better sleep. Your chiropractor can help you decide which yoga stretches and poses are best for your back pain.

Back, Shoulder, and Neck Exercises

Exercising the muscles in your back, shoulders, and neck is essential to reducing and preventing further pain. Complete these seven exercises at least three times a week and always after stretching.

  1. Row for upper back
  2. Face pull for upper back and shoulder
  3. Scapular squeeze for upper back and shoulder
  4. Wall angles for neck, shoulders, and upper back
  5. Reverse dumbbell fly for shoulders and upper back
  6. Lat pulldown for shoulders and upper back
  7. Superman for mid and lower back

Click here for instructions and short videos on how to complete these exercises.

Talk to a Chiropractor

When it’s possible to visit with a chiropractor, schedule an initial consultation. Chiropractors like Dr. Doyle are passionate about helping their patients achieve total wellness through natural and conservative treatments.

To meet with our Roanoke, TX chiropractor, call (817) 767-5430 today.

Did You Know: Conditions a Chiropractor Can Treat

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conditions chiropractor can treat

Most people realize a chiropractor can help with conditions of the spine, such as neck pain, backaches, and damaged discs. What many patients don’t know, however, is that they can help with many issues not generally thought of as connected to the spine.

Chiropractic care can influences the body’s nervous system, helping to desensitize painful tissues and decrease the overall pain burden on the body. This alternative medicine treatment option can treat many health conditions that may surprise you.

Dr. Cody Doyle has over two decades of experience in successfully treating patients with a multitude of health care issues. Today, he is going to share about five of the most surprising issues chiropractic can treat:

  1. Headaches
  2. Stress and Anxiety
  3. Fibromyalgia
  4. Tight Muscles
  5. Weak Immune System

If you suffer from any of these, consider seeking chiropractic treatment for evidence-based, natural, and holistic relief.

A chiropractor can help with headaches.

Most people get occasional headaches that t described as nagging or dull, but some suffer from frequent, severe headaches. While medications and hiding in a quiet, dark room may bring some relief, there are also additional options.

Research shows us that spinal manipulation effectively treats headaches caused by tension or those that begin in the neck. One study showed that over 70 percent of patients who suffer from migraines experienced “noticeable” or “substantial” relief after treatment with chiropractic care.

The truth is, some headaches are the result of neck dysfunction and neck muscle tension. The majority of headache sufferers spend hours in the same position, such as in front of a TV or computer. Moreover, their job often involves poor posture. This leads to irritation of the joints and tension in the scalp, neck, and upper back.

How can a chiropractor help bring relief?

  • Perform spinal manipulations or manual adjustments to restore normal function to your spine, which alleviates mechanical stress and improves spinal function.
  • Perform acupuncture, which keeps your body balanced and reduces stress and anxiety.
  • Educate you regarding ergonomics and proper posture.
  • Teach you relaxation techniques and exercises that reduce stress and help your body heal.
  • Create a nutritional plan to improve your overall health, which may include adding vitamins or herbs or a change in diet.

Chiropractors can help you reduce stress and anxiety.

Stress, especially when it is prolonged, can wreak havoc on your body. When we experience stress, our brain activates the “fight or flight” reaction by releasing adrenalin and cortisol into the body. This systemic reaction is nature’s way of preparing us to either flee a dangerous situation or stay and fight.

When adrenalin and cortisol flood your body, the result is an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Moreover, they redirect blood away from the extremities and digestive system, effectively increasing blood volume.

Our bodies are unable to process the cortisol and adrenalin naturally. If we don’t put them to use to actually fight or run, it creates a tremendous strain on your muscles, organs, and nerves.

Frequent or prolonged activation of adrenalin and cortisol surges can be disastrous to your overall health and well-being. It puts you at an increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, muscle damage, and delayed healing from injury and disease. In addition, it can lead to panic attacks, anxiety, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, weight fluctuations, loss of sex drive, and digestive issues.

But what is stress?

There three main sources of stress are our body, our environment, and our emotions.

Stress originating in our body can come from poor nutrition, illness or disease, or injury. It can also come from not getting proper sleep or an improperly functioning organ.

Environmental stresses include weather, noise, pressure regarding performance standards or time constraints, and physical threats.

Emotional stress involves how we react to physical or environmental stress in our thoughts and emotions.

Chiropractic Treatment for Stress Includes:

Chronic stress can lead to neuromusculoskeletal irritation that creates adverse pressure/tension on your neuromusculoskeletal structures, i.e., spinal joints and nerves.

When you have adverse neural tension (ANT), it impedes the nerve signals traveling to the brain from the body and to the body from the brain.

One of the main goals of chiropractic care is to keep the spine and nervous system functioning optimally.  This helps desensitize overly sensitive tissues and nerves, decreasing the pain burden, and leading to more normal function. This also helps the body process and manage stress in a healthier way.

Chiropractic treatment can also improve blood flow and reduce nerve irritation and muscle tension. This helps your body to return to a more relaxed, balanced state, which allows your brain to turn off the adrenalin so your body can heal.

A doctor of chiropractic can also create and suggest a nutritional plan. For instance, the addition of B vitamins helps your body cope with stress.

Moreover, a chiropractor can teach you relaxation techniques and exercises to help your body heal faster.

Chiropractic Treatment for Fibromyalgia

While many people don’t understand what fibromyalgia (FM) is, patients who suffer from it know it is no joke. This chronic disorder involves widespread sensitivity and pain throughout the entire body. This condition also causes disturbances in sleep, which leads to chronic fatigue. Many patients also experience TMJ pain, irritable bowel syndrome, and psychological conditions.

It can be difficult to make an FM diagnosis, but estimates put the number of Americans suffering from this often disabling disorder at around two percent.

Patients with FM are overly sensitive to even slight stimuli and report a pain response to things not normally painful. Since our nervous system communicates information from the outside world, many believe the root cause is a central nervous system disorder.

How does chiropractic care help?

Few FM patients are able to find relief for all their symptoms. Several studies have shown, however, that many report improvement with chiropractic treatment. One study revealed that up to 60 percent of patients reported “significant improvement” with reduced pain, decreased fatigue, and improved sleep.

One of the main focuses of chiropractic training involves the positive impact chiropractic care has on the nervous system.

Moreover, Dr. Doyle is a Board-Certified Chiropractic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine Specialist. This means he has received an education far above chiropractic school and has passed rigorous board examinations. This designation puts him in the top two percent of all doctors of chiropractic.

Dr. Doyle is highly trained in both the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system. When you choose treatment with him, you can trust that he knows how to help. Chiropractic care can treat pressure points, neck and back pain, shoulder pain, and headaches. It also improves the nervous system, allowing FM patients an improved chance for recovery.

Moreover, spinal adjustments increase mobility between the joints of the spine. This helps loosen restrictions and improves the overall range of motion.

Chiropractic care loosens tight muscles.

As we age, we tend to lose the flexibility and range of motion we once enjoyed. Each year, this repetitive trauma accumulates in the wear and tear of your body.

Losses in range of motion and flexibility can interfere with our ability to do things we once did with ease. Over time, even simple tasks, such as tying your shoes or picking something up off the ground, can become difficult.

As tasks and chores become more difficult and painful, we tend to avoid these activities. Maybe you have heard the saying, “Use it or lose it.” When we don’t exercise regularly, our joints and muscles stiffen. If we don’t work at correcting this, it can lead to adhesions, scar tissue, and the loss of alternative movement strategies.

Regular chiropractic care, however, improves range of motion and flexibility. Joint manipulations, including those to the spine as well as other parts of the body, provide a novel sensory stimulus that acts to improve otherwise limited movements. This helpt to breaks adhesions, reduces pain, improves coordination and balance, and allows your body to function more normally.

In addition, he can teach you specific exercises to perform at home. This will help you build upon and maintain the benefits of treatment.

Chiropractic care can boost your immune system.

The immune system, endocrine system, and nervous system are all interlinked and rely on each other for proper function. When one system is not working effectively, it negatively affects the other systems.

When spinal joints are dysfunctional, they can cause sensitization to nerve pathways. This can result in “central sensitization” and ultimately cause increased susceptibility to all types of stressors. It also causes the endocrine system to release the stress hormone cortisol, which further reduces the effectiveness of the immune system.

Chiropractic treatments can help to desensitize the nervous system and reduce neuromusculoskeletal compression and irritation. This, in turn, boosts the responses of the immune system.

Get on the Road to Recovery

If you are in the Roanoke, Southlake, Trophy Club, or Justin area, you can trust Dr. Cody Doyle to bring you relief and help you heal.

Call (817) 767-5430 today to schedule your consultation appointment.

What happens during a chiropractic adjustment?

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Should I visit a chiropractor?

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Should I go to a chiropractor

Do you suffer from back or neck pain? Do frequent headaches interfere with your life?

If so, you may wonder what the best treatment option is.

Did you know your local chiropractor offers effective treatment solutions that are noninvasive and drug-free? That could be why approximately 22 million Americans visit a chiropractor each year. With those visits, 35 percent, or around 7.7 million, seek care for relief from back pain caused by sports injuries, accidents, and muscle sprains and strains.

If you are in the Roanoke, TX area, Dr. Cody Doyle offers safe, effective treatment options for your pain. With over two decades of experience, he has successfully brought relief to thousands of suffering patients.

But Dr. Doyle goes above and beyond chiropractic care. He also offers acupuncture and myofascial release therapy, as well as other alternative therapies, such as nutrition counseling, ultrasound therapy, muscle stimulation, and education regarding home exercise.

And he treats a lot more than just neck and back pain. Keep reading to learn the surprising conditions chiropractic care can help.

What is a chiropractor?

A chiropractor is someone licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic, with the initials DC after their name. When you see these initials, you know your provider has received extensive training in disorders of bones, joints, muscles, and ligaments.

Training and education to be a chiropractor include a four-year undergraduate degree (usually a “pre-med” type of degree) and four years of chiropractic school (approximately 4,200 instructional hours). In addition, they have taken and passed a National Board Exam.

A chiropractic program typically looks something like this:

  • First year: Courses in biochemistry, spinal anatomy, general anatomy, and chiropractic principles.
  • Second year: Courses in pathology, imaging interpretation, clinical orthopedics, chiropractic procedures, and research methods.
  • Third year: Courses in integrated chiropractic, dermatology, pediatrics, practice management, clinical internships, and ethics and jurisprudence.
  • Fourth year: Clinical internship, when the student completes rotations in a clinic or hospital and studies chiropractic care under a licensed chiropractor.

In addition, many chiropractors, such as Dr. Doyle, spend a tremendous amount of time learning about various other specialties, such as sports medicine, nutrition, rehabilitation, and acupuncture.

What is chiropractic care

The main treatments chiropractors perform involve hands-on spinal and joint manipulations to achieve proper alignment of the spine and the body’s musculoskeletal structure. When joints are out of proper alignment, it can cause pain in the neck, back, head, hands, arms, feet, and legs.

Proper alignment allows the body to heal itself naturally without drugs or invasive treatments, such as surgery.

These manipulations restore joint mobility caused by tissue injury from trauma, such as a car accident or fall, and repetitive stress, such as from performing the same stressful movements over and over.

What conditions can a chiropractor treat?

Typically, patients go to a chiropractor for pain relief from injury to joints, muscles, and connective tissue, such as ligaments, cartilage, and tendons. While some patients receive chiropractic care as an adjunct to other treatments, many patients find relief from their pain with chiropractic care alone.

Chiropractic care can relieve pain that is acute, chronic, or from repetitive stress in the back, neck, head, and upper and lower extremities.

Examples of chronic pain include diagnoses like arthritis, fibromyalgia, or degenerative disc disease.

Acute pain can be caused by things like moving heavy furniture, a fall or car accident, or being tackled too hard. Acute pain typically does not last longer than six weeks.

Repetitive stress can cause carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff (shoulder) pain, and plantar fasciitis (foot pain).

However, many patients also seek chiropractic care for issues not involving pain.

Some surprising conditions chiropractors treat successfully include:

  • Migraine and tension headaches
  • Seasonal allergies
  • Neuropathies
  • Weight loss
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Gastrointestinal issues
  • Insomnia
  • Pregnancy-related pains
  • Preparation for labor and delivery to reduce the pain of childbirth
  • Infertility
  • Weak immune system

You may wonder how a chiropractor can help with these conditions. The fact is, nerve impulses travel between your entire body and your brain through the spine, which is the root of your nervous system. When your spine is out of alignment, it puts the body under tremendous stress and can cause a multitude of problems.

Many illnesses and issues are worsened or caused by this stress, with activates the “fight or flight” reaction in the body. This increases your heart rate and blood pressure and redirects your blood away from your digestive system, organs, and extremities.

Over time, this wreaks havoc on your body and increases your risk of diabetes, muscle tissue damage, infertility, slowed healing, and damage to your immune system.

When put back into proper alignment, your body can process and manage stress in a much healthier way, allowing your body to heal itself.

Also, spinal adjustments improve blood circulation and reduce spinal nerve irritation. This helps your brain to turn off the fight or flight response, which also assists the body in healing.

In addition, Dr. Doyle can recommend helpful vitamins and supplements, teach you home exercises and relaxation techniques, and help you improve your posture.

What does chiropractic care involve?

At the first visit, Dr. Doyle will perform a comprehensive examination, which includes any necessary x-rays and gathering information about your medical history, current medications, and lifestyle factors. Next, he will discuss your symptoms, concerns, goals, and desires, and answer any questions you have. Once he has an accurate diagnosis, he will work with you to come up with a treatment plan.

The goal of chiropractic care includes restoring the function of joints, muscles, and connective tissue to align your spine and musculoskeletal system. This will also improve your range of motion, which helps prevent additional injuries.

Chiropractic treatment involves manual adjustments, where Dr. Doyle will manipulate your joints into proper alignment using sudden but controlled force. While some patients fear the adjustments will cause pain, you do not need to worry. Occasionally there is a very quick moment of “pain,” as if you were pinched, but it abates instantly. Then, what you will notice is the relief of pain as the adjustment reduces the irritation of your muscles, joints, and nerves.

At the beginning of your chiropractic treatment, you are in an “urgent care” phase, and more frequent visits may be needed. This is important because the benefits of chiropractic care have a cumulative effect, and repeat treatments are needed to train the body, just like repeat exercise is needed for strength training.

After a few weeks, however, most patients can move to the rehabilitation phase, which requires less frequent visits. Once your pain is well controlled, you go into maintenance. At this point, treatment is pretty much “as needed.”

Are you ready to see how good a chiropractor can help you feel?

If you are in the Roanoke, Trophy Club, Keller, or Southlake area, call (817) 767-5430 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Doyle. He would love to help you get on the road to health and wellbeing.

 

Could your headaches be coming from your neck?

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headaches coming from your neck

Do you suffer from frequent headaches? Are you confused by the different opinions about whether or not your headaches are coming from your neck?

It seems that most medical practitioners fall into one of two camps when discussing the role of the cervical spine (neck) in chronic head pain.

  1. Those who believe the neck is always the primary culprit in chronic head pain.
  2. Those who think the neck plays little to no role in a patient’s headache symptoms.

My name is Dr. Cody Doyle, and I can tell you, every day, at least one patient presents to my office complaining of recurrent headaches. And then, they ask the most common yet complicated question I get asked in my chiropractic practice.

“Could my neck be causing my headaches, and if so, what treatments are effective?”

As an evidence-based chiropractor with over twenty-three years of successfully treating patients with headache symptoms and an insatiable desire to learn everything I can to help my patients best, I believe I have the right answer.

My answer?

Maybe.

The “Gray Area” of Whether Your Headaches Are Coming From Your Neck

The conflicting opinions of medical practitioners can lead to a large degree of confusion and irritation for patients who experience frequent headaches.

One provider tells them their neck plays a significant role in their symptoms while another is seemingly dismissive of the role the neck plays in the generation of headache symptoms. Add to this confusion the well-meaning advice and anecdotal stories relayed by close friends and family members. The result of all this conflicting information is enough to send patients into a spiral of frustration, causing a headache on the spot.

That’s the last thing headache sufferers need.

If you experience frequent headaches, you don’t need confusion and frustration. You need answers. Because the truth is, some headaches come from the neck, and some do not.

What is important to know when determining if your headaches are coming from your neck?

As already stated, I am an evidence-based chiropractor.

What do I mean by an Evidenced-Based Chiropractor?

According to Wikipedia:

“An evidence-based practice (EBP) is any practice that relies on scientific evidence for guidance and decision-making.”

So, as an evidence-based practitioner treating headaches, I am primarily concerned with what research (evidence) says about the cervical spine and its role in driving the pain associated with headaches.

Of course, I also pay attention and listen to my patients when it comes to what treatments work for them. Science offers evidence and information, but I understand that what really matters is resolving your symptoms. Therefore, I will continually evaluate your unique progress and suggest changes in your treatment plan if your symptoms are not resolving.

But before we get to a treatment plan, I will perform a thorough examination, including medical history, current medications, x-rays, and physical exam.

During the physical exam, I utilize several techniques to help determine if your neck (cervical spine) is contributing to your head pain. For instance, I will put you through some maneuvers that attempt to reproduce your headache.

If we can determine that certain movements of your neck or palpation of specific structures in your neck reproduce your pain, it helps me understand the mechanism that could be involved in some or all of your head pain.

After a thorough history and physical examination, we should be able to have a pretty good idea of what role, if any, your neck plays in your head pain.

Your Headache Type Helps Determine if the Neck Is Involved

Before we begin a discussion about the neck and its role in headache symptoms, it will be helpful to discuss the types of headaches.

The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition contains descriptions of many classifications and subclassifications of headache and head pain. However, for this discussion, we will focus only on two general categories of headache:

  1. Primary headache
  2. Secondary headache

According to the IHS Classification, a primary headache is a condition by itself. In other words, the headache does not occur as a result of some other external sources, such as medications, dehydration, or neck dysfunction. Examples include migraines, cluster headaches, and tension-type headaches.

A secondary headache is head pain that occurs as a result of another disorder that is known to cause a headache. Examples include head pain caused by bacterial meningitis, medication overuse, dehydration, or neck dysfunction.

A headache arising from dysfunction or abnormality in your neck would be a secondary headache.

It is also helpful to understand that some patients may have a primary type of headache (i.e., tension-type headache) that is exacerbated (or made worse) by dysfunction in the neck.

The real questions to ask are:

  • What does the research (evidence) say about neck dysfunction that causes a headache?
  • How will we know if you, indeed, have head pain related to the neck?

The second question can have layers. For instance, if you have primary headaches, do you have a neck issue that exacerbates it? If you experience secondary headaches, are they related to the neck or something else?

How often do headaches come from the neck?

If your head pain is related to dysfunction or misalignment of the cervical spine (neck), you have what is called cervicogenic headaches.

When you consider all the types of head pain, cervicogenic headaches are relatively rare.

In fact, an article in the Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy1 reports a prevalence rate of approximately 2.5 percent in the general population.

However, it is also important to note that the prevalence of cervicogenic headache climbs to as high as 53 percent in patients who have suffered an injury to their cervical spine2.

What treatments are available if my neck is contributing to my head pain?

As an evidence-based chiropractor, I am primarily concerned with what the research says concerning effective treatment and the frequency of that treatment. Based on this research and your unique symptoms and physical examination, I will work with you to formulate a treatment plan that works best for you.

When it comes to effective treatment, Dunning, et al3 performed a study on a group of patients suffering from cervicogenic headaches. They compared the effects of either combined cervical and thoracic manipulation (chiropractic care) or mobilization and exercise (physical therapy). They found:

“The results of the current study demonstrated that patients with cervicogenic headache who received cervical and thoracic manipulation experienced significantly greater reductions in headache intensity, disability, headache frequency, headache duration, and medication intake as compared to the group that received mobilization and exercise; furthermore, the effects were maintained at three months follow-up.”

To summarize, the above study found that patients treated with spinal manipulation (chiropractic care) did significantly better than those who received only physical therapy and exercise.

The study goes on to discuss the proposed mechanism for superior results achieved through chiropractic manipulation versus physical therapy. If you are interested, you can search the article referenced below and read further.

How many treatments will I need if my headaches are coming from my neck?

Determining the number of visits a patient may need is always challenging. Again, we look at what the evidence shows regarding the dosage of spinal manipulation in conditions such as this.

Haas and colleagues looked at the question of appropriate dosage for treating cervicogenic headache. They published their findings in The Spine Journal4. In this impressive study, they randomized participants to four different dose levels of chiropractic manipulation: 0, 6, 12, or 18 sessions. They treated each patient three times per week for six weeks, and for those receiving less than 18 sessions of spinal manipulation therapy (SMT), a focused, light-massage was performed as a control for the sessions when manipulation was not assigned.

The authors found:

“There was a linear dose-response relationship between SMT visits and days with cervicogenic headache (CGH) that was durable to 52 weeks after the start of care. For the highest and most effective dose of 18 SMT visits, CGH days were reduced by about half, and about three more days per month than for the light-massage control.”

To summarize, the patients given 12 and 18 spinal manipulation treatments experienced the most improvement. Their improvement lasted 52 weeks (one year) after the start of care.

There are many variables among patients to consider. The degree of degeneration present in the neck, limitations in range of motion, soft tissue abnormalities, etc.. However, most patients respond favorably and achieve lasting pain relief with somewhere between 12 and 18 chiropractic visits.

Do you suffer from headaches and wonder if your neck plays a role?

If you have frequent headaches, your neck could be involved. Especially if you have experienced an injury to your cervical spine. And studies prove chiropractic spinal manipulations can offer you the relief you desire.

Is it time for you to find relief?

Do you have any questions? Would you like to find out if your neck may be causing your headaches? Call (817) 767-5430 today. One of our friendly team members would love to answer your questions and schedule a consultation.

 

References

  1. Racicki, S., Gerwin, S., DiClaudio, S., Reinmann, S., & Donaldson, M. (2013). Conservative physical therapy management for the treatment of cervicogenic headache: a systematic review.Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, 21(2), 113–124. doi:10.1179/2042618612Y.0000000025
  2. Bogduk, N., & Govind, J. (2009). Cervicogenic headache: an assessment of the evidence on clinical diagnosis, invasive tests, and treatment. Lancet neurology, 8(10), 959–968. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(09)70209-1

3.Dunning, J. R., Butts, R., Mourad, F., Young, I., Fernández-de-las-Peñas, C., Hagins, M., et al. (2016). Upper cervical and upper thoracic manipulation versus mobilization and exercise in patients with cervicogenic headache: a multi-center randomized clinical trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 17, 64. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-016-0912-3

  1. Haas, M., Bronfort, G., Evans, R., Schulz, C., Vavrek, D., Takaki, L., et al. (2018). Dose-response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for care of cervicogenic headache: a dual-center randomized controlled trial. The Spine Journal, 18(10), 1741–1754. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2018.02.019

What can a chiropractor do for headaches?

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What Can a Chiropractor Do For Headaches

Do you suffer from frequent headaches?

While headaches are a common complaint, there are many different types. They can also be complex to diagnose.

Fortunately, Dr. Cody Doyle has over two decades of successfully treating patients with headaches. Thanks to his insatiable curiosity and intense love of research, he has discovered treatment protocols that work, no matter what type you have.

In this article, we will discuss the common causes of headaches, different types of headaches, and treatment options to help rid you of your pain.

What causes headaches?

While there are several types of headaches, the causes can be quite varied. Fortunately, very few headaches indicate a serious illness.

Often, problems with or overactivity of pain-sensitive structures can cause them. Usually, the many structures surrounding your neck and skull, such as muscles, nerves, and joints, play a role.

Some patients have triggers that bring them on.

Common triggers include:

  • Certain foods, such as chocolate and processed meat
  • Alcohol, especially red wine
  • Poor posture
  • Excessive stress or tension
  • Sinus infection or allergies
  • Lack of sleep
  • Missed meals
  • Menstruation or hormones

In addition, pain in the head can be referred pain. For instance, a cervicogenic headache is actually referred pain from soft tissues or bony structures of the neck. This can include muscles, nerves, or cervical spine joints.

In fact, spinal misalignment in the neck and even the upper back is very often the cause. Spinal adjustments can offer effective help.

How can a chiropractor help?

While something serious is rarely the cause of headaches, you should seek evaluation if you experience them frequently.

Dr. Doyle will perform a thorough examination, including medical history and x-rays. If there is anything to suggest something that requires immediate attention, he will let you know. If he has any concerns, he will refer you for additional testing.

During the examination, Dr. Doyle will discuss your symptoms with you and work to figure out where the pain is coming from.

After examination, Dr. Doyle will answer any questions and discuss your treatment options. Together, you will create an individualized treatment plan that is best for your unique needs, symptoms, and desires.

What type of headaches do you suffer from?

Patients use the term headache to describe any type of pain experienced in the head. However, there are several different types, and they can range in severity and frequency. Understanding which type of headache you suffer from is helpful.

Tension Headache

Usually the least severe, a tension headache is the most common type. Often it is a pain that is “just there,” nagging at you, but you can still perform daily activities. Mostly dull in nature, tension headaches can reside on one or both sides of the head.

Improving your posture, getting your rest, eating well, managing stress, and regular spinal adjustments should take care of your nagging pain.

Sinus Headache

Allergies and infection in the sinus cavities can cause pressure to build behind your cheeks, nose, forehead, and throughout your face. If you experience congestion, a runny nose, facial swelling, or increased pain when you lean forward, you likely have a sinus headache.

Dr. Doyle offers his patients excellent relief from sinus headaches with acupuncture. This alternative treatment effectively reduces pressure and inflammation.

Cluster Headache

If you experience short bursts of pain on one side of the head, you may be having cluster headaches. These bursts of pain are often followed by nasal congestion and watery eyes. The pain can be as severe as a migraine, but they are not as debilitating since they are short in duration.

While the cause of cluster headaches is unknown, Dr. Doyle has brought relief to many patients suffering from them through routine acupuncture and spinal manipulations.

Migraine Headache

Migraines can be very debilitating and interfere with your quality of life and daily activities. The pain is intense and can be on one or both sides of the head. Typically described as throbbing, it can last from several hours to days. Migraines typically come with the added symptoms of sensitivity to sound and light and nausea and vomiting.

Some patients with migraines also experience what is known as an aura. Often, this includes flashes of light that occur in the peripheral vision before the migraine begins.

Since many patients suffer from migraines due to triggers, you will want to keep notes about lifestyle habits and diet. Avoidance of any potential triggers is highly advisable.

In addition, Dr. Doyle can help prevent future migraines with routine acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments.

Isn’t it time to get rid of your headaches?

Don’t let headaches get in the way of your life.

If you are ready to be in control and enjoy life to its fullest, contact Dr. Doyle today at (817) 767-5430 to schedule your initial consultation.

Dr. Doyle sees patients in the Grapevine, Southlake, Roanoke, Trophy Club, Keller, and North Fort Worth areas.

Is chiropractic good for your neck and back pain?

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chiropractic for neck and back pain

More and more patients are realizing the incredible benefits and effectiveness of treating neck and back pain with conservative, non-addictive care.

Chiropractic treatments offer tremendous relief while helping you avoid other costly, invasive care options. It can remove the need for addictive prescription pain medications that come with a variety of side effects and help you avoid painful surgery and recovery.

While chiropractors can effectively treat most things that cause pain, the most common complaints patients seek relief for are neck pain, back pain, and headaches.

Dr. Cody Doyle has over two decades of successfully caring for patients with pain. During this time, he has helped over 100,000 patients find relief from a broad range of dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.

How does chiropractic help neck and back pain?

The most common cause of neck and back pain is the misalignment of the bones—or vertebra—in the spine. Chiropractic care involves spinal manipulations—also known as adjustments—to realign the spine. Because all the movements of the human body originate in the spine, misalignment can cause pain in muscles, joints, ligaments, and nerves.

Spinal adjustments restore mobility to ligaments, joints, and muscles that are restricted or injured from repetitive stress or trauma. When the spine is properly aligned, the body can heal itself.

What can I expect during chiropractic care for neck and back pain?

The first thing Dr. Doyle will do is perform a thorough examination. This includes a complete medical history, a physical exam, range of motion testing, and x-rays. Depending on your symptoms and his findings, he may want to order additional diagnostic imaging, such as a CT or MRI.

If Dr. Doyle feels you are an appropriate candidate for chiropractic treatment, he will discuss all your options. The goal is to provide pain relief while restoring function and preventing future injury.

The most common mode of treatment is spinal manipulation, which uses controlled but sudden force to joints to realign the spine.

During treatment, Dr. Doyle may utilize:

  1. Hands-on treatment. This involves the use of his hands and arms to massage and apply high-velocity, low-amplitude thrusts.
  2. A drop table. This is a special table with sections that Dr. Doyle can drop down during spinal manipulations.
  3. A special device that delivers gentle impulses to the spine.

Depending on your unique desires, needs, and diagnoses, Dr. Doyle will create a customized treatment plan for you. This may include suggestions for additional alternative solutions to achieve optimum results. Some examples of complementary therapy services include:

Who should seek chiropractic care for neck and back pain?

Certain patients may not be a good candidate for chiropractic care.

For example, patients with the following conditions may need to seek other treatment for neck and back pain:

  • Spinal cord damage
  • Vertebral fracture(s)
  • Severe osteoporosis
  • Severe arthritis
  • Bone infections
  • Patients on blood thinners
  • Patients with cancer, especially while on cancer treatment

Chiropractic care is, however, an excellent alternative option for those with acute or chronic neck or back pain.

Some of the most common causes of neck and back pain include:

Trauma, such as from a sports injury, fall, or car accident

Any sudden forceful movement of the head, neck, or back that results in “rebound,” such as with whiplash of the neck, results in injury to the supporting and surrounding tissues.

Trauma can tear muscles and ligaments, also known as a strain. It can also cause muscles to contract and tighten, which leads to stiffness and pain. If severe enough, it can also injure the joints between the vertebra, ligaments, discs, muscles, and nerve roots.

Aging

As we age, degenerative disorders become more common. This can include osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease. Degeneration puts the patient at a higher risk of bulging or herniated disks. Also, the degenerative changes can cause the body to form bone spurs, compounding the pain.

Spinal stenosis is also more common for older patients. When stenosis narrows the nerve passageways, nerve roots can become compressed and trapped. This usually causes radiating pain, such as down the arms or legs.

Habits of Life

Anything that disrupts spinal balance increases the risk of neck and back pain. This includes things like poor posture, obesity, improper ergonomics, and repetitive stress.

Emotional tension and stress lead to muscle tightening and contracting, which leads to pain and stiffness.

Could chiropractic care give you relief from your neck or back pain?

If you suffer from neck or back pain, whether it is acute or chronic, Dr. Doyle has the experience to bring you relief.

Call (817) 767-5430 or contact us online today to schedule a consultation so you can get started on the road to recovery.

What are there benefits to going to a chiropractor?

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chiro appointment with chiro tools used to naturally relieve pain

Have you been putting off seeing a chiropractor? “Maybe that back pain will go away on its own,” you’re probably thinking. We understand that life gets busy, and sometimes putting the needs of your family and other priorities seem like it leaves no time for preventative care or medical treatments. Seeing a chiropractor has many benefits beyond alleviating back pain. It’s easy to forget all the many benefits of seeing a chiropractor, so put together this friendly reminder. 

Benefits of Going to a Chiropractor

The spine provides many important functions. The column of bone, muscles, and nerves protects the spinal cord and allows for communication between the brain and nearly every part of the human body. The spine provides important structural support that allows us to sit and walk upright. A healthy back also allows for bending and other ranges of motion. Maintaining a healthy spine sometimes requires working with a chiropractor who can heal injuries while providing advice on how to maintain a healthy spine. 

Benefits of going to a chiropractor include:

Improved mobility

Have you given up on long days at the golf course or rounds at the tennis court because your back simply hurts too much? Back health and mobility is more than a health issue. It’s a quality of life issue. No matter how stiff or achy your back feels, your chiropractor can develop a treatment plan that can offer immediate and long-term relief. Once your treatment has begun, you’ll enjoy an extra “spring in your step” that can lead to a fuller and more fulfilling life.

Improved strength

Chiropractors do more than address bone-related issues. The muscles that interconnect with the spinal discs play an important role in back health. Your chiropractor will examine ways of healing your back muscles as well as your bones and the cartilage that support each vertebra. Your chiropractor will look at your back and body holistically, and every effort will be made to improve strength as well as mobility. 

Are you hesitant to lift your child or grandchild? Does the idea of carrying a moderately heavy object for minutes at a time give you pause? A simple visit to the chiropractor can alleviate back pain while restoring strength. 

Improved healing

If you are taking a wait-and-see approach to heal your back, you may be gambling with your health. Unlike other areas of your body, the back and supportive structures of the spine are prone to slower healing when blood flow is impeded. Many treatments used by your chiropractor address blood flow as a means of promoting healing. While other healthcare professionals may be quick to prescribe medications or injections, your chiropractor will use non-invasive treatments that work with the body’s natural healing processes. Faster blood flow means a shorter recovery and quicker healing. 

Improved nerve health

We often focus on the health of muscles and bone when we think of chiropractic treatments. The health of nerve tissue is vitally important to maintaining overall health as well. When our spine is healthy, vital organs and other areas of our body receive clear signals from the brain. Healthy nerves are less prone to painful conditions like sciatica.

Schedule Your Visit with Your Chiropractor Today

Dr. Cody Doyle looks forward to helping you gain and maintain a fully functioning back. Call 817-767-5430.

Do Chiropractic adjustments hurt?

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So you want to go to the Chiropractor to find relief from your back pain, but you’re a little nervous about what it may feel like to have your back adjusted. The team at Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture feels your pain…literally. We want you to know that we work in the Chiropractic field out of passion — not necessity. Many of us have experienced body pain as well, and we want everyone to feel the same relief we experienced from our first adjustment.  

How Does the Doctor know it won’t hurt?

Chiropractic care does not involve guesswork. Dr. Doyle spent many years in Chiropractic college to learn how to assess a patients’ symptoms to alleviate their pain. When Dr. Doyle begins to adjust your back, he will be working on very specific parts of your body that need realigning. The doctor also knows that back injuries hurt, and he is able to adjust pressure to make sure the correction is comfortable for you. Chiropractic alignments are performed regularly to keep you free of pain, so there’s no need for the doctor to over adjust on any particular visit.

Adjustments Feel Good

Patients who come for chiropractic adjustments often report a feeling of instant relief. When your spine, or any other part of your body, is out of alignment it causes nerve pressure. It doesn’t take very much pressure at all to create unbearable pain. The good news, though, is that it doesn’t take a lot of force to correct a pinched nerve.  It only takes a professional who knows where to apply pressure and how much force to use.  

Do Other Treatment Options Hurt?

Here at Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture, we care about relieving pain, not causing it.  Chiropractic care is a growing industry due to the immediate relief the treatments bring to patients. People love the idea of enjoying relief without invasive surgeries. While chiropractic treatments are fine on their own, we have found that many of our patients enjoy the added benefits of our other treatment options as well. We have many avenues to help reduce pain, including:

  • Nutritional Therapy
  • Herbal Therapy
  • Premodulated muscle stimulation
  • Propriceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)
  • Ultrasound Therapy
  • Detoxification Programs
  • Home Exercise Programs
  • Complimentary Therapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Myofascial Release Therapy
  • Chiropractic Care

All of these treatments are designed to bring relief to our patients. You don’t have to take our word for it either.  Click here to see what our patients think about the care they have received.  As you can see from our testimonials, our customers have fallen in love with Doyle Chiropractic and acupuncture, and we think you will too.

Ready to Enjoy Relief from Pain?

If you’re ready to stop going in circles with the other treatment options you’ve been trying come see us at Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture. Our state-of-the-art facility is ready to set you on the road to a pain-free life.  Click here to leave a message, and one of our friendly team members will reach out to you. Or you can just call 817-767-5430 to set an appointment today.