How to Reduce the Pain of Scoliosis

Posted on 06.26.19 |

What is scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a genetic condition that causes an “S” curve in the spine. The curvature can be either mild or severe, but it can cause back pain and discomfort. Pain pills, like NSAIDs and opiates, aren’t your only option when it comes to dealing with back pain; they aren’t even the best option. Meeting with Dr. Doyle to talk about chiropractic care and acupuncture is the first of many steps you can take to help improve your life.

Although everyone with scoliosis has a different experience, there are things that you should do, and things that you shouldn’t do, to help manage pain and discomfort.

What You Should Do to Help Scoliosis

1. Work out daily.

Something as simple as walking a mile every day can make a huge difference. Strengthening the muscles in your back will help relieve pain and improve posture. Here are some exercises to start with:

1. Arm/leg raise
2. Pelvic tilt
3. Cat and cow stretch (spine)
4. Latissimus stretch (upper back)

Try these and feel the difference! You can find pictures of these exercises here.

2. Dance and play soccer!

Scoliosis shouldn’t keep anyone from the activities they love. If you love playing sports, find one that is low impact, like soccer or golf. If you love dancing, try to avoid overdoing it with backbends, but keep dancing!

3. Sleep the right way.

What you choose to sleep on matters–especially if you have back problems. If you’re a stomach sleeper, we’ve got some bad news: it’s killing your back! Laying on the bed for 6-9 hours can really help or really hurt your back.

You can purchase special pillows to use under your neck and legs, or between your legs if you sleep on your side. Raising your legs with a pillow will reduce pressure on the low back. Keeping the curvature of your neck intact with a pillow can help relieve morning neck pain.

Many people with scoliosis prefer to sleep on their side with a pillow between their knees because it keeps their spine in a more natural position or on their backs because their weight is evenly distributed across their body. If sleeping on their stomach is inevitable, it is recommended to place a pillow under the pelvis.

Also, try a mattress that is more firm for support. You will eventually find what makes it easier for you to get out of bed in the morning.

4. Try acupuncture and chiropractic care.

All of these things combined with acupuncture and chiropractic care can help stop scoliosis from deteriorating quality of life and can even help retrain the spine. Dr. Doyle is trained and equipped in musculoskeletal manipulation and acupuncture. In some cases, these drug-free, natural therapies help relieve pain. Chiropractic may also improve your comfort by retraining your spine to a healthier curvature.

What You Shouldn’t Do to Help Scoliosis

1. Don’t wear stilettos.

Depending on the severity of your condition, those extremely tall, cute stiletto heels may be the cause of a lot of pain. Opt for low-heeled shoes with good arch support. Going barefoot is also a bad idea. Solid arch support benefits for your feet, as well as your spine.

2. Don’t participate in certain sports.

Competitive swimming and football are two of the worst sports for your back. Swimming laps for hours daily can cause the curvature of the spine to progress. Because football is a high-contact sport, players can experience all kinds of injuries, the effects of which can show up years later. For scoliosis patients, sudden impact can have devastating results.

3. Don’t avoid chiropractic care.

The worst thing you can do is to put off treatment. Chiropractic care has been proven to reduce pain and inflammation and improve flexibility and range of motion. Though some people doubt the effectiveness of chiropractic, its results have been repeatedly proven by medical science. Dr. Doyle has extensive training and continues to study the latest developments in chiropractic care.

One of the major benefits of chiropractic is that it doesn’t just treat the symptoms like pain killers do, it treats the problem. Don’t wait any longer to get the help you need for your back pain. Take the first step and contact Dr. Doyle’s Roanoke, Tx office today at 817-767-5430 to set up a one-hour, comprehensive consultation and evaluation. The office is convenient to Trophy Club, Keller, and Justin.

Can Chiropractors Help to Treat Scoliosis?

Posted on 05.24.19 |

Spine alignment

If you or your loved one lives with mild to severe scoliosis, you have probably wondered about alternative or holistic treatments. Scoliosis is most commonly treated with bracing and surgery. For patients who suffer from pain, doctors may also prescribe strong pain killers known as opioids, such as hydrocodone. While the drugs usually bring relief, there is the risk of addiction. Also, the longer you take an opioid, the less it works – so the prescription will be increased over time, which only increases the risk of addiction. To reduce this risk, consider seeing a chiropractor to treat your pain. Before you type “Roanoke chiro near me” into your browser, read on to learn about how Dr. Cody Doyle, a chiropractor and acupuncturist, provides treatment for scoliosis pain.

What is scoliosis?

Put simply, scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine that is greater than a Cobb angle of 10 degrees. Sometimes this is mild, in which case the patient may have very few complications. For others, the curvature is significant, and it causes severe pain. Even routine movements may be difficult. Most patients develop scoliosis during their teen to adult years. Some people may develop scoliosis due to physical trauma, such as being in the backseat of a vehicle during a rear-end collision. Some adults may not even be aware that their back pain is caused by scoliosis.

How can chiropractors treat scoliosis pain?

The first step of treating any disease is diagnosis. Because many adults are unaware of their scoliosis, a visit to the chiropractor may be how they receive that diagnosis. Dr. Cody Doyle may be able to determine not only if your spine has a curvature, but the degree of that curvature. An x-ray will confirm the diagnosis. At that point, Dr. Doyle will work with you to develop a treatment plan.

When a patient with scoliosis requests chiropractic care, Dr. Doyle provides a chiropractic adjustment. Depending on your case, Dr. Doyle may use to deliver an adjustment. Some common tools used in the office include the muscle stim, the drop table, the massager, and acupuncture needles. While acupuncture is not an aspect of chiropractic care per se, combining the two practices may improve results.

What are the reported benefits of chiropractic care?

When it comes to correcting curvatures of the spine, scientists and medical professionals have debated the effectiveness of chiropractic care for decades. While many people continue to question its legitimacy, a 2011 study published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine confirms that chiropractic care delivers numerous benefits to patients over time. The study involved rehabilitation of 28 patients and the findings included:

Reduction in Cobb angle of curvature by approximately 10 degrees
Reduced levels of pain by 36% after 6 months and another 21% at 24-month follow-up
Disability scores reduced from 60% to 30% in 6 months, and then dropped to 18% after 24 months

Outside of this particular study, patients who suffer from scoliosis report additional positive results following routine chiropractic care, such as:

Better flexibility
Reduced discomfort
Improved range of motion
Reduction in inflammation

Because Dr. Doyle may combine your chiropractic care with acupuncture, the benefits may be even more potent. In fact, another study published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine in 2009 confirms that acupuncture aids in pain control for patients diagnosed with mild to severe scoliosis. It also illustrated that acupuncture can help to improve curvature progression for patients, even when traditional medicine has failed.

Perhaps the best benefit of chiropractic care and acupuncture is that it is holistic and drug-free. Some insurances cover all or part of chiropractic visits. Would you like to find out if these treatments may be right for you? Instead of searching for “Roanoke chiro near me,” give Dr. Doyle’s office a call directly at 817-767-5430.

Drug-Free Pain Management for Sports Injuries

Posted on 05.1.19 |

Do you play golf in Trophy Club, shoot hoops at the park, or jog the beautiful nature trails that crisscross Northeast Tarrant County? Maybe you play volleyball or softball at the rec center. Roanoke, Trophy Club, Southlake, and Grapevine feature a wide variety of outdoor activities to enjoy — and Dr. Doyle hopes you’re taking advantage of them.

Should you twist an ankle or strain a muscle while trying to have fun, you may need to see a doctor. If pain persists, visit Dr. Doyle. Our Roanoke office provides our Trophy Club neighbors with holistic pain management, so you can heal quickly and get back to enjoying the activities you love.

Common Sports Injuries

The most common sports injuries are sprains and strains, but they only scratch the surface of the full list. Other common sports injuries you may experience include:

Achilles tendon injuries
Rotator cuff injuries
Knee injuries
Fractures
Dislocations
Swollen muscles

Some of our patients continue to have pain long after an injury. For instance, a low back injury sustained during high school sports could plague you with pain and stiffness in adulthood. Dr. Doyle may use chiropractic, acupuncture, or a combination of these with or without muscle stim and other holistic therapies to treat your pain.

Before Dr. Doyle can develop your treatment plan for pain relief, however, he must diagnose the source of your pain. Your initial interview and exam will take about an hour, and at the end of the appointment we will give you a proposed treatment plan. Lori in the front office will file your insurance, if you have chiropractic coverage.

“Does it work?”

We live in a society that questions the validity of holistic medicine. The truth is, you have to try it to find out if chiropractic and/or acupuncture will work well for pain management, for your unique case. Mounting research in both acupuncture and chiropractic prove the effectiveness of the therapies, whether provided separately or together.

“Acute and chronic chiropractic patients experienced better outcomes in pain, functional disability, and patient satisfaction; clinically important differences in pain and disability improvement were found for chronic patients.”

Haas et al (2005), Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics

Side Effects of Sports Injuries

The full extent of a sports injury is not always immediately obvious. In addition, some injuries develop over time due to repetitive motions, like passing a football or bending the knees when riding a bike. Holistic pain management treatment can often reduce or alleviate these types of pain, as well.

Not sure if you injured yourself? Some of the symptoms you may experience are:

Swelling, inflammation, or tenderness in particular areas
Stiffness that limits movement
Acute pain when you make certain movements
Extreme weakness in the arms or legs
Inability to place any weight on a hand or leg

If you experience dizziness, headaches, or disorientation, seek either emergency assistance or to schedule an appointment with your GP. If your symptoms persist after seeing a physician, schedule a visit with Dr. Doyle. His therapies can help reduce or relieve chronic headaches, migraines, and vertigo, in many cases.

Avoid Long-Term Use of Pain Medications

Doctors often recommend ibuprofen or acetaminophen to alleviate pain and swelling. If you’re prescribed an opioid, you might be concerned with the effects that the addictive drug can have on your health and life. Opioids are not the healthiest treatment for ongoing pain. Using ibuprofen long term can also cause health concerns. For many patients, chiropractic treatment and acupuncture provide sufficient pain management so that long-term pain meds are not needed.

For drug-free pain management, call us at 817-767-5430 or submit an email via the contact form. Dr. Doyle and our team look forward to seeing you back on the greens, the courts, the trails, and the fields very soon!

Dr. Doyle’s Chiro Tools

Posted on 04.25.19 |

Dr. Doyle, your Roanoke TX local chiro, uses blended therapies to help patients manage pain and to promote healing. When you visit our office, the doctor may use one or more of these tools in your treatment.

ArthroStim

This tool helps to remap neurological paths, thus assisting with the relearning of certain movements. It is often used as part of an overall therapeutic process to help patients regain the function of joints and muscles. Many patients also love that it doesn’t make the loud popping noise associated with some other tools.

Muscle Stim

Muscle stim create electrical muscle stimulation. It is perhaps most commonly used for decreasing pain and swelling. When in use, it holds the muscle in contraction and then relaxes it. It may do so for roughly a few seconds at a time, depending on the settings the doctor prefers to use. This helps to break the spasm cycle, which is often the source of chronic or intense pain and stiffness. Muscle stim also activates blood flow to a specific region, which promotes faster healing.

Activator

This is one of the more traditional chiropractor tools that while effective is not often used in Dr. Doyle’s office. The activator adjustment tool transmits a low amount of force into the spine to assist with realignment. While it is different from the ArthroStim, the effect or overall benefit is the same. The ArthroStim just tends to make treatment easier.

Drop Table

Sometimes called the breakaway table, the drop table assists chiropractors with using gravity to the patient’s advantage. The drop table actually relieves gravity, allowing the doctor to send the body into momentary free fall with a sudden stop. This stop mobilizes joints in a different way than a standard adjustment, but has the same effect. Dr. Doyle recommends this especially for patients who are in too much pain to tolerate side posture adjustments, because it does not put stress on additional muscles the way a side posture adjustment may do.

Microcurrent

Also known as frequent specific microcurrent, this tool uses micro-amperage current to treat pain. Because there are other effective tools available, Dr. Doyle does not use this at his office.

Ultrasound

Another tool not used at Dr. Doyle’s office is the ultrasound. Chiropractors use this to create sound waves that radiate heat into the joints and soft tissues. This provides a micro-massage that reduces back stiffness, muscle soreness, and other symptoms.

The Massager

An actual massager is more commonly used at this Roanoke TX local chiro office and has very much the same effects as micro-massage. It provides stimulus to the central nervous system, which helps to repattern chronic issues. Therapeutic benefits also include working out soreness and increasing circulation. However, the number one reason patients enjoy this tool is because it feels great.

Acupuncture Needles

Some patients respond best to acupuncture. Professionals often use electrical currents to add further stimulation during the process, but Dr. Doyle practices a more Japanese style of acupuncture. The effectiveness of this procedure relies less on stimulation and more on the needles and their positions. Acupuncture and chiropractic adjustment may be the best treatment for some patients.

When it comes to pain management, potentially addictive medications are not the only option. Chiropractic care and acupuncture may provide long-term relief without the risks. For more information about your Roanoke TX local chiro, contact Dr. Doyle at 817-767-5430. Your pain-free days may be only a phone call away.

Chiropractic Care and Acupuncture Therapy for Pain Management

Posted on 08.3.18 |

Chronic pain is an exhausting and debilitating condition for many patients, affecting both their personal and professional lives. Even low-level pain can influence work productivity and quality of life. Dr. Doyle provides patients a unique approach to pain management by using alternative medicine. Chiropractic and acupuncture therapies offer patients safe treatment options to manage pain, increase mobility, and lower overall medical costs.

Chiropractic and acupuncture for pain management are available to patients living in or near Justin, Tx at Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture’s Roanoke office. Call Dr. Cody Doyle at 817-767-5430 or reach our office online here.

Benefits of Chiropractic Care

Benefits you may experience from chiropractic care include:

• Significant improvement in chronic pain symptoms
• Increase in physical activity ability
• Potentially lower cost
• Increases quality of life
• Increases range of motion
• A potential decrease in the need for pain management medications (with physician approval)
• Faster patient recovery times

Chiropractic Care and Chronic Pain Management

Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture focuses on the assessment and management of pain symptoms. We will use a systems approach to your case to understand why there is an upset to the natural balance and flow of your body, leading to your chronic and widespread pain. Dr. Doyle treats these conditions related to chronic pain:

• Arthritis
• Back pain or lumbar spinal pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches (a migraine, sinus, and cluster)
• Intervertebral disc syndrome
• Joint pain
• Muscle spasms
• Neck pain or cervical spine pain
• Numbness, weakness, and tingling
• Pain from digestive issues
• Pinched nerves
• Radiating pain
• Sciatic nerve pain
• Scoliosis
• Sports injuries
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Tendinitis
• Thoracic outlet syndrome
• Thoracic spine pain
• Upper and lower extremity pain and dysfunction

Using the Chiropractor to Ease Your Pain

Our goal is to offer alternative treatments to relieve chronic pain, whether acute or moderate. Not all pain conditions can be cured, even with surgery, but we use several methods to help patients find relief. Pain management is accomplished by using any combination of more than 100 techniques to manipulate muscles, joints, and the spine with several degrees of force called adjustments. We concentrate on the body’s relationship between function and structure to minimize pain and restore function to the patient.

When to Call the Chiropractor

You should call Dr. Doyle when you are unable to manage your pain at home, and the symptoms become worse or if you’re interested in exploring non-pharmaceutical treatment options. A prompt diagnosis and treatment options are essential to your recovery and wellbeing. Dr. Doyle will evaluate your medical history and risk factors to create a specialized plan of treatment therapies, designed to offer you relief from your pain symptoms.

Will Acupuncture Help?

Used by over 14 million Americans, acupuncture is known to be a highly effective form of pain management. In some cases, it is more efficient than pain-relieving drugs or surgery. Acupuncture is one of the oldest healing arts in the world. This ancient Chinese practice stimulates nerves and trigger-points in the body while easing pressure on painful areas. The body’s sensation of pain is suppressed as the stimulated nerves release endorphins. Acupuncture therapy can reduce pain, inflammation, stiffness, and muscle spasms, among other things.

Contact Us

Combining chiropractic care and acupuncture therapy can alleviate symptoms of chronic pain. Contact Dr. Doyle today at 817-767-5430 for a consultation at our Roanoke office near Justin, TX or contact us online anytime.