Chronic Pain – Page 2

A Holistic Approach to Managing Your Wrist Pain

Posted on 05.5.17 |

Are you searching for a holistic approach to manage your irritating wrist pain? Overuse of non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can lead to serious medical issues, like stomach bleeding and increased risk of heart and/or renal failure. These drugs, such as Motrin, Advil, and Aleve, can temporarily alleviate our wrist pain, but long-term use has been linked to causing more harm than good. Managing your pain holistically with acupuncture and chiropractic treatments is a great alternative and is better for your body in the long run.

Call Cody Doyle in Roanoke, TX at 817-767-5430 to discuss your holistic treatment options today.

What causes wrist pain?

Wrist pain can arise because of an old or a new injury—maybe it’s that old baseball injury that you never really got over? We can also cause ourselves to experience pain when we overuse our wrists, such as when we spend all day at a desk job. In a technology-focused world, more of us are spending our days typing away on the computer, forgetting the effects it may have on our bodies.

Rheumatoid arthritis, or inflammatory arthritis, is another reason we might experience wrist pain. Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects roughly 2 million Americans, and causes inflammation of joints and tissues. It can sometimes cause the joints in your wrists to feel warm to the touch. Arthritis can also restrict your normal range of motion, limiting your wrist mobility. We can develop this disease for many reasons, including genetic and environmental factors.

Tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome can also cause wrist pain. Carpal tunnel syndrome results from excessive pressure being exerted on your wrist and median nerve. The median nerve runs from the shoulder all the way down to the wrist. When this nerve has too much pressure applied to it, it can be painful.

How to Manage Wrist Pain

There are ways to reduce your risk of experiencing wrist pain. You can take breaks throughout your workday, if you spend your day typing. Make an effort to relax your wrists and use a different range of motions during these breaks. You can also increase your water intake, which will keep your arm’s moving parts well hydrated. Another method for reducing your risk of wrist pain is to apply ice to your wrists whenever you experience any pain. However, if these recommendations don’t cut it for you and your wrist pain, maybe it’s time to give acupuncture and chiropractic treatments a try. Acupuncture and chiropractic techniques are two great resources for holistically reducing your wrist pain. Rather than managing your pain with medication, these non-surgical, drug free techniques focus on fixing what’s wrong in the mechanics of your body.

What is acupuncture?

Most Americans have probably never considered seeking out acupuncture care. However, this traditional Chinese practice is becoming increasingly popular to manage a wide variety of medical conditions, including wrist pain. Acupuncture is a great way to increase energy levels, while simultaneously increasing nourishing blood flow to overtaxed nerves, tissues and joints.. Dr. Doyle will strategically insert stainless-steel needles into your body, to stimulate the inflamed tissues and nerves causing your wrist pain.

What is chiropractic?

Chiropractic care realigns the vertebrae in your spine that can lead to arthritis and other disorders like anxiety or inflammation, when they are misaligned. Dr. Doyle will create a personalized pain management plan that releases tension and will help to ease your wrist pain. Along with spinal realignment, Dr. Doyle can teach you some exercises to do at home to help manage your wrist pain, as well as recommend dietary changes that may lead to less inflammation.

Contact Dr. Doyle, in Roanoke, TX today to schedule your appointment to reduce and even eliminate your wrist pain. Call 817-767-5430 today!

We serve patients from Trophy Club, Keller, Southlake, Grapevine, Argyle, Justin, NRH, and across the North Tarrant County area. Chiropractor Acupuncture 76262

Four Common Causes of Neck Pain

Posted on 04.28.17 |

All of us experience occasional neck pain. Getting a crick in your neck after you’ve slept on it wrong is always a painful experience. If you’ve ever taken a long haul flight and tried to sleep in economy seats–you know how much we depend on good pillows and sleep posture each and every night!

If you find yourself suffering from neck pain that doesn’t go away, however, you may want to take a close look at the factors in your life that may be contributing to it. Below you’ll find four of the most common causes of neck pain, and how to avoid them.

Regardless of the cause of your pain, Dr. Cody Doyle of Doyle Chiropractic & Acupuncture has more than 20 years of experience treating acute and chronic neck pain, and can provide relief for your symptoms. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Doyle. For Roanoke neck pain, contact us online or call (817) 767-5430.

Your Pillow and Sleep Posture

The best sleep position for avoiding neck strain is on your back or on your side. If you have tried your best to stay off your stomach but still wake up face-down each morning, you may want to consider sleeping with no pillow, or using a water pillow.

Water pillows are an excellent option for neck posture because you can adjust the level of firmness to fit your needs. Avoid a hard or high pillow when sleeping in any position, as it can put your head at an angle that disrupts the natural position of the neck and spine. If you sleep on your back or side, a memory foam pillow can be an effective tool for supporting the neck and keeping the head in a natural position, If you sleep with your head elevated to reduce congestion in the night, consider getting a wedge and neck pillow to keep your spine and neck straight.

Dehydration

Sometimes it seems like everything can be blamed on dehydration, but there’s actually connection between hydration and the function of the neck. The discs in the neck can become less pliable and therefore less effective at cushioning the vertebrae when we are dehydrated. These spongy structures are mostly made up of water, so any level of dehydration can directly affect your neck. Next time your neck feels sore, chug a big glass of water to make sure your discs are well hydrated.

Poor Ergonomics

When we work, we tend to focus on outcomes and output, to the point that we often ignore the subtle signs from our body that its positioning may be off. Even something as simple as making sure your chair is adjusted to the right height can have a profound effect on neck pain. If your eye level is not at the right height, you may be craning your neck at an unnatural angle every moment you are looking at your computer screen. When sitting at a desk, try to keep your back straight and supported, and your feet on the floor. Adjust the height of your monitor if you find yourself angling your head up or down to see the screen.

Repetitive Neck Strain

If you routinely hold your phone against your shoulder when talking on the phone, you may be in for trouble. It may be the best way to sweep the floor, type on your computer, or clean the bathroom while chatting with friends—but your neck is not designed for this type of work. If you regularly multitask while talking on the phone, invest in a Bluetooth or hands-free device if you want to avoid strain. If you spend a lot of time texting on your phone, make sure you are not turning your head downward to do so.

When Neck Pain Doesn’t Go Away

If you have tried adjusting the way you care for your neck at home and at work, yet pain persists, call Dr. Cody Doyle. He will assess your symptoms and treat them with chiropractic, acupuncture, myofascial release, or other therapies. To reach our Roanoke, TX office, you can contact us online or call (817) 767-5430. For patients in La Grange, TX, you can contact us here or by calling (979) 968-6400.

Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture, Roanoke Neck Pain Treatment

We serve patients from Trophy Club, Keller, Southlake, Grapevine, Argyle, Justin, NRH, and across the North Tarrant County area. Chiropractor Acupuncture 76262

What is Chiropractic Care?

Posted on 04.20.17 |

If you have a pain problem, you may have had a friend recommend a chiropractor to help you seek relief. If you’ve never visited this type of care provider, you may be wondering what this is. What does a chiropractor do?

Roanoke chiropractor Dr. Cody Doyle has been practicing chiropractic methods and alternative therapies for 20 years. Visit us online or call our Roanoke office at 817-767-5430, or our LaGrange office at 979-968-6400, for an appointment.

Chiropractic methods are based on the manipulation of joints, usually the spine, to realign vertebrae for optimal functioning. As an alternative form of medicine, chiropractic care is not commonly accepted or verified by western medical science, but it is a heavily regulated and monitored industry.

Regardless of whether it is accepted by mainstream medicine, you cannot deny that the proper functioning of the spine is critical to all human movement. The spine also houses the spinal cord, which is central to the human nervous system. All of our physical sensations are filtered through the spine. For example, spinal cord injuries can have a permanent, devastating effect on the human body and cause irreversible paralysis. Chiropractors believe small misalignments in the spine can have far-reaching effects on your body, and work to repair them, using spinal manipulation therapy (SMT).

Chiropractic Methods Used by Dr. Doyle

In his practice, Dr. Doyle uses four different chiropractic methods, and may combine them depending on your symptoms. Most methods involve manipulation of the spine with the hands, which are carefully and precisely controlled to make small adjustments without causing any damage or pain. If you’ve seen chiropractic manipulations portrayed in movies or on TV they may seem frightening, but we assure you that your comfort and safety is Dr. Doyle’s number one priority.

Dr. Doyle is proficient in the following chiropractic methods:

Gonstead: This technique relies heavily on principles of mechanical engineering to bring scientific accuracy to the correction and measuring of the dimensions of the human vertebrae and spine.
Thompson: The drop-table technique employs the use of a weighted table, to make sure the patient is in the optimal position to receive manual thrusts, to adjust the spine with as little force as possible.
Activator: Rather than using manual manipulation, the activator hand-held device uses a spring to deliver carefully measured tiny impacts to certain areas of the spine. About 69 percent of U.S. chiropractors use this method.
Diversified Adjustments: These entail a high velocity, low-amplitude thrust delivered by hand, sometimes with assistance from a table or block. This technique is most commonly known to patients.

Conditions That May Respond to Chiropractic Care

In his 20 years of practice, Dr. Doyle has helped many patients with their symptoms and is confident his methods can bring relief to many common conditions. Oftentimes, chiropractic adjustments are combined with other alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, myofascial release, premodulated muscle stimulation, and others.

Click on the following links to read our page on each condition:

This is not a complete list. If you are curious as to whether a chiropractic adjustment may be recommend for your painful condition, contact Roanoke chiropractor Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture today at 817-767-5430 (Roanoke office) or 979-968-6400 (LaGrange office) for an appointment.

We serve patients from Trophy Club, Keller, Southlake, Grapevine, Argyle, Justin, NRH, and across the North Tarrant County area. Chiropractor Acupuncture 76262

Alternative Therapies for Back Pain: A Step Beyond Mainstream Medicine

Posted on 04.13.17 |

Learn More About Alternative Therapies for Roanoke Back Pain

Dr. Cody Doyle meets a lot of patients who have turned to alternative medicine out of sheer desperation. Many have struggled with chronic pain for years and found little lasting relief in standard medical treatments. Sometimes they are unsure of what combined alternative therapy really means, but are ready to try anything to stop their back pain. If you are suffering from pain that persists despite medical interventions, save yourself the years of struggle and consider holistic therapies now!

Learn more about integrative alternative therapies with Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture. Call us today for a consultation in Roanoke, TX (817-767-5430) or La Grange, TX (979-968-6400).

The big question for many patients is often: how do combined alternative therapies differ from western medicine? What can you do for me that my 10+ years of doctors have been unable to do? The answer to those questions will vary from patient to patient, but there are some general differences between mainstream and alternative treatments that are easy to understand.

“Alternatives” to Standard Medical Treatment

Like conventional medical approaches, combined alternative therapies are based on research, innovation, and patient results. As nutrition science and research into supplements illustrate, many alternative therapies are gradually becoming more mainstream as we learn more about how they work.

Doctors fifty years ago never recommended garlic and fish oil for heart health, but as we have learned more about their health benefits, it is now a standard recommendation. Therapies that are not fully understood and accepted by medical science remain “alternatives,” but that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from them.

Holistic Care for Back Pain

Lower back pain, especially, can have many sources. If you take a look at the human body, you’ll notice that the area around the waist is the critical junction that connects the lower and upper portions of the body. Redardless of your actual waist measurement, every body is generally hourglass shaped: the lower and upper sections weigh more than the small area that connects them. This puts an amazing amount of stress on the lower back to fulfil its duties. When our sitting or standing postures, weight, sleeping habits, or repeated movements (or lack of movement) are even slightly out of tune with the optimal functioning of the lower spine, the results can be painful and debilitating.

Furthermore, the human body is a complexly connected structure. Any dysfunction in one part of the body can have a rippling effect that ultimately leads back to the sensitive spine. Rather than looking at how the whole body functions, the traditional medical approach is to focus on the locus of pain, rather than the source. A doctor may make the pain go away, but without an on-going holistic approach, symptoms often return.

Combined Therapy Addresses Multiple Causes of Pain

Pinpointing “the problem” in your back can be a muddy proposition. Any combination of muscles, discs, nerves, and connective tissues may be affected when back function is not optimal. An injury may lead to muscular concerns, which may in turn lead to spinal misalignment. Or vice-versa. Western medicine has a tendency to “either/or” its diagnoses, so treatment can be precise. Focusing on only one area may neglect the associated causes of pain.

In order to get to the bottom of your pain, Dr. Doyle always does a thorough analysis of your condition. In addition to the same physical exam you’ve had from other doctors, Dr. Doyle will also investigate your pain history and any possible origin of symptoms, as well as consider all the factors in your life that may be contributing to your condition.

When a treatment plan is drafted, it may include:

Chiropractic Adjustment: Using standard chiropractic tools and techniques, Dr. Doyle will adjust your misaligned joints back into proper position to eliminate pain and promote healthy body mechanics.
Acupuncture: This therapy helps many patients with pain, by stimulating strategic points of the body to bring healthy blood flow in to tissues and muscles.
Premodulated Muscle Stimulation: Gentle electrical stimulation can reduce spasms, pain, and swelling in the muscles surrounding your spine.
Home Exercise Programs: Since weight and muscle tone can affect your back, Dr. Doyle may suggest a series of appropriate physical exercises for you to perform at home or a local gym.
Therapeutic Exercises: Dr. Doyle may recommend a series of physical exercises to target the specific muscles that will support proper spinal alignment and full body function.
Myofascial Release: Commonly used after chiropractic adjustments, this therapy applies pressure to muscles and connective tissues to improve flexibility and function.

If you are suffering from back pain, by all means see your general practitioner or spine specialist. But if your symptoms are not relieved by medical interventions, you may find relief in alternative therapies. Contact Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture to learn more about Dr. Doyle’s methods, and unique approach to treatment.

Contact Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture online today to learn what we can do for your symptoms. To reach our Roanoke, TX office, call (817) 767-5430. Patients in La Grange, TX may call (979) 968-6400. Roanoke acupuncture and alternative therapies may help you find relief!

We serve patients from Trophy Club, Keller, Southlake, Grapevine, Argyle, Justin, NRH, and across the North Tarrant County area. Chiropractor Acupuncture 76262

What does it treat?

Acupuncture is an excellent complement to western medicine and other alternative therapies. When you meet Dr. Doyle, he will assess your symptoms and determine the best combination of drug-free nonsurgical treatments. These may include chiropractic treatments, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and/or others. In addition to chronic pain, Dr. Doyle’s treatments can also address tingling, numbness, nerve pain, and other conditions.

With over twenty years of experience in the field, Dr. Doyle has helped scores of patients manage symptoms of:

disc problems
degenerative and inflammatory arthritis
lower back pain, neck pain, and middle back pain
peripheral neuropathy
plantar fasciitis
upper and lower extremity conditions (e.g., tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder problems; and hip, knee and ankle mobility issues)
seasonal allergies
obesity

When one aspect of your health is misaligned, it can affect many other parts of your body. Dr. Doyle is often able to help patients manage multiple conditions in single treatment plan of combined therapy. Read more about the conditions Dr. Doyle has treated here.

How does it work?

If you know nothing else, you probably know that acupuncture involves needles! These tiny, sterile needles bloodlessly pierce the uppermost layers of skin, at various parts of the body. After Dr. Doyle has inserted the needles at strategic points, you will rest comfortably for a short period of time to complete the session.

Western science doesn’t fully understand the functions by which acupuncture works, but the countless patients who’ve benefited from it will testify that it does work! Acupuncture tends to work best as a complement to other therapies, and its pain relieving qualities are maximized with long-term treatment. In fact, more medical insurers are covering acupuncture than in the past, especially when it is part of a combined approach to pain relief or anesthesia.

Does it hurt?

In the hands of an expert practitioner, acupuncture will never cause you any pain or discomfort. Many of our patients do not even notice when a needle is being placed.

Will my insurance cover it?

Unfortunately, most insurers do not cover acupuncture therapy. However, in the complex world of chronic pain relief, more and more insurers are becoming open to drug-free treatment options. If you have a condition that persists, despite a full regimen of standard medical interventions, call your insurer and ask if they have policies in place for patients like you.

If you are on a tight budget and will receive no assistance from your medical insurer, tell Dr. Doyle about your situation and he may be able to offer a payment plan. At Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture, we don’t want to see anyone suffer needlessly, when potential treatments may help your condition.

We serve patients from Trophy Club, Keller, Southlake, Grapevine, Argyle, Justin, NRH, and across the North Tarrant County area. Chiropractor Acupuncture 76262

Alternative Treatment For Arthritis–A New Hope

Posted on 12.2.16 |

Many patients, after receiving a diagnosis of arthritis, believe that not much can really be done to help them. The diagnosis usually comes abruptly, from a well intentioned physician, without much explanation or discussion regarding causation or treatment options. “It’s just arthritis” we are told, “Old Arthur comes to visit us all eventually.” It is as if the diagnosis is something of a normal consequence of aging. That annoying uncle that must be tolerated and accepted for the rest of your days.

Of course there are options like pills, steroid injections, pain management, nerve burning, and even surgical procedures that are used in a otiose attempt to mitigate the persistent symptoms of the bothersome “Uncle Arthur.” However, it is now clear that the use of medications, surgeries, and injections in the treatment of osteoarthritis can lead to unintended and occasionally devastating outcomes.

A New Perspective

After years of treating patients suffering from the painful effects of degenerative arthritis, I have come to learn that a new approach is required. No longer is it acceptable to simply throw pills at the problem. The research is clear. Without a comprehensive approach that addresses the fundamental causes of the degenerative process, no lasting recovery from the effects of arthritis can be expected.

We must look at the problem from a completely different point of view. We know that the fundamental cause of degenerative arthritis is loss of function within a motion segment. The loss of function leads to abnormal motion with causes inflammation of the joint. Chronic inflammation leads to degeneration which leads to more loss of function and more pain. It is a vicious cycle.

Any hope at improvement must be focused on dismantling the cycle. Once the cycle is dismantled (not just broken) improvement that leads to lasting recovery can begin.

To dismantle this chronic and degenerative cycle, we ask specific questions relative to your unique condition. We will commonly ask questions like….

What can be done improve the function in your area of complaint?
- Example: Both traditional and low force chiropractic techniques can help improve joint function and biomechanics.
- Example: Acupuncture is excellent for decreasing spasm, reducing inflammation, promoting healing, and restoring function.
- Example: Massage, therapeutic exercise, ultrasound, and electric muscle stimulation can all be utilized to improve joint function and health
- Other modalities and techniques will be addressed and discussed depending on your unique situation
What dietary changes need to be addressed to promote healing and decrease inflammation?
- Do you consume artificial sweeteners? Sweeteners like aspartame are highly inflammatory.
- What is you level of hydration? Inflammation thrives when we don’t get adequate water intake.
- Are there any foods or habits that need to be addressed to give you the best chance at recovery?
- We will make specific recommendations relating to your diet in order the promote healing and improvement
What stretches and/or exercise programs need to be implemented to promote healing and recovery?
- A specific, custom tailored exercise program will be developed and updated throughout the course of your treatment plan.
Do you require nutritional and/or herbal supplementation?
- When and if we believe that you would benefit from nutritional and/or herbal supplementation, we will custom tailor your person supplement schedule.
Do you have any medications that may be causing some of your symptoms?
- We are happy to work with you and your prescribing doctor to suggest alternatives to any prescription medications that may be slowing or hampering your recovery.
And many more…

I believe the success we have had in our clinics in treating patients with degenerative arthritis over the last 20 years lies in the uniqueness of our approach to care. Our model has you, the individual patient, at it’s core. Since no two conditions are the same, it stands to reason that no two treatment plans should be the same either. We get to the core of the degenerative cycle specific to your individual condition and dismantle it so that treatment can begin and healing can occur.

This is certainly not an overnight process and it will take a considerable amount of effort of your part to meet your goals. However, we have accompanied thousands of patients on this journey and we will be with you to provide support, encouragement, and love throughout the process.

Call us today and let’s get started! I look forward to seeing you in or La Grange or Roanoke, TX chiropractic and acupuncture office.

We serve patients from Trophy Club, Keller, Southlake, Grapevine, Argyle, Justin, NRH, and across the North Tarrant County area. Chiropractor Acupuncture 76262