Chiropractic Services in Burlington

Back, Neck & Shoulder Issues

Some of the most typical causes of bank, neck and shoulder pain are either an injury or an accident. A sudden forced movement of the head or neck in any direction, resulting in a “rebound” motion in the opposite direction is known as whiplash. Car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash. Other more natural issues are:

► Growing Older – Degenerative disorders such as osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease directly affect the spine. Osteoarthritis, a common joint disorder, causes progressive deterioration of cartilage. Spinal stenosis causes the small nerve passageways in the vertebrae to narrow, compressing and trapping nerve roots. Stenosis may cause neck, shoulder, and arm pain, as well as, numbness when these nerves are unable to function normally. Degenerative disc disease can cause a reduction in the elasticity and height of intervertebral discs. Over time, a disc may bulge or herniate, causing tingling, numbness, and pain that runs into the arm.

► Daily life issues like poor posture, obesity, and weak abdominal muscles often disrupt spinal balance, causing the neck to bend forward to compensate. Stress and emotional tension can cause muscles to tighten and contract, resulting in pain and stiffness. Postural stress can contribute to chronic neck pain with symptoms extending into the upper back and the arms.

Painful Facts

Although chiropractors treat more than just back pain, many patients initially visit chiropractors looking for relief from this pervasive condition all over America. In fact, 31 million Americans experience low-back pain at any given time! That’s a lot of people hurting, sometimes unnecessarily.

► Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Let that sink in for a moment. Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work. In fact, back pain is the second most common reason for a visit to a doctor!

► Fifty percent of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year which is absolutely no surprise. Experts estimate that up to 80% of the population will experience a back problem in their lifetime.

► Most cases of back pain are not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer. The back is a complicated structure of bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles. You can sprain ligaments, strain muscles, rupture disks, and irritate joints, all of which can lead to back pain.

► Sometimes the simplest of movements—for example, picking something from the floor or reaching into the refrigerator can have painful results. Dr. Kevin Geagan of Burlington Chiropractic in Burlington, WA is here for you.

Auto & Sports Injuries

What are the symptoms of injury after a car accident? Every collision is different. The severity of the crash and type of the accident along with prior state of health will determine how the body responds. However, even minor auto accidents can injure the body and should not be taken lightly.

Whiplash is the most common injury sustained from a car accident. The abrupt stop and resulting thrust doesn’t allow time for the body to properly brace and protect itself, which often times results in damage to the tissues and skeletal structures in the neck and spine.

► Some common symptoms associated with whiplash from a car accident include neck pain, neck stiffness and reduced range of motion, back pain, shoulder, and arm pain, migraine headaches, memory loss, insomnia, irritability, dizziness, ringing in the ears, and loss of concentration.

► How soon should you seek assistance from a Chiropractor after an accident? It can vary by the individual and severity of the accident, but within the first three to seven days is the general rule of thumb to see a Chiropractor.

► From an injury perspective, chiropractors want to address the issue immediately to mitigate further damage and accelerate the recovery process. Starting this process before symptoms increase can help aid the path to recovery.

► Let’s not forget the insurance companies perspective on your accident. Whether or not you are at fault, insurance companies give a relatively small window to seek care for injuries related to a car accident. As this window narrows, it can become increasingly challenging to receive compensation for continued professional medical care and post-accident therapy and rehabilitation. Burlington Chiropractic works with you and the insurance company.

► Let’s talk about sports injuries. Whether you are a professional athlete or a weekend warrior, injuries happen. Symptoms of a sports injury include swelling, burning, dull pain, headaches, muscle pain beyond the tenderness of just muscles you haven’t used since college, inflammation, and muscle spasms. Dr. Geagan uses gentle and effective chiropractic adjustments to restore the neck and back to its proper placement.

► Pinched nerves can be particularly painful. Dr. Kevin Geagan, DC, has years of experience providing chiropractic adjustment to the spine to relieve pressure on the nerves, which alleviates pain and allows the body to heal. Many patients suffer from pain for a prolonged period of time, when instead they could consult a chiropractor and be on the road to a pain-free and active life again. Burlington Chiropractic in Burlington, WA wants you to live the best version of your life. Call today and set up a consultation. Dr. Kevin Geagan and his staff will treat you like part of the family!

Chronic Pain and Depression

Some of the common signs and symptoms of chronic pain include:

►Pain beyond six months after an injury
► Allodynia—pain from stimuli which are not normally painful and/or pain that occurs other than in the stimulated area
► Hyperpathia—increased pain from stimuli that are normally painful
► Hyper-sensation—being overly sensitive to pain. There is the old adage that pain lets you know you are alive. But beyond that rather bleak outlook, pain is the body’s alert system. When you suffer an acute injury, pain waves a white flag warning you to stop the activity that is causing the injury.

Chronic pain, on the other hand, persists for weeks, months, or even years.

► Common chronic pain can be caused by headaches, the low back, and arthritis. Scientific evidence shows that the nerves in the spinal cord of patients with chronic pain undergo structural changes. Psychological and social issues can often aggravate the effects of chronic pain.

► How is depression related to chronic pain? Depression is the most common emotion associated with chronic pain. It is thought to be three to four times more common in people with chronic pain than in the general population. In addition, 30% to 80% of people with chronic pain will have some type of depression. The combination of chronic pain and depression is often associated with greater disability than either depression or chronic pain alone. People with chronic pain and depression suffer dramatic changes in their physical, mental, and social well-being—and in their quality of life. Insomnia, agitation, inability to participate in daily tasks and poor concentration.

► In some cases, the depression occurs before the pain. Depression associated with pain is dominant enough to have a significantly negative impact on treatment, including surgery. It is important for your doctor to take into consideration not only biological but also psychological and social issues that pain brings.

Dr. Geagan looks at not only your structural health, but he analyzes the other areas of your life that may be a contributing factor to your chronic pain and depression. When pain is alleviated, the mind has an amazing ability to see beyond the fog it’s been in for so long

Headache Pain

If you have a headache, you’re not alone. Nine out of 10 Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea. Research shows that spinal manipulation by a Chiropractor may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck.

► Headache Triggers. These may include foods, environmental stimuli (noises, lights, stress, etc.) and/or behaviors (insomnia, excessive exercise, blood sugar changes, etc.). Only about 5% of all headaches are warning signals caused by physical problems. The remaining 95% of headaches are primary headaches, such as tension, migraine, or cluster headaches. These types of headaches are not caused by disease; the headache itself is the primary concern. The greatest majority of primary headaches are from muscle tension in the neck from a more sedentary lifestyle.

Get a massage, see us at Burlington Chiropractic and start exercising more. Take a walk, stretch, swim, hike or ride a bike. The more movement and fresh air, the better your body will respond.

Enjoy Your Life Pain Free

Spinal manipulation is a safe and effective spine pain treatment. It helps to reduce the pain (decreasing the need for medication in some cases), works in conjunction with physical therapy, and requires very few passive forms of treatment, such as bed rest.

Spinal manipulation is the only safe and effective, drugless form of initial professional treatment for acute low back problems in adults.

Tips to Prevent Back Pain

► Maintain a healthy diet and weight
► Remain active
► Avoid prolonged inactivity or bed rest
► Warm up or stretch before physical activities
► Maintain proper posture
► Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes
►Sleep on a mattress of medium firmness to minimize any curve in your spine
► Lift with your knees, keep the object close to your body, and do not twist when lifting.
► Quit smoking. Smoking impairs blood flow, resulting in oxygen and nutrient deprivation to spinal tissues.

► Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Come see Dr. Kevin Geagan and find out how you can live pain-free.

About Burlington Chiropractic Clinic

Burlington Chiropractic Clinic, in Burlington, WA, is a Chiropractic Clinic ran by Dr. Kevin Geagan, DC.

Dr. Geagan has been in practice over 25 years, and works on L&I Claim clients, common spinal misalignments, sports injuries, neck & back pain, shoulder pain, sciatica, auto accident injuries, and headaches.