Chiropractor Anchorage AK

Many of our patients come to us with complaints of chronic pain. Chronic pain has varying definitions, but is often defined as pain that lasts for more than 6 months. Chronic pain can also stick around even though the original injury has healed. Sometimes patients have tried so many different things to manage their pain that they feel like doctors don’t believe that they have anything wrong with them, that it is “all in their head.” Pain science has some theories about how chronic pain comes about, and I’ve written a blog that goes in depth into the mechanisms that you can read by clicking [here]. The short version is that the brain begins to interpret most neurological signals from an area of the body as pain signals. So pressure, touch, mechanoreceptor, temperature signals and others are misinterpreted as pain by the brain. Our treatment techniques can help “reset” these signal mix-ups, and get things working right again. If you or someone you know is suffering from chronic pain, give us a call so we can help!

If something starts hurting whether by an accident or from some unknown cause, get in to see us within the first few days to decrease the pain and to speed up the healing process. We will do our utmost to get you in quickly. We can often get people in to see the doctor immediately, get yourself checked out and get x-rays if needed. If you or someone you know recently hurt yourself, give us a call so we can help!

Concussions or mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) are one of the most under-diagnosed medical conditions in the country. Concussions often result from impacts to the head, but can also occur without a direct impact to the head. We work with CCMI (Complete Concussion Management Inc.) to offer our patients comprehensive concussion treatment programs. Concussion treatments include chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy, vestibular rehabilitation, ocular rehabilitation, cognitive rehabilitation, as well as targeted heart rate exercises to improve symptoms. To learn more about our concussion treatments, [click here]. Common concussion symptoms include:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Difficulty Concentrating
• Neck Pain
• Sensitivity to light and/or sound
• Feeling Slowed Down
• Confusion
• Anxiety
• Cognitive Challenges
• Personality Changes

If you or someone you know has a potential concussion, give us a call so that we can help!

One of the most important contributors to overall good health is a healthy sleep schedule. Getting high quality sleep is incredibly important, and one of the most common side effects of pain and injury is reduced sleep quality. If you find yourself waking up multiple times a night due to pain or discomfort, that loss of sleep is also impacting your pain! It’s a feedback cycle that makes recovery more difficult, especially the longer it goes on. If you or someone you know is having difficulty sleeping through the night due to pain or discomfort, give us a call so that we can help!

Human beings are quite adaptive, and changes to the quality of movement patterns is very common with both acute injury and chronic pain. The term “everything is connected” really comes into play when it comes to movement patterns. Here is a common scenario in our office: we see someone with new back pain that began after their knee started hurting. They have no idea why their back is hurting. The reason is that the knee pain caused them to walk differently, which in turn put new pressures on the hips and back, which then became painful in response to these new movement patterns. In these cases we treat the knee as well as the back and hips, leading to improved movement patters and reduced pain. Another scenario we see quite a bit of is chronic muscle tightness and soreness. These are again usually related to movement or postural issues where some muscles are working too hard while others are not doing enough. With the proper treatment, these issues can be addressed and the pain and stiffness will improve. If you or someone you know is having pain and tightness, or trouble with movement, give us a call so we can help!

Research has shown that chiropractic adjustments actually increase strength! That’s why high-level athletes often have chiropractic adjustments before competing. The mechanism behind this strength increase has been explored scientifically, and the way it works is fascinating. The adjustment activates special nerve receptors called mechanoreceptors in the joint being adjusted. Mechanoreceptors provide the brain with information about the joint and allow the brain to “see” what is going on in the area. The adjustment basically gives the brain more information about the joint, and allows the brain to increase motor neuron efficiency resulting in stronger muscle contractions around the joint. Of course, we also provide our patients with rehabilitation and stabilization programs to increase their overall strength and flexibility.

Pain and discomfort can make focusing more difficult. Constantly having to shift positions to be more comfortable impacts our ability to focus on what we are doing in the moment. We hear about these issues all the time, difficulty focusing on work, the family, hobbies, or even leisure activities. Nagging pain and discomfort is distracting, and can rob us of enjoyment of our lives. Here at Excellence in Health we focus on not only improving pain, but overall satisfaction with activities that bring our lives joy. If you or someone you know is having difficulty focusing on the things that bring us joy and satisfaction, give us a call so that we can help!

It’s amazing what happens to our quality of life when we feel better, move better, and sleep better. That is the ultimate goal of our care here at Excellence in Health Chiropractic. We want our patients to live their best possible lives, to be able to do the things they want to do without having to worry about excessive pain or limitations. One of the things we often hear our patients say is “I didn’t know how much that was affecting me until it got better.” Sometimes people live with discomfort and physical limitations for so long that they don’t even realize how much it affects their everyday lives until it has improved. Take the first step on your journey to an improved quality of life today by giving us a call and speaking with one of our friendly team members.