by Greenville Spine Institute | Sep 12, 2023 | Back Pain, Chiropractic Care, Health and Wellness, Pain Relief
Mom of four kids, Ashli, was taking care of her baby one morning, bent over, and heard something in her neck crack. She was in a lot of pain and remembered seeing something about a chiropractor in her church’s bulletin so thought, why not, I’ll call him.
That decision was the turning point in getting her body back to doing what it was supposed to do so she could enjoy life with children.
The Prognosis
Like all new patients, Ashli had an extensive intake with Dr. Lewis, which included x-rays and a consultation on the findings of the (painless) tests.
It turned out that Ashli had 7 subluxations (these cause inflammation) in her spine and her hips were completely misaligned, which made the rest of her body overcompensate for the imbalance.
“I wasn’t having a lot of pain because I had lived with it for so long and my body had compensated for the imbalances for years,” she said.
That had led to Ashli not being able to do a squat without falling over. Additionally, she has scoliosis, which had hindered her spine health for years. She knew most of this going in to see Dr. Lewis, except the information about the subluxations, but like many women, just had dealt with the pain and aches for years.
The Greenville Spine Institute Difference
The way that Dr. Lewis and his team at Greenville Spine handle new patients and the beginning of Chiropractic Care treatment made a world of difference to Ashli. She had been to another chiropractor in the Greenville area who had helped her with some pregnancy pain but did not have a long term plan in place for her to reach the goals she had.
“Dr Lewis’ treatment plan wasn’t just a snap-you-up-and-send-you-home kind of thing,” said Ashli.
Ashli majored in biology at Clemson University so her appreciation for Dr. Lewis’ extensive knowledge and explanation of the functions of the body and what he was planning to do was immensely helpful.
“What got me about Dr. Lewis was the way he explained things to me,” said Ashli. “I loved that he spoke in terms I understood, that he used scientific language to tell me what was going on in my body and was pragmatic. I also really liked the physical therapy part of the treatment – the exercises at home and the ice bed at the office.”
When it came to discussing treatment options, she appreciated Dr. Lewis’ individualized plan for her. She knew she would also have to put in the work and wasn’t afraid to do her part to make the plan a success.
The Results of Chiropractic Care a Year Later
In the course of only a few months, from August – November, Ashli went from 7 subluxations down to just 1. Today, it’s been a year since she first walked into Dr. Lewis’ office and her life has totally changed.
Ashli said she has so much more range of motion in her neck, back, shoulders, and hips. And one side effect she wasn’t expecting even happened.
“My clothes even fit better because my hips were rotated and one hip was higher than the other,” said Ashli. “The same thing was happening with my shoulders.”
Since her spine was aligned, the way she holds her head was also drastically different, as she stood straighter and put less pressure on her neck and shoulders.
But the biggest difference she has noticed is that now she’s able to play with her kids, to run around with them at the park, to go to the gym and get in a good workout and not fall over trying to do squats.
“I can do all the things I haven’t been able to do since college,” Ashli said. “Dr. Lewis has changed my life.”
Ready for your Chiropractic Care transformation story?
If you’re ready to take that next step in addressing long term back pain, healing your immediate aches and pains, or just maintaining your overall health, give us a call at Greenville Spine. We would be more than happy to sit down with you and discuss treatment options. Call us at (864) 631-1420 and let’s get you started on accomplishing all your health goals.
by Dr. Kevin P Lewis | Mar 12, 2021 | Chiropractic Care, Pain Relief, Shoulder Pain
by Dr. Kevin P Lewis | Jan 22, 2021 | Back Pain, Chiropractic Care, Pain Relief
by Dr. Kevin P Lewis | Oct 28, 2020 | Chiropractic Care, Pain Relief
Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), also known as Osteoarthritis, is a condition in which the protective cartilage that surrounds the bone begins to break down. DJD can affect any joint in the body but commonly affects weight bearing joints such as your knees, hips, and spine. Symptoms include local and/or radiating pain, stiffness, lack of flexibility, swelling, and more. You are at risk of suffering from DJD if you suffered a trauma to the area, are diagnosed with a metabolic condition, are overweight, a smoker, or have a family history of Osteoarthritis.
Unfortunately, DJD is a condition that can gradually worsen over time if not treated. Fortunately, DJD is a common condition helped by chiropractic. The reasoning behind this is due to the fact that chiropractors induce motion and restore the joints back to their normal positioning to help relieve excess stress that was being placed onto the joints. Removal of excess stress helps the joints function at their optimum.
How does a chiropractor know what is the best course of treatment? To begin care, it is important to take a thorough history of the person’s previous health history to see what may be the cause of their problem and help navigate the best course of action. Next, a thorough examination is done that includes neurological, orthopedic and physical examinations to find the root cause of the problem. An important part of the examination, if deemed clinically necessary, would be to take X-rays of the spine or affected joints. This is important in helping find the root cause because DJD will show up on an x-ray with decreased joint space and jagged edges around the bones called bone spurs. Having the information given from the x-ray would be crucial in helping determine the best plan of care for you. Lastly, using all of the information gained, the doctor can provide a specific plan of care to help relieve the stress placed on the joints and help prevent further damage.
If left untreated, the condition will continue to worsen, creating additional problems such as ligamentous instability, an increase in pain and stiffness, radiating pain, and decreased flexibility. In severe cases, surgery may be the most appropriate course of action. More than 54 million people in the United States suffer from DJD, but you don’t have to be one of them! Our goal is to help you live your best life free from pain and suffering!
Give our office a call at
1 (864) 631-1420
to schedule a FREE consultation
or visit our website at
Greenvillespine.com
Reference:
https://www.pinnaclehealth.org/wellness-library/blog-and-healthwise/blog-home/post/your-back-pain-may-be-osteoarthritis
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoarthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351925
by Dr. Kevin P Lewis | Oct 12, 2020 | Chiropractic Care, Pain Relief
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, CTS, is a compression of the median nerve that runs under the transverse carpal ligament in the wrist. CTS is characterized by pain, numbness, and tingling that occur in the wrist, thumb and index fingers. Individuals may also experience weakness in the hand and difficulty gripping objects. There are many causes of CTS such as pregnancy, diabetes, and RA, but the most common cause is due to prolonged flexion or extension of the wrist. This commonly affects people whose work requires highly repetitive or forceful work.
There are many ways to help relieve pain caused by CTS. The most common being myofascial release, using wrist supports, B6 supplementation, surgery, and chiropractic care. Chiropractors can help by adjusting the bones in the wrist located near the Carpal Tunnel. By realigning the bones, it creates more room in the Carpal Tunnel for the median nerve to run through, relieving the pressure on the nerve.
In order for a chiropractor to best treat you, a thorough case history must be performed to evaluate your previous health history. The doctor must also perform a thorough examination that includes physical, neurological, and orthopedic examinations to find the root cause of your problem. Lastly, a treatment plan would be made specifically for you if a problem is found that we can help you with.
Give our office a call at
1 (864) 631-1420
to schedule a FREE consultation
or visit our website at
Greenvillespine.com
Reference:
Souza
by Dr. Kevin P Lewis | May 31, 2020 | Chiropractic Care, Pain Relief
Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the wrist and hands. It can cause pain and numbness which makes work difficult. You probably know someone who has undergone surgery to “correct” carpal tunnel, only to see the pain return shortly after. What you probably don’t know is that up to 75% of people who have surgery for the carpal tunnel will have the pain return within two years! Surgery focuses on releasing the pressure on the median nerve, but what about all of those years of repetitive motion and stress on your elbow, shoulder, and neck? The long-term stress on all of these structures needs to be addressed as well to find lasting relief from carpal tunnel syndrome.
Why it Matters:
Many people with carpal tunnel syndrome spend hours performing a repetitive motion with their arms and hands. This also places a tremendous amount of stress on the muscles and tissues of your neck. New research has shown an extremely high correlation between wrist pain and restricted range of motion in the neck. Interestingly, more significant pain in the wrist led to a more substantial restriction in the neck. By establishing an improved range of motion in your neck, you can make a huge impact on pain in your wrist and hand!
– Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs due to compression of the median nerve in the wrist.
– Surgery is not very effective at providing long-term relief.
– Your neck, shoulder, and elbow all can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Next Steps:
While many doctors focus on treating the median nerve, our practice will address the entire spectrum of issues which can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. By establishing a better range of motion in your wrist, elbow, shoulder, and neck, you will be free to move through your day with less pain. Reducing the inflammation in your soft tissues and strengthening your postural muscles will also help you find long-term relief. If you work in an office, let us know! We would love to present a complimentary workshop in your office to help both you and your teammates find relief (or avoid!) carpal tunnel syndrome. Additionally, you can schedule an appointment by clicking here.
Science Source:
Revision Surgery for Persistent and Rcarpal Tunnel Syndrome and for Failed Carpal Tunnel Release. Plast Reconstr Sure. 2012 Chiropractic Manipulation in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. JMPT 1994