Introduction to Spinal Spurs

Spinal spurs sound scary, and it’s true that they can cause pain. But with the right treatment, they are manageable. The ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge does more than relieve symptoms; we also put patients in the best position to care for their own wellness and avoid pricey and more dangerous interventions. Therefore, we wanted to say a bit about bone spurs in the spine and why they should be treated early. 

 Bones are alive, constantly breaking down and re-growing new tissue. Spurs are what happen when they grow tissue in an inappropriate place, often in response to inflammation. When a person’s spinal discs are degenerating, they are unable to absorb shocks and the discs’ protrusion may irritate nearby muscle and ligament tissue. The irritated tissue thickens with inflammation and distorts the vertebrae’s growth pattern. Additionally, people with osteoarthritis are at risk of developing bone spurs because the erosion of their joint cartilage causes their bones to rub together. The rubbing triggers inflammation in their joints and abnormal growth of replacement bone tissue. 

 

Spinal spurs could cause shooting pain, tingling, or numbness by compressing a nerve at its root. More commonly, they cause soreness. After using visual imaging to diagnose a bone spur, our treatment options include chiropractic adjustments to reduce stress on dislocated joints, soft tissue therapies such as electric muscle stimulation to reduce inflammation, and therapeutic stretches to improve flexibility. We may also recommend strengthening exercises to reduce the burden on the joints and improve posture. 

 

To prevent the development of spine spurs and manage symptoms associated with them, contact Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355. 

Osteoarthritis and Sleep Deprivation

If you suffer from arthritis, you’ve doubtlessly lost a lot of sleep to it. You’ve probably also noticed that arthritis exists in a vicious circle with sleep deprivation; the more scared you are of pain, the less you sleep, and the more sensitive you become. So how do you break free of this cycle? At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, we utilize minimally invasive, fast-acting pain relief methods for people suffering from joint damage. Those include chiropractic adjustments, high-tech treatments, and lifestyle changes.

 

Osteoarthritis is a kind of joint inflammation in which the cartilage that cushions joints suffers wear-and-tear damage, triggering swelling. If you are are tired, your soft tissues is less elastic and are more prone to irritation. People who dread pain tend to lose sleep out of fear of it, and the nerves pain travels along become over stimulated. People with chronic inflammation may also develop bony spurs, which could further stretch soft tissues and erode cartilage.

 

While you cannot do anything to completely stop the degenerative disease process of osteoarthritis, you can help to slow the process through regular chiropractic care and good nutrition. Chiropractic adjustments help to restore joints to their proper place, making them less likely to push against nearby tissues. In addition to correcting spinal misalignments, at ACT wellness Center, we utilize a variety of anti-inflammation soft tissue treatments, including low level laser therapy and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF). We can recommend wedge pillows that provide you with better joint support while sleeping. A bio-nutritional consultation may help to determine how your diet may be triggering inflammation. Many people sleep better when they reduce their intake of sugar and limit their screen time before bed, and when they stretch throughout the day to remain limber.

 

For holistic anti-inflammation treatments and relief from joint stress, visit Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Do you feel pain or stiffness in your lower body? A joint problem might be to blame, but there are several joint dysfunctions that could cause similar symptoms. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, we provide natural, holistic pain management with special emphasis on musculoskeletal disorders. This week, we want to educate our patients about one of the lesser-known causes of lower back pain: sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

 

The sacrum is the structure of fused vertebrae that dangles beneath the lumbar region of the spine. It connects on both sides to the iliac crests, which are the highest bones of the pelvis, and the two connections are called the sacroiliac joints. These joints can suffer stress, especially when their supporting lower back and pelvis muscles are weak or tight; typically they don’t have very much mobility.  Inflammation of these joints is called sacroiliitis, and it may cause a person to feel sore in their lower back and buttock. Usually, only one side is inflamed at a time.

 

Although sacroiliac joint dysfunction is less likely than a herniated lumbar disc to compress a nerve, it could still cause pain to radiate outwards. A person is especially likely to feel pain when they put weight on the joint. We can make a diagnosis by testing how a patient responds to pressure on different bones. If a person has a sacroiliac issue, we can treat them by performing chiropractic adjustments, and by reducing their inflammation through low level laser therapy and electric muscle stimulation. Our chiropractor, Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo, is a Chiropractic Sports Physician and Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner; he may also recommend therapeutic exercises to strengthen the lower back and pelvic regions.

If you suspect you have sacroiliac joint dysfunction or a similar disorder, visit Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.