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Don't Choose Drugs for Back Pain

Here in our Rutland office, Dr. Cyr has helped several people recover from back pain. If you suffer from back pain, you've most likely been tempted to take some medications to relieve the pain. You should know that research indicates that chiropractic care is often a better approach than drugs when it comes to alleviating this particular type of pain.

In a 2013 study published in the journal Spine researchers included 101 subjects who had suffered back pain for more than two days. Each person was then assigned to one of three groups. The first group, which was made up of 37 patients, received chiropractic treatment and a placebo of the NSAID diclofenac. The second group of 38 patients received sham chiropractic treatments and the genuine drug. The third group of 25 people acted as the control as those individuals engaged in sham chiropractic care and also received the placebo, thus having no real treatment whatsoever.

Both of the groups that received some type of real treatment, whether through chiropractic care or the medication, fared better than the control group who had no actual treatment. However, when the two active groups were compared to one another, the subjects who received chiropractic had improvements that were "significantly better" than those who took the medications.

Chiropractic Promotes Natural Healing

Because chiropractic is non-invasive and doesn't use drugs, it helps promote healing without unwanted side effects. For example, anti-inflammatory drugs can result in ulcers, hypertension, and other serious health concerns. Plus, the health benefits of chiropractic last longer as it's intended to correct the source of the problem, not just treat the symptoms.

If you're ready to address your back pain naturally, then chiropractic care is for you. Make an appointment in our Rutland office with Dr. Cyr today at (802) 775-6961. We'll help improve your back problems in a healthy way!

References

von Heymann WJ, Schloemer P, Timm J, Muehlbauer B. Spinal high-velocity low amplitude manipulation in acute nonspecific low back pain: a double-blind randomized controlled trial in comparison with diclofenac and placebo. Spine 2013;38(7):540-548.

We work with many auto injury cases in our Rutland office, and a common symptom our patients report is neck pain. If you have neck pain after an auto collision, don't worry. Dr. Cyr sees this type of condition very often in our Rutland office. Neck pain is a common problem after an auto collision, and it's something that Dr. Cyr sees often in our Rutland office. What causes neck pain after an auto collision? How can chiropractic help? Why is neck pain such a common problem after a car accident? How can your chiropractor help you recover? Let's look at why neck pain is frequently experienced after an auto injury and see how chiropractic can help you recover. Let's look at the root cause of neck pain after an accident and see how chiropractic care can help. The key to recovering from neck pain caused by a crash is to understand the root cause of the problem and how chiropractic care can help. Chiropractic care can be very helpful for neck pain symptoms after a crash. Let's examine what causes neck pain and why chiropractic works. Chiropractic care is a great way to treat neck pain. Let's look at how neck pain is caused by a crash and how Dr. Cyr can help you.

It's not surprising that neck pain is the most common problem experienced after an auto injury. Even in a car wreck, your head is rapidly thrown back and forth, so it's not surprising that neck pain is the most common symptom from this type of injury. The neck is exposed to very high forces during a collision, so it's not surprising that neck pain is so common from this type of injury. During even a low speed wreck, your head is subjected to extremely rapid acceleration. In such collisions, a head that normally weighs about 10 pounds can instantly weigh eight times as much. This force exerts a severe strain on the tissues of the cervical spine. The bones of your neck are held together with strong bands of tissue called ligaments, and these ligaments provide stability for your neck. These ligaments can be sprained during a wreck, just as the ligaments in your ankle can be sprained. A sprain means that the ligament is stretched or torn.

When you experience a sprained ligament, the injured area become swollen and sore, and that's what takes place after a car crash. Chiropractic helps by increasing mobility in the injured area, which helps the tissues heal and helps minimize scar tissue.

Dr. Cyr Can Help Clients Find Relief From Neck Pain & Help You Recover Quicker

You don't have to suffer from neck pain. Dr. Cyr is conveniently located in Rutland to help you recover, whether you've been in an auto collision or not. If you've been hurt in a car crash and you're experiencing neck pain, Dr. Cyr is here to help. Dr. Cyr has been helping patients in Rutland since 1985, so we know what you're going through. We're here to help you, too. Let us help you recover from neck pain. The first step is to get an accurate diagnosis to determine what's causing your pain and then we will determine an appropriate treatment plan of action. Next, we'll do a careful evaluation to figure out the root cause of your problem, and then decide how to restore your body's natural functioning. Dr. Cyr will determine what's causing your pain and then will work to restore your body to its natural functioning. Give our office a call today at (802) 775-6961 to make an appointment.

Many people suffer with headache pain, and tension headaches are a common problem in our busy world. Postural problems and stress are common causes of tension headache pain, and ones that Dr. Cyr and the team here in our Rutland chiropractic office have a lot of experience in treating.

Research Supports Chiropractic Eases Tension Headaches

The scientific literature verifies our findings: A 2016 study from Spain treated a group of 76 men and women with chronic tension headaches. The participants were divided into four treatment groups: 19 patients were treated with suboccipital inhibition (the doctor presses on the tight tissues at the top of the spine); 19 with chiropractic adjustments; 19 with both adjustments and suboccipital inhibition; and 19 received no treatment.

The authors reported that the spinal adjustments were effective at relieving pain, and that the best results were found when spinal adjustments were coupled with the suboccipital inhibition.

When we get run down, the nerves and tissues in the neck can be disrupted, causing pain. Chiropractic works by eliminating these stresses and restoring the normal nerve function to the tissues.

We're Here to Help Clients Find Comfort From Tension Headaches

If you live in Rutland and are dealing with any kind of headache, we're here to help you get relief. Call Dr. Cyr today at (802) 775-6961 for an appointment or more information.

Source

Espi-Lopez GV, Rodriguez-Blanco C, Oliva-Pascual-Vaca A, et al. Do manual therapy techniques have a positive effect on quality of life in people with tension-type headache? A randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Physical Rehabilitation Medicine 2016; February 29.

Chiropractic is centered on the approach of allowing your body to naturally heal through spinal adjustments and lifestyle changes that stimulate wellness. For Dr. Cyr, this means working to restore your body's natural functioning to avoid the need for medications or surgery. We notice that most of our Rutland patients are happy to find a natural solution for their health conditions.

One benefit of chiropractic care is that it helps people reduce or eliminate the use of narcotics. Prescriptions are oftentimes supplied to individuals who have back pain. This is such a serious crisis that the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) issued a report stating that opioid (painkiller) risks outweigh the benefits when prescribed for back pain.

Some of the most popular opiates, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, include hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin and Percocet), morphine, and codeine. Figures offered by the AAN mention the fact that approximately 50% of the patients taking these drugs for a period of three months are still on them five years later. This can further complicate the problem of back pain and healing, especially if an narcotic addiction occurs.

Compare that to chiropractic which engages natural healing and the benefits are clear. While a drug might be useful at temporarily relieving the symptoms of a health condition, it's not a solution to the problem. Drugs can't fix your damaged spine; it will only conceal the pain.

Dr. Cyr will first examine you to get to the root of your back pain and then work with you to eliminate the problem -- without risky drugs.

If you're ready for pain relief, naturally, give our Rutland office a call at (802) 775-6961 to make an appointment with Dr. Cyr.

References

• Risk of opioids outweigh benefits for headache, low back pain, other conditions. American Academy of Neurology;September 29, 2014.
• What are opioids? National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/prescription-drugs/opioids/what-are-opioids

We manage many auto injury cases in in our Rutland office, and a widespread symptom we see in our patients is thoracic outlet syndrome. Chiropractic is an excellent way to treat thoracic outlet syndrome. Let's look at how thoracic outlet syndrome is caused by a crash and how Dr. Cyr can help you.

The thoracic outlet is a bundle of blood vessels and nerves that pass through your neck and shoulder to your arm. These nerves and blood vessels don't have a lot of space, so they travel underneath and between the strong bands of muscles that support your head.

In a crash, these muscle groups can be stretched and strained. If injured, the muscles become inflamed and tender, and they can develop scar tissue which limits movement and puts stress on the tissues of the thoracic outlet. Pressure on the nerves can cause tingling or pins and needles in the shoulder, elbow and even the wrist. Pressure on the blood vessels can also cause problems in the arm.

Rutland Thoracic Outlet Treatment

Chiropractic can be an effective way to treat thoracic outlet syndrome, as Dr. Cyr will help improve mobility in your spine and restore normal nerve function in your neck and shoulder.

Dr. Cyr has been helping patients in Rutland since 1985, so we know what you're going through. We're here to help you, too. The first step is to get an accurate diagnosis to determine what's causing your pain and then we will determine an appropriate treatment strategy. Call us today at (802) 775-6961 if you have questions or would like to make an appointment.

When playing sports that require a lot of lower body movement, like football, soccer, and basketball, it's not uncommon to sustain some type of injury to your hips or legs. Between pulled hamstrings, sprained ankles, knee injuries, and more, many players have found themselves out of commission. Dr. Cyr has seen all of these problems in our Rutland patients. Fortunately, chiropractic adjustments can help prevent some of these injuries from occurring and research proves it.

Research Proves Chiropractic Helps With Sports Injuries & Recovery

Dr. Cyr keeps up-to-date with all of the latest scientific research, and in a study published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, researchers from Macquarie University in Australia studied 59 semi-elite Australian Rules football players. Roughly one-half were placed in a control group and the other half were put in a treatment group that received sports chiropractic care at regular intervals. During the first six weeks, this meant engaging in care once a week. The following three months consisted of an adjustment every two weeks before decreasing those to one visit monthly for the final three months of the study.

Researchers noted that there was a "significant" difference in the number of leg strains the players received in the treatment group when compared to the control. Furthermore, they observed that the subjects who engaged in chiropractic also had fewer weeks of missed practice and games as a result of non-contact knee injuries. This led them to conclude that sports chiropractic intervention should be added to "the current best practice management."

Every major sports team in the US and the US Olympic Team has chiropractors on staff for their players, because they know that chiropractic works. If you live near our practice in Rutland and would like to see if Dr. Cyr can help you boost your performance or reduce sports injuries, give our office a call today at (802) 775-6961 for an appointment.

Dr. Cyr Can Help Clients Find Comfort From Sports Injuries and Recover Faster

If you're troubled with severe pain, Dr. Cyr and our staff are here to help you recover. Give our Rutland office a call today at (802) 775-6961 for an appointment today.

Original Study

Hoskins W, Pollard H. The effect of a sports chiropractic manual therapy intervention on the prevention of back pain, hamstring and lower limb injuries in semi-elite Australian rules footballers: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2010;11(64).

We work with many back pain patients in our Rutland chiropractic office, and Dr. Cyr and our staff uses an assortment of techniques to help get you out of pain and restore your spine's normal, healthy function. We find spinal decompression to be an effective approach.

Understanding Spinal Decompression Therapy

To help you better understand spinal decompression therapy, think of the discs in your spine like small balloons filled with jelly. When you compress them (which occurs due to normal living, sustaining an injury, or other medical conditions), they can protrude, placing pressure on the nerves in your spinal column. This affects your brain's ability to communicate with tissues in the rest of your body.

If the pressure on the discs becomes too high, they can herniate or bulge. This reduces the cushion between your vertebrae and can cause pain. The purpose of spinal decompression therapy is to alleviate this pressure to help restore your body's function and also reduce your level of pain.

Can Spinal Decompression Therapy Help Me?

Spinal decompression therapy relieves disc pressure through the use of a specially designed table that carefully elongates your spinal column through slow and controlled movements. This lessens the pressure placed on your discs. Some studies show an increase in disc height by as much as 1.3 millimeters after just six weeks of spinal decompression therapy.

If you're wondering if spinal decompression therapy could help you feel and perform better, simply call our Rutland office and schedule an appointment with Dr. Cyr today. Your optimal health is our number one priority!

Resources

Apfel CC, Cakmakkaya OS, Richmond C, et al. Restoration of disk height through non-surgical spinal decompression is associated with decreased discogenic low back pain: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2010;11(155). doi:10.1186/1471-2474-11-155

In our Rutland practice, it isn't uncommon for us to see patients suffering with sciatica, and Dr. Cyr has helped many of these people improve with chiropractic. What makes chiropractic care so beneficial to those who suffer with sciatica? First, it reduces their time of recovery and a Norwegian research study confirms it.

In the article, which took place in a Norwegian hospital's orthopedic division, researchers looked at 44 patients who had abrupt low back pain that was diagnosed as acute sciatic nerve pain. The participants were all treated by a chiropractor, with the mean follow-up being two years after treatment.

The authors discovered that all but two patients went back to their jobs after receiving chiropractic care, which is a 95% success rate. Furthermore, the average amount of time that the individuals spent off work "was reduced by two thirds as compared with that associated with conventional medical treatment."

Given the fact that the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 170,450 days of work were lost in 2013 due to employees dealing with back or spine-related issues, that is about 112,500 work days that could potentially be recovered each and every year solely by receiving chiropractic care. Not only could that increase productivity, but it might also decrease costs to businesses and employees from lost work.

If you live in Rutland and you suffer from sciatica pain, Dr. Cyr is here to assist. Give us a call at (802) 775-6961 and we'll work with you to find the root cause of your sciatic pain and get you back on the road to health.

Orlin JR, Didriksen A. Results of chiropractic treatment of lumbopelvic fixation in 44 patients admitted to an orthopedic department. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2007;30(2):135-139.

There are many different kinds of headache, but one of the most common types is known as "cervicogenic headache," or headaches that originate in your neck.

Dr. Cyr sees a lot of patients in our Rutland office who are suffering with recurring headaches. Thankfully, chiropractic can often help, potentially reducing these types of headaches by 50 percent, and research confirms it.

Research Proves Chiropractic Helps With Cervicogenic Headaches

A study was conducted involving 80 participants who reported experiencing at least five cervicogenic headaches during the prior three months. The goal was to see how effective chiropractic was for this type of head pain, as well as to determine the number of treatment sessions necessary to achieve a positive effect.

The patients were divided into four separate groups, so that each group was similar in age, gender, number of cervicogenic headaches, and their intensity. Of the four groups, two engaged in chiropractic treatments and two received light massage. Furthermore, one group assigned to each treatment received eight sessions and the other patients received double that amount.

Each person was assessed based on head pain, neck pain, and disability prior to the study and 12 and 24 weeks after treatment was complete. The researchers found that those who received chiropractic as opposed to massage reported fewer headaches at the conclusion of the study. Furthermore, improvements were maintained when checked six months after treatment ended.

Additionally, patients who were taking medications for their headaches were able to lower their intake after completing the study. Those who received chiropractic care had lower drug usage 24 weeks post-study.

We Can Help People Find Relief From Head Pain

Dr. Cyr has helped many patients who were suffering from headache pain in our Rutland office. Call us today at (802) 775-6961 for more information or for an appointment.

Reference

Haas M, Spegman A, Peterson D, Aickin M, Vavrek D. Dose response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for chronic cervicogenic headache: a pilot randomized controlled trial. The Spine Journal 2010; 10: 117-128.

Dr. Cyr sees many patients weekly in our busy Rutland chiropractic office who are searching for relief from the pain and agony they feel due to herniated discs. Our experience isn't unique; the medical literature verifies that chiropractic is a great way to treat herniated disc pain.

Don't Suffer! Dr. Cyr and Chiropractic Care Helps With Disc Herniation

One particular research study involved 27 people, 8 male and 19 female, who had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirming a disc herniation in either their neck or lower back. The individuals documented that they were experiencing pain, limited range of motion, and sensory issues bad enough to keep them off work.

During the course of the research study, the subjects were treated using one of two common chiropractic practices: traction for herniated discs in the cervical area or flexion distraction for the people who had herniation issues in the low back.

Each individual was treated four or five times per week for the first two weeks, then three times weekly, and then as needed for the rest of the study. Depending on the seriousness of the disc herniation, therapy ranged anywhere from six weeks to six months, with MRIs being carried out at a variety of stages to identify what impact, if any, the chiropractic care was having in regard to the disc herniation.

Research Proves Chiropractic Helps With Back Pain and Herniated Disc

The authors reported that 80 percent of the subjects experienced a "good clinical outcome," meaning reduced pain and a reduction in other symptoms, such as numbness. Furthermore, 77 percent of these subjects also showed MRI evidence that their disc herniation was either reduced or resolved completely. This resulted in 78 percent of the study participants being able to return to their place of employment and led the authors to conclude that chiropractic adjustments is both "safe and helpful" for disc herniations.

If you have a herniated disc and suffer from chronic back pain and are near Dr. Cyr in Rutland, contact our office today to see what chiropractic can do for you!

Reference
BenEliyahu, DJ. Magnetic resonance imaging and clinical follow-up: study of 27 patients receiving chiropractic care for cervical and lumbar disc herniations. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1996;19(9):597-606.