Conditions:
Chiropractic helps heal patients afflicted with a variety of injuries and health problems. At Bryn Mawr Wellness, we are motivated to heal our patients and relieve them of debilitating pain.
Below is a sample of conditions chiropractic can treat. However, the extent of what chiropractors can heal reaches beyond what is listed here. If your condition or ailment is not below, please contact us, as this is not an exhaustive list.
Neck
Disc Herniation: Often following a neck injury, a herniated disc in the neck can cause pain and weakness down the arm and into the hand. The herniation can irritate a nerve root as it exits the vertebral column.
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: This syndrome can cause diffused numbness and tingling down the arm and into the ring finger. Overhead activities usually exacerbate the symptoms. Nerves and arteries can be compressed at various sites down the arm, which can cause this syndrome.
TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint): Difficulty opening or closing the jaw with tenderness just in front of the ear can be a sign of TMJ dysfunction. Popping, clicking, or locking of the jaw can lead to painful chewing or talking.
Whiplash: The most common neck injury, whiplash is caused by a sudden movement of the head–backward, forward, or sideways–that results in damage to the supporting muscles, ligaments and other connective tissues in the neck and upper back.
Headaches/Migraines: Headaches affect just about everyone at some point, and they can present themselves in many different ways. Some people only experience pain in one part of their head or behind their eyes, some people experience a pounding sensation throughout their head, and some people even experience nausea, while others do not. Each individual’s case is different and requires a thorough evaluation before a proper course of chiropractic care can be determined.
Low Back
Disc Herniation with Radiculopathy: A herniated disc that irritates the nerve root can cause lower back pain as well as shooting pain down the leg and past the knee. The pain usually comes on quickly and can be caused by a bending and/or twisting maneuver.
Facet Syndrome: The facets are joints on the back part of the spine. When compressed, these joints can cause lower back pain with some hip, buttock or leg pain above the knee.
Sacroiliac Joint Sprain: The sacroiliac joints are pelvic joints that can be seen on some people as dimples just above the buttocks. When sprained, one feels local pain at the joint with radiating pain down the leg.
Scoliosis: Scoliosis is curvature of the spinal column, usually found in adolescence, and can cause pain and postural problems.
Piriformis Syndrome: The piriformis is a deep hip muscle. The sciatic nerve runs underneath, and, in some people, through this muscle. If the piriformis compresses the sciatic nerve, pain can occur down the back of the leg and buttocks.
Shoulder
Rotator Cuff Tear: The rotator cuff can be injured by lifting a heavy weight or by falling on an outstretched arm. Pain will occur in overhead activities, and the arm will become weak and difficult to lift.
Impingement: Impingement occurs when tendons in the shoulder can be pinched or trapped, which causes pain on the top and front of the shoulder.
Adhesive Capsulitis: Symptoms associated with adhesive capsulitis present differently in different patients, and pain can be moderate to severe. All experience limited shoulder movement. In most cases, there is no specific event that triggers the pain.
Elbow
Tennis Elbow: Lateral epicondylitis, commonly known as tennis elbow, is not limited to tennis players. Many other types of repetitive activities can also lead to tennis elbow, such as painting with a brush or roller, running a chainsaw, and using many types of hand tools. Pain is felt on the outside portion of the joint.
Golfer’s Elbow: Medial epicondylitis, also known as golfer’s elbow, is caused by repetitive activities that involve flexing the wrist. Along with pain on the inside of the elbow, a weak grip can also be a symptom.
Triceps Tendinitis: This can occur at the tip of the elbow after repetitively extending one’s arm or a single event involving a forceful elbow extension.
Wrist/Forearm/Hand
Peripheral Nerve Entrapments: The three main nerves that run down the forearm and into the hand (median, ulnar, and radial) can be entrapped by muscles or bony tunnels. When compressed, the nerve can cause pain, weakness, numbness, and/or tingling. The site of entrapment affects where the symptoms will appear. The following syndromes are examples of peripheral nerve entrapments:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Pronator Syndrome
- Anterior Interosseus Syndrome
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- Tunnel of Guyon
- Radial Tunnel Syndrome
de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis: This appears as a pain in the wrist by the thumbs that occurs after activities with forceful gripping or repetitive use of the thumb.
Hip/Thigh
Adductor Sprain: Also referred to as a pulled groin, this often occurs in kicking, sprinting, or jumping activities. A sudden pulling sensation in the groin occurs that can be incapacitating.
Hamstring Sprain: Hamstring sprains occur after a sudden pull or pop at the back of the thigh following a forceful knee extension movement.
Quadriceps Strain: This injury is usually a pulling pain in the front of the thigh after sprinting, kicking (and missing), or attempting to stop suddenly.
Snapping Hip Syndrome/Iliopsoas Tendinitis: Iliopsoas tendonitis is characterized by pain and clicking or snapping in the groin or front of the hip. Because the iliopsoas muscle acts as a hip flexor, symptoms are often worse when bending the hip, especially against resistance.
Knee
IT Band Syndrome: Iliotibial Band Syndrome causes pain on the outside portion of the knee, mostly related to running, specifically downhill. Some people may hear squeaking or clicking when moving the knee.
Chondromalacia: Symptoms of chonfromalacia present as pain at the front of the knee. The pain is worse with going up and down steps and rising after sitting for long periods of time
Meniscus Tears: This affliction presents itself as general pain after twisting the knee. The knee may lock or give out completely as well.
Lower Leg/Foot/Ankle
Shin Splints: Symptoms of shin splints include a deep aching pain on the front portion of the lower leg that may occur after walking or running on a hard surface.
Achilles Tendonitis: The tendon can be injured by the repetitive pounding of running and jumping, or by the stress caused by lifting heavy loads over and over again. In some cases this swelling occurs from the actual thickening of the tendon itself.
Plantar Fascitiis: A painful condition affecting the bottom of the foot. The symptoms of plantar fasciitis include pain along the arch of the foot, and can be more concentrated towards the heel of the foot. This is usually most pronounced in the morning when the foot is first placed on the floor.
Ankle Sprain: Swelling and pain occurs after an ankle is sprained. Usually this injury occurs because the ankle has “turned” or “rolled.” When sprained, the ankle is painful to the touch and can make walking difficult.