Cleary Family Chiropractic: Blog

Back pain can get worse when it’s left untreated. Many of the problems in people’s spinal columns are due to degenerative conditions causing chronic inflammation. Although inflammation is triggered by the immune system, it causes problems of its own when it persists, including the development of bone spurs in the spine. Fortunately, we at Cleary Family Chiropractic in Woodstock provide holistic, low-risk treatment, preventing bone spurs from growing and minimizing the problems caused by ones already present. Bone spurs are protrusions from bone that build up in places with prolonged inflammation. They are common in people with osteoarthritis, whose joint-cushioning cartilage is wearing away. The facet joints of the spine connect the vertebrae to each other, and as their cartilage erodes, they rub against each other, causing irritation and new bone growth. Spinal spurs also commonly develop around herniated discs, which put pressure on the nearby soft tissues and are unable to function

Ankylosing Spondylitis is the name of a kind of arthritis that can affect the spine. One of its defining symptoms is inflammation of the ligaments and tendons that attach to the vertebrae. Although it is a chronic condition, it is manageable through regular maintenance, and we at Clearly Family Chiropractic in Woodstock are committed to providing our patients with treatments that are safe and as non-intrusive as possible. The exact cause of ankylosing spondylitis is unknown, but it has a major genetic component. It most often occurs in young men and causes early morning stiffness in the lower back and pelvic region. It is often intermittent and can sometimes be felt in the hips and shoulders. In severe cases, the vertebrae may fuse together as the bone regrows during periods when the inflammation subsides. Treatment for ankylosing spondylitis revolves around keeping the spinal joints mobile and reducing inflammation. Spinal adjustments can prevent stiffness, and Active Release Techniq

It’s no secret that if you suffer from back pain, you won’t sleep as well. But what may be less clear to patients is how certain lifestyle changes can help them get better sleep if they suffer from osteoarthritis. We’re dedicated to helping our patients at Cleary Family Chiropractic in Woodstock to free themselves of pain through holistic, minimally invasive means, so we want to explore the ways patients can escape the vicious circle of pain and insomnia. Osteoarthritis differs from other forms of arthritis in that it is characterized by mechanical wear to cartilage. As the bones rub together, their cushioning erodes and they form bony spurs at their tips, triggering inflammation in the surrounding tissues. The dread of pain often causes people more sleep deprivation than the pain itself, and when a person is short on sleep, their soft tissues become less elastic and supportive. If they suffer pain long enough, it may become centralized, meaning that their body is continually sending

Back pain. Maybe you’re lucky enough to not have experienced it. It’s no secret that as we age, we become more susceptible to certain ailments. But did you know that back pain can affect even the fittest person? Sometimes all it takes to injure your back is an honest mistake, other times it’s out of our control and comes down to genetics. We at Cleary Family Chiropractic recognize that back pain is common, but it doesn’t mean you have to suffer through it. Dr. Matthew Cleary specializes in chiropractic care and pain management and can help get you back on the road to a pain-free life.    Some common causes of back pain include:   - Lack of exercise - Arthritis - Improper lifting - Excess weight - Skeletal irregularities - Muscle or ligament strain - Osteoporosis - Bulging or ruptured discs - Age   There are other risk factors associated with back pain, such as certain diseases, psychological conditions, and smoking. In some cases, back pain can be severe enough that only a chiropract

Arthritis is a common cause of back pain. Millions of Americans suffer from it, and many find it debilitating. But what, exactly, is it? Cleary Family Chiropractic in Woodstock is here to provide patients with safe, noninvasive relief, but patients should first understand some more about arthritis’s causes. When we speak of arthritis, or “joint inflammation,” we are describing something that can arise from several disorders. Some of those disorders, such as rheumatism, are due to a compromised immune system, but the most common is osteoarthritis. In our joints, the bones are cushioned by a slippery substance called cartilage. Our cartilage is mostly made up of a protein called collagen, and when collagen production decreases, cartilage can become deformed and wear away. As cartilage degenerates, the bones grow spurs, chip off, or grind against each other, triggering inflammation. The inflamed joint is stiff, often painful, and may put pressure on other parts of the body. A degenerative

At Clearly Family Chiropractic, we offer what is called ice pack cryotherapy to our patients to help treat injuries. Ice pack therapy uses a cold compress on your skin that helps to reduce the temperature of your skin and constrict blood vessels in the area. When you use cold compresses right after an injury it helps to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation. Along with relieving pain right after an injury, ice pack cryotherapy is useful in dealing with muscle spasms. Cold pressure on your muscle spasms helps to numb the painful area’s and loosen up the joints and soft tissues. Patients that have arthritis may also benefit from ice pack cryotherapy to reduce their pain and mobility. We encourage our patients who are suffering from pain to ask us if ice pack cryotherapy is right for you. Cold compresses are no longer for fresh injuries as they are useful long after the initial injury and can help to reduce pain and increase mobility in your joints. To learn more about all of the servic

Have you struggled with pain in your pelvis or lower back? People often assume the cause is sciatica, but it might also be sacroiliitis. Cleary Family Chiropractic provides lots of non-addictive treatments for this kind of joint inflammation, but eliminating the pain may require the patient to make lifestyle changes and undergo physiotherapy. The sacroiliac joints are where the sacrum, one of the structures of the lower spine, connects with the ilium, the top of the pelvis. This region bears a lot of weight, and the sacroiliac joint is subject to wear and tear. When sacroiliac joint dysfunction causes inflammation, the patient may feel pain as far as their lower back and the front of their thigh. It is often worse when the patient has been standing or lying down for a long time. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is not the only thing that can cause inflammation, but it is the most common, and can result from cartilage degeneration or a recent traumatic injury or childbirth. If only one sacr