Pain-Free Sleeping Positions

Getting a good night sleep is often difficult, especially for those who struggle with joint pain. There are three main sleeping positions that most of us adapt to- side, stomach, and back, - some positions are better than others depending on the status of your health. Changing the way you sleep can be difficult, but Dr. James Huggins Jr. of Carolina Chiropractic Center is here to suggest tips for waking up pain-free.

Sleeping on one’s side can increase back pain and leave a person feeling stiff and uncomfortable in the hips and low back. For additional spine support, utilize a body pillow or place a pillow between the legs. This will keep the body in alignment and alleviate pressure off the hips. Sleeping on your back is the best position for keeping pain at bay. Placing a pillow under the lower back will also provide added support.

If you have questions or concerns about chiropractic treatment or pain management, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.carolinachirocenter.com. To schedule an appointment with Dr. James Huggins, Jr. at Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, SC, call 843-665-9192. 

Bulging Disc Management

Bulging discs, also known as disc protrusion, are very common and people often develop them without realizing it. A bulging disc usually arises with no symptoms, however, they can cause discomfort and disability in various parts of the body, especially if the disc compresses an adjacent nerve root or the spinal cord. Following the diagnosis of a bulging disc, Dr. James Huggins, Jr. of Carolina Chiropractic Center will recommend treatments designed to alleviate symptoms.  

A bulging disc results in a spinal disc compressing against an adjacent nerve root. There are different severities of a bulging disc, some that are more problematic than others. To manage pain for a bulging disc, Dr. James Huggins, Jr. may suggest spinal adjustments, a physical therapy program, or electrical muscle stimulation. These treatment methods will help improve flexibility, decrease pain, and reduce inflammation.

If you have questions or concerns about chiropractic treatment or pain management, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.carolinachirocenter.com. To schedule an appointment with Dr. James Huggins, Jr. at Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, SC, call 843-665-9192. 

Spinal Anatomy

We believe at Carolina Chiropractic in Florence that patients should be fully informed about their treatments. To that end, we want our patients to know more about what the spinal column is and how different issues can affect it.

The backbone is not a single bone, but a combination of bones, joints, and connecting tissues. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves which travels from the brain to the legs, with other nerves branching off it. The backbones, or vertebrae, are made up of flat main bodies and hollow protrusions surrounding the spinal cord. In between the bodies of most of the vertebrae are soft, spongy discs that cushion them. The neck contains seven vertebrae that move independently, the thorax includes twelve, and the lower back, or lumbar region, contains five. In the pelvis are the sacrum and the coccyx, both of which are made of vertebrae fused together without intervening spongy discs.

The guiding theory of chiropractic is that when vertebrae and their adjacent tissues are misaligned, the signals from and to the spine are disrupted. Sciatica would be one example of how this creates problems or prevents the body from healing optimally.

Dr. James Huggins operates the Carolina Chiropractic Center at 1627 Suite C, South Irby, Florence, South Carolina, 29505. To set up an appointment, call 843-665-9192 or visit Carolina Chiro Center and fill out a contact form.

Causes of Upper Back Pain

People suffering from upper back pain need look no further than the Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence. Although neck and lower back pain are more common, pain in the thoracic portion of the spine is an issue which deserves attention and we want our patients to understand what factors into it.

There are some causes of pain in the upper back which are rare but should be tested for. These include infections or bony growths in the vertebrae putting pressure on the spinal cord. The thoracic vertebrae, which the ribs are attached to, do not have as much freedom of movement as other articulated vertebrae, but it is still possible for their discs to wear down or a fracture to develop in people with osteoporosis. However, most upper back pain is caused by muscle fatigue.

If people maintain bad posture, their back muscles will be strained and may tear. Slouching while seated, carrying heavy objects off-center or too high over the head, or even lack of a properly fitted bra may put excessive weight on the upper back muscles. For short-term relief, we provide spinal adjustment to ensure the muscles aren’t being further strained by misaligned parts of the spinal column. In the long-term, strengthening the torso muscles will allow them to take on more weight from the back muscles. Office workers should also remember to sit straight up with their feet on the floor and to keep their screens at eye-level.

Dr. James Huggins operates the Carolina Chiropractic Center at 1627 Suite C, South Irby, Florence, South Carolina, 29505. To set up an appointment, call 843-665-9192 or visit Carolina Chiro Center and fill out a contact form.