Piriformis Syndrome

There are several potential causes of sciatica, including a herniated disc, a narrow spinal canal, and a misplaced vertebra. But if you are frequently experiencing shooting pain or numbness down one leg when you climb stairs or sit for a long period, you may have piriformis syndrome. This muscular disorder can result from acute injuries and overuse, but at the Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, South Carolina, we’ll identify its cause and help you find safe pain relief.

The sciatic nerve branches off from the spinal cord in the lumbar region of the spine and travels down the leg. On the way, it passes around, through, or on either side of deep muscle in either side of the pelvis named the piriformis. The piriformis muscle is shaped like a triangle and connects the sacrum, the part of the spine between the hip bones, to the top of the femur. It helps to stabilize the hip and rotates the leg away from the body. A swollen piriformis can compress the sciatic nerve, triggering sciatica symptoms.

People can develop Piriformis Syndrome by falling on their hips or by doing intense lower body work that jostles their hips a lot, such as if they run up stairs or rocky hills. Because the symptoms it causes are similar to those of other musculoskeletal disorders, Piriformis Syndrome is diagnosed through imaging and process of elimination. The body can usually recover from piriformis inflammation, so we focus on relieving the patient’s pain through noninvasive, non-addictive treatments such as manual adjustments, therapeutic ultrasounds, and electric muscle stimulation. Patients should gradually return to activity but avoid high-impact exercises and running on hard surfaces.

Dr. James Huggins runs 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.

 

Knee Pain

Have you taken a bump to your knee that’s still sore days later? Don’t wait any longer to get it checked out. At the Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, we frequently help people whose musculoskeletal systems have been disrupted by sports injuries and degenerative conditions. If your knee is out of alignment, you may find yourself compensating by throwing off the balance of your hips and lower back, leading to more pain. Our office will help you treat the pain and prevent it from returning.

Knee pain is formally called “patellofemoral syndrome.” The patella, or kneecap, is the largest of the body’s sesamoid bones. What this means is that the kneecap does not directly connect to other bones; it is anchored into a groove in the femur by tendons and ligaments and rests over a bed of cartilage. If there is something wrong with the ligaments, the kneecap may move out of place and rub against the cartilage, removing the leg bones’ cushioning and triggering inflammation. Soreness and stiffness will persist as long as the kneecap is displaced.

An adjustment can put the kneecap back in place and noninvasive therapies, such as electric muscle stimulation and ultrasound, can reduce swelling in the surrounding soft tissues. Our chiropractic office is dedicated to providing musculoskeletal solutions that are cost-effective and low risk. Strengthening exercises will allow the knee tendons to hold the patella more firmly in place in the future, and better posture and hydration will make them less likely to fray.

Dr. James Huggins runs 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.

 

Sports Injuries and Chiropractic Treatment

More professional athletes are turning to chiropractors than ever.  Medical doctors tend to treat a sports injury by alleviating symptoms with medication and recommending rest from activity.  At Carolina Chiropractic Center, Dr. James Huggins, Jr.’s approach to rehabilitating sports injuries takes the rest of the body and its natural ability to heal itself into account.  This always results in less time ‘benched’ from activity and a quicker recovery.

You don’t need to be a professional athlete to rehabilitate a sports injury the right way.  If you or your family members are involved in sports, a chiropractor can help you too.  Rather than prescription medication and rest from activity, a chiropractor will focus on repairing any damage to hard and soft tissue with chiropractic adjustments to     the spine and extremities.  If you are in pain from an injury, of course your chiropractor will advise the best pain relief strategy for you.  However, your only prescription will likely include physical therapy exercises for you to perform on your own. 

Start rehabbing sports injuries with your chiropractor now for a lifetime of healthy activity! If you suffer from back pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about all the treatments available at the practice, visit www.carolinachirocenter.com. To schedule an appointment with Dr. James Huggins, Jr. at Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, SC, call 843-665-9192. 

Sports Injuries and Chiropractic Care

If you have teeth, you should have a dentist, and if you play a sport, you should have a chiropractor. Whether you are a weekend athlete or a professional, there are a few things that all athletes have in common, they both get injured. When they do, Dr. James Huggins, Jr. at Carolina Chiropractic Center can help.

The most common injuries from sports activities include damage to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. An acute twisting or overextension of a joint can lead to muscle or tendon tears called strains, and tears of ligaments called sprains. Chiropractic offers a balanced approach to the treatment and the healing of sports injuries. By using the chiropractic adjustment to return spinal segments to their normal mobility and by using physical therapy to help the supportive tissues (muscles, tendons, and ligaments), chiropractic physicians such as Dr. James Huggins, Jr. help the supportive tissues return to their normal function.

If you have been injured in a sport, give us a call so we can help you get back to your best shape. 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. 

Difference Between Sprains and Fractures

You can distinguish the difference between a sprain and a fracture depending on the physical pain that you feel. A sprain refers to stretched or torn tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels around a joint and can be caused by an accident, fall, or blow. A fracture, on the other hand, is a break or crack in a bone that can be caused by the same types of injuries, but instead, you might hear a snapping sound as the bone breaks. Here at Carolina Chiropractic Center, no matter what type of injury you have, Dr. James Huggins, Jr. is here to treat it.

Sprains are defined by the kind of tissue –bone, ligament, or tendon – that’s damaged. Meanwhile, a fracture describes a break in one or more of the bones. Injuries are the most common causes of foot and ankle sprains and fractures. Many fractures and sprains occur during sports, but with the winter months ahead of us, snowfall can increase chances of falling, leading to injury. Warming up prior to physical activity can prevent ankle sprains and fractures and so can wearing proper shoes.

If you’ve recently suffered an injury, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about the services we provide at our office, visit www.carolinachirocenter.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. James Huggins, Jr. at Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, SC, call 843-665-9192.