How Your Sleeping Habits Can Contribute to Back Pain

Many people experience back pain first thing in the morning, especially when moving from lying down to standing. Stiffness in the morning is usually because of decreased blood flow while sleeping, and symptoms usually subside after moving around.

However, some people experience morning back pain more often than normal.

To help reduce back pain first thing in the morning, consider the following:

1) Sleeping positions: If you’re constantly feeling back pain in the morning, your sleeping position could be the culprit. Poor sleeping positions can put pressure on your spine. If you’re a stomach sleeper, you may experience back pain more frequently. Doctors recommend sleeping on your side or your back with a pillow between your knees.

2) Bad mattress: Switching out your old mattress for a new one could help reduce back pain. Switching out a mattress older than 9 years old can improve sleep quality, reduce back discomfort, and reduce stress.

Read more about relief for morning back pain on our website!

Come to Pivotal Chiropractic for a Chiropractor Who Puts You First!

We understand that healthcare choices are critical decisions and that you have many different options for treating back pain in Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities. If you have back pain, neck pain, or tingling or numbness in your hands and feet, it’s time to see a chiropractor. To schedule a complimentary consultation, contact us at 734-221-0362.

How to Relieve Back Pain in the Morning

Do you wake up and have lower back pain?

Many people experience back pain first thing in the morning, especially when moving from lying down to standing. Stiffness in the morning is usually because of decreased blood flow while sleeping, and symptoms usually subside after moving around.

However, some people experience morning back pain more often than normal. Persistent back pain can be caused by:

• Stress
• Poor posture
• Underlying medical conditions

Read more about relief for morning back pain on our website!

Come to Pivotal Chiropractic for a Chiropractor Who Puts You First!

We understand that healthcare choices are critical decisions and that you have many different options for treating back pain in Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities. If you have back pain, neck pain, or tingling or numbness in your hands and feet, it’s time to see a chiropractor. To schedule a complimentary consultation, contact us at 734-221-0362.

Natural Remedies to Fight the Flu

Winter is in full swing and with the cold weather comes flu season. According to the CDC, the flu spreads through droplets, which are expelled by a person who has the flu via coughing, sneezing or talking. Often times a person is exposed to the virus when they touch a surface that has these droplets and then touch their mouth, eyes or nose.

A few signs of the flu according to the CDC include: fever, cough, sore, throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue.

This year, more than ever, we’re all very aware of any flu-like symptoms we might be experiencing. If you want to better prepare yourself to stay healthy this winter, read about natural remedies to fight the flu on our website!

How Chiropractic Care Can Strengthen Your Immune System

The brain and central nervous system control and regulate our entire body including the organs of the immune system. These include the thymus, tonsils, spleen and lymph nodes. Segmental displacements of the neck and spine can obstruct or block this neurological connection thus affecting the ability of the immune system to react to foreign pathogens. 

To keep yourself healthy, it’s important to take care of your health in all aspects! If you’ve been dealing with chronic pain or other issues like back pain, neck pain, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, or migraine headaches, chiropractic care in Ann Arbor could be the solution for you. Contact us today to get started!

How to Strengthen Your Immune System during Flu Season

Cold and flu season is here, and this year it’s more challenging than ever!

Do you feel confident in your overall health? Are you wondering if there’s more natural remedies you can add to your daily routines to keep yourself protected from the flu?

The CDC says common signs and symptoms of the flu include: fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue. 

As a specific correction chiropractor, Dr. Gessert recommends being proactive as opposed to reactive about your health. Instead of waiting to get the flu and treating the symptoms, there are many things you can do to protect yourself to make sure you never get it in the first place!

Read the full article about chiropractic care on our website!

To keep yourself healthy, it’s important to take care of your health in all aspects! If you’ve been dealing with chronic pain or other issues like back pain, neck pain, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, or migraine headaches, chiropractic care in Ann Arbor could be the solution for you. Contact us today to get started!

Taking Breaks to Stretch Can Relieve Middle Back Pain

Do you feel sore after sitting for the majority of your work day?

Have you tried stretching to take pressure off your back?

Incorporating a few simple stretches in your daily routine can reduce back pain.

• Passive Backbend: This pose is great for relieving tension. Working this stretch into your daily routine can increase back flexibility, reduce tension, and improve your posture! 
• Place a rolled-up blanket or pillow under your upper back on the floor and lie down. 
• Recline back, using your hands for support, until your upper back has rested on the prop. 
• Reach your arms over your head towards the floor while straightening your legs to the floor. Your head should barely touch the ground. 
• Hold and relax into this posture.
• Seated Twist: Twists are a great way to release the mid back and improve flexibility. 
• While twisting, keep the spine long by sitting up straight. The twisting stretch is meant to elongate the spine. 
• Hold the stretch for three to five breaths. 
• Repeat as needed.

If you want to learn more stretches to alleviate middle back pain click here!

Stretch to Relieve Your Middle Back Pain in Ann Arbor

Working stretches into your daily routine is a healthy way to reduce your middle back pain in Ann Arbor. Contact us at 734-221-0362 for a free consultation with our specific correction chiropractor.

How Does a Disc Bulge in the First Place?

 From Dr.Gessert: The spine is designed to be flexible. It allows us to flex, extend, rotate and laterally bend in all directions. It’s made up of 25 movable bones called vertebras, broken up into 4 sections, the cervical (neck) 7, thoracic 12, lumbar 5, and sacral 1. 

When we bend and flex our spine, the disc material can move. The jelly inside the disc will displace in the opposite direction of spinal movement.

When this wall is stretched, it allows the disc material to bulge outward towards the spinal canal and nerves. Since the wall is compromised and weakened, the disc material can’t go back in. If the bulge is large enough, it will compress the spinal nerve in that area, causing pain and even intense, radiating pain, numbness, and tingling into the extremity.  If the disc isn’t treated, it can lead to muscle weakness and atrophy.

Spending most of your day in a state of spinal flexion is the leading cause of disc bulging and
herniation.  

Learn more about preventing a bulging disc here! 

Get Relief from Bulging Disc Pain by Seeing Your Chiropractor in Ann Arbor

If you’re experiencing a bulging disc, you know the pain can disrupt your day and keep you from doing the things you love. 

To schedule a complimentary consultation, where a conversation is never a commitment, contact us at 734-221-0362 and we’ll take care of your bugling disc in Ann Arbor.

What is a Bulging Disc? How can it be Prevented?

From Dr.Gessert: When we think of spraining ligaments or joints we usually think of the ankle or wrist. However, most neck and back pain is actually a sign of a sprain injury to one or more spinal discs.

Whether this occurs from an injury or trauma, the result is weakness in the disc’s annular fibers, causing it to bulge or herniate. 

Most often, people feel this pain as stiffness or achiness and dismiss it as muscular. However, most of the time the pain you feel in these cases isn’t due to muscle soreness.

Did you know…?

·       Over 80% of neck and back pain demonstrates characteristics of disc bulges

·       50% of healthy young adults have at least one level of disc degeneration/ bulging

·       9 out of 10 work-related back injuries involve flexion or a combination of flexion and rotation – the most vulnerable positions for a disc.

The disc is the source of pain in up to 90% of overall neck and back pain conditions. Symptoms include general tightness and achiness, severe, unrelenting pain that radiates down the arms and legs, numbness and tingling, or even muscle atrophy or weakness. 

Learn more about preventing bulging discs here!  

Prevention of a Bulging Disc in Ann Arbor

If you’re having an arm or leg pain, numbness or tingling, or even noticing weakness in your arms or legs, Pivotal Chiropractic can help. Remember: you could have a herniated or bulging disc without showing symptoms! 

To schedule a complimentary consultation, where a conversation is never a commitment, contact us at 734-221-0362 to take care of your bulging disc in Ann Arbor.