- Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Shoulder Pain
- Headaches/migraines
- Sports Injury
- Auto Injuries
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Knee Pain
- Sciatica
- Herniated Disc
Additional:
- TMJ
- Vertigo
- Degenerative Disc Disease
Back Pain
Lower back pain can make it difficult to bend down or sit, stand, and lie down comfortably. Treating lower back pain effectively depends on what’s causing it and how severe it is. At Knecht Chiropractic Clinic, Dr. Andrew Knecht offers chiropractic adjustments and other treatments for patients in Chicago with lower back pain.
What are the symptoms of lower back pain?
Lower back pain doesn’t feel the same for everyone. Some patients have a constant dull ache on one or both sides of the back. This pain might get worse at certain times, such as when getting up in the morning or when lying down at bedtime. Other patients have pain that occurs as a sudden stabbing sensation. This pain might occur on and off over a period of time. It might also feel worse when standing, bending over, sneezing, or coughing. Other symptoms of lower back pain include sore muscles and a limited range of motion.
What causes lower back pain?
There are several possible causes of pain in the lower back. These include herniated discs, ligament strain, muscle strain, bulging discs, and compression fractures. Having a condition that causes inflammation in the back, such as osteoarthritis, might also cause lower back pain. Certain risk factors, such as being overweight or not exercising regularly, increase the risk of having lower back pain. Dr. Knecht evaluates patients to figure out the underlying cause of lower back pain.
How does Dr. Knecht diagnose lower back pain?
Since there are many possible causes of lower back pain, Dr. Knecht performs a thorough evaluation to determine the underlying cause. This includes checking how well patients can stand, bend, and move around in general, asking patients to rate their pain, and doing imaging tests if needed. These tests, such as X-rays and MRIs, provide a closer look at the affected area, which helps Dr. Knecht make a diagnosis.
How does Dr. Knecht treat lower back pain?
Dr. Knecht uses chiropractic care to treat lower back pain. This kind of care involves doing spinal adjustments to ensure that the entire spine is in alignment. When spinal discs are out of alignment, it can cause lower back pain. Correcting this with spinal adjustments helps ease pain and stiffness in the lower back. Dr. Knecht might also recommend massage therapy, which helps support the effects of chiropractic care by making sure that muscles in the lower back are relaxed.
For more information on chiropractic treatment for lower back pain, please contact Knecht Chiropractic Clinic.
Neck Pain
Neck pain that occurs on a regular basis can interfere with daily activities, such as driving, by making it difficult for patients to hold their head up straight and turn it. Chiropractic care can provide relief from persistent neck pain, so patients can do daily activities with ease. At Knecht Chiropractic Clinic, Dr. Andrew Knecht provides chiropractic treatment for patients with neck pain in Chicago.
Neck pain can occur as a mild, constant ache or more severe pain that flares up with certain movements, such as turning the head. Some patients experience neck pain that gets worse when they keep their head in the same position for a long time, such as while they’re looking at a computer screen. Other symptoms that can occur with neck pain include headaches, a limited range of motion, and muscle spasms.
What causes neck pain?
One of the most common causes is muscle strain, which can occur from daily activities, such as staring down at a laptop, computer, or smartphone screen for several hours. Some patients experience neck pain from osteoarthritis, which is a chronic condition that causes the cartilage between bones to become worn. When this happens, bone spurs can develop and lead to irritation. Other causes of neck pain include too much pressure on nerves due to herniated discs, trauma to the neck, and some diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Knecht evaluates patients to discover the cause of neck pain.
How does Dr. Knecht diagnose neck pain?
Since neck pain has several possible causes, Dr. Knecht carefully evaluates patients and orders imaging tests when needed. During an evaluation, he has patients turn their head in different directions to assess pain. If this doesn’t provide enough information for a diagnosis, Dr. Knecht orders imaging tests such as CT scans, X-rays, and MRIs. These types of tests give detailed images of the neck for a more accurate diagnosis.
How does Dr. Knecht treat neck pain?
Dr. Knecht provides chiropractic care for neck pain. Chiropractic care involves making manual adjustments to the spine to make sure the bones or vertebrae and spinal discs line up correctly. Putting these back into the right alignment, especially in the upper part of the spine, helps ease tension and relieves pain and stiffness in the neck. Dr. Knecht sometimes recommends therapeutic massage along with chiropractic adjustments to help keep muscles relaxed and relieve any tension that builds up.
For more information on chiropractic care for neck pain, please contact Knecht Chiropractic Clinic.
Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain is a very common condition and affects almost half of the U.S. Most patients feel some sort of pain, limited range of motion, an inability to engage in activities of daily living (ADL) or something more serious as a permanent disability.
Headaches/Migraines
Nine out of ten Americans say that they suffer from headaches. Some of these people experience headaches frequently. Some experience constant headaches that are very painful. These can even make a person nauseous. Ninety-five percent of headaches are tension, migraine, or cluster headaches. These types of headaches are not caused from a disease, but from something in your body that is not sitting correctly.
Sports Injury
Sports can be very taxing on your body, no matter what you play. Our trusted staff will work with you to get to the root of your problem and help you feel better again. We help treat and also prevent injuries in the neck, back, shoulders, knees, and ankles. We are able to manually adjust your spine, relieving any pain that you are feeling. This will allow your body to function much better after the injury.
Auto Injuries
The impact of being in a collision can cause injuries to the neck and back. These injuries can end up becoming worse over time or resulting in chronic pain, especially if they weren’t treated properly. At Knecht Chiropractic Clinic, Dr. Andrew Knecht provides chiropractic care for patients in Chicago who are suffering from car accident injuries.
Car accident injuries commonly affect the neck, shoulders, and upper back, although they can also affect the lower back. These injuries typically involve damage to muscles, nerves, ligaments, and other tissue structures in the neck and back. In some cases, car accidents cause injuries to the neck that result in disc herniation. Other car accident injuries include partial or total fractures.
What is whiplash?
Whiplash occurs when a car accident throws the neck and head back and forth suddenly. This can damage spinal discs in the upper back and neck, as well as ligaments, muscles, and other structures. Common signs of whiplash include neck pain, shoulder pain, upper back pain, neck stiffness, headaches, and nausea. When whiplash isn’t treated, it can end up causing pain and other symptoms that linger or become worse.
When should patients seek treatment for car accident injuries?
Patients should have car accident injuries evaluated after the collision occurs. In some cases, symptoms don’t show up right away. Delaying treatment can cause injuries to become worse or heal improperly, leading to chronic pain. Dr. Knecht can conduct an exam and provide other diagnostic services, such as imaging tests, to determine the type and severity of car accident injuries.
How does Dr. Knecht diagnose car accident injuries?
A diagnosis for car accident injuries involves a physical exam to determine where pain is coming from, how severe it is, and what might be causing it. Dr. Knecht might also take X-rays or do other imaging tests for a more in-depth look at the injured area. These imaging tests, such as MRIs, give more detailed information on the type of injuries patients have from car accidents.
How does Dr. Knecht treat car accident injuries?
Car accident injuries can cause ongoing pain, even with conventional treatments, such as pain medications. Dr. Knecht provides chiropractic care, including manual spinal adjustments, which can provide pain relief. These adjustments bring the spinal discs back into alignment, allowing them to heal properly. Realigning the spine also takes relieves pressure on nerves in the damaged area, which eases pain and other symptoms.
To learn more about chiropractic care for car accident injuries, please contact Knecht Chiropractic Clinic.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is a debilitating disorder which can cause a myriad of symptoms including: weakness, numbness, and pain in the hands and feet as a result from nerve damage. At Knecht Chiropractic Clinic, located in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, Dr. Andrew Knecht provides chiropractic care for patients with pain and other symptoms from peripheral neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy is classified as weakness, numbness, pins and needles, and pain as a result from nerve damage that is usually felt in the hands and feet. The peripheral nervous system is the network of nerves that connects the central nervous system – the brain and spinal cord – to the rest of the body. Neuropathy transpires when nerve cells, or neurons, are damaged or destroyed. This distorts the way the neurons communicate with one another and the brain causing peripheral neuropathy.
What causes Peripheral Neuropathy?
A common cause of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes. However, it can also result from traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic conditions, genetic dispositions and exposure to certain toxins like chemotherapy drugs. Symptoms include pain, a pins-and-needles sensation, sensory loss, numbness, and weakness in the hands or feet. Dr. Knecht takes these factors into consideration when evaluating patients with peripheral neuropathy.
How does Dr. Knecht diagnose Peripheral Neuropathy?
Dr. Knecht examines the muscles and reflexes in the affected area to determine how severe the peripheral neuropathy is. To find out what’s causing the peripheral neuropathy, Dr. K does a full Chiropractic examination compromised of orthopedic and neurological tests combined with specialized imaging tests, such as X-rays and/or MRIs. These imaging tests provide detailed views of the spine and surrounding soft tissues. Dr. Knecht might also perform other tests to diagnose herniated discs or spinal stenosis.
How does Dr. Knecht Treat Peripheral Neuropathy?
Dr. Knecht provides non-invasive care to relieve peripheral neuropathy symptoms. Dr. Knecht uses a multifaceted approach, utilizing state of the art technologies to treat peripheral neuropathy. These treatments aim to take stress of the nervous system allowing the nerves to heal. Dr. Knecht also educates his patient in diet and social changes to aid in their recovery.
What is Spinal Decompression Therapy & how could it help Peripheral Neuropathy?
Nonsurgical spinal decompression therapy is a type of motorized traction that has been proven to relieve spinal related pain such as peripheral neuropathy. Spinal decompression works by gently stretching the spine and opening the disc spaces. This promotes movement of water, oxygen, and nutrient-rich fluids back into the discs, so they can heal and regain disc height. Traction of the spine takes pressure off the spinal discs by creating negative pressure in the disc. As a result, bulging or herniated discs may retract, taking pressure off nerves and other structures in your spine. This may help alleviate symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.
For more information regarding peripheral neuropathy, please contact Knecht Chiropractic Clinic.
Knee Pain
Knee pain is increasingly becoming a more common problem in society. It is a complaint we see frequently. The most common complaint associated with knee pain is considered the normal “wear and tear.” Another ailment that affects the knee is osteoarthritis. The symptoms and progression of osteoarthritis and knee pain can be reduced through our individualized approach to chiropractic care.
Sciatica
Sciatica is characterized by pain in the lower back that radiates down one or both legs. The pain is described as dull, achy, sharp, like “pins and needles” or similar to electric shocks. Other symptoms associated with sciatica include burning, numbness and tingling sensations. Sciatic nerve pain varies in intensity from mild to severe, and frequency may range from occasional to constant. The onset is generally gradual and not necessarily associated with a previous event.
Sciatica is also known as radiating or referred pain, neuropathy, or neuralgia.
Sciatica is pain that’s associated with an underlying condition. This pain affects the sciatic nerve that extends from the lower back and reaches down the legs. Patients with sciatica usually only have pain and other symptoms on one side of the body rather than both. Sciatica pain typically starts in the lower back and goes through the flank and down the leg on the affected side. Some patients have a dull ache with sciatica, while others have sudden, more severe pain that comes and goes. Other symptoms include tingling or numbness.
What causes sciatica?
Several spinal problems can put too much pressure on the sciatic nerve, which causes inflammation. Dr. Knecht evaluates each patient to find out what’s causing this added pressure. Common causes of sciatica include herniated discs, bone spurs, and bulging discs. Other causes, which are rarer, include spinal damage associated with diabetes or another underlying condition and tumors.
Which patients have a higher risk of sciatica?
Certain risk factors lead to a higher risk of having sciatica. These include older patients with age-related spinal problems, patients who sit most of the time, and patients who are obese. Other risk factors include having a job that puts extra strain on the back and having diabetes, which raises the risk of damage to the nerves in the back. Dr. Knecht takes these factors into consideration when evaluating patients with sciatica.
How does Dr. Knecht diagnose sciatica?
Dr. Knecht examines the muscles and reflexes in the affected area to determine how severe sciatica pain is. To find out what’s causing sciatica, he might do imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. These imaging tests provide detailed views of tissue and other parts of the affected area. Dr. Knecht might also do an electromyography test that can help diagnose herniated discs or spinal stenosis.
How does Dr. Knecht treat sciatica?
Dr. Knecht provides chiropractic care to relieve symptoms of sciatica. Traditional types of treatment include medications for easing pain, physical therapy, and self-care measures. However, these measures don’t always offer enough relief. Chiropractic care realigns the spine, which helps relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve. These spinal adjustments also promote healing by allowing nutrients and oxygen to get to damaged discs more easily.
Herniated Disc
Herniated discs can cause considerable pain that limits the ability to do everyday activities. In some cases, patients have trouble sitting and standing due to this pain. At Knecht Chiropractic Clinic, located in Chicago, Dr. Andrew Knecht provides chiropractic care for patients with pain and other symptoms from a herniated disc.
A herniated disc occurs when the inner portion of a spinal disc pushes through the exterior. This causes irritation in the surrounding nerves, which results in pain and other symptoms.
What are the symptoms of a herniated disc?
Herniated discs usually cause symptoms in the lower back, but it’s also possible to have a herniated disc in the upper part of the spine. Symptoms of herniated discs include soreness in the flank and leg for lower back herniations and pain in the arm and shoulder for upper back herniations. Sneezing or coughing might make this pain more intense. Other symptoms include tingling and muscle weakness.
What causes a herniated disc?
Herniated discs usually develop when the aging process causes spinal discs to deteriorate. Spinal discs lose their flexibility with age, which makes them more likely to tear. Turning the back a certain way or straining it, such as by lifting heavy objects, can cause these tears to occur.
How does Dr. Knecht treat herniated discs?
Dr. Knecht provides chiropractic treatments for herniated discs. These include manual adjustments to the spine to restore it to the proper alignment. This takes pressure off of the affected disc and allows it to heal naturally. Removing pressure through realignment also eases pain and other symptoms of herniated discs. Dr. Knecht might recommend having massage therapy in addition to chiropractic care. This type of treatment can enhance the effects of chiropractic care.
Do spinal adjustments hurt?
Spinal adjustments shouldn’t cause patients considerable pain. Some patients experience mild soreness after being treated, but this is temporary. During spinal adjustments, patients might feel pressure on their spine as the discs are brought into the correct alignment.
How can patients prevent herniated discs?
Patients can lower their risk of having another herniated disc with self-care measures. These include following a regular exercise routine that makes the muscles in the back and abdominal area stronger, which helps provide the spine with more support. Other ways to prevent herniated discs include practicing good posture when sitting or standing and losing excess weight. Being overweight can strain the back muscles, which increases the risk of a herniated disc.
For more information on chiropractic care for herniated discs, please contact Knecht Chiropractic Clinic.