Tel: (860) 482-5479459 Prospect St,Torrington, CT

Additional Conditions

 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Other than nerve entrapment or “pinched nerve” problems in the spine, nerve entrapment at the wrist is probably the next most common pinched nerve syndrome. The median nerve is commonly impinged as it passes through the carpal tunnel, and when this occurs, numbness, tingling, and/or pain can be felt into the hand. Median nerve compression primarily affects the thumb, index, and middle fingers of the affected hand. Symptoms tend to be problematic at night, and may interfere with sleep. Patients may feel the need to “shake out” their hand or fun it under water in an effort to ease the pain or tingling sensation. Grip strength and fine coordination of the hand can be affected, and if ignored for too long, permanent nerve damage is possible.

Chiropractors treat carpal tunnel with splinting, ultrasound, mobilization of the extremity, acupuncture or dry needling, as well as stretching and exercises to help the condition. Most cases respond well to conservative therapy, often avoiding surgery as a result.

Scoliosis
Scoliosis is the acquired or congenital curvature of the spine and may have a significant role for causing back pain in some patients. Scoliosis is, of course, a concern in the young or adolescent population whereby it is a type of growth disorder that may progress and become serious if unattended. Inherent in a scoliosis condition is the likelihood that there is dysfunction within the spine both from the joint and muscular standpoints, and this can be often helped with chiropractic. Back pain from scoliosis typically responds well to chiropractic, although it is difficult to say how much scoliosis can be corrected through customary chiropractic techniques. More importantly, a chiropractor should be monitoring the behavior and progression of the scoliosis so good decisions can be made regarding the variety of treatment options that are available. It is important that scoliosis be diagnosed and treated early so the risk of progression is reduced.

Arthritis Pain
Arthritis pain is probably the most common source of symptoms encountered in patients over 50. Although young patients can get arthritis as well, it is more often affiliated with the elderly population. Since arthritis is not fully reversible, the clinical dilemma involves addressing the existing level of joint pain and dysfunction in trying to make improvements upon those structures which are compromised. Arthritic joints do not move freely and fully, and the articulating cartilages and surrounding supportive ligaments are often worn, frayed, or otherwise contain micro tears. This can yield poor joint dynamics and ongoing pain, and chiropractic directly affects joint dynamics and can improve range of motion and reduce joint pain. Since arthritis has a progressive nature, chiropractic is a sound option in trying to slow the progression of arthritis and maintain as much of a quality of life in dealing with whatever arthritic trouble there is on a day-to-day basis.

Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a very complex soft tissue pain condition that may not be readily appreciated by other types of specialists. Patients with fibromyalgia have typically seen a number of specialists trying to find relief, and there is no “instant cure” for this condition. However, since this condition typically involves musculoskeletal pain especially with the muscles that attach to various joint structures, chiropractic is an excellent tool for managing the chronicity of this condition. Additionally, nutritional factors, emotional factors, and other metabolic variables can play a role in the clinical expression of fibromyalgia and our familiarity with this condition is very often helpful to the patient in terms of managing their pain. Dry needling targeting the specific tender and trigger points can especially be useful in this situation. Fibromyalgia patients who utilize chiropractic as their primary treatment often require less medication and have more success in treating their condition than they may have with other forms of intervention. Having massage therapy on site for this condition can be very helpful.

Costochondritis
Costochondritis involves pain of the ribs, between the ribs, or where the ribs attach to the breastbone. This can be treated with a variety of gentle physiotherapy modalities and has responded well to dry needling protocols and massage.

Post Herpetic Neuralgia
This can be a very painful condition which follows a shingles outbreak. Perhaps 20% of patients who have a shingles infection are left with severe and persistent pain in the region where the shingles occurred, and this type of condition can be chronic and long term. We have had some success in treating this kind of condition with acupuncture and/or dry needling as well as a variety of other modalities. We have worked closely with neurologists and other pain management specialists to optimize the patient’s response and take advantage of all the available options that exist for patients with this condition.

Peripheral Neuropathies
Peripheral neuropathies can be a result of a variety of conditions. Alcoholism and diabetes are very common sources of peripheral neuropathies and these can be permanent malfunctions of nerve endings that leave the patient with some chronic loss of certain nerve functions. Very often, this is characterized by abnormal sensations such as numbness, tingling, pins and needles, pain, or other abnormal sensations traditionally involving the extremities. Sometimes these types of conditions reflect entrapment of the nerve, not at the spinal level, but in the periphery such as where nerves cross joints or where nerves are being compressed by soft tissue structures. It is important to diagnose these conditions and be assured what type of nerve damage is involved, and we have often worked with neurologists for additional testing on these conditions. Peripheral entrapment disorders have been successfully treated with a variety of chiropractic techniques including extremity mobilization and dry needling. Acupuncture has also been helpful in trying to restore some reasonable degree of sensation back into the toes or hands when a patient is experiencing a lot of difficulty with neuropathies in those areas.

MS Patients
Multiple sclerosis represents a complex neurological pathology that can have a broad range of symptoms and functional affects on the patient’s activities of daily living. Very often, these patients have difficulty with gait or other neuromuscular functions, and chiropractic has been useful in minimizing MS exacerbations and assisting the patient in living with this lifelong condition. In addition, MS patients tend to have problems with muscle tone regarding spasms, restricted muscle functions, and lack of voluntary muscle control, and although these conditions are permanent, chiropractic can help minimize their affect on the patient’s lifestyle.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/RSD
This condition can be very debilitating and it can be difficult to diagnose. This condition is a rare complication of trauma or surgery, often involving the extremities, and sometimes it can exist for a very long time before it is properly diagnosed. Dr. Downs is very familiar with RSD and he has worked closely with other pain specialists in managing the RSD patient. Acupuncture, dry needling, and chiropractic techniques are all fabulous options in trying to reduce chronic pain and restore more function to the affected area.

Morton’s Neuroma
Morton’s Neuroma involves a swelling of the nerve sheath typically between the toes of the foot and can be very painful and sometimes requires an operation. Dr. Downs has had some success in treating Morton’s Neuroma with a variety of therapeutic modalities including cold laser, ultrasound, dry needling, and acupuncture.

Entrapment and Compression Syndromes
Entrapment and compression syndromes imply vascular or neurological compromise due to tightness of surrounding soft tissue, especially where those vessels or nerves pass through or pierce layers of muscles and fasciae. These conditions can be very difficult to deal with for the patient because of pain, numbness, and tingling based upon compromise of the nerves and blood vessels. Dry needling, myofascial release, soft tissue mobilization, and a variety of other modalities can be very useful in the successful management of entrapment compression syndromes and providing relief of nerve and vascular pain.

Spondylolisthesis
This condition can be congenital or acquired and involves the displacement of one vertebra upon another reflective of a defect in one of the vertebral bones or perhaps it can be due to laxity of ligaments from arthritis allowing one bone to slide forward upon the other. Spondylolisthesis can be found in up to 10% of the population and can be responsible for neurological symptoms based upon a disrelationship and alterations of the spinal canal or nerve passageways. This is commonly seen in chiropractic offices and is usually successfully treated by reducing some of the mechanical stress of the region and reducing pressure on the nerves of the region as well.