Chiropractic treatment is a viable solution for many different health issues. Whether you have a bulging disc in your back, debilitating back pain, or you suffer from severe headaches several times per week, seeing a chiropractor can help. The key is to find the right chiropractor for your personality and lifestyle. Here are some reasons why you should choose our chiropractic clinic in Tallahassee FL.

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Experienced Practitioners in Tallahassee FL

All chiropractors must complete extensive educational requirements before being able to apply their trade, but the added value of experience is often underrated. Just knowing that your chiropractor has seen hundreds or even thousands of patients with your condition provides peace of mind that you may not have otherwise. Feel free to ask about the depth of our experience at Fenn Chiropractic during your initial consultation.

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Searching for the Cause

Conventional medical treatment spends a lot of time covering up symptoms with pain medication and then repeating those methods when the symptoms inevitably return. When you choose chiropractic care, our team will focus on what is causing your aches, pains, and loss of mobility. The pain you feel is not the problem, it is the result of the problem. If you have severe headache pain that is being caused by the vertebrae in your neck is misaligned, fixing those vertebrae can remove the headache symptom permanently rather than temporarily.

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Different Treatments for Different People

Everyone has different body types, personalities, genetic predispositions, histories, and lifestyles. Treating every patient the same is never the best way to see positive results on a consistent basis. When you seek out chiropractic care at Fenn Chiropractic you’ll receive customized treatment plans that deal with your specific situation. The treatment protocol and duration may vary from someone else who appears to have the same problem as you, but it is designed to treat you as an individual.

It’s also important to note that you as the patient always have ultimate control over your own treatment. You’ll be given suggestions and recommendations, but the choice to continue is always yours. You’ll be treated with respect and courtesy and you’ll always be made to feel at home. Chiropractic care is about treating the whole person with non-invasive and drug-free techniques and we will always communicate openly about your condition and how you are responding to treatment.

Have you ever heard of a slipped disc? It’s a misnomer. Discs never “slip”, but they can bulge. When they do a Tallahassee FL chiropractor may be able to help.

Intervertebral disc disorders are referred to as "contained" or "non-contained." A bulging disc is considered a contained disc disorder.

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What is a bulging disc?

A bulging disc is actually the tough outer layer of cartilage in between your vertebrae that have not fully broken open - think of squeezing a balloon filled with hair gel. The disc may protrude into the spinal canal without pain or breaking open, instead, a small bubble pops out but remains attached to the disc.

Discs are exactly the right size to fit between your vertebrae so when a disc bulges, it extends outside the space it should normally occupy and can push into nerves in your spinal column.

Bulging is considered part of the normal aging process of the disc making bulging discs an extremely common spinal injury. A bulging disc can stay relatively pain-free and undetected until you twist the wrong way, lift the wrong object, sneeze, or cough. A bulging disc can cause excruciating pain, lead to a diminished range of motion, and can in some cases cause organ dysfunction.

The good news is that even an acute disc bulge can heal itself over time and your chiropractor can likely help the healing process happen more efficiently.

Here are 4 steps you can follow to ease the pain of a bulging disc:

1. Develop a relationship with your Tallahassee FL chiropractor

There are many bulging disc treatments; talk to your chiropractor and ask questions about your MRI or X-ray. Everyone is different and a good chiropractor can help you find the correct wellness path and will not close off any avenue to get you well.

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2. Improve your posture

Reduce or eliminate bending, lifting, twisting, and even sitting for too long. Sleep on your back with your knees propped up, or on your side with a pillow between your legs. These simple adjustments will ease the stress on the disc in question.

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3. Strengthen your core

Your abdominal muscles and leg muscles all support your back. Modified yoga or Pilates routines that eliminate twisting, stooping or bending can help heal your bulging disc or help to prevent further damage.

Contact our team at Fenn Chiropractic today if you are suffering from this problem. We look forward to hearing from you.

Chiropractic care at our Tallahassee FL chiropractic clinic can diagnose and treat problems that affect the nerves, muscles, bones, and joints of your body. At a basic level, a chiropractor will gently adjust your spine. At a deeper level, chiropractors are doing much more than just adjusting the spine.

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Visiting a Tallahassee FL chiropractor for back pain

After your initial visit and consultation, your chiropractor in Tallahassee FL will have a good idea of what your treatment plan is going to consist of. During your second visit, you’ll probably be asked to lie on a table and receive the first of your gentle adjustments.

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How many treatments will you need?

Tallahassee FL chiropractic treatments can range from days to several weeks depending on the severity of your condition or the results you want to achieve. Chiropractic care can also be a lifelong choice to keep you on a path of well-being and solid core strength.

Many professional athletes continue to see a chiropractor even when there is no acute pain, as regular adjustments can keep you aligned and in peak form. Chiropractors in Tallahassee FL are not just there when it really hurts; they can be in your corner frequently, keeping your body’s systems communicating at a high level and keeping muscle and bone deterioration at bay.

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What causes back pain?

The back is a complex structure of bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles. Damage to any of the structures can lead to back pain. Back pain has a long list of causes and we are all likely to suffer at some point in our lives from poor posture, obesity, or psychological stress. Each of these can lead to back pain.

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Some tips to prevent back pain

• Maintain a healthy diet and weight
• Stretch and exercise (ask your Tallahassee FL chiropractor what is safe)
• Maintain proper posture at work
• Wear low heeled shoes

While this is not an exhaustive list of tips, it’s a good starting point on the road to optimum back health. Contact our Fenn Chiropractic team for more information.

There are many causes of headaches, and many types, but the most common headache treated by Tallahassee FL chiropractors is called the cervicogenic headache, typically brought on by poor posture or stress.

Tallahassee FL chiropractic care with gentle corrections, massage therapy, diet change, and postural advice is extremely effective in treating this kind of headache.

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Diagnosis in Tallahassee FL

The American Chiropractic Association suggests that your Tallahassee FL chiropractor ask you to complete a headache diary consisting of:

• Day and time of the headache
• Headache location
• What the headache feels like
• What you were doing when the headache began
• How long does the headache last
• What makes it feel better or worse

Over 150 diagnostic headache categories have been scientifically established. The most common types of headaches are:

Tension Headaches

These are sometimes referred to as chronic daily headaches. Tension headaches are caused by muscle contractions and cause mild to moderate pain. Tension headaches come and go over a period of time.

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Migraines

Inflamed blood vessels and arteries literally squeeze around your brain until it hurts. You may feel nausea, increased blood pressure, and sensitivity to bright light or noise. One of the best treatments for migraines is chiropractic care.

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Cluster headaches

The least common (but most severe) headache is often described as located behind the eye region. Cluster headaches can occur one to three times per day during a “cluster” period, which may last two weeks and extend as long as three months. To further complicate matters, a cluster headache may go into remission for months or years only to recur later down the line.

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Organic headaches

Finally, organic headaches are the result of abnormalities in the brain and can lead to serious consequences. Only 5% of headaches are organic. It is incredibly important to go to your nearest hospital immediately if you feel:

• Sudden, sharp, severe pain
• Sudden lack of balance or falling
• Confusion
• Seizures or difficulty speaking

Herniated disc. Slipped disc. Bulging disk. Pinched nerve. You may have heard all these terms to describe severe pain felt in the back. The fact is the worst of the bunch is the herniated disc. Our chiropractor in Tallahassee FL may be able to help.

The discs are structures that rest comfortably between your vertebrae, like gel-filled cushions or shock absorbers. A disc can herniate through a tear in the supportive ligaments surrounding one of the discs. This can be caused by:

• Sudden injury
• Constant stress
• Improper lifting or twisting of the spinal column

Once the disc ruptures (or herniates), the disc material (somewhat like a jelly) inflames and exerts pressure on the spinal nerves resulting in pain. In the worst-case scenario, the material can push all the way out from between your vertebrae and press on the nerves that branch off the spinal cord.

Your Tallahassee FL chiropractor will first assess your pain to determine your course of treatment. First, it is important to determine if your reflexes are intact and communicating.

Second, your chiropractor will see if there is any loss of muscle strength and check if you have full sensory communication along numerous paths of nerves.

These important orthopedic and neurological exams can help your chiropractor determine which course of action to take next.

A herniated disc is a serious injury. If at any time your chiropractor feels that a spinal surgeon is needed you will be referred. Your chiropractor will check your posture and may order an x-ray or MRI (if necessary) to help with the diagnostic process.

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Will Tallahassee FL Chiropractic care help your herniated disc?

Chiropractors do not pop a disc back in place using force, nor can a few quick treatments "fix" your herniated disc. With gentle and usually painless adjustment techniques, over time a disc can be repaired.

In 2006, a study was published in the prestigious scientific journal “Spine.” It showed excellent results for chiropractic manipulation in the treatment of disc injuries and sciatica. Go with the experts at Fenn Chiropractic and get the help you need.

Children grow so quickly. As they are growing their bones and muscles are susceptible to temporary backaches, joint pain, and muscle strains. Do your part to ensure your kids never start on the long road of back-related problems and choose the right backpack for them. Our Tallahassee FL chiropractic clinic can help.

To be safe, make it a game. The simplest tool is right in your bathroom. Get out that scale and weigh. Your small child’s backpack should weigh less than 10 pounds. For a 150-pound child, 15 pounds is the recommended maximum. For a 75-pound child, 7.5 pounds is the most they should safely carry.

Over-heavy backpacks can:

• Reduce blood flow
• Lead to poor posture
• Cause headaches
• Disrupt the natural curve of the middle and lower back
• Cause the spine and muscles to lean to overcompensate
• Place undue stress on the lower back

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Tips for choosing a backpack in Tallahassee FL

Try to get your child into the habit of wearing a backpack correctly, i.e., putting it on right and picking it upright. If you and your child follow these rules it’ll go a long way to maintaining good spinal health.

• Squat or kneel to pick up the backpack
• Avoid twisting or bending picking up the backpack
• Lift with the legs (goes for everything)
• Slip it on (use a waist-high table if you can)
• Always wear both straps
• Adjust the straps so the pack fits snugly
• Always use the waist straps

If you are in the market for a new backpack make sure it has all or most of the following criteria:

Two Straps

Single strapped satchels are best avoided. It makes your child uneven and places the load off-center on one side of their body. Two straps balance the load on both of their shoulders.

Realistic Size

We’ve all seen that kid with the bag bigger than they are; funny as it looks it’s no laughing matter. A child’s backpack should be no bigger than the child's back and it should lie 1-2 inches below the shoulders and no more than 4 inches below the waist.

Padded Straps

Wide shoulder straps distribute the load over more surface area and wider is better, with a minimum of two padded inches the best way to go.

Padded Back

A padded back alleviates any nasty pressure points and protects from that pencil case or game system poking the spine.

For more information contact our office at Fenn Chiropractic today.

Many parents that want the best for their children’s health are constantly looking for non-invasive ways to boost health and prevent degenerative conditions and pain. Chiropractic treatment provides a lot of benefits to adults, but should kids see a Tallahassee FL chiropractor?

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Is Tallahassee FL Chiropractic Safe for Kids?

To answer the question in a word, yes chiropractic is safe for kids. Several research studies of varying sizes have tested the safety aspect of chiropractic care for kids and they’ve all found it to be safe. Children of all shapes and sizes can receive chiropractic care without any safety issues. Even infants are safe in the hands of a properly trained chiropractor.

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Is Chiropractic Effective for Kids?

Chiropractic treatment has also been proven as an effective treatment method for many childhood issues that range beyond pain management. As your child continues to develop and grow, chiropractic treatment will help keep the joints, muscles, and nerves balanced so the lines of communication between the brain and nervous system remain strong.

As with adults, children that have sustained skeletal injuries from falls or car accidents also benefit from seeing a chiropractor. It’s easy to think that kids are more resilient just because they are kids and while this may be true to a certain extent, they can still develop chronic conditions later in life if the initial injury is not addressed. Kids have the potential for disc misalignment and nerve compression the same as adults, so make sure to bring your child in for treatment after an injury.

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Is the Treatment the Same As For Adults?

The basic premise of chiropractic treatment is the same for an adult as it is for an infant, but the amount of pressure used and the treatment protocol will differ. As an example, the amount of pressure required to adjust an infant has been compared to testing the ripeness of a tomato with your finger. Kids don’t require care for pain the same as an adult would and they tend to respond much quicker to treatment.

Some common clues that might indicate your child could use treatment include walking with a slight limp, being off balance when walking or running, or only wanting to breastfeed from one side. Keep an eye out for these and other abnormalities. Schedule an appointment with our Tallahassee FL chiropractic team at Fenn Chiropractic anytime you feel it is warranted.

The human body is designed to naturally repair itself, but it is an ability that is dependent on a healthy nervous system. Our Tallahassee FL chiropractor offers safe and painless corrections that can help your body heal faster and prevent disease.

Your spine is the key pillar of your body and performs the primary function of support, protection, and flexibility. The nerves that branch off the spinal cord communicate with specific organs. If your spine is healthy, your body can function just as it was designed.

From an economic standpoint, it benefits us all to maintain a healthy spine and body. As a society, we save money if we follow good wellness techniques and programs that promote good health. An unhealthy populace is a populace that is not working to optimum levels.

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Evidence-Based Assessment in Tallahassee FL

Lower back and neck pain are extremely common conditions that drain our health system, lead to labor hours lost, and ultimately cost a lot of money. Chiropractic care can halt this waste with careful and individualized care that improves well-being.

Yes, better surgical techniques can extend life, but as you age surgery becomes more and more fraught with danger. Non-invasive and softer approaches have a valid and important place in long-term care as the population grows. The world is getting smaller and we are living longer, Chiropractors are just one of many approaches to wellness.

For more information contact our team at Fenn Chiropractic today.

Sciatica is a condition that is often misdiagnosed and attributed to any intense lower back pain. Any pain in the lower back that limits your movement or stops you from enjoying life requires attention, but not all lower back pain is sciatic pain. This type of pain is unique and while it can be debilitating, it can be helped by a Tallahassee FL chiropractor.

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Sciatica Basics

Your sciatic nerve runs from your lower back, downward through your buttocks, and into the back of each leg. It is the longest nerve in your body and the widest, controlling the muscles in your lower legs. It also provides sensation to your legs and the soles of your feet. When someone suffers from sciatica it means they feel persistent pain along their sciatic nerve.

Besides sharp pain, sciatica sufferers may experience dull aches, tingling, numbness, or even a burning sensation. The pain and other feelings are typically felt on just one side of the body. People between 30 and 50 are most likely to suffer from sciatica, and the symptoms are usually attributed to basic wear and tear rather than a specific injury. Sciatic pain often gets worse after prolonged sitting, physical activity, sneezing, coughing, or other sudden movements.

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Tallahassee FL Chiropractic Gets to the Cause

People suffering from intense sciatic pain will often try just about anything to make it go away, but the problem with many conventional treatments is that they simply mask the symptoms with pain medication or muscle relaxants. A chiropractor will work to find the cause of your pain, and if it is determined to be sciatica, treatment will begin to relieve some of the pressure on the nerve.

Many patients prefer chiropractic treatment because it is completely non-invasive and drug-free. People tend to be wary of more invasive treatments where their spine is concerned. And most people figure out quickly that taking pain medications is only covering up a symptom, and not really getting to the heart of the issue.

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Preventative Tips

Of course, you can always help yourself when it comes to lower back pain. Sciatica can’t always be prevented, but if you work to maintain a healthy weight, watch your posture, avoid prolonged periods of sitting, use proper lifting techniques, and exercise regularly you’ll be giving yourself a good head start. These tips, combined with treatment from our chiropractic team at Fenn Chiropractic will help make your sciatic pain a thing of the past.

Visiting a chiropractor isn’t nearly as “alternative” as it used to be, and for good reason. Chiropractic treatment has been proven time and again to be an effective, non-surgical solution to scores of health issues. Chiropractors are spinal experts and since your spine is the nerve center of your entire body it’s easy to see why chiropractic care is so effective. But when is the best time to see a Tallahassee FL chiropractor? The “best” time may vary from person to person depending on individual situations, but here are a few of the most common.

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When Pain Disrupts Your Life in Tallahassee FL

If you are experiencing pain in your body that disrupts your daily life then it is an ideal time to see a chiropractor. Ideally, you will seek out treatment before the pain becomes this troublesome, but if you’re already there, chiropractic treatment can help. Pain in your back, neck, legs, shoulders, feet, head or even sinuses can benefit a great deal from chiropractic adjustments.

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Long Periods of Sitting

If you have a job that requires long periods of sitting, you are compressing your spine every day you are at work. Even though it seems gentle and low-impact, this type of activity takes a toll on your body. Even if you haven’t begun experiencing any pain from excessive sitting, the damage is being done. You can help yourself by getting up and moving around several times during the day, but you’ll be helping yourself even more by visiting a chiropractor to keep your spine and all of its components balanced.

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Slow-Healing Muscles and Joints

If you’ve suffered an injury and chosen traditional treatment, but it isn’t healing as quickly as you’d hoped, that is a good time to see a chiropractor. Whether the issue is pain or a range of motion problem, chiropractic treatment can address the underlying cause and help your body to heal itself. Keep in mind that most conventional treatments focus more on treating the symptoms of the injury rather than the reason you’re experiencing those symptoms in the first place.

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To Prevent Future Pain and Immobility

Seeking out chiropractic care when you feel pain or have trouble with your range of motion makes sense, but if there was a “best” time to visit a chiropractic office it might be before anything is wrong with your body. Chiropractic as a preventative tool is wonderful for keeping your nerves, muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons working in harmony with one another. Daily life, exercise, slips and falls, accidents, and even gravity can causes imbalances within your spine and nervous system. Regular, periodic treatment will prevent pain and immobility in the future.

If you have any questions about our team at Fenn Chiropractic feel free to contact us or schedule a consultation. We look forward to meeting you.