Tailbone Injuries

The guiding principle of chiropractic is that disruptions to the spinal column can have an effect on other parts of the body. Sciatica is probably the clearest example of this: compression of the sciatic nerves, which run through the legs, at their origin in the spine can cause pain, tingling, and incontinence. At Bergen Physical Medicine, we treat injuries to the spinal column, including its lowest component, the tailbone.

The tailbone, also known as the coccyx, is a complex fusion of multiple vertebrae bones. Pain in it is called coccydynia. Its position generally protects it from being strained or fractured, but injuries can occur during activities such as horseback or bicycle riding. Tailbone injuries make sitting painful and inflammation around in that area can cause sciatica, so injuries should be treated.

If a patient suspects a tailbone injury, we’ll want to do some imaging tests to confirm the location of the strain or break. While there’s not a whole lot that can be done to make it heal faster, we can ease the patient’s comfort by providing cushions called chiropractic wedges to sit on. We also offer pain relief therapies such as adjustments and electric muscle stimulation, as well as therapeutic exercises which can strengthen the pelvic floor.

Dr. Brian M. Wraith operates Bergen Physical Medicine at 323 Bergen Boulevard, Fairview, New Jersey, 07022. To schedule an appointment, call 201-945-9993 or visit Bergen Physical Medicine and fill out a contact form.

 

Osteoporosis and the Vertebrae

We offer comprehensive pain relief and rehabilitation services at Bergen Physical Medicine, including for osteoporosis. Lots of people wonder why they lose height as they age and whether it’s caused by a health problem. The answer has to do with the structural integrity of the vertebrae.

Bone is constantly being reabsorbed into the body. When a person has osteoporosis, it is being reabsorbed faster than it can be rebuilt. This causes the vertebrae to become filled with tiny holes so that it resembles a honeycomb. When osteoporosis is severe, even ordinary movements can result in tiny fractures. Most of these fractures will not be noticeable, but they will gradually cause the vertebrae to collapse, resulting in the patient stooping over and losing height.

Changes in nutrition can help arrest osteoporosis’s progress. As for pain relief, we offer many safe, non-invasive options, including massage therapy, acupuncture, and physical therapy. Exercise helps the body support bones better and makes accidents less likely.

Dr. Brian M. Wraith operates Bergen Physical Medicine at 323 Bergen Boulevard, Fairview, New Jersey, 07022. To schedule an appointment, call 201-945-9993 or visit Bergen Physical Medicine and fill out a contact form.

Chiropractic Care for Sports Injuries

At Bergen Physical Medicine, we have seen many athletes turn to chiropractic after an injury.  Medical doctors typically treat a sports injury by alleviating symptoms with medication and recommending rest from activity.  Chiropractic has an approach to rehabilitating sports injuries that considers a patient’s entire body and its natural ability to heal itself.  This always results in less time ‘benched’ from activity and a quicker recovery.  Even professional athletes with very healthy bodies have relied too much on medication, and now professionals are seeking chiropractors to rehabilitate sports injuries.

You don’t need to be a professional athlete to rehabilitate a sports injury the right way.  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 your chiropractor will of course 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!

To learn more about all the services we provide, visit www.bergenphysicalmedicine.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, call 201-945-9993. 

Your First Chiropractic Visit

Bergen Physical Medicine welcomes first-time chiropractic patients.  New chiropractic patients often arrive frustrated, having tried other treatment methods and not found relief from their pain or discomfort.  Chiropractic takes a systemic approach to care, meaning the whole body and the body’s ability to heal itself are considered in every case. This is why your initial consultation and assessment with a chiropractor is especially important.  We will work to understand your goals for treatment, and take a very detailed record of your current condition using a physical exam and sometimes x-rays.  From there we can form a treatment plan to target any issues and improve overall health.

What surprises most new patients is that chiropractic does not incorporate drugs as part of treatment.  Chiropractic focuses on treating the root cause of any pain, rather than masking symptoms with medication.  Whether you are in serious pain or looking to restore your body’s natural balance, we welcome you to experience chiropractic treatment and find the relief you’re looking for.

To learn more about all the services we provide, visit www.bergenphysicalmedicine.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, call 201-945-9993. 

Adjust Your Sitting Position for Less Back Pain

At Bergen Physical Medicine we treat patients and relieve pain, but patient self-care is just as important for their continued health. Simple changes to everyday habits can help you to live a pain-free life.  So many of us spend much of a typical day sitting, between working at computer desks, watching TV, and commuting to work. All of this sitting can cause back pain, making it the most common reason patients visit the chiropractor.  Making a few adjustments to how you sit can ease this stress, help alleviate back pain, and minimize future visits.

Believe it or not, you’ll put less stress on your back when you don’t sit up straight. Leaning back just enough so that your thighs are at a 135-degree angle with your torso is an optimal seated position for preventing back pain. Long periods of sitting are what really increase the risk of muscle pulls, strains, and cramps. So if you don’t have time to walk around and stretch at the office, try switching between sitting and standing, and look for opportunities to lean back a little!  

If you suffer from back pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about the services we provide at the office, visit www.bergenphysicalmedicine.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at Bergen Physical Medicine in Fairview, NJ, call 201-945-9993. 

Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Electric Muscles Stimulation is one of the most flexible therapies we provide at Bergen Physical Medicine. A popular way of alleviating pain and restoring muscle function, electric muscle stimulation, or EMS, is used to help rebuild atrophied muscles, reduce downtime between sporting events, and provide low-risk, non-addictive comfort to people suffering from pinched nerves.

The electric pulse is through wires from a machine to sticky pads on the targeted parts of a patient’s body. Electricity causes the muscles immediately beneath the skin to convulse, sending a surge of blood to bush out blockages which naturally accumulate as a result of cellular respiration. In this way, EMS functions similarly to sports massages. The removal of blockages reduces swelling and allows nutrients to reach the muscles more quickly.

EMS is also used to re-establish connections between the nerves and the spinal system. Convulsing the muscles causes electrical channels to be reopened between the central and peripheral nerves. This also allows signals responsible for producing endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, to reach the part of the body being treated with EMS.

Dr. Brian M. Wraith operates Bergen Physical Medicine at 323 Bergen Boulevard, Fairview, New Jersey, 07022. To schedule an appointment, call 201-945-9993 or visit BergenPhysicalMedicine.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Pinched Nerves

Physical therapists and chiropractors of all sorts are familiar with pinched nerves, and Dr. Brian M. Wraith of Bergen Physical Medicine is no exception. People accustomed to going to a chiropractor for help with herniated discs are familiar with how leaking spinal fluid compresses nerves, resulting in pain, tingling, or loss of function in the area of the compression or in an area the nerve leads to. But it is possible for any nerve to become pinched.

Pinched nerves tend to occur most frequently in areas where nerves don’t have a lot of soft tissue to cushion them from bones or outside forces. Some particular risk factors are scar tissue and swelling.  Scar tissue takes up additional space inside the body, reducing the space for a nerve and swelling causes increased pressure inside the body, resulting in pressure on a nerve. 

Nerves have their own protective covering, and can usually heal in time. However, the proper treatment can speed up healing and provide pain relief. Dr. Wraith’s office offers chiropractic, physical therapy, massage therapy to help patients reduce the pressure on a pinched nerve and take precautions against further compression.

Dr. Brian M. Wraith operates Bergen Physical Medicine at 323 Bergen Boulevard, Fairview, New Jersey, 07022. To schedule an appointment, call 201-945-9993 or visit BergenPhysicalMedicine.com and fill out a contact sheet.