Social Media Recap - Lower Back & Neck Pain
For the last couple months, we have been highlighting on social media the more common issues we see at the office. From lower back pain to neck pain, we see patients with muscle tension, nerve issues, and more! We are always excited to educate our patients on the difference between aches, sharp pain, or numbness and love finding solutions that fit those individual problems.
Our first issue was lower back pain. As COVID-19 brought us into our homes, it also brought on more sitting, laying, and working from home. Many people found that their work from home setup was doing more harm than good and came to us for help. We spoke about supportive desk chairs, sit-stand options, ideal monitor heights and frequent breaks. One thing Dr. Hoberland always talks about is the importance of good ergonomics! One tool to help that happen, is the McKenzie Method Lumbar Roll from OPTP. These rolls work wonders to help maintain good posture for extended periods of time. Not only that, but they are easily portable to bring on trips or back into the office! Dr. Hoberland is one of a few hundred doctors in the United States who is certified in the McKenzie Method of Diagnosis and Treatment (MDT). She is continually learning and refreshing her education to share with her patients. She uses the MDT system to identify the best exercise to help patients stay pain free on their own after they leave our office.
The other condition we see frequently in the office is neck pain with its companion upper back pain. Along with the longer hours sitting, we have also become accustomed to looking down at our phones, at our feet when we walk, or while reading a book. Dr. Hoberland educates patients on the importance of stacking monitors and eliminating unnecessary repetitive neck movements during the workday.
Our work from home setups may not be the only culprit to neck pain though. Stomach sleeping or putting the arms above the head can cause lots of muscle tension, nerve compression, and just all-around discomfort. We take this into consideration during your visits and recommend things like a contour pillow that will allow you to sleep on your side or back while keeping your spine in alignment throughout the night. Dr. Hoberland addresses these complaints with McKenzie exercise for the neck that help correct the alignment of the head on top of the spine. These simple exercises not only help with posture, but also relieve tension headaches and muscle aches.
At Chicago Conservative Care, we give you the best education and guidance possible so that within a few visits, you feel comfortable and confident to continue your pain management on your own. From chiropractic care to deep tissue massage, we work together as providers and with our patients to come up with the best treatment plan for your pain.
