Conditions We Treat Old

Trigger point therapy involves location of the specific points. Trigger points usually refer pain when compressed, so a point int he neck can cause pain down the shoulder or arm. Once the point is located a series of compression and release techniques are used to fix the offending point. Heat is also applied to increase blood flow to the area and flush out the lactic acid,which is the main component of the trigger point. Then the muscles are put through active range of motion to teach the body that active range of motion is available and encourage you to use full motion during daily activities.

The results and benefits of trigger point massage are releasing constricted areas in the muscles thus alleviating pain. You can experience a significant decrease in pain after just one treatment. When this therapy is used in conjunction with spinal manipulation the outcome of treatments for chronic injuries is much better. If you are experiencing any symtoms associated with tight muscles call Lupo Saladino Chiropractic in Middle Island today

Whiplash

Whiplash is a condition associated with car accidents, usually occurring from being hit from behind. The mechanism of injury involves the sudden acceleration of the neck(forward motion)followed by the deceleration (backward motion)as the neck snaps back. Because of the larger mass of the skull compared to the neck, injuries to the bones and soft tissue are common after even minor fender benders. The ligaments, muscles, discs, and joints of the neck are all subject to stress during this type of injury and can all be damaged during a car accident. The spinal bones in the neck or back can be knocked out of alignment from the force of the injury, and this can lead to bulging or herniation of the discs. This can then cause symptoms of a pinched nerve.

Headaches, dizziness, lower back pain, and numbness in the arms or legs are also symptoms associated with car accident injuries. Sometimes the pain from a car accident is not evident immediately following the accident, and it is not uncommon for symptoms to appear 48-72 hours afterward. It is important to get evaluated at our Middle Island office after being involved in a car accident so we can assess your injuries and get you started on a proper treatment course.

Our Middle Island office is well equipped to treat your car accident injuries. After a thorough exam, we may order imaging studies such as X-Ray or MRIs. We will then concentrate our treatment on pain relief by utilizing ice, heat, ultrasound, TNS, and spinal manipulation. When your pain starts to subside we will direct treatment to rehabilitate injured muscles. This may involve EMS, Proprioceptive exercises, and traction techniques. This period of care can last for 1-2 months depending on the severity of the injury.

If you are seeking legal representation we can recommend lawyers we work with who are experts in car accident cases. We will make sure all your No-Fault forms are properly filled out so you can get the care and compensation you need. Don't waste time after an accident seeking treatment. The longer you are untreated the more chronic your pain will become and more difficult to treat.

Chiropractic care has been effective in treating these injuries due to the fact that it stresses mobilization and exercise to restore function and reduce pain. If you have been injured in a car accident call us today to get an evaluation. We are your source for car accident treatment in Middle Island, Coram, Yaphank, Rocky Point, Ridge, and Gordon Heights

Trauma Injury

If you are the victim of a trauma, such as a lifting injury, a car accident, a slip and fall your body goes through a series of events that cause the pain and stiffness you feel from the injury. The first thing that happens when a tissue is injured is inflammation takes place. This is the first part of the healing process.

Because inflammation causes a lack of mobility in a joint, such as the back or knee, this leads to pain. Pain is also caused by the release of certain proteins in the tissue when they are irritated. This pain and inflammation lead to muscular tightness. This tightness is felt as difficulty in moving, such as a stiff neck that can result from a car accident. Because of the fact that motion is painful, it causes you to move the injured area less, leading to more pain and less motion.

After an l while adhesions will develop in the muscles and tendons of the injured area. This further restricts the motion and increases the pain. eventually, this will lead to cellular degeneration and mental stress. When soft tissue injures heal, collagen is used by the body to repair the damage. This is not as flexible as elastin which is found in healthy tissue. As a result, there is less mobility in repaired tissue.

So how do you treat this sequence of events and prevent it from getting to this end-stage?

Immediately after an injury the first thing to do is apply ice. This reduces inflammation and pain. It should be applied 15 minutes on and 45 off, several times a day. Mobility is also important. The worst thing to do for an injured back is to lay in bed. This promotes swelling and makes movement much more difficult. As you walk around and keep the joints in motion you will feel a decrease in pain and stiffness

​​​​​​​If you have pain radiating into an extremity(arm or leg) consult a Health Care Professional. The doctors at Lupo Saladino Chiropractic in Middle Island are skilled in dealing with radiating pain that may be the result of a pinched nerve. Pain medication may relieve some symptoms but it will not remove the cause of the problem and because the medication makes you feel better you may overdo activities which can cause more pain and injury

Headaches

This is how the tax payment looks. Some had reminded me that they are most in need of tax payment. I think the receipt is not important for them.

Headaches affect just about everyone at some point and they can present themselves in many different ways. Some people only experience pain in one part of their head or behind their eyes, some people experience a pounding sensation inside their whole head, and some people even experience nausea, while others do not. The pain itself may be dull or sharp and may last for anywhere from a few minutes to a few day.

Although headaches can be due to a wide variety of causes, such as drug reactions, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), tightness in the neck muscles, low blood sugar, high blood pressure, stress, and fatigue, the majority of recurrent headaches are of two types: tension headaches (also called cervicogenic headaches) and migraine headaches

Most people describe a tension headache as a feeling of a tight band or dull ache around the head or behind the eyes. A common cause of tension headaches is subluxations in the upper back and neck.

Tension Headaches

Tension-type headaches are the most common, affecting upwards of 75% of all headache sufferers. Most people describe a tension headache as a constant dull, achy feeling either on one side or both sides of the head, often described as a feeling of a tight band or dull ache around the head or behind the eyes. These headaches usually begin slowly and gradually and can last for minutes or days, and tend to begin in the middle or toward the end of the day. Tension headaches are often the result of stress or bad posture, which stresses the spine and muscles in the upper back and neck.

Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches are caused by a constriction of the blood vessels in the brain, followed by a dilation of blood vessels. During the constriction of the blood vessels, there is a decrease in blood flow, which is what leads to the visual symptoms that many people experience. Even in people who don't experience the classic migraine aura, most of them can tell that an attack is imminent. Once the blood vessels dilate, there is a rapid increase in blood pressure inside the head. It is this increased pressure that leads to a pounding headache. Each time the heart beats it sends another shock wave through the carotid arteries in the neck up into the brain.
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Chiropractic and headaches

Each individual's case is different and requires a thorough evaluation before a proper course of chiropractic care can be determined. However, in most cases of tension headaches, significant improvement is accomplished through manipulation of the upper two cervical vertebrae, coupled with adjustments to the junction between the cervical and thoracic spine. This is also helpful in most cases of migraine headaches, as long as food and lifestyle triggers are avoided as well.

Car Accidents and Injuries

Whiplash is a condition associated with car accidents, usually occurring from being hit from behind. The mechanism of injury involves the sudden acceleration of the neck(forward motion)followed by the deceleration (backward motion)as the neck snaps back. Because of the larger mass of the skull compared to the neck, injuries to the bones and soft tissue are common after even minor fender benders. The ligaments, muscles, discs, and joints of the neck are all subject to stress during this type of injury and can all be damaged during a car accident. The spinal bones in the neck or back can be knocked out of alignment from the force of the injury, and this can lead to bulging or herniation of the discs. This can then cause symptoms of a pinched nerve.

Headaches, dizziness, lower back pain, and numbness in the arms or legs are also symptoms associated with car accident injuries. Sometimes the pain from a car accident is not evident immediately following the accident, and it is not uncommon for symptoms to appear 48-72 hours afterward. It is important to get evaluated at our Middle Island office after being involved in a car accident so we can assess your injuries and get you started on a proper treatment course.

Our Middle Island office is well equipped to treat your car accident injuries. After a thorough exam, we may order imaging studies such as X-Ray or MRIs. We will then concentrate our treatment on pain relief by utilizing ice, heat, ultrasound, TNS, and spinal manipulation.. When your pain starts to subside we will direct treatment to rehabilitate injured muscles. This may involve EMS, Proprioceptive exercises, and traction techniques. This period of care can last for 1-2 months depending on the severity of the injury.

If you are seeking legal representation we can recommend lawyers we work with who are experts in car accident cases. We will make sure all your No-Fault forms are properly filled out so you can get the care and compensation you need. Don't waste time after an accident seeking treatment. The longer you are untreated the more chronic your pain will become and more difficult to treat.

Chiropractic care has been effective in treating these injuries due to the fact that it stresses mobilization and exercise to restore function and reduce pain. If you have been injured in a car accident call us today to get an evaluation. We are your source for car accident treatment in Middle Island, Coram, Yaphank, Rocky Point, Ridge, and Gordon Heights

What conditions does this treat:

• Lower back pain

• Neck pain

• Lumbar disc herniation

• Cervical disc herniation

• Sciatica

• Spinal Stenosis

• Whiplash injury
  
  

and many other spinal problems.

Treatment is relaxing and gentle with no quick moves or noises. Call us today to see if this technique can help your problem. Conservative care is effective in treating the majority of lower back pain conditions.

Failed Back Surgery

Failed back surgery syndrome is continued low back pain with or without radicular pain after lumbar surgery.

Recent studies have shown the incidence of failed back surgeries can run from 50-75%. This coupled with the fact that most back problems can be treated with conservative care is leading to an epidemic of unwarranted and useless surgeries leaving patients with the same or more pain than when they started.

What causes Failed back surgery syndrome

This can happen because of several things. Tissue damage can occur during the surgery. So, myofascial pains can happen after a separation of tissue. When that tissue comes back together, the connective tissue may cause fibrosis - and that can trap nerves - or in itself become tight and painful.

If a spinal fusion was performed, segments of the spine that were moving separately are now joined together. So instead of each of the 5 spinal bones in the back moving individually and taking up 20 % of the spinal load, now if 2 or 3 segments are fused you will now have upwards of 33% of the load falling on each segment. This causes additional forces on the segments, more wear and tear, and more pain in that segment.

In our office, Drs Lupo and Saladino use Cox Technic Flexion Distraction and Decompression to widen the canal space, drop the intradiscal pressure and increase the disc height to relieve pain.

You will welcome the Cox Technic manipulation that gently "pulls you apart," as many patients describe the treatment or say they need. Depending on the severity of your pain and symptoms, gentler Protocol I may be applied until 50% of your pain has been relieved.

Diversified Technique

This technique is the most widely used by Middle island Chiropractors. It involves feeling areas of the spine where the joint is hypermobile or not moving enough. A high-velocity low amplitude thrust is provided to the joint to move it back to its normal motion. When this occurs a clicking sound is usually but not always heard.

The reason restoring joint mobility is important is because it increases the motion of the segment so your neck or back moves better, and it also stimulates pain inhibiting nerve fibers in the joints. This is why getting adjusted usually causes an immediate sense of pain relief.

This technique is painless and very effective for your spinal problems. After you get adjusted by diversified technique your joints will be functioning properly and you will start to experience decreased pain and stiffness. Sometimes we use a gentler form of manipulation called joint mobilization. This just gently takes the joint beyond its active range of motion. If your pain is very severe we may use this technique until you are able to tolerate spinal manipulation

​​​​​​​Spinal manipulation also has been shown to release endorphins, which are natural pain inhibitors found in the body.

Herniated Discs

You may have heard the term "slipped disc" used to describe a low back injury. Discs do not actually "slip". Rather, they may herniate or bulge out from between the bones. A herniation is a displaced fragment of the center part or nucleus of the disc that is pushed through a tear in the outer layer or annulus of the disc. Pain results when irritating substances are released from this tear and also if the fragment touches or compresses a nearby nerve. Disc herniation has some similarities to degenerative disc disease and discs that herniate are often in an early stage of degeneration. Herniated discs are common in the low back or lumbar spine

What are the symptoms?

When a herniated disc presses on a nerve it causes, numbness, and weakness in the area of the body where the nerve travels. A herniated disc in the lower back can cause pain and numbness in the buttock and down the leg, This condition is referred to as sciatica.

If a herniated disc is not pressing on a nerve, you may have a backache or no pain at all.

If you have weakness or numbness in both legs, along with loss of bladder or bowel control this is a condition that needs immediate medical attention.

Treatment of Disc herniations

Mild to moderate disc herniations can usually be treated conservatively with stretching, exercise therapy, and chiropractic care. More advanced cases will often require some form of spinal decompression, such as flexion-distraction, in conjunction with therapeutic exercises. These services are offered at Lupo Saladino chiropractic of Middle island.

Occasionally, a herniation may be severe enough to warrant surgical intervention. These cases are usually reserved as a last resort when other forms of therapy have failed to relieve pain, or if there is significant compression of the spinal cord or nerves.

Low Back Pain During Pregnancy

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Neck Pain

Most people do not realize how much they move their necks during the day until they are unable to do so. The degree of flexibility of the neck, coupled with the fact that it has the least amount of muscular stabilization and it has to support and move your 14 - 16 pound head, means that the neck is very susceptible to injury. You can picture your neck and head much like a bowling ball being held on top of a stick by small, thin, elastic bands. It doesn't take much force to disrupt that delicate balance.

What causes neck pain?

​​​​​​​Injuries

By far, the most common injury to the neck is a whiplash injury. Because symptoms of a whiplash injury can take weeks or months to manifest, it is easy to be fooled into thinking that you are not as injured as you really are. Car accidents that involve rear-end collisions frequently cause whiplash symptoms.

Poor Posture
One of the most common causes of neck pain, and sometimes headaches, is poor posture. It's easy to get into bad posture habits without even realizing it - even an activity as "innocent" as reading in bed can ultimately lead to pain, headaches, and more serious problems. The basic rule is simple: keep your neck in a "neutral" position whenever possible. Don't bend or hunch your neck forward for long periods. Also, try not to sit in one position for a long time. If you must sit for an extended period, make sure your posture is good: Keep your head in a neutral position, make sure your back is supported, keep your knees slightly lower than your hips, and rest your arms if possible. Forward head posture, usually from working on a computer for long hours, also causes neck pain.

Covid work at home

Since the covid pandemic, many office workers are still working from home. This causes increased stress on the neck and upper back due to awkward postures while sitting, less physical activity, and longer periods of immobility

Stress
When most people become stressed, they unconsciously contract their muscles. In particular, the muscles in their back and neck. This 'muscle guarding is a survival response designed to guard against injury. In today's world where we are not exposed to physical danger most of the time, muscle guarding still occurs whenever we become emotionally stressed. The areas most affected are the muscles of the neck, upper back, and low back. For most of us, the particular muscle affected by stress is the trapezius muscle, where daily stress usually leads to chronic tightness and the development of trigger points.

Disc Herniations
The discs in your cervical spine can herniate or bulge and put pressure on the nerves that exit from the spine through that area. Although cervical discs do not herniate nearly as often as lumbar discs do, they occasionally can herniate, especially when the discs sustain damage from a whiplash injury. The Doctors at Lupo Saladino Chiropractic in Middle Island will diagnose the cause of your neck pain and get you started on the right treatment to get relief.

Pinched Nerve

A pinched nerve can be one of the most painful symptoms you could ever endure. It normally occurs when too much pressure is applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues — such as bones, cartilage, muscles, or tendons. Disruption of nerve function has many symptoms including numbness, tingling, burning, shooting pain, and weakness.

Most of the time, what is called a pinched nerve is actually an irritated or inflamed nerve where the nerve itself is not actually pinched. In most cases, nerves become irritated and inflamed when the bones, joints, or muscles of the spine are not in their proper position or are not moving properly. This condition is called a "subluxation", the treatment of which is the specialty of the doctors in our office.

Causes of pinched nerves

Often, poor posture is the culprit, due to a poor night’s sleep, long durations of sitting, such as driving or at a computer, or lifting heavy objects, such as weights or children, or even reaching above the head can be the cause of a pinched or compressed nerve. Degenerative arthritis, disc herniations, and scoliosis can also be the cause of a pinched nerve

Trigger points can cause symptoms of a pinched nerve. Trigger points are very tight "knots" of muscle that form when muscles are either chronically overworked or injured and are often experienced as a pinching or burning pain. Trigger points will commonly cause pain that radiates to other parts of the body, which is also known as referred pain. The successful treatment of trigger points usually requires a combination of chiropractic care, stretching, and a form of deep tissue massage called 'trigger point therapy.'

Conditions arising from pinched nerves

Sciatica and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. In each of these cases, injury, spasm, or inflammation of the surrounding muscles and connective tissue causes the nerve to become compressed, resulting in pain.

Sciatica will cause pain down the leg while the thoracic outlet will cause pain down the arm. The pain in these cases arises from nerve compression in the spine. Medical treatment of these conditions usually involves anti-inflammatories or cortisone shots. While these will mask the pain, they will not fix the root of the problem which is pressure on a nerve.

It is very important that the cause of any form of pain be properly diagnosed. This is especially important when nerves are affected as severe or long-term irritation, or compression, of a nerve, can lead to permanent nerve damage. Sometimes advanced imaging studies such as MRI are required to properly diagnose this condition. Nerve studies are also used to determine if damage has occurred along the path of the pinched nerve. At Lupo Saladino Chiropractic we can help you find relief from this painful condition, and then rehabilitate your spine to prevent this from happening again. Call today if you suspect you may have trigger points causing muscle pain in your body

Sciatica

The term sciatica refers to leg pain, tingling, or numbness that starts from the low back and travels down the back of the leg. The pain from sciatica can vary from infrequent, intermittent, or constant and incapacitating.

What causes Sciatica?

Sciatica is actually a sign that you have an underlying problem putting pressure on a nerve in your lower back. The most common cause of this nerve compression is a bulging or herniated lumbar disc. Piriformis syndrome is another common cause of sciatica. The piriformis is a muscle that lies directly over the sciatic nerve. If this muscle becomes tight or if you have a spasm in this muscle, it puts pressure directly on the sciatic nerve. Occasionally, sciatic pain in men is caused by sitting on a wallet.

How do I know if I have sciatica?

Pain that radiates from your lower (lumbar) spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg is the hallmark of sciatica. Sciatica may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness in the affected leg. This pain can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating discomfort. Sometimes it may feel like a jolt or electric shock. Sciatic pain often starts gradually and intensifies over time. It's likely to be worse when you sit, cough or sneeze.

How can I treat sciatica.?

The first step in your treatment of sciatica is diagnosing the cause of the problem. Sometimes an MRI may be needed to diagnose the cause of sciatica. Once the proper diagnosis is made the use of ultrasound, to reduce swelling, EMS to control pain and reduce muscle spasms, and flexion-distraction to alleviate pressure on the discs are usually standard treatments. Once the pain has reduced, therapeutic exercises are usually prescribed. Sciatica can become more chronic and difficult to treat the longer you have it. Don't delay in getting treatment for this painful condition. The longer the symptoms of sciatica are present the more difficult it becomes to treat.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal Stenosis is a condition caused by narrowing of the spaces in the spine resulting in pressure on the nerve roots The diagram below shows the vertebral body and its associated structures. The spinal cord passes through the vertebral foramen while the spinal nerve roots exit on the side by the pedicles. Degenerative disc disease causes excess bone growth called osteophytes which form on the bodies and pedicles. This causes a blockage to the spinal canal and nerve roots. Some people are born with a narrow canal, they have congenital stenosis. If there is a disc that is herniated this coupled with degenerative stenosis makes the canal smaller still, this is referred to as acquired stenosis.

If the pressure is on the lower part of the spine it will cause symptoms in the back, hips, or legs. The leg pain of spinal stenosis is intermittent and referred to as claudication. because it also has symptoms of cramping not usually seen in sciatica The pain of claudication can be in one or both legs. It is aggravated by walking or standing for long periods of time. Flexing the spine forward relieves the pain while extending the spine aggravates it. Pressure on the upper spine will cause symptoms in the neck, shoulders, or arms.

Stenosis is most common in men or women over 50 but can occur in younger people if they were born with narrow spinal canals. While the most common causes are arthritis and disc syndromes, trauma, tumors, or Paget's disease are more rare causes of stenosis.

​​​​​​​Treatment of spinal stenosis is aimed at relieving symptoms by reducing swelling on muscles irritated by nerve pressure and traction techniques are also utilized to remove nerve pressure that occurs. Exercise is usually prescribed and very beneficial for alleviating long-term symptoms. Sometimes the use of back support is warranted.

Surgery may be warranted if compression on the spinal cord causes bowel and bladder dysfunction, this is a medical emergency. However, in most causes conservative care as described above can bring about relief.