Sciatic Nerve Damage

Written on April 29, 2019. Posted in Chiropractic, Health & Beauty, Teaching, Workout. Leave a Comment

What is Sciatica?

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. It stems from the lower end of your spine down to your feet. The damaged nerve is in the lower vertebrae in your spine where the most disk herniations take place. When the spine is misaligned, the lower spine holds more weight than an adjusted spine would. A proper spine would hold weight proportional, eliminating improper weight on your lower disks. You can misalign your spine doing small actions over time such as prolonged sitting and also for traumatic events such as a car accident. The second cause of nerve damage to the lower spine also includes pelvic issues. Athletes like soccer players and baseball players typically end up with pelvic issues due to their body adjusting to the range of motion they perform repetitively. When your pelvis rotates, you also effect the curve in your spine. Too much curve or not enough curve causes inflammation. Over time, this inflammation will cause irritation, eventually feeling that pain throughout your leg. Luckily, there are several ways to decrease nerve damage.

7 Natural Tips for Sciatica

1. Piriformis Stretch

There are many different stretches you can view online through videos and pictures. This muscle is located where the sciatic nerve begins in the lower spine, making it extremely important to stretch.

2. Hip Flexor Stretch

These stretches will also be found online. Your hip flexors help stabilize your spine and run through your pelvis. Doing these stretches will train your body to correct the muscles.

3. Strengthening the Abdomen

Your abdomen is important with stabilizing the spine as well. One of the best ways to do this is working your way up to doing a 2-3 minute plank each day. You can start off small by going however long you’re capable of, but reach for going 5 seconds longer each time.

4. Strengthening Hip Extensors

It is vital to not only stretch your hip muscles, but also strengthen them. There are many workouts you can do with no equipment at home and also many machines at a local gym to strengthen them.

5. Posture

Fixing your posture is key to a healthy spine. You can do simply adjustments in your every day life to assure your posture to be correct. You can simply adjust your screen at work so you aren’t slouching over and looking down. Just by being aware, you can slowly adjust your posture.

6. Stand Up, Get Moving

Even if you sit in an office every day, it is important to move your spine every 15-30 minutes. It can be as simple as stretching, wobble cushion, or walking around the office. Also, be aware of the way you sit in the car. Taking breaks on long road trips allow your spine to move freely.

7. Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care comes in contact to the spine to adjust what is misplaced. In more severe cases, chiropractic care is able to help with specific adjustments, personalized stretches and workouts, and also performing decompression.

If you live in the Matthews/Charlotte area here in North Carolina, or would like a recommendation to other chiropractors in your area, contact us here. We would love to be in contact with you!

Headaches, Neck Pain, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Written on April 24, 2019. Posted in Chiropractic, Health & Beauty, Teaching. Leave a Comment

The Root Cause

Many doctors are quick to prescribe medication to mask the pain in our body. The feeling is an indication for a deeper issue or misalignment. The FDA released in 2018 that your risk for a heart attack increases 20% within the month you take over the counter medication like ibuprofen, advil, and aspirin. When you mask the issues in your body, medications can prolong the original issue as well as creating more long term health effects.

The Importance of Chiropractic Care

A National Institute of Health study found that 57% of patients receiving chiropractic care were able to reduce their neck pain by 75% in only 12 weeks. Your spine protects the nervous system which is the control system to the movement in your body and the health of your organs. Chiropractic care removes interference in your body to heal itself.

3 Common Issues Involving the Spine

Headaches/Migraines

Cause: 90% of migraines are related to the upper part of your neck. There is an artery in your neck that feeds the blood supply to your brain. When this is misaligned, it causes spasms and creates headaches/migraines. Uneven weight also adds pressure to the disks in your neck.

Solution: Getting adjustments to the neck relieves stress on the nervous system. When the neck is properly aligned, it relieves pressure on the nervous system. This will decrease the amount of headaches you encounter over time and allow you to eliminate medications.
Neck Pain

Cause: The main causes are car accidents, sports injuries, and sitting at a desk. Not having proper posture throughout the day and night will also effect the spine, causing neck pain.

Solution: If you’re encountering neck pain, our care takes you through a 5 step process. You will first answer questions to find the cause of the issue. We will check the current posture of your spine. We will also want to evaluate the range of motion in your neck. Then, we will feel your spine to see if there is tenderness, tension, or response. Finally, we will take x-rays to identify the issue and see specifically where it needs to be realigned.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Cause: Carpal Tunnel causes numbness in the wrist and fingers. Typical symptoms start with irritation in your shoulders which spread down to your hand over time. When we sit at a desk or work on a computer all day long, the neck posture compromises the nervous system. The nerves in your neck connect to the nerves in your hands.

Solution: Chiropractic adjustments help you avoid surgery and harmful medications. Not only do neck adjustments help the nerve blockage to your hand, but also improves the function of your body to

Helping ADHD & ADD Naturally

Written on April 15, 2019. Posted in Chiropractic, Health & Beauty, Kids Health, Nutrition, Teaching.

The Diagnosis

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have behavioral conditions which can cause high levels of energy, lack of focus, and impulsive behavior. Over 6 million children have been diagnosed with ADHD surveyed by the CDC. The numbers continue to rise year after year. These disorders are different symptoms of the same underlying cause.

Exchanging Medication with Nutrition

The standard response in most medical situations is to prescribe a pill. Unfortunately, these pills are not a long term answer to the neurological function for children, and also adults. In fact, many disorders and diseases are prescribed medication to mask the symptom instead of dealing with the main issue. Prescription medications have never been tested or approved for kids, yet we prescribe them anyways. Luckily, there are multiple ways to improve ADHD/ADD solely through nutrition.

Chiropractic Plays a Role

There are many misconceptions of chiropractic care helping back and neck pain only. This is far from true. Chiropractic care helps with countless issues that stem from the nervous system. 90% of the stimulation to your brain is connected to your spine. When chiropractors adjust the spine, the spine comes back into alignment to function properly. Chiropractic works well with ADHD/ADD specifically from helping their body balance itself to a homeostasis state rather than a high stressed state. Chiropractic care helps clear blockage to the nervous system so the body can perform to its highest ability; your part is to eliminating nutritional interference for yourself or your children who have ADHD/ADD.

5 Nutritional Shifts to Help Underlying Issues

1. Essential Fatty Acids

Your body needs fat to function in a healthy way. Stay away from hydrogenated oil, vegetable oil, and canola oil. Any oil with trans fat is hard for your body to break down. Healthy fats include coconut oil, avocados, flaxseed oil, grass fed meat, free range organic eggs, and hemp oil. The way these help ADHD/ADD is by fueling your brain and lowering inflammation.

2. Sugar/Grains

Grains turn into sugar as soon as they are consumed into your body. Grain is one of the top genetically modified foods and contains preservatives, round up, and other toxins. Grains and sugar both effect the neurology in your brain. Reducing, but better yet eliminating, all sugars and grains (pizza, pasta, french fries) will allow the brain to neurologically function properly and even allow you or your child to get off medication.

3. Chemicals

Removing toxic chemicals in your food and home will decrease stress levels and allow the brain to focus more. This includes food dyes, preservatives, cleaning products, laundry detergent, etc. The rule of thumb is if you can’t read it, you shouldn’t be eating it. You have to become the expert of the food you buy and start reading the ingredients.

4. Supplements

There are many supplements that will help ADHD/ADD such as magnesium, vitamin D3, probiotics, and CBD oil. The key is finding the right provider or physician you trust to suggest what natural supplements to get and where to get them. A natural way for fatty acids are chia seeds and a natural way for vitamin D is going into the sun without sunscreen.

5. Water

Remove juice and sodas and drink more water, it’s as simple as that. After 72 hours, in a freshly squeezed juice, it loses all the nutrients and becomes more oxidized. Also, most juices have immense amounts of sugar. Water is vital to clean out toxins and carry nutrients to your brain.

Oh my Migraines

Written on August 1, 2018. Posted in Chiropractic, Nutrition, Teaching.

MY OH MY! MIGRAINES!

What is your migraine trying to tell you? If you suffer from migraines, it is crucial to ask yourself: “What is causing my migraines?” Instead of: “How can I treat my migraines?” Functional medicine is medicine by CAUSE, not medicine by symptom. So what are some common underlying causes of migraines?

Causes:
1) Food sensitivities

2) Hormone imbalances

3) Magensium
deficiency

4) Posture and
subluxation

The good news is there are simple steps you can take to treat underlying causes
of migraines!

Solutions:

1) Elimination diet

By removing common food allergens, you can test which foods might be causing your migraines. These foods include eggs, dairy, gluten, and peanuts.
Be sure to reintroduce each food slowly.

2) Balance your hormones

Some migraines can be caused by too much estrogen and not enough progesterone. That is why some women get premenstrual migraines! Some things you can do to restore this balance naturally are eliminating caffeine and alcohol, reducing sugar and intake of flour/starches, eating a diet rich with plant based foods, getting quality of sleep, and reducing stress. Also, reduce or eliminate pharmaceutical medications with high levels of estrogen if possible.

Furthermore, hormone imbalances can be caused by a B vitamin
deficiency. Try adding 400 mg of vitamin B2 or riboflavin daily.
Finally, sleep cycles can cause hormone imbalances so a melatonin supplement has been shown to be effective at reducing migraines.

3) Restore magnesium deficiency

Magnesium is known as the relaxation mineral and so deficiency
can cause elevated levels of stress and in return, migraines. Try
adding 300-600 mg of magnesium 2x per day into your routine.

4) Make chiropractic care a part of your wellness routine

Unfortunately, many people have sedentary jobs requiring them
to sit for the majority of their day. This can lead to poor posture
and tense muscles, specifically around the neck region. In a
randomized control trial by the Journal of Manipulative and
Physiological Therapeutics, a 90% reduction in migraines was
found after only 16 treatments.

Article written by Lauren Oljar with Queen City Health Center

Spinal Exercises with Dr. Kyle Loveless

Written on May 9, 2018. Posted in Chiropractic, Fitness, Health & Beauty.

Chiropractic Care for Babies with Dr. Holly Loveless

Written on May 9, 2018. Posted in Chiropractic, Health & Beauty, Kids Health.

teen girl athlete Queen City Health Center 4421 Sharon Rd #100, Charlotte, NC 28211 (980) 422-2000

Are You a Charlotte High School Athlete? Read This!

Written on April 19, 2017. Posted in Chiropractic, Fitness. Leave a Comment

The necessity of seeing a chiropractor as an adult athlete is undeniable. Queen City Health Center has helped many young adults who play sports, both on the hobbyist and professional levels. Not only have we helped to relieve the pain and symptoms of various sports injuries in athletes young and old; we’ve also provided coaching for the prevention of athletic injuries so that our patients can enjoy a better quality of life as they get better at whatever sport they choose.

However, we can also attest to the small number of high school athletes undergoing chiropractic care. That number is simply too small for us, so we’ve decided to write this post on the importance of seeing a chiropractor, especially if you’re a teen who plays sports!

Seeing a Charlotte chiropractor can help prevent sports injuries in teens:

While most people seek out a chiropractor in the event of an injury that has already happened, this type of alternative health care is essential to the prevention of injuries as well, especially if you’re an athlete who engages in repetitive motion.

As many athletes know, repetitive motions and repetitive injuries are more likely to result in more injuries down the road than if you’ve never been injured in the first place. So the prevention of injuries from happening is crucial to ensuring you get to continue enjoying your sport. No one wants to spend a season on the bench—or worse—on a stretcher or in a hospital room!

A chiropractor can help by performing simple adjustments designed to optimize athletic performance, while also recommending specific stretches and exercises to aid in building strength. They can also pinpoint motions that may be contributing to inflammation and/or injury to the joints.

A Charlotte NC chiropractor can help treat athletic injuries in teens:

If an injury has already taken place, there’s no need to panic. Chiropractors are experienced when it comes to the treatment of injuries and the alleviation of pain and other symptoms that come about as a result.

However, not all chiropractors are created equal. While some may focus solely on adjustments to treat a condition, the south Charlotte chiropractic doctors at Queen City Health Center will prescribe a holistic regimen that also incorporates diet, rest, exercise, and mental attitude in a way that’s designed to heal your whole body from the inside out. That means you won’t just experience temporary pain relief. You’ll experience full-body healing which aids in the further prevention of injuries in the future!

Moreover, our staff doesn’t just focus on the injury site itself, as we know that doesn’t always lead to complete healing (though it may temporarily relieve your symptoms.) We will treat surrounding areas that may also be contributing to inflammation and pain at the site itself. Again, we’re all about taking a holistic approach to health, rather than masking symptoms and allowing them the opportunity to return.

Why is chiropractic important for high school athletes in particular?

This is a great question! Teens are undergoing an enormous amount of change over a very short period of time (in the grand scheme of their entire lives, anyway). Playing sports only magnifies this, and when injury happens, it not only has an impact physically but may also carry emotional weight as well. If a teen suffers a crippling injury that takes him out of the game altogether, it could lead to sadness or even depression. That’s why a holistic approach to teen health that incorporates not only chiropractic, but also the other essentials (diet, rest, exercise and mental attitude) is extremely beneficial.

If you’re a parent of a teen athlete who plays sports, get in touch with one of our Charlotte chiropractors today! We are eager to help, whether you’re looking to prevent injuries or you’ve suffered a recent injury and are ready to get back in the game. Give us a call at (980) 422-2000 to schedule an office visit, complete with X-rays, a consultation, and an adjustment for only $50!

Not sure if chiropractic is right for your teen? Click here to request a FREE 15-minute phone consultation. We’ll help you determine if an in-person appointment at our office is a good fit for you.

woman with back tattoo Queen City Health Center 4421 Sharon Rd #100, Charlotte, NC 28211 (980) 422-2000

Think Your “Bad Back” Can’t Be Cured? Think Again!

Written on April 13, 2017. Posted in Chiropractic. Leave a Comment

We’ve had patients call our office for a variety of health conditions, but the most common reason people choose to see a Charlotte chiropractor is pain. That pain could be in the form of headaches, neck aches, leg pain, or, what most people typically call a “bad back” resulting from some sort of injury in the past.

Maybe you were lifting weights at the gym and pulled a muscle while trying to impress that girl a few feet over…

Or perhaps you were in a Charlotte auto accident and never went to see a doctor or pain clinic to sort out the damage…

Or, you’re a local athlete who, no matter how great your technique, can’t seem to shake the body aches and pain that come with the necessary training and conditioning required to hone your craft.

Whatever the case, perhaps you’ve been told that you just “have a bad back” and it’s something you’ll have to live with. Your doctor prescribed some medication and sent you on your way to the nearest pharmacy. You’ve been taking those pills for a few months and they’ve alleviated your symptoms, but when you’re not on medication, you still feel pain. That pain worsens with each movement or workout.

Sound familiar?

Maybe you stumbled on this website, because you’re wondering “can my ‘bad back’ really not be cured? Do I really need to keep taking these meds? Will surgery fix the problem?”

If you’ve been asking yourself these questions, we have great news for you!

Your bad back can be cured.

No, you won’t have to take prescription drugs for the rest of your life…

And surgery is likely not necessary at all, as long as you’re willing to adopt a few new lifestyle habits and allow your body to do what it was designed to do: heal itself.

Have you ever noticed that the first four letters in the word “health” spell “heal?” We don’t believe that’s a coincidence. Health is defined by how well your body is able to heal itself, and when you put it in the right environment, it will do just that. And it will do it more efficiently than those meds you’ve been taking.

How do we know this? Because we’ve helped numerous patients like yourself who were searching far and wide to find alternative treatments for pain.

How to cure back pain:

At Queen City Health Center, we take a natural, holistic approach to pain management and wellness in general. Our clinic is not just a typical South Charlotte chiropractic pain clinic. Nor are we solely focused on healing patients with pain problems. Our holistic approach is geared to anyone with any type of health issue from allergies to autoimmune diseases.

If you’re looking for natural back pain remedies, our Maximized Living Charlotte doctors can help you through a prescribed regimen and one-on-one wellness coaching that includes spinal manipulation, along with nutrition and dietary changes, regular core-strengthening exercise, meditation, and detoxification.

How does it work?

Chiropractic adjustments help to get your spine into proper alignment, freeing up pressure on your nerves which send signals out to the rest of your body’s organs, telling them how to function. In order for your body to operate at full capacity, those signals must be full-strength. The problem is that they become weakened over time due to pressure which results from poor postural habits.

In order for chiropractic care to have its full effect, you must also be exercising the other 4 lifestyle essentials in order to strengthen your body’s immune system. When your immune system is strong, it helps to fight off disease and alleviates inflammation which causes back pain and a host of other health problems.

Interested in learning more about how chiropractic can help you cure your “bad back”? Click here to request a free 15-minute phone consultation with one of our expert Charlotte chiropractors! Or give us a call today at (980) 422-2000 to schedule an in-person consult. We work with all insurance companies and our new patient visits are designed to be affordable for all, regardless of your insurance situation. Your initial office visit includes X-rays, a physical exam, and an adjustment for only $50!

Charlotte auto accident chiropractor Queen City Health Center 4421 Sharon Rd #100, Charlotte, NC 28211 (980) 422-2000

Why You Should See a Chiropractor After a Charlotte Auto Accident

Written on March 20, 2017. Posted in Chiropractic. Leave a Comment

This is a guest post from one of our Queen City Health Center chiropractic patients who recently experienced pain symptoms following a Charlotte auto accident.

As I was flipping through the air at 70 miles an hour, all I could think about was how badly my back was going to be killing me in the very near future. 🙂

On a serious note, being in a car accident is one of the most frightening experiences you can have. Most people incur whiplash, soreness, and severe pain. Thankfully, I came out (mostly) unscathed, which is why I didn’t think I needed to go to the doctor or the emergency room after my accident. But as the paramedics were patting me down, making sure I had no other serious injuries, I started to dream up worst case scenarios, like internal bleeding, and I began to wonder if maybe I should go to the emergency room.

Thankfully everything checked out. However, I began to experience severe back pain, dizziness, vertigo, whiplash, and major soreness shortly afterwards. I went to see Dr. Holly at Queen City Health Center. She did an initial consultation and X-ray and was able to show me just how messed up my body really was as a result of the accident.

To be honest, I don’t really enjoy going to doctors. I view it as a sign of weakness, and it takes up a lot of time that I could be spending doing other things. But, now that I’ve received treatment, I have full mobility and no longer wake up with pain. Who knows what could have happened if I had never gone to see her? I could have ended up like the hunchback of Notre Dame…

If you have recently been in a Charlotte auto accident, I highly recommend that you make an appointment with a Charlotte chiropractor as soon as possible. However, not all chiropractors are created equal. I am personally biased towards Dr. Holly and Queen City Health Center, simply because they not only perform adjustments; they help you heal through other natural methods such as nutrition counseling, detoxification, fitness, and physical therapy, in addition to regular chiropractic care. Also, since your car insurance company is likely to cover your treatments, you have nothing to lose!

A Charlotte chiropractor can treat a number of symptoms associated with pain due to a recent car accident, including whiplash, soreness, dizziness and vertigo — all of which I experienced. Spinal manipulation helps with pain management, because it releases the pressure caused by compressed vertebrae on your nerves. This allows nerve signals to travel to your body’s organs at an optimal rate. The nerve signals sent out from your spine are responsible for telling your organs how to operate. When those signals are weakened due to nerve compression, your body functions at a limited capacity.

If you’re still confused, it’s probably because I’m not a doctor. Just a patient who is thankful for the chiropractic care I received following my Charlotte auto accident. If you’d like to speak to a doctor and get your questions answered, click here to request a free 15-minute phone consultation, or give us a call at (980) 422-2000!

Why Every Mom Needs to See a Chiropractor

Written on March 13, 2017. Posted in Chiropractic. Leave a Comment

Whether you’re a new mama, or you’ve been around the block a few times, visiting a chiropractor can do wonders for your quality of life in many ways.

Take it from Dr. Holly, who recently became a new mama herself! Meet the newest addition to the QCHC family, Eleanor Joy Loveless:

(Isn’t she lovely? We think so!)

We’ve seen our fair share of mamas here in the office, and they all have a story about how chiropractic care has changed their life. If you’re a mom who’s considering a visit to a Charlotte chiropractor, but are on the fence, then please read on for the many reasons why every mom should be seeing a D.C. on the regular.

Reason #1: To realign your spine, post-pregnancy. This applies, whether you just recently gave birth, or you gave birth several years ago. The impact of birth on a woman’s body is undeniable. Even more so is the impact on the baby that just made his or her way through the birth canal! No doubt your spine was knocked out of alignment and it could be having all sorts of effects on the rest of your body’s organs. If you’re experiencing symptoms such as headaches, back pain, digestive problems, hormonal issues, or even autoimmune conditions, we’ve got news for you. These are all things that regular Charlotte chiropractic care can address!

A chiropractor can take an X-ray and do an examination of your spine to determine what needs to happen going forward to put things back in the right place. Whether you just had a baby or you’ve been a mama for years, contact us to schedule an initial consultation. We’ve worked on adults and children of all ages, including newborn babes.

Reason #2: To improve your immune system function. It’s no secret that kids are like tiny germ factories. Who knows what they’re bringing home from daycare or school? Better to be safe than sorry…

Many people are surprised to learn that chiropractic care aids in immune system function. Most think it’s just for back or neck pain. If you’re wondering how a visit to the chiropractor can actually keep you and your kids from getting sick, here’s the lowdown:

Basically, your spine is the central hub for your nervous system which regulates all of your bodily functions. Your spine sends nerve signals out to your organs telling them what to do, and when there is compression on any of your vertebrae, those signals get weaker. Weakened signals means weaker function overall. So if your spine is unable to fully communicate with the organs that regulate your body’s immune function, you’re likely to get sick more often.

We see a lot of parents and children at Queen City Health Center when they’re feeling “under the weather.” You’ll be surprised how fast a couple of adjustments can work to get them feeling 100% their best again!

Curious to find out for yourself? Give us a call at (980) 422-2000, or fill out the form on this page to request a FREE phone consultation or to schedule an in-person consultation with the doc.

Reason #3: To lower your stress levels. Let’s face it. Being a mama ain’t easy. In fact, it’s really hard at times. If you’re a new mom, you’ll need to keep your stress levels down so your body can produce milk for your babe. And if you’re a mom of teens or toddlers (a.k.a. “three-nagers”), it’s easy to lose your cool. Keeping your stress levels in check is a must, since stress affects your immune system function. You don’t want to get sick every time your kids stress you out, right?

Chiropractic care is known to help alleviate stress. A series of adjustments can not only make you feel better right away, but produce more of those “feel-good” hormones that will keep you feeling your best for days afterwards. Many of our patients report better sleep and less stress after a visit to our office.

Reason #4: To lose weight. After carrying a baby (or several babies), our bodies definitely change. Losing weight and staying fit can help you boost and retain your confidence, which in turn can positively affect your relationships with your spouse and children as well as the way you relate to them and how you parent.

If your’e a mom in Charlotte NC, and you’ve been struggling to lose that post-pregnancy baby weight, chiropractic care can help. Each adjustment releases hormones that combat stress and can help you lose those LBs. In addition, our doctors specialize in holistic treatments that also incorporate nutrition and fitness counseling.

Category: Chiropractic