Pain Disorders

Strong, flexible intervertebral discs along with muscles support the spine. Discs weakened by herniation inadequately maintain the vertebrae in the physiological axis of the body, increasing muscle load in that area.

Muscles fatigue quickly, and pain occurs. Blood circulation is disrupted in the affected area. Muscles and nerve roots do not receive enough nutrients. Swelling is removed only through lymphatic and blood vessels, solely thanks to microvibrations generated by dynamic muscle contraction and relaxation. However, the muscles are overloaded, and the swelling prevents them from returning to full functionality. This creates a vicious cycle. Weakened muscles do not adequately support the spine. Even a small load can lead to complications. The most dangerous are pushes and sudden movements. In the case of a herniated intervertebral disc, one must be particularly cautious. The problem becomes traveling by various means of transport.

This is inflammation of the sciatic nerve, causing pain in the lumbar spine, in the buttocks, thigh, lower leg, and foot – occurring simultaneously or individually in any of these areas. Most of these symptoms are diagnosed by doctors as sciatica, treated with pharmacological means. Such treatment does not yield the desired results, as it does not address the cause, merely masking the symptoms.

Manual therapy comes to the rescue here. The specificity of the procedure is to restore the proper position of the vertebrae, thus relieving pressure on the nerves and intervertebral discs, which were the actual cause of the pain. No painkillers, muscle relaxants, or anti-inflammatory medications are used, which may at best provide temporary relief from the disease's effects. The spinal adjustment procedure eliminates the causes. In such a case, a neurosurgeon would perform spine surgery to remove the tissues compressing the nerve, also eliminating the cause. In 90% of cases, surgery turns out to be unnecessary, and by properly aligning the vertebrae, restoring the proper mobility of the spine, all causes and symptoms can be eliminated non-surgically.

It is impossible to list all the diseases that can be treated manually. However, there are certain conditions that can only be effectively treated this way. We are talking about scoliosis (lateral curvature of the spine of various sizes, including the commonly known "hump").

Those who have had direct experience, either as patients or as doctors, know how challenging and controversial this topic is. Of all types of scoliosis, the biggest problem is with idiopathic scoliosis (90% of all cases). Classical medicine cannot eliminate it due to the lack of understanding of its cause. This, however, has been discovered long ago by natural medicine, and despite its effectiveness, it remains overlooked by doctors, including the highest scientific authorities.

Lack of recognition, however, does not prevent proper treatment. It turns out that the cause of idiopathic scoliosis is a "locking of the occipital-cervical joints" that occurs in the womb. The cramped space in the uterus forces an improper position. The positions of the pregnant mother and circumstances during childbirth also influence this.

Undetected locking of the occipital-cervical joints carries the greatest risk of developing scoliosis, which will not be diagnosed until the age of 7 to 9, when the lateral curvature of the spine becomes very visible. Unfortunately, even then, it is often misdiagnosed by doctors as protruding and unevenly positioned shoulder blades and arms. The traditional method of treating scoliosis, which involves corrective exercises, not only does not help but also exacerbates and accelerates the development of the defect.

The basis of a migraine is the improper functioning of ion channels, blood platelets, and neurons in the brain. Delving deeper, it is a cry from our body — where there is an imbalance at the level of the spine, especially in the cervical region. The pain is exacerbated by emotions, sudden weather changes, and physical exertion.

Accompanying symptoms often include light sensitivity, overreaction to sounds and smells, and sometimes even vomiting. By restoring spinal balance through manual therapy, one can significantly reduce the intensity and frequency of migraines. During a migraine attack, it can also be alleviated through appropriate massage (instead of toxic medications).

Hallux valgus, commonly known as a bunion, is a condition that occurs predominantly in women (attributed to a weaker ligamentous-capsular system as well as a preference for stylish shoes at the expense of foot comfort). It often occurs in dancers. It has a genetic basis, but also significantly relates to the cervical spine and pelvis. Due to the deformations of the big toe, the entire biomechanics of the foot and body weight distribution changes, which in turn affects other stabilizing structures of the foot and our neck. Surgery for a bunion involves costs, suffering, and a long rehabilitation period, without guaranteeing that the bunion won't return in a few years. However, much can be achieved with manual therapy for hallux valgus. It is essential to restore the body's natural balance, identify the causes of the condition, and apply stimuli through key points and manual techniques (leverage, mobilizations) to alleviate pain and halt disease progression.

Carpal tunnel syndrome, often referred to as "Carpal Tunnel," is a condition resulting from prolonged compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel, usually caused by inflammatory swelling of the nerve. Sometimes it is also due to post-traumatic (or degenerative) constriction of the canal space. This often causes numbness and tingling in the fingers, muscle atrophy, nerve pain in the wrist, reduced grip strength in the hand, and thumb weakness. Doctors often recommend surgery for such conditions; however, carpal tunnel syndrome can often be treated effectively with appropriately tailored manual therapy, sometimes even within a single session.

This disease affects tens of percent of the population. It leads to significant limitation of knee joint mobility and pain during daily activities. Problems with an untreated knee eventually extend to other joints and then to the other knee as well. Often, one can avoid blocks and surgeries related to this joint through well-chosen manual therapy supported by key therapy.

Bruxism is the habitual grinding of teeth and unconscious clenching of the jaw. It most commonly occurs at night. It can lead to changes in the temporomandibular joints, tooth wear, and sensitive gums. This symptom is linked in 99% of cases to headaches, neck pain, and other accompanying ailments (migraines, blocked sinuses, sometimes double vision, tinnitus, dizziness). Bruxism can be treated. However, in addition to appropriate massages and manual techniques to relax the jaw, one must find all the connections to the aforementioned symptom and restore them to a state of balance. It is also important to address factors that exacerbate bruxism, such as dental braces.

In addition to typical spinal and non-spinal conditions, there are many diseases whose causes are often unknown, but their effects manifest in the musculoskeletal system. These include rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, etc.). In these cases, manual therapy helps maintain the mobility of the affected joints, thereby ensuring the overall functionality of the musculoskeletal system.