Conditions We Treat

Dr. Phelps treats a wide range of conditions. She has had a lot of success with treating the below conditions using a natural and holistic approach to get our patient’s healthy and KEEP them healthy.

If you suffer from any of these conditions, call (708) 636-5555 to schedule an appointment.

Headaches

To treat a headache, we must first determine what type of headache you are experiencing. Dr. Phelps is highly trained to determine the cause and recommend the most appropriate and effective treatment. A majority of headaches are treatable through chiropractic without the side effects of drugs.

The most common cause is misalignment of the vertebrae, subluxation, in the neck causing pain in the neck, shoulders and head. Through chiropractic manipulation of the neck, Dr. Phelps can often eliminate or reduce the frequency and duration of headaches. By aligning spinal joints through chiropractic adjustments, the pathway to the nervous system is cleared, allowing for normal nerve transmission of signals.

Whiplash

Injuries to the neck following a car accident are referred to as “whiplash.” Symptoms may include headaches, blurred vision, vomiting, dizziness, jaw pain, ear pain, stiffness in the neck, numbness or tingling into one or both arms, weakness in the hands. Symptoms may not fully appear until several weeks after the accident.

Early treatment is most important in order for proper healing to occur in the delicate structures of the neck. Spinal adjustments on a regular basis allow the soft tissue structures, such as discs, ligaments and muscles to heal up in their proper position.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

At the base of the palm is a narrow passage through which tendons and nerves must pass on their way to the hand and fingers. This is what we call “The Carpal Tunnel”.

If anything takes up extra room, things become too tight and the nerve in the passage becomes constricted or “pinched”. This pinching of the nerve causes numbness and tingling in the area of the hand that the nerve travels to resulting in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

By properly aligning and restoring the function of the joints of the wrist, elbow, shoulder, and neck, chiropractic treats the cause of the nerve irritation. All of the nerves that go into the shoulder, arm, forearm, hand, and fingers come from the neck. Improper misalignment of the joints in the neck will cause irritation, “pinching” to these nerves.

Low Back Pain

Back pain is the second most common neurological ailment in the United States, only headache is more common. Acute low back pain generally lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Most acute back pain is mechanical in nature. Pain from trauma may be caused by a sports injury, work around the house or in the garden, or a sudden jolt such as a car accident or other stress on spinal bones and tissues.

Symptoms may range from muscle ache to shooting or stabbing pain, limited flexibility and/or range of motion, and an inability to stand straight. Occasionally pain felt in one part of the body may “radiate” from a disorder or injury elsewhere in the body. Some acute pain syndromes can become more serious if left untreated.

Neck Strain

Meetings, data processing, switchboard work, telephone customer service and a host of other office duties may seem easy but sitting all day actually is stressful on the spine, according to Dr. George I. Traitses of Scarborough/Markham, local representative of the Ontario Chiropractic Association (OCA). “This can lead to irritation of the nerves in the neck, and middle and lower back, resulting in general discomfort and stiffness,” says Dr. Traitses. Whether you choose a specialty chair - designed for keyboarding, reception, executive seating or drafting - or simply place a back (orthopedic) support form between you and your old chair - follow the few simple rules for good posture and work habits can help minimize problems.

Menstrual & PMS

Headache, backache, bloating, cramping, fatigue and mood swings are symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). 10-20% of women experience severe or disabling symptoms. Drugs, vitamin supplements and psychotherapy have proven ineffective with many patients reporting unpleasant side effects and only minimal relief of symptoms.

In a nine-month clinical trial involving 25 women with diagnosed PMS, patients received active chiropractic treatment 2-3 times in the week before menses for at least three menstrual cycles; the remaining patients received a placebo in the form of chiropractic “adjustments”. The results showed that PMS symptom scores decreased after chiropractic manipulation, with a significant decrease in scores for the active treatment phase compared to the non-treatment (placebo) phase.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (”FM”) is a chronic condition marked by widespread muscular and joint pain, as well as specific “tender points” that occasionally occur in the neck, spine, hips and shoulders. Other symptoms include sleep disturbances and fatigue, depression and irritable bowel syndrome. The condition affects an estimated 2% to 4% of the population, but an estimated 80% of sufferers are women, most of them working age, so FM has obvious consequences in terms of employment and family stress.

A recent study concluded that one-third of the people who participated in aerobic exercise rated themselves as “much or very much better’ after three months of exercise. After one year of exercise, the benefits were still maintained. In much the same way, chiropractic helps to ease the pain and put the sufferer in a better physical space.

Chronic Fatigue

Chronic fatigue syndrome (”CFS”) is a condition that causes fatigue severe enough to interfere with a person’s ability to participate in formal work, recreation or social activities. Fatigue caused by CFS does not improve substantially with rest. Once believed to be “all in your head,” most experts now agree it is a distinct physical disease with physical symptoms. CFS may develop without warning in a person who has not been sick. In some cases, it develops after a viral illness or after a period of unusual stress. The fatigue may develop gradually or quite suddenly. Because fatigue can be vague and can be caused by many factors, people may not pay attention to the problem for several weeks or months.

While there is no cure for CFS, chiropractic focuses on reducing fatigue and other symptoms and helping the person resume an active lifestyle.

Ear Infections

Ear infections are a secondary disease due to complications of other conditions such as the common cold. Ear infections affect two thirds of American children by two years of age making it the most common diagnosis of children and the second most common diagnosis in medicine. Children are more susceptible to ear infections because of the angle of the drainage tube called the Eustachian tube. In a child, this tube is horizontal allowing for germs to more easily invade. In addition, the horizontal tube makes it more difficult for fluid to drain properly from the middle ear also promoting infection.

By treating the neck in a child, chiropractors can help alleviate and/or prevent ear infections. Chiropractic adjustments promote drainage of fluids within the middle ear, preventing bacteria from having the opportunity to reproduce.

Sciatica

The sciatic nerves are the largest nerve in the body. Pain can travel anywhere from the middle of the low back into the buttocks, down the back of the leg, and even to the ankle. Pain increases when arising from a seated position making it very difficult or even impossible to straighten up. Leg pain may be present with or without back pain.

Conservative treatment of sciatica utilizing chiropractic adjustments is highly effective in reducing sciatic nerve inflammation and pain. Taking medications may make the overall problem worse by masking your body’s natural defense mechanism. Your body is sending pain signals to your brain in order to prevent you from moving certain ways that could potentially further injure the back.

Scoliosis

Everyone’s spine has natural curves. These curves round our shoulders and make our lower back curve slightly inward. But some people have spines that also curve from side to side. Unlike poor posture, these curves can’t be corrected simply by learning to stand up straight. This condition of side-to-side spinal curves is called scoliosis. On an x-ray, the spine of a person with scoliosis looks more like an “S” or a “C” than a straight line. Some of the bones in a scoliotic spine also may have rotated slightly, making the person’s waist or shoulders appear uneven.

Chiropractic care should be the first-line approach for all patients diagnosed with scoliosis as opposed to surgery and bracing. Treating scoliosis early is an important factor in successful treatment.

Colic

Defined as periods of irritability, fussiness and inconsolable crying in a healthy baby, colic is often a default diagnosis. Pain from sources other than the gastrointestinal tract can be improperly diagnosed as colic. If a baby is crying inconsolably, it is very difficult to know if he is actually suffering from a digestive disturbance. Since many subluxations in infants are in the upper cervical area, there is a strong possibility, especially when there has been a history of birth trauma, that these babies are suffering from head and neck pain.

In a study looking at babies receiving chiropractic care for colic, 94 percent of parents saw improvement in their baby’s behavior within two weeks of care. A little over half of these babies had already been unsuccessfully treated, usually by pharmacological means. Another study found 91 percent of babies experienced a reduction in colicy behavior following as little as two chiropractic adjustments.

Hip Pain

Hip pain is usually caused by muscle strain around the hip, or injury to the hip or from referred pain from the spine. More serious hip pain can be due to wear and tear on hip joints surfaces or by the progressive inflammation and stiffening of the joints.

Dr. Phelps will help ease the pain and suffering caused by body misalignment and reduce the wear and tear on the body’s joints and nervous system. Osteoarthritis is one of the oldest and most common types of arthritis. It is characterized by the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage. Cartilage is the part of the joint that cushions the ends of bones. Cartilage breakdown causes bones to rub against each other, causing pain and loss of movement.

Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ)

TMJ disorders refer to a complex and poorly understood set of conditions, manifested by pain the the area of the jaw and associated muscles and limitations in the ability to make the normal movements of speech, facial expression, eating, chewing, and swallowing. Conditions that routinely affect other joints in the body, such as arthritis and trauma, also affect the TM joint.

TMJ patients experience one or more of the following: facial pain, pain in the jaw joint and surrounding tissues, including the ear jaw locking open or closed limited opening or inability to open the mouth comfortably headaches bite that feels uncomfortable, “off”, or as if it is continually changing neck, shoulder and back pain swelling on the side of the face.

Sports Injuries

Why do I get injured? I stretch out, and feel in pretty good shape. So, why? Usually there is a very simple formula. In most cases we play too hard, too long, or too fast. Playing full speed before we are really warmed up is the major cause of sports injuries.

What can be done to get back on the field? Rest is a good thing, but by itself takes a very long time. Chiropractic offers a balanced approach to the treatment and the healing of sports injuries. By using chiropractic adjustment to return spinal segments to their normal mobility and by using physical therapy to help the supportive tissues, chiropractic helps the injured areas return to normal function. Better strategies for exercise and stretching will be discussed with you.

Knee Problems

Pain in the knee can be caused by arthritis, a tear in a ligament or tendon, a weak thigh muscle, bursitis in the knee, a pinched nerve in the low back, a hip problem, or in rare instances, a tumor. Pain may be located above, below or even behind the knee.

Conservative treatment for a knee problem utilizing chiropractic adjustments is highly effective for correcting the proper mechanics of the vertebrae in the back as well as the knee, helping to alleviate stress and strain on the knee. Taking over the counter medications simply mask the pain without actually resolving the structural problem, joint mis-alignment. Your body is sending pain signals to your brain in order to prevent you from moving certain ways that could potentially further injure the back and/or knee.

If you suffer from any of these conditions, call (708) 636-5555 to schedule an appointment.