Month: November 2019

What is Spinal Stenosis?

What is Spinal Stenosis? – Chiropractor near Smithtown

 

Spinal stenosis refers to a narrowing of the spinal canal. Bundles of nerves travel through the spinal canal to your neck, back, and legs. When the spinal canal narrows, adequate spacing is no longer provided. This causes the nerves to squeeze tightly together, often resulting in a feeling of pain or numbness. If you are feeling pain in your back or neck, be sure to make an appointment with Dr. Raymond Semente, a chiropractor near Smithtown. Dr. Semente has served the Long Island Community for several years and has seen cases of spinal stenosis in the past.

 

Causes of Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis most commonly occurs naturally as a person ages. Spinal stenosis may also be induced by other medical conditions such as:

  • Naturally narrow spinal canal.
  • Osteoarthritis.
  • Bone overgrowth or bone spurs.
  • Herniated disc.
  • Tumors.
  • Prior spinal injuries.

 

Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis

There are various symptoms associated with spinal stenosis, and each person may experience them differently. Additionally, there are two categories of spinal stenosis: lumbar and cervical. Lumbar spinal stenosis is located in the back, while cervical spinal stenosis is located in the neck. Lumbar spinal stenosis is more common and usually causes symptoms such as pain, burning, or numbness in the back, legs, or feet. Cramping may also occur as a result of bending over or walking. As for cervical spinal stenosis, symptoms usually include pain, weakness, or numbness in the neck, arms, or hands, or difficulty balancing. In extreme cases, either type of spinal stenosis can lead to bowel or bladder dysfunction. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to contact a chiropractor near Smithtown to get the help you need.

 

Spinal Stenosis Treatment 

While there is no single cure for spinal stenosis, there are quite a few suggestions patients can participate in to reduce the pain considerably. Most commonly, physical therapists can work with you to create a personal plan that will help stretch and strengthen your back, leg, and stomach muscles. Spinal Decompression Therapy, performed by Dr. Raymond Semente, focuses on the spine and treats back issues like herniated discs and pinched nerves that can contribute to spinal stenosis. Aside from physical therapy, patients can also opt for massage therapy or acupuncture that can help in reducing pain.

Dr. Semente, a chiropractor near Smithtown, has a great team of experts who perform both massage therapy and acupuncture at their St. James location. Medications like anti-inflammatories, pain relievers, and antidepressants can also help to reduce pain, but using physical therapy, or even surgery, to avoid opioids is the best course of action for any patient. Surgery is usually the last option after physical therapy and other types of exercises and is used to widen the spinal canal and relieve pressure from your spinal cord.  

 

Chiropractor Near Smithtown

If any of these symptoms pertain to you, it is time to call a chiropractor near Smithtown. Feeling better in your body is always the goal here at Dr. Raymond Semente’s Chiropractic office. With various treatment options like physical therapy, massage therapy, and acupuncture, we are ready to help you feel your best! Contact us today to learn more about spinal stenosis and to find out how we can help you get the relief you deserve! 

Is Acupuncture Painful?

Is Acupuncture Painful?-Acupuncture in St. James

 

When people hear the word acupuncture, they usually think of needles in the skin. While this is true, acupuncture is never intended to be painful, and most patients who receive acupuncture say that they feel little to no pain. There are often sensations felt aside from pain that will indicate that the acupuncture is taking effect. If you are looking for acupuncture in St. James, or want to know more about acupuncture, contact Dr. Raymond Semente!

 

The Needles

The seemingly scariest part of acupuncture to outsiders is, of course, the needles! You may dislike pricking your finger on needles or getting shots at the doctor, but the needles used in acupuncture are very different from the ones used in those scenarios. The needles used in acupuncture are extremely thin, so much so that many patients don’t even feel them being inserted. For those who do feel something when the needle is inserted, the sensation does not resemble pain, but rather a feeling of heaviness or dullness. While sharp pain is rarely felt, sensations of mild or dull aches along with tingling usually indicate that the acupuncture is fulfilling its purpose. Yet, if you do experience sharp, severe pain during acupuncture, be sure to let your practitioner know right away. 

 

The Pain

As mentioned previously, there should be little to no discomfort when the needles are inserted, but pain may be present on some rare occasions. Keep in mind that it is vital to visit an experienced professional when receiving acupuncture because pain can arise if you choose to visit a practitioner with minimal experience. Simply inserting the needle too deeply or using too large of a needle can cause sharp pain. While needle manipulation is common in acupuncture and helps with the procedure, when done incorrectly, it can lead to some pain as well. A painful acupuncture experience can be avoided when you visit reliable, experienced acupuncturists like Dr. Raymond Semente and his team who perform acupuncture in St. James on Long Island. 

 

The Benefits

Acupuncture offers a wide range of benefits, especially to those suffering from pain. The practice has been used in ancient Chinese, Japanese, and Korean civilizations to relieve pain all over the body. Acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of ailments, such as migraines, back and neck pain, and menstrual cramps. The procedure can also help to relieve stress through stimulation of the nerves and tissues in the area in which the pain is present. Acupuncture is generally risk-free and is an excellent alternative to potentially addictive medications like pain relievers or opioids. 

 

Acupuncture in St. James

While acupuncture may seem intimidating to some, it is a great way to relieve your pain so you can continue doing the things you love! Here at Dr. Raymond Semente’s Chiropractic office, we have an excellent team of acupuncturists that are ready to help you feel your best. If you have any concerns about acupuncture, or if you are looking for acupuncture in St. James, contact us today!