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! 

How Chiropractic Care Can Treat Your Allergies

How Chiropractic Care Can Treat Your Allergies

Spring has finally sprung! Most of us wait all year for this beautiful change of the seasons that indicates that summer is on its way. However, many of us experience severe allergies with the change of the seasons. The increase in pollen, flowers, grasses, and weeds can lead to an increase of sneezes, coughs, and runny noses for many. Did you know that chiropractic care has been shown to reduce allergy symptoms?  Dr. Raymond Semente, our leading chiropractor near Smithtown, can treat a variety of bodily conditions.

What many people who suffer from severe allergies aren’t aware of is that an excess amount of over-the-counter medication is not always the answer. We can provide you a holistic solution to keep your allergies at bay. Because the immune system is so closely associated with the nervous system, allergies can be treated through chiropractic care by helping to regulate and coordinate the body’s reaction to allergens.

How Can a Chiropractor Help?

Ways a chiropractor can help treat allergies include:

  • Recommend dietary and lifestyle changes to help target foods or other factors that may be causing allergic reactions.
  • Support the respiratory system by keeping pathways open and strengthening the system to better withstand potential reactions to allergens.
  • Strengthen the immune system by adjusting misalignments in the spine/neck that can disrupt the brain’s communication with the body. A chiropractor can manipulate joints and tissues to realign the body and re-open blocked pathways between the spine and the brain.
  • Use spine realignment to help regulate the body’s production of cortisol and strengthen the adrenal glands.

A chiropractor can help to put an end to your suffering created by allergies. Enjoy the spring and let our chiropractor near Smithtown determine what treatment option is right for you. Dr. Raymond Semente and his team will assess your symptoms and create a course of action to get you the allergy relief you need. Contact our office today and stop suffering this season!

How Can I Treat My Chronic Migraines?

How Can I Treat My Chronic Migraines?

Migraines can bring people immense pain and discomfort.  In addition, a migraine can hold you back from enjoying life or working at your job.  If you are regularly experiencing migraines 15 or more days out of the month, you should see our chiropractor near Smithtown, Dr. Semente, to help deal with your chronic migraines.  

 

There are a few elements that can trigger chronic migraines.  The following are some causes of migraines:

 

  • Overeating
  • Asthma
  • Snoring
  • Intense life-changing events
  • Serious injury from the neck above
  • Caffeine
  • Acute medication overuse

Whatever the case may be, you do not have to live with chronic migraines, and there are ways to get rid of it.  Instead of medication, chiropractic care has been used as a way for people to treat their migraine symptoms. If you are looking to alleviate your constant migraines, our chiropractor near Smithtown is the answer you are searching for.

There are a few chiropractic techniques that can relieve your chronic migraine pain.  The techniques that can help include:

 

  • Spinal manipulation – this involves using different treatment techniques like joint manipulation, massages, and exercise.  With a combination of these techniques, inflammation is diminished as well as joint and nerve function. This will release any built-in pressure you’re feeling in your body.

 

  • Neuromuscular massages – this isn’t your typical massage; this massage targets trigger points found throughout your head, neck, back, and shoulders.  Neuromuscular massages ease tension in the muscles and nerves that lead to pain in these areas, and it also restores the blood flow.

 

  • Low-load craniocervical mobilization – Unlike spinal manipulation, this technique focuses on softer forces used in a rhythmic movement on the cervical areas.  Stretching is a big part of this technique as well.

If you feel that medication doesn’t help with your chronic migraines, chiropractic care can be your solution! Next time you are feeling pain from a migraine, do not hesitate to contact our chiropractor near Smithtown to fight off your chronic migraines.

Chiropractic for Colder Weather

Chiropractic for Colder Weather

Colder weather can have some negative effects on our health.  Whether it’s the physical or mental aspects that the cold temperatures pose, it’s important to take the preventative steps necessary to avoid injury and any debilitating conditions. Our chiropractor near Smithtown can give you the necessary care and attention you need!

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Massage Therapy and Arthritis

Massage Therapy and Arthritis

Arthritis is a joint disorder that refers to the inflammation of the joints. It can either affect one joint or multiple joints. A joint is described as an area within the body where two different bones connect. A joint enables the movement to the body parts connected by its bones. Therefore, inflammation of the joints can cause swelling, discomfort, inflexibility, and a decreased range of motion. Arthritis is also extremely common. Currently, there are approximately 50 million adults and 300,000 kids that suffer from some type of arthritis. There about 100 different types of arthritis identified and that number is still growing. We understand that living with arthritis can make life difficult, which is why Dr. Semente, our chiropractor near Smithtown and Nesconset, has the knowledge and skills to get you back to moving safely and comfortably, free of arthritis discomfort.

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Massage Therapy for Back Pain

Massage Therapy For Back Pain

Massage therapy is a great treatment to use for a multitude of aches and pains, and it doesn’t hurt that it brings relaxation as well. Studies have shown that massage therapy has numerous medical benefits including increased blood flow, increased levels of endorphins (the chemical that makes us feel good), and decreased muscle tension. Certain types of medical practices actually provide massage therapy as a treatment option, including chiropractic offices. For a chiropractor near Smithtown that offers massage therapy for back pain relief, contact Dr. Raymond Semente to make an appointment.

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What Are The Benefits of Spinal Decompression?

What Are The Benefits of Spinal Decompression?

If you are looking for a low-risk and non-invasive method to treat your chronic pain, spinal decompression therapy may be right for you. Dr. Raymond Semente, our chiropractor near Smithtown, uses this effective method to treat a wide variety of conditions.

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Chiropractic Treatment for Herniated Discs

Chiropractic Treatment for Herniated Discs

If you are looking for a non-surgical method to treat your herniated disc, then chiropractic treatment may be right for you. Dr. Raymond Semente is an experienced chiropractor near Smithtown who can treat your herniated disc naturally and without surgery. Contact us today to make an appointment.

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