FAQ

When Upper Cervical Chiropractors in Ames adjust your spine, they’re also adjusting your entire body, so you may notice other parts of your body relaxing and not just the area of your initial concern. The body responds to the adjustment by mobilizing fluids into the joints and soft tissues, allowing them to swell and release toxins.
Most people feel better almost immediately, though sometimes, depending on the severity of their misalignment, patients may need to wait a few hours for their symptoms to improve. This process takes anywhere from 24-72 hours to complete. This is expected as your body adjusts to the realignment done to your spine.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care is not a one-time thing. It will require a series of adjustments to ensure long-lasting results are delivered. Each individual’s case is unique, so the care approach must be tailored to their needs. The specific number of adjustments and follow-ups will depend on your case’s severity, the level of nerve interference, and how your body will respond. These can all be determined as you continue with your upper cervical care.
You may need to return for several weeks or months from the first visit to correct the misalignments and stabilize the spine fully. You are also encouraged to maintain your overall spinal health through consistent visits to your trusted Upper Cervical Chiropractor in Ames. Like other structures in your body, your upper cervical spine’s health is as important and must be maintained.

What is the main cause of migraines?
Researchers have yet to uncover the exact mechanism behind every migraine episode. But, more and more evidence points to abnormal brain activities as the most likely culprit behind debilitating migraine attacks. But what leads to these abnormal brain activities? Misalignments in the upper neck frequently impact the brain’s function. Accidents and injuries to the head and neck can lead to a displacement of the top 2 bones in the neck, which affects blood flow and cerebral spinal fluid flow to and from the brain. These changes can have a dramatic impact on the brain’s function and can lead to a variety of problems, including migraine headaches.

How do I deal with migraines?
Migraine sufferers should always consult their most trusted Ames Migraine Chiropractor or doctor before starting any new approach to migraine relief. In general, however, there are some things you can do to help ease your symptoms:

• Drink lots of water!
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
• Try relaxation techniques.
• Another option for managing your migraines is exercise.

These simple tips and tricks can be more effective with regular Upper Cervical Care. That is because chiropractic care can ensure that all your systems are in good condition and no nerves are compromised due to a spinal misalignment.

What happens if you ignore migraines?
Ignoring your migraine attacks may be difficult due to the onset of unpleasant symptoms like pulsating headaches, fatigue, nausea, vertigo, vomiting, visual aura, and odd food cravings. But not addressing your migraine woes as soon as possible can affect your overall quality of life. Hence, having yourself checked, including seeing a chiropractor for migraine in Ames, can help improve your quality of life by ensuring you put sufficient effort into getting the proper care.

How can vertigo go away?
Vertigo attacks often indicate an underlying health problem. So, if you experience dizzying spells and spinning sensations, it’s a good idea to rule out the possible cause of your symptoms. This will help you determine the techniques or remedies for your situation. Some popular vertigo remedies include Upper Cervical Chiropractic in Ames, The Epley Maneuver, and vestibular therapy.

What causes vertigo?
Here are the most common causes of vertigo that you should watch out for, so you can start taking action as soon as possible:

#1 Vestibular Disorders
The most common inner ear problems are Meniere’s disease, Benign Paroxysmal Position Vertigo (BPPV), Vestibular Neuritis, and Labyrinthitis.

#2 Head Injury, Trauma, Accidents
It could be something called post-traumatic vertigo (PTV), which happens when nerve damage from the injury disrupts signals between the brain and the inner ear. PTV may come back later on, so it’s important to watch out for it and get the necessary maintenance care.

#3 Dehydration
It’s one of the most common reasons for vertigo. It can happen if your body isn’t getting enough fluid.

When should you worry about vertigo?
Vertigo on its own is non-life-threatening, but it does not mean it brings no danger. Watch out for red flags, including facial paralysis, numbness in the extremities, thunderclap headaches, and loss of consciousness. Call 911 or seek urgent medical attention once you spot these red flags. Vertigo also affects your balance; hence you have an increased chance of falls.

What are the signs of fibromyalgia?
Studies explain that fibromyalgia sets off a variety of neurological symptoms like chronic fatigue, fibro-fog, sleeping problems, pin and needles, migraine headaches, anxiety, depression, and widespread body pain and tenderness.

How do you calm down a fibromyalgia flare-up?
A flare-up is a sudden worsening of your symptoms. You may experience additional pain or new areas of pain, and it can be hard to tell if the flare-up is a short-term thing or if it will last for several days or more. It’s important to remember that flares are common with fibromyalgia, and they don’t mean that your condition is getting worse.

To help manage your flare-ups:
#1 Get rest. You may need to take a few days off work or school if possible so that you can rest and give your body time to recover from the flare-up.
#2 Exercise regularly, but not too much at once (start slow). If you’re able to exercise every day, try starting out with just 10 minutes of walking each day. Work up from there as your body allows—and always listen to what your body tells you.
#3 Eat healthy foods. Whenever possible, eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains so that your body has all the nutrients it needs during stressful flare-up times.

What causes fibromyalgia to get worse?
Pre-existing conditions such as lupus and osteoarthritis can influence worse fibromyalgia symptoms. In addition, you may also experience intense fibromyalgia flare-ups because of stress, whether physical or emotional, fatigue, changes in your diet, hormonal imbalance, and poor sleep quality.

How can I relieve pain in my neck?
There is a myriad of ways you can attend to your achy neck. A few notable examples to get natural relief for neck pain in Ames include Upper Cervical Chiropractic, massage therapy, hot and cold therapy, acupuncture, and acupressure.

What is the most common reason for neck pain?
Neck pain is a common problem, and it can be caused by a variety of things. The most common reason for neck pain is an injury to the soft tissues around your neck—that affects your muscles, ligaments, tendons, or nerves. Sometimes these injuries can happen suddenly, as with an accident; other times, they’re due to repetitive strain over time, like if you’re constantly looking down at your phone
Other causes of neck pain include arthritis, bulging or herniated discs (when the spinal cord pushes against the bony spinal canal), osteoarthritis (the wear-and-tear kind), and tumors.

Who should I see for neck pain?
Dealing with chronic neck pain can significantly diminish your quality of life. However, consulting with an upper cervical chiropractic doctor to assess your head, neck, and spinal alignment can potentially deliver promising results.

What is the most common reason for back pain? / What causes back pain?
Back pain can result from various things. Some of the most commonly reported causes include repetitive injuries, physical overexertion, disc degeneration, and vertebral subluxation.

Can chiropractors help with back pain?
When your spinal column is out of alignment, tension builds up in your back muscles and joints. These tensions cause pain, discomfort, and sometimes even severe symptoms like headaches or migraines. Ames Upper Cervical Chiropractors are trained to address these misalignments by carefully adjusting them back into that position. This breaks up the tension buildup in your body, releasing pain and discomfort in your back and neck.

How many chiropractic sessions do I need for back pain?
There is no exact answer to this question. The number of sessions required will depend on your needs and the severity of your conditions. No spinal cases are equally alike. Some may require less, while others may need more. Consulting with an Upper Cervical Chiropractor can help identify your exact needs. Some patients report significant improvement in their back pain after a few sessions of upper cervical adjustments or those that specifically target their head and neck alignment.

How do you resolve TMJ?
People living with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders tap into several techniques to ease their discomfort. The usual remedies that patients swear by include Upper Cervical Chiropractic.

Should I see a doctor or dentist for TMJ?
A TMJ disorder can be caused by many things, including misalignment on the jaw or head. If you are experiencing undeniable TMJ pains, it is recommended that you see a doctor or dentist who can help diagnose your specific concern. However, once you’ve been diagnosed and have been given prescriptions by these experts but are still experiencing pain and discomfort, it is important to be evaluated by a NUCCA upper cervical chiropractor to check for any underlying cause and be administered the necessary adjustments that could give you lasting TMJ pain relief.

Can a chiropractor fix TMJ?
Yes. Chiropractic care is one way to potentially alleviate some of the symptoms associated with TMJ. Some patients who visit a chiropractor for TMJ relief in Ames get upper neck bone adjustments, which help reduce the tension and help relieve pressure on the TMJ joint.

Additionally, chiropractors can develop a customized plan tailored to your needs that considers your history and other contributing issues.