Chiropractor and Acupuncturist Chapel Hill, NC
As people who play golf, tennis, or other wrist and elbow activities know, neck discomfort often accompanies elbow and wrist irritation. Neck pain and elbow pain often go together, and one can cause the other. At Acupractic Natural Healing Center, Dr. Oskardmay understands the connection between spinal regions and corresponding body regions and uses this knowledge to treat golfers’ elbow pain, neck pain, and other ailments effectively.
What is Golfers Elbow?
Elbow pain from golfing or other repetitive activities with repetitive stress and forceful wrist and finger motions feels like pain on the inner side of the elbow. The painful region where the tendons of the forearm muscles attach to the bony bump on the inside of the elbow can limit the ability to golf and do other activities involving the elbow, shoulder, wrist, and forearms. There may be stiffness in the elbow, and using the fingers could hurt, and there may be a weakness in the elbow, wrists, and hands. Numbness in the pinky and next finger is standard, as well. If left untreated, other parts of the kinetic chain can suffer and result in neck pain and other areas. During your visits, Dr. Oskardmay will do palpation and other tests to determine the location and cause of pain and see where symptoms are spreading.
Nerve input to the elbow and forearm muscles stems from the lower cervical spine. The ulnar nerve travels from beneath the lowest cervical vertebra c7 to the ‘funny bone’ region of the elbow-the ulnar groove. From there, nerve signals from this ulnar C8 nerve extend through the forearm to the pinky and ring finger. In Chinese medicine, this region is represented by the fire channel. Irritation along this pathway- in either direction- will affect the body in many ways, and elbow pain caused by golfing, playing tennis, typing on a computer, or other activities can influence symptoms in the neck and upper back. Without effective treatment, symptoms can worsen overall body posture and have more lasting effects.
Dr. Oskardmay will use chiropractic and acupuncture to restore impaired nerve flow along the kinetic chain, improve muscle tone and enhance healing qi flow along the kinetic chain and pathways. She will assess your daily activities to help you understand how posture and overuse activities may influence symptoms and make helpful suggestions. Most patients respond well to natural care at our office.
Standard medical treatment includes rest, ice, medications. Natural healing methods to support healing of the kinetic chain and related areas available at our office also include a chiropractic adjustment to the spine and extremity and acupuncture and massage to soothe tight muscles and restore healing. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit us online at acudocnc.com, or call 919-929-1400.