Dr. Gena Wickes, D.C.

It depends on what is pinching the nerve. If it is a tight muscle, that a nerve pierces, that is irritating the nerve, then no, it can help. However, if it is a subluxation of a bone that is irritating the nerve, then yes, massage can make it worse, as the only thing that will help it is a chiropractic adjustment. It also depends on the skill of the massage therapist. A bad massage therapist can make things worse.

It depends on how determined you are to achieve it. Doing posture exercises daily and always keeping your body position in mind, along with chiropractic care, will get you the fastest results. If you are determined, you can notice significant changes in a few weeks.

It depends on what you mean by “cracking” your back. Do you mean forcing your own back to make that audible sound? If so, the answer is no. If your back “cracks” when you just move or stretch, that’s fine. However, when you push it beyond a safe stretch, just to hear the sound, you are doing significant damage to you ligaments and tendons. It will cause a hyper-mobility that can lead to severe injury and even paralysis, should you be in a major accident. Chiropractors are trained to adjust the joints to a safe level of relief and will not cause hyper-mobility. It’s best to leave the “cracking” to the professionals.

You should be concerned about calf pain if you notice swelling, redness or darker colors, the area feels hot to touch, you can feel a strong heartbeat in your calf. These are signs of vein issues and need to be evaluated by a medical doctor to determine the severity, as they can lead to dangerous blood clots. Just tension soreness that remains after a few days after a workout, could mean you have a pelvis or lower back misalignment, that a chiropractor can evaluate and treat. Either way, it is best to get checked out.

It certainly can. If your pelvis is not level, you can be putting undue stress on one knee or the other. It is best to be checked every 4-6 weeks to maintain spinal alignment and reduce bio mechanical issues.

You can do range of motion exercises, maintain good posture and make sure your neck is staying in a proper position while sleeping. All of these things, along with monthly maintenance chiropractic adjustments and an occasional massage, will keep your neck muscles loose.

Yes, they can. There is a specific neck adjustment called Epley’s maneuver that will help to lessen and even resolve vertigo.

It depends on your sleep position. If you sleep on your back, using a rolled towel under your neck, instead of a pillow, can help neck pain. However, if you sleep on your side, a pillow, that will bridge the gap between your shoulder and your head, is necessary to keep your neck in line with your spine. Never sleep on your stomach. It will mess up your neck every time.

Unfortunately, if done improperly, a chiropractic adjustment can cause dizziness. That is why it is important to get references or testimonials to know that your chiropractor is reputable and a good adjuster.