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THE DAILY SPROUT

Your guide to healthier living.

Do you have a difficult time getting out of bed in the morning? Do you feel like your back is always sore and stiff, no matter what position you are in? If so, it may be the moment to consider alternatives to disc surgery. Knowing that there are alternatives besides surgery will make your day better when you have constant back pain.

It is because at least now you know what other options exist besides getting operated on again and again with potentially harmful long-term consequences. Chiropractic care has been shown to reduce pain levels for people with lower back pain. This blog post will discuss how chiropractic care can help most patients alleviate back pain and provide relief from all those other aches and pains!

What is Back Pain?


Back pain is a condition that affects the muscles, nerves, bones, and joints in your back. The most widespread type of back pain is chronic low-back pain which many different factors, including:

  • injury to the discs between vertebrae (common with falls)

  • bone spurs

  • poor posture or lifting heavy objects without proper form

If you have been experiencing any abnormalities with your lower back for more than six months, it is time to visit a chiropractor.

What are the Symptoms of Back/Lower Pain?


Back pain is always a sensation felt in the back. However, it can differ depending on what type of injury you had.

Low back pain symptoms include:

➡️Sitting for long periods of standing up too quickly from sitting causes discomfort and sometimes sharp shooting pains that last only seconds.

➡️Poor posture when bending over to pick something up off the ground.

➡️Legs give out while walking or running.

➡️Pain radiating down one leg as it tries to compensate for uneven weight distribution due to poor posture/walking pattern.

➡️A tingling sensation that runs down either your legs or arms after prolonged hours spent using them at work (i.e., typing).

What are Some Other Conditions Linked With Chronic Lower Back Pain?


➡️Lack of physical activity

➡️Poor posture

➡️Pregnancy

Back surgery is one option for your chronic lower back pain. However, there are many treatment options. Dr. Eric Richards, a chiropractor, and one of the health care providers may be able to correct the misalignments in your spine and help relieve some of your symptoms as well as pain reduction.

What Causes Low-Back Pains?



There are various explanations why people, sometimes younger patients experience lower back pains. However, when they begin feeling these types of aches constantly, there should always be an underlying cause investigated further. The two main causes behind this discomfort are disc degeneration and muscle spasms. Some people experience low-back pain due to disc degeneration, which can happen when the discs between two vertebrae begin to break down. It is often because of injury, age, or both factors.

Muscle spasms are very common with lower back pains, especially if you exercise more than usual for an extended period, lift weights incorrectly, or have poor posture at your computer desk! All these situations put pressure on the muscles in your lower back, causing them to tighten up and pull away from where they should be aligned. These types of muscular imbalances will lead to nerve compression and subsequent discomfort throughout that region.

Common Treatments


Common conservative treatments for back pain include prescription medications, surgery, or physical therapy. Pills and surgeries can have significant side effects with long-term impacts on the patient's quality of life. At the same time, physical therapy may lead to mixed results depending on how severe your condition is. Alternative solutions are available, though.

Many chiropractors specialize in helping people manage their low-back pain without resorting to pills or surgery by applying a combination of spinal manipulation techniques along with other complementary approaches such as nutrition counseling, massage therapies, and even acupuncture. You should also take some time for recovery stretching exercises that will help increase flexibility over time which is crucial if you spend most days sedentary at work behind a desk-type computer screen.

What is Disc Surgery?


Disc surgery is a surgical procedure to remove herniated discs from the spinal column. The most common use of disc surgery is for people who have been diagnosed with chronic low back pain and numbness in their legs or feet, which has not responded to other conservative treatment. Disc surgery can lead to infection, nerve damage, or other complications. Make sure you speak to your pain physician before choosing this procedure for yourself, so you're aware of all possible clinical outcomes to make an informed decision on what's best for your health needs and for your pain medications.

What are the Alternatives?


There are a variety of alternatives to disc surgery for chronic back pain. One such treatment is chiropractic care, which helps the spine and nervous system function as they should reduce neck stiffness or tingle in your arms. In Woodstock, GA, your chiropractor can also assess soft tissue problems like muscle spasms that lead to pain or help with overuse injuries from repetitive activities on the job. Alternative therapies are an option if you're not interested in surgery but want something more than pills alone.

A visit to your chiropractor may be necessary before trying any other type of therapy. Since there could be underlying health issues contributing to your symptoms that need addressing first before seeing significant improvements in how much it hurts when you do things around the house or go for a walk. Your Woodstock chiropractor can provide you with therapy such as manipulation and electric stimulation to help get your spine, neck, and shoulders working better together to help reducing pain and stiffness in these areas of the body.

Doing strengthening exercises or seeking out alternative treatments is an option if surgery isn't for you but will require at least some attention from both types of professionals until things start feeling better. Some people might need more time than others before they feel relief, so don't be discouraged after one visit if it hasn't helped yet! Surgery may not be necessary when other options are less invasive, like chiropractic care, which helps restore normal function by adjusting vertebrae in the spine back into their natural positions.

What Should I Do If My Back Pain Persists?


If your low back pain continues for more than six months after starting treatment, you may want to consider alternative treatments such as chiropractic care before opting for surgery. Chiropractors who practice in the Woodstock area can help people get rid of their back pain through a combination of spinal manipulation techniques and other complementary approaches such as nutrition counseling, massage therapies, and even acupuncture. You should also take some time for recovery stretching exercises that will help increase flexibility over time which is important if you spend most days sedentary at work behind a desk-type computer screen.

How you can Prevent Future Injury to Your Back With These Alternative Solutions


A good way to help prevent future injury is to start exercising regularly. This can mean doing some exercise that targets your back muscles, such as yoga, pilates, or even cardio exercises like running. Lastly, you may want to consider taking an over-the-counter medication for pain relief before heading straight for surgery instead of relying exclusively on drugs and medications prescribed by doctors, which often come with side effects.

The Benefits of Doing Exercises for Your Back Every day


It is very important to keep your back muscles strong to provide enough support and stability for the spine, thereby preventing injury or pain. Stronger back muscles also help with posture, which can positively impact mood and overall health. An excellent way to avoid future injury by doing exercises every day would be yoga, pilates, or even running if you are not looking to do any of those things mentioned above.

In addition, it's recommended that you take alternative measures when suffering from chronic pain rather than relying solely on prescribed drugs given by doctors. This will avoid potential side effects of prescription medication like increased risk of dependency issues, liver damage, and heart problems. The benefits of regular exercise are also worth mentioning. It can lead to a decrease in chronic pain levels and an increase in mood.

There's no denying the importance of exercise for people who suffer from back pain and anyone looking to avoid injury or stay healthy. Alternative treatments like chiropractic care offer relief without any side effects, which is why you should visit your local health sprout chiropractor today!

Why Should You See a Chiropractor?


Chiropractic care is a non-invasive approach that offers many benefits for people who suffer from chronic low back pain. An average person will have over 60,000 thoughts per day, and with the world moving at a very fast pace, it can be hard to stay in touch with your body's needs. When you let days go by without taking time out to do something for yourself, it could lead to discomfort and an increased risk of injury, resulting in more visits to a doctor's office or, worse yet, surgery.

Chiropractors offer relief through chiropractic adjustments. They use gentle manual manipulations (or "adjustments") and other treatments, including:

  • therapeutic massage therapy

  • hydrotherapy

  • exercise prescription etc., all designed to bring the body back into proper alignment

They allow your natural healing process to do what it does best while providing relief from pain and discomfort, increasing mobility, and improving your quality of life.

Conclusion


If you're dwelling with chronic back pain, it may be hard to imagine a life without the persistent and often debilitating discomfort. However, there are many alternative solutions for your condition that can help reduce or eliminate your need for surgery. One of these is chiropractic care. Chiropractors don't just focus on spinal alignment. They also improve function in other body areas, like muscles and joints.

In most cases, this means lower levels of stress throughout the entire spine which reduces pressure on discs and surrounding nerves connected to them--leading to minor neck and bodily pain overall! If you've been worrying about getting rid of your back pain, contact HealthSprout Chiropractic & Wellness today!

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Your nervous system is the most vital part of your body. It controls everything from your breathing to digestion and even how you feel. If it's not working correctly, then these functions can be impaired. When this happens, chiropractic care may help.

Chiropractors have been known to treat many conditions related to the central nervous system caused, including headaches, back and neck pain, migraines, and more, with great results. This blog will know what nervous system scans are and some benefits of getting one done by a chiropractor.

What are Nervous System Scans?


A neurology exam may seem like an overwhelming task, but it's easy to understand. It just means that you will be getting your spine examined closely. Your chiropractor in Woodstock, GA, will evaluate the health of not only your neck and back but also how all four parts of your spinal cord are functioning as well. Once they have done this evaluation, they can make recommendations for treatment options depending on their findings.

Why Should I Get One?


The benefits of getting evaluated by a professional are great! Since there is no way to know what problems might be affecting our health without being thoroughly examined first, having these exams completed annually or biennially would be best if we're experiencing any pain or discomfort.

How Is It Done?


Dr. Eric Richards, a chiropractor, will take some time getting to know you about personal identifying information and optimal health and asking questions about when your symptoms began. How they affect your life daily and what other health problems might have contributed to them occurring. He will also do an exam - looking for tension points by pressing around with his hands all over your neck, back, arms and legs before doing one last check-up of your spine.

The chiropractor will use their hands for almost all treatments, making sure to wear loose-fitting clothes. They might start with a gentle back massage before moving on to specific adjustments depending on where they suspect there may be an issue. Once they have found what needs adjusting, your treatment can include:

  • stretching exercises

  • manual therapy techniques like joint mobilization

  • injections to reduce inflammation

  • the traction that can help heal damaged discs

  • acupuncture which has been shown as being therapeutic for many different types of issues, including headaches

Chiropractors also offer nutritional counseling because they want to help you find the root causes of your ailment and not just treat your symptoms.

Do Nervous System Scans Hurt?


No! But if any injured areas need adjusting, it might cause some soreness or irritation right after the adjustment has been made - so don't worry about it too much because this should go away quickly.

How Often Should I Get Nervous System Scans?


This depends on how bad your symptoms are and whether or not you're responding well to treatment. A nervous system scan is an excellent way of pinpointing what's causing your pain and discomfort, so it should be done at least once per year to identify any developing issues or changes that might need attention sooner.

What Type of Adjustment Should I Expect?


When getting a spinal or joint adjustment, there is no one size fits all approach. Every person has their own needs and preferences based on their lifestyle and symptoms. A typical adjustment is made by holding your head and using one hand to apply pressure on the back or front of a spinal vertebra before rotating it to restore its natural position. This can be accompanied by other movements - such as ''cracking'' sounds caused when joints are moving quickly from being stuck in a single place for too long!

What Should I do?


The most crucial thing to know is that you're not alone, and your chiropractor can help. The sooner you reach in, the better your possibilities of avoiding serious repercussions down the line, such as chronic pain from misaligned vertebrae or even disabilities caused by spinal nerves damage.

Doing things like carrying heavy items on one shoulder for long periods, wearing high heels too often without taking breaks, or sitting at an awkward angle in front of a computer screen can all lead to nerve interference or nerve pressure and potential problems with your autonomic nervous system controlling muscles. Luckily, you can do plenty: get regular exercise (you don't need hours upon hours either!), make sure that your posture is correct when you sit or stand at your desk, and wear comfortable shoes.

Is it Safe?


Chiropractic services is a very safe procedure, and many people who have never been to the chiropractor before are amazed by how energized they feel after just one session.

How Much Will It Help Me?


No matter what our age or level of fitness, all of us can benefit from spinal adjustments and other therapies such as massage therapy - whether we want to recover quickly from an injury or illness OR make long-term improvements in our health. In these cases, you should see Dr. Richards as soon as possible so he can identify any problems before they turn into something worse. We want these nerves in your body moving so they can continue doing what they do best: keeping the rest of your body running smoothly.

What You Can Expect After Your Initial Evaluation?


A nervous system scans chiropractic assessment will be performed, which may include a thorough examination of your spine. This evaluation will help Dr. Richards determine the source of any pain or discomfort you are experiencing and offer an appropriate treatment plan to get back on track.

Some people might feel instant relief, and others may take up to six weeks (or more) of treatment sessions with their chiropractor until they notice any changes. One thing is obvious, though: if you see new symptoms that didn't exist before, the chances are good that something has shifted out of alignment somewhere along your spine.

We'll also talk about what lifestyle changes might need to happen so that you can start feeling better again. If nothing is found, we'll refer you off for additional testing or send you home with some information on how to take care of yourself in the meantime. An initial consultation usually takes no longer than one hour, but this time could stretch depending on what needs attention and other factors like scheduling availability.

How Long Will it Take?


It depends on how many sessions are needed. Typically, chiropractic service is an ongoing treatment plan rather than something that's only done once. There might be some underlying issues like poor posture or trauma-related conditions that need more attention over time to heal properly. The number of treatments necessary for relief largely varies per person, so it's essential to consult with the doctor about what they recommend before committing to a long-term treatment plan.

What are the Benefits of a Nervous System Scan?


There are many benefits associated with nerve system scans.

➡️A nerve scan provides an inside look at what is going on in your body, which means they can address any other problems that might also need attention before giving you relief from the original issue. They may even advise about how the problem came about, so it does not happen again!

➡️A nerve system scan is not just a one-time solution. It will help you deal with your pain long after the chiropractor has healed you by teaching you how to protect yourself against future injuries and problems that might be coming up.

➡️A nervous system scan will show you the direction to go to get help with your pain and make it easier for them to provide you with a customized treatment that will be most effective on your specific condition.

➡️Less pain

➡️More mobility, which can increase the quality of life from reduced pain!

➡️Better sleep with a reduction in pain or inflammation around the neck

➡️You will have a better understanding of what is causing you to feel the way you do.

A chiropractor may be able to come up with an effective plan for treatment at this point. Still, most importantly, they'll take into account all aspects of your health and lifestyle to create a personalized solution just for you!

Conclusion


Chiropractic service and chiropractic adjustments have been proven to boost your nervous system function and muscles regular nerve function, reduce chronic pain, discomfort, and pinpoint abnormal function, and enable you to live a more active life. With so many benefits available for patients suffering from back or neck pain, it is time that we talked about how chiropractic can not only ease your symptoms but also make them go away completely. If you are eager to understand more about health or improving their condition without taking drugs or surgery-come join us at HealthSprout Chiropractic & Wellness, where we specialize in helping people just like you achieve better health through natural treatments. Call our office today at (770) 517-2240 or send a message request appointment.

References:



Sciatica is a common condition that causes pain in the lower back and leg. It typically occurs when one of the spinal nerve roots is irritated by pressure from a herniated disk or other problem in your spine. Sciatica can also be caused by narrowing the spinal canal, infections, tumors, fractures, piriformis syndrome, etc. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to help get rid of sciatica symptoms.



What is Sciatica, And What Causes It?




Sciatica is a condition that causes pain and discomfort in the lower back and leg. Sciatica is usually caused by a herniated disk that puts pressure on one of your spinal nerve roots or other problems in your spine.


There are many things you can do to relieve sciatica symptoms. First, however, it's essential to know what causes this condition and how to diagnose it.


There are many different types of sciatica, including discoid and piriformis syndrome; nerve compression where the pinched nerves cause pain in your buttocks and down one or both legs, which feels better when you lie on it.


Sciatica often occurs after an injury or accident, such as falling with outstretched arms, bending over too far for prolonged periods, or lifting heavy objects incorrectly, but this is not always the case. Long-term conditions like diabetes can also lead to severe sciatica symptoms caused by damaged blood vessels that restrict oxygen flow and circulation throughout the body.


What Causes The Pain Of Sciatic Nerve Compression?


Some people who have low back problems, herniated discs, or a twisted sciatic nerve may develop the pain of sciatic nerve compression. No one knows for sure what causes this condition, but many have suggested that it could be caused by:


  • An injury such as a fall with outstretched arms

  • Prolonged bending over too far for prolonged periods

  • Lifting heavy objects incorrectly.

  • Long-term conditions like diabetes are causing severe sciatica symptoms and restricted oxygen flow and circulation throughout the body.


You can avoid these issues if you maintain good posture practices when lifting things off the ground and during other daily activities. One way to do this is to hold small weights in your hands while doing yard work, using them as an extra support system.



How To Identify The Symptoms of Sciatica?




Knowing the common symptoms of sciatica is the first step in understanding what it is and how to treat it. If you are feeling some of the following signs and symptoms, it's ideal for visiting your health care specialist as soon as possible:


  • Pain that starts from the lower back moves down into the buttocks, thighs, or feet

  • Sharp pain when sitting for long periods

  • Grinding feeling like a knife hitting a bone while walking on your toes


You can also identify sciatica by observing these symptoms:


  • A tingling sensation in the leg; may extend into other areas such as the groin area or inner thigh.

  • Weakness in one single limb due to pressure placed onto nerve roots emanating from the lumbar spine

  • Numbness or loss of strength with little use of limbs near where you are experiencing discomfort (this condition is called paresthesia).


You can alleviate this condition by practicing healthy self-care habits such as exercise, stretching, and proper posture. The best thing to do is consult your GP or an orthopedist (if the pain persists). This will help in determining what level of treatment would be necessary:


  • Non-surgical treatments can include chiropractic adjustments, injections for inflammation reduction, local anesthesia blocks, and dry needling techniques.


  • Surgery may also be required if any herniations cause compression on a nerve root from the lumbar spine; surgery includes decompression with a microdiscectomy procedure.


  • You'll have needles inserted into two areas called "tentorium" These needles are used to release pressure caused by the pressing bone fragment.


  • Acupuncture can also be used to treat sciatica as it helps reduce inflammation and pain.




Proven Effective Treatments For Sciatica




Remember your body is a weapon and not an object to be used at any given opportunity, so protect it by being mindful of what you're doing from the ground up. If sciatica symptoms persist for more than two weeks without relief, talk with your doctor about how they can help. Sciatic nerve compression may require medical treatment to avoid long-term complications like chronic pain or even paralysis.


The following are some ways in which one might treat this condition:


Medication: Sometimes these work, but usually only temporary solutions such as acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and muscle relaxers; there's no actual cure for sciatica besides surgery


Physical therapy: It helps to restore mobility and strengthen muscles of the lower back, hips, and buttocks


Massage helps with muscle spasms and relieves tension in the tight fascia (tissue surrounding organs), which can compress nerves. It's also a good idea to have a doctor recommend specific massage techniques for sciatica.


Pregabalin: This is an antiepileptic drug used to treat nerve pain in conditions like sciatica; it reduces neuron activity by blocking sodium channels


Injections or epidural blocks: They are usually only given when one has failed physical therapy and medication options after two weeks without relief because they're more invasive methods; the injection goes into around where the spinal cord meets at the base of your neck, and the epidural block numbs the lower part of your body


Surgery: Rarely an option for sciatica, as it's reserved for only severe cases. It can help relieve pressure on a nerve or spinal cord that's causing pain by correcting unstable vertebrae in your back. If surgery is done to decompress nerves while not stabilizing vertebrae, then a patient would still be at risk of more damage down the road.


Chiropractic care: Chiropractors will manipulate the spine to help with pain and discomfort, but that's a less invasive option than surgery. For people who suffer from sciatica, this treatment can help relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve. A well-versed chiropractor like Dr. Eric Richards of HealthSprout Chiropractic and Wellness in Woodstock, GA, can make a difference in managing pain.


Knowing what causes and which treatment for sciatica is essential for the pain to be managed. This is because there are different degrees of sciatica, and some treatments will work on one type better than others. Others treat sciatica at home, which can be done with a heating pad, ice pack, or electric pillow.


The exercises for sciatica are great for those who want to get back into shape without the pain associated with it. These could include stretching and strengthening muscles in the back region such as hamstrings, hips, and glutes, which has been shown to improve symptoms of this condition.


It's important to know what type of exercises work best on your body, so you don't spend time doing something ineffective while aggravating other parts of your body instead.



Dos and Don'ts When You Have Sciatica




For people who have sciatica, there are known activities that can help and some that need to be avoided to worsen your condition.


- Avoid sitting or lying on your back for an extended period. If you need to be seated, use a firm chair and place the feet higher than the hips to point towards the ceiling. This will help relieve some pressure off your sciatic nerve by providing support at hip joints and reducing tension around the lumbar spine.


Sciatica is not just about pain; there can be an issue with movement too! Therefore, it's essential to keep active and have exercises done which can help strengthen muscles, such as pelvic floor muscle training (PFM) - this can also form one part of brain injury rehabilitation post-accident if needed. You should also avoid any activities where it could result in jerking movements of the torso, such as lifting heavy objects.


One good way to help reduce sciatica is by using a heating pad for those experiencing pain while sleeping (or sitting). There's also some evidence that acupuncture may help relieve chronic low back pain and leg pain associated with sciatic nerve irritation.


In addition, if your symptoms persist despite conservative treatment or you have an accident that triggers it. Seeking medical advice from a qualified health professional should be considered - this can include physiotherapy or chiropractic care, depending on what other treatments they offer. For instance, you may want to visit this website: http://www.healthsprout.com/, to help you figure out which treatment is suitable for your condition and the benefits associated with the treatment.


  • Avoid long periods lying down on your stomach because gravity will cause an increased weight load onto the spine. To avoid putting pressure on the nerve, it is suggested to lie on your side.


  • Resting the area in ice will help reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Apply an ice pack for 15 minutes at a time every two hours or as needed.


  • Educate yourself about how sciatica can be triggered by activities such as bending down from the waist too far while carrying heavy items so that you know what to avoid doing in order not to aggravate the condition (e.g., no more than one gallon of milk).


The discogenic type of sciatica should also be avoided because it may increase pressure on nearby nerves, which improves symptoms like tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness around your spine; therefore, avoid twisting at the waist with repetitive motions.


  • Suppose you are experiencing weakness in your legs. In that case, some physical therapy is recommended because it can help to restore strength and stability by building muscles that may have been injured or weakened due to the sciatica condition. It also helps with the posture that might be affected by spending long periods sitting down while having back pain caused by sciatica.


This type of exercise will also improve flexibility and range of motion and provide relief for symptoms like tingling or numbness so they do not worsen over time.


  • Massage techniques such as trigger point release massage are a powerful tool when addressing chronic muscle tension found in those who suffer from sciatica; however, this should only be done at the recommendation of a qualified healthcare professional.


  • Exercise is also recommended for those who have sciatica, but this should be done only after consulting with their physician or physical therapist because specific exercises may exacerbate the pain in some cases and make it worse than before.


  • Some people believe that chiropractic care can be helpful to relieve sciatica symptoms even more quickly by restoring alignment of the spine.


There are other treatments available if exercise is too strenuous or when you want an alternative option. For example, surgery has been shown to relieve back pain caused by sciatica by decompressing nerves and releasing pressure on spinal discs using minimally invasive techniques.


Exercises To Help With Sciatica Pain and Discomfort




Hip stretches can help stretch the piriformis muscle, which is one of the muscles causing sciatica pain. To perform a hip stretch:

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and slowly bend forward at your hips until you feel a gentle pull on the back of your leg.

  2. Hold this position for about 30 seconds before returning to an upright standing position.

  3. Repeat several times if needed.


Stretching techniques are beneficial because they relax tense muscles to reduce discomfort and increase flexibility, so you're able to move around better without feeling restricted or having sudden bursts of sharp pain throughout your body due to tightness from inflammation or injury.


Lying flat on your back with knees bent, gently lift one leg at a time. Hold the position for about 30 seconds, then gently lower it and repeat with the other leg.


Wear supportive shoes: Choose footwear that does not have an overly flexible sole or no insole support, such as sandals or slippers without arch supports. But if you need to wear these types of shoes due to discomfort caused by wearing stiff-soled shoes, make sure your feet are adequately supported when walking; this way will reduce strain on your back and avoid pain from sciatica symptoms worsening over time.


Suppose you're experiencing numbness in one side of your body, which is attributed to sciatic nerve irritation stemming from a spinal disc herniation or spondylolisthesis (slippage of a vertebra):


First, place your foot over the opposite thigh, then remember that leg's foot on top of your other knee or ankle, so it is pointing toward the ceiling and not resting against anything. In that case, you may want to try sitting in the half-lotus position. Hold this position for about 20 seconds before switching legs.


Yoga: Practicing yoga is helpful as well because it offers support from both gravity and alignment while simultaneously strengthening core muscles around the spine



Final Words




Sciatica awareness can help you identify the cause of your pain and what may be causing it. Find out that sciatica is not due to anything serious. Chiropractic care can help eliminate the pressure on those nerves by correcting spinal misalignments or nerve entrapment problems for them to function perfectly again.


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