Back Pain

Knee pain can be the result of an injury, like a ruptured ligament or torn cartilage. Some of the most common causes of knee pain include: Being overweight Overuse History of arthritis Injury

The staff at Rochester Integrated Medicine believe in a whole-person approach to treatment. When you come in with this condition, our team begins by performing a thorough physical exam and evaluation to figure out why you’re experiencing pain. Once we identify the underlying causes of your pain, we develop a customized treatment plan to help you feel better and enjoy an improved quality of life. ​ The goal of treatment at Rochester Integrated Medicine goes beyond providing pain relief. At the end of your treatment plan, you’ll be stronger, healthier, and less likely to have problems in the future. ​

Rochester Integrated Medicine offers a wide range of treatments that may be beneficial to patients with knee pain. The majority of patients experiencing knee pain will be seen by one of our Physical Therapists. They will develop a treatment plan consisting of stretching and strengthening exercises that will be performed in the clinic as well as ones you can do at home. ​ The exact treatment our team recommends depends on the cause of your pain and your treatment goals.

At Rochester Integrated Medicine, our team of medical providers will work to identify and treat your knee pain with a variety of stretching and strengthening exercises.

Several chiropractic treatments may be beneficial to patients with back pain. Depending on your needs, we may recommend: General chiropractic care, which focuses on correcting problems with the alignment of your spine Corrective exercises you can do at home to improve the effectiveness of general chiropractic care Physiotherapy, such as interferential electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, and massage therapy Lumbar decompression to relieve pressure on the discs in your back Lifestyle advice to help you resolve any lifestyle issues that make your back pain worse

If you seek treatment for back pain from a conventional medicine doctor, the focus is usually on covering up your symptoms with medication. In some cases, conventional medicine doctors may recommend surgery or other procedures to address the underlying cause of your back pain, but these procedures carry significant risks. ​ The chiropractors at Rochester Integrated Medicine approach the treatment of back pain differently. When you come to the practice with back pain, they begin by looking for the different factors responsible for causing your pain. Armed with this knowledge, they develop a customized treatment plan that addresses each factor, relieves your pain, and improves your overall health.

Chiropractic care is considered generally safe for patients with back pain. Unlike conventional medicine treatments, which often come with significant risks and uncomfortable side effects, chiropractic care is unlikely to cause any serious problems. ​ Furthermore, studies have shown that chiropractic care is effective in the treatment of most types of back pain, making it an ideal choice for patients who want to minimize risks and relieve their pain quickly.

Some of the most common causes of back pain include: Injuries to soft tissues in the back Herniated discs Poor posture Arthritis in the back Overuse or improper use of back muscles ​ In some cases, patients may have back pain because of a combination of issues. Our chiropractors look for the cause of back pain before recommending treatment.

Using a TENS unit to relieve pain is a safe, noninvasive way to get pain relief from a variety of conditions without the use of medications or invasive procedures. Our highly qualified team explains exactly how to use your TENS unit at home, between office visits, so you get long-term pain relief from chronic issues. ​ Call us at Rochester Integrated Medicine to schedule an appointment and to find out if TENS therapy may be an effective part of your pain relief program.

The TENS therapy process involves sticking small pads to your skin. The pads are attached to wires that connect to a battery-operated device you use to control the frequency and intensity of the electrical stimulation. We show you how to operate the device so you can use it at home as well as in the office. ​ You feel a tingling sensation on your skin when the TENS unit is working. The low-voltage electrical current stimulates your sensory nerves which helps reduce pain almost immediately. Stimulating the nerves may help your body produce endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers, providing pain relief.

TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) is a therapy that uses a device to send electrical pulses to reduce pain for a number of conditions, including: Back and neck problems Sciatica Shoulder conditions Knee issues Diabetic nerve pain Fibromyalgia pain ​ We often recommend TENS units as part of your rehabilitation treatment plan for chronic pain.

Typically, you use the TENS unit for about 30 minutes at a time. We explain where to place the electrodes, the frequency to operate at, and how long to use the device during each treatment. You shouldn’t leave the electrodes attached to your skin for longer than our team advises. ​ And, of course, you shouldn’t use a TENS unit while driving, sleeping, or in the shower or bathtub.

The bursae in your hips, knees, elbow, shoulder, and other joints usually become inflamed because of frequent repetitive motions. These motions irritate the sac over time, causing it to swell. For example, you may develop bursitis in your shoulder after throwing a baseball repeatedly. If you kneel on the floor for long periods of time, you may develop bursitis in your knee. Certain factors may increase your risk of bursitis. Some of these factors include: Age Certain occupations or hobbies that require repetitive motions Certain medical conditions that affect your joints, such as gout or diabetes

With the right treatment plan, most patients are able to recover from bursitis quickly. However, to speed up your recovery and reduce the risk of future problems, it’s important to follow your recommended treatment plan closely. Putting too much strain on the joint before healing is complete can lead to a relapse.

If you have bursitis in any joint, you may notice: Aching Stiffness Redness Pain that increases with pressure on the area ​ The pain from bursitis may come and go, depending on how much strain you put on the affected joint.

The providers at Rochester Integrated Medicine approach the treatment of bursitis with a variety of minimally invasive therapies. Some of the treatments we may recommend for patients with this condition include: Joint manipulation to resolve any problems with alignment Interferential electrical muscle stimulation Corrective exercises to strengthen and stabilize the joint Lifestyle changes to prevent recurrence ​ In most cases, we recommend more than one treatment to patients with bursitis. We always customizes every treatment plan to meet the needs of the individual patient.

Many patients develop neck pain after suffering an injury to some part of their neck. For example, you may have neck pain after a whiplash injury or another type of trauma. Other causes of neck pain include: Problems with the alignment of cervical vertebrae Strains on the muscles in your neck Chronic conditions, such as arthritis Poor posture ​ It’s also possible to develop neck pain because of a combination of different problems.

The chiropractors at Rochester Integrated Medicine approach the treatment of neck pain holistically. Rather than attempting to cover up symptoms, they look for the underlying cause of your pain so you can get relief and experience fewer problems in the future. ​ When you come to Rochester Integrated Medicine with neck pain, our chiropractors begin by performing a thorough physical exam, review of your medical history, and evaluation of your lifestyle to identify all of the factors that cause your neck pain. After isolating these factors, we develop a customized treatment plan that addresses each one.

Conventional medicine usually treats neck pain with medication, surgery, and other treatments that pose risks to your health and may cause uncomfortable side effects. Chiropractic care, on the other hand, is minimally invasive and generally safe. In addition, studies have shown that chiropractic care effectively relieves pain for many patients.

In most cases, our chiropractors design treatment plans that include a combination of different treatment options. Some of the options we may recommend to help with neck pain include: Cervical decompression, which reduces pressure on the vertebrae and other structures in your neck Massage therapy to loosen stiff muscles in your neck and improve circulation Chiropractic adjustments to resolve alignment issues Corrective exercises, which may improve the effectiveness of other therapies ​ Some patients may also benefit from ultrasound therapy and Interferential electrical muscle stimulation. If we determine that your lifestyle played a role in the development of your pain, we may recommend certain lifestyle changes as well.

Each of the treatments available to patients with sciatica serves a different purpose. In most cases, our team recommends a combination of treatments to give you the best results. Before recommending any treatment, we explain how the treatment works and what we hope to accomplish.

The sciatic nerve is a nerve in your back that runs from the lumbar region through each of your hips and down your legs. When this nerve becomes compressed or irritated, it causes sciatica. If you have sciatica, you may notice a pain that follows the path of the nerve. This pain may be sharp, dull, or throbbing. It may also get worse when you move suddenly, such as while sneezing or coughing. ​ Sciatica is more common among pregnant women and older people. However, it can affect anyone.

Our team usually suspects sciatica based on a description of your symptoms. However, before confirming the diagnosis, we perform a physical exam and review of your medical history. In some cases, we may recommend tests to look for specific issues, such as bone spurs or other pathology.

The team at Rochester Integrative Medicine approach the treatment of sciatica differently than conventional medical doctors. Instead of treating only the symptoms of this condition, they treat the entire patient. The goal of treatment isn’t only to relieve your pain, but also to resolve the underlying issues that led to your sciatica in the first place. ​ Some of the different treatments recommended may include: Chiropractic care to correct problems with alignment in your spine or pelvis. Physiotherapy services, such as massage therapy, ultrasound, interferential electrical muscle stimulation, and lumbar decompression Corrective exercises to improve the effectiveness of spinal correction services Lifestyle advice to address any issues that may be making your condition worse

Sciatica can develop any time your sciatic nerve is irritated. In most cases, it occurs because of a herniated disc. However, inflammation in the lower back or bone spurs can also play a role in the development of sciatica.