What Causes Subluxations? Symptoms and Treatments
Subluxation is a condition that can be easily overlooked due to its symptoms being less visible compared to issues like broken bones or fractures. However, it’s crucial to recognize the potential of subluxation if you’re experiencing pain or a feeling of looseness in any specific body part. In this blog post, we will look into the causes, symptoms, and chiropractic treatment for subluxation.
What Exactly is a Subluxation?
Subluxation refers to a partial dislocation that commonly takes place within a joint. Numerous individuals seek chiropractic care to alleviate the severe pain and discomfort caused by these joint subluxations. It’s important to note that subluxations can affect people of all ages, including children who may experience them when being lifted or gently pulled by their caregivers. These partial dislocations can occur in various areas of the body. Let’s take a closer look at the common joint subluxations that many people experience without realizing it.
Spinal Subluxation
A spinal subluxation typically occurs after an accident that causes trauma to the spine. The pain experienced is often due to a compressed spinal cord accompanied by nerve injury. Additionally, the vertebra may be partially dislocated, even if the patient is unaware of any particular injury.
Shoulder Subluxation
A shoulder subluxation may arise from trauma or repetitive motion, making it a common issue among athletes involved in activities like swimming or tennis. This condition involves the partial separation of the upper arm’s ball from the shoulder socket. If you’re experiencing pain or a sense of looseness in your shoulder, along with the sensation of your shoulder slipping in and out at the joint, you’re likely dealing with a subluxation.
Patellar Subluxation
Knee pain is often caused by a condition called a patellar subluxation. It occurs when the kneecap becomes partially dislocated from its normal position in the thigh bone groove. This can happen due to accidents, falls, or everyday wear and tear. One noticeable indicator of patellar subluxation is a change in the shape of the knee. Individuals may also experience sensations of looseness or separation in the affected area.
Elbow Subluxations
Elbow subluxations frequently occur following a fall with a high impact, particularly when landing on the hands. They can also be caused by pulling or tugging motions. Despite experiencing pain, individuals with an elbow subluxation typically retain a certain degree of mobility and range of motion.
What Are the Underlying Causes of Subluxations?
Subluxations have two primary causes. The first is the result of impact from accidents, ranging from car collisions to falls on hard surfaces, which can partially dislocate joints. Unfortunately, due to the subtle nature of subluxations, they often go unnoticed during post-accident examinations. The ability to maintain some degree of motion in the affected area further complicates the identification of this condition. Moreover, the persisting pain, discomfort, and swelling associated with subluxations can significantly impact daily life.
Subluxations can also occur spontaneously, even without a prior accident or fall. Joint weakness plays a role in such cases. Individuals with medical conditions that increase joint flexibility are particularly at risk. Pregnant women are also susceptible to subluxations due to hormonal changes that loosen ligaments and joints during pregnancy. Additionally, individuals engaged in repetitive motions through sports, exercises, or occupational tasks face a higher risk of subluxations.
What Are the Symptoms of Subluxation?
Subluxations can exhibit varied symptoms depending on the affected body part. However, certain general symptoms are commonly observed. Let’s take a look at what you might experience with a subluxation:
- Pain in the vicinity of the affected joint
- Swelling
- Limited mobility
- Sensations of instability around the joint
- Balance difficulties
- Numbness or tingling
- Stiffness
- Altered gait or restricted range of motion
Sometimes, pain may be the only symptom initially, but if a partially dislocated joint is left untreated, symptoms can worsen over time. Treatment focuses on reducing inflammation, relieving pain, and restoring full function. Additionally, individuals may experience secondary symptoms that are not directly related to the subluxation itself. For example, misalignment of the spine can lead to reported anxiety or mood issues, along with common occurrences of headaches. Unfortunately, living with an imbalanced state caused by subluxation can have a detrimental effect on overall well-being.
How Can Chiropractic Adjustments Help Treat Subluxation?
Subluxation treatment necessitates personalized approaches based on the specific location and severity of the injury. Targeted chiropractic adjustments can be highly effective in addressing subluxations. These adjustments involve manual techniques that utilize varying degrees of pressure and positioning to realign the affected joint. Before commencing treatment, it is crucial to have a licensed chiropractor thoroughly analyze and locate the potential subluxation. Alongside adjustments, supplementary techniques like icing and elevation may prove beneficial.
At Bellevue Chiropractic, our chiropractor also provides instructions on self-care techniques that can be performed at home to enhance the effectiveness of the adjustment. Although these additional treatments do not directly readjust a dislocated joint, they often prove effective in reducing inflammation and accelerating the recovery process. The main objective is to restore the partially dislocated joint to its correct position, thereby reducing pain and minimizing the risk of future injuries. While most impact-induced subluxations do not reoccur, it is important to note that there is a possibility of recurrence if joint weakness is a concern.
In Conclusion: Understanding Subluxation
Experiencing a subluxation after an accident or fall, even without bone injury, is quite common. Many people mistakenly assume they’re fine because they haven’t suffered fractures or breaks. However, subluxations can cause significant pain and restrict motion. If you’re experiencing unexplained pain following an accident, it’s important to be aware of the possibility of subluxation. Don’t dismiss the pain as normal wear and tear for an active person without considering the nature of a subluxation. There is hope for regaining stability and living without joint pain through chiropractic care. Take the initiative to explore the detection and treatment of subluxations if you sense something is amiss in any of your joints.
