Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Nerve Testing in Valley Stream

Evaluation, Diagnosis, Treatment Plan

Neurology is a medical specialty that deals with disorders of the brain and nervous system.  That is, the network of cells that transmit and receive information throughout the body.  Through the use of cutting-edge diagnostic technologies, botox injections and treatment modalities, neurologists help combat the effects of debilitating neurological, neuromuscular and movement disorders.

Conditions we treat include:

  • Epilepsy: A condition involving recurrent seizures, triggered by electrical signals in the brain.
  • Migraine Headaches: A chronic type of headache that lasts from four hours to three days, and occasionally even longer.
  • Sleep Disorders: A group of conditions including sleep apnea, insomnia, and restless leg syndrome.
  • Stroke: A potentially debilitating condition that happens as a result of too little or too much blood to the brain.
  • Traumatic Brain Injury: An injury caused by a severe blow or injury to the head that results in brain damage.
  • Herniated Discs: A common condition that may occur as a result of gradual wear and tear on the disc or from a spinal injury that cracks or tears the disc and causes it to bulge or break open.
  • Pinched Nerves: A common problem that can occur in several different places in the body when too much pressure is applied to a nerve resulting in pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling.
  • Parkinson’s Disease: A chronic motor system disorder that occurs when the cells that produce dopamine become destroyed or severely damaged.

Electromyography (EMG)

Nerve Testing in Oceanside, NY

An EMG is a diagnostic exam that evaluates the health of muscles and the nerves that control them by measuring muscle electrical activity. This test is commonly performed to determine the cause of muscle weakness and identify cases that are caused by neurologic disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy and others rather than primary muscle conditions. During the EMG, thin needle electrodes are inserted into the muscle, where they detect electrical activity while the muscle is at rest and contracting.

Evoked Potential

An evoked potential or “evoked response” study is a diagnostic procedure that measures electrical activity in the brain as it responds to signals from the sight, sound and touch senses. This allows doctors to assess hearing or sight (especially useful when performed on infants), diagnose optic nerve disorders or detect tumors within the brain or spinal cord. There are several different types of evoked response studies available that can test for different conditions.

MRI / MRA

MRI, short for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, is a radiation-free scanning technique that uses radio waves and magnetic fields to produce detailed three-dimensional images of the body. MRI can be used to identify or precisely locate an injury or abnormality, to scan for developing problems or analyze damage from previous trauma, and to aid in the planning of surgery.

Unlike X-rays, radioisotopes, CT and other methods that use radiation, MRI uses radiofrequency waves. Radio waves detect differences in water concentration and distribution in various body tissues.

Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) uses a magnetic field, radio waves and a contrast material to produce detailed images of blood vessels throughout the body. This procedure does not use ionizing radiation, and can effectively detect, diagnose and aid in the treatment of heart disorders, stroke and other blood vessel diseases.

MRI and MRA studies are referred out to our partnering specialists.

Stroke

This condition occurs when the brain gets too much or too little blood.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

This is brain damage due to a severe injury to the patient’s head. The CDC estimates that Americans have 1.5 million traumatic brain injuries annually.

Sciatica

Friday, July 20th, 2018

Sciatica Treatment With Nerve Testing in Valley Stream

Nerve Testing in Oceanside, NY

What Is Sciatica?

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body; it starts in the lower back and runs down each leg. Pain that radiates along this nerve is often referred to as sciatica. Sciatica commonly occurs when there is a herniated disk or when the spine compresses part of the nerve. If you have sciatica and want to see how Nerve Testing in Valley Stream can help, contact Comprehensive Healthcare Group and make an appointment.

How Does It Occur?

Sciatica is usually a result of the aging process or injury. Since the spine is placed under a lot of pressure on a daily basis, it is vulnerable to wear and tear making it less capable of withstanding daily stress. This issue can cause conditions like bone spurs or herniated discs.

Symptoms

Pain from sciatica starts typically at the lower spine and continues behind the thigh down to below the knee. This pain can feel like a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation and can sometimes feel like a jolt or electric shock. Sciatic pain is often present on only one side of the body. Some of the symptoms can also include:
  • Localized pain
  • Muscle weakness
  • Tingling sensation
  • Numbness
If you have these symptoms, prolonged sitting has also been known to worsen your condition.

How A Chiropractor Can Help

Chiropractic care is a conservative, non-surgical way of treating sciatica. Adjustments will realign the spine, taking the pressure off the nerve. This can provide you with quick pain relief.  After the pressure is off the nerve, the body will be able to heal itself. In addition to adjusting the spine, a chiropractor will provide you with lifestyle advice in order to prevent future sciatic pain. If you want to learn more about how chiropractic care can treat and potentially resolve your sciatic pain, call Comprehensive Healthcare Group and make an appointment for nerve testing in Valley Stream today!

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body; it starts in the lower back and runs down each leg. Pain that radiates along this nerve is often referred to as sciatica. Sciatica commonly occurs when there is a herniated disk or when the spine compresses part of the nerve. If you have sciatica and want to see how Nerve Testing in Valley Stream can help, contact Comprehensive Healthcare Group and make

Treatment For Low Back Pain

Thursday, June 7th, 2018

LBP Treatment With Nerve Testing in Valley Stream

Nerve Testing in Oceanside, NY

Many patients report having low back pain throughout their lives. This pain can be caused by anything from poor posture to a herniated disc. Significant research has been conducted to show that low back pain should be treated with chiropractic care in the early stages of treatment. Not only is it effective, but it safe and non-invasive. To make an appointment for nerve testing in Valley Stream, contact us here.

Common Reasons for Low Back Pain

Low back pain can be caused by a wide variety of things. Sometimes injuries to the vertebrae can create inflammation and pain, and other times poor posture is the sole cause for low back pain. Some of the most common reasons that patients suffer from low back pain are:

  • A torn or pulled ligament and/or muscle in the back!
    • Also known as a sprain or strain, these injuries are common because they can be caused by so many different things (lifting a heavy object, poor posture, over-stretching, slipping and/or falling down).
    • If you think you may have pulled or torn a muscle in your back, contact us here to make an appointment for nerve testing in Valley Stream.
  • Sports injuries
  • Degenerative disc disease
    • A disease in which the disc between vertebrae within the spine loses hydration, causing tears and weakness.
  • Spinal stenosis
    • A condition where the spinal canal narrows, compressing the nerves and causing pain.
  • Joint dysfunction
  • Arthritis

Chiropractic Treatments for Low Back Pain

Why should you choose chiropractic as one of your first lines of treatment? The methods that chiropractors use involve little to no risks and zero pharmaceutical drugs. In those that suffer from low back pain, many different treatment options are available. For nerve testing in Valley Stream, contact us here to make an appointment. Treatment methods can include the following:

  • Chiropractic spinal adjustment
    • Chiropractors will use their hands to manually align the spine into its proper position. This can improve range of motion, reduce irritability, and most importantly reduce low back pain.
  • Mobilization
    • This is a more gentle approach to spinal manipulation, using a lower-velocity adjustment speed to increase the range of motion in the spine.
  • Heat and cold therapy
    • Using heating pads and ice packs can reduce inflammation and allow for more blood to flow to the affected area.
  • Diet counseling
    • Many chiropractors may offer lifestyle advice on how you may change some habits such as eating for weight loss to relieve the pressure that the extra weight adds to your back.
  • Ultrasound
    • This provides deep heat to areas reducing pain and inflammation.

Valley Stream Nerve Testing

To treat your low back pain safely, effectively and non-invasively, contact us here to make an appointment for nerve testing in Valley Stream

Why Does My Leg Hurt?

Tuesday, April 29th, 2014
Nerve Testing in Oceanside, NY

Many things can cause leg pain – pinched nerves in the lower spine, lumbar radiculopathy, herniated discs in the spine, even spinal arthritis and space-occupying lesions.

However, sciatica is a term you often may hear people use to talk about the pain they have in the buttocks, hip and then down one leg (sometimes both legs, but typically occurring specifically on one side).

Sciatica describes pain, weakness, numbness or tingling in the leg that is caused by injury to, or pressure on, the sciatic nerve. It is not a diagnosis but rather a symptom of an underlying medical condition. The sciatic nerve starts in the lower back at the 3rd lumbar segment and is formed by the exiting nerve roots of L3-L5, S1, and S2 to become the longest and widest nerve in the body. It runs down the lower back along the spine and down the back of each leg. Portions of the sciatic nerve branch out in each leg to innervate certain parts of the leg, e.g., the buttock, thigh, calf, foot, and toes. Depending upon where the sciatic nerve is being affected determines where the pain is. Since the sciatic nerve controls the muscles of the lower leg and provides sensation to the thighs, legs, and soles of the feet, sciatica can be felt as a dull ache or an intense pins-and-needles sensation.

What does the healthcare provider do to determine what is causing your pain and then treat your pain? The neurologist, physiatrist or chiropractor will first perform a clinical exam to determine exactly where the pain is. Imaging studies may be ordered (either CT scan or MRI studies) to see if bones, nerves, soft tissues, ligaments, etc are the source of the pain. If the pain is determined to be coming from a nerve, tests called nerve conduction studies can be performed to see if the signals are traveling properly through the nerves.

A course of treatment is then planned based on the information the healthcare provider has found in the course of your exam and diagnostic testing. This may include physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, stretching exercises, medication or injection therapy. It may be determined that a surgical consultation is needed. The good news is that back pain that radiates down the legs can be diagnosed, treated and managed. The key is to be able to discuss with your healthcare provider what your symptoms are and be able to describe them as accurately as possible. Try to note when you have your pain, where exactly you have your pain and what activities tend to make your pain better or worse. These are all pieces of information that will assist your healthcare provider in being able to treat you successfully and reduce the chance of recurrence.

Benefits of Physical Therapy and Chiropractic Care for Neck Pain

Friday, June 21st, 2019
Nerve Testing in Oceanside, NY

Straining yourself because of neck pain can not only be discouraging but it can also become a hindrance to everyday activities. No matter the initial cause of injury, neck discomfort needs to be resolved with utmost haste in order to help prevent other complications from occurring.

In most cases, neck pain can range from either temporary to chronic, depending upon the severity. In order to properly treat this condition, you may need to receive both physical therapy as well as chiropractic care for long-lasting results. These two forms of treatment go hand-in-hand when treating chronic pain of the spine and neck. Our office not only offers a chiropractor but also physical therapy and nerve testing in Valley Stream for our patient’s convenience. If you have neck pain, your first step is to determine the cause, and the next step is to visit Comprehensive Healthcare Group to receive treatment and the proper care.

Causes:

Unfortunately, neck pain can be caused by an abundance of factors. On some occasions, radiating pain can be stimulated due to an injury, other times the cause may not be quite as clear. Visiting a chiropractor and receiving tests, like nerve testing in Valley Stream, can help you figure out the cause of your pain. Some of the most common potential causes for your neck pain may include the following:

  • Overuse Injuries – this type of neck pain is typically temporary and results from straining your neck muscles over a long period of time.
  • Arthritis – all of your joints are at risk for being worn down from arthritis, and the neck is no exception. The deterioration of the soft tissues surrounding your joint bones can cause pain and discomfort in the long term, especially when using the joint often as a result of repetitive motions.
  • Pinched Nerve (Cervical Radiculopathy) – this condition can affect the sensitive nerve endings in the spine, leading to pain radiating throughout the neck area. The compression of the nerves along your spine can be the result of a herniated or degenerated disc in the spinal column.
  • Headaches/Migraines – these conditions can cause pain and stiffness in the neck as a result of the pain and heaviness felt in the head.

If you’re unsure of the cause of your neck pain, visiting your physician and determining why you’re experiencing pain is the first step towards healing. Once you’ve determined the cause, you can begin your treatment by receiving specialized care.

How a Physical Therapist and Chiropractor Can Benefit You

A physical therapist may offer both passive and active physical therapy to help treat your neck pain. Passive physical therapy includes treatments like massage therapy, the application of ice or heat, or electrotherapy. Active physical therapy treatments will involve you doing specified movements which stretch and work the muscles in the neck.

Pairing physical therapy with chiropractic care can offer huge benefits, as one compliments the other. While receiving physical therapy, getting regular chiropractic adjustments of the neck can realign the joints, improve mobility and flexibility, reduce inflammation and pain. Some benefits of utilizing a physical therapist, chiropractor and nerve testing in Valley Stream include:

  • Potential for pain reductions.
  • Boosted mobility.
  • Improved flexibility.
  • Strengthened muscles, helping to increase injury prevention.
  • Increased range of motion, making movements more comfortable.
  • Improvement in joint function.

If you’re looking to complement your physical therapy with chiropractic care, Comprehensive Healthcare Group can offer you the treatment and relief you need. Contact our Chiropractor for nerve testing in Valley Stream to schedule an appointment to stop your neck pain today.

Preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Monday, August 6th, 2018
Nerve Testing in Oceanside, NY

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that causes pain, tingling, and numbness throughout the hand and arm due to a pinched nerve in the wrist. This nerve is the median nerve located on the palm side of your hand. This nerve also provides sensation and nerve signals to the muscles surrounding the thumb. If you are seeking treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, contact us today to get connected for nerve testing in Valley Stream

Symptoms

  • Numbness, tingling, and pain in your thumb and fingers
  • Pain and burning that moves up the arm
  • Wrist pain that occurs at night and interferes with sleep
  • Weakness in your hand muscles

Causes

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when your wrist experiences too much pressure, which then causes the median nerve to become pinched as it moves through the wrist. Sources of carpal tunnel syndrome include the following:

  • Thyroid dysfunction
  • Fluid retention from pregnancy or menopause
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Fractures or trauma to the wrist

Overextension of the wrist is also a leading cause of carpal tunnel syndrome.  The following examples will often lead to overextended wrists:

  • The position of your wrist when you are using a keyboard or mouse
  • When you use vibrating power/hand tools
  • Any repeated movements that overextend your wrist, such as playing the piano

Prevention Tips

Softer Touch: You may not realize it, but you could be using more pressure than you need to in your daily tasks. Your hand and wrist will benefit from using a gentler grip.

Take Breaks: Taking a 10-15 minute break to stretch your hands will help to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. Try making a fist and then fan out your fingers as far as you can 5-10 times during this break time.

Change It Up: You should avoid repeating the same hand and wrist motions. Try switching hands or mixing up your tasks, which will reduce the pressure on your hands and wrist.

Watch Your Form: Try not to bend your wrist all the way up or down. Keeping it at a neutral, middle level is best.

Treatment Options

When it comes to treating carpal tunnel syndrome, there are many options available. These treatments range from making lifestyle changes to seeking physical therapy. One popular treatment option includes seeking nerve testing in Valley Stream like us in order to receive an effective course of action. Here at Comprehensive Healthcare Group, we are a multi-disciplinary practice offering a wide range of different treatment options for our patients.

Are you interested in setting up an appointment for nerve testing in Valley Stream? Be sure to contact us today.

You are in Good Health!

In our blog, we continue to educate and inform you on a variety of topics that are of interest to many.  We have more plans for interesting articles for you to read right here on our website.  We may provide links for you, but we want you to be able to get the basic information you need right here.  If there are any topics you would be interested in having us cover, use the contact us link you see here on our website and we’ll try to add it to the list.  We might even mention you in our article!

Thanks for reading and we’re looking forward to having you check back for our next installment.