DCC Blog

When the body is injured, it needs oxygen to heal. Hyperbaric therapy, a service offered by Las Vegas chiropractor, Dr. Rick Hallgren, brings oxygen to areas of the body that need it. At Decatur & Craig Chiropractic, Dr. Hallgren uses the therapy to help patients suffering from neck pain or back pain as a result of an injury. The therapy is also beneficial to patients who have diabetes, have experienced a stroke or suffer from autism.

Hyperbaric Therapy Explained

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was traditionally used to help scuba divers recover from decompression sickness, or the bends. When a diver gets the bends, too much nitrogen is forced into the body, causing air bubbles to form. Common symptoms of the bends include pain in the joints and nausea.

Hyperbaric therapy restores the balance of oxygen and nitrogen in the body, easing symptoms of the bends. During the treatment at our chiropractic clinic, a patient is exposed to a high level of oxygen in a pressurized setting. The pressure increases the amount of oxygen a patient can absorb into the body at a time. The extra oxygen in the body speeds up healing and encourages the body to produce stem cells and growth factor.

Uses for Hyperbaric Therapy

Our chiropractor uses hyperbaric therapy to help patients who have wounds that will not heal under normal circumstances. Conditions such as diabetes disrupt the blood's circulation, which slows the body's ability to heal. In some cases, a personal injury or auto accident injury that causes back pain and neck pain may not heal as quickly as a patient would like. Hyperbaric therapy can be useful in helping that patient heal alongside chiropractic care and physical therapy.

The therapy may also be used to help children and adults with autism. Increased oxygen to the brain can help an autistic person function better. The therapy also benefits stroke patients, who have reduced blood flow to the brain and throughout the body.

Has hyperbaric therapy helped you or a loved one?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were more than 3.5 million workplace injuries and illnesses in 2009. Of these, 379,340 involved sprains, strains and tears and 195,150 involved back injuries. Many of these personal injury accidents could have been prevented if the company and the employee had taken a few extra precautions.

Tips for Preventing Workplace Injuries

Preventing workplace injuries is smart business for both employees and employers. Time away from work because of an injury involves substantial cost to both parties. Here are a few things both workers and employers can do to keep the workplace safe.

Be alert to and report dangers. Whether it is spilled coffee or an electrical cord stretched across a stairway, don't be apathetic about workplace dangers. Even if they don't affect you directly, you could be leaving a situation that will injure a co-worker.

Have proper safety equipment available and use it. Another way to avoid personal injury accidents is for employers to have the necessary safety equipment, such as goggles, hard hats, and ear plugs, available to their employees. Employees also need to do their part to increase safety by using this equipment every time they work.

Clean up after yourself. Many workplace injuries result from debris and trash left around a work site. Even an overflowing office trash bin can pose a danger. Make sure your desk, work site, and work area are as safe as can be.

Decatur & Craig Chiropractic Aids in Workplace Injury Recovery

Our Las Vegas chiropractor stresses a whole person approach to treating workplace and other back and neck injuries. Such an approach emphasizes how small changes in your lifestyle, such as switching your desk chair or wearing different shoes, can positively affect your quality of life. We also offer chiropractic care, advice on corrective exercises, massage therapy, physical therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Our Las Vegas clinic accepts most insurance plans, including HPN, Senior Dimensions, SHL, United HealthCare, BCBS, Medicare, Medicaid, Aetna, Cigna, and most local union health plans. Our chiropractor is fluent in both English and Spanish and has more than 20 years experience working with workers' compensation cases.

Have you recently had a slip and fall? Could your accident have been prevented with a few lifestyle changes or workplace changes?

Do you struggle because of neck pain to look behind you when you're pulling out a parking space? Does persistent neck pain keep you awake at night? Do you hesitate to pick up your young children because you're worried about aggravating your neck pain?

The Whole Person Chiropractic Approach

Our chiropractor, Dr. Hallgren relies on a "whole person" approach to treating patients. If you come to him with neck pain, he will first discuss with you your lifestyle, eating habits, and sleep patterns. He will look for sources of undue stress in your life and any potential recent injuries that you may have suffered. He will create a total wellness program for you, one that will address everything from your persistent neck pain to any back pain or general fatigue you may be experiencing. Your treatment plan might include physical therapy, the introduction of a new diet, and at-home exercises you can do on your own.

To specifically address your chronic neck pain, Dr. Hallgren may perform a neck adjustment or manipulation. This is a precise procedure in which Dr. Hallgren will, by hand, apply pressure to the joints of the neck. The goal is to increase the mobility of the spine and to restore a full range of motion to your neck. A neck adjustment can also boost the range of movement of the muscles adjoining the neck.

Adjustments are administered so you might be able to move and tilt your head more freely. You should also experience a lessening of pain, stiffness, and general soreness. There's no reason for you to suffer from chronic neck pain. Schedule an appointment at Decatur & Craig Chiropractic today and find relief.

Have you tried other remedies for your neck pain? Have they worked?