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Ankylosing Spondylitis

There are many different forms of arthritis we treat at ChiroCareLA.com in Glendale. Although not every treatment is appropriate for every cause of joint pain, we employ a wide variety of therapies, all of which are minimally invasive. One type of arthritis we can care for is ankylosing spondylitis, which primarily affects the spine and hips.
Ankylosing Spondylitis is poorly understood and varies a lot between patients, but it generally causes periodic inflammation on one side of the pelvis. It may become worse with time and spread up the spine and into the joints connecting the jaw to the head. Treatment revolves around keeping the joints mobile so that when inflammation subsides, there is less risk of the joints growing bone spurs that will cause them to fuse together.
Maintaining good posture is crucial for ankylosing spondylitis patients. They are often tempted to hunch over in response to pain, but we can work with them on therapeutic stances and exercises that will reduce soreness…
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Knee Pain

Full health requires that your musculoskeletal system be aligned. But if there’s a problem in your knee, you will not only be in pain, but may also overcompensate by throwing your pelvis and lower back out of alignment. As chiropractors, we at ChiroCareLA.com in Glendale take a holistic approach to health, so we wanted to discuss a bit about what causes knee pain and how we combat it.
The kneecap, or patella, is a sesamoid bone. These means it floats on a bed of cartilage and is anchored down by ligaments and tendons. When those tissues fray and the kneecap moves out of place, the patient is said to have patellofemoral syndrome and their cartilage may be eroded by the dislocated bone. Their knee will become inflamed as a result, causing it to stiffen and become sore.


Patellofemoral syndrome can result from acute or chronic injuries. We can reduce swelling in the knee through methods such as low-level laser therapy delivered through an Echronica laser. This will increase the flow of bloo…
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Piriformis Syndrome

At ChiroCareLA.com in Glendale, Dr. Jack Alajajian and his staff offer a multitude of safe, minimally invasive treatments for sciatica. When a patient complains of numbness, tingling, or a shooting pain down their leg, we employ advanced technologies to reduce their swelling and remove pressure from the sciatic nerve. But there are several ailments that can cause sciatica, and treatment varies between them. One potential cause patients should be aware of is Piriformis Syndrome.

The sciatic nerves branch off from the spinal cord in the back’s lumbar region, which is the lower part. The piriformis muscles connect the sacrum, the part of the spine below the lumbar vertebrae, to the top of the femurs. They are wedge-shaped and located deep within the body. To travel from the lumbar spine to the legs, the sciatic nerves must pass through or around the piriformis muscles. Consequently, when the piriformis muscles are inflamed, the sciatic nerves are compressed, causing a person to feel sciat…
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What is a Frozen Shoulder?

Dr. Alajajian and staff treat numerous musculoskeletal problems, including “frozen shoulder.” Also known as adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder is a condition that involves stiffness in the shoulder joint. This happens when the tissue around the shoulder joint loses its synovial fluid, causing discomfort and limited mobility. If you have significant shoulder pain, we recommend that you come in and see your Glendale chiropractor so that the root of the problem can be diagnosed. We would be happy to get you set up on a treatment plan!


Symptoms of a frozen shoulder:


- Stiffness
- Very limited mobility
- Dull or achy pain
- Difficulty doing daily activities
- Increase in these symptoms over time


Women are more susceptible to this condition than men, and especially affects people who have had a stroke or mastectomy. Dr. Alajajian and staff are committed to helping our patients reach the full extent of their mobility and live pain-free lives. We treat frozen shoulder with a variety of exercises t…
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Preventing Neck Pain

Neck pain happens, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with it forever. With some lifestyle adjustments, you can prevent neck pain altogether. Dr. Alajajian and staff take pride in educating our patients about good spinal health. Since many of our patients experience neck pain, it's important to take a step back and see what is causing it. Only then can you take the necessary steps to prevent it!


Tips to prevent neck pain:


- Sleep on your back
- Drink plenty of water
- Make sure you are using a comfortable and supported pillow
- Make sure your computer monitor is at eye level
- When using your mobile phone for texting, keep it at eye level, take breaks, or use talk-text
- When using your mobile phone for making calls, use a headset or earpiece
- Stretch, exercise, and strengthen your neck muscles
- Carry weight on your person so that it is evenly distributed
- Practice a supportive posture (no slumping or hunching!)
- Hold your phone at a distance rather than right in front of you


It’s imp…
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What is a Pinched Nerve?

Have you ever accidentally contorted your body in a strange way that resulted in a sharp pain that decreased mobility in your neck or arm? You might have experienced a pinched nerve. Pinched nerves can occur anywhere along the spine, including the upper, mid, and lower back. They can even happen in any joint of your body. Dr. Alajajian and staff know all about the dreaded pinched nerve and how painful it can make doing the simplest tasks. Sometimes the nerve can move back into place naturally. However, if the pinched nerve is severe enough, you will need spinal adjustments to correct it.


Symptoms of a pinched nerve include:


- Lower back pain
- Numbness, tingling, or burning sensation in your arms, legs, fingers, or toes
- Pain radiating along your spine
- Severe headaches or migraines
- Pain that shoots down your arm or leg
- Neck pain


A pinched nerve can be caused by subluxation, disc degeneration, osteoarthritis, or disc herniation. These are silent afflictions in their beginning stages, wh…
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How You Can Manage Tension Headaches

When you combine poor posture, stress, and constant errand-running (which definitely causes stress), a tension headache can happen out of the blue. This is a signal that your body is taking on a lot at once! There are many other things that can bring on a tension headache, such as constantly looking down at your phone, staring at a screen all day, or driving for several hours without rest. Dr. Alajajian and staff feel that it’s important to recognize what your body is telling you and then take care of your body accordingly.

There are two types of tension headaches: chronic and episodic. Chronic tension headaches happen frequently, with pain developing on both sides of the head, the forehead, and at the base of the skull. Our chiropractic treatments can help decrease the severity and frequency since these headaches are more associated with tightness and misalignment in the neck vertebrae. Episodic tension headaches occur from stressful events and can often be treated with over-the-count…
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