Non-surgical decompression therapy is an effective method for mitigating the pain of herniated discs and improving the speed of recovery. Because the body is attempting to heal itself, our goal is to augment its natural ability by relieving pressure to the nerves and promoting a flow of nutrients to the area. At Scorca Chiropractic Center, decompression therapy is a valuable tool in our arsenal that can help you expedite your rehabilitation. This is a non-surgical alternative, not to be confused with laminectomy or microdiscectomy, which are based on the same theory but require surgical intervention.

At our practice in Fremont, we use a traction table to provide decompression therapy that benefits the spine by gently stretching the injurious region and lengthening chronically tight muscles. By reducing the concentration of pressure in the affected disc, we promote retraction of the bulging material. This also allows for an enhanced flow of nutrients to a region that needs to heal.

Each herniated disc is explicitly different and therefore our treatment is unique to the individual. Because there is no panacea for herniated disc pain, we create a plan that integrates multiple therapies: chiropractic adjustment, massage therapy, stretching and decompression each provide a different, effective treatment for a herniated disc. We also offer counseling on lifestyle habits and nutrition. Call our office at (510) 656-9077 if you have decided that a bulging disc is impinging on your quality of life. Together, we can effect change that frees you from pain and allows you to move on from your injury.

Dr. Francis Scorca, D.C.

When attempting to prevent or rehabilitate any spinal injury, it is important to utilize the factors that are within your control. These factors include: nutrition, exercise, posture and, to a certain extent, sleep. Herniated discs are structural injuries that occur due to wear and tear or from direct trauma. Most often, they heal themselves over time with minor pain involved. If you are experiencing symptoms, our goal is to mitigate the pain and effect a comfortable recovery. Changing your diet to accommodate for a herniation in the spine begins with the fibers that make up the disc itself.

The annulus fibrosus is the structure that is compromised by herniation. The cartilaginous material cracks or tears and allows for the gel-like center to leak out and press against nearby nerves. Since it is made up of cartilaginous material, we want to focus on a diet that supports the health and strength of cartilage. A diet rich in lean protein, fruit and vegetable is a great place to start. Adding regular consumption of the following nutrients into your diet can prevent the likelihood of herniated discs occurring. Sulfur rich foods and Vitamin C support enhanced collagen production. Glucosamine-sulfate will help the body to create chemicals that repair damaged cartilage. These nutrients will also accelerate the healing process.

At Scorca Chiropractic Center, we have seen spines at every degree of health benefit from proper nutrition. Nutrition as a means of spinal support forms a cornerstone of our holistic treatment. Call our office in Fremont at (510) 656-9077 or e-mail us at [email protected] to find out how minor nutritional alterations can make a huge impact on your herniated disc.

Dr. Francis Scorca, D.C.

Intervertebral discs are influential in affording your body its range of motion. Discs are named based on their location in the spine: cervical, thoracic and lumbar. Discs in the cervical region support the weight of the head and allow it to move while in the lower region, lumbar discs support the weight of the upper body and allow for a reasonable amount of compression. As we age and our spines grow weary of repetitive motions, the discs can tear, creating pressure on the associated nerve tissue. Symptoms depend on the location and severity of the condition, which makes it critical to receive a proper diagnosis.

• Lumbar herniated discs are among the most common, because of their crucial positioning in the spine. The lumbar region is responsible for supporting the body’s weight and general flexibility. As we grow, more weight creates more compression on these discs. When the compression reaches a breaking point, the discs can tear. Lumbar herniated disc pain is generally local to the tear, but can radiate to the lower body and cause sciatica if the sciatic nerve is affected.

• Cervical herniated discs are also common, as they also play a crucial role in the body’s functioning. The pivot point located in the cervical vertebrae allows us to move our head from side to side. This repetitive motion can wear down the vertebrae over the years, causing herniation. Pain associated with cervical herniated discs can be felt in the neck, head, shoulders and arms.

• Thoracic herniated discs are the least common but are no less significant. often, they are caused by direct trauma – a car accident, sports injury or persistently poor posture. Pain from a thoracic herniated disc can be felt in the upper and lower body.

Herniated discs are a common injury that comes with aging and degeneration of the spine. As such, most herniated discs will heal themselves naturally. Chiropractic offers you treatment that helps facilitate the recovery and minimalize pain. At Scorca Chiropractic Center, we have expertise diagnosing and treating herniated discs at any region in the spine. Call our office in Fremont at (510) 656-9077 or e-mail at [email protected] if you think you may be suffering from a herniated disc.

Dr. Francis Scorca, D.C.

The human body is a biological wonder of inter-connectivity. From a chiropractic perspective, the spine is a common denominator for many of the functioning systems of the body; in particular, it is a channel for the nervous system, facilitating signals to and from all parts of the body. But a lesser known relationship exists between the spine and the respiratory system. 

Consider the connection between the spine and respiratory system, whereby subluxation, or misalignment, of vertebrae in the neck can impact the functioning of the breathing muscles, creating asthmatic effects. Nerves exiting the spinal column between the third, fourth and fifth vertebrae of the neck make up the phrenic nerve, which aids the functioning of the diaphragm. When pressure is introduced to these nerves, through misalignment of the associated vertebrae, performance of the diaphragm is impaired and breathing is impacted. Accessory muscles to the diaphragm also require unhindered nerve flow to work optimally.

The respiratory system and spine share an intricate and intimate relationship. At Scorca Chiropractic Center, we help asthma sufferers by correcting physical abnormalities that may be contributing to poor respiratory system functioning. We correct subluxations in the cervical region with gentle adjustments, relieving pressure on the nerves and allowing the diaphragm to operate free of interference. Relaxing the neck muscles and relieving tightness from the chest cavity is another prerogative that can be achieved through adjustment and massage therapy. By restoring full nerve function, improvements to the respiratory system can be effected over time, reducing the severity and frequency of asthma attacks. Call our office in Fremont at  (510) 656-9077 or e-mail at [email protected].

Dr. Francis Scorca, D.C.

Chronic headaches are rarely the result of a single cause; they are the logical end of a sequence in which causes synergize and evolve over years. No one deserves to have their quality of life impeded or defined by a struggle against headaches.

Our consultation is a two-way conversation, not a one-way examination. We analyze your headaches together by collecting data and creating a map of your pain as it has changed over the years. Your personal history of headaches is our starting point: Is there any identifiable point of origin and how/when did they start? Headaches could begin resulting from singular trauma, as in a car accident, or repetitive stress and degeneration, brought on by poor posture while working at a computer. What activities aggravate or onset the pain? How are your workplace, lifestyle and recreation habits contributing? The more information we collect, the finer we hone in on the cause of your pain, making for a more effective treatment.

Our practice is focused on treating misalignments of the spine, which irritate nerves that control blood flow into the head, a signal contributor to head pain. By restoring this alignment and treating the supportive tissues, we ease pressure and irritation that is brought on by the wear and tear of your daily life. Once your headache has been correctly diagnosed, we offer you a full range of treatment modalities including spinal adjustment, trigger point therapy and deep tissue massage, and counseling on posture and lifestyle changes that can reduce and ultimately eliminate your headaches. Do not let years go by while the causes and symptoms overlap and become a tangled mess- we will help you get to the bottom of your headache pain. Call our office in Fremont today at (510) 656-9077.

Dr. Francis Scorca, D.C. 

Innate human posture does not look like someone spending eight hours slumped in front of a computer screen, concentrating so hard they forget to ever stretch or rest. But for many people in the Fremont area, this is their postural reality, and it is not doing them any good! Posture is the position of the body, as all of its moving parts relate to each other. For many people this is an unconscious state of being that has devolved into a lazy, unsupportive position that puts uneven pressure on the body, causing pain and even headache.  

It works like this: your drive to get the job done has suckered you into slouching. You don’t realize it, but if a picture were taken of you at that very moment, you would see yourself in a very harmful position: head and chin leaned forward, shoulders scrunched and back rounded. All the weight of your head is now straining your neck and shoulder muscles creating painful spasms that refer pain to the nerves in your head. This is an example of how posture can influence headaches.

Fortunately, posture is in your control. If you are like most people, improving posture on your own may be difficult or daunting. This is where we step in; at Scorca Chiropractic Center, we provide you with an examination that determines whether muscle tightness, misalignment and structural weakness may be caused by poor posture. It is important to correctly diagnose your postural faults before attempting to correct them. We address muscle strain and misalignment with chiropractic adjustment and massage therapy to heal any damage that has been caused.  By consulting you on workplace and lifestyle habits, we can form an accurate picture of your posturing throughout the day and make suggestions to help you institute easy, healthy changes.

We are dedicated to helping you improve your poor posture to relieve unnecessary pain and dysfunction. By making you aware of how your posture creates problems, we can institute a plan that will effect musculoskeletal balance, putting minimal stress on the joints and relieving headache pain. Call our office in Fremont at (510) 656-9077.

Dr. Francis Scorca, D.C.