Expert: Dr. Victor Dolan, DC, DACBSP - 11/3/2008

Question
1 day ago my saint Bernard jump off our truck and landed on me. i fell flat on my back and couldn't get up right away. when i finally got up with help, there was stabbing pain on the left side of my spine. i couldn't do anything with out the pain getting worse. it hurts when i walk, breath twist or pretty much do anything... I am 25 years old and don't have any other problems.... what should i do?

Answer
back pain, low back pain, injury, trauma, stabbing pain,

Hello Alexandra Friesen,

Sorry to hear of your injury.  Saint Bernards are pretty big,,, and may have caused a little or a lot of damage.  I have three dogs, a cat and a turtle at home myself.

You ask;

"...what should I do?..."

Quick answer:  See a licensed health professional and be examined.

I am partial to the Doctor of Chiropractic (DC).

The DC works all day in the office on all types of pain, and particularly back pain, low back pain, even injury or traumatic back pain.

See your local Doctor of Chiropractic.  I know my Staten Island Chiropractic office sees many patients with low back pain, back pain from injury and accident: car accidents, slips, trips, falls, sports injuries, workers compensation injury.

I utilize some informational handouts in my office, perhaps this will be helpful to you:

P.R.I.C.E. =    P  protection.   R rest.   I  ice.   C  compression.   E  elevation.
Hurt  yourself ??  injury/ trauma/  bruise/ not even sure - - a broken bone ??
You should certainly get to the Doctor or trained health professional to be examined  if you think it  is  bad  enough.     BUT  in  the  meantime,  some  simple  steps  may  help.   PRICE.
The  PRICE  protocol will usually help just about any musculoskeletal injury.
P = Protection;  protect the area from further injury- stop what you are doing, can you
     pad  or bandage the area ? Tape the area? Do something to protect the area !
R = Rest;  rest the area as much as possible, if a part is damaged, give the body time to
       repair the area
I = Ice;  ice is a potent anti-inflammatory; it will slow swelling, help with pain control
     (ice is analgesic), place ice over cloth over the injured area for 5, 10 minutes, off the
     injured area for 30 minutes; then back on again
C = Compression;  to help prevent swelling compression may be helpful- for example
      if it is an ankle, wrap the ankle with an ace bandage and ice the area.  Many body
      parts may not be applicable to compression.
E = Elevation; again to fight swelling and pain, raising the injured body part above the
      heart may be helpful- ie raise an ankle or knee, you lay down, raise the injured part
PRICE  may  help :    Sprains,  Strains,  musculo-skeletal injury,  bruise,  contusion
Sometimes  a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, athletic injury, or a motor vehicle accident can cause a bump or bruise, sprain or strain.  Sometimes also involved with the injury is a vertebral subluxation (or other joint subluxation) (subluxation is a mechanical problem- of any joint- and requires a mechanical correction).  In the spine, a sprain/strain  is a misalignment,  a ‘kink’ in the joint, a stretch of the muscles, tendons and/ or ligaments:- more properly termed a Vertebral Subluxation.   Sometimes symptoms can come immediately, sometimes days, weeks or even months later!- Well after the actual trauma !!!
         Spinal = Vertebral   Subluxation   Complex    (a.k.a.  ‘subluxation’)  ;   ( subluxation COULD be any joint )
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.
A  subluxation  interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system  (the master system  which controls and coordinates all function within the body)  and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
This is a serious condition identified by its five parts:
    Spinal Kinesiopathology:
         This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.
    Neuropathophysiology:
         Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.
    Myopathology:
          Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.
    Histopathology:
         A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.
    Pathophysiology:
         Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.
         Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol, emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
          Vertebral  Subluxation  cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone.  Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction-  -  -    a manipulation,     best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.  For good health- Treat the   Cause,  not just the Symptoms.  Sprain/ strain/ bump/ bruise?= may result in subluxation of the nearby joint.  CORRECT the subluxation !!!!

Dr. Victor E. Dolan,   Doctor of Chiropractic;   Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST  Chief of Chiropractic  in  a  Hospital  in  New York State (DHSI);  As  Seen  in  PREVENTION  Magazine
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Lower  Back  Pain  (LBP):          Low  Back  Pain  can be caused by many different things.  Big, BAD, catastrophic things like a tumor or a cancer can cause low back pain (only a proper exam by a licensed doctor, like your Doctor of Chiropractic, or your family Doctor of Medicine, can evaluate your signs and symptoms, and perhaps refer for testing).  Big, bad things like a Herniated Disc, sciatica, possible fracture or dislocation can cause LBP (again, best evaluated by your DC or MD, and perhaps referral).  Bad things, like  - Sprains, Strains, contusion, or Vertebral Subluxation Complex (all very efficiently diagnosed and treated by your Doctor Of Chiropractic).  LBP can come from a motor vehicle accident, sport injury, slip, trip, fall, arthritis, lifting improperly, or even bad posture in standing, sitting or sleeping.  All of these things often have a Lumbar (Low Back) Vertebral Subluxation involved.

              Vertebral   Subluxation   Complex    (a.k.a.  ‘subluxation’)

The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.

A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.

This is a serious condition identified by its five parts:

    Spinal Kinesiopathology:
         This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.

    Neuropathophysiology:
         Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.

    Myopathology:
          Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.

    Histopathology:
         A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.

    Pathophysiology:
         Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.

The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.
         Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol, emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
          Vertebral  Subluxation  cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone.  Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction-  -  -    a manipulation,     best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.

Dr. Victor E. Dolan,   Doctor of Chiropractic;   Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST  Chief of Chiropractic  in  a  Hospital  in  New York State (DHSI);  As  Seen  in  PREVENTION  Magazine

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I hope this helps.  If you need further info, do not hesitate to e-contact me here at AllExperts.com
 http://allexperts.com/ep/965-100794/Chiropractors/Victor-Dolan-DC-DACBSP.htm  

I wish you good luck, and good health naturally !

Your Staten Island Chiropractor friend signing off,

Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com            (email newsletter)