Expert: Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman - 12/22/2008

Question
Right now I'm 20 (clicking first started at 14, but considered this normal), and on a seemingly hourly basis, my back can click anything up to 8-10 times. Usually after sitting/driving, laying down, general walking about, I need to click my back. I will get dull aches and tenderness around my mid-spine, which seems to only be rectified with a nice crunch/pop. It can be painful at the time, and tends to range from my lower spine to my neck.

After sleeping/laying down on my side, my neck will need to be clicked/popped up to 5 times simotainiously before I can move.

I did have a crash, with my car barrel-rolling. But before that i first hit a succession of hedging and shrubs, and then my car landed on a large boulder (I was on a mountain road), resulting in the flip. This happened at approximately 50mph. So I put the main damage down to whiplash, but it seems to deteriorate on I'd say a weekly basis. And can leave me in pain if i avoid clicking. What should I do? I mentioned this to my doctor at my last appointment, and she shrugged it off to my disbelief.

How can I, if not stop, prevent my condition from worsening? I see myself wheelchair bound by 30 years old at this rate...

Answer
Listen Dan,

You need to get to a doctor who will actually look at your concerns and examine the problem.  Your medical doctor is very unlikely to actually perform a musculoskeletal examination, and even if they do, it will likely be brief at best.

It sounds like you are deconditioned, may have ligamentous instability as well as spinal fixation issues, and you are chronic as well.  It is also probable that when you constantly pop the spine to get the clicking noise that you are actually making the problem worse.  This is called a long lever technique which has been shown to create weakness in the spine at areas that are already mobile/hypermobile, while complicating the areas that are fixated.  

Go to a chiropractic physician...an expert in musculoskeletal examination and diagnosis. Chiropractors use short level techniques to adjust the spine in a specific manner to allow for increased biomechanical  movement while stabilizing overly mobile areas.  Try to find one who has advanced credentials in sports injury, auto crash injury, or rehabilitation ...and ask them to explain their training as well as any certifications they have.  These doctors are the most likely to actually diagnose the problem and work towards stabilization and resolution.  

Do not go to a chiropractor who only adjusts subluxations. You need to learn stability exercises as well as have the spine examined and adjusted. Good luck.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net