Expert: Dr. Victor Dolan, DC, DACBSP - 5/28/2008

Question
I injuried my back 2 weeks ago while doing weights, i was doing traps on the smithmachine just raising shoulders and i felt a pain in my back on the right side, about 2/3 inchs right of middle of spine and in bout middle of back, my doctor said its just soft tissue damage ,and to rest. it doesnt seem to be getting better and hurts when i take deep breaths and when i look down, what could it be?

Answer
Hello Jeff,

God Job on the exercise!  Keep it up for a lifetime of improved health!

Sorry to hear of the injury.  Unfortunately an active healthy lifestyle does have it's occasional bumps and bruises.

You say you have a back injury , well- I hope you visited the 'back specialist'- your family Doctor of Chiropractic.  Reading your question, it looks like you went to the medical doctor who usually recommends rest and medications.  This Staten Island Chiropractor does have some questions as the the efficacy of such a treatment for this condition.

Musculo-skeletal injury is certainly partly chemical- the chemicals of damage and inflammation, the chemicals of healing and rebuilding.
Medicine may be helpful with pain and inflammation, but does it address ALL of the components of the problem?

MusculoSkeletal injury can have components of muscular, tendon, ligamentous, bone, joint, and even neuro-vascular aspects. When you get a 'muscle pull', or a muscle strain, that is only ONE aspect of the problem.  Muscles guide and stabilize joints.  When a muscle is strained or 'pulled', it allows joints to move improperly, it allows joint, ligament and nerve problems to occur as PART of the problem.  Unless all aspects of the problem are addressed, the problem will return.  Neuro-musculo-skeletal evaluation, diagnosis and treatment is the Chiropractic approach.  For a muscle strain, a ligamentous sprain, for everything musculoskeletal, short of a fracture or outright dislocation, I would recommend the sprain and strain specialist- the Doctor of Chiropractic.

Even if pain goes away, all of the problem may not have actually resolved.  Have you ever walked out of your house on a bright sunny day?- At first you cannot see, almost blinded by the light!- but within a minute or so, your eye nerves have adapted, and you no longer notice the bright sunshine, your nerves have adapted.  Ever walk into a loud party?- At first the loud blaring music makes your ear nerves hurt!- but within a few minutes, your nerves have adapted, you no longer notice the loud music.  Same with pain.  Your nerves are sending you pain messages,,,, but even if you do nothing; after a time, your nerves adapt, and you still have the problem, but the nerve no longer sends pain signals!

Get the problem taken care of, visit you local family Doctor of Chiropractic!

As always- this discussion is for information purposes only.  Specific evaluation, DX, TX, PX can only be made by a treating health professional in person.

Wishing you good luck, and good health naturally!

Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
http://www.DocDolan.net
http://www.GoodHealthNaturally.info
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com   (email newsletter)