Expert: Dr. Victor Dolan, DC, DACBSP - 6/25/2008

Question
I had five shelves of wine fell on me.I had surgery on my rotor cuff and left knee.Now I am on neurontin for neck and back pain,numbness in arms and hands.Burning sensation,spasms,cant stand for long periods of time.Cant sleep.Had a mri and the orthopedic doctor says it showed some degeneration in #5,6 disc. Now I am waiting to take a nerve test.What is possibly wrong should I see another dr these are workers comp doctors.Help me I am getting very depressed.

Answer
Hello Wanda,

Sorry to hear of your work accident and related injuries.

Workers Compensation Insurance is authorized and run by the different states.  I know New York State Workers Compensation rules and regulations because I am a Staten Island Chiropractor practicing in New York City ( but for specific rules/ regulations I would refer you to a workers compensation attorney).  Different states have different laws/ rules/ regulations regarding work comp.

In Staten Island Chiropractic is covered under NYS work comp.  If you are injured at work, you can go to medical doctors- orthopedist, neurologist, physiatrist, family medical doctor, etc., you may also choose to go to a Doctor of Chiropractic.  Most Staten Island Chiropractor s do accept workers compensation insurance.  I do accept NYS Work Comp in my Staten Island Chiropractic office.  I do not know where you are located, so my comments may not be applicable.

I hope you have open access and freedom of choice in your state.  Hopefully you can choose the doctor you wish to go to and the discipline (type of doctor) that you desire.  Some states let the employer choose your doctor (the company doctor).  As you can imagine, the company doctor may have a conflict of interest when treating an injured employee.  Again, I hope you have a freedom of choice, without a company doctor in the picture.

I also hope you have freedom of choice without a 'gatekeeper'.  Usually gatekeeper doctors are medical doctors who often treat medicinally (-treat with medicines) rather then send for physical therapy or chiropractic.  With physical mechanical injuries, I am biased towards physical mechanical treatment (ie. Chiropractic or Physical Therapy).  Medical doctors prefer medicine and surgery as their treatment options.

++++++++++++++++++++++++
Degenerative   Disk    Disease               (  DDD,   DJD,  OA )
Degenerative Disc,  Degenerative Joint Disease,  progressive OsteoArthritic Degeneration

Degenerative Disc Disease  (old term =  DJD) is  actually  a  quite  common  condition.   However,  the course of the condition is highly variable.   Some patients with DJD literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar X-ray/ MRI findings may be able to run marathons or lift heavy weights.   Some people suffer for only a few days with pain and symptoms, some people suffer for months. Although the course is highly variable, there are certain steps that are always helpful to follow:  Ice the area when painful-  10/ 15minutes on, 30/ 45 minutes off;  avoid certain postures and movements;  bend the knees when coughing or sneezing;  bend the knees when lifting anything;  do not extend legs straight out when sitting, laying down, lifting, or driving.   Avoiding certain movements and postures will prevent aggravation of the condition.   Practicing good postures and movement patterns will help the condition heal and be less painful.  Degenerative disk disease,  degenerative joint disease,  deteriorating discs (disk)   is/ are  often caused by,  or often  concurrent with the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.

         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 joints, and can cause osteo-arthritic degeneration, Degenerative Disk Disease, degenerative joint disease, etc.
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.

Subluxation  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:
         The VSC contributes to OsteoArthritic degeneration.  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.  When subluxated, joints are in a stressed, vulnerable, compromised condition.  Subluxation may cause Arthritis, Disk Herniation, Disk Degeneration,  or aggravate such conditions.   
          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.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You mention neck and back pain, numbness, spasms, degenerated discs; these are things that Chiropractic can work wonders on.  I highly recommend you see your local family Doctor of Chiropractic for an evaluation, and if indicated, appropriate treatment.  If you have a 'gatekeeper', ask for chiropractic referral.  You may have to ask several times.

In NYS, workers compensation also has a legal component.  I would recommend a work comp attorney to handle your case as well.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
“Pinched  Nerve”   ( Also Known As-  neuritis, neuralgia, brachial-neuritis )

Sometimes  we  can  wake  up  with  a  ‘pinched nerve’,  or  a  muscle spasm.... sometimes a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, or even a motor vehicle accident can cause a ‘pinched nerve’.  Ultimately-  the true    c a u s e   of  the pinched nerve, pain in the neck and/ or  shoulder  and/ or  arm  and/ or  hand;    is a misalignment,  a  ‘kink’ in the neck- more properly termed a Vertebral Subluxation.
              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:
         The VSC contributes to OsteoArthritic degeneration.  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.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I hope this helps you with your workers compensation injury.  Work comp injury is common in Staten Island Chiropractic offices.  I see a lot of work comp cases.

See a Doctor of Chiropractic.  See a work comp attorney.

Good luck, and this Staten Island Chiropractor wishes 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)