Expert: Dr. Victor Dolan, DC, DACBSP - 7/22/2008

Question
Hi,

A few months ago in March I started noticing some tenderness and tightness in my upper right shoulder/chest/back area.  When I would rotate my shoulder there would be a clicking/popping/grinding  right underneath/behind my trapezius muscle.  I got x-rayed and it showed nothing.  After a couple months without it going away, I decided to see a chiropractor.  He said that I had twisted my upper spine and that the reason my muscles on my right side were tight and dull was because of this.  He said after two weeks of treatment I should start feeling better.  After the two weeks I had felt a little better but I could tell that I was not 100%.  It is now a couple months after the treatments and I am getting the symptoms again....tight muscles, excessive grinding, etc.  My right trapezius muscle also feels slightly bigger and definitely tight all the time.

I've wanted to get an MRI to make sure that it is not a muscle tear.  My brother had a tear and it seems that we are getting similar symptoms.  I like to work out to stay in shape, however I am extremely limited now than I was before.  There is no pain really, just dullness and tightness.

I was wondering what you could suggest for me.  I stretch my shoulder every day to try and alleviate some symptoms but it rarely works.  The cause of my symptoms I believe either come from a extensive workout or a fall on my right side that I saved with my right arm. (both occured around the same time...after the fall the next day my right upper back was very sore)

Answer
twisted spine, vertebral subluxation complex,
" He said after two weeks of treatment I should   -  start  - feeling better.",

Hello Josh,

Sorry to hear of your problem.

Sounds like you had success with the Doctor you were going to.  He said that after two weeks of treatment (did he see you every day?, every other day? ), that you would start to feel better; and you did start to feel better.

Most 'body workers' (massage therapists, physical therapists, Doctors of Chiropractic, even physical trainers) use a two week rule.  Usually it can take two- three weeks before a treatment, before a regimen will show changes in the physical medicine arena.  Often when seeing a body worker; for instance- a physical therapist- it is not unusual to see the therapist 3- 4x per week for 8- 10- 12 weeks.
The report that you were starting to feel better after a couple of weeks of treatment shows that you could have been in the right place.

After those two weeks of initial treatment, did you keep up the good work and continue as recommended by the doctor?

I have a few informational handouts that i utilize in my Staten Island Chiropractic office, perhaps you will find these helpful:

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                                  Treatment   Regimen

Why do I need to have treatment __________________ ? ! ??
( TWICE A DAY,  EVERY DAY,  3- 4x/week, 2- 3x/week, 1- 2x/week )
Depending upon your specific condition, your specific case, you may need to be seen many times in a short period.  If your condition is severe, complicated, particularly painful; you may need close, frequent attention.  Similar to medicine, usually the more severe the case the more often medicine is taken with larger doses.  The Doctor of Chiropractic works with hands and therapy in person to accomplish the goal, the MD can treat ‘long distance’ via medicine without actually seeing the patient for treatment.

Why do I need to have treatment for  (weeks,  months,  years!?! )  ?
Again, the Doctor using chiropractic techniques needs to get ‘hands on’ in person.   An MD can treat a patient without actually physically seeing the patient every day through medicine;  i.e.:   “…Here are 60 pills, take one a day every day, and I will see you in two months…”.   The dentist can say- “…here, wear these braces 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for the next two- three years.  I will see you every two weeks, but I’ll be treating you every day, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day for the next few years…” .

People can wear braces and retainers for YEARS.  It can take YEARS to move the bones (known as teeth) into their proper position.  It can take years and years, and thousands of dollars !  But, those teeth (bones) have to be properly aligned to have a nice smile.  BUT you do not have to keep wearing the brace or retainer, you can take the brace off any time,,,, and let the teeth go back to their misaligned positions (habit).

Some people with certain conditions have to take a medicine every day, seven days a week, 365 days a year;  “…..for the rest of their life….” .   Sometimes someone can have a damaged heart, lung, liver, kidney, pancreas;   and they have to take a medicine, sometimes a FEW medicines, every day, sometimes for years,  sometimes “…for the rest of their life…” .   Similarly, a damaged neck or back, a damaged spine, a damaged nervous system can sometimes use treatment  “….for the rest of their life….” .

Most people who go to the Doctor of Chiropractic feel a difference in their pain in as little as two or three weeks.  Instead of taking years (like braces and the teeth) to make changes, the dynamic spine can start to feel better very quickly.  To maintain the proper position and movement of the vertebrae (bones) it can take a continued regimen of care (of course not as frequent as the initial schedule, but to maintain gains, maintenance has to be performed).  BUT you do not have to keep up with treatment, you can stop any time you want,,,, and let the vertebrae go back to their misaligned positions (habit).

It is a joke amongst Chiropractors that the DC is a magician-  first Chiropractic makes the pain disappear, and then the patient disappears as well !!,  BUT- pain is the last thing that comes in a problem, and the first thing that disappears under treatment,,,, but the disappearance of pain does NOT mean correction of the underlying health problem.

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What ? ! ,  I have to brush my teeth!?,,, after EVERY meal ! ? ,,, For the REST of my life ! ? ! ...  I don’t  want  to.  period.  I won’t.  To heck with it !  If I get a hole (cavity),  THEN  I’ll take care of  it.   Maybe I won’t get any cavities anyway…..

              It  took  the  American Dental Association YEARS to educate people that they should brush frequently to avoid dental disease.  It has taken YEARS to educate patients that visits to the Dentist for hygiene, cleanings, flossing, coatings, etc.  are  necessary to PREVENT  dental problems.  Some people still do not floss after every meal, some do not even brush often enough  (yyyuuukkkk),  so some people still have severe dental problems  despite  all  the  knowledge  about   PREVENTION   and  dental  health maintenance  that  is  out   there.     Can  you  believe  it  ?? !!

              Some people have the same problem with  PREVENTATIVE  Spinal  Health
that  used to  exist with preventative dental health.  Some people come to the Doctor of Chiropractic and say, ‘...do not adjust me, just give me therapy...’;  some people say,
‘...What ? ! , I have to practice SPINAL HYGIENE !?!, (practice proper postures, proper movement patterns, and  see  the  Chiropractor  periodically !?!),  Naahh, ... I  don’t
want to. period.  I won’t.  To heck with it!  When I get PAIN,  then  I’ll take care of it.
(  pain is often the LAST symptom to appear-  whether a cavity or a heart attack !  )

              Vertebral   Subluxation   Complex    (a.k.a.  ‘subluxation’)
The vertebral subluxation complex can be 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  (Subluxation)  is a serious condition identified by its five parts:
      Spinal Kinesiopathology,   Neuropathophysiology,   Myopathology,  Histopathology,  Pathophysiology.  
 
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, massage, 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.
             Chiropractic  corrects  the  Vertebral  Subluxation  Complex.
You  cannot be ‘healthy’ if you have a Subluxation.  You MAY feel it, with a pain, stiffness, or a ‘kink’ in your neck/ back.  You may NOT  even feel it-
just as people often do not feel the cavity growing in their tooth,,,, until it hits the nerve; or you may not feel it at all, like people do not feel high blood pressure or diabetes until AFTER damage has been done!!  PREVENTION-  Visit the Doctor of Chiropractic REGULARLY,,, just like your dentist!  (practice spinal hygiene as you do dental hygiene  -PREVENTION!-

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My recommendation for malocclusion would be to go to the dentist and follow the treatment recommendations.  It may take years for the dentist to correct the misalignment, and then, for the rest of the life of the patient,,, maintenance must be done.

My recommendation to you, Josh, for your twisted spine:
for the misalignment in your spine, would be to go to the Doctor of Chiropractic and follow the treatment recommendations.  It may take weeks for the doctor to correct the misalignments, and then maintenance must be done.

You are getting the symptoms again- to quote you "...getting the symptoms again....tight muscles, excessive grinding, etc. ..." because they are SYMPTOMS- treat the cause, correct the cause, and the symptoms will not return.

Another information handout:

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“Muscle  Spasm”,  Midback  or  Shoulder(s)
Sometimes  we  can  wake  up  with  a  muscle spasm,  tightness, ‘grinding’, stiff  neck,  or  pain in our neck,   mid back, or low back.... sometimes a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, or even a motor vehicle accident can cause a problem in our neck, mid back or lower back.  Ultimately-  often  the underlying                c a u s e       of  the spasm and pain;  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.

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I hope this helps.  I wish you good luck and Good Health Naturally,
your Staten Island Chiropractor friend,

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