Expert: Dr. Victor Dolan, DC, DACBSP - 7/30/2008

Question
i got injured at work in feb of 2008.i was pushed up against a door by a student. i teach special ed.i instantly had severe neck pain and could not hear out of my left ear for about a month.i did not see a doctor until may. i just thought the pain would get better but it didnt.i have been seeing a regular doctor who has put about 40 shots in my neck.i also was going to physical therapy.they also gave me some muscle relaxants and pain pills.i had to take a few weeks off from seeing both doctors.the pain seems to have increased. my neck makes cracking and crunching noises all day long and hurts all the time.i am wondering if chiropratic care would be a better option for me.   thanks linda

Answer
neck pain, pinched nerves, herniated disc, whiplash, neck injury, muscle relaxants,

Hello Linda,

Sorry to hear of your injury and resultant failed therapies.

Yes I think Chiropractic is a viable treatment option.

Yes, you should see your local Doctor of Chiropractic.  You could expect a thorough case history, examination, review of previous treatments, and probably referral for testing.  Testing will probably include upright cervical spine xray films, perhaps MRI or CT scan, perhaps diagnostic imaging ultrasound, perhaps EMG/ncv.

You state "40 shots", I guess these were trigger point shots ?
Were any of the shots (injections?) Epidural Steroid injections ?

Muscle relaxants, pain pills, even the physical therapy,,,, from a Doctor of Chiropractic's biomechanical perspective,,,, all of these things are bandaids, or masking agents; not directed at a very probable underlying cause of all these symptoms:  biomechanical misalignment- the vertebral subluxation.

In my Staten Island Chiropractic office I utilize informational handouts, perhaps this will help:

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Disk   Herniation

Herniated  disk  is  actually  a  quite  common  condition.   However,  the course of the condition is highly variable.   Some patients with a herniated disk literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar 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.
Disk  Herniation  is 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 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, 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.

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

“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’.  Very often -  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.

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I certainly recommend a Doctor of Chiropractic take a look at you.  A chiropractic evaluation will evaluate for some of the same things you have been examined for before, as well as look at you from a biomechanical perspective.  

This Staten Island Chiropractor has many cases such as yours.  Sometimes a patient will come in immediately after the trauma, sometimes months after the fact.

Do not mask the pain chemically.  Have a Doctor of Chiropractic evaluate you, treat you if appropriate, and hopefully get to the cause of the problem.

I wish you good luck, and good health naturally,

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