Expert: Gerald Anzalone, D.C. - 10/7/2009

Question
Please Help. I was rear ended over 6 years ago. I was waiting to turn left and I noticed car light rush up on me all of a sudden. I let off the brake and looked to the right at the passenger. I remember my head going forward and back 3 times while looking to the right. I ended up getting a bad back cramp and it stayed cramped up for 3 months till I got hit again. this time I was a passenger and I got hit right in my door, again I was looking to the right at the car. after that It got even worse this time my neck started hurting really bad. My ex ray showed my spine now had a s-curve, my right left hip was rotated forward and i had forward head posture. I went everywhere physical therapy, chiropractor ect..  I went in for a mri and it did not show that any of my disc where injured. it took the chiropractor over 9 months to get my back un cramped, but it still would come and go randomly all the time. after a year or so going to the chiropractor he told me my back was as good as it was going to get and it didn't do me any good to keep coming (also i was on traction for my neck that whole time) I haven't settled yet for my insurance.  But my pain has recently severe. during the 4th of July my lower back got cramped up and stayed cramped for over a week. usually it would just come and go. and my neck for the 2 months keeps getting worse. I noticed when i got sick and was sneezing it cause my neck horrible pain, it would shoot down through my shoulders and arms down to my hands (cause very bad fatigue) now i have this big bump on my the back of my neck about 3 inches behind my ear, I have had it for over 3 months now. it keeps giving me migraines starting from that point and it shoots up to behind my eye. It hurts if i try to point my head strait back or if i have it leaned forward for to long and buy turning it a certain way.  My chiropractor wouldn't do anything for me since I owe him money.. what can i do? should i just go to the emergency room or what are my options? I know something is really bad, but i have no insurance or money to go anywhere.  I need help bad. I was thinking of driving about a hour out of town to this place that takes a video ex ray. It captures you in motion and it is suppose to be able to find injurys better. I haven't had a ex ray for over 4-5 years. I don't know what to do...

Answer
Thank you for your question.

Unfortunately, I don't think that I can offer you much help with regard to your question, which largely deals with the complications of paying for care that you need but say you can't afford. I also can't provide specific treatment recommendations over the Internet, as this is a forum for general questions only, and not a substitute for appropriate medical or chiropractic diagnosis or treatment.

With regard to providing you with general information, you may wish to read an inexpensive book written by the Australian physical therapist Robin McKenzie called Treat Your Own Neck:

http://www.amazon.com/Treat-Your-Neck-Robin-McKenzie/dp/0473002094

McKenzie also wrote a companion book called Treat Your Own Back:

http://www.amazon.com/Treat-Your-Back-Robin-McKenzie/dp/0958269238/ref=pd_sim_b_...

I hope that this is of some help to you.