Expert: Dr Ron Grassi,DC.,MS.,ACFEI. - 10/29/2009

Question
QUESTION: I am having back pain around the place where my spine and my rib cage on my back converge. I believe a Chiropractor once said around C9.  If I run my fingers up and down that spot on my back it feels like some of my vertebrae are indented.  Meaning I can't feel them.  Obviously they aren't missing but it feels as if they are.  It freaks me out that I am having pain in a spot where it feels like my spin is deformed.  When I was 18 I had similar pain and went to a chiropractor.  The chiropractor folded my arms over my chest and pushed them into my gut.  My back popped.. the pain went away but the indentation still felt like it was there.. I went and got x-rays when I returned home from the trip I was on and my home chiropractor who viewed the images din't seem concerned.  I'm 27 now and the problem has come back.  I went to a chiropractor a couple weeks ago and he did the same maneuver.  My back felt about 70% better but pain is returning so I'm going for another session.

Is it normal to not be able to feel some vertebrae around this point in the back? How come no chiropractor has told me I'm deformed? Should I go see a spinal specialist?  I don't want surgery obviously but it freaks me out and I want the pain to go away..  hopefully he can help this time.  I'm curious your thoughts."

ANSWER: Hi Kevin: I think you mean T9. That's the Thoracic Spine. That's where the Kidneys are. Ask your Dr to order an Ap %26 Lateral Thoracic Xray or CT Scan of that region. Ask your MD to send you to an outpatient Imaging Center where QUALITY Xrays will be taken an read by a Radiologist.You need those report results.  You need to know structurally/architecturally what it looks like. You could have some Congenital Anomalies Or developmental structural defects from birth. Those vertebrates likely "get stuck" The Chiropractor Adjusts and mobilizes them. That feels good. We all do that Adjustment. Don't expect to be able to feel the vertebrates after the Adjustment. They don't move THAT much.Once again, you need some quality new pictures. Go from there.Good luck Kevin. Write back. Dr Ron Grassi,DC.,MS. Jupiter,Florida. www.DrGrassi.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I just wanted to follow up.  I went to the doctor and got xrays of the area.  The doctor told me that there is nothing wrong.  He said that those few vertebrae.. that the process that attaches to the body (this is my understanding) points more down in that area.  So even though above and below it you can feel it.. for those few vertebrae you can't..  He said that the spine in that area is still perfectly healthy.  I said, so any pain in my back then? He said yes.. must be from some musculoskeletal thing.  He also said there are a lot of other things that could be wrong with my spine besides what he was checking and there was nothing.  So he seemed to think I was fine.  I'm happy.  Hope that sounds reasonable :-)  Thank you for your help.

Answer
Hi Kevin: Yes. That was the developmental thing I was referring to. The Spinous Processes on your Vertebrates are shorter than average. So you can't feel them well.Look at a Spine model. You will see what I'm talking about. This is common. But that area should not hurt. Dr Ron.