Expert: Dr. Victor Dolan, DC, DACBSP - 12/27/2009

Question
Hi,
I've had the worst neck and upper shoulder/back pain for the past 2 days. I've always cracked my neck, I know it's bad, several times a day. The other day, I was walking while I cracked my neck; I'm pretty sure my head went to my right shoulder to pop the left side. Immediately after, I had horrible pain all down the left side of my neck going into my shoulder. I put heat on it several hours later when I got home, but the pain has only gotten worse. It feels a little better after massage, but only for a few minutes. It hurts the most moving my head side to side(like ear to shoulder), but also hurts moving up and down(chin to chest and opposite), especially up, and turning my head left and right. The pain was immediate, so I'm not sure if it's a pulled muscle or not. Could I have twisted my neck or pinched something? If you're familiar with this, please let me know how long it will last and how to care for my neck. Thanks,
Parisa

Answer
terrible neck and back pain, vertebral subluxation, herniated disc, cervical brachial neuritis, wryneck, acute spastic torticollis, staten island chiropractic, stiff neck, hot/ cold, cryotherapy, moist heat, staten island pinched nerve,




Hello Parisa,

I am sorry to hear of your neck and back pain, of the pain into your shoulder(s).

I know you are hurting, but let me wish you Happy Holidays, a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and a HEALTHIER New Year!

"....I've had the worst neck and upper shoulder/back pain for the past 2 days.....", so this episode is fairly new, fairly recent.  But,,,, has this or anything similar happened to you before?  Have you had stiff necks?, headaches from the neck?, pain from the neck into the shoulder/ arm/ hand or chest?  The more often you have had stiff necks in the past, the more often you have had the same or similar episodes in the past--- the longer this episode will last.

".....I've always cracked my neck, I know it's bad, several times a day......", IF your neck 'cracks' while you are just moving it around, just 'stretching' your neck while just moving your neck,,,,,, these cracks are usually not a problem.  IF you use your hands to 'crack' your neck, you could end up doing some damage to your cervical spine, subluxating (misaligning) the joints, even herniating a disc.  If you 'throw' or force your neck into an extreme stretch to hear a 'crack'- you probably are creating problems- ligamentous laxity, perhaps joint deterioration, perhaps even 'pinching' a nerve.

Do not crack your neck.  It is not good for you, your cervical spine, and probably grosses out anyone near to you.

You want tension relieved in your neck????? = see your local Doctor of Chiropractic.

"....The other day, I was walking while I cracked my neck; I'm pretty sure my head went to my right shoulder to pop the left side. Immediately after, I had horrible pain all down the left side of my neck going into my shoulder......": the pain from your neck region to your shoulder region COULD be just some pulled muscles, or it could also be a 'pinched nerve' (cervical- brachial neuritis) in this area.  Only your local doctor (DC) could really be sure, I cannot tell with a long distance description--- you need a doctor with their 'hands on' examination to differentially diagnose your complaint.


".....I put heat on it several hours later when I got home, but the pain has only gotten worse....."; pain that gets worse should have a health professional evaluate that pain.  
Next:- I prefer ice as a treatment for pain-- see this information handout that I give to my Staten Island Chiropractic patients:




P.R.I.C.E. =    
P  protection.   R rest.   I  ice.   C  compression.   E  elevation.


Hurt  yourself ??  injury/ trauma/  bruise/ not even sure - - a broken bone ??

You should certainly get to the Doctor or trained health professional to be examined  if you think it  is  bad  enough.     BUT  in  the  meantime,  some  simple  steps  may  help.   

                    PRICE.


The  PRICE  protocol will usually help just about any musculoskeletal injury.

P = Protection;  protect the area from further injury- stop what you are doing, can you
     pad  or bandage the area ? Tape the area? Do something to protect the area !

R = Rest;  rest the area as much as possible, if a part is damaged, give the body time to
       repair the area

I = Ice;  ice is a potent anti-inflammatory; it will slow swelling, help with pain control
     (ice is analgesic), place ice over cloth over the injured area for 5, 10 minutes, off the
     injured area for 30 minutes; then back on again

C = Compression;  to help prevent swelling compression may be helpful- for example
      if it is an ankle, wrap the ankle with an ace bandage and ice the area.  Many body
      parts may not be applicable to compression.

E = Elevation; again to fight swelling and pain, raising the injured body part above the
      heart may be helpful- ie raise an ankle or knee, you lay down, raise the injured part

PRICE  may  help :    Sprains,  Strains,  musculo-skeletal injury,  bruise,  contusion
Sometimes  a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, athletic injury, or a motor vehicle accident can cause a bump or bruise, sprain or strain.  Sometimes also involved with the injury is a vertebral subluxation (or other joint subluxation) (subluxation is a mechanical problem- of any joint- and requires a mechanical correction).  In the spine, a sprain/strain  is a misalignment,  a ‘kink’ in the joint, a stretch of the muscles, tendons and/ or ligaments:- more properly termed a Vertebral Subluxation.   Sometimes symptoms can come immediately, sometimes days, weeks or even months later!- Well after the actual trauma !!!

         Spinal = Vertebral   Subluxation   Complex    (a.k.a.  ‘subluxation’)  ;   ( subluxation COULD be any joint )
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:
         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.  Sprain/ strain/ bump/ bruise?= may result in subluxation of the nearby joint.  CORRECT the subluxation !!!!

Dr. Victor E. Dolan,   Doctor of Chiropractic;   Diplomate, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomate, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST  Chief of Chiropractic  in  a  Hospital  in  New York State (DHSI);  As  Seen  in  PREVENTION  Magazine


By using heat,,, the heat may temporarily help you feel better, BUT the heat could add to the inflammation of the area.  Ice, particularly in the winter may not sound as nice a recommendation, but ice is anti-inflammatory and analgesic.  I prefer ice; 10- 15 minutes on / 30- 45 minutes off; over the painful area, over a layer of clothe, never over bare skin.
IF the ice regimen does not help,,,, then perhaps, maybe I would alternate the warm/ cold; but while painful-- I would be careful of heat application, this can add to inflammation, and thus- pain.

"....It feels a little better after massage, but only for a few minutes.....", massage would be most helpful if it were JUST a muscular problem.  The report you give- that massage helps for a few minutes shows that there may be more then just muscle involved.  There is probably a cervical vertebral subluxation complex involved, perhaps even a 'pinched nerve' (cervical brachial neuritis).  given that massage only helps temporarily-- I recommend your local Doctor of Chiropractic.  There are many specialties in Chiropractic, perhaps one of your local doctors has additional credentials-- see:  http://www.acatoday.org/pdf/ApprovedChiropracticSpecialtyPrograms.pdf   
    Any Doctor of Chiropractic is familiar with your type of complaint and very capable of evaluating/ treating/ or referral as needed; but I am biased towards us DACBSPs -- specialists in chiropractic treatment of sports injury!


"....It hurts the most moving my head side to side(like ear to shoulder), but also hurts moving up and down(chin to chest and opposite), especially up, and turning my head left and right....", at worst you could have herniated a cervical disc ( I highly doubt this severe an injury), at best you only pulled a muscle, in all likelihood-- you have caused a cervical vertebral subluxation complex.  Again- my Staten Island Chiropractic patients get this information:



“Stiff   Neck”   

( Also Known As-  wryneck, torticollis, neck muscle spasm )

-can be caused by big bad things: cancers, tumors, fractures, even heart attacks- only history/ examination/ evaluation by an appropriate health professional can differentiate these problems/ conditions.   

USUALLY  these  complaints  are  neuro-musculo-skeletal.   

For  example: sometimes  we  can  wake  up  with  a  ‘stiff  neck’,  or  a  muscle spasm.... sometimes a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, or even a motor vehicle accident can cause a ‘stiff neck’.   Sometimes  we  just  slept  wrong !   Often-  the true    c a u s e   of  the neck stiffness and pain;  the underlying  c a u s e    of the complaint  - is a misalignment,  a ‘kink’  in  the  neck -  more  properly  termed  a   Vertebral  Subluxation.  Treat the   c a u s e,  not just  the  symptoms - for  true  improvement.


         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:
         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.

Dr. Victor E. Dolan,   Doctor of Chiropractic;   Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST  Chief of Chiropractic  in  a  Hospital  in  New York State (DHSI);  As  Seen  in  PREVENTION  Magazine



"....The pain was immediate, so I'm not sure if it's a pulled muscle or not. ....", it sounds like a little more then just a 'pulled muscle', given your own description.


"....Could I have twisted my neck or pinched something?.....", absolutely, see my answer above!- This is why I recommend the local Doctor who will treat you with safe, effective, cost-effective Chiropractic!

"....If you're familiar with this, please let me know how long it will last and how to care for my neck......", as a Chiropractic Doctor I am VERY familiar with situations such as this.
         If you are lucky, you could be back in shape in as little as 3- 4 weeks!, if you are average, perhaps 6- 8 weeks.  I recommend your local DC !  And STOP 'cracking' your neck!!


I hope this information helps. Do not hesitate to RE-contact me here at
allexperts if more info is needed.

Thank You for the Question.

Good Luck, Happy Holidays, and a Healthier New Year !!!!!!

Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
Email newsletter: . . . . . .drvictordolan.chiroweb.com