Expert: Dr. Victor Dolan, DC, DACBSP - 2/26/2009

Question
I have suffered from fairly severe tension in my upper back, shoulders and neck (maybe partly resulting from a large chest on a 5'1" 105lb frame?) for a few years now.  I began seeing my chiropractor on a fairly regular basis about two years ago and have seen a lot of improvement in the severity and frequency of my (tension) headaches.  However, more recently, I began waking in the morning with a severely sore and stiff neck, sharp pains down the backs of both arms, and a migraine-like (I can pinpoint the exact site of the throbbing)suboccipital headache that without prompt medication leaves me bed-ridden and miserable all day.  My doctor thinks it is nothing new, just more tension.  He has not taken new films or examined my neck more closely since this complaint.  A little more history on me...did gymnastics for ten years, cheerleading for four years, whiplash injury several years ago, no other obvious neck trauma....family history of rheumatoid arthritis.  Should I get another's opinion or insist on films?? What might this be and what should be done about it?

Answer
neck pain, neck stiffness, staten island headache,



Hello Chelsea,

Sorry to hear of your morning neck pain, stiffness, and severe headache. Usually  Chiropractic techniques work very well on these types of complaints.

Your condition has changed recently and changed for the worse.  YOur doctor thinks this is nothing new and decides no new Xrays are needed.
Your condition has changed, has your doctor re-evaluated in other ways, changed treatment with the new complaint(s) you present?

Life is dynamic.  Things change. New evaluations are necessary.  Changes in treatment are necessary.  You sound like you have communicated your concerns with your doctor and he(she) does not seem open to re-evaluation or change in treatment.  Given this reluctance to change, and I hate to say it, maybe you should seek a new opinion from a different doctor.  Ask around your neighborhood for a good doctor of chiropractic.  I would also recommend a doctor with additional credentials, such as a neurology specialty (see the different chiropractic specialties at:    
 http://www.amerchiro.org/pdf/ApprovedChiropracticSpecialtyPrograms.pdf) .


Neck tension from a large chest is also possible.  I have written several recommendations for breast reduction surgery (to help insurance pay for the procedure). This has helped large chested women with back/ neck/ headache pain. Perhaps a different bra would help you.  Perhaps neck/ upper back exercises would help you.  You have to determine the best course of action for you concerning this aspect of your appearance/ condition.

Do you sleep in a firm bed?  Do you stay on you side or back, arms down?  Do you have a special orthopedic cervical support pillow?  Hopefully you answer YES to these questions.

Do not sleep on a soft bed, the couch, a futon, whatever.   Do not sleep on your stomach.  Do not sleep with your arms under/ over your head.  Do not sleep on 2- 3 pillows with your head angled upward.  Do not sleep on no (zero) pillows with your head hanging downward.

Do not become habituated, 'used to', medication every morning.  It sounds like posture, your spine is involved in this complaint. Get to the cause of the problem, do not just treat symptoms.


You have a change in condition.  You have spoken to your doctor.  Treatment does not seem to be changing to mirror your different condition.  Could be time to change to a different doctor.

A note on pain medications I hand out to my Staten Island Headache patients:




PAIN     

Pain  is a  ‘red light on the dashboard’.
 
Pain is your body telling you that something is wrong.

That RED LIGHT on the dashboard of your car-
-- do you ignore it until the car breaks down,
or do you get it checked and correct the problem?  

Pain,
pain in your body-
-- do you ignore it until your body breaks down,
or do you get it checked and correct the problem?   

Pain,  
do you cover up the pain by taking a painkiller?  
Take a painkiller, mask the pain, and allow a problem to progress in your body?


    NOTICE  ON  PAIN  RELIEVERS:
 
Label changes ORDERED by FDA;  the FDA announced proposed label changes for OTC over-the-counter pain relievers to include the potential for stomach bleeding and liver damage (FDA news  206- 207;  12-9-06) ;

The  American Heart Association issued a scientific statement recommending medical doctors change the way they prescribe OTC pain relievers from a first choice to an alternate of recommending non-pharmacologic treatment (AHA statement  2-26-07).

NSAID Acceleration of ARTHRITIS; an important side effect of Aspirin and other NSAIDS is that it will inhibit cartilage repair and accelerate cartilage  destruction ( Journal of Rheumatology, 1982; 9: 3- 5 ). Many times people take NSAIDS for the pain of Arthritis, not realizing these drugs may make the underlying condition worse.  These medications cover up the pain, and cause the problem to worsen.



Pain  can  often  be  the  result  of  the  Vertebral  Subluxation  Complex.


Vertebral  Subluxation           (  ‘VSC’ ,    ‘subluxation’   )
Vertebral Subluxation  is  actually  a  quite  common  condition.

  Doctors of Chiropractic look for pathological conditions which may require referral to other specialties,   and also look for ‘Subluxation’. Other disciplines look for pathology, but overlook the importance of alignment and movement in the spine which affects our nervous system  (the master control system- ALL health disciplines learn this).  VSC- ‘Subluxation’ – can be the cause of many symptoms and conditions.



Only  a  Doctor of Chiropractic  will  evaluate  and  treat  for  VSC,   as  well  as  other  pathology.



The course of VSC is highly variable.   Some patients with VSC literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar test findings may be able to run marathons or lift heavy weights.    Some patients immediately develop symptoms related to the VSC,  some patients take years to develop symptoms.  Some people suffer for only a few days with pain and symptoms, some people suffer for months.  Some people recover in days, some take months or years, depending upon severity of the condition.

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.


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.

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
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I hope this information helps.

If you need further info, do not hesitate to re-contact me here at AllExperts.com  
http://allexperts.com/ep/965-100794/Chiropractors/Victor-Dolan-DC-DACBSP.htm

I wish you good luck, and good health naturally,


Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com         (Email newsletter)