Expert: Dr. Victor Dolan, DC, DACBSP - 3/22/2009

Question
Hi, i participate in trampolining in school and i recently injured myself. i was doing a backwards somersault and landed on my neck. i heard clicking and then couldnt breathe for a few seconds. i managed to get up and walk away fine and strangely neither my neck nor my back seemed to hurt im not sure if it was adrenaline or something. However most of the damageat that point seemed to occur to the top of my sternum and the ribs surrounding it. i was wondering how that could have happened since i landed on my neck. I rested it when i got home and stayed off school for a few days during which time my back, but not my neck, started to ache also. It didnt seem that bad just like id pulled my muscles a bit but when i went back to school i was playing with a friend and he elbowed me in my ribs and then it started hurting to breathe. That was about 3 days ago and now i can breathe but it always hurts and if i stay in one position for too long it gets really stiff and i have no strength to even lift small things such as a saucepan. I am going to see an osteopath but the nearest appointment was in two weeks time so i was hoping you could give me some information sooner.

Answer
Hello Marnne,

Sorry to hear that you hurt yourself.

"....strangely neither my neck nor my back seemed to hurt im not sure if it was adrenaline or something. ....",  Sometimes we hurt ourselves, and it can be days or even weeks before we feel the full pain, the full damage that we have caused ourselves.

I am glad you have made an appointment to be seen by a Doctor, I am sorry it will take two weeks to be seen.

I would recommend calling around and looking for an earlier appointment.

Have you called the local Doctors of Chiropractic?  Perhaps one of them could be of help to you.  Of course, when you see the Chiropractic Doctor, EXPECT an examination, expect some Xrays to help evaluate your condition.  If appropriate, the Doctor may start chiropractic treatment immediately, or maybe the Doctor will have to refer you to some other specialty.

In the meantime,,,,,,
Rest and Ice:

In my Staten Island Chiropractic office I give out this information sheet:




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;   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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Get to the cause of your pain,,,,
do NOT  just take pain pills to cover up the problem! :




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


I hope this all helps. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to re-contact me here at ALLexperts.com @
http://allexperts.com/ep/965-100794/Chiropractors/Victor-Dolan-DC-DACBSP.htm




Thank you for your question. I wish you good luck and Good Health Naturally,


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