AboutDr. J. Shawn Leatherman Expertise I can answer questions on general chiropractic care, sports injury, whiplash and auto crash, mild traumatic brain injury, structural and functional rehabilitation of the spine, nutrition for inflammation and repair, fitness training, nutrition for sports performance and other general health and nutrition related inquiries. I currently lecture on automobile trauma, occupant kinematics, and forensic risk analysis to local EMS, Fire and Police, as well as nutrition and sports injury to community groups. Rest assured all answers are generated from my clinical experience, and scientific research.
Experience I have accumulated over 1100 hours of post-doctoral training to include; Certifications in Spinal Trauma and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego, Certification in Chiropractic Spinal Trauma from the International Chiropractic Association, Certification in Low Speed Auto Crash Reconstruction and Certification in Forensic Risk Analysis from The Center for Research Into Automotive Safety and Health, Certified Proficiency in spinal and extremity diagnostic procedures from The Motion Palpation Institute, Certified in Sports Injury and Rehabilitation from the National University of Health Sciences and The American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, Nationally Certified Fellow of Structural Rehabilitation from The Chiropractic Biophysics Organization, and I have advanced training in manipulation under anesthesia and nutrition. Feel free to check out my website for course listings: www.suncoasthealthcare.net
Organizations International Chiropractic Association, Florida Chiropractic Association, American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, American Academy of Pain Management, Chiropractic Biophysics, Spine Research Institute of San Diego, Center for Research Into Automotive Safety and Health, Motion Palpation Organization, American Academy of Manual and Physical Medicine, Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce
Education/Credentials B.A. (Psychology)The University of Cincinnati
B.S. (Human Biology)Cleveland Chiropractic College
D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic) Cleveland Chiropractic College
C.C.S.T. (Certification in Chiropractic Spinal Trauma)The International Chiropractic Association
C.C.S.P. (Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician)The American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians.
*CCST and CCSP 120 hour certification courses are not recognized by the Florida Chiropractic Board due to the fact that they are not 300 hour diplomate level courses*
Question Can this hump be corrected............EVER? I am 38 with 3 children, 5'11" and 360lbs. I am in the process of weight loss surgery (hoping that will help ease the pain of the hump) Here lately, the pain is getting harder and harder to take but my doctor only gives me mild pain meds and never addresses that issue or treatment of the hump. Any advice?
Answer Dear Starla,
We have some issues to handle: First of all, yes getting rid of the excessive weight is going to help the problem from a gravity and stress perspective, but it will not solve it. A dowagers hump can easily be the result of multiple factors such as: forward head posture, rounded shoulders and a kyphotic spine, being overweight, thryroid dysfunction, trauma to the thoracic spine (kyphoplasty proceedures help), or congenital malformations of the thoracci vertebra. This is a multifaceted question.
Being 360 lbs, I am assuming that you already have thyroid problems...most likely hypothyroid. You are also likely to be in adrenal fatigue due to prolonged cortisol release, and probably already have pancreatic trouble...may be diabetic. The bottom line is that there is endocrine dysfunction for sure and may encompass all of the above or just some. When this happens, the body is prone to fat deposition, and consequently we often see fat deposited in the upper back and neck. This may contribute to the problem. Cushings Syndrome would be an advanced form of endocrine dysfunction due to high cortisol levels,high ACTH levels, or steroid usage...this may be where you are headed. It should be obvious from the above that weight loss is important for your overall health even more than to eliminate the dowagers hump.
Posture: Again this is very important...you have alot of extra stress on the spinal column and cord due to the added weight on your frame. If your posture is poor (very likely) then you are compounding the increased loads even further. Forward head posture causes a host of systemic (body wide)problems, but the 1st and main problem is with the eck and upper back. Research shows that this posture directly increases ligament strain, disk degeneration, muscle stretch and contraction, as well as deconditioning of the multifidus muscle which is the prime stabilizer of the disk and the facet joints in your spine. Some quotes:
“Abnormal postures are well known to play a role in the causation of pain and functional impairment leading to disability.” Calliet, R. M.D., Low Back Pain Syndrome, Edition 4, Pain Series, F.A. Davis Company Fourth Printing, 1991, pgs. 5-8 and 26-43.
. {Dr. Alf Breig, Neurosurgeon and Nobel Prize Recipient stated, “Loss of the cervical curve stretches the spinal cord 5-7 cm and causes Disease.”
“Forward head posture leads to long term muscle strain, disc herniations, arthritis and pinched nerves.” The Mayo Clinic, Nov. 3rd, 2000.
“For every inch of forward head posture, it can increase the weight of the head on the spine by an additional 10 pounds.” Kapandji, Physiology of Joints, Vol 3.}
Now if you have a previous trauma or congenital defect in the upper thoracic spine, then you are going to have more difficulty with the hump. If the underlying structure has been not only functionally changed, but the bones are mechanically deranged individually, then a proceedure such as ballon kyphoplastic or vertebroplasty may give you benefit. Kyphoplastic is usually nused in acute traumatic cases like compression fractures. Others have used a similar proceedure called vertebroplasty to aid in the redction of bony abnormality. You would have to be screened, and discuss this with an orthopedic surgeon, radiologist, and or neuro surgeon for a more indepth review and examination for efficacy.
Lastly, if you do lose the weight, and you do not have a traumtic collapse of the vertebra, then you can actually be helped by a technique in chiropractic called Chiropractic Biophysics. You can check out the technique at www.idealspine.com. I have seen profound changes in patients who have been treated this way in my clinica and in other clinics around the country. If you so choose this option, make sure that you find a doctor who is certified in the technique for the best examination and results. You have to get the weight down first though...probably need to be under 200 lbs before this technique will be an effective choice for you.
Listen Starla, don't give up. Do explore your options, and make damn sure that whatever you pick, you remain committed to the process. This will take some time to address properly, testing your mental fortitude, stamina, and will. You are way too young to not do this, and your children will be counting on your for years to come. Don't let your current docotr stand in the way of your health...see 15 different ones if that is what it takes, and remember you may need the combination of a medical and chiropractic courses of care...I would actually recommend that.
