Chiropractors/back pain and arm numbness

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Expert: Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman - 4/15/2007


Question
My back hurts me all day long. It is worse at night and early morning. I also wake up and my arms are numb and tingling. Sometimes it is so bad that I can not hold or grasp anything for 10 to 15 minutes upon waking up. I have never been in an accident or anything to cause this.

Answer
Dear Lisa,

I think you need to have your spine examined.  Without going into a lot of superfluous details, the symptoms you are reporting are neurological in nature.  When you have numbness and tingling into the arms, the problem is usually in the neck and in connection with the spinal nerves that exit there.  

The fact that you cannot hold or grasp things for 15 minutes at a time after waking is not good.  In addition, you should also have your perfusion (blood supply to the hands) checked.  The blood supply can be altered or constricted in the area where the upper arms connect to the neck (thoracic outlet). This can easily be checked with a few simple tests in the office by the doctor.

I would suggest that you go to a local chiropractic physician, and have the neck evaluated with a functional, neurological and radiographic examination.  This should give you more information on the anatomical structures involved and what means may be necessary to alleviate them.
The fact that you have not been in an accident is not important, postural stress over time can be enough to cause problems such as these, and if that has been ruled out other more complex issues may be to blame.  This all needs to be evaluated to make sure that the cause is not serious.

Go get it checked out...soon!

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net

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Dr. 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*

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