Archive for Neck Pain
Neck Pain-Its More Than You Think!
Chiropractic treatment for neck pain is very effective. There have been eight well designed, controlled, scientific studies that have demonstrated chiropractic to be highly effective in eliminating neck pain. It is also incredibly safe. Safer than taking aspirin or Tylenol.
But neck pain is more than just a problem in your neck. The neck itself must be treated. But, other parts of your spine have to be treated as well.
One of the largest contributors to neck pain is poor posture. If the head is aligned too far in front of the shoulders, the muscles of the neck have to pull hard to keep the head upright. The constant fatigue, causes neck pain.
Simply treating the neck with chiropractic or other therapies will not solve the whole problem. You will need to have your posture treated as well. Just like this neck pain sufferer below.
These pictures were taken minutes apart, before and after treatment. The patient is standing totally relaxed in both pictures. After treatment, she was not struggling to hold her head up, she felt quite a bit of relief from pain, and she was able to turn her head to back up her car without restriction.
To see if you could get relief from your neck pain, call Karen or Pat at: 262-251-8306 and set up a FREE consultation with neck pain expert Dr. Paul Kramer. He will go over your problem with you, do a surface EMG study to see how hard your neck muscles are contracting, and tell you if he thinks he can help you. All at no charge and no obligation for treatment. Call 262-251-8306 right now.
Is Yoga Good For Your Spine?
I am often asked if Yoga is beneficial to the spine. Its one of those questions where I have to be the bearer of bad news.
Yoga is not good for the spine. It causes many injuries and it is particularly injurious to the lower neck.
When I tell patients this, they are very surprised or skeptical. Everyone says that Yoga is good for you. Well, take a look at this article by a Yogi fromIndia. He tells many people not to do Yoga. He says that Yoga is meant for people with healthy joints, not as a means for unhealthy people to get healthier. That’s how I feel as well.
Also, the light-headed feeling you get after doing the spine stretches, that some Yoga instructors say is the “chakras” opening up, isn’t that at all. It is an effect of having the spinal cord stretched. Unfortunately, that feeling doesn’t always clear up on its own and can leave you with dizziness and balance problems. Take a look at the article for more in depth information.
If you are suffering from injuries that you think might be related to Yoga, the good news is, you can be helped. Call Pat or Karen at our office today and set up a free no obligation consultation. Call 262-251-8306.
Pain Relief During Pregnancy
If you are pregnant and suffering from back pain, neck pain, headaches, migraines, sciatica or other pain, you are limited in what can be done. You can not take drugs because they can adversely affect your child.
However, you can get a tremendous amount of relief pain with the ABC style of anterior spinal manipulation. This type of chiropractic is gentle to have done and provides immediate relief of pain. You also will notice how much easier it is to get up out of a chair and walk. The body functions better and the results happen immediately, not sometime later.
To find out how it is done, watch this video:
Then call Jennifer or Pat and set up an appointment for a free consultation where you can find out how this new type of treatment can help. Call 262-251-8306.
How to Read and Work Without Neck Pain
Just about everything you do involves looking down. You have to see what you are doing. When you look down for a extended period of time, it puts more pressure on the muscles, joints and nerves in your neck. The result is neck pain.
Reading is especially difficult, because you tend to stay in one position for so long. It is best for your neck to have your head looking straight, not down. But, it is difficult to keep a book straight out in front of you. Holding a book out in front, tires out your arms. You don’t want that either.
Here’s a little invention that I recommend to my patients that do a lot of reading, knitting or other work that forces the head down. They are called prism glasses and they bend light so that you can have your head facing straight and your work in your lap. Or, you can lay flat on your back and have your book rest on your stomach.
My wife and I use them all the time and they work great. You can get them online or in our office. For people with neck pain and headaches, they can really help.
For more health tips, log on to www.painfree-greatposture.com
Dizziness and Balance Disorders-Is There a Link to Neck Injury?
Dizziness and loss of balance are a common reason people go to see their medical doctor. It can be caused by a number of different conditions. Inner ear infections, tumors, allergies and reactions to medications are all common causes. But are there other causes ? Maybe something your doctors might not know about ?
An article appearing in a Germen medical journal, confirms that injuries to the neck can sometimes cause dizziness and balance disorders. It states:
“After cervical sprain, not only pain and neuropsychological disturbances may occur, but also the following sequelae: cervical dystonia, and torticollis, dizziness, hearing loss for low frequencies, dysphonia and globus.”[Globus is a sensation of something stuck or of a lump or tightness in the throat.]
They recommend spinal manipulation as treatment for these problems. The article goes on to say: “Except for dystonia the symptoms often respond to manipulation of a blocked articulation between occiput and atlas or axis and the third cervical vertebra.”
If you are suffering from dizziness or a balance disorder, and your doctor hasn’t found the cause, you may want to be checked for a neck problem. A chiropractor is your best source for this type of treatment. Make sure your doctor has experience in treating these problems and can screen you for these specific neck issues prior to initiating treatment.
For more information on how we treat dizziness and balance disorders log on to: www.stopvertigonow.com
Information for this article was taken from:
Whiplash, Hearing Loss, and Upper Cervical Manipulation [“Little known sequelae of sprains of the cervicalspine”]
Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax.
[This is a German journal, and the article is in German. The abstract is also in English]
December 2, 1999
88(49):2021-4.
Kaeser HE, Ettlin T.
Neck Pain Self-Help Techniques
Neck pain can flare up for many reasons. Trauma, posture problems, bad pillows and chairs or excess stress can all cause neck pain. Research says that the best treatment for neck pain is chiropractic care. But a good chiropractor is not always available. Here’s what to do when neck pain strikes:
- Acute stage: This is the period of time when neck pain first starts and it’s usually very sore and painful. This stage occurs immediately after an injury and continues for 24 to 48 hours but can be perpetuated for a week or longer if you are careless about your activities and keep irritating it. Injuries to the neck are similar to a cut on the skin. If you pick your cut, it will bleed again. Sometimes, you have to wait a week or two before you can, “…pick off the scab.” This analogy also applies to neck pain after an injury. At this stage, you need to apply the principle of “PRICE” (Protect, Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate). OK, I guess we’re not going to “compress” or “elevate” our neck but certainly the others apply nicely. To protect the neck, avoid quick/unguarded movements as these can “…pick at the cut” and re-injure the tissue. Rest means you may have to hold back on some activities that are strainful and might also, “….pick at the cut.” Ice is a WONDERFUL pain killer and anti-inflammatory and should be rotated on/off/on/off/on at 20 minute rotations of ice/no ice/ice/no ice/ice. This creates a “pump-like” action that pushes away the swelling and therefore, reduces pain. After 24-48 hours, you can alternate ice/heat/ice/heat/ice at 10/5/10/5/10 minute intervals as heat relaxes tight muscles and as a result, can help reduce pain. These self-help techniques can continue for a few days to a whole month, depending on the degree of injury and, how “nice you are” to yourself (so you don’t over do it!) Cervical traction (home over-the-door traction) can really help a lot too!
- Sub-acute stage: This stage of healing starts anytime after 48-72 hours and can last 4-6 weeks or more, depending on again, the degree of injury and is “niceness” dependant! During this stage, the callus (scab) is hardening and its becoming stronger/less likely to “re-bleed.” During this stage, range of motion, fiber stretching, isometric exercises can slowly be integrated into your program. Progressively harder exercises and re-introduction back into “normal” activities should be emphasized during this stage.
- Chronic stage: This stage can last from 8 weeks to 1 or more years. When neck pain persists, determine which activities you can do, including exercises. When “flare-ups” occur, a brief time period with PRI(CE) is nice! Exercises here can be helpful based on your tolerance and exercise experience.
If pain persists in any of these stages and you want to get relief, call our office. For more helpful tips log on to www.painfree-greatposture.com.
YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR NECK PAIN! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306
What Causes Whiplash?
The most common causes of “whiplash” are injuries that arise from automobile accidents or motor vehicle collisions (MVC’s). So, let’s chat about why and how this happens in a “typical” MVC. You are stopped at a red light, patiently waiting for the light to turn green and suddenly, you hear the screech of tires followed by a sudden jolt as the car from behind collides into the back of your vehicle. By reflex, you may turn your head to the right to look in the rearview mirror to see what is happening. Even if you see the inevitable collision prior to the impact, the sudden jolt occurs so fast that you really don’t have a chance to adequately brace and you feel yourself being forced back into the seat and headrest followed by a rebound forwards. Since you always wear your seatbelt, you feel the restraint across your chest and lap belts tighten as you’re propelled forward. The seat belt stops you from hitting the steering wheel or worse, propelling you forward through the windshield but by now, the damage has been done! This ALL occurs in less than 500 milliseconds – you cannot voluntarily contract your muscles this fast, which means even if you had time to prepare yourself for the impact by bracing, you can’t stop the whiplash effect!
In a recent study, it was found the muscles in the front of the neck contract first at about 100 ms, which is 25 ms too late to prevent ligament or muscle damage, and they reach their peak stretch at 150ms (see 3rd from the left picture above). The muscles in the back of the neck start contracting soon thereafter but are injured more than the muscles in the front of the neck around the 300ms point. The reason for this is because as the head rebounds forwards, the muscles in the back of the neck are in the process of tightening up or shortening at the same time they are being stretched – NOT a good combination! This is one reason why many people injured in MVC’s complain of neck pain greater in the back of the neck. This also helps explain why headaches are common symptoms associated with whiplash as the upper 3 nerves that exit the top of the spine in the neck go into the head/scalp and are compressed or squeezed by the tight muscles in the back of the neck when they are injured which results in headaches.
We hope this information is valuable and we realize that you have a choice in where you go for your health care needs. We truly appreciate your consideration in allowing us to help you through this potentially difficult process.
YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR WHIPLASH! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306 FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ON TO: www.TheChiropracticImpactReport.com
1. http://www.injurytv.com/muscle.html
2. http://journals.lww.com/spinejournal/Abstract/2007/04010/Musculotendon_and_Fascicle_Strains_in_Anterior_and.9.aspx
Musculotendon and Fascicle Strains in Anterior and Posterior Neck Muscles During Whiplash Injury
Vasavada, Anita N. PhD; Brault, John R. MS; Siegmund, Gunter P. PhD
Spine: 1 April 2007 – Volume 32 – Issue 7 – pp 756-765
3. http://www.jbiomech.com/article/S0021-9290(02)00458-X/abstract
Volume 36, Issue 4, Pages 473-482 (April 2003)
Rapid neck muscle adaptation alters the head kinematics of aware and unaware subjects undergoing multiple whiplash-like perturbations
Gunter P Siegmundab, David J Sandersona , Barry S Myersc, J Timothy Inglisad
Whiplash: What Are The Odds of a Permanent Injury?
I’m sure you’ve heard someone claim, “…you’re not really injured – you’re just going for a big settlement!” Or, “…that person isn’t really hurt, they’re just in it for the money!” Though there are cases that may fit this scenario, the majority of people who are injured in a motor vehicle collision would gladly forfeit any settlement to have their health and sometimes their life back. So, where in this process does the truth lie? Do most people “fake” their complaints or, are they really in pain? And, is there a way to determine who is more likely to suffer with problems long after their case is settled?
To answer this question, the Quebec Task Force (QTF), published two studies to investigate what types of whiplash injuries, which they term “whiplash associated disorders” (WAD), sustained in a rear end or side impact motor vehicle collision might end up with no residual injury vs. those more likely to become permanently disabled or impaired. The first of the two studies published in 1995 introduced 3 categories of injuries:
- Those with neck pain, stiffness or tenderness only – no clinical (exam) findings;
- Neck complaints and clinical findings including decreased ranges of neck motion;
- Neck complaints and loss of neurological function including numbness or weakness in arm strength and/or altered reflexes.
The QTF then set out to investigate whether this approach could indeed accurately predict those more vs. less likely to end up with significant disability with ongoing problems. They published these results in 2001 and found if they broke down the 2nd category into two groups, those with vs. without neck motion loss, those patients who fell into the 2nd group (with neck motion loss) and the 3rd group (those with neurological signs) were more likely to suffer long term disability compared to those in groups 1 and 2a (without neck motion loss). However, these conclusions have been challenged by many as being too simple because they do not include the psychological problems like depression, anxiety, and poor coping abilities, all of which play an important role in predicting long term disability. Also, treatment strategies must include aspects to deal with the post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and coping, not just the biological injury aspects. A convincing study published in 2008 looked at 226 studies on this subject and reported on 7 prognostic factors and found that 50-75% of people with current neck pain will report neck pain again 1-5 years later. Older age and psychosocial factors including psychological health, coping patterns, and the need to socialize were the strongest predictors. Three other potential predictors that require more investigation include the presence of arthritis, genetic factors, and compensation policies.
The bottom line or best advice to minimize our chances of having chronic, disabling neck pain after a car crash is, don’t stop living! That is to say, carry on with work and hobbies as much as you possibly can so that you don’t fall into the negative spiral of disability. If you feel yourself slipping, get help sooner than later! Pain relief and function restoration are strong goals and chiropractic has been found to be one of the first and most effective forms of treatment recommended by all treatment guidelines published on whiplash management. Comparing potential side effects, medications carry a significant list of negative effects while chiropractic carries very few and, a host of positive benefits.
We realize that you have a choice in where you go for your health care needs and we truly appreciate your consideration in allowing us to help you through that potentially difficult process.
YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR WHIPLASH! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306
Can Neck Problems Cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Neck problems are a common cause of pain and numbness in the hands. The nerve involved in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is called the Median Nerve and it runs from your first three fingers, thru the carpal tunnel, up your arm, to your neck.
CTS happens when the tendons of the wrist swell and compress the median nerve as it passes thru the carpal tunnel.
However, if the nerve is pinched at the neck, you can get the same pain and numbness in the hands as when you have CTS. The symptoms are the same, but the nerve is compressed in the neck, not the wrist.
You can also have a condition called “double crush” where the nerve is compressed at both sites. Chiropractors have known for decades that the reason CTS surgery has such a high failure rate, is because undiagnosed neck problems are not addressed. A growing body of research is supporting treatment of the wrist and the neck for CTS.
An article appearing in the March 2009 issue of the Journal Of Orthopedic Sports and Physical Therapy showed that people with CTS have larger postural distortions in the neck and less range of motion than normal healthy people. Other studies have confirmed that pinched nerves in the neck are often mis-diagnosed as CTS.
If you are interested in more information on how I treat CTS log on to www.ReliefFromCarpalTunnel.com and order a free report.
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2009;39(9):658-664, Epub 19 March 2009.
doi:10.2519/jospt.2009.3058
