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.
Do I Really Have Carpal Tunnel?
Pain in the wrist and hand can be a difficult thing to diagnose properly.
When you visit your doctor, it’s important to have a thorough examination and to ask a lot of questions. I’d be skeptical if the doctor only examines the wrist and hand, and leaves out the elbow, shoulder and neck. The reason this is the case is that problems of the neck and other joints, can refer pain into the wrist and hand. Not all wrist pains are a problem with constriction at the carpal tunnel. Pain into the hand can come from compression of nerves in the neck. Your carpal tunnel pain needs to correctly differentiated from a problem in the neck, shoulder or elbow.
It is very common to have a problem in the neck and in the carpal tunnel at the same time. This is called “Double Crush”.
Your doctor should ask how long the problem has lasted, and if there has been any trauma. Trauma to the neck is especially important, and could be a sign that your wrist problem is really a neck injury.
Some patients simply need to have their computer monitor adjusted. How we sit and whether there is forward head posture are also important considerations. The forward head posture can stretch your spinal cord and nerve roots, making the nerves more susceptible to pressure.
I am Dr. Paul Kramer D.C. and I treat many patients with carpal tunnel symptoms. Sometimes the problem is local to the wrist, but most patients will require a more comprehensive approach.
If you’d like care that avoids the dangers of drugs and surgery, then log on to: http://www.relieffromcarpaltunnel.com
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.
“My Neck Is Killing Me!”
When patients present with neck pain, they always ask, “where is the pain coming from?” Of course, this can only be answered after a careful history and thorough evaluation is completed, which is what we do in this office. Let’s take a closer look at what this involves.
The History: This includes a careful description of how the injury occurred, if there was an injury. For example, in a slip and fall injury, it makes a difference if the patient fell forwards, sideways, or backwards; if they landed on their knees, hips, buttocks, back or if they hit their head on the ground. Also, if there was a dazed feeling or loss of consciousness in the process. If there was a head strike, were there any signs of concussion: fatigue, mental “fog,” headache, difficulty communicating or forming words or sentences. When there is no specific injury, we will ask if there were perhaps one or more, “mini-“ or “micro-“ injuries that may have occurred sometime within 2-3 days prior to the onset of the neck pain. The cumulative effect of several small “micro-injuries” can result in a rather significant onset of symptoms several days later. The next batch of information gathered includes factors that increase and decrease the pain, the type of pain quality (sharp, dull, throb, burn, itch, etc.), pain location – “…put your finger on where it hurts and “does it radiate into the arms or legs, severity (pain level 0-10), and timing such as, “it’s worse for the 1st 30 min. in the morning and then loosens up.” Information regarding past history, family history, medical history (surgeries, medications), social history, habits (caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, etc.), and a systems review (heart, lungs, stomach, nervous system, etc.).
The Physical Exam: This includes vital signs (blood pressure, etc), observation – the way the head is positioned (forwards, to the side, rotated, etc.); palpation – touch/feel for muscle spasm, trigger points, spinal vertebra position and motion; range of motion, orthopedic and neurological tests. The exam procedure may also include x-ray, depending on each case.
The Diagnosis: This is determined after taking all your information and “…putting the puzzle pieces together” to determine what is causing your pain.
The Treatment: Chiropractic spinal manipulation (often referred to as “adjustments”) is performed by applying energy or force to the misaligned or fixed vertebra structures by one of many methods depending on the patient’s size, pain level, tolerance, and so on. The use of physical therapy modalities such as ice, laser therapy, and/or others, again, depending on your specific situation and needs can also be very helpful. Similarly, exercises to teach you how to hold your proper posture, to improve flexibility or range of motion, and to strengthen the muscles that are weak really help the beneficial effects last longer. A work station/job assessment may also be needed if that appears to be irritating your condition.
YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR NECK PAIN! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306
Neck Pain – Can Chiropractic Really Help?
Neck pain is a very common problem affecting up to 70% of the adult population at some point in life. Though there are specific causes of neck pain such as arising from a sports injury, a car accident or “sleeping crooked,” the vast majority of the time, no direct cause can be identified and thus the term nonspecific is applied. There are many symptoms associated with patients complaining of neck pain and many of these symptoms can be confused with other conditions. Wouldn’t it be nice to know what neck related symptoms are most likely to respond to chiropractic manipulation before the treatment has started? This issue has been investigated with very favorable results!
The ability to predict a favorable response to treatment has been termed, “clinical prediction rules” which in general, are usually made up of combinations of things the patient says and findings from exams. In a large study, data from about 20,000 patients receiving about 29,000 treatments, was collected and analyzed to find out what complaints responded well to chiropractic treatment. The results showed that the presence of any 4 of these 7 presenting complaints predicted an immediate improvement in 70-95% of the patients: 1. Neck pain; 2. Shoulder, arm pain; 3. Reduced neck, shoulder, arm movement; 4. Stiffness; 5. Headache; 6. Upper, mid back pain, and 7. None or one presenting symptom. Items not associated with a favorable immediate response included “numbness, tingling upper limbs,” and “fainting, dizziness and light-headedness in 4-12% of the patients. The “take-home” message here is that was far more common to see a favorable response (70-95%) of the patients compared to an unfavorable response (4-12%), supporting the observation that most patients with neck complaints will respond favorably to chiropractic treatment.
So, what do we do as chiropractors when a patient presents with neck pain? First, after gathering preliminary information such as name, address and insurance information, a history of the presenting complaint is taken. This consists of information including what started the neck complaint (if you know), when it started, what makes it worse, what makes it better, the quality of pain (aches, stiff, numb, etc.), the location and if there is radiating complaints, the severity (0-10 pain scale), timing (such as worse in the morning, evening, etc.), and if there have been prior episodes. Various questionnaires are included that are scored so improvement down the road can be tracked and a past history that includes a medication list, past injuries or illnesses, family history and a systems review are standard. The exam includes vital signs (BP, pulse, height, weight, temperature and respiration), palpation, range of motion, orthopedic and neurological examination. X-ray and/or other “special tests” may also be included, when needed. A review of all the findings are discussed and after permission to treat is granted, a chiropractic adjustment may then be rendered.
We realize you have a choice in healthcare providers. If you, a friend or family member requires care for low back pain, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.
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
Fibromyalgia And Your Upper Neck
How can a spinal problem possibly contribute to your fibromyalgia symptoms? As with many disorders, especially pain, the nervous system is involved. The nervous system can get affected thorough structural changes in the spinal column. The classic one is the disk bulge producing a painful sciatic nerve. But, there are also other ways to interfere with the function of nervous system.
When viewing the neck from the side, there should be a forward curve with your head above your shoulders, not in front of them. When forward head carriage is present or when there is a reduction in this forward arch, this may cause additional strain to the upper cervical spine or spinal cord, allowing delicate nerves to be compromised. Chiropractic care should improve your posture if this forward head carriage is present.
The upper neck can also be influenced by mal-alignment of the upper vertebrae, such as the atlas. This small bone supports the weight of the skull and is necessary for the great rotational range of motion of the neck.
During neck trauma, the head and neck can be put through a violent range of motion that causes the soft tissues (muscles and ligaments) to tear. Blows to the head, childhood or sports injuries and even poor sleeping posture, can cause the upper neck vertebrae to displace, injuring the soft tissues of the joint. Swelling and inflammation can also be a source of irritation to the nervous system. Scar tissue can develop after trauma, which may affect the precise movements of the upper neck.
The atlas surrounds the spinal cord and as it displaces, it can also pull or tether the spinal cord through attachments of delicate ligaments (dentate). This could cause irritation to the nervous system.
The disorders of poor posture and displaced vertebrae can be assessed through x-rays. Range of motion tests are necessary to see how your function may be affected. In some patients, fibromyalgia symptoms can improve substantially. However, most people will need a comprehensive approach that also incorporates an exercise program and nutritional or weight loss support. Chiropractic care is a natural alternative for those who wish a drug-free and non-invasive approach. It carries few risks of side effects and is balanced by the potential to help patients who also have spinal disorders contributing to their poor health.
YOU MAYBE A CANDIDATE FOR DRUG FREE RELIEF! FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ON TO: http://www.stopyourfibronow.com
What is “Good Posture?”
Have you ever noticed how many people have terrible posture? One of the most common faulty postures is called “forward head carriage” or “anterior based occiput.” Other terms are “hump back” or slouching. There are several reasons for this common postural fault. One is the weight of the head is, on average, approximately 10-13 pounds and if it’s positioned too far forwards, the muscles in the upper back and neck tighten up much more than normal, fatigue and become painful. Also, the muscles that attach to the skull have different degrees of strength. They also attach and pull at different angles, contributing to the common forward head carriage posture. The muscles of the chest are much stronger than those in the mid and upper back and tend to pull our shoulders forward. The following pictures offer a good view of both a faulty posture as well as a “good” posture. Notice the forward shift in the line in the pictures of poor posture and backwards shift in the good posture pictures.
As you can see, the weight of the head is back over the shoulders and the shoulder posture is appropriately positioned back in the image titled “Good Head Posture.”
It is important to understand correcting Forward Head Carriage can take time – in fact, it takes a minimum of 3 month before this becomes an automatic new “habit.” Of course, it could take longer if you sit in slouchy chairs, soft chairs or wear arch supports. The great benefit you receive with your care at our office is that forward head posture gets corrected without exercises or any strain on your part. Your body stands more upright without you having to think about it.
If you, a family member or a friend require care, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our service. We are proud that chiropractic care has consistently scored the highest level of satisfaction when compared to other forms of health care provision and we look forward in serving you and your family presently and in the future.
YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR NECK PAIN! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306 OR LOG ON TO: WWW.PAINFREE-GREATPOSTURE.COM
Whiplash & Chiropractic Treatment
The term ‘whiplash’ represents a collection of symptoms that occur as a result of a soft tissue injury of the neck. This includes over stretching and/or tearing of muscles, tendons, ligaments, disk tissue and/or nerve injuries due to the extreme movements that occur during a whiplash event (usually arising from a car accident). We have discussed the mechanism of injury and the symptom complex that can arise in past articles.
So the question is – how many patients who sustain a whiplash injury actually improve and recover compared to those that don’t? In one study, it was stated that 43% of patients will suffer long-term symptoms after a whiplash type of injury. More specifically, if a patient is still symptomatic after 3 months following the injury, “…then there is almost a 90% chance that they will remain so.” They go on to state that no conventional treatment has proven to be effective in helping these chronic cases. The purpose of their study was to determine the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment in a group of chronic whiplash patients. To do this, they studied 28 patients (20 women and 8 men, between ages 19-66, mean 39) over a 2-year time frame, injured in motor vehicle collisions. Their symptom severity was graded on an A to D scale (A=minimal symptoms vs. D=disabling symptoms, with B= nuisance and C=Intrusive or partially disabling). Those in Groups C & D either had to significantly modify their work or, they lost their jobs and relied on continual use of medications. The chiropractic treatment included spinal manipulation (adjustments), controlled resistance of muscles to improve stability and coordination, and the use of ice. Treatment from an emergency facility and/or their general practitioner and physical therapy had been previously utilized for on average 15.5 months, before entering this chiropractic-based study. Initially, 27 of the 28 were classified into symptom groups C or D and symptoms included neck pain (82%), neck stiffness (36%), and other complaints of headache, shoulder, arm and back pain. Following treatment 26 of the 28 (93%) improved, 16 by one symptom group and 10 by two symptom groups and this degree of improvement was assessed and agreed upon by both an orthopedic surgeon as well as by a chiropractor. Seventeen (61%) improved to a point of satisfaction where care was discontinued after the 1st assessment with 4 of the 17 considering return for treatment due to a return of symptoms. Litigation was still pending in 20 of the 28 cases at the time the study concluded.
This study is very important as over 90% of chronic whiplash cases improved from chiropractic management well beyond the point of improvement obtained through standard emergency, family practice and physical therapy. Other studies have pointed out that early intervention or treatment with chiropractic manipulation and management approaches generally results in a more favorable response compared to waiting for longer time periods. To be able to obtain this level of success after an average of 15.5 months is truly remarkable!
Chiropractic methods often utilized for patients with a “whiplash” injury include spinal manipulation (or adjustments), mobilization techniques (this includes stretching, figure 8 movements, manual traction), muscle release work (this includes trigger point therapy, myofascial release/friction massage, and others), and promoting self-help approaches (this includes exercise, home traction methods, computer station modifications and other job modifications as indicated, and others).
We realize you have a choice in where you choose for your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for whiplash, chiropractic care is a logical first choice and we would be honored to offer our services.
For more information on these types of injuries, log on to www.chiropracticimpactreport.com
YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE
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
