Subluxations (subset of neck pain)

Subluxations can be caused by physical stress such as an accident or injury but also from working in one position for too long, or sleeping in a poor position. Emotional stress can cause subluxations and even the birthing process! We make it a point to check each family member for subluxation before symptoms occur.

Chiropractic care corrects nerve problems known as vertebral subluxations. It also restores proper movement to the seven intricate spinal bones which protect your spinal cord. This allows proper energy and information to flow through your bodies own information superhighway to correct your pain or problem at its cause. Correction of the spine occurs by adjusting or realigning the vertebrae, and rebalancing the muscular system through the use of targeted hands on soft tissue therapy as well as PNF(proprio-neural facilitation) stretching. Once you are feeling better AND functioning optimally, periodic spinal check-ups can ensure a nervous system free of interference.

Headaches

Did you know that the ache in headaches do not come from your brain? Your brain does not feel pain, in fact during brain surgery you can be wide awake and feel nothing! So what aches in „headaches‰? It is the blood vessels, membranes, cranial and spinal nerves in the brain and skull. When these structures are compressed, irritated, or inflamed a headache often results.

Chiropractors look to these structures for the cause of your headaches. Irritated or inflamed nerves cause tissue inflammation, cause muscles to tighten and knot, cause fatigue, weakness and sets the stage for illness. Just as you may have a cavity in your teeth and not know it, you may be unaware of vertebral subluxation which can be causing damage to your body. Vertebral subluxation is a small misalignment of your spinal bones which causes a distortion to your nervous system and leads to abnormal signals to your body.

Dozens of studies support the fact that Chiropractic care works great for headaches. In a study performed at the University of Odense, Denmark, there was a dramatic improvement in the number of headache hours per day which decreased by 69% after receiving chiropractic care. In another landmark study of 6,000 long term headache sufferers it was determined that the single most important factor in the cause of headaches was neck injury. When the neck is out of alignment due to a past injury it creates pressure on the delicate structures of the neck causing headaches.

Whiplash & Neck Injuries

To Millions of people who have sought out care for their neck and whiplash injuries the chiropractic approach has been a blessing.

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash does not describe a disease, but it is a description of how an injury occurred. In a whiplash injury the head and neck portion of the spine are thrown very quickly in one direction and then rebounded in the opposite direction. The head is usually “whipped” back to front, but can also be injured in a side to side motion. [1] In whiplash injury, the majority suffer misaligned spinal bones and nerve, joint, ligament, tendon, muscle and disc stress, irritation, or damage. Vertebral subluxations (misaligned bones) are the most common source of pain and discomfort from whiplash injuries. [2] Chiropractors are the only professionals trained to correct subluxations. Vertebral subluxations are often caused by an accident or trauma, such as whiplash, but can also be caused by micro-trauma such as the build up of daily stress. Other causes include poor posture, weak muscles, poor diet, bad sleeping positions and dental work. [3]  A chiropractic exam always includes a discussion of your past accidents, injuries and falls in addition to your personal habits and other situations which may contribute to subluxations.

Your neck is referred to as the Cervical vertebrae. You have seven small neck bones, numbering C-1 to C-7 down your neck. The top two bones called the atlas (it balances the globe or head in this case) and axis which permits neck movement in many different directions. The seven neck bones work together to balance your head and to protect your brain stem and spinal cord. Your vertebrae are connected by muscles, ligament, tendons and the gel-like discs between the bones which give the cervical vertebrae a reverse C-shaped curve.

Those who have suffered whiplash in an accident may feel neck pain and stiffness, even headaches. This may develop into more pain and/or tingling, numbness, or a pins-and-needles feeling in the arm, between the shoulder blades, in the fingers or hands. Other symptoms may include ear ringing, dizziness, hearing loss, eye pain, blurred vision, nasal problems, low back pain, sensitivity to light or other internal organ problems depending upon which nerves have been affected. Research has shown that a subluxation in your neck can cause decreased blood flow to your brain. [4] The result is sometimes whiplash sufferers have memory, vision, thinking, and psychological problems [5] despite the fact that they do not have any head or brain injury. They may, however, have a concussion, a condition in which the brain is thrown around inside the skull, just like scrambling an egg without breaking the shell. If you have had a concussion your symptoms may be insominia, headache, restlessness, moodiness, emotional jitters, irritability and depression. These may last for hours, days or months after the accident. [6]

After an Accident

After an accident, emergency medical specialists check for broken bones, bleeding, abrasions, internal organ damage or shock.  Patients are often released after an injury even if they are not yet well. Even though an X-ray, MRI or CT scan has found nothing, the spine still has not been analyzed for subluxations. Since a chiropractor is the only medical professional trained to find and correct subluxations, it is essential for the accident victim to be examined by a chiropractor once their condition has stabilized.

[1] Cailliet R.  Neck and Arm Pain.   Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Co. 1997:64.

[2] Lord WM, Barnsley L, Wallis BJ, Bogduk N. Chronic cervical zygopaphysial joint pain after whiplash: a placebo-controlled prevalence study.   Spine.  1996;21:1737-1745.

[3] Smith GH.  Headaches Aren’t Forever: How Incurable Headaches Can Be Cured. Newtown, PA: Int’l Ctr for Nutrientional Research. 1986:96.

[4] Otte A, Ettlin TM, Nitzsche, EU et al. PET and SPECT in whiplash syndrome: a new approach to a forgotten brain?  J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry.  1997;63368-372

[5] Di Stefano g, Radanov BP. Course of attention and memory after common whiplash. Acta Neurol Scand.  1995;91:346-352.

[6] Bohnen N, et al. Late outcome of mild head injury: results from a controlled postal survey.  Brain Injury. 1994;8(8):701-708.

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Neck Pain

Your neck is packed with all kinds of things: bones (vertebrae), your spinal cord, cranial and spinal nerves, nerve ganglions, blood vessels, glands such as the thyroid, your larynx (voicebox), esophagus (food tube), trachea (wind pipe) and muscles, ligaments, tendons and other structures. Your amazing neck balances your heavy head and turns, lifts, tilts and bends without damaging its vital occupants.

Your neck is referred to as the Cervical vertebrae. You have seven small neck bones, numbering C-1 to C-7 down your neck. The top two bones called the atlas (it balances the globe or head in this case) and axis which permits neck movement in many different directions. The seven neck bones work together to balance your head and to protect your brain stem and spinal cord. Your vertebrae are connected by muscles, ligament, tendons and the gel-like discs between the bones which give the cervical vertebrae a reverse C-shaped curve.

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Pinched Nerves (subset of neck pain)

Cervical nerves can become irritated, inflamed or „pinched‰ causing head, neck, facial, or upper extremity pain in the shoulders, arm, elbow, wrist, and hand. The symptoms of an irritated nerve can be sharp or dull pain and commonly pins and needles type sensation or an increased or decreased sensitivity. Cervical nerve pressure usually occurs at the intervertebral foramen, or hole between each cervical bone. This commonly comes from a slightly misaligned bone in the neck which is referred to as a subluxation.

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Subluxations (subset of neck pain)

Subluxations can be caused by physical stress such as an accident or injury but also from working in one position for too long, or sleeping in a poor position. Emotional stress can cause subluxations and even the birthing process! We make it a point to check each family member for subluxation before symptoms occur.

Chiropractic care corrects nerve problems known as vertebral subluxations. It also restores proper movement to the seven intricate spinal bones which protect your spinal cord. This allows proper energy and information to flow through your bodies own information superhighway to correct your pain or problem at its cause. Correction of the spine occurs by adjusting or realigning the vertebrae, and rebalancing the muscular system through the use of targeted hands on soft tissue therapy as well as PNF(proprio-neural facilitation) stretching. Once you are feeling better AND functioning optimally, periodic spinal check-ups can ensure a nervous system free of interference.

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Neck Range of Motion Increased with Chiropractic

The results of a recently published study in the November/December 2001 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics showed that cervical range of motion was significantly improved with chiropractic adjustments.  The study was a  double-blind randomized controlled trial performed at the outpatient clinic at Phillip Chiropractic Research Centre, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. 

The initial study involved 105 subjects who were randomly separated into two groups. One group received chiropractic adjustments while the other group received a "sham", or fake adjustment. Range of motion testing was performed every few weeks over the course of the 12 week study. Active range of motion was measured with a strap-on head goniometer consisting of an inclinometer dial for measuring lateral flexion and a compass dial for measuring rotation. These motions were chosen because gravity would play less of a role and therefore the results were more accurate.

According to the researchers, in the group that got the real adjustments, "active range of motion in the cervical spine increased significantly."  Their conclusion was, "Spinal manipulation of the cervical spine increases active range of motion."

As obvious as this may seem, the results are profound for a large portion of the population. Not only does restricted range of motion play a large part in many health problems, but one of the largest areas of concern for the aging population is mobility.

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Severe Neck Problems After Unsuccessful Spinal Surgery
Helped With Chiropractic

In the September 2001 issue of the peer reviewed, "Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics" comes a case report study titled,"Chiropractic care of a patient with vertebral subluxations and unsuccessful surgery of the cervical spine".  This was a report of a 55-year-old man who had neck pain along with radiating pain down both arms after unsuccessful cervical (neck) spine surgery.

The man's history was similar to many seen in chiropractic offices. While responding to an auto accident during an ice storm, the 55 year old highway patrolman slipped getting out of his car and fell backward, landing on his upper back and neck  After a few days he began to experience pain in his neck. Two months later he consulted a medical doctor, who referred him to a neurologist. During the neurological examination, the patient experienced a seizure that eventually led to a diagnosis of a tumor of the adrenal gland. Several weeks later, the patient had surgery to excise the tumor which resulted in temporary relief of the neck pain.

He returned to work, and 6 weeks after surgery he began to experience neck pain again, which he described as “sharp,” along with pain, numbness, and tingling in both arms. His condition worsened, for about 6 to 7 months, and he was was referred to a neurosurgeon.  The patient eventually consented to neck surgery, and an anterior cervical diskectomy (disc removal) was performed.

When he returned to the surgeon for a postsurgery check-up and had continuing complaints, he then asked when the surgeon wanted to see him again. The reply was, “I never want to see you again.” This answer was devastating for the patient, and he assumed that he was destined to live with these problems for life.

Approximately 31�2 years after surgery, the patient started chiropractic care. The chiropractic care began and after receiving the first set of adjustments, the patient indicated that his ability to raise his left arm had increased by 50% and that his neck pain and arm complaints were also relieved.  He was astonished and excited by the results of the care he received. Within 2 weeks of starting care he was able to fully abduct his left arm and to loop his belt to his pants.  A year after the onset of chiropractic care, the patient was working on his small ranch performing various odd jobs and has, on occasion, had some problems because of over activity.

This documented and published case is not unfamiliar to chiropractors world wide.  The unique aspect of this case is the fact that it was published in a peer reviewed scientific journal.  The authors of the study summed this situation up with the following;  "This is the first description in the indexed literature of the chiropractic care of a patient with vertebral and sacroiliac subluxations with a history of unsuccessful cervical diskectomy of the cervical spine. In our experience, allopathic (medical) practitioners usually do not offer patients the option of chiropractic care before surgery. Perhaps more rarely is chiropractic care considered a viable option in instances of unsuccessful surgical care."  It is obvious from this study that chiropractic should have been considered first. 

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