Pain in the neck!

[Birdlady]

I have been diagnosed with whiplash and 2 herniated discs and 1 bulging disc in my neck. I am seeing a chiro, seeing a regular doctor (for medicines) and have an appointment to see a spine specialist pretty soon. I may be going into physical therapy soon. I also want to get medical message because I hear that helps this a lot. I was in a car accident 2 mos. ago.

My question is, has anyone had this and how long did it take to get better? Or did you get better? Any lasting problems? What treatments did you go through?

[Poesía]

I've been in the chiropractic profession for over 10 years Birdlady (as a non-chiro), so I can answer most questions you may have or find out the answers to them.

I will say that herniations and whiplash injuries can take a long time so be gentle and patient with yourself.

May I ask what type of chiropractic you are going for, what kind of meds you are taking, your reason for seeing the spine specialist and for going to P.T.? If you would like to keep it private, just PM me.

It's so daunting for people when they're in an accident and all of this is thrown at them and they can't get information quick enough. There are many different methods and reasons for doing things. So maybe I can shed some light on a few things so that you can make really educated decisions. Does that sound ok?

[Birdlady]

At the chiro. I get heat treatments with electrodes, adjustments, stretching, intersegmental traction with heat and vibration. I am taking celebrex and robaxin from the m.d. and because a disc may be pressing on a nerve causing pain to radiate all the way from my lower neck to upper arm the m.d. recommened seeing a spine specialist or neurosurgeon or orthopedic doctor. The m.d. said the specialist could do a pain block or shots to relieve the pain. I was also prescribed vicoden for pain but haven't taken it yet. Just went back to the m.d. today.

The chiro. has been seeing me for 2 months and said that he is going to send me to physical therapy for my shoulder and knee (also hurt in accident). My back was also strained in the accident so the chiro works on my entire back, too. He stretches it on a stretching table and adjusts it, too.

Thanks for your reply, Posia, I don't mind replying right here for now.

[Poesía]

Oh my. I have a lot to post. I will have to post in on Sunday though. Oy, I feel your pain. But I have some things that might be interesting for you. Hang in there and I'll post on Sunday. I'm out all day tomorrow and have to hit the hay soon tonight.

[Birdlady]

Okay. I look forward to the information from you and others, too. I bought a cervical collar today and a knee supporter. I know there are mixed thoughts about the cervical collar but I don't intend to wear it 24/7. I just need to give my neck a break because it starts to ache bad when I'm sitting here at the pc especially. With the collar on it feels ok.

[Birdlady]

Posia, do you have the information you mentioned? I am anxious to read it.

[Poesía]

Gosh, I'm so sorry. Christmas and everything has gotten the better of me. I feel terrible. I have a lot to do tomorrow but I will be sure to make time to post. Again, so sorry!

[Birdlady]

That's okay, I understand. It's Christmas crunch time. Whenever you can is fine. I do appreciate it!

[Poesía]

Ack! So much time has gone by! I'm so sorry. I have a lot going on in my life right now. Still, you're hurting and I feel terrible that it's taken me so long to post.

Okay, so... There are two schools of thought in chiropractic. One adheres to the original philosophy of chiropractic, the other is the medicalized version of chiropractic that has developed (for many reasons) over time. I will start by admitting that I am of the original philosophy of chiropractic. Holistic, no meds, no surgery, no therapies, hands-on only, honor the body's natural healing process, support it but do not control it. That's my disclaimer. However, I will try to explain both schools of thought so that you understand that you have a choice in the matter of deciding what kind of chiropractor you would like to go to.

I should also tell you that there is a tremendous amount of in-fighting going on within the chiropractic profession and it's incredibly unfortunate, completely confuses the lay person, and casts a very negative light on the profession as a whole. This fact devastates me, as I have a tremendous passion for the original philosophy of chiropractic and have dedicated the last 11 years of my life to it. It's terribly sad and it's the reason why information can appear contradictory and baffling to you as a lay person. If I can provide some information and empower you with it to make educated choices then, to quote Emily Dickinson, I shall not live in vain. Please let me know what you would like further clarification on. Don’t be afraid to challenge me and ask all the questions that come up for you.

So, let's go back to 1895 when chiropractic was "discovered" and developed. Without going into the details of its discovery and initial development, chiropractic was intended as a health care field dedicated to the detection and correction of vertebral subluxations (subluxation simply put: a minor displacement of the spine causing interference to the nervous system which is the communication link between brain and tissue cell) that are in order to eliminate nerve interference that can adversely affect health. To this, we can add that chiropractic is drug-free, non-invasive and respectful of the body's own innate striving for health. And since the nervous system controls and coordinates every system and function in your body, if there is irritation or interference due to a subluxation, your body will not have the same opportunity for maximum health and healing. At this point people usually say to me, "Where's the part about how chiropractors are back doctors?" Well, in the original intention of chiropractic, there is no part about back aches, kinks, strains, or even pain. It is true that chiropractors work with the spine in order to eliminate interference to the nervous system and the spine just happens to be in your back. However, it is myopic to say that they are relegated only to pain and conditions within the musculo-skeletal system. A chiropractor can check for subluxations in a completely asymptomatic person. If there is a subluxation present, the chiropractor will adjust it. (Adjustment: A force that is introduced to the body by hand only in order to correct subluxations.) If there is no subluxation, the chiropractor cannot and will not do anything. (This includes if there is pain but no subluxation!) This is because chiropractic recognizes the body as a self-healing organism. (The scientific/medical term for this is 'spontaneous remission.' ;-)) Rather than “back” doctors, chiropractors are really “nervous system” doctors. This is because they recognize that the subluxation causing the interference in the nervous system does not allow the area or places it supplies to function at 100%. (I can find you a nerve chart if you’d like so you can see what levels of the spine are connected to what areas of the nervous system are connected to what organ systems.) This decrease in nerve energy causes a state of dis-ease in the body. The nervous system, being the computer or the Intelligent factor of our bodies, can no longer communicate its intelligent messages to the organ system and the system then begins to malfunction. This malfunction then becomes a named sickness such as asthma or migraines. (We'll talk about herniated discs being the body's reaction to accomodate the trauma and protect the nervous system.) A chiropractor facilitates the body's ability to heal its malfunctions by locating, through appropriate diagnostics, the vertebral subluxation and then correcting it through a specific alignment called an adjustment. And there are TONS of different adjusting techniques to further complicate the issue. I can walk you through some of these later and give you my personal opinion about some of them. Upon the removal or reduction of the vertebral subluxation complex, the “innate intelligence” (the inborn intelligence within your body) of the body is released. This then allows the body an opportunity to heal itself and reverse the process of dis-ease.

Whew! We got through all of that. Ok. Are you still with me? How do I make a 100+ year old story as short as possible? Much has happened over the years to steer the public, and chiropractors themselves, away from the original intent and definition of chiropractic. One of the more significant events was i the 1970's. The American Medical Association was sued for restraint of trade and antitrust activities. In the famous "Wilk vs. AMA suit", the AMA lost and had to publicly admit wrongdoing in their journals as well as cease any illegal and unlawful activity against chiropractic. Although the chiropractors won that suit, a lot of damage was already done to the public perception and reputation of chiropractic. It is my personal belief that the AMA, MD’s and insurance companies continue their slanderous and baseless statements and actions because chiropractic is a threat to the business of allopathic medicine. I also believe (actually, I know) that MD’s are taught little to nothing about chiropractic in school and what little they are taught is very, very misinformed and negative. My belief is that there should be no competition between chiropractic and medicine. Medicine is SICKNESS care and chiropractic is HEALTH/WELLNESS care. One has to do with drugs, surgery, and other invasive procedures (electrical muscle stimulation, heat, and ultrasound included) and the other has to do with eliminating nerve interference by hand only so that the body can heal itself. Where’s the competition? It’s apples and oranges. But what has happened is that chiropractic has become medicalized due to chiropractors wanting to be accepted by MD’s, wanting to be accepted and paid by insurance companies, and wanting to fit into the prevalent Western medical philosophy. The AMA basically threw us a bone by saying, “Ok, we’ll give you back aches and maybe we’ll allow you headaches.” And chiropractors took it. But chiropractic was NEVER about pain or symptoms at all. It just so happens that chiropractic has some AMAZING results sometimes with back pain and the like. But that is not the purpose. The purpose is to remove subluxation. What your body does after that is completely up to your body. If your back pain goes away, cool. If your asthma goes away, cool. If it doesn’t, well your body is free from subluxation and has an increased ability to heal itself. The original intention was not to TREAT anything. Therefore, if any chiropractor says that they can “treat” cancer, migraines, neuralgia, back aches, etc., it’s bulls***. They don’t know what will happen after they remove the subluxation. They’re not God. And neither are MD’s, for that matter.

So, that’s were all the therapies came in. Chiropractors jumped on the medical bandwagon in order to be accepted in Western society and to get paid by insurance companies. (And every therapy they perform in addition to the adjustment is an additional billable service. More money, more money, more money.) In essence, they sold out. They denied the roots from which they came and supported their AMA-given identity as back doctors. They started “treating” things such as back aches and muscle strains with things like heat, ultrasound, electric muscle stimulation, blah, blah, blah. While these therapies may seem beneficial and benign to most, they are not without their risks and their own interferences to the body’s natural processes. I have a nice flow chart that I made of the inflammatory process that I can give to you so you can understand WHY the body does what it does when it is injured and how therapies can HALT these beneficial, natural processes. Western medicine does not promote trusting your body’s own natural healing systems. The philosophy is, “Get rid of it. It’s bad. It’s uncomfortable. Don’t feel. Don’t be out of control.” The chiropractic philosophy is the complete opposite of that. Now, if I break my leg I ain’t going to my chiropractor. If I have a true life or death emergency, I also ain’t going to my chiro. BUT if I DO utilize the medical profession, it is on a short-term, emergency basis. It has nothing to do with my health and long-term healing and well-being.

Now we’re talking. Enter: your accident. Major trauma. Short-term trauma care after the accident? Absolutely, if it was appropriate. Long-term care on the healing journey? Hmmm… Let’s think about that. Let’s really talk about what whiplash is, what herniated discs are and why they happen and what pain and inflammation really is. Let's talk about how to get you through a crisis situation in the best, most honoring, most educated way possible.

But first, let me rest my fingers a bit from typing and let you digest all of this. And please comment if you choose to.

Inflammatory Response chart is attached.

[Birdlady]

thanks Poisia, I didn't realize you had posted. I read it last night. Looking forward to more. Don't worry about posting too much, I'm used to reading a lot-went to grad. school. Very interesting stuff there.