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Neck Pain

June 7th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Tip! Treatment relies on the reduction of the disc bulge by changing the mechanics of the spine and reducing the tension in the connective tissue with Connective Tissue Manipulation and Manual Lymph Drainage. Correct posture is very important to improve the neck pain and prevent recurrence.

Pain in the neck can be caused by irritation, inflammation, injury, or infection. Pain in the neck, shoulder, arm, hand or head “most” frequently results from irritation of cervical nerve roots in the region of the intervertebral foramen, encroachment of the vascular supply as it courses through the vertebral canal, or invasion of the cord in the spinal canal.

If unhealthy, the neck’s normal forward curve may reduce, become straight, or “military,” or even reverse its curve. Over time arthritic changes in the vertebrae such as lipping or spurring (bony growths); disc thinning or degeneration; or deterioration of muscles, ligaments and other structures may occur. In spite of all these changes, however, there may or may not be pain. In fact, studies show little or no correlation between the degree of pain felt in the neck and arthritis changes found on X-rays and MRI.

Tip! The Internet is flooded with neck-support pillows in various shapes, sizes and materials. Many of these pillows claim to promote better sleep, relieve neck pain and prevent episodes of stiff neck and frozen shoulder.

Lipping, spurring, and other irregularities (osteoarthritis) do not in themselves constitute a disease but are rather defense mechanisms that arise to stabilize an off-balance spine. Recent research has shown that manipulative care can reverse some of the effects of osteoarthritis - something that had previously been considered impossible.

As a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist, I take a different approach to the treatment and prevention of neck pain. After a thorough neurological examination, I determine which part of the nervous system is not functioning properly. In many neck pain patients, I find a high mesencephalic output.

There are three parts to the brain stem: top, middle and lower. The mesencephalon is the top part of the brain stem. A high output of the mesencephalon will cause an increased pulse and heart rate, the inability to sleep, or a waking, fitful sleep. Other symptoms might include urinary tract infections, increased warmth and sweating, and sensitivity to light.

Along with a high mesencephalic output, the neck pain patient may present with a decreased output of the cerebellum. The cerebellum is in the back part of the brain. It controls all of the involuntary spinal musculature.

No matter what the condition, it is imperative that the chiropractic neurologist performs a thorough and comprehensive exam to determine the exact nature of the patient’s condition.

Dr. Michael L. Johnson is a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist, one of only 700 in the country, with over twenty years of experience in private practice. He has completed over 850 hours of neurological studies and 3800 hours of postgraduate education. His book “What Do You Do When the Medications Don’t Work? - A Non-Drug Treatment of Dizziness, Migraine Headaches, Fibromyalgia, and Other Chronic Conditions” outlines his groundbreaking work in the treatment of chronic pain and is a national best-seller. It is available wherever books are sold. Tip! More recently some TENs machines are now available with an electrical probe which can be used to stimulate acupuncture points to bring pain relief. While almost all TENs machines have cautions about placing the electrode pads on the head and neck these �accu TENs� machines will permit users to stimulate the accu points or channels elsewhere on the body to bring relief to head or neck pain. � 2005 Michael L. Johnson, D.C., D.A.C.N.B.

Is Your Doctor Overlooking the Cause of Your Neck Pain

May 14th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Tip! Treatment relies on the reduction of the disc bulge by changing the mechanics of the spine and reducing the tension in the connective tissue with Connective Tissue Manipulation and Manual Lymph Drainage. Correct posture is very important to improve the neck pain and prevent recurrence.

What is neck pain? Where does it come from?

It might surprise you to know that those of us who have regular or recurring neck pain likely have an underlying condition, most likely a spinal condition. The reason the spinal source of the problem is often overlooked is because our front line doctors are not normally trained in its diagnosis and treatment.

The problem is that many front line health care practitioners do not know how to properly diagnose or treat this condition. In fact, the subluxation complex, which simply means a spinal bone or vertebrae has fallen out of alignment, is almost always overlooked when a patient is first examined by their physician for neck pain.

The subluxation complex is more likely to be properly diagnosed and effectively treated in your chiropractor’s office than in any other health care practitioners office, leading to mistreatment and unsuccessful treatment where simple chiropractic work would have resolved the situation.

The simple truth is that a full spinal exam by a practicing chiropractor should begin in the early years, but many adults shy away from taking spinal health seriously. By the time regular symptoms exist, it is likely that the subluxation complex or associated similar spinal condition has set in.

A full spinal exam including x- rays is essential to promoting and maintaining good spinal health and preventing arthritis. Ignoring spinal problems or limiting your care to only the mainstream medical world often turns out to be a pathway to continuing spinal decay and continuing degeneration of the condition itself.

Tip! It might surprise you to know that those of us who have regular or recurring neck pain likely have an underlying condition, most likely a spinal condition. The reason the spinal source of the problem is often overlooked is because our front line doctors are not normally trained in its diagnosis and treatment.

For the full picture on the origins of neck pain and how a healthy spine can accelerate your energy and guarantee your longevity, you can visit various web sites on the Internet that cater to answering these questions. Open up a whole new level of knowledge on your body and exactly how it works. You will find access to incredible information that will revolutionize the way you think about your health and your life.

About the Author:

Dr. Bryan Brodeur is the owner of the health web site VitalityHouse, and author of the health and fitness e-book Vitalism.

Doctor… I Have a Pain in the Neck - What can I Do?

May 10th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Tip! The problem is that many front line health care practitioners do not know how to properly diagnose or treat this condition. In fact, the subluxation complex, which simply means a spinal bone or vertebrae has fallen out of alignment, is almost always overlooked when a patient is first examined by their physician for neck pain.

Neck pain is a common and costly medical ailment. Few studies of really effective medical treatments exist compared with those, say, for low back pain.

Many drugs used in clinical practice have been tried. Among those are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), tricyclic antidepressants, neuroleptic agents, and opioid analgesics.

While uncontrolled studies show benefit, controlled studies are lacking. So what has been shown to work so far? According to a recent study, there are only two medicines that have been proven to be effective. The first is intravenous methylprednisolone for acute whiplash used within eight hours for whiplash and the second is intramuscular lidocaine for chronic mechanical neck disorders. (Peloso PM, Gross AR, Haines TA, et al. Medicinal and injection therapies for mechanical neck disorders: a Cochrane systemic Review. J Rheum 2006; 33:957-967).

What is disheartening is that the usual treatments such as anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen have been largely ineffective- at least according to this one large study.

Even epidural injections were classified as showing “limited evidence of benefit.”

A number of interventions in this large study were ineffective. These include:

� Oral psychotropic agents
� Oral anti-inflammatory agents and oral analgesics
� Intramuscular injections of multivitamins.
� Nerve-block injections

Tip! For severe acute neck pain resulting from an accident or injury, doctors recommend bed rest, a neck brace or collar, and cold treatment (such as an ice pack) for neck pain relief. Heat (such as that from a heating pad) and physical therapy are usually recommended for treating chronic neck pain.

In addition, several interventions were judged to have shown “moderate evidence of no benefit.” These included intramuscular injections of botulinum toxin (Botox A), intracutaneous injections of sterile water, subcutaneous injection of carbon dioxide and melatonin.

So what can you do if you’re a patient?

First of all, remember that these studies that are published in the literature have flaws. They do not report the data from private practices. Also, many of the studies that are reported as being “negative” are done in large medical centers where there is already a built in bias that these treatments don’t work. It’s sad but true. A lot of academic doctors really don’t believe in treatment. They’d rather write negative papers.

Second, make sure you see a skilled rheumatologist… one who is skilled in the management of osteoarthritis and neck problems.

The things that might afford some relief in addition to the two described above are also- at least in my 25 years of experience are:

� Physical therapy for chronic problems
� Chiropractic for acute problems
� A neck support pillow
� Ice/ moist heat
� Gentle traction
� Exercises done under the supervision of a skilled therapist
� A soft cervical collar worn temporarily
� Epidural, nerve block, and soft tissue injections (despite what they say, I think they work)

Dr. Wei (pronounced “way”) is a board-certified rheumatologist and Clinical Director of the nationally respected Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and has served as a consultant to the Arthritis Branch of the National Institutes of Health. He is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians. For more information on arthritis and related conditions, go to: http://www.arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com Tip! More recently some TENs machines are now available with an electrical probe which can be used to stimulate acupuncture points to bring pain relief. While almost all TENs machines have cautions about placing the electrode pads on the head and neck these �accu TENs� machines will permit users to stimulate the accu points or channels elsewhere on the body to bring relief to head or neck pain.

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