Question
QUESTION: Please Help. I was rear ended over 6 years ago. I was waiting to turn left and I noticed car light rush up on me all of a sudden. I let off the brake and looked to the right at the passenger. I remember my head going forward and back 3 times while looking to the right. I ended up getting a bad back cramp and it stayed cramped up for 3 months till I got hit again. this time I was a passenger and I got hit right in my door, again I was looking to the right at the car. after that It got even worse this time my neck started hurting really bad. My ex ray showed my spine now had a s-curve, my right left hip was rotated forward and i had forward head posture. I went everywhere physical therapy, chiropractor ect..  I went in for a mri and it did not show that any of my disc where injured. it took the chiropractor over 9 months to get my back un cramped, but it still would come and go randomly all the time. after a year or so going to the chiropractor he told me my back was as good as it was going to get and it didn't do me any good to keep coming (also i was on traction for my neck that whole time) I haven't settled yet for my insurance.  But my pain has recently been severe. during the 4th of July my lower back got cramped up and stayed cramped for over a week. usually it would just come and go. and my neck for over the last 3 months keeps getting worse. I noticed when i got sick and was sneezing it caused my neck horrible pain, it would shoot down through my shoulders and arms down to my hands (cause very bad fatigue) now i have this big bump on my the back of my neck about 3 inches behind my ear, I have had it for over 3 months now. it keeps giving me migraines starting from that point and it shoots up to behind my eye. It hurts if i try to point my head strait back or if i have it leaned forward for to long and buy turning it a certain way. Also i can feel it grinding something if I tilt my head back and turn it left to right. It is also shooting pain down between my shoulder blades. My lower back Is always cramped when I wake up. I just want to be fixed but dont know if it is possible? My chiropractor wouldn't do anything for me since I owe him money.. what can i do? should i just go to the emergency room or what are my options? I know something is really bad and wrong, but i have no insurance or money to go anywhere.  I need help bad. I was thinking of driving about a hour out of town to this place that takes a video ex ray. It captures you in motion and it is suppose to be able to find injures better. I haven't had a ex ray for over 4-5 years. I don't know what to do. And Im not sure if I can still go anywhere and have the bill be put on hold till I settle for my accident.

ANSWER: First off, your chiropractor is an ass if he/ she won't help you out after taken thousands of dollars for your care over 9 months of care.

Let's take you questions in order.   The bump three inches behind your ear is most likely the EOP, or External Occipital Protuberance (I'm fun at parties).  It's the attachment point for a lot of muscles, namely the ones that can cause headaches.

THe shooting pain down your arms is usually indicative of a disc injury, but lately the trend is toward motion  or loaded views.   The motion film may show instability, but won't show the disc.

You are in a bad spot here.  Motion films may show a problem, or they won't.  THey shouldn't be terrifically expensive, though.   So go get them.  Get a report.  Follow up with me.  I'll stick with you through this, and see if we can't come up with an answer together.  My office website is www.dynamicclinic.com.  If this falls through, contact me via there.

Dr. Peter Carr
The Best Chiropractor in Seattle!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much for taking time and responding.  I will call them and see if they will see me.  Do you know why my muscles after almost 7 years would still be cramping up on me like this in my lower back?  It gets real bad if Right when I wake up and If I try to walk to far my hip stats hurting real bad and my lower back muscles will lock up.  My neck has been a huge concern lately though (I can just take it easy and not be to active and my back wont hurt as bad) But my neck keeps getting worse...  if I read something and look down towards it, it cause stiffness and and pain in my lower neck, also it pulls really hard right on my spine between my shoulder blades, it will cause a stabbing pain when I breath in and out. Leaning my head strait back is a lot worse though that cause alot of pain right where it is getting bent.  I really hate this, I was a bricklayer before this happened and i was strong as a ox, now Im in horrible shape, I would pay anything to just go back to normal.  The old doctor I seen for my MRI was a ass, I brought my x ray's in also and he wouldn't even look at them. He told me strait up that I am fine and there is nothing wrong with me.  I was so mad, I was in so much pain, this was about 2 months after my accident and my back muscles were completely locked for at least 9 months.  This also looks bad for my case as I have this doctor saying there was nothing wrong.  Is there a way I can get a copy of my MRI so I can look at it or have someone else look at it?  (I only owe them 3,400 for the MRI, what a great deal) Also I wanna get copy's of my ex rays from my chiropractors and doctors. Do you know If i could get a copy for my self with no charge?  What is the best way of me proving my injuries?  That motion xray thing looked like the best way...  Is there any other kind of stress test I could take, Like at my first chiropractor he took these electronic measurement along every vertebrate on my spine and it will show how much tension each muscle had (mine was off the charts.  again thank you so much for helping me, I have been so stressed from this and cant find any help.

Answer
Yes, even 7 years later they can cramp up, but it sounds like a disc.

To be sure, you're going to need to see the MR to identify the problem(s)I would talk to the ass of a doc, they may have those at the doc who reviewed them.  

If you want the films, MOVE FAST.  Docs are only required to keep them for 7 years.  If they are yours, they are yours.  Be the "squeaky wheel"... then get those films!  Then get back to me afterwards.