Question
QUESTION: I was a recon Marine (USMC/Special forces)for 9yrs. I was a paratrooper, combat diver, Ranger etc.. Needless to say my neck, shoulders, back took a beaten. I'm 38 and feel like i'm 83 sometimes. I have trapped nerves in my neck,spasms in neck and shoulder area from time to time. tingling and numbness down to my finger tips. Moderate DDD is my diagnosis, they say my X-rays and MRI do not show nothing alarming (VA Hosp)I think there is alot more that can be done to determine my true Diagnosis. I have done a night time tree landing, been tossed around with twin 80 steel tanks on my back in 8 ft sea states, had a collapsed parachute and fell from about 25ft (3 hairline fractures midline), Carried 100-150lbs of gear on my back for long periods of time in which my shoulders would be numb for hours. I feel like there is alot of new technology out there, and feel like i'm alot worse than just moderate DDD.
My quality of life is going in the drink, PLEASE HELP?!!!!
Sorry for the long question but i thought my history was important.

ANSWER: Dear Daniel,

I would really suggest that you have a chiropractic physician look at this.  I sincerely doubt that you will get any answers from the VA, or any base hospitals.  I see a few army rangers in my clinic as we are very close to Eglin Air-force Base, where they complete part of their training, and they often have many of the same complaints of the heavy ruck sac runs which make their shoulders go numb, upper back and neck pain, tingling into the arms, and muscle spasms.  Not to mention that they really get beat up with their jobs.

The base doesn't ever help these guys...just a prescription of 800mg Motrin and out the door!!  We call ibuprofen "Ranger Candy" now.

Find a good local chiropractor to address the musculature, structure and function of the neck and upper back.  Care should be focused on the elimination of the dysfunction, not just pain relief...covering up the pain will not fix the problem.  You are likely to have many postural distortions such as rounded shoulders, tight pec muscles, weak rhomboid muscles, forward head posture, and tight anterior neck musculature.  This will all need to be addressed.

The newer technology available is good these days, but nothing really takes the place of a thorough case history and physical examination of the tissue and function at the area of complaints.  Just make sure that the chiropractor you choose does a functional orthopedic examination of the tissue and take the x-rays for him/her to visualize.

Respectfully,
Dr. J.  Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net



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

QUESTION: Do you also think that I should get a second opinion with a Orthopedic specialist, to review my MRI and X-rays to see if they see anything different?

Answer
Daniel,

No, I think that would be a waste of money.  Radiologists tell it just like they see it, and minor degenerative disc disease will not get anybody excited because it is a very common finding.  The problem here lies with the fact that medical doctors do not treat these types of problems.  If it doesn't require emergency medical care, or surgery, they will likely do nothing other than give you pain meds and muscle relaxers.

Not to mention, medical doctors do not care about the structure of the spine...so if your neck curve was totally reversed, they wouldn't do anything about it...they might not even tell you because they have no way to treat it.  Believe me when I tell you this is a chiropractic issue...we are the ones who treat these types of problems, and we will analyze the spine much differently that a medical doctor does.

You have to realize their training focuses on internal organ dysfunction, pathology, sickness, drugs, and surgery.  If you do not fall within those categories you will likely be dismissed...it is just a limitation of their education.  Even an orthopedist is somewhat limited...their diagnostic skill are better in these cases, however, they will either inject the area of compliant or do surgery for the most part...that is what they are trained to do.

You do not fall into the medical management category right now for this issue.  However, if you do not address it and the discs continue to degenerate, you will eventually fall into the pain management or neurosurgical category and then they will do something about it.

Go see a chiropractor...pick a good one and have this checked out.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net