Question
I have had 3 car crashes and have lived with pain for the last 11 yrs, I had neck and back injuries from the car crashes, and for a while they have been ok, I have good and bad days, I work full time but for the past 9 weeks I have been swallowing pain killers like smarties.

Ok for my CT scan
this is how my doctor explained it....ok something is pushing on something else and that something else is pushing on something else, thats why your in pain.  I had to ask for more pain killers.

ok results
Technique: Contiguous axial scans from c2 to T1 are followed by angled slices through the discs from c3 - 4 through to c6 - 7.

Findings: A mild right paracentral disc protrusion is demonstrated at c5-6 (arrowed) with impingement on the anterior aspect of the chord to the right of the midline.

No futher evidence of focal disc protrusion throughout the region examined although the posterior disc margin at c7-T1 is difficult to fully assess due to beam hardening artefact related to the shoulders.

No significant central canal or foraminal narrowing detected and apophyseal joints appear within normal limits.

Sagittal diameter of the spinal canal is at the lower limits of normal at the c5 and c6 vertebral levels

conclusion: mild right paracentral disc protrusion at c5-c6.

I don't know what this really means, my chiropractor said it will take a long time to fix this, with very regular visits.

Thanks
Tara

Answer
Tara,
You have multiple misalignments in your spine and that has caused the disc between the C5 and C6 vertebrae to shift over or "stick out".  Therefore you should be seeing a chiropractor for this, so I am glad that you are.  It is true that this will take a long time, but you should see some decent progression at about 12 months of care.  If you do not at least see some progression at that point, then you will want to contact me to find you a more detailed or specific doctor.
The thing to know is this, Chiropractic Works and if for some reason you don't think that it is, then it is not ChiropracTIC but it is the ChiropracTOR.  You do not want to go and do something costly (in both health and wealth) like surgery.  That should be reserved for the absolute last resort.  So at this point I would say that you should continue on your Chiropractic visits and follow the recommendations of your Doctor.

Yours in Best Health,
Dr Robert Arnone
Upper Cervical Specific Doctor