Question
QUESTION: I broke my neck in 1984.  C6 was cracked, C7 was crushed and completely removed.  I was 14 at the time and pushed into a pool.  They took bone from my hip and fused C6 to T1.  I was diagnosed with Brown-Sequard syndrome and called an incomplete quadriplegic.  I had an incredible recovery.  All is well other then a tiring right leg/foot on occasion and a decreased sensation in the other leg/foot.  Fast forward to Spring of this year (2007).  While driving to the beach I couldn't get comfortable.  My neck was sore (which happened now and then, but usually with bad weather) so I rubbed it and discovered a small lump in that area.  It's now October and my neck constantly cracks (I'm talking really loud cracks here across the house).  This has never happened before.  The lump almost seems to come and go.  I do have more headaches and neck pain and it sometimes shoots up my head, down my back and sometimes into my shoulder.  I've discovered after it does crack (I've never forced it, it just happens) it temporarily feels better.  I would have seen a doctor, but we were in the process of moving.  Could this be a result from my past spinal cord injury?

ANSWER: Hi Robin,

More than likely the cause is scar tissue proliferation from the surgery. You will be surprised at the efficacy of treatment a Chiropractor can offer after cervical fractures. I would definitely give one a try since they are highly trained in treating these exact problems.



Good Luck!

Dr. Timothy Durnin

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

QUESTION: Surgery was done from the front of my neck, not the back.  I'm not sure if that changes the answer.  What exactly is scar tissue proliferation?

Answer
Hi Robin,

The surgery is always done from the front unless special circumstances necessitate a back side approach.

Scat tissue growth, just like a scar that keeps growing and attaches to surrounding healthy tissues like nerve causing them to function improperly. A front procedure would have created this, regardless of the person. All surgery creates scar tissue, in many, it strangulates nerves exiting the spine causing things father away to hurt. Just like when you hit your funny bone, you feel it in your finger tips. It;s called referred pain, ask your doctor about it as it may be the cause. Ultrasound breaks the scar tissue up, it should have been ordered, if not, get it done soon so it will be easier to contain.

Good Luck!