Question
Hello Shawn,

I was injured back in 1984 in a training accident. I was part of a hand to hand combat demonstration when the instructor, using me, demonstrated a "hip throw". During the throw he lost his grip and dropped me with all my weight on the back of my head/neck and shoulders. In what is a "pile driver" type of injury. My legs came up over my head.

I was transported to the local hospital with pain from the back of my head to 2" below my shoulder blades. I was eventually treated and released some time later.

In about 1990 I began to developed very severe migraines and neck pain. After several years of treatment I progressively got worse and had C4/C5 fusion surgery with partial relief.

In about 1995 I began to develop lower back pain which progressively got worse over the years and in 2003 I I eventually was confined to a wheelchair, I then had L5/S1 fusion and rod placement. With some relief.

My question is do you think its possible that the injury I described caused the lower back problems? The neck problems were already found to be related. How likely do you think it is related?

Thank you for all the time you spend answering questions as a volunteer.  

Answer
Dear Chris,

Obviously the neck injury was a direct result form the fall while at the demonstration, but the low back is hard to link.

The initial trauma to the neck could have masked injury to the low back, but this is not usually the case, as you are more likely to experience pain and dysfunction in both areas at the time of injury.  What may be more likely is that as the neck injury progressed over time, your movement patterns and weight being motions may have been affected adversely in the low back as well.  Without knowing a full history concerning other accidents, sporting activities or additional imaging of the spine before the latest episodes, it is really hard to determine.  

It is often the case that individuals who train heavily and participate in sports/athletics/martial arts have degenerative conditions that cannot be related to a specific event, but are rather cased by the cumulative stress of the sports and smaller injuries that were played through or not addressed.

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