Question
I was in two car accidents 1)in '03 was rear-ended and received a broken coccyx and whiplash 2)in '04 someone pulled out infront of me I received cervical alignment demonstrates straightening with kyphotic hyperangulation with the apex at C3-4,disc bulge at C5-6 w/superimposed central and left paramedian disc protrusion impressing on the ventral thecal sac and a central and left paramedian disc protrusion at C6-7 impressing on the ventral thecal sac + discogenic disease,spondylosis,and diffuse posterior disc bulge at T11-12,at l4-5 left-sided and left lateral HNP impressing on the thecal sac as the left L5 nerve root exits and compromises the L4 nerve root in the antior recess.I have been give many different drugs for pain,did therapy for 2 yrs,trigger point injections none  of this has worked.I was told recently by my pain management the clinically they can give me drugs and injections if I wanted but that medically they can no longer help me.I do not know what to do.I am 31 yrs old and have two children one autistic 14 yr old and a 5 yr old.I can no longer play with them or do the things that I used to.Half the time I can not move.My legs give out or just do not work and my left arm does the same.I have numbness,stiffness,tingling,burning,pain,loss of feeling in my back.I have numbness,tingling,stiffness,loss of feeling and pain in my left leg.I have numbness,tingling,loss of feeling,burning,pain down my neck over left shoulder and down left arm.I just  do not know what to do or think.They tell me that it is muscular skeletal but do not tell me anything else.They also told me that I will never recover from this and that I will never work or function right again.I just want a name for this or something?Please help if you can.

Answer
Dear Tara,

I sympathize with your plight, we see patients like you in our clinic often.  Although you have been through the ringer and have come up short, there is still some hope.  You are now in what we call the chronic pain stage due to the amount of injury and scar formation that has taken place.  This stage is predominant with abnormal neurological pain transmission and dysfunction and is very hard to treat.  With the findings you have on MRI, I am surprised that you had not mentioned the possibility of surgical intervention to reduce the bulging disks, as we often see this approach in the medical community.

There are a few option left to try that have shown success where others have failed.  The first approach, and one you have not mentioned is chiropractic care.  This is normally the initial approach with care concerning car crash patients due to the types of soft tissue damage that we see in whiplash type injuries.  Chiropractors have been on the fore front of the research into these injuries for years and would have been the most logical choice for management in the begriming of care.  Unfortunately most medical doctors and physical therapists have no training in whiplash injuries or the rehabilitation of these injuries.  I want you to check out a website on this:  www.srisd.com  is the Spine Research Institute of San Diego's website and it is loaded with correct information.

With the kyphotic angulation of the neck, you need to undergo structural correction of the neck to regain your curve.  There are many doctor who claim they know how to do this, but most do not, and have not attained the proper tanning to handle the problem.  I frequently see patients after car crashed with structural problems in the neck:  ligament tearing, disk bulges and reversed curves.  We do some acute care management of the patient to reduce their pain levels and then start with functional and structural rehabilitation of the neck to correct the problem.  For more information on this check out www.idealspine.com   for more information.

After reading the above two websites, you should have a much better idea of how correction can be obtained and why it is important to do so.  I would encourage you to then follow-up with more specific questions about your case and management, and I would be glad to address them.

Now, another option is intervertebral disk decompression.  This is performed with a machine that utilizes specific traction protocols for the reduction of pain, and the attempt at rehydrating the disk tissue.  Studies report an 86% improvement in pain concerning the low back, but more research is pending.  I like the technology, but many doctors are charging high prices for the therapy ($4000 to $6000).  The names of the best machines I am aware of are the Acccuspina, the DRX 9000, and Spinal Aid.  You can research IDD Therapy, or do a google search on the name of the machines to find more comprehensive information.  the option is worth exploring.  I cannot give you a personal account as we do not have these machines in our practice and I have not used them for patient care yet.

Additionally, you should probably seek the advise of a good personal injury attorney on these matters due to your ongoing problems and their effect on your life.  It is likely that you medical bills will continue to rise and function may decrease if this is not handled appropriately.  You are at a disadvantage for recovery due to the length of time it has been problematic and the fact that appropriate care was not rendered soon after the crashes.  I additionally can sen you more information on the management of injury as we approach it in out clinic if you would like, but it is too much for this forum.  Shoot me an e-mail from my website, and I would be more than happy to forward the information on to you by attaching it to an e-mail.

Good luck Tara, and don't give up.

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