Question
Hi Lawrence,

After an injury that I sustained on a roller coaster injury a few years ago, I'm still having problems. I got diagnosed with severe whiplash to the point where I couldn't even support my head and had to wear a hard collar for 2 weeks, then a soft collar for a month or so after that.  Off and on I've had numbness in my hands, tingling, and twitching in my legs (and pain, needless to say).  Now, 2 years later, I'm starting to have more severe headaches, numbness in my face, visual disturbances, severe twitching and spasms in my limbs (to the point where I can't grip objects anymore and spill drinks in my hand), in addition to the back and neck pain.  After going to many doctors, I finally got a diagnosis of brachial and cervical plexus neuralgia.  The doctor then put me on Neurontin (400 mg), Lidoderm patches, and Zanaflex (as needed).  I'm starting physical therapy and acupuncture as well.

I just wanted to know if this sounds like an appropriate course of treatment in your opinion.  I'd also like to ask, do you know anything about the diagnosis?  What does brachial plexus and cervical plexus neuralgia mean?

Lastly, do you know anything about Neurontin?  I heard that it causes a significant amount of weight gain, and I'd really like to avoid that if at all possible.  I know that the dose is very low, but I'm only 15, 5'2", and 105 pounds, so even a little weight gain would show up on me.  (I know this should be the least of my concerns, but I just lost nearly 30 pounds, and I don't want to gain it all back.)

Thanks so much for you time and any info!

Answer
Dear Britney,

Your description is typical of muscular contractions the follow whiplash injuries, that, in turn, trap and compress nerves that go down the arms from the neck.  That's the neuralgia.  Headaches also result from neck muscles in contraction.

No drug can correct the problem, which is to say that your doctors have not prescribed the correct approach.  You need to recover control of those muscles, which is a learning process involving techniques of patterned movement.

It would be most direct to read the article on whiplash injuries at somatics.com/page4.htm.  Understand the situation; options for correction are provided.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold