Question
On July 30 2004 I fell asleep on my back with my head on the arm rest of a couch. I believe I may have put out my upper back. The following day I was working with a moving company when I injured my back. I lifted a cabinet down some stairs while walking backwards. After I had a severe headache. I ignored the pain and kept on working. I then lifted a big screen T.V up some stairs. My headache symptoms escalated as I began to feel dizzy. I then ignored the symptoms and kept on working. The dizziness symptoms got worse and worse as I kept on lifting objects.  These symptoms escalated to the point where I got so dizzy I could not stand up, I felt severe pain in my upper back, my face went numb and my ears started to ring. These symptoms lasted for about half and hour then I was left with a headache and minor dizziness. I returned to the moving company on August 13, 2004. While working, I lifted a dresser up some stairs when I heard a crack in my neck/upper back. I had a headache for the rest of the day. After the injury I had constant headaches and my dizziness symptoms reappeared when I was shoveling dirt, working out, or working (I work at a slate company which I cut, glue, and grind slate. I work with my head down all day.) On August 27 2004 I rolled on a wooden back roller. I then noticed I got dizzy when I jogged. I have attended many sessions both at the chiropractor and physio and they have not seamed to help. I have had x rays done on my upper back and next and there has been no apparent problem. My headaches are not as severe and do not come as frequently although my dizziness symptoms have not gotten any better. Can you please help me find a diagnosis for this injury so I can know what to do in order to let my injury heal?
Thank you kindly

Answer
Hi,

The dizziness and headaches you describe are typical of neck muscle contractions which, through connections to the brain, affect the balance centers of the ears and the eyes.

Your heavy work and head position has probably set your whole muscular tension to a higher than normal level.  That makes you vulnerable to such otherwise innocuous actions as sleeping with your head on the armrest of a couch or lifting something heavy.

To get to the point, it sounds like you need to retrain your muscular system.  It takes a bit of work, but it's certainly something you can do, and if you don't do it, it's unlikely your symptoms will go away, for good.

Understand that your muscular system is controlled by your brain, which learns that control through conditioning.  So, you need a conditioning program that resets your muscular tensions back to the normal range.  Stretching and skeletal adjustments won't do it.

May I suggest you read the article on whiplash injuries (which pertains to neck injuries, in general) at somatics.com/page4.htm (cut and paste this address into your web-browser).

Options are provided for brain-muscle conditioning programs at that website.  The one I would recommend for you is "Free Yourself from Back Pain."  It's work, but it works.  You can get a free preview of that program by sending email to [email protected].

with regard,
Lawrence Gold