QuestionI am 20 years old. My back pain first started at around the age of 16 or 17. The pain was mostly muscular and I found myself with an inability to relax the muscles in between my shoulder blades and beside the base of my neck. It's sort of like telling your ears to wiggle. They don't do what your brain tells them to do.
Then, at 18, my boyfriend noticed that my upper back was extremely crooked. It curves in a backward "c" shape. One or two vertebra are extremely right-ward when viewing my back from a straightforward perspective. I have researched on the internet and no photos of scoliosis were as high on the upper back as mine appears to be. The pain is very bad. It bothers me almost every day.
I have been to two chiropractors and both identified it as a "subluxation from unidentifiable causes" and their adjustments did next to nothing because my muscles remain hard as a rock. I went to a physical therapist and she asked if I had been in a traumatic car accident. I have never been in an accident. She told me some exercises to do but after months and no results, I gave up. I went to a massage therapist and, although temporarily relieving, my pain just comes right back. I stretch every day and do everything possible to make the pain go away, including take copious amounts of ibuprofen. Four ibuprofen a day for years is only killing my liver and not solving my problem. I need help! I don't know what's wrong with my upper back but I can't relax! Anti-anxiety meds did not work either. I can provide a photo if necessary. Any advice or information would be appreciated.
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Hello Reianna,
I am sorry to hear of your problem. If I do not give an answer to your satisfaction, please do not hesitate to recontact me, or another doctor here at AllExperts.com.
I lost my home, all it's contents, and my office was damaged in the sandy hurricane that hit Midland Beach, Staten Island, NY. I am still a little shellshocked- so please forgive a brief answer.
From the beginning:
You say: "....I am 20 years old. My back pain first started at around the age of 16 or 17. The pain was mostly muscular and I found myself with an inability to relax the muscles in between my shoulder blades and beside the base of my neck. It's sort of like telling your ears to wiggle. They don't do what your brain tells them to do...."- there is wisdom in this statement:
The BRAIN and NERVOUS SYSTEM tell the body what to do. Your tight muscles are not likely to be due to an intrinsically tight muscle,,, your muscles are a symptom, your muscles are listening to the message or distorted message that your NERVOUS SYSTEM is sending.
You talk about this starting at 16 or 17 years old, so this has a three or four year head start. Arnold Schwarzenegger did not lift weights for only a month and have that huge body- it took time: it may take TIME with physical therapy, chiropractic, massage therapy, home exercises to correct this problem. Do not expect it to be 'fixed' in a couple of months.
Muscular spasm is rarely primary- muscular spasm is SECONDARY to something else- the joints/ nerves causing the muscles to get tight.
It states in your description: "....Then, at 18, my boyfriend noticed that my upper back was extremely crooked. It curves in a backward "c" shape. One or two vertebra are extremely right-ward when viewing my back from a straightforward perspective. I have researched on the internet and no photos of scoliosis were as high on the upper back as mine appears to be. The pain is very bad. It bothers me almost every day....", has a licensed professional diagnosed a 'scoliosis'? Has your local Doctor of Chiropractic, the local Orthopedic MD or Neurological MD evaluated and diagnosed you?
If you have a scoliotic curve high, you must have a scoliotic curve low as well. The curves kind of balance each other out. The eyes are always centered level over the sacrum. If you would like, yes I would like to see an Xray picture of you- AP and Lateral. Your Medical Orthopedic or your Chiropractic Doctor should have taken some imaging, some Xrays of you to evaluate the curves.
Some scoliosis starts with a congenital anomaly- a malformed vertebrae perhaps- this would be visible on Xray, CT or MRI scan. You have to have some imaging done. A curve change may also be due to a misalignment, such as vertebral subluxation - which the chiropractic doctor works on, perhaps your curve is due to a muscle spasm; but the cause of the curve has to be determined by proper evaluation.
Many Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) have specialties, many chiropractic doctors work with massage, physiotherapy, exercise to 'soften up' the muscles, and then also perform the chiropractic adjustment to correct spinal misalignment, irritation of nerves. I would suggest a doctor who has additional credentials, see: http://www.acatoday.org/pdf/ApprovedChiropracticSpecialtyPrograms.pdf
These specialists may have additional treatment modalities, along with the super-important adjustment to hit your complaint from many different angles. Where-ever you go, you will need to give the doctor TIME to correct your longstanding problem. Where-ever you go, you need a thorough examination including Xrays and maybe more.
You state, "...I went to a physical therapist and she asked if I had been in a traumatic car accident. I have never been in an accident. She told me some exercises to do but after months and no results, I gave up. I went to a massage therapist and, although temporarily relieving, my pain just comes right back. I stretch every day and do everything possible to make the pain go away..."; you may need to do ALL of this concurrently: i.e.: Chiropractic Adjustment to relieve the subluxation complex, massage to stretch and loosen the muscles, exercise and physiotherapy to stretch and loosen muscles. The reason I recommend the chiropractic doctor is because the DC often utilizes ALL of these approaches under one roof, often on the same treatment visit.
You are correct when you say, ".....I stretch every day and do everything possible to make the pain go away, including take copious amounts of ibuprofen. Four ibuprofen a day for years is only killing my liver and not solving my problem....."; EVERY medication has intended effects, and unintended side effects and complications. As much as possible, you want to limit medications due to the problems the may cause. In my Midland Beach Chiropractic office I utilize a patient handout that may be helpful to you:
PAIN
Pain is a 憆ed light on the dashboard?
RED LIGHT = Trouble !!
Pain is your body telling you that something is wrong.
Think you should listen??
That RED LIGHT on the dashboard of your car-
-- do you ignore it until the car breaks down,
or do you get it checked and correct the problem?
Pain,
pain in your body-
-- do you ignore it until your body breaks down,
or do you get it checked and correct the problem?
Pain,
do you cover up the pain by taking a painkiller?
Take a painkiller, mask the pain, and allow a problem to progress in your body?
Pain Killing medication??? = 16,000 deaths ( probably under-reported )
DEATH ! ? ! ? better watch out on those medications!!!
NOTICE ON PAIN RELIEVERS:
Label changes ORDERED by FDA; the FDA announced proposed label changes for OTC over-the-counter pain relievers to include the potential for stomach bleeding and liver damage (FDA news 206- 207; 12-9-06) ;
SIXTEEN THOUSAND DEATHS: "Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective medications for the treatment of many chronically painful medical conditions. However, it is estimated that 25% of all serious adverse drug reactions involve NSAIDs, with more than 100,000 hospitalizations and 16,000 deaths occurring annually due to NSAID-induced gastrointestinal (GI) events."----- http://hhc.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/13/6/468 Home Health Care Management & Practice, Vol. 13, No. 6, 468-475 (2001) Motrin, Advil = NSAIDS
The American Heart Association issued a scientific statement recommending medical doctors change the way they prescribe OTC pain relievers from a first choice to an alternate of recommending non-pharmacologic treatment (AHA statement 2-26-07).
NSAID Acceleration of ARTHRITIS; an important side effect of Aspirin and other NSAIDS is that it will inhibit cartilage repair and accelerate cartilage destruction ( Journal of Rheumatology, 1982; 9: 3- 5 ). Many times people take NSAIDS for the pain of Arthritis, not realizing these drugs may make the underlying condition worse. These medications cover up the pain, and cause the problem to worsen.
http://rinf.com/alt-news/business-news/prescription-drugs-kill-300-percent-more-
= An analysis of 168,900 autopsies conducted in Florida in 2007 found that three times as many people were killed by legal drugs as by cocaine, heroin and all methamphetamines put together. BE CAREFUL WITH THAT MEDICATION !!!
It was reported in 2000, that 700,000 U.S. citizens die as a result from medical causes (iatrogenics). Of course, other records and statistics had the number above the one million mark. Whether 700,000 or one million people, that's a lot of innocent people dying from visiting a hospital and trusting a medical doctor.= http://www.dherbs.com/articles/iatrogenics-99.html
Pain can often be the result of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Vertebral Subluxation is actually a quite common condition. Doctors of Chiropractic look for pathological conditions which may require referral to other specialties, and also look for 慡ubluxation? Other disciplines look for pathology, but overlook the importance of alignment and movement in the spine which affects our nervous system (the master control system- ALL health disciplines learn this). VSC- 慡ubluxation??can be the cause of many symptoms and conditions.
Only a Doctor of Chiropractic will evaluate and treat for VSC, as well as other pathology.
The course of VSC is highly variable. Some patients with VSC literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar test findings may be able to run marathons or lift heavy weights. Some patients immediately develop symptoms related to the VSC, some patients take years to develop symptoms. Some people suffer for only a few days with pain and symptoms, some people suffer for months. Some people recover in days, some take months or years, depending upon severity of the condition.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position. When subluxated, joints are in a stressed, vulnerable, compromised condition. Subluxation may cause Arthritis, Disk Herniation, or aggravate such conditions.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomate, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomate, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine; Invited to Care for USA Olympic Athletes
Chiropractor to the Championship NYPD Football Team, and the PSAL High School Football Champions (Curtis); Staten Island SPORTS Hall of Fame- Unsung Hero 2011; Selected to the Medical Staff of the Pan American Games, Guadalajara Mexico
and
specifically on NSAIDS (such as Ibuprofen):
another patient handout---------------------------------------
Please-- be VERY CAREFUL
Information freely available to the Public:
From the medical research: http://hhc.sagepub.com/content/13/6/468.abstract
揘onsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): Research to Help Your Patients Use them Safely?br>
Abstract
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective medications for the treatment of many chronically painful medical conditions. However, it is estimated that 25% of all serious adverse drug reactions involve NSAIDs, with more than 100,000 hospitalizations and 16,000 deaths occurring annually due to NSAID-induced gastrointestinal (GI) events. Advanced age; concurrent anticoagulant, aspirin, corticosteroid, or antacid use; and a history of cardiovascular disease, peptic ulcer disease, or GI hemorrhage all increase the risk of NSAID-induced gastropathy. Home care patients often have many of these characteristics. This article will provide evidence-based information about interventions that can reduce patients?NSAID-induced gastropathy risk, including knowledge gained from a home care杝pecific study.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
So, PLEASE, please be very careful when you take that aspirin, advil. Motrin厖..
Chiropractic pays the LOWEST malpractice insurance of ANY primary healthcare provider--- why? Chiropractic is SAFE, natural and effective!
PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE RISKS OF THAT MEDICINE !!!!
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomate, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomate, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine; Invited to care for USA Olympians @ Olympic Training Center 2010; Chiropractor to the CHAMPIONSHIP NYPD Football Team, and PSAL Champion Curtis Football Team ; Inducted to Staten Island SPORTS HALL OF FAME 2011, Unsung Hero
The FIRST Doctor from Staten Island Selected to the Pan American Games Medical Staff
Your closing statement: "....I need help! I don't know what's wrong with my upper back but I can't relax! Anti-anxiety meds did not work either. I can provide a photo if necessary. Any advice or information would be appreciated.....", yes you need help, you have a problem, you are making complaint, you are seeking out help.
As a chiropractic doctor, I am prejudiced towards natural approaches to health- such as Chiropractic, exercise, nutrition, massage, acupuncture--> all things I utilize in my office. I think these approaches would help you. Find a DC near you with a neurology, orthopedic, rehab, or sports injury specialty, I think we could be of help to you.
I wish you luck, and Good Health, naturally!
Dr. Vic Dolan DC
