Question
I appreciate you taking the time to read this, i am serving our country in afghanistan and cannot get proper  medical advice out here right now.  A few days ago i started experiencing severe back pain in the mid to lower back as well as neck soreness when i would wake up.  I also had a hard time getting back to sleep because a full breath would hurt my lower back area not matter what position i slept in. I noticed a day after that when i would take in a full breath my right chest/back area would hurt a little and i would hear small pop, almost like when you crack a knuckle, in my chest area and sometimes in my spinal area.  I am also noticing that my right side feels like it is getting tight and stiff.  When i shrug my shoulders my right shoulder does not want to go all the way up and it feels very tight and stiff when i wake up from sleeping or just let it stay in a relaxed position.  Also, when o pinch my shoulder blades together my right side feels extremely tight and feels like it knots up right below/on my right shoulder blade.  From everything ive read this seems like some sort of rib injury although i have not read about anyone experiencing shoulder or neck pain from a rib injury.  I am also wondering if running or working out would be ok.  I will have a chance to see a chiropractor in about 2 weeks also if that would help.  I apologize for the long question i was just trying to be as detailed as possible and any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Cory,
First of all I want to say THANK YOU, for your efforts which allow me and my family to continue to enjoy our freedom in america!
I would suggest that you go to see a chiropractor when you can but it would only be if that chiro uses x-rays before he would do any kind of adjustment.  I also want you to know that if you do have a subluxation (this is when C1 and/or C2 are locked in the wrong position and interfering with nerve force flow) this can cause the rest of the spine to compensate and get into the wrong position as well.  As a result of the added pressure upon the brainstem, the tone of the muscles down the spine on either side become asymmetrical and one hip gets pulled higher which makes one leg appear shorter than the other.
When you have a leg length discrepancy this is an effect from the upper cervical subluxation and it causes added pressure on joints when you walk/jog/run on them.
Therefore, yes, running would make things worse in this instance.  But once you were aligned properly and checking to see that the alignment is maintained, then you can run and pound on the joints with the weight being distributed more evenly and less damage accruing as a result.
I hope that this gives you a good perspective of how this process occurs and more of what is likely happening with your body.

Yours in Best Health,
Dr Robert Arnone
Upper Cervical Specific Doctor
"Brainstem Specialist"
711 Old Ballas Road
St Louis, MO 63141
(314) 995-5719