QuestionQUESTION: I'm 32 years old and for about as long as I can remember, I've had issues with my shoulder muscles in upper back. They seem to almost always be tense. When I go to roll my shoulders in a stretching motion, they almost always feel like they are cracking as muscle tension is released.
I've noticed this issue a bit more, and I'd like to know if there are any kind of dietary reasons that could cause this and/or could help to correct.
I've lost about 40lbs. and have started to exercise a bit more and I'm eating better.
Also, I'm not sure if this is related, but I've not slept well in at least 4 yrs., and so my energy levels are down a bit. I've not gone in for anykind of sleep study, and probably won't until we have insurance.
Any advice would be great!
ANSWER: Hello Mark,
I am sorry to hear about your 'tense, cracking back', sorry to hear you have not slept well for 4 years.
You sound like you have some health problems. Perhaps you have some definite diagnosable issues, but right now there is an issue about getting to a doctor ( $ ). Perhaps you can choose to BUILD HEALTH in general, and your specific issues may melt away. As the body becomes 'healthier' perhaps the body will heal itself, and your complaints disappear or diminish.
".....I'm 32 years old and for about as long as I can remember, I've had issues with my shoulder muscles in upper back. ....."- injured as a youngster?, competitive sports injuries?, poor posture?, poor movement patterns?, poor posture/ movement habits??- silly simple things= do you sleep on your stomach?= bad., Do you have a forward head posture?= bad.
'As the twig is bent, so grows the tree', if you have poor posture/ poor movement patterns- you could be building tension into your system. As you grow older this will grow worse with time. Did you injure yourself as a kid?, Car accident, collision sports?- if you took a pain killer to kill the pain, without correcting the alignment changes; your current complaints could be a progression of causes long ago.
".....They seem to almost always be tense. When I go to roll my shoulders in a stretching motion, they almost always feel like they are cracking as muscle tension is released.....", Definitely sounds like a need for a Chiropractic evaluation:
揗uscle Spasm? Neck, Midback or Shoulder(s)
Sometimes we can wake up with a muscle spasm, tightness, 慻rinding? stiff neck, or pain in our neck, mid back, or low back.... sometimes a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, or even a motor vehicle accident can cause a problem in our neck, mid back or lower back.
Ultimately- often the underlying c a u s e of the spasm and pain; is a misalignment, a 慿ink?in the neck- more properly termed a Vertebral Subluxation.
Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a. 憇ubluxation?
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.
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.
This is a serious condition identified by its five parts:
Spinal Kinesiopathology:
This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components (for example your shoulder/ neck complaints).
Neuropathophysiology:
Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.
Myopathology:
Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.
Histopathology:
A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.
Pathophysiology:
The VSC contributes to OsteoArthritic degeneration. Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.
Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol, emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
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. For good health- Treat the Cause, not just the Symptoms.
You should be careful about covering up the pain/ discomfort with pain medications. All medications have intended effects, and unintended side effects!
PAIN
Pain is a 憆ed light on the dashboard?
Pain is your body telling you that something is wrong.
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?
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) ;
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.
Pain can often be the result of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Vertebral Subluxation ( 慥SC?, 憇ubluxation? )
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.
".....I've noticed this issue a bit more, and I'd like to know if there are any kind of dietary reasons that could cause this and/or could help to correct......"- your problem sounds more bio-MECHANICAL to me then nutritional. Correct the biomechanics , you will feel better, look better, and your body will run more efficiently.
".....Also, I'm not sure if this is related, but I've not slept well in at least 4 yrs., and so my energy levels are down a bit. I've not gone in for anykind of sleep study, and probably won't until we have insurance.....", I do not know if you are still overweight.
Overweight???= lose weight and you will sleep better. Drink coffee/ soda/ caffeine ???= STOP and you will sleep better. Sedentary?= exercise more and you will sleep better. Exercise?- workout earlier, NOT later in the day, and you will sleep better.
I hope this advice helps.
My Advice: Build HEALTH everyday with the right actions and your problems should diminish!
Building health should not cost much if anything.
I would recommend a Doctor of Chiropractic for an evaluation. Chiropractic Doctors are usually less expensive then the MD, and can give you advice on exercise, posture, movement, nutrition, and so much more.
If you need further information, please, do not hesitate to RE-contact me here
at your panel of experts!
http://www.allexperts.com/ep/965-100794/Chiropractors/Victor-Dolan-DC-DACBSP.htm
your Staten Island Chiropractic expert !!!
Thank you for this good question.
I wish you good luck in returning to good health- naturally!
Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
Email newsletter. . . . . . http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks for the advice. One thing that I did forget to mention was that I have gone to chiropractor for years, although I haven't gone recently, and this issue was still present.
Also, the sleeping issue was initiated by going through a couple of miscarriages with my wife. (very stressful....) Things have remained stressful, but from different reasons.
I've felt that this issue can be fixed by healthy choices, etc. I'm just wondering what direction to go.
One issue that might be at the root cause is that I do drink coffee, although this is something that I've always had.
Could there be toxins in body that I might be able to get rid of with a fast or cleanse?
AnswerHello Mark,
Thank you for the followup question.
As discussed, I will talk about 'building health'.
While I am trained to think bio-mechanically primarily, a nutritional approach may be helpful as well!
Stress, even allopathic medical physicians agree- can cause anything and everything. Ridding your body of stress through Yoga, Massage, Chiropractic, removing caffeine, removing toxins should be helpful.
De-toxification is not hard once you have made up your mind. Again, NOT smoking, Not drinking alcohol or caffeine, drinking plenty of filtered pure water (1/3- 1/2 your body weight (lbs) in ounces every day- ie: weigh 100 lbs, drink 33-50 ozs, if you weigh 200 lbs, drink 66-100 ounces).
Good Detox regimen:
http://www.standardprocess.com/display/StandardProcessCatalog.spi?ID=45
http://scottandamyasay.blogspot.com/2009/07/standard-process-cleanse-bring-on.ht
I hope this helps, I wish you luck!
Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
