Question
In August 2001 I jumped off a 70' high bridge into the Columbia river while on
vacation in Washington. I crushed my T-10, T-11, and seven ribs. I always
thought I broke my neck, too, but they never x-rayed it, they were more
worried about my back. I've had severe pain in my back since it happened, and
now have intermittent severe pain in my left hip area and a shock type pain
deep in my left buttocks area, and my left leg gives way, and I've fallen several
times as a result. I started to drink heavily about 2005, and my feet have been
going numb in the last five months. I also had a car accident in 10/07, and
they found a fracture or fractures in my neck. They had me in a neck brace in
ICU, but subsequently found it to be an old fracture. I'd like to know if my hip
pain and the electric shock feeling in my butt, and my numb feet are from the
vertebrae. I have a feeling my feet could be alcohol neuralgia, but I don't
know. I know these problems are complicated but if you can please answer
them. Thank you very much.....randy

Answer
Hello Randy,


Sorry to hear of your complaints.  I am sorry to hear of your pain.


".....In August 2001 I jumped off a 70' high bridge into the Columbia river while on vacation in Washington.....", not trying to be funny,,, this could certainly be the cause of a lot of neuro-musculo-skeletal problems;  Initial acute traumatic problems, chronic degenerative long term problems.


"....I crushed my T-10, T-11, and seven ribs....."- did you land on your feet?- does sound like it.  Did you land on your head?- probably not- you would have had skull/ cervical fractures.  T10, T11 fractures?- shows the severity of the trauma- nice big strong vertebrae!- difficult to crush.  Problems here- fractures?,,, definitely traumatic damage done elsewhere.  They MUST have performed Cervical Xrays; heck,,, they should have Xrayed everything given the MOI (mechanism of injury).

"....I always thought I broke my neck, too, but they never x-rayed it, they were more worried about my back.....".  I cannot believe they did not Xray your neck.  They must have- recheck the records!

"....I've had severe pain in my back since it happened, and
now have intermittent severe pain in my left hip area and a shock type pain deep in my left buttocks area, and my left leg gives way, and I've fallen several times as a result....."
         My Mom fractured her second lumbar vertebrae in a Staten Island  automobile accident in 1983- I had just become a Doctor of Chiropractic.  Since we immediately PROPERLY treated her (stable) lumbar fracture PROPERLY- she rarely has low back pain or sciatica.  WE treated it PROPERLY, it healed.

Mom does have frequent problems in the cervical spine. Why?- she never 'broke her neck', but she did 'break her back'! Why would she hurt worse in her neck ???
         She hurts worse in her neck because years ago- even before I was born, she had stiff necks.  Stiff necks and did the 'usual' American thing--- she took an aspirin or a painkiller or a muscle relaxant.  These medications killed the pain, but did nothing to correct the CAUSE of the problem.  "Little" stiff necks through the years added up to severe osteoarthritis in later years- pain and dysfunction.  But, a BROKEN BACK properly cared for- gives her little or no discomfort!

"...now have intermittent severe pain in my left hip area and a shock type pain deep in my left buttocks area, and my left leg gives way, and I've fallen several times as a result....." - certainly can be a radiation from that T10/ T11/ lumbar spine area.

"....I also had a car accident in 10/07, and
they found a fracture or fractures in my neck.....", fracture/ fractures - sheesh, what kind of doctors do you have?  Was it a fracture?  Was it fractureSSS ?  Was it a sprain/ strain?
This is YOUR body.  Take control.  ASK questions.  GET answers.  CHANGE doctors.

"....They had me in a neck brace in ICU, but subsequently found it to be an old fracture....."  So. it is not a fracture, but WHEN was it fractured?  Are we sure it WAS fractured?  Maybe severe osteoarthritis?

".....I'd like to know if my hip pain and the electric shock feeling in my butt, and my numb feet are from the vertebrae....."  possibly.
Have you had an EMG? an MRI to evaluate for nerve irritation, nerve damage, 'pinched nerves' ?

".....I have a feeling my feet could be alcohol neuralgia, but I don't know....."  possibly.

".....I know these problems are complicated but if you can please answer them....." ,  I cannot answer these questions long distance.

These are EASY questions for your in-person, hands-on Doctor who sees you/ treats you.

MRI, EMG, Doppler studies will let us know if there is nerve involvement, if there is circulation involvement.  You may even be diabetic with a diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

See your local Doctor of Chiropractic for examination and referral for appropriate testing, or your family MD for appropriate testing.

Don't sit and moan.  This is YOUR body.  Get examined, Get a proper diagnosis, then get proper treatment.  If these SYMPTOMS are from a musculo-skeletal cause, the Doctor of Chiropractic could help you tremendously.  If these symptoms are CAUSED by metabolic dysfunction, then an appropriate Medical Specialist could be of help.


I hope this helps. If you need further info, do not hesitate to recontact me
here at:
http://allexperts.com/ep/965-100794/Chiropractors/Victor-Dolan-DC-DACBSP.htm



Thank You, Good Luck.

Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
Email NewsLetter: http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com