Question
Leg and feet tingle, aching shoulders and back
I'm 6'1'' 170lbs, 45 yoa and have no medical problems.
After 10 yrs of driving vans and suvs we recently purchased a R350 Mercedes. My wife and I both test drove the vehicle and all was fine.
We had to travel the next week ( 257 miles ) and I began to have a tingling sensation in my right leg and foot, as if it they were asleep about 3 miles into the ride. I stopped several times to stretch. When we arrived, My lower back and shoulders were tired and aching. I have never experienced this before in my son's car ( Mercury Marquis ).
I so hate this because it is such a nice riding car and we are purchasing it now. On the return trip it was not that bad. I just drove to the store, .8 miles and these symptoms began in just that short ride.
I drive an Armada as my primary vehicle and have no problems.
What can be done to help my situation, so that I can enjoy this veh with my family ?...Meds or treatments..I'm stumped...
Oh...I do workout on weights 3/4 times weekly...no problems here.
Answerperipheral neuropathy , postural neuropathy ,
Hello Mike,
Congratulations on the new car. Sorry to hear of your aches and pains.
You state: "....45 yoa and have no medical problems....." ; but you have "....Leg and feet tingle, aching shoulders and back....I began to have a tingling sensation in my right leg and foot, as if it they were asleep ... lower back and shoulders were tired and aching...." ; ,,, these aches and pains are your body telling you that you do have some underlying problem.
The other vehicles you drive are large, spacious vehicles: Armada, Marquis. These vehicles have very upright seating with space. The Mercedes-- similar?, different seat style, different posture?
Take a look at the differences in the seat, seated posture, lumbar support, distance to pedals, knee room, something is aggravating your spine.
From your description you sound tall, 6'1", probably long limbed, log legs, long arms: check your posture differences in the vehicles.
"What can be done to help my situation, so that I can enjoy this veh with my family ?...Meds or treatments....", If I had to take a medication to drive a particular car,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I would not drive that car. Medications have myriad side effects.
In my Staten Island Chiropractic office I utilize informational handouts - - here is some information you may find interesting:
PAIN / Numbness
Pain / numbness is a 憆ed light on the dashboard?
Pain/numbness 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/numbness,
pain/numbness in your body-
-- do you ignore it until your body breaks down, or do you get it checked and correct the problem?
Pain/numbness
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 MEDICATION:
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/numbness 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.
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, 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
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(from: Death by Medicine
By Gary Null, PhD; Carolyn Dean MD, ND; Martin Feldman, MD; Debora Rasio, MD; and Dorothy Smith, PhD ):
Be careful of medication:
As shown in the following table, the estimated total number of iatrogenic deaths梩hat is, deaths induced inadvertently by a physician or surgeon or by medical treatment or diagnostic procedures?in the US annually is 783,936. It is evident that the American medical system is itself the leading cause of death and injury in the US . By comparison, approximately 699,697 Americans died of heart in 2001, while 553,251 died of cancer.(U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics Report, vol. 51, no. 5, March 14, 2003 . )
Table 1: Estimated Annual Mortality and Economic Cost of Medical Intervention
Condition - Deaths - Cost - Author
Adverse Drug Reactions 106,000 $12 billion Lazarou, Suh
Medical error 98,000 $2 billion IOM
Bedsores 115,000 $55 billion Xakellis, Barczak
Infection 88,000 $5 billion Weinstein, MMWR
Malnutrition 108,800 ----------- Nurses Coalition
Outpatients 199,000 $77 billion Starfield, Weingart
Unnecessary Procedures 37,136 $122 billion HCUP
Surgery-Related 32,000 $9 billion AHRQ
Total 783,936 deaths $282 billion cost
Using Leape's 1997 medical and drug error rate of 3 million(14) multiplied by the 14% fatality rate he used in 1994(16) produces an annual death rate of 420,000 for drug errors and medical errors combined. Using this number instead of Lazorou's 106,000 drug errors and the Institute of Medicine 's (IOM) estimated 98,000 annual medical errors would add another 216,000 deaths, for a total of 999,936 deaths annually. ( Leape LL. Error in medicine. JAMA . 1994 Dec 21;272(23):1851-7.
a.Brennan TA, Leape LL, Laird NM , et al. Incidence of adverse events and negligence in hospitalized patients. Results of the Harvard Medical Practice Study I. N Engl J Med . 1991 Feb 7;324(6):370-6. )
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Given your description I think your symptoms are related to the poature your new car puts you into.
Legs, feet- numb, tingling; COULD be a peripheral neuropathy, COULD be a diabetic neuropathy, but this would probably not occur ONLY in the one vehicle. Still, a visit to your local Doctor of Chiropractic for a health evaluation which includes a screening blood test and Xrays is my recommendation.
I recommend the local Doctor of Chiropractic because your DC will check for several causes of your symptoms. If referral is necessary, your Doctor could then refer you to an appropriate specialist.
I recommend the local DC because it is probable that the new posture is aggravating some underlying spinal problem: vertebral subluxation, osteo-arthritis; something that is irritating nerves to cause the symptoms you describe. This is most likely, and the Doctor of Chiropractic would be the right place to treat this cause to minimize or remove the symptoms.
Another explanatory info sheet I use in my Staten Island Chiropractic office:
Degenerative Disk Disease
DDD = Degenerative Disc Disease; DJD = Degenerative Joint Disease; = similar/ same OsteoArthritis.
Easily aggravated by certain movements or postures.
Degenerative Disc Disease (old term = DJD) is actually a quite common condition. However, the course of the condition is highly variable. Some patients with DJD literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar X-ray/ MRI findings may be able to run marathons or lift heavy weights. Some people suffer for only a few days with pain and symptoms, some people suffer for months. Although the course is highly variable, there are certain steps that are always helpful to follow: Ice the area when painful- 10/ 15minutes on, 30/ 45 minutes off; avoid certain postures and movements; bend the knees when coughing or sneezing; bend the knees when lifting anything; do not extend legs straight out when sitting, laying down, lifting, or driving. Avoiding certain movements and postures will prevent aggravation of the condition. Practicing good postures and movement patterns will help the condition heal and be less painful. DDD, DJD, OsteoArthritis, - deteriorating discs (disk) is/ are often caused by, or often concurrent with the Vertebral Subluxation Complex. VSC is a misalignment which hastens deterioration of the joints involved.
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 joints, and can cause osteo-arthritic degeneration, Degenerative Disk Disease, degenerative joint disease, etc.
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.
Subluxation 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.
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. Inflammed Discs can easily bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may also 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. When subluxated, joints are in a stressed, vulnerable, compromised condition. Subluxation may cause Arthritis, Disk Herniation, Disk Degeneration, 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; Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, 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
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To summarize:
The posture the new car puts you in is causing irritation/ aggravation of some underlying condition. A Doctor of Chiropractic will be able to evaluate and rule out/ rule in the cause of your complaints. Be careful of taking a medication to cover up the problem.
I hope this answer and information helps.
If further info is needed, do not hesitate to
re-contact me here at AllExperts.com
( http://allexperts.com/ep/965-100794/Chiropractors/Victor-Dolan-DC-DACBSP.htm )
Thank You,
your Staten Island Chiropractor friend signing off,
Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com (email newsletter)
http://www.SIautoaccident.com
