Question
I am seeing a chiropractor for health concerns, such as allergies and overall health.  He is also a kinesiologist.  As part of his treatment he always performs an adjustment.  I probably received six adjustments of the neck and the back using a device that seems to just mildly punch in the spot.  It sounds like a stapler, but I never saw it.  On one visit, he did an adjustment along my spine that seemed to be more forceful than usually.  It seemed as if he was holding an instrument and hitting it with another.  When he did this.  I felt a quick shock along my spine.  I had no pain or discomfort at that time.  I took a hot bath the next night just to relax.  The next day, I noticed I started having discomfort while sitting in my chair at work.  I also noticed that my arm sensation seemed a little off.  I also noticed a popping in my back, when I twisted to the right.  It feels like something is catching. When I looked at my back, there was a bright red spot in the area that he had adjusted. Over a month later, I still have discomfort. I feel mainly achy and sore in my upper back and the pain shifts (if my back feels good, my neck feels bad, if my arm sensation feels normal, then my back slightly aches), accompanied by a burning sensation sometimes in the tripezus area. I can sit for longer periods of time and I would describe the overall feeling as mild annoyance.  I am currently seeing another chiropractor, now to help get rid of the remaining discomfort.  In his opinion, I have pressure on my nerves. And he is focusing on my neck to help with the arm sensation. I have also been told I have muscle strain from my primary doctor.  I am confused.

My question is since it has been over a month, do I have any reason to believe that this will not continue to get better on its own?  Do you have any explanation for what happened?  Also everytime I take a hot bath since, my back feels more achying and sore, and my arm sensation is a little off, is this just inflammation that will go away on its own?  Also, I have completely mobility but its a strain on my neck in the morning to bend forward as if I was touching my toes.  I have started exercising with a personal trainer since, will this help the healing process?  I am 34 great diet, small body weight, and no health issues beside mild allergies.

Answer
Tracy,

It sounds like you received an instrument-delivered force to your joint and it strained or sprained your joint.   If you've ever sprained an joint, even jammed a finger, you may recall it takes a while for the swollen joint to alleviate.  This is one possible scenario, that you had a sprain to a spinal joint.   Another is that the instrument(s) used caused some other irritation to the surrounding fascia (connective tissue).   That's the only explanation plausable.  Other factors may include whether you had some other underlying issue, or if you provoked your symptoms by something you did at home or work the next day.   Regardless, what you are describe sounds very treatable.   I would hope your current DC employs Active Release or Graston Technique and that you continue exercising.  This should resolve.

'Hope this helps.

Dr. G