QuestionLately i have had pain between my shoulder blades. I have been looking for exercises on the Internet, but cant seem to find any. Also I have been in two car accidents( 10, months apart) where i sustained whiplash. No health insurance. After the car insurance discontinued my benefits, ( i was going to a chiropractor after both accidents), my neck is sore when i move it either left or right, can feel it in the back of neck also. Would like some exercises for that also. thank you
Answerwhiplash, MVA, Motor Vehicle Accident, car crash, pain, pain between the shoulder blades, sore neck, exercises, chiropractic,
Hello Mary,
Sorry to hear of your condition. Sorry to hear of your pain.
Two car accidents ( MVA 's ) in ten months,,,, sounds like you live in Staten Island , NY - or some similar congested place ! Staten Island MVA s keep me busy !!!
Motor Vehicle Accidents ( MVAs) often result in 'Whiplash' type injuries (cervical sprain/ strain, Cervical Acceleration Deceleration injury). Whiplash still occurs, even with lap and shoulder seat belts, even with safety airbags. Sometimes the full symptomatology of whiplash is not felt for days or weeks after the trauma. Many people scoff at whiplash,,, until they get involved in an automobile accident- and develop pain and symptoms WEEKS after the injury.
Pain between the Shoulder Blades: certainly we would want to look between your shoulder blades. Look at the shoulder blades themselves, the thoracic spine, perhaps even the heart and lungs. But, the chances of problems in the heart/ lungs is very very very small. The chances of the problems originating in the thoracic spine/ blades is small. GIVEN YOUR history; the pain you are feeling between your shoulder blades is probably from your auto accident injury. The pain in your upper back probably radiates ( or refers ) FROM your cervical spine. The whiplash injury hurts your C-spine, and perhaps some of your T-spine.
Given your history, the pain you are feeling comes from the auto accident whiplash. Probably extending from your neck downward.
I am NOT a lawyer, perhaps you should go to allexperts- lawyers and ask some advice. It sounds like this comes from your MVAs.
Do you have Xray evidence (ie '...loss of the normal cervical curve...') of cervical sprain/ strain? Do you have MRI evidence of cervical acceleration/ deceleration injury (ie loss of curve, ligamentous laxity, herniated disc) ? Do you have EMG/ncv evidence of nerve damage from these auto accidents? If you have EVIDENCE such as these tests, perhaps a lawyer could get you the additional care necessary for your condition.
This seems to be a spinal problem. This seems to be a problem caused by the auto accidents. This does seem to be a 'fixable' or at least manage-able problem with proper care. This seems to be a chiropractic type problem. If at all possible, se a Doctor of Chiropractic, communicate your health concerns and your financial concerns; perhaps some accommodation could be reached.
Some information handouts I utilize in my Staten Island Chiropractic office:
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揥hiplash? ( Also Known As- Cervical Sprain/ Strain, CAD= Cervical Acceleration/ Deceleration Injury)
Sometimes a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, or a motor vehicle accident can cause a 慦hiplash Injury? This can result in ligament sprain, muscle strain, and 憄inched nerves?
Often - the c a u s e of the neck stiffness and pain; a cause of stretched ligaments and muscle strain is a misalignment, a 慿ink?in the neck- more properly termed a Vertebral Subluxation. Sometimes 慦hiplash?symptoms can come immediately, sometimes days, weeks or even months after the actual trauma !
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.
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:
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.
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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Disk Herniation
Herniated disk is actually a quite common condition. However, the course of the condition is highly variable. Some patients with a herniated disk literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar 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.
Disk Herniation is often caused by, or often concurrent with the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
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.
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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).
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). Only a Doctor of Chiropractic will evaluate and treat for VSC. 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.
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P.R.I.C.E. = P protection. R rest. I ice. C compression. E elevation.
Hurt yourself ?? injury/ trauma/ bruise/ not even sure - - a broken bone ??
You should certainly get to the Doctor or trained health professional to be examined if you think it is bad enough. BUT in the meantime, some simple steps may help. PRICE.
The PRICE protocol will usually help just about any musculoskeletal injury.
P = Protection; protect the area from further injury- stop what you are doing, can you
pad or bandage the area ? Tape the area? Do something to protect the area !
R = Rest; rest the area as much as possible, if a part is damaged, give the body time to
repair the area
I = Ice; ice is a potent anti-inflammatory; it will slow swelling, help with pain control
(ice is analgesic), place ice over cloth over the injured area for 5, 10 minutes, off the
injured area for 30 minutes; then back on again
C = Compression; to help prevent swelling compression may be helpful- for example
if it is an ankle, wrap the ankle with an ace bandage and ice the area. Many body
parts may not be applicable to compression.
E = Elevation; again to fight swelling and pain, raising the injured body part above the
heart may be helpful- ie raise an ankle or knee, you lay down, raise the injured part
PRICE may help : Sprains, Strains, musculo-skeletal injury, bruise, contusion
Sometimes a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, athletic injury, or a motor vehicle accident can cause a bump or bruise, sprain or strain. Sometimes also involved with the injury is a vertebral subluxation (or other joint subluxation) (subluxation is a mechanical problem- of any joint- and requires a mechanical correction). In the spine, a sprain/strain is a misalignment, a 慿ink?in the joint, a stretch of the muscles, tendons and/ or ligaments:- more properly termed a Vertebral Subluxation. Sometimes symptoms can come immediately, sometimes days, weeks or even months later!- Well after the actual trauma !!!
Spinal = Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a. 憇ubluxation? ; ( subluxation COULD be any joint )
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.
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Exercises:
Exercise for between the shoulder blades, upper back is difficut to describe, and this is a difficult body part to isolate.
I hope you have a good imagination to follow along my (poor) verbal description of exercises I would try:
First, to stretch the neck and upper back-
Sitting or standing, I would
1) tuck my chin to my chest, try to tuck - touch my chin to my chest
one direction at a time
2) raise my chin, look towards the sky, try to touch the back of
my head to my midback one direction at a time
3) head back to neutral, bend left- try to touch my left ear to my
left shoulder do NOT reaise the shoulder, try to bring
the ear down to the shoulder no head rotation one direction
at a time
4) head back to neutral position, bend right - try to touch my
right ear to my right shoulder. no head rotation. one
direction at a time. do not bring shoulder up to ear -
bring ear down to whoulder.
5) head back to neutral position, no tilt, not bending down or
back. Head rotation to the left. eyes level, turn your head
(rotate) to the left. go as far as comfortable. no tilt,
no bend, no lean included; just rotation
one direction, one vector, one movement at a time
6) Head back to neutral, rotate head to the right (see above)
each direction, ONE direction, one vector, one component at a time.
do NOT roll the head (as seen in the OLD aerobics tapes)
.
.
next, I would roll the shoulders. DO NOT ROLL THE HEAD, but yes, roll the shoulders; forward, backward clockwise, counterclockwise; almost like some funky dance.
These two exercises (stretches) should prove helpful.
Slow and easy- >PAIN< ? .... stop if painful.
Slow and easy, no fast moves, no jerky moves.
Thank You for the question. In my Staten Island Chiropractic office I handle a lot of Motor Vehicle Accidents with consequent injury such as whiplash. I hope this info helps.
Good Luck, this Staten Island Chiropractor wishes you- Good Health Naturally!,
Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com (email newsletter)
