Question
QUESTION: Over a year and a half ago I fell and hit the floor hard on my knees, then fell forward on all fours.  Result; I cannot sit without sparks of intense pain in my calves, shins, ankles, toes, buttocks.  An MRI revealed that I had partially torn my hamstrings and had bone marrow edema.  I go to a chiropractor for adjustments to my hip which seems to be slightly off and to my low back for disc bulging.  Pool traction at an angle and stretching helps.  My left ankle has bubbles of swelling which enlarge if I sit for too long.  The back of my left knee swells occasionally. I am scheduled for trigger point injections next month with my neurologist.  Since no one knows why this has not resolved itself; I'm afraid if I get the injections, we'll never know.  My personal thought is that the problem is in the shifted hip (which doesn't show on x-ray) and/or when the swelling went down, it closed on the siatic nerve.  My chiropracter states an MRI taken while laying down will not show what's happing when I am sitting.  Any thoughts?

ANSWER: Hello, Kimberly,

The universal response to injury is a reflexive muscular response of contraction.

The shift of hip position is a result, not a cause, of muscular contractions, as are the sparks of pain in your lower legs (triggered by the landing of the fall).

The swelling may be due to muscular contractions in your legs (probably calves) blocking the return of blood or lymph to the heart, causing back-pressure and back-up of fluid.

Neither trigger point injections nor chiropractic adjustments produce any lasting effect on the protective postural reflex triggered by the fall.  Muscular training is usually necessary to dispel the reflexive action -- somatic education is the discipline for that pursue.

May I direct you to some of my concise articles:

http://www.somatics.com/recovery_from_injury.htm
http://www.somatics.com/backpainreliefsantafe.htm (discusses chiropractic and somatic education)
http://www.somatics.com/movement.htm

They explain more and provide leads for getting help.

I can provide a recommendation for self-help resources, if you wish.




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you, and yes, please send along self-help resources for me to research further.  

Your response brought up another concern I've had, that is the feeling of my circulation being cut off (numbness, pins and needles).  If the swelling may be due to muscular contractions blocking the return of blood or lymph to the heart, causing back-pressure and back-up of fluid, does this present additional risks of blood clot and/or heart attack?  

Answer
Reasoning would suggest so -- but how much additional risk is quite another question.

In any case, your follow-up question brings to mind a resources for you to free your calves -- an instructional video.

See

http://www.somatics.com/page2.htm -- The Athletes' Prayer for Loose Calves

It works quickly, so give it a try.