Former sprain, future pain?
As a Chiropractor, I deal with joint pain on a daily basis. Many of my patients are suffering from the result of years of bad posture, unbalanced muscles, joint misalignment and spinal asymmetry. A result of overuse, micro-trauma and injuries, many patients find their joints stiffening and normal movement to be painful.
Most of my patients are surprised to learn that a whiplash injury or a sprain from a slip-and-fall accident or a sports injury can start the process of spinal degeneration. According to the textbook The Cervical Spine, published by The Cervical Spine Research Society in 1989, there was evidence to suggest that whiplash injuries increase the risk for disc degeneration of the neck.
“Follow up roentgenograms (x-rays) taken an average of 7 years after an injury, in one series of patients without prior roentgenographic (x-ray) evidence of disc disease, indicated that 39% had developed degenerative disc disease at one or more disc levels since injury.”¹
“We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.” – Rick Warren
“Unbelievable” you might think, “If an accident that happened seven years ago is causing my pain today, what chance do I have?”
Well, if you look at it from the other side, there is a great chance for healing. Now that you realize that all those fender-benders or sports injuries actually WERE a problem, you are halfway to solving that problem. Chiropractic is an excellent therapy for moving joints that have been previously injured. I always tell my patients that I’m trying to get their spine back to normal but that it is a textbook “normal”, not the status quo that their body is used to. (FYI – Spouses love telling each other “Well, I knew you weren’t normal.”)
So, what should you do? First, get a diagnosis from a medical professional. Reading this blog is not a substitute for proper medical evaluation. If you are still in pain, get another opinion. Don’t stop until you understand what is wrong with you AND you have found a treatment that helps. We Chiropractors know many patients who came into our office skeptics and left believers. Be persistant, but be realistic, true healing takes time.
After you have consulted with your healthcare professional, you might want to try one of the following. Or all of them.
- Ice
One of the most repeated pieces of advice that can be heard in my office is to use ice on areas of pain. The most common response is: “But so-and-so told me to use heat.” To which I reply, “Stop doing that.” Ice releives pain, soothes irritated nerves and reduces inflammation. Heat feels good on muscle, but many times joint pain, especially spinal joint pain, is compounded by a “pinched nerve” and inflammation. We call that the Subluxation Complex and it responds well to ICE. Whether you chose gel packs or ice cubes in a plastic bag, place a towel between the ice and your skin and do not exceed 15 minutes.
- Rest
Get off the injured joint. This means sitting or laying down and allowing the joint to heal. In the case of spinal joints it means no lifting, bending or twisting. If you hear the word ice in my office every day, you would probably hear the word relax even more.
- Stretching
Gently stretching the joint may be helpful, followed by the application of ice. This does NOT mean return to exercise. If you are athletic, take some time off to let your back or neck heal. Too often fit patients think they are exempt from having to rest. If a professional athlete (who has trainers, physical therapists and massage therapists at his/her disposal) has to be put on the ‘disabled list’, why do you think you don’t?
- Topical rubs
Pain relieving gels, salves and balms all have their place. Make sure whatever you use comes from a reputable manufacturer and is clearly labeled for topical (on skin) use. Don’t use any lotions or oils without a label or with a label that you can’t read.
- Massage
Massage can be a great tool for healing and relaxation. Massage works out muscle spasms and allows increased blood flow to injured area. However if your injury is still painful to the touch, skip the massage and go back to ice.
1. The Cervical Spine Second edition. Edited by the Cervical Spine Research Society Editorial Committee, Henry D. Sherk, chairman. 881 pp., illustrated. Philadelphia, J.B. Lippincott, 1989 http://danmurphydc.com/Acceleration_Of_Degenerat.pdf