Neck Pain (also, are Osteopaths "doctors"?)

[ahhdurr]

Dr. Steve,

I've had a couple of direct blows :wacko: to the front of my neck over the years (sports injuries) that I shrugged off at the time but I think they may have been the culprit for what's going on now.

I've had a great deal of uncomfortability up the right side of my neck going up what seems like the cervical spine into my head/brain stem. I was recently x-rayed and the diagnosis was a muscle spasm and arthirtis. The D.O. I see recommended physical therapy.

Two questions - what would you recommend and what types of physical therapy would I be undergoing for something like this. I have a consultation on Thursday and won't be starting for a bit after that I imagine and am eager to try a few things on my own.

Also - are D.O.'s witch doctors? Can I only really trust an M.D.?

Thanks.

[Dr Steve]

Dr. Steve,

I've had a couple of direct blows :wacko: to the front of my neck over the years (sports injuries) that I shrugged off at the time but I think they may have been the culprit for what's going on now.

I've had a great deal of uncomfortability up the right side of my neck going up what seems like the cervical spine into my head/brain stem. I was recently x-rayed and the diagnosis was a muscle spasm and arthirtis. The D.O. I see recommended physical therapy.

Two questions - what would you recommend and what types of physical therapy would I be undergoing for something like this. I have a consultation on Thursday and won't be starting for a bit after that I imagine and am eager to try a few things on my own.

Also - are D.O.'s witch doctors? Can I only really trust an M.D.?

Thanks.

I could do a little more if you could describe the discomfort...for now I'll assume it's pain. Write back and let me know; sometimes knowing specifics about the symptoms will aid in making an educated guess as to the cause. Thing that help are:

location: you gave that pretty well already
onset: gradual or sudden? associated with any particular incident?
Duration:
character: sharp, dull, stabbing...?
aggravating factors: what makes it worse?
alleviating factors: what makes it better?

A lot of people who do sports will have arthritis symptoms crop up 5-10 years later...football players will see it in the knees, tennis players in the arms and elbows, etc. This may simply be something similar...a little degeneration of the joint surface from old injuries.

I'm not a physical therapist, but they rule and have a lot of cool things they can do to make you feel better. They'll give you your own exercise regimen as well, to keep you healthy after you finish your treatments.

Now, if the discomfort doesn't go away, don't blow it off...follow up with your doctor (and yes, D.O.s are doctors, more on that in a second); he may want to get an MRI of the neck that will show detail in the soft tissues to make sure you don't have a slipped disk or something like that.

Regarding DOs, they are Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine...they go to Osteopathic School instead of Medical School, but the curriculae are pretty much exactly the same. They do residencies and specialize exactly the same way MDs do, and as a matter of fact, they do their residencies often in the same programs as MDs. I had several DO colleagues in my residency class.

D.O.s know a few things that MDs don't, and that's the practice of Osteopathy or osteopathic manipulation. D.O.s who take the manipulation part of their training seriously can do some really cool things when it comes to physical pain (and other symptoms) and I've learned quite a lot from my D.O. friends.

D.O.s are very common in the Midwest, and are becoming more so elsewhere as well as time goes on.


Hope that helps!


your friend,


Steve

[ahhdurr]

location: you gave that pretty well already
onset: gradual or sudden? associated with any particular incident?
Duration:
character: sharp, dull, stabbing...?
aggravating factors: what makes it worse?
alleviating factors: what makes it better?



Dr. Steve,

Thanks for the reply. That's pretty much the answer I got from another Osteopath at the practice but was curious to see how they were regarded by an MD.

Thank you for the info on my neck. I was a lacrosse player in high school and college and may have been in a couple fist fights. I've taken plenty of hits (daydreaming on the crease) a couple of hard direct poke checks to the front of the neck and may or may not have been kicked in the face a couple times - it's still fuzzy.

Anyway, I'm pretty good except for this neck thing that's really just been creeping up on me for years now. It's gotten to the point where there's less of a pain thing (that happens) but somewhat of a dull uncomfortability that's exacerbated with stress and for some reason, cigar smoking.

I'm certain of a few things making it better. Yoga and stretching - when I'm doing this about once or twice a week - it's much less of an issue. Breathing and meditation (or conscious relaxation) also help immensely. There are times when I'm sitting that I feel the whole thing relax out completely.

I was actually going to tag onto the jaw pain thread b/c I think there's an element of TMJ involved here too - maybe related? It's as though the muscles of the jaw are caught up in there too. My dentist has been after me for a nightgaurd.

Thanks again and looking forward to more "Weird Medicine".

your pal,

Bill

[mikepop]

Great thread,I meant to email Dr.Steve and just forgot.
Anyhow my MRI report of my neck is saying there is degenerative change with osteophyte causing spinal stenosis at the c4-5 c5-6 level and narrowing of the left neural foramen at the c4-5 c5-6 level and minor stenosis at the c6-7 level.
At the c5-6 level a posterior osteophyte as well as disc is identified as causing compression of the dural sac.
This was brought on by a car accident,I am currently taking Elavail for migraines and Arthrotec and was curious is the medication a long term thing and if there are any other options.I was told by a neurosurgeon that surgery was too risky.Any thoughts on accupuncture?
Thanks in advance.

[Yosammity]

Dr. Steve,

Thanks for the unbiased, informed answer about osteopaths. As a D.O. myself it's nice to see that some of my 'Allopathic' brethren are knowledgable about what we do. As a psychiatrist (an Osteopath psychiatrist -- red headed step-child of medicine times two), I've also been very pleased with your discussions related to mental health.

Love the show...

[Dr Steve]

Dr. Steve,

Thanks for the unbiased, informed answer about osteopaths. As a D.O. myself it's nice to see that some of my 'Allopathic' brethren are knowledgable about what we do. As a psychiatrist (an Osteopath psychiatrist -- red headed step-child of medicine times two), I've also been very pleased with your discussions related to mental health.

Love the show...

cool, my friend, and welcome to the forum! feel free to throw in anytime and set me straight on psych issues. Glad to have one of my osteopathic brethren in the fold.


your pal,


steve

[ahhdurr]

Dr. Steve,


I finally saw a physical therapist on Thursday and before we even really got into my problem I was kicking myself for not having done this sooner. Just by looking around at the contraptions in there I got the feeling this was the place to be.

She concluded initially that I'm really just suffering from tight muscles but she also noticed a jaw misalignment that she said my dentist would be able to help me with. The jaw thing is pretty subtle and wouldn't have been caught except that I'd gone to the PT.

I was given about 5 stretches to do daily and it looks like treatment's going to be twice or three times a week for 4 weeks or so. It never really dawned on me that "hey - this thing is a science - people have studied how to put the body back together after xy and z happen to it".

Thanks a heap for your feedback.

[Dr Steve]

Dr. Steve,


I finally saw a physical therapist on Thursday and before we even really got into my problem I was kicking myself for not having done this sooner. Just by looking around at the contraptions in there I got the feeling this was the place to be.

She concluded initially that I'm really just suffering from tight muscles but she also noticed a jaw misalignment that she said my dentist would be able to help me with. The jaw thing is pretty subtle and wouldn't have been caught except that I'd gone to the PT.

I was given about 5 stretches to do daily and it looks like treatment's going to be twice or three times a week for 4 weeks or so. It never really dawned on me that "hey - this thing is a science - people have studied how to put the body back together after xy and z happen to it".

Thanks a heap for your feedback.

NICE. Glad it's looking up for you! Yeah, physical therapists have all kinds of cool toys to play with. Being an amateur astronomer, the only specialty that beats P.T. for me is ophthalmology; they have the greatest high-tech crap in the universe in those offices.

[ahhdurr]

I just want to add a parting shot on this... I've been to two sessions now. The PT has me doing simple exercises, stretches, does "trigger point" therapy and has me hooked up to an electrical stimulation device every time I go now. The electric stim device is my favorite becuase it's set for a swirl pattern and I'm out in the open so if I just relax and let it control me, my head and neck move around and I look like a maniac. I also feel great after it.

I feel better each time and am looking forward to full recovery and I think a much better life. I would suggest to anyone who feels uncomfortable physically in any way at all to see an MD/DO and get a referral to have some PT done.

[Dr Steve]

I just want to add a parting shot on this... I've been to two sessions now. The PT has me doing simple exercises, stretches, does "trigger point" therapy and has me hooked up to an electrical stimulation device every time I go now. The electric stim device is my favorite becuase it's set for a swirl pattern and I'm out in the open so if I just relax and let it control me, my head and neck move around and I look like a maniac. I also feel great after it.

I feel better each time and am looking forward to full recovery and I think a much better life. I would suggest to anyone who feels uncomfortable physically in any way at all to see an MD/DO and get a referral to have some PT done.

Thanks for the update, and glad you're feeling better! The image of you making zombie moves with your head while under the stimulator is interesting as well. :-)

[ahhdurr]

Finished with the therapy - though I have lots of the symptoms still - I'm pretty sure I'll be completely free of the limited range of motion, the tightness, etc.

I have a few new toys also ...

The Theracane - awesome sturdy plastic "J" with nobbies on it to get every part of the body... <a href = "http://www.theracane.com"> highly recommended</a>

I also scored a small stimulator (four pads) that feels almost as powerful as the one used in there. I can't max it out - it gets painful. Best part - insurance covered it but I needed my Dr. to write the script and then present it to the PT office for submittal etc. etc. anyway, I have it now.

Also - one of those big ass rubber bands -

The greatest part is - I have more info on my condition. I've been clued into the fact that my jaw is out of alignment - need to see a dentist? Something like that - problem is, she didn't really know what the dentist would do for me.

Any idea Steve? It's shifted slightly to the right about 1/2 inch or so. She was just pushing it to "normal" for me. That was interesting - I never would have known.

Also - there's a set of excercises I can fall back on - as long as I keep doing them - I feel better.

[Dr Steve]

The greatest part is - I have more info on my condition. I've been clued into the fact that my jaw is out of alignment - need to see a dentist? Something like that - problem is, she didn't really know what the dentist would do for me.

Any idea Steve? It's shifted slightly to the right about 1/2 inch or so. She was just pushing it to "normal" for me. That was interesting - I never would have known.


Check out this thread: http://www.ronfez.net/forums/showthread.php?t=71329 ...I rely on Dr Joe to help out with these questions, too.

Good luck with it, and I'm really glad you're making progress.


your pal,


steve