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What Causes Pain In Back And Shoulders After Chiropractic Manipulation?
Question: had bak and shoulder manipulation 5 week ago have benn inactive for 8 months now have sever pain entire bak arms shoulders legs
Brief Answer:
We need to rule out any trauma secondary to the manipulation
Detailed Answer:
Hi there, Thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic.
From what I have understood of your history, you underwent a chiropractic manipulation about 4 weeks ago. After which you have suffered with pain, centering in the back, shoulders arms and legs. Tylenol seems to have worked for pain control so far.
Most of the time, pain like this should reside within a few weeks.
Since it hasn't in your case, we need to find out what is going on along your spinal column. I would strongly suggest you get to your nearest imaging center and ask for the following X-rays
X-ray C-spine in 4 views: 1) Anterior Posterior - AP
2) Lateral view in Neutral Position
3) Lateral view in Flexion (chin touching the chest)
4) Lateral view in Extension (Looking up to the sky)
This set of x-rays would give us alot of information about what is going on in the neck. You may need more detailed scans than this, talking to a good Orthopedic Specialist would be ideal before you got these x-rays done, but these are the bare minimum you should get done.
Once these images are done, you will be able to see whats going on. Even if the x-rays show nothing.. thats useful information.. it means there are no major fractures and the problems are all in the soft tissue.. which would require long term pain killers and maybe a course of muscle relaxants...
But i'm going to far ahead... basics first.. lets get the x-rays done and take it from there..
Sound like a plan? I look forward to your thoughts.
Vin
We need to rule out any trauma secondary to the manipulation
Detailed Answer:
Hi there, Thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic.
From what I have understood of your history, you underwent a chiropractic manipulation about 4 weeks ago. After which you have suffered with pain, centering in the back, shoulders arms and legs. Tylenol seems to have worked for pain control so far.
Most of the time, pain like this should reside within a few weeks.
Since it hasn't in your case, we need to find out what is going on along your spinal column. I would strongly suggest you get to your nearest imaging center and ask for the following X-rays
X-ray C-spine in 4 views: 1) Anterior Posterior - AP
2) Lateral view in Neutral Position
3) Lateral view in Flexion (chin touching the chest)
4) Lateral view in Extension (Looking up to the sky)
This set of x-rays would give us alot of information about what is going on in the neck. You may need more detailed scans than this, talking to a good Orthopedic Specialist would be ideal before you got these x-rays done, but these are the bare minimum you should get done.
Once these images are done, you will be able to see whats going on. Even if the x-rays show nothing.. thats useful information.. it means there are no major fractures and the problems are all in the soft tissue.. which would require long term pain killers and maybe a course of muscle relaxants...
But i'm going to far ahead... basics first.. lets get the x-rays done and take it from there..
Sound like a plan? I look forward to your thoughts.
Vin
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
i had xrays nothing broken i was inactive for 8 months when i had manipulation done
so when i tough these areas they feel bruised my one leg was black and blue after manipulation ribs also verysore
so when i tough these areas they feel bruised my one leg was black and blue after manipulation ribs also verysore
Brief Answer:
Soft Tissue injury, physical therapy and higher order imaging needed
Detailed Answer:
Hey there, thanks for following-up!
OK, i'm glad the x-rays ruled out any bony injury. That leads me to believe that the chiropractor may have caused a soft tissue (ligaments or tendon) injury.
These kinds of injuries require rest, antiinflammatory medications (which you are already on) and physical therapy to strengthen the injured ligaments.
Even the spinal column has hundreds of tiny ligament and tendon sections which help support it, a rough manipulation may have wrenched them.
Proof of such an injury could be gotten from an MRI of the C-Spine. You would not need contrast for such a scan, a plain MRI would do.
In the mean time, seeking a referral to a physical therapist would be a good start, they would need to do a full evaluation on you and design simple exercises you could do to get better.
Now, IF an MRI does not find the soft tissue injuries I suspect.. then we need to start looking for other causes.. blood tests to check inflammatory markers would be the next step. But lets not get ahead of ourselves. You will be well served by finding a good physical therapist and scheduling an MRI after consultation with your primary doctor.
I hope this helps and I look forward to your reply,
Vinay
Soft Tissue injury, physical therapy and higher order imaging needed
Detailed Answer:
Hey there, thanks for following-up!
OK, i'm glad the x-rays ruled out any bony injury. That leads me to believe that the chiropractor may have caused a soft tissue (ligaments or tendon) injury.
These kinds of injuries require rest, antiinflammatory medications (which you are already on) and physical therapy to strengthen the injured ligaments.
Even the spinal column has hundreds of tiny ligament and tendon sections which help support it, a rough manipulation may have wrenched them.
Proof of such an injury could be gotten from an MRI of the C-Spine. You would not need contrast for such a scan, a plain MRI would do.
In the mean time, seeking a referral to a physical therapist would be a good start, they would need to do a full evaluation on you and design simple exercises you could do to get better.
Now, IF an MRI does not find the soft tissue injuries I suspect.. then we need to start looking for other causes.. blood tests to check inflammatory markers would be the next step. But lets not get ahead of ourselves. You will be well served by finding a good physical therapist and scheduling an MRI after consultation with your primary doctor.
I hope this helps and I look forward to your reply,
Vinay
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
have already had blood tests how long can soft tissue take to heal and would trhis kind of injury cause me to be stiff in the mornings.hoping to get referal for ct scan tomorrow can the pain moveto different areas of your body
my pain is worse in the evenings and low bak pain is right on the spine
what kind of pain is soft tissue pain mine is deep aking throbbing pulling pain sometimes sharp burning pain what about a massage .can manipulation bulge discs.somtimes pain even goes into my head and my head is sometimes foggy
my pain is worse in the evenings and low bak pain is right on the spine
what kind of pain is soft tissue pain mine is deep aking throbbing pulling pain sometimes sharp burning pain what about a massage .can manipulation bulge discs.somtimes pain even goes into my head and my head is sometimes foggy
Brief Answer:
This seems to be a bit more than injury from the Chriopracter
Detailed Answer:
Hi there, thanks for coming back!
Given the extent of the symptoms you have been suffering from. I am not inclined to believe that this is JUST due to the manipulation.
We need to check for other inflammatory issues like Rheumtoid Arthritis and Lupus.
To do that we need blood tests checking inflammatory markers like the following:
ESR, Anti-DsDNA, ANA etc.
Have you ever had these tests before? Could you upload those results?
Vinay
This seems to be a bit more than injury from the Chriopracter
Detailed Answer:
Hi there, thanks for coming back!
Given the extent of the symptoms you have been suffering from. I am not inclined to believe that this is JUST due to the manipulation.
We need to check for other inflammatory issues like Rheumtoid Arthritis and Lupus.
To do that we need blood tests checking inflammatory markers like the following:
ESR, Anti-DsDNA, ANA etc.
Have you ever had these tests before? Could you upload those results?
Vinay
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
seeing rumatologist feb2
Brief Answer:
On the Right Track...
Detailed Answer:
I think you have good reason to seek the help of a Rheumatologists. Your symptoms as mentioned are very suggestive.
In the mean time, make sure you get rest and stay well hydrated... two interventions that bring down inflammatory issues rather drastically. In the mean time, it may be a good idea to start a multivitamin which contains all essential fat soluble vitamins as well.
Vinay
On the Right Track...
Detailed Answer:
I think you have good reason to seek the help of a Rheumatologists. Your symptoms as mentioned are very suggestive.
In the mean time, make sure you get rest and stay well hydrated... two interventions that bring down inflammatory issues rather drastically. In the mean time, it may be a good idea to start a multivitamin which contains all essential fat soluble vitamins as well.
Vinay
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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