What Is Whiplash Syndrome?

Whiplash or Whiplash Syndrome is a term used to describe an event in which the cervical spine (your neck) has undergone a rapid acceleration/deceleration which causes damage to the various tissues of the cervical spine. As in a car accident, the forces involved often include an abrupt stop or change in direction. Our head has no support above it and therefore acts as a weighted pendulum, allowing for ranges of motion in our neck to exceed their normal limit.

Unfortunately, the term "whiplash" does not describe the degree or severity of the injuries sustained which may include anything from a minor strain to even death. For this reason, emergency room follow up after involvement in a car accident is the first step to rule out potentially life threatening injuries. Even at low impact speeds, there is a potential for serious injury or death and may even be accompanied by no symptoms at all.

Various structures in our neck (cervical spine) have the potential for injury in this type of accident. Strained muscles and sprained joints and ligaments are very common injuries in motor vehicle accidents. Injury to the spinal cord and/or nerve root(s) are also common features in a whiplash syndrome.

Common symptoms of whiplash may include:

• neck pain,
• neck stiffness,
• neck tightness,
• loss of range of motion,
• neck to upper shoulder soreness.

Common accompanying symptoms of whiplash may include:

• arm pain,
• numbness and/or tingling into the arm/hand/finger(s),
• headache,
• dizziness,
• fatigue.

Common signs of whiplash include:

• tenderness along the muscles of the cervical spine,
• muscle spasm (your body's natural defense response to help "guard" the injury),
• loss of range of motion,
• forward head posture,
• elevated shoulder positioning (of one or both shoulders),
• head tilted or rotated.

Once the risk of life threatening injury is ruled out for whiplash, the next step is to rule out fracture, instability and/or neurologic involvement (injury to nerves, nerve roots, discs, spinal cord). Along with orthopedic and neurologic tests, chiropractors often use x-ray, CT scan or MRI to rule out these possibilities.

By John Herner, D.C

Stress Creates Neck and Shoulder Pain

Lately I've seen patients with a lot of muscle tension in their neck and shoulders. Their shoulders are hunched up under their ears, and their necks so stiff they can barely move them. Severe neck and shoulder stiffness and pain may require physical therapy to alleviate symptoms, but I'd like to share with you the things you can do to both prevent and alleviate neck and shoulder pain.

Causes of Neck and Shoulder Pain

My patients are surprised when I tell them that most neck and shoulder stress/pain is caused by structural stress, simple things we do everyday that can cause neck and shoulder pain:

o Bad posture - Sitting, or standing, with poor posture, or slouching, causes your head to tilt forward putting continual torque on neck and shoulder muscles to prevent your head from sliding forward.

o Raising the shoulder muscles - In our daily routine, we continuously, usually unknowingly, raise the levator scapulae, the major muscles of the shoulders. This creates tension of the neck and base of skull muscles. We do this in a few ways:

1. Typing at a keyboard that is too high - and/or resting your elbows on arm rests of a too low chair while you work at a desk causes your shoulders to ride up. Spend 8 hours everyday, 5 days a week doing this and you can cause pain in your neck and shoulders.

2. Cradling a phone between your ear and shoulder - many of us do this several times a day if our jobs require talking on the phone.

3. Doing overhead work that causes you to lift your arms above your head for long periods of time, like painting ceilings, lifting heavy boxes to high shelves, etc.

4. A constant state of anxiety brought on by chronic stress. This causes us to literally "get our back up", raising and holding our shoulders in a kind of self-protective posture, much like an animal will arch their back, and put their head down perceiving an attack.

Warning Symptoms of Chronic Neck and Shoulder Pain

Most of us are familiar with that general uncomfortable feeling like a tight band is around our neck and shoulders and perhaps some very sore trigger points, areas that when touched makes us wince. In addition, we might not be able to move our head to either side without causing pain in our necks and shoulders. However, with poor repetitive structural habits, you could have symptoms of compressed nerves in your cervical spine that require a doctor:

oNumbness or tingling in hands and/or fingertips.

oBurning sensations in the muscles of the upper arms.

oWeakness lifting the arms, and/or dropping objects.

oHeadaches and/or constant tenderness in the occipital muscles, that band of muscles at the base of your head that extends from ear to ear.

A Simple Exercise To Relieve Tightness

Below is a simple stretching exercise you can do a few times a day while working to relax neck and shoulder muscles:

oBend head forward, chin on chest, then back to original position.

oHead forward, bend your head to the right, then back to original position; bend to the left, then back to original position.

oBend head slightly backward, then to the original position.

oBend head forward, chin to chest, tilt head to the right, then to the left.

Other Things You Can Do

Simple, common sense will help keep your neck and shoulder muscles healthy:

oObserve correct workspace ergonomics for your job. Adjust chair and keyboard height. Use a headset or speakerphone to avoid phone cradling.

oObserve good overhead mechanics. Take frequent stretching breaks to relax the neck and shoulder muscles. Practice correct lifting of heavy items. Most of us don't have forklifts at home or in our offices, so break down heavy boxes into more manageable sizes.

oDo aerobic exercise like walking, running, rebounding, to reduce tension.

oDrink water. Muscles and joints need adequate water to function properly. At least eight, 8 oz glasses per day, or more depending on your weight, environment (very cold, very hot needs more) and activity.

oGet a massage - acupressure massage done by a professional practitioner can work wonders on tight neck and shoulder muscles, relieving pain.

oA warm bath in Epsom salts will help remove lactic acid build up in stiff and sore muscles that can cause pain. An analgesic cream containing menthol can help relax tight muscles further.

oCalcium and magnesium supplements can also help relieve tension and pain in tight muscles.

Even though you might not be able to remove stress from your life, or completely avoid physical maneuvers that strain your neck and shoulder muscles, you can remove, or greatly alleviate, the tension in your neck and shoulders that can develop. Adhering to good neck and shoulder habits, and spending a few minutes each day doing simple stretching exercises can help you manage muscle tension so it doesn't continue to be a serious pain in your neck.

By Mark Bromson, M.D.

Weird Symptoms of Fibromyalgia to Watch Out For!

Although you may not be aware of it, most everyone knows someone who suffers with fibromyalgia. People with fibromyalgia generally don't go around shouting about their condition from the rooftops. It's not fashionable or fun, and it hurts like the devil! And there are approximately 5 million of them in America today... about 90% of them are women!

Unfortunately, if you don't have the symptoms of fibromyalgia... and you are very fortunate if you don't... it's really hard to relate to someone who has all the weird and seemingly disconnected conditions that come with the illness. And some of the weirdest symptoms can have the most devastating effect on a fibromyalgia sufferer's life... mostly because they go unrecognized as symptoms and are often not addressed or treated.

Fibromyalgia patients, who are under the care of a rheumatologist, are provided with medications to manage their symptoms. That's one way the common symptoms of fibromyalgia, like the pain, can be kept under control. However, it's not unusual for individuals with the illness to keep quiet about their condition or even lie to their family, friends, co-workers, and bosses ... to avoid appearing as "weak" or "a chronic complainer". As a fibromyalgia "victim" myself, I can tell you that I kept my mouth shut, especially at work, so that I wouldn't lose opportunities on my job. I just worked through the pain and misery.

People who understand the syndrome are aware of the fatigue and severe pain that are the most common symptoms of fibromyalgia. These are usually theindicators used by doctors when diagnosing the illness. But, what is not commonly known, is that many fibromyalgia sufferers:

1) Have difficulty focusing, unexplained vision changes, and visual blind spots

2) Frequently have gastrointestinal issues including abdominal cramping, bloating, reflux, intestinal gas, frequent constipation and/or diarrhea, and even nausea and vomiting

3) Are hypersensitive to odors, bright lights, and loud noises; have alcohol intolerance; and sensitivities to various medications and foods

4) Have vivid or disturbing dreams and nightmares, sleep difficulties including inability to stay asleep; or even hypersomnia --- which is excessive sleeping

5) Appear to be clumsy --- walking and accidentally bumping into things, knocking things over; have trouble judging distances --- like when reaching for things or driving a car; have occasional balance difficulties, and may experience vertigo/dizziness

6) Have difficulty finding the right words to express themselves and remembering names or recognizing faces; have difficulty following directions, and frequently lose their train of thought; are easily distracted and may have long and/or short-term memory loss

Can you imagine waking up one morning and not being able to remember your boss' last name... or your best friend's phone number?... Or has this already happened to you?

These are examples of only a few of the weird and seemingly unrelated symptoms of fibromyalgia, and sufferers and their doctors will tell you... every case is different. Some individuals have severe gastrointestinal problems and trouble sleeping as their primary complaints along with the common symptoms of pain and fatigue, while others can't tolerate strong smells and may have vision problems and difficulty focusing. In all cases, fibromyalgia sufferers have multiple symptoms, some of which may never have been recognized as part of their fibromyalgia condition.

So... Is There Any Treatment That Can Help Me With All My Weird Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?

The simple answer is "yes!" Improving your overall health is the key! Many of the symptoms accompanying fibromyalgia's pain and fatigue, like overall weakness, headaches and migraines, gastrointestinal distress, sleep issues, and even depression, can be reduced or eliminated by improving your diet! Begin with a heart-smart diet with low sugar, low fat... and add fruits, vegetables and whole grain. Avoid drinking a lot of caffeinated beverages. Maintain a healthy weight and avoid allergy-causing foods. And... include an adequate supply of lean, digestible protein to repair the body at the cellular level. It's widely accepted that a good diet complete with vitamins, minerals and amino acids --- protein's building blocks which support the muscles, nerves and brain, may help you to take control the symptoms of fibromyalgia... and your life.

By Carol Ryland