Connection of Body, Mind, And Spirit with Whiplash
March 3, 2010
The term “whiplash” refers to an injury to the neck muscles, the muscle attachments (tendons), ligaments, and sometimes the disks that lie between the vertebral bodies of the spine. In a rear-end collision, the cause of whiplash occurs from a sudden, rapid acceleration of the body and neck as the car is pushed forwards. In these first 50-75 milliseconds following impact, the head remains in the same place while the body is propelled forward. This is followed by a “crack-the-whip” movement of the head and neck when the muscles in the front of the neck stretch like rubber bands and suddenly spring the head forwards, all occurring in less than 300 msec. The force on the head and neck is further intensified if the seat back is too springy, or angled back too far. Also, if the headrest is too low, the head may ride over the top and more injury can result.
The treatment of whiplash varies from “watchful waiting” to a multidisciplinary team approach that includes neurology, physical therapy, chiropractic, psychology, and possibly surgery (rare). In a recent article published in the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (2009, March Vol. 88, No. 3, pp 231-8), the relationship between clinical, psychological and functional health status factors was investigated in a group of patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorder (WAD). A total of 86 patients with chronic WAD participated in the study and outcomes were tracked using questionnaires that measure pain, disability and psychological issues including depression, anxiety and catastrophizing. Physical examination factors included measuring the cervical range of motion. An analysis of the degree of neck disability and the relative contribution of physical vs. psychological factors revealed catastrophizing and depression played greater roles than did cervical range of motion. This suggests psychological factors play an important role in the outcome of whiplash.
The importance of this is that more than just the physical factors like range of motion should be focused on when treating chronic whiplash patients. Answering the patient’s questions, explaining the mechanism of injury and how that relates to their specific condition, and addressing depression, anxiety, coping, and other psychological issues is very important. Discussing treatment goals with patients is also very important. For example, making light of the injury by stating something like, “…you’ll be fine after the treatments,” may harm the patient as anything short of “fine” may be interpreted as failed treatment by the patient. It is also important not to paint too dismal of a picture as that can have negative psychological effects as well, as this may suggest that they will never improve. Explaining the difference between “hurt” and “harm” is of great value to the chronic whiplash patient as they are often told, “if it hurts, don’t do it.” This sends an unfortunate message to the patient that any activity where an increase in pain occurs is “bad” when in fact, that activity may help the patient get better in the long run. This can make or break an acceptable outcome as many may feel like they shouldn’t do anything and this can lead to unemployment, boredom, and the many psychological issues previously described. The best advice is to remain active and try to ignore discomfort by staying within “reasonable activity boundaries.” Reasonable activity tolerance is learned as time passes and trying different activities for different lengths of time. This type of coaching should be at the center of chronic whiplash management rather than over focusing on physical factors such as range of motion.
Dr. Chludzinski has been treating neuropathic conditions for the past 5 years. He is the founder of Hudson Center for Spinal Care located in Bayonne and Scotch Plains, New Jersey. In preparation for his career, Dr. Chludzinski attended St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, NJ, graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Science. He continued his studies at Life University School of Chiropractic in Marietta, Georgia, graduating in the class of 2002 as a Doctor of Chiropractic. Dr. Chludzinski services all of Union and Hudson counties, including Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Harrison, Kearny, Newark, Elizabeth, Westfield, Clark, Fanwood, Plainfield, Watchung, Mountainside, Berkeley Heights and South Plainfield.
Neck and Arm Pain – The Herniated Disk?
September 14, 2009
Scotch Plains and Bayonne Chiropractor Comments: Patients that present with neck pain along with arm numbness, pain, and/or weakness, often ask, “…what’s causing this pain down my arm?” The condition is often caused from a bulging or herniated disk pinching a nerve in the neck. The cause of this complaint can include both trauma as well as non-traumatic events. In fact, sometimes, the patient has no idea what started their condition, as they cannot tie any specific event to the onset.
The classic presentation includes neck pain that radiates into the arm in a specific area as each nerve affects different parts of the arm and hand. Describing the exact location of the arm complaint such as, “I have numbness in the arm and hand that makes my 4th and pinky fingers feel half asleep,” tells us that you have a pinched C8 nerve. This nerve can also be pinched at the elbow and make the same two fingers numb. The difference between the two different conditions is when the nerve is pinched in the neck, the pain is located from the neck down the entire arm and into digits 4 & 5 of the hand. When the nerve is pinched at the elbow, the pain/numbness is located from the elbow down to the 4th & 5th digits, but no neck or upper arm pain exists.
Examination findings usually include limitations in certain cervical (neck) ranges of motion (ROMs) – usually in the direction that increases the pinch on the nerve. Another common finding is the arm is often held over the head because there is more stretching on the nerve when the arm is hanging down and pain in the neck and arm increases. Hence, raising the arm over the head reduces the neck/arm pain. To determine where the nerve is pinched, there are a number of different compression tests that can recreate or increase the symptoms. Some compression tests include placing downward pressure on the head with the head pointing straight ahead, bent or rotated to each side. Other compression tests are performed by pressing in areas where the nerve travels such as in the lower front aspect of the neck, in the front of the shoulder where the arm connects to the chest/trunk, at the elbow and at the wrist. If there is a pinched nerve, numbness, tingling and/or pain will be reproduced when pressure is applied to these regions. Other tests include testing reflexes and muscle strength in the arm. When a nerve is pinched, the reflexes will be sluggish or absent and certain movements in the arm are weak when compared to the opposite side. Another very practical test is called the cervical (neck) distraction test where a traction force is applied to the neck. When neck and/or arm pain is reduced, this means there is a pinched nerve. This test is particularly useful because when pain is reduced, the test supports the need for a treatment approach called cervical traction. It has been reported that the use of cervical traction when applied 3x/day for 15 minutes each, at 8-12 pounds, 78% of 81 patients reported a significant improvement in symptoms, which is very effective. Other forms of care that can be highly effective include spinal manipulation, spinal mobilization, certain exercises, physical therapy modalities, and certain medications.
To learn more about Neck and Back Pain Relief, sign up for a free report, or click here to register for a Free, In- Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, feel free to give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $245 Value).
Article by Dr. Eric Chludzinski, DC. Dr. Chludzinski is the founder of Hudson Center for Spinal Care located in Bayonne and Scotch Plains, New Jersey. In preparation for his career, Dr. Chludzinski attended St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, NJ graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Science. He continued his studies at Life University School of Chiropractic in Marietta, GA graduating in the class of 2002 as a Doctor of Chiropractic. Dr. Chludzinski services both Hudson County and Union County in New Jersey
What is the best treatment for Spinal Stenosis?
July 15, 2009
For most patients, a combination of treatments will provide the most effective results for Spinal Stenosis. While every type of treatment has its purpose, combining chiropractic, physical therapy and spinal decompression is really the key. It is very rare in our office to only use one form of treatment because each modality will feed on the next to get the patient well quicker.
To explain why, let’s talk a bit more about what creates Spinal Stenosis. Stenosis means narrowing. So when the spine starts to narrow, it starts to choke off the nerve which typically causes a lot of decreased mobility and pain and weakness down into the legs.
Most cases of spinal stenosis are acquired as a result of degenerative changes in the spine. The main cause of spinal degeneration is osteoarthritis, an arthritic condition that affects the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in your joints. With time, the cartilage begins to deteriorate, and as it wears down, bone may rub painfully on bone. In an attempt to repair the damage, your body may produce bony growths called bone spurs. When these form on the facet joints in the spine, they narrow the spinal canal.
Another common factor that can cause a narrowing of the spinal canal is a herniated disc, which we see often in our office. A herniated disk can narrow your spinal canal and compress nerves in your lumbar spine, leading to pain that starts in your hip or buttocks and extends down the back of your leg. I often use an oreo cookie as an analogy. The cream in the middle represents the disc. If you press on one side of the cookie, the cream is going to come out the other side. It’s also going the make the area between the cookies smaller. So it actually has a flattening effect on the cream of the cookie. The cream coming out would represent a disc bulge or herniation. The flattening effect is creating closer contact to the nerve because it has narrowed the space. Anytime you have contact with the nerve, you have pain!
So it’s all about balancing on the disc. If there is abnormal pressure on one side or the other, it’s going to have its affect. With chiropractic treatment, we will work on aligning your spine to create that balance between discs. With spinal decompression, we are restoring some of the nutrient back into the disc, essentially rehydrating the disc. By building up the disc, you are making a bigger opening for the nerve to go through. We also may use traction to stretch the spine and mold it into a more curved alignment, which will create a bigger opening for the nerves. In my experience, all of these treatments, in combination with physical therapy to strengthen and help prevent reoccurrence, will provide the best long-term relief for Spinal Stenosis.
What is a Herniated Disc and how can it be treated?
June 24, 2009
A lot of patients come into my office complaining of chronic back pain. On occasion they suffer from a herniated disc (or multiple herniations) and are surprised by the pain that this causes. So, a lot of people ask, what a herniated disc is. Basically, the space between your vertebrae in your spine is filled with a small, spongy disc. This disc, when healthy, acts as a shock absorber for the spine and keeps the vertebrae from rubbing against each other. When the disc is damaged, it can dry out, thus becoming less effective, or even bulge or break open. This is what we refer to when we talk about a herniated disc.
As you can tell, this is a very painful condition. Most medical doctors are taught to treat this with a painful (yet most ineffective) back surgery. At my office, we do what we can to help our patients avoid surgery and recover in a more natural manner. Often times drugs and painful shots are also ineffective. To learn more about whether back surgery is really needed, view my blog post on that here.
Depending on the severity of the disc herniation, chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, or spinal decompression may be your best option. We have had a lot of success treating herniated disc patients using the DRX 9000 Spinal Decompression Machine.
One of my patients was nice enough to share her experience here:
“MY WHOLE LIFE CHANGED, NOT BEING ABLE TO ESCAPE THE DISABLING PAIN.”
I have been in pain for about 6 years and I have been going to different doctors and therapy. After having an MRI on my back, I was diagnosed with having three herniated discs. The pain was like a knife jabbing me in my buttocks down to my leg. My whole life changed, not being able to escape the disabling pain. Then I found a doctor with the Spinal Decompression. After going through treatments, painless treatments for about a year the pain had gone away 90%. Thank you to Hudson Center for Spinal Care!
Cecilia Pangilinan ~ Hoboken Accountant
Why doesn’t insurance pay for spinal decompression when the results are so good?
June 17, 2009
For the majority of us, the economy has made things difficult, including our own healthcare. So when someone who comes in and has qualified as a candidate for spinal decompression asks me why it’s not covered by insurance, this is what I tell them.
Unfortunately, Spinal Decompression is a relatively new procedure. Health insurance companies calculate how they pay by looking at statistics that have been tabulated over a long period of time. Since the data and research have only been going on for a decade or so on spinal decompression, they have decided not to cover it at the moment. Thus, much like cosmetic surgery, spinal decompression is termed an elective procedure.
This is even more frustrating knowing that the insurance companies will cover back surgery, which as you may or may not know, has an extremely low rate of success. I wrote another article called Is back surgery really needed anymore? In this article I explored why back surgery can be avoided. Hopefully in the near future insurance companies will embrace what so many of my patients are talking about when they say the results have been phenomenal for them. Check out what they’ve been saying here.
Who is a candidate for Spinal Decompression?
June 10, 2009
Often times there is a lot of confusion around patients who come into my office and think that their back pain warrants a treatment like spinal decompression. Many times, spinal decompression is not needed, and a comprehensive adjustment will relieve the pain. However, in cases that are more chronic, spinal decompression may be needed. I have a report that I wrote that clarifies in more depth some of the requirements for candidacy, you can find it at http://www.NewChronicBackPainRelief.com
Most of the patients that we have in our office for spinal decompression have severe lower back pain, pain that radiates from their lower back to their leg (also known as sciatica), extreme numbness or tingling in their legs as well as herniated discs, bulging discs, and believe it or not, a lot of our patients have had back surgery already. Since the failure rate of back surgery is so high, they are amazed at the results that come from the use of the DRX 9000 decompression machine.
You don’t have to take it from me, see what some of my patients say:
“…TREATMENTS HAVE HELPED ME GET BACK TO A PAIN FREE LIFE…”
For the last 4 years I have suffered from a degenerative disc in my lower back. I have been through a gamut of therapy or therapeutic treatment, even 4 rounds of epidural injections. Just before setting up the appointment for round #5 my wife found and add for a new treatment for lower back problems; the DRX 9000. We sent our information for more on this treatment and met Dr. Chludzinski whose treatments have helped me get back to a pain free life, which started after the second week. Before treatment I would work my 8 hr. shift, go home and recoup the entire night just to be able to return to work the next day. Now I have been able to continue my normal activities both at work and with my family. I would recommend this treatment to anyone who suffers from back pain instead of drugs or surgery.
Richard Yuditsky ~ Jersey City Radio Repair Supervisor
Why Should You Find a Chiropractor with a DRX 9000 Spinal Decompression Machine?
June 3, 2009
Spinal Decompression is starting to gain visibility in the medical field as one of the best options for relieving chronic back pain, herniated, bulging, and degenerative discs, sciatica, spinal stenosis, and pinched nerves. The fact that patients suffering from these painful conditions can now get relief without the use of pills, shots, or an agonizing surgery really brings a lot of joy to my life when I see the reactions of my patients. While the importance of having a doctor who is well trained and has a great understanding of the spine is important, the equipment that they use for spinal decompression is also important. At my offices in Bayonne and Scotch Plains NJ, we prefer the use of the DRX 9000 by Axiom.
There are several other machines that claim to have the same results as the DRX 9000, however, from my experience and the experiences of my patients, the DRX 9000 provides top notch relief. There are other traction machines out there (traction basically just pulls the entire spine and doesn’t focus on just the problem areas), that do not have the ability to cycle the forces on the spine at the appropriate disc level. These machines just aren’t as effective as using the DRX 9000.
There are also some actual spinal decompression machines that are out there that are more similar to the DRX 9000, however the sophistication and high quality of the DRX 9000 makes a difference that our patients can attest to. Here is what one of our patients has to say about the DRX 9000:
“…INVEST IN YOURSELF – YOU DESERVE IT….”
Stop right now and take your life back! If you suffer from back pain you know it not only affects you at work or simple everyday chores, but it affects your family and the time you spend with them. Dr. Chludzinski can help you with all of this. Not only is the DRX 9000 a state of the art machine, it’s a modern day miracle, and it parallels Dr. Chludzinski’s practice. He uses up to date techniques, (not the same old back cracking style used by other doctors), to treat the pain and strengthen and heal the body. He and his staff give everyone the personal care and attention needed to make your road to recovery a smooth one. They can also accommodate anyone’s schedule.
Now although I was skeptical at first, I weighed my options, it was a no-brainer. Let’s see – a choice of epidurals, maybe surgery, or just more visits to the old school back crackers, which could do more harm than help, or Dr. Chludzinski and the DRX 9000. Well you know what choice I made. So find out if it works for you and invest in yourself – you deserve it. Thank you Dr. Chludzinski and Staff.
Walter Chowanec ~ Jersey City Police Officer
Does Spinal Decompression really work?
May 27, 2009
In my last post, about whether or not back surgery still needed, I discussed the issue of whether or not back surgery was really the most effective solution for chronic back pain issues. Today I want to discuss the effectiveness of spinal decompression as a non surgical alternative for chronic back pain conditions like herniated or bulging discs, spinal stenosis, or even degenerative disc disease.
A lot of times, people come in complaining about back pain, and more often than not, its neither surgery nor spinal decompression that they need to help their back pain. Typically, a lot of the less severe issues can be helped with focused chiropractic adjustments. However, for those who come with those severe conditions that I mentioned above, then spinal decompression is the best options that they can take to help relieve their pain and avoid surgery. For the patients who truly are candidates for spinal decompression, there has been a much greater success rate in relieving their pain than that of spinal surgery without the long recovery period. In some instances, the patient is beyond what we can do to help them and need surgery. But with about 90% of the patients I see, that is not the case and spinal decompression can help them relieve their pain.
The bottom line here is that it really does work in the majority of cases that we accept for the treatment. Don’t just take my word on this, hear what some of our patients have to say about this:
“MY WHOLE LIFE CHANGED, NOT BEING ABLE TO ESCAPE THE DISABLING PAIN.”
I have been in pain for about 6 years and I have been going to different doctors and therapy. After having an MRI on my back, I was diagnosed with having three herniated discs. The pain was like a knife jabbing me in my buttocks down to my leg. My whole life changed, not being able to escape the disabling pain. Then I found a doctor with the Spinal Decompression. After going through treatments, painless treatments for about a year the pain had gone away 90%. Thank you to Hudson Center for Spinal Care!
Cecilia Pangilinan ~ Hoboken Accountant
“…THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE FOR RELIEF WITH EACH SURGERY OR INJECTIONS…”
Over three years ago, I fell and fractured my pelvis in two places, also herniated a disc, needless to say, the fracture healed but the herniated disc gave me constant pain. The orthopedic surgeon told me that there was no guarantee for relief with each surgery or injections. When I heard about the DRX9000 Machine, I came to see Dr. Chuldzinski who examined me and told me that I would get 70-75% relief. I had my 20 treatments and 1 year of maintenance and I must say that I feel 80% better.
Mary Papadeas ~ Springfield Housewife
Is back surgery really needed anymore?
May 20, 2009
More often than not, patients with chronic back pain issues come into my office concerned about a recommendation that they’ve been given by their doctor to have spinal surgery. To be honest with you, I can really understand where these patient’s concern lies. Back surgery is an extremely intensive procedure, that more often than not does not work in the long run. Patients who receive this treatment go through extreme pain as well as an extremely long recovery period.
There are plenty of conservative options available today for prospective patients before they take the leap into spinal surgery, and I think the biggest problem is a lack of awareness. One of the things we are finding is that we are able to restore normal spinal function and decrease pain by using non-surgical spinal decompression.
People are familiar with surgery as a cure, and less familiar with spinal decompression. Spinal decompression is different than spinal surgery because there are no cuts or incisions. Here is basically how it works: a patient is placed on a spinal decompression machine, in our office for example, we use the DRX 9000, for maximum spinal elongation. We are able to configure the machine for each case in order to lowers pressure in the specific disc that is causing the pain. In many cases, this creates a retraction of the disc. The best part for those suffering with herniated/bulging discs is that spinal decompression focuses on the damaged area, and not the whole spine. There is no pain and it is non-invasive.
In my opinion, this has been the #1 choice in relieving back pain and avoiding back surgery. We couple spinal decompression with rehabilitation to help aid the decompression machine to get the maximum benefits.
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