cervical strain causing subluxation at C7/T1****please help
 

Hi guys,

I am active member on thoracic outlet syndrome forum.
I am software engineer by profession and recently left job due to arm,hand pain and parentheses. I had a small troma which caused extreme strain on my cervical spine .Slipped my hand while climbing caused my whole body weight strain on my fully extended arn.I had some discomfort for 2 days and all went fine after that.
After 2 yrs of this incident I had gone out on country side driving on bad road which caused my neck stiff and next day I felt something has slipped with noise I'm between c7-t1 area.since this time am having horrible neck pain on left side with spasm and ear pulling .
I had 3 cervical MRIs showing nothing. After 6 months of this pain started getting ulnar nerve issues at right elbow due to mouse usage.After 4 months of this started pain and spasm in neck and near collor bone.Doctors advised ulnar nerve transposition surgery at right elbow, which I denied since I am sure issue is in my neck causing bilateral symptoms which forced me to join thoracic outlet syndrome forum.
Had been to chiro who said I have subluxation at c7-t1 and I believe him because I feel something shifts in there with certain neck positions which is very painful.
MRI says no nerve compression and which is correct since I don't have radiating pain.but I have trapezious/scelene muscles spasm due to this causing tos symptoms with parentheses on both side on ulnar nerve.

I am pretty sure if I fix that subluxation issue I can be free of these symptoms. Chiro tried some manipulation s but said its slipping back again.

Do you have any idea how can I fix this neck issue? Some facet joint injection ? Any other therapy ?

Spine specialist are horrible and only refer MRI which says I don't have any problem and these crazy guys are so blind they don't touch my neck to see any misalignments.

Please give some inputs based on your expertise.

Thanka

c-7/T-1 subluxation stair step
 

I just skimmed what you wrote, but I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome some skin involvement, but mainly lean toward ps the hypermobility type.

I was in a bad car accident in 2004, the whip lash was never treated and I ended up with adult onset Levoscoliosis and curves in two planes of my neck. The main front to back reversed the natural curve of my neck, stenosis at C-5/C6 and other areas with disc involvement. Laterally, my neck was curving with the opening at the left.

I've worked with carefully selected chiropractors and physical therapists. You have to be very careful in who you choose. You want someone who doesis great. You also need to ask lots of questions like what muscle is pulling this vertebrae a particular way.

It is essential that you do a lot of research yourself and understand anatomy. Using any tests images you've had done. It's very important to look at the images of my X-rays. The MRI reports where also helpful because I could learn a lot by researching the terminology. The X-rays do. It show the soft tissue which is causing the problem but by seeing the bone placement you can look and see what is abnormal.

My Levoscoliosis in September 2012 was a 15* curve. Working with a skilled physical therapist who did Pilates, active muscle release techniques, myofacial release techniques and dry needling with or without electronstim, in 9
Months my main scoliosis curve was down to 11* and I'd been able to get a good start on reversing the cervical curve as well. Parts of it are still problematic, but my nightly pain levels have gone from 9 daily to 6 or 7on bad days to 4 on decent days.

My shoulders were and are a big part of the problem with my neck. My right shoulder was what I called a functional subluxation. I've also worked with pt and on my own to unspasm muscles that aren't working right and pushing/winging my shoulder blade which caused tension in the muscles of my neck.

If you haven't heard of the Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation you should check it out. Their web site is a pain to navigate. Instead Google Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation and conference handouts. It should pull up a link that will take you to a page where they have about four or five years of handouts from experts in hylermobility, EDS and the type of problem you where discribing,'from the top experts in the field. I know there are several on the neck, shoulders and a lot of other areas you would finds useful.


Best of luck.
Hope this information is helpful

Ghelleb, interesting you wrote that. I think my (and probably ramdas's) situation is exactly the same.

I think my left side cervical stabilization got shot due to whiplash and right side is overcompensating. Same as yours. Incredible, now I do have scoliosis at the thoracic and lumbar junctions.

Are there any exercises you do for this to strengthen the deep neck muscles without activating the superficial ones?

Anything you do for your right shoulder (Darn, same issue as mine), I presume some sort of stabilisation and serratus protocol?

Hi,

I am now getting some odd feeling in my legs .kind of coldness .not sure if its related with my
Neck issues.