Definition
muscle tearing and usually associated with vehicle accidents, falls, lifting, etc. Sprain/strain injuries may be in the neck.
Description
Sprain / strain usually * involves just muscle and ligament damage and no damage to facets or discs. No nerve damage is noted. The pain may be present for weeks after an athletic or accident injury and is not something that has hurt recurrently before. These injuries take up to 4 to 16 weeks to heal. Treatment involves maintaining normal ranges of motion for the facets while restricting motion in the beginning. Rehabilitation will be important.
* A special note on "usually" involving only muscle and ligaments:
It is possible that the
intervertebral disc itself may be sprained or torn in these muscular type of injuries. Since the disc is very pain sensitive, it also contributes to your pain. A resultant sprain/strain requires
up to 3 months to totally heal, like a normal disc herniation, also.
Examination
Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office provides a thorough examination routine to be sure the diagnosis is specific to set a treatment plan for the quickest and best recovery.
Cervical Spine Exam Description
In office, Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office uses Cox Technic Flexion Distraction and Decompression to widen the canal space, drop the intradiscal pressure and increase the disc height to relieve pain.
You will welcome the Cox Technic manipulation that gently "pulls you apart," as many patients describe the treatment or say they need. Depending on the severity of your pain and symptoms, gentler Protocol I may be applied until 50% relief of pain or more restoring Protocol II may be applied to guide your recovery.
Graphic Animation of Cox Technic - Cervical Spine
The disc is pressing on the nerve. Note that as the disc herniation reduces, the pinched nerve is relieved.
This is an animation of the goal of Cox Technic
Flexion-Distraction and Decompression: reduced irritation of spinal elements
enough to relieve pain and help you regain your quality of life. The amount of
decrease in size of the herniated disc necessary for pain relief varies from 0%
to 100% for each individual patient.
Cox Technic Protocol I - for severe pain or pain that extends below the elbow
Cox Technic Protocol II - for pain that is in the low back and stays above the elbow
In office adjunctive care may hasten your recovery.
At Home Care
Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office may recommend some at-home care instructions to return you to your pain-free quality of life as quickly as possible.
Contact Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office to get relief of your neck sprain/strain.