scar tissue in neck

[~JuliaGulia~]

need some help in working out scar tissue in a clients neck....
resulted from a whiplash injury several years back...
i have tried everything i know....
area very painful to client...
i ease the pain for awhile...then it comes right back....
i need a fix...not just short-term relief....
HELP!!!!
thanks
greg

 

[Assist_u]

Greg,

What have you tried?

What type of pain are they having?

What other treatments are they receiving, if any?

 

[Pompal 09.]

scar tissue in neck

regular massage modalities....
lots of kneading....cross-fiber friction...those sorts of things....
deep tissue levator release...
thinking about using a Tens Unit....
greg

 

[Mr. Fantastic]

Personally I am not a huge fan of the Tens units, but that's just me.

Are you familiar with using deep cross fiber directly on the scar tissue to break it up? Is that what you have been using or just general cross fiber to the muscles?

Is the client doing anything on their own? Neck exercises? Did they receive PT after the accident?

How long are the results from what you are doing now?

 

[xeso G]

scar tissue in neck...

not a big fan of it either....but figured i'd try it...
i'm working as deep as client can tolerate....
yes....client supposedly received PT after injury...might have been all chiropratic though...
greg

 

[gemini6187]

Sorry for all the questions but I am just trying to figure out the whole situation.

How often do you see this client?

I have had a few client that took a while to get to the point were I could really get in there and do the deeper/more specific work. But they have to do the homework, ice, and come often enough.

Could this person be doing something to aggrevate the area regularly?

It sounds like you should be getting better results, but you never know what the client is doing after they see you.

 

[loadedtomcat]

be so kind as to explain the DEEP tissue cross-fiber friction...just so we'll know where on same page...
thanks....

ps...i see this client several times a week...

 

[chiliredkitty]

With the deep cross fiber you get directly on the scar tissue and cross fiber that as opposed to cross fiber on the muscles.

I have used it a lot with past knee and ankle injuries and with whiplash.
It is very painful, but it does wonders for the person.
I had it done in school. The visiting DC did my one knee and my one ankle (old injuries). Man did it hurt, but I felt great afterwards.
I was even dumb enough to volunteer when the DC can back to show the class I was teaching. :wink:

 

[robertoalinexs]

thanks for info....
can you suggest web sites or reference materials that describe technigues.....
thanks
greg

 

[crissysmith4u]

What muscles are you treating exactly? Which ones are the problem?
What ROM is the neck restricted in? Vertebrae in which postitions?

Low back pain at all?

Jay Hillman

 

[happyjoy]

traps & splenius capitis...almost positive....
superficial muscles....don't believe the levators are involved....
could be to some extent i suppose...
problem with moving neck to the left...
no lower back pain to speak of...
thanks
greg

 

[Homer]

Greg,

Here is a link that is close to what I was talking about:
http://www.kytbinc.com/pages/scar.htm

traps & splenius capitis...almost positive....
superficial muscles....don't believe the levators are involved....
could be to some extent i suppose...
problem with moving neck to the left...
no lower back pain to speak of...

Have you done work with scalenes and SCM?

 

[pictureperfect]

TAKING A TOTALLY DIFFERENT APPROACH-
I mostly gravitate towards deeper work. But I believe that the more issues someone has going on, the less I should do. When a body is already traumatized, I think it needs a very gentle approach to help balance out the trauma. Then I cautiously go in with deeper work.
I feel like using my energy, intention and the power of touch along with Cranio-Sacral Techniques and structural balancing goes a long way. I have had a lot of sucess with backing up and taking this approach with recently traumatized bodies that just can't take much pressure.
If your client is accustomed to deeper work, then it would assist to balance out everything to pull out the deeper stuff on areas that aren't traumatized, but need it, and take the gentle approach with the painful ones.

Invent & Reinvent.

~S

 

[jacob]

The levators will Definitely be involved. Seeing as they create the motions of rotation, side flexion, and extension, any cervical strain is going to be inclusive of these muscles. Scalenes, SCM, Longus Colli/Capitus, sub-occs, Rectus Capitus Anterior, Platysma, all these are going to be involved in addition to the traps, paraspinals, multifidi, rototores, etc.

If they have trouble turning left, the left Lev Scap will be pretty tight, and you should also take a look for a spinal rotation right at T7-9 level. Just a hunch...

Apply some traction as well and isometrics. Be sure to treat the psoas when you treat the longus colli. (Half-Wit borther and all...)

Before trying anything, was the strain due to an anterior collision or a rear collision?


Jay Hillman

 

[LouAnn]

Greg,

have you tried aggressive fascial work.. I mean a full session of just fascial work.

Remember though, if this client has been dealing with the pain for several years, this is going to take a while to see any significant long term results.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of pain is the client reviewing.. is it all muscular.. or is there joint involvement. If theres Joints involved, this could be the underlying cause, and muscle guarding (tension, adhesions, contractures, scar tissue) may be the resulting symptom.

Just a thought.

 

[Melody E]

no...i have not...will try that....
thanks for info...
greg

 

[Dodger Town]

scar tissue in neck

need some help in working out scar tissue in a clients neck.... i have tried everything i know....
HELP!!!!
thanks
greg

Refer them out?