Whiplash, but not

[twilight fan team edward]

I have a regular client who usually presents the same tight muscles, probably caused by a very stressful job and lots of hours either driving ( he admits he only drives with one hand on top of the wheel) or sitting at a desk. So I usually know what to expect. Last session, though, he was in severe pain from the occiput to about T4 or T5. Both shoulders hurt out past the deltoids. The strange thing was, the areas that are usually HT were not, and the only tightness I could find was very deep. He said he had been to 2 different chiropractors for a total of 3 sessions, and it just keeps hurting more. When I saw him, he had very limited ROM, and didn't want to move his head at all, it hurt enough just to hold still.
The tissue did not feel inflamed (mushy, swollen,etc.) but there was some heat in the deepest layers.
I did gentle MF, some gentle ROM, gentle traction (which felt really good until the pressure was released), and a lot of palpation. I sent him home with some castor oil and instructions on how to do a castor oil pack, and recommended cold, since heat is present. He said he felt a Little better.
The symptoms remind me of whiplash, but the sequence of events doesn't. Could this be some disease process just getting started, like a virus in the tissues, or did the chiro adjustments go somehow wrong? Is massage contraindicated, or might it help? Before anyone yells at me, I DID tell him to see his doctor if he didn"t feel lots better by morning (His appointments are always late in the day). I remember having the flu when I was a teenager, and it settled in my spine: I thought I had encephalitis, I was in such tremendous pain. Has anyone else seen anything like this?

 

[lpdunit107]

hmmm, I think you did good by telling him to see his doc. Your choice of techniques sound good. What modalities are you trained in? energy work is good here, off the body clearing, Myofascial release. In my zillion years of experience, mental stress can cause more pain than physical disability.

But in my opinion, err on the side of caution, and if he isn't better and hasn't seen his doctor, have him go before his next treatment.

Good thing you had been ill in that unusual way, it gives you the perspective to help him

 

[Cross]

He went to his doc, and is scheduled for an MRI to see what is going on.
I have been exposed to energy work, not really trained in it, but I use the breathing (I visualize it as energy-gathering) during every session to have energy to give without depleting my own. I did take the first part of Jin Shin Do Acupressure in school. Not a Certified Practitioner, you understand, but I do use some of the routines a lot, integrating them into everything else I've ever learned.
I had a thought; could this client have a form of wry neck, just really severe and bilateral? Has anyone run across such a thing? Is there any accepted protocol for wry neck, or is it just try different things until you find something that works? I have another client who suffers from wry neck about twice a year, and it takes weeks to heal. I have used stripping, stretching, acupressure, essential oils, trigger point work, lots of different 'tools'. Is there any one out there who has found a method that works most of the time?

 

[armygirl]

Had one client who had had chiropractic adjustments every day for 5 days - presented with similar symptoms to your client -

It ended up being a partial herniation of 2 cervical vertebrae aggravated by the numerous trips to the chiropractic office. His CT scan showed the area of the herniation and its pressure on a cervical nerve quite clearly.

He didn't end up having surgery, but, did use castor oil packs on the posterior neck and upper post. thoracic musculature for several days to help relieve the inflammation.

I wish your client the best of luck!