Reasons Not to Wait – Chronic Pain Dangers

I think patients understand teeth better than spines thanks to education by dentists. But tooth decay rarely kills someone; spinal decay can shorten lives. So, using the tooth analogy….

No Tooth Pain: If you go to a dentist regulalry, you can still have tooth decay without pain.

Tooth Pain: If  you have a toothache you typically try to get in to dentist. You might able to use a pain-killer temporarily. But ff the bacteria, Streptococcus viridans goes into the bloodstream it has propensity for the the heart and can produce bacterial endocarditis (inflammation).

Chronic Pain: In the same way, if you have a neck ache that radiates down your arm and you think you can cope with it, you can take Advil or Vicodin and think you are OK, but you may also be on a slippery slope. The nerve may be deteriorating WITHOUT pain.  But there are simple tests for various portions of the nerves.    These are test conducted in the office, without specialized or expensive testing equipment.

For example the nerves in your arms:

• grip strength can test the integrity of the nerve supply to the hands and compare sides.  Weakness is a sign of nerve deterioration.
• muscle resistance against the doctor’s hands can test each component of various nerves.
• reflexes check the automatic circuitry that make you pull your hand way from heat or pain.  Diminished reflexes or increased reflexes indicate nerve
• pinwheel which has needles that rotate gently over the skin test sensory nerves.
• finger to finger and finger to nose test can check coordination of the arms.
• testing the neck externally for causes of radiating pain include
  • movement (range of motion)
  • compression and stretching
  • orthopedic tests
  • posture evaluation (how you hold your head naturally)

Long Term effects:

1. Muscle Weakness – are your arms weaker? your hands? your legs? Sprains for no apparent reason?
2. Internal Weakness – loss of bowel/bladder control, reflux, or other organ system deterioration
3. Numbness or Tingling – signs of nerve irritation or deterioration
4. Clumsiness or Falls – dropping things, catching a toe frequently (foot drop).