Question
Hi,

I am 28 years old. I was involved in a minor accident about 7 years ago and I suffered whiplash. I suffer from pain on the middle left hand side of my back and on the right hand side of my neck. My back generally gives me trouble in Winter when it is cold and my muscles are tight.

However the right hand side of my neck is in constant pain - a dull pain is the only way I can describe it. When I twist my head or touch my ear on my shoulder the bones in my neck click out of place and I can feel them crunching against my skull. Of late the other bones in my neck have been moving and I am really getting worried. Sometimes when I put my neck out of place (which happens everytime I move it) I feel a pain in my left shoulder. My own Doctor doesn't seem to know anything and I would like to know what kind of specialist I should speak to regarding this. Or is there anything I could do.

Kind Regards,


Answer
Dear Sean,

In my practice, when a person has neck trouble, we see three stages.  

At the worst stage, the person has pain and can't move very much, but no "noises" come from the neck with movement.

As they begin to learn to relax the tight muscles (the source of soreness), the pain decreases, they gain mobility, and the "crunchy" sounds start.

Finally, when have learned full control of the muscles, they have full mobility, normal comfort, and no more crunchy sounds.

You're in the middle group.

You need to learn to control your muscle tension to the degree of relaxation.  That's a job for someone in my profession, clinical somatic education.  

Read the article on whiplash at somatics.com/whiplash.htm.  Understand it.  Then, either visit a practitioner or get one of the self-help programs from somatics.com; I'll need a bit more information to make a final recommendation as to which one, but I have an idea.  Ask, when you're ready.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold