Case Study: Ken
A recent MRI scan showed cysts on the bones in Ken’s neck. Could we help with his debilitating neck pain?
Patient Profile:
Name: Ken (pseudonym)
Age: 63
Symptoms: Severe neck pain and restricted movement for 9 months
Previous Treatments: Amitriptyline and codeine for 6 weeks with no significant relief
Imaging Results: MRI and CT scans revealed cysts on C1 and C2 vertebrae
Neck pain can be very concerning, especially when it persists for a long time.
Ken's Condition:
Ken, a 63-year-old male, came to our chiropractic clinic after suffering from debilitating neck pain for the past nine months. Simple daily activities, such as leaning over the sink or eating an apple, had become incredibly painful. He had recently undergone MRI and CT scans, which revealed cysts on his C1 and C2 vertebrae - right at the top of his spine. Despite being prescribed amitriptyline and codeine for six weeks, he had not experienced any significant relief.
The constant discomfort, coupled with limited range of motion, greatly impacted Ken’s quality of life. In fact, the goal he wanted to achieve the most from care was “a good night’s sleep”, since he hadn’t had one for 6 months!
Assessment:
Ken’s assessment didn’t turn up any red flags. In fact, the biggest problem that Ken had was the fear of moving his neck. During the last 6 months, and particularly since receiving the reports from his scans, his pain and movement had become continually worse in tandem. This meant that his head rotation and side bending was virtually zero, with great difficulty in nodding his head back and forth too. However, with some gentle coaxing, we were able to move Ken’s neck passively a bit more when he was laid down.
We have talked about asymptomatic findings on scans in a previous blog post, and Ken’s findings were a classic example of doing more harm than good. We were able to assure him that the cysts were very unlikely to be the source of his pain, because they were almost certainly older than 9 months, and because we could recreate his symptoms by applying pressure to the muscles in his neck.
We also reviewed his medical history, imaging results, and the medications he had been taking. Our goal was to create a treatment plan that would reduce Ken’s pain, improve his mobility, and allow him to regain function in a safe and effective way.
Neck pain is one of the most common conditions seen in chiropractic offices
Treatment Plan:
Gentle Spinal Adjustments: Focused primarily on the upper neck and mid-back region, using light pressure techniques to restore movement and reduce joint stress.
Soft Tissue Therapy: Targeted to relieve the muscle tension surrounding the neck, which was contributing to Ken's pain and limited movement.
Neuromuscular Rehabilitation: Introduced exercises to gradually improve neck stability and flexibility.
Results:
Within the first few sessions, Ken began to notice a reduction in pain and improved ability to perform daily tasks. In fact, he was back sleeping within a couple of visits, and reducing his painkiller use. The course of chiropractic visits combined with the simple stretching exercises that we gave Ken enabled him to make a full recovery within a few months. In fact, once Ken started moving his neck, there was no stopping him!
Hands-on treatment is one of the most effective ways to improve neck pain and stiffness
Conclusion:
Ken’s case highlights the importance of careful history taking and physical assessment. We are huge advocates of hands-on care, and if we’d never taken the time to palpate Ken’s neck, we’d never have known that we could recreate his pain by pressing on his neck muscles.
This gave us a rationale for treatment, and it was our hands-on treatment that ultimately broke the cycle of pain and stiffness. Ken’s diligence in performing his exercises also played a key part in his recovery, but this was a condition that Ken had all but given up on after receiving no answers elsewhere. If you or someone you know is dealing with chronic neck pain, call us to find out how we can help.