Our on going dialog on Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia Why “Neuro-Matrix Dysfunction” and its Subset of Diseases Often Start with Trauma, Surgery, Stress, and Genetic Predisposition We believe the explanation is quite simple. The delicate relationship between the foramen magnum and the cervical spine is very often impacted by injuries involving the neck. The spinal cord and its covering, the Meninges, traverse gently through these structures with little room for error. In true “Neuro-Matrix Dysfunction”, as we have seen, the boney structures are displaced in such a fashion that it causes a pulling on the Meninges, affecting many of the spinal nerve roots that are attached to it. So trauma must inevitably be implicated as a starting place for this condition. We may have physical trauma, surgery, or even mental trauma involved, as well as genetic predisposition. 1. Physical Trauma The Number One cause of “Neuro-Matrix Dysfunction” is trauma caused by auto accidents. So many people are left with Fibromyalgia—mild or severe—after auto accidents, that there can be little question of the connection. Foreman and Croft, in their book, “Acceleration / Deceleration of the Cervical Spine,” describe the effect of whiplash on the neck. We learn that a head, that weighs 10-14 pounds, can reach a pulling weight of 100-140 pounds in a 15 mph rear-end accident. If you happen to be rear ended by a semi truck going 5 mph this can be equal to being hit by a Volkswagen going 50 mph. If a car or truck is traveling at 35 or 50 mph, the pressure pulling back on your head and neck is as if you were on your back and someone dropped a 300 lb. weight attached to your neck by a strap. This impact only lasts for a fraction of a second, but 300 lbs. can do a lot of damage. This is precisely what happens in an auto collision; the head is thrown back and forth like this two or three times, snapping the neck severely, nearly always causing some irreversible damage that leads to long-term degeneration and in many cases leaves the victim with “NEURO-MATRIX DYSFUNCTION”. Now if we think of the head, heavy as it is, thrashing severely on the little bones of the neck, it is no wonder its normal resting position can be changed. This change produces a pulling on the Meninges—which we have seen attaches to the spinal nerve roots—triggering the misfiring of nerve signals that activate the condition we call ““Neuro-Matrix Dysfunction””. Since the cause of “Neuro-Matrix Dysfunction” has not been understood, the association with spinal stenosis created by subluxations (also misunderstood) and Meningeal pulling, has been overlooked. Yet our experience suggests that this is a very common cause of “Neuro-Matrix Dysfunction”. Since this underlying cause was not recognized during our schooling, the corrective techniques we are taught actually intensify the Subluxation, making “Neuro-Matrix Dysfunction” worse. Most Fibromyalgia and RSD patients can remember a trauma or surgery close to the initiation of their symptoms, though some may not. This is usually a car accident or a blow to the head. For example, we have treated injuries of prisoners of war in Vietnam who were hit in the neck with rifle butts; diving injuries in pools; auto accidents; falls; fights; surgeries; childbirth; etc. Other causes include injuries to the neck by way of hitting or whipping the head or neck. One patient who came to us with a severe case of Fibromyalgia was injured when he slammed on his brakes on the ice to keep from hitting a bus. He avoided a collision, but did hit dry pavement, which snapped his neck—without hitting the steering wheel—and from that time on suffered with Fibromyalgia until treated in our facility. There was no contact with the head and he was only traveling 25 mph. We are relatively fragile creatures who were not made to do some of the things we do, and eighteen million (estimate of Fibromyalgia suffers accepted by many) Americans will no doubt agree with us. Not to mention the one million two hundred thousand RSD patients and the countless failed surgery patients who didn’t have failed surgeries at all but have on going cycling pain from the insult to the neck during surgery. 2. Surgery We have a good friend who is an anesthesiologist; and after having so many patients claiming their symptoms began after surgery, we sat down and did our best to discover what was happening that could be causing Fibromyalgia during or after surgery. He had no idea how it could be occurring. He told us of the great care and consideration that was taken in the surgical room by almost all of the people he knew. He explained how they supported the neck with foam supports, or sometimes an IV bag, and how gentle they were with the patients. Yet we have had many patients tell us they came out of surgery screaming in severe pain that never let up until treated in our office. This area needs much more research, which possibly may most effectively be done by a coordinated effort of chiropractors and anesthesiologists. But our initial thought was that when you sleep you have muscle tone, and if you are uncomfortable you roll over or move to adjust your position to relieve the pressure. When you are under anesthesia your muscles have no tone; they are flaccid with no control at all, and you can’t move if you need to. During this time we believe the neck vertebrae are compromised, literally pushing up against the Meninges. Whatever the cause may prove to be, we have seen too many cases of Fibromyalgia and RSD initiated or increased by surgery to be ignored—probably 40% of the patients we see. 3. Mental Stress The connection between mental stress and spinal stenosis secondary to cervical alignment might seem to be a stretch, but we have had many people tell us that their Fibromyalgia started immediately after the death of a loved one, mental abuse, a divorce, or a variety of other stressful conditions. And having recognized the intimate relationship between cervical problems and FMS, it is fair to consider that stress can also be a factor. Though we are not exactly sure how this sort of movement can be caused by stress, we now believe it is. Our presumption is that since stress causes muscle tightness, it can ultimately bring about a shift in alignment. As you would expect, stress control is a very important part of our treatment protocol. 4. Genetic Predisposition One more factor we must consider is genetic predisposition. Our primary focus on spinal stenosis and trauma seemed to preclude a relationship with genetic disposition. But our stance on this has changed after seeing far too many families with multiple Fibromyalgia sufferers. At present there seems to be a genetic weakness that allows certain families to develop FMS more easily than others. We believe it is likely due to the hereditary size and formation of the bones. We had a patient who had thirteen family members with Fibromyalgia. Much more research on this issue is needed.
Posted on: Wed, 18 Jun 2014 17:26:19 +0000