[praveen8j]

#8373

Dear Dr. Corenman,

First of all thanks for this forum,

In Oct-2010, a car hit our car from backside and i felt a severe pain at backside of head. After 15 days, through CT scan it came in notice that i have got dislocation of c0 and c1. Then i went for traction followed by cervical collar for 15 days. Unfortunately, it did not help me out and condition is as it is till date and managing my pain by taking painkiller on fortnight basis. Many times i feel numbness around my neck and pain increase if i pull any sort of weight.

I am a finance professional and my work usually require long sitting hours. I do lot of meditation and read books to avoid this pain. But don’t know that how to bear this in long term. I have contacted more than 3 top most hospitals of our country and all of them have the same answer “it is difficult and dangerous to deal with this area and you have to manage this with time”.

Writing to you with a great hope, please advice…

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#8385

The injury that most likely occurred is a rotary subluxation of C1 on C2 as a dislocation of occiput on C1 is typically fatal. If you did have an 0-C1 dislocation that was noticed late, that would be highly unusual.

If either joint has been disrupted, causes pain and you have undergone therapy without success, a diagnostic workup is in order. Appropriate imaging studies should demonstrate the incongruity of this joint. A diagnostic block of this joint would be in order (see facet blocks). Successful temporary relief (see pain diary on the website) would indicate the need for a rhizotomy or fusion of this joint depending upon the location and the deformity noted.

Dr. Corenman

[Author]

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