|
|
Facet Joints, personal question/request for advice
|
Logged in as: Guest
|
|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
Facet Joints, personal question/request for advice - June 20, 2001 5:11:00 PM
|
|
|
sarty
Posts: 65
Joined: April 22, 2001
From: Florida, USA
Status: offline
|
Hiya,
This is really a question about me, so if you want to skip it, that's fine [IMG]http://www.rehabedge.com/forums/smile.gif[/IMG]
A PT I work with suspects I have some type of problem with one of the facet joints in my neck. I have a lovely TP in my right UT and Levator, but when they are released, they come right back, so I suspected there was something mechanically stressing them. I have most of the pain with right rotation, on the right side of my neck, and around the UT area.
So my PT friend grabbed my right SCM and did some pressure there for about a minute, then I could rotate a bit further to the right before the pain. Stretching the right SCM caused pain around the left trap (a positive stretch sign). So she went back, and did the right SCM again, and the result was that my right rotation ROM improved to normal with endrange pain, and the right SCM stretch produced minimal symptoms.
Okay. So, of course, I'm home now and my ROM is decreased and pain limited again. I understand that she was trying to release the right SCM, but since it's back, I'm wondering if I should be trying to check my facet joints. I'm a PTA, so I don't evaluate, so I'm wondering first of all, how to tell if a facet joint is the problem, and secondly, is there anything I can do to deal with it if it is, or should I go in and get things checked out?
Thanks [IMG]http://www.rehabedge.com/forums/smile.gif[/IMG]
Jen
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Facet Joints, personal question/request for advice - June 20, 2001 5:47:00 PM
|
|
|
Bobcat
Posts: 493
Joined: July 13, 1999
Status: offline
|
Helpful if you can provide info about:
Mechanism of injury, if known.
Approximate date of onset.
Length of time you have been experiencing this problem.
Any relevant past history of related problems (old sports injury, tendency to sleep in certain positions (not enough sleep, staying out late partying, etc.) etc.).
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Facet Joints, personal question/request for advice - June 20, 2001 6:09:00 PM
|
|
|
sarty
Posts: 65
Joined: April 22, 2001
From: Florida, USA
Status: offline
|
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bobcat:
Helpful if you can provide info about:
Mechanism of injury, if known/date of onset.
I'm not sure. Had a car accident back in 1991 where we were hit from behind while I was rotating my head from left to right, and it's been since then, really.
Length of time you have been experiencing this problem.
I have discomfort/stiffness more often than not, but the limited motion and pain are intermittent. I'm not really sure of what brings it on, honestly, although it tends to be related to being busier at work.
Any relevant past history of related problems (old sports injury, tendency to sleep in certain positions (not enough sleep, staying out late partying, etc)
LOL, well....I did fall back in 89 and tore the fibrocartilage in my left wrist. It's still torn today.
I have a place in my T-spine (hard to say where, but upper T-spine) where there is a point that feels twisted...and once at a mobilization course, they brought me into a cradled position and did an AP mob to the t-spine, there was a loud pop, and my neck felt TONS better for a few days). I can just sit here and slightly extend my t-spine or rotate it and feel a little click at that level. (Not sure if that's relevant or not, but thought I'd mention it)
I sleep on a piece of foam with one pillow, and I'm an all over sleeper. Any position. I sleep about 7-8 hours a night, but could stand to sleep more (my body likes 8-9).
Thanks!
Jen [IMG]http://www.rehabedge.com/forums/smile.gif[/IMG]
.[/QUOTE]
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Facet Joints, personal question/request for advice - June 20, 2001 7:20:00 PM
|
|
|
bonmar
Posts: 137
Joined: August 15, 2000
From: Boston, MA
Status: offline
|
Jen,
How is your scap strength? If your scap stabilizers are weak, you will use your upper trap/levator excessively thereby possibly causing TP's. I know personally, that if I stray from doing push-ups,etc., and become weakened in my scap stabilizers, I always get tight in the upper traps (once, leading to problems such as yours...).
Also, because of the attachments of the upper traps/levators, you could acquire a facilitated segment causing painful CROM.
So....sure, you could have facet joint tightness/hypo or possibly hypermobility but the root of the problem may be from weakened scap stab. When you are working alot, I'm guessing you are bending over patients alot of the day treating them causing tightness in your pects/overloading of the scap ms and excessive use of the upper traps/lev.
You are also describing problems in your thoracic area which could be related to the reasons stated above.
If comfort allows, get on a regimen of pect stretching and scap strengthening as well as cervical "stabilization" exercises. The worse that can happen is that you will be more flexible and stronger; the best, you will notice that the problem is no longer existing for you. Also, in the meantime, continue to treat the TP's, icing, painfree CROM (and if anyone can check for facet joint hypo/hypermobility, that would be wonderful).
One other interesting point - When I attended S2 - Extremity Mobilization, it was discovered that I lacked full pronation in my right forearm. I never knew this; had no idea how it could have occured. I also had many episodes of right upper trap tightness (esp worse at the end of the day). The instructor mobilized my R/U joint, an adhesion "popped" amd my pronation returned to full. The instructor pointed out that without full pronation, I was abducting my shoulder to compensate for pronation thereby probably using my upper trap excessively. I can honestly say that the residual tightness in my upper trap diminished 90% following that mob.
Hopefully, this post has made some sense to you and can be helpful. It is late (past bedtime for me..zzzz...) and I sometimes ramble......
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Facet Joints, personal question/request for advice - June 21, 2001 3:47:00 AM
|
|
|
Bobcat
Posts: 493
Joined: July 13, 1999
Status: offline
|
Lord love you, bonmar; that was beautiful.
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Facet Joints, personal question/request for advice - June 21, 2001 9:40:00 AM
|
|
|
bonmar
Posts: 137
Joined: August 15, 2000
From: Boston, MA
Status: offline
|
Why, thank you, Bobcat...I need all the love I can get...I'm pleased my post touched a cord in your "feline" heart. [IMG]http://www.rehabedge.com/forums/smile.gif[/IMG]
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Facet Joints, personal question/request for advice - June 21, 2001 4:54:00 PM
|
|
|
sarty
Posts: 65
Joined: April 22, 2001
From: Florida, USA
Status: offline
|
Thank you both very much! I have recently started 'working out' again, and am going to focus on scap stab, per your advice. My pects are tight, I think, ..to the point where when I demonstrate a doorway pect stretch to a patient, I am often more restricted than they are [IMG]http://www.rehabedge.com/forums/wink.gif[/IMG] . Thanks so much for taking the time to answer [IMG]http://www.rehabedge.com/forums/smile.gif[/IMG]!
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Facet Joints, personal question/request for advice - June 24, 2001 2:00:00 PM
|
|
|
Andrew Horrocks
Posts: 24
Joined: March 7, 2001
From: Australia
Status: offline
|
It may be worth elvating and upwardly rotating the scapula, then holding it there for a few days with tape. This is particularly useful if the scapula is depressed and downwardly rotated. I think the best method for this is that used by Lynn Watson. In many cases this elvation will immediatly reduce the pain and increase the ROM (esp Right rotation if you elevate the right scapula.)This taping will reduce the pull on the upper traps and also on the accessory nerve that supplies it. Some trigger points can be nerve related. The traction applied via the weight of the arm and the weakened upper traps can be the cause of the continuation of the trigger point.
If pec minor is tight then you may find winging of the inferior angle of the scapula. Again taping can be useful and stretch applied to the pec minor. The specific scapula stabiliser I would look at would be the upper and lower traps and serratus anterior. Specific exercise rather than a general push up would probably be more useful.
Andy
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
0.078
|
Printable Version
