SCENAR Case Study: Chronic Cervical/Thoracic Strain

Client Presentation

Client presented complaining of chronic pain in his neck, shoulder, and shoulder blade area on the left side at a level 8 on a pain scale of 1 to 10 where 1 is minimal and 10 is severe. He also complained of pain and parathesia in his left arm. He indicated movement made his pain worse and lying down, being still, decreased the pain. He reported having considerable pain for nearly two years.

The pain was significantly affecting his life in that he couldn't move as quickly so all tasks took longer and he said he was “always behind on assigned tasks.” It was difficult to lift and carry things, turn his neck left and right as well as it is difficult to “push things forward” away from himself.

History of the Problem
He had been experiencing pain for nearly 2 years. It began when approximately 22 months ago he was on foot and was hit by a motor vehicle reversing out of a parking lot space. Prior to impact the client considerably torqued and twisted his body in an attempt to avoid being run over. As a result of the impact the client incurred a number of symptoms including:

• Headaches
• Tinnitus in his left ear
• Left jaw pain
• Neck pain;
• Left shoulder pain
• Low back pain
• Bilateral buttock pain
• Insomnia

His initial examination right after impact documented multiple contusions with pain. Cervical and lumbar spine x-rays showed disc space narrowing at C 5-6 and C 6-7. He was given a Toradol injection and an analgesic prescription to fill. He was then referred to and completed physical therapy for recovery. He also had a series of acupuncture for the pain.

Seven months post the initial injury the client had a follow up exam. While he had some improvements from the severity of the initial symptoms he still had pain complaints on the left side of his neck and left posterior shoulder. The exam notes demonstrate that palpation produced tenderness along his left cervical paraspinous and left trapezial musculature. Nonetheless, the medical evaluator noted the client had achieved permanent and stationary status. For his symptomatic complaints, the evaluator opined that it would take 12-18 months for full resolution of his myofascial and musculoskeletal symptoms. The evaluator indicated that future physical therapy, acupuncture, or referral to an orthopedist were possible future treatments. The client engaged a personal injury attorney.

Current Findings
The client presented for examination 22 months post the original incident symptomatic as above. The examination as well as the diagnostic mode of the SCENAR pinpointed the muscle-skeletal damage at the C 5, 6, 7 level, as well as T1 along with the left arm peripheral neuropathy.

As this was a chronic condition without any new components and previously diagnosed specifically as muscular skeletal trauma to the lower C spine to T 1 resulting in chronic pain in that area as well as left arm neuropathy, further diagnostics didn’t appear necessary and weren’t being sought by the client.

Course of Treatment
The findings were explained the findings to the client along with information on a recommended course of therapy. Upon his consent he began regenerative electrotherapy treatments with the SCENAR three times per week in-office. The SCENAR therapy was applied to the asymmetries in the affected area.

Outcomes
Over the course of treatment the client reported decreasing pain with increasing range of motion (ROM). As he continued to progress he was able to move more and more freely without pain. The paresthesia in his left arm resolved.

He was discharged after a total of nineteen (19) treatments in a six week period. He was fully satisfied that his goal was reached with good range of motion without pain and an overall pain free-state.