Dr. Eck received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Catholic University of America in Biomedical Engineering, followed by a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University. Following this he worked as a research engineer conducting spine biomechanics research. He then attended medical school at University of Health Sciences. He is board eligible in orthopaedic surgery.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
While it is not always possible to prevent accidents, advances in automobile
safety have attempted to reduce the associated risks. Many advances in seat
belts and head restraints have been able to reduce the risk of whiplash injury.
The proper use of these devices is crucial to their success in preventing
injury. Head restraints are designed to prevent the head from moving into
hyperextension when struck from behind. In order for this to work properly, the
head restraint should be optimally positioned directly behind the head. If the
head restraint is lowered below the level of the head it could actually force
the head into further hyperextension after an impact. Many automobiles have
additional safety equipment including air bags and air curtains to further
protect drivers and passengers from injury.
Whiplash At A Glance
Whiplash is a relatively common injury that is often ignored or mistreated
due to lack of understanding of the condition.
Whiplash is usually the result of a rear impact while in a stationary
position.
Early range of motion and exercises lead to a more rapid recovery than
prolonged immobilization or use of a cervical collar.
Failure to properly educate and treat patients with whiplash can lead to
chronic psychosocial symptoms including depression and anxiety.
References:
Crowe H. Injuries to the cervical spine. Western Orthop Assoc., San
Francisco, CA, 1928.
Spitzer WO, Skovron ML, Salmi LR, et al. Scientific monograph of the Quebec
Task Force on Whiplash-Associated Disorders: redefining whiplash and its
management. Spine 1995;20:2S-73S.
Freeman MD. A review and methodologic critique of the literature refuting
whiplash syndrome. Spine 1999;24:86-98.
Bogduk N. The anatomy and pathophysiology of whiplash. Clin Biomech
1986;1:92-101.
Kaneoka K, Ono K, Inami S, Hayashi K. Motion analysis of cervical vertebrae
during whiplash loading. Spine 1999;24:763-770.
Panjabi MM, Cholewicki J, Nibu K, et al. Simulation of whiplash trauma
using whole cervical spine specimens. Spine 1998;23:17-24.
McKinney LA, Dornan JO, Ryan M. The role of physiotherapy in the management
of acute neck sprains following road-traffic accidents. Arch Emerg Med
1989;6:27-33.
Mealy K, Brennan H, Fenelon GC. Early mobilization of acute whiplash
injuries. BMJ 1986;292:656-657.
Rosenfeld M, Gunnarsson R, Borenstein P. Early intervention in
whiplash-associated disorders. A comparison of two treatment protocols. Spine
2000;25:1782-1787.
Headaches can be divided into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches are considered primary headaches. Secondary headaches are caused by disease. Headache symptoms vary with the headache type. Over-the-counter pain relievers provide short-term relief for most headaches.
Neck pain (cervical pain) may be caused by any number of disorders and diseases. Tenderness is another symptom of neck pain. Though treatment for neck pain really depends upon the cause, treatment typically may involve heat/ice application, traction, physical therapy, cortisone injection, topical anesthetic creams, and muscle relaxants.
Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. The principal types of depression are major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disease (also called manic-depressive disease).
Pain management and treatment can be simple or complex, according to its cause. There are two basic types of pain, nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain. Some causes of neuropathic pain includes: complex regional pain syndrome, interstitial cystitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. There are a variety of methods to treat chronic pain, which are dependant on the type of pain experienced.
An injury to a ligament is called a sprain, and an injury to muscle or tendon is called a strain. Sprains and strains may be caused by repetitive movements or a single stressful incident. Symptoms include pain and swelling. Though treatment depends upon the extent and location of the injury, rest, ice, compression, and elevation are key elements of treatment.
Chronic pain is pain (an unpleasant sense of discomfort) that persists or progresses over a long period of time. In contrast to acute pain that arises suddenly in response to a specific injury and is usually treatable, chronic pain persists over time and is often resistant to medical treatments.
Chronic Pain RSS
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