What is “Silicon Valley Syndrome?”
Unfortunately, something you probably already have
without even knowing it. !
The incidence of Silicon Valley Syndrome in Singapore’s
working population is 80-90% so, in all likelihood, this
probably means that this is something you have or will
develop.
When we first saw this condition back in the 90s in Northern
California, we named it Silicon Valley Syndrome. Now it is
world wide; you can call it ‘Text-Neck’, ‘Turkey-Neck’ or
‘Hunchback’. We can also call it ‘Computer Posture’ but it’s all
semantics. They are all the same thing and it is everywhere
you look. Chances are…you’ve got it too. Read on and lets
see.
Stiff neck and tight, tight shoulders? Not the shoulder joint itself
but that bit on the top edge of your shoulder blade. Sometimes
it goes down the spine and you think that this is what it must be
like to be old. It improves at the weekends but settling back at
your workstation on Monday, you just know its coming back
with a vengeance.
As it worsens during the day with every hour at your screen,
you rub and poke and try to get your fingers into the muscles to
make them release. You rotate your neck and windmill your
arms. That doesn’t seem to do much either. Then the burning
starts across the upper back and now it’s only a matter of time
before the numbing sensation or those dreadful pins and
needles appear in the fingers or spread down the arm.
What about function? That’s being lost too, I’m afraid. Is it
becoming harder to pull something over your head, perhaps
your polo or a sweater, or maybe that bra strap is starting to
cause problems? What about reversing the car? This stiffening
surely isn’t good and it definitely makes you feel old before your
time.
They say that 40 is the new 30, then why at 30 do you
sometimes feel 50? And just why can’t you turn your neck like
before? And those recurring headaches, the ones that the GP
says are ‘stress or tension’; are they getting worse? Are the
Panadol 500’s still doing the trick?
Well, welcome to working life in Singapore. Your pain goes with
those twelve hour working days….and it IS telling you
something.
Is it stress? That’s what they tell you it is. Well, it’s not the
stress you’re thinking about. It’s actually physical stress mostly.
The greatest stress on your body is the physical stress of
gravity acting on a slouching spine.
Of course we are designed to live in gravity, ask NASA – you
can’t live without it. But you must be aligned for efficiency or
there’s going to be trouble. That tension you are feeling across
your shoulders is the accumulation of gravitational forces after
years of slouching at your computer. This is the main stress you
feel and it shouldn’t be ignored or the consequences can be
quite catastrophic, especially if you end up getting nerve
involvement and talking to an orthopedic surgeon.
Of course the other stresses in your life don’t help – public
transport, traffic, parking charges, neighbors, taxis, politics,
taxes, utilities, construction, your family, their kids, you name
it…. they all contribute. And yes it is official, we in Singapore
work the longest hours in the world (recent Gallup poll).
Stress is cumulative and increasingly something seems to tip
you over the edge bringing back that familiar pain.
So what is Silicon Valley Syndrome and why is it
becoming such a problem?
Well, basically your head is creeping forward on your shoulders
as you slouch at your screen hour after hour. Your neck is
straightening and the weight of your head has moved forward
onto the discs. Disc degeneration is starting and eventual
structural failure is what your body is concerned about, hence
the pain. The head is becoming heavier due to leverage and
physics and the shoulder muscles have to cope. Your body will
try everything to protect its nerves and as the spinal cord comes
under tension and the delicate nerves that leave your spine
between the vertebrae are pinched, stretched and twisted, the
muscles are instructed to tighten even more to immobilize or
splint. Gradually the muscles will lose their elasticity and
reduced function becomes permanent.
Worryingly, the symptoms can be far reaching because the
nervous system controls everything. Digestive disorders are
extremely common, headaches and dizziness of course,
depressed immunity and reduced vital capacity (breathing).
A quick posture test for you
Push your head forward into really bad posture and take a deep
breath. Now pull your head back onto your shoulder, standing
tall and take a deep breath. Feel the difference? This is your
brain stem being stressed. Imagine it like this all the time, the
loss of oxygen supply to your cells, organs and tissues. Think –
did you ever see anyone with poor posture running up a flight of
stairs? Probably not!
And why so much fatigue? Well, this incessant muscle
contraction is an enormous waste of your limited energy supply.
The muscles just don’t let go – ever! Try showing me your
bicep – now hold that muscle contraction. How about holding it
for a day, or a week. Imagine you can’t ever let it go? Well
that’s just what is going on across the top of your back and
shoulders. This IS what is causing your fatigue and a good
reason for your waking up exhausted each morning.
If you don’t do anything, what’s next?
Arthritis is next I’m afraid – premature spinal aging. Over 80%
of you will get spinal arthritis yet it can never be considered
normal. It is mostly due to your vertebrae being locked by
spinal misalignment (generally poor posture). The vertebrae
begin to change their shape as bone spurs form. These irritate
the surrounding tissues and will eventually block the nerves.
That tingling down the arms tells you the nerves are being
irritated; numbness means the nerves are being pinched. A
medical emergency is on the way and pain will tell you that your
body is concerned.
That nagging pain was never the real problem. It was just trying
to save you, give you a gentle nudge. Your body certainly
knows that if you stay on the wrong track for too long, you WILL
end up somewhere you really don’t want to be. The problem
was the premature degeneration, the loss of function, the
stressed nervous system and the impending health collapse;
that’s what the pain was all about!
What are the solutions for Silicon Valley Syndrome?
You need to make changes. Make sure your spine maintains
its healthy balance which means it must keep its shape. Your
neck curve is there for a reason, as a shock absorber for your
heavy ‘bowling ball’ head. Do what you can to get your head
back on your shoulders and for this you will almost certainly
need the right chiropractor to assist. Without the right
intervention your spine stays painful and locked. It needs
recognizing and unlocking.
My advice – find the right doctor, one who knows when
to recommend X-rays, one who can read the X-ray, explain the
X-ray and work from the X-ray. You don’t want guessers and
you don’t want ‘one fix for all’. Your spine is unique and the
person who needs to know what’s going on is you.
You need adjusting, precise and focused, and frequently
enough to evoke real change. And, of course, you’ll need some
stretching, maybe some gentle traction and of course some
stability work so it stays put. Of course it takes a little initiative
but anything worthwhile does.
Once your normal shape and movement is restored the healing
powers inside you will do the rest. Pressure will come off the
nerves, all manner of health improvements can be expected
and you’ll get your youth back. More than that; you can cancel
that rocking chair because you’re going to get back your sixties,
seventies and eighties.
Who else can help you?
Until you finally recognize what it is and understand the cause,
there is no solution. Certainly surgery is not the answer, as
cutting away a bit of the arthritis to take some pressure off the
nerves doesn’t even slow the process. It merely gives
temporary relief. The drugs don’t work as they just block the
pain. This is hugely dangerous as the process continues and
things are going to get much, much, worse.
You may get a little symptomatic relief from a massage, or
acupuncture, or ‘cupping’, or electric stimulation or even some
magic lotion. However, if you have Silicon Valley Syndrome
and someone says they can fix it, if they are not addressing the
cause (see above) then you are only looking at a little
symptomatic relief at best. There are many, many symptom
alleviators out there and it’s a very good repeat business.
How long is it going to take?
This very much depends on you. How late have you left
it? How much arthritis is there? How much overlying
muscle? How much pain? How much loss of conditioning and,
of course, your commitment to change? How willing will you be
to make daily changes and to kick the bad habits that caused
the problem in the first place? Anything from four weeks to six
months, or then again maybe never; it really depends on where
you are and how much you want it.
Still a skeptic?
If my words above don’t resonate or ring true, it doesn’t make
them less true. I invite you to come and talk to us, bring in your
X-rays and let us explain them to you, attend our spinal health
class or read our testimonials. We have helped literally
thousands with these problems and our success is exceptional.
You have but one life. It is yours to get the most out of, and
your spine will determine how you are going to age. No regrets
later! We urge you to take a proactive approach with your
health and allow us to help you ensure a better future for
yourself and for your family.
Dr Tim Errington, Total Health Chiropractic, Singapore +65 6224 6326