An interesting couple of cases I've seen in the last week or so have both involved appendectomies. The array of symptoms exhibited in both cases were very interesting and educational. The fixing of the cecum during and after an appendectomy can often affect iliocecal valve function and can also sometimes pull the right ovary into rotation, this in itself can cause a whole host of problems, as was the case with one of the people that came to see me last week. Also, because the cecum becomes fixed, it loses alot of it's motilty and mobility, this has a negative affect on digestion and can also affect the kidney and the psoas muscle on the right hand side as they are both in close contact with the ascending colon on that side.



The lumbars are almost always involved in this situation, with L1,L2 and L4 becoming restricted. Because of this, the patient often complains of lumbago and right hip pain. This then has a further restrictive affect on some of the cervicals, so the person often experiences a sore neck and headaches starting from the mid-cervicals which then travels up and around to the frontal and temple regions of the head.



A few more common complaints in this situation are; right shoulder pain and pain near the inside of the shoulder blade at the back, pain around McBurnleys point (which is situated approx half way along an oblique line going from the belly button to the top of the right hip), cramp like pain in the calf muscles, tinnitus in the right ear, sensitve cheekbones and tender points can be found at the tips of ribs 11 and 12 at the front.