Crack the Back

[Stella]

So, I finally got in to the Chiropractor today. (What do your SO's think about the Chirpractor??? My Doc was surprised that my SO went to see one and said that doctors are usually one extreme or the other. What's up with that? What do your docs think?)

Anyway, the guy was extremely helpful and informative. As it turns out, I have multiple pinched nerves on the right side and so my left side is overcompensating. I also have terrible posture apparently which has caused a separating rib cage and bad spinal cord positioning (particularly in the neck and lower back) leading to chest pains, headaches, stomache problems, and general back pain. Oh, and I have scoliosis. I saw my X-Rays and that is one wavy lil' spine I have. The EMG (I think that's what it was called) showed a lot of the muscle strain on my back as well. Not looking good for a 22 year old.

Now, I have to go to the Chiropractor twice a week for adjustments and do these "exercises" at home, including one where I have to lay on my back on my bed with my neck hanging over the edge for 5 minutes. I was worried about the blood rushing to my head but he says I'll be fine. I also have to do an exercise he dubs "The Snob" and he encouraged me to do cardio workouts for an hour a day. :! Finally, he did my adjustments and my back made sounds like 4th of July fireworks. It was such a relief actually... Can't wait to go back on Friday!

Anyone else with back problems??

[DCJenn]

Mine are hip problems and I definitely need to find a chiropractor here- I have one, but I need to reacquaint myself with her.

My husband is all for trying out whatever works- chiropractors, especially- since he destroyed his ankles and knees and lower back from his Airborne days. The military now authorizes chiropractic care for active duty personnel.

Jenn

[SuzySunshine]

My DH also thinks their quacks. Neither one of us have ever been to one or needed one so that might be something to do with it.

[Stella]

How much was the visit if you don't mind me asking? Does your insurance pay non-injury-related chiropractic?

I have Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and they cover up to 60 visits a year with everything included (EMG and x-rays and adjustments) for just $15 co-pay per visit.
My chiropractor is a "Creating Wellness Center" (http://www.creatingwellness.com) and though I don't follow that program, it seems like the doctors that are a part of it are pretty good!

We tend to favor PTs and massage therapy over chiropractors. I grew up with scoliosis and got an adorable brace during my too-cool-for-school adolecent years (fortunately, worn only at night) that stabilized my "S" curve. The curve is still there, my hips are still slightly uneven. I haven't had pain problems except for a pinched nerve 2 moves ago (fell down the stairs and banged my back against the edge of a step). For that I just rested and took ibuprofen and muscle relaxers, which made talking feel funny.

My FIL who is a neurologist swears folks should stay away from chiropractors. And I really respect my FIL's opinions on something so related to his field. So, I wouldn't go to one personally.

[SuzySunshine]

My FIL who is a neurologist swears folks should stay away from chiropractors. And I really respect my FIL's opinions on something so related to his field. So, I wouldn't go to one personally.

Yep, my DH the neurosurgeon hates them! Says he's seen more than one screwed up back b/c of them.

[Stella]

My FIL who is a neurologist swears folks should stay away from chiropractors. And I really respect my FIL's opinions on something so related to his field. So, I wouldn't go to one personally.

Yep, my DH the neurosurgeon hates them! Says he's seen more than one screwed up back b/c of them.

SO and his dad (Internal Medicine) both go to one, but if you don't go to a Chiropracter, where do you go???

I hope the exercises help, Stellava.

DH thinks chiropractors are quacks as well. He treated a guy during residency who became partially paralyzed as a direct result of a chiropractic visit. I know several people who have seen temporary relief from chiropractic visits, but it seemed like their problems never really went away. DH and I would both go the route of massage therapy and exercise before seeing a chiropractor.

my dh also thinks they're quacks. he's more for the massage therapy / PT route.

some of the cracking / twisting they do is v. scary IMO. I'm all for whatever works, but isn't there something about chiropractor licensing-stuff allows some people to call themselves more than they really are?

but if you don't go to a Chiropracter, where do you go???

I've never had the kind of issues you describe. I'm not being flippant, but if I thought I had nerve / back issues I'd head to a neurologist first. But, that's just me. Just from what little you describe -- mixed with what little I know -- I don't see why a neurologist couldn't give you a great workup / place to start. Heck, it could be that the neurologist in this case might have similar findings and plans for you. But it could be s/he would have different findings and a different plan.

Personally, I'd worry about what EDWife wrote above -- a chiropractor creating damage. I don't have any idea how likely it is to happen, etc. but in my mind I don't want to entertain any greater odds of serious, irreversible damage.

I have been to a chiropractor before. I think it helped but did it help more than massage or PT, a good stretching routine, or my orthotics? I can't say that it did.

I have never had insurance that covers it. What I don't like is that it seems to take a lot of visits to fix something, they tend to push all sorts of nutritional supplements, and tend to treat things that seem to me beyond the scope of spinal care. I can't imagine what would happen if my husband told someone he could cure their reflux by treating a skin condition. (Ok, maybe there is some disease that I don't know about where those are connected but my point is that all sorts of people would flip out and he could get sued).

I have been experiencing more back pain with this pregnancy and would consider seeing a chiropractor but I'd be picky about who I see. Given that my insurance covers PT, I would probably try that first. I've had luck with that as well.

[KCwife]

I went to one many years ago..pre DH attending med school. I had a rib that was pushed out of place from a fall. He put it back...but wanted me to come back for 4-5 more visits. I never went back. DH now thinks that they are dangerous quacks.

[Gwendolyn]

I hope the exercises help, Stellava.

DH thinks chiropractors are quacks as well. He treated a guy during residency who became partially paralyzed as a direct result of a chiropractic visit. I know several people who have seen temporary relief from chiropractic visits, but it seemed like their problems never really went away. DH and I would both go the route of massage therapy and exercise before seeing a chiropractor.

This is pretty much where we fall, and the research falls (my info via DH, so I can find out where if you woudl like). Helps temporarily but rarely long term and almost never better than PT and massage. More of a risk than a benefit.

[mommax3]

I *think* DH at least raises his eyebrows about chiropractors, and may secretly be even more negative. I went to one during high school after I hurt my back from carrying a xylophone in one of those over the shoulder carriers during marching band. I don't know that he did anything more for me than would have happened anyway. My MIL goes to one regularly.

The only thing I've ever heard DH say about them is that when they claim they can cure ear infections, he knows they are quacks......but he thinks there are some that are not.

Sally