Back Pain Support Group

we are talking chiropractor right? The first thing I guess, would be to explain the damage. I pulled my pelvis away from my spine, tore the cartilegde that holds my pelvis in place and herneated L5&L4. I could bareley walk and when I went to the ER. Told them it felt like my hip was dislocated, they told me that was impossible other wise I wouldn't be able to walk. Gave me muscle relaxers and pain meds, took the edge off but I wouldn't say it helped. Three Dr.s one nureologist (who determined I had nerve damage), x-rays & MRI,six diferent meds includeing Valuim so I could sleep through the mucsle spams and no one could tell me what was going on. The physical therpy helped, but not enough, so the MD's decided that they were going to put a very large needle in my back side and inject cortisone into my hip joint, this didn't make any sense to me so I told them no. Now I don't know if this being a workmans comp thing had anything to do with it' but I suspect that it did.I was allso getting starved out at work because I was on light duty, the pay scale had just changed and I could not afford to go out on workmans comp. It doesn't pay very well and I have children to support. So in order to work full time they (my boss coerceded me in to giving up my claim) this is when I decided to see a chiroprater on my own finally got some relief and some answers. I do not see the same chrio. (long story) I had about 2yrs between. By the time I went back I couldn't stand up straight could barely move, had gained about 20lbs because I couldn't move. Was two inchs shorter. Looked like quazimoto's cousin, I was cranky, in pain and didn't want to do anything. It took three weeks at three times a week to get any improvement, and another siw weeks at two times a week for a major change. Lost 15lbs in this time period, probably because I could move again. Went to ounce a week it was supposed to be for two months, but I wrecked my car in the middlle of this so it lasted for three instead. Now I go twice a month for maintence. My tips are not all chiropractors are the same some are very harsh, if your not comfortable with them talk to someone else, they shouldn't try to fix it all at ounce as this can cause extreme pain. As far as it hurting more the next day thats because your muscles are protesting being in there improved postion. Why would anyone think it's a teporary fix, it takes time for the body to heal it's self, and the injury keeps trying to reassert itself, so you have to keep puting it back untill it's healed. Don't forget it can take time to get it completely back to begin with. Any chiro that says different; RUN! The spine should not be forced. It takes time. By the way I am 95% pain free, rarely have headaches and have more energy now than I did when I was sixteen, but it took over a year. I'm on no meds. I can think clearly now the pain meds are gone.

My experience with a chiropracter was for a herniated L4/L5 disc injury. This type of injury gave me referred pain in the leg and muscle cramps in the lower back and leg.
To be fair to chiropracters this particular sort of injury isnt supposed to respond that well to chiropracter treatment and the chiropracter did give me an article to read about the long term implications of having a spinal adjustment treatment for my injury which I began to read and then lost. My commitment to my condition and recovery was pretty low in those days - I didnt understand what I was getting into. The article did warn that spinal adjustment for herniated discs could lead to some chemisty changes in the disc, unfortunately I decided to ignore that and went ahead and got treatment.
The treatment was as follows, a short period lying on my side, some gentle manipulation then a jolt on standing leading to a series of 'crack' noises which I was told is the pop of gas as it is released from the joints. When I stood up I felt a lot better, easier to move around. I ended up getting this treatment twice or once a week for a year and was fine - as long as I kept having regular treatment. Looking back on it now I realise I was dependant on the chiropracter and the treatments to be normal. It is with a great deal of regret that I say to anyone reading this - I did not follow through with physical therapy (physiotherapy) to get a long term solution, probably mostly because I didnt have a good physiotherapist I could rely on.
My injury would have been much better treated by 1 yr of PT (physiotherapy) and I might have even avoided the later degeneration of my disc with its chemisty changes leading to the disc prolapse with 2 years of pain and suffering and long term impact on my capacity to work. It may be different for different types of injuries but it definately didnt help me - it was a waste of my money and could have led to chemical changes in my disc helping lead to a disc prolapse. If you have a disc bulge or herniation I strongly recommend PT (physiotherapy) with a view towards independantly maintaining your own health with the help of specific recommended exercises. In my opinion it is the only way to have a long term solution for a disc herniation or disc bulge injury.

Given the fact that I didnt get any instant relief from PT, and that I did get a good feeling straight after chiropractic adjustment its easy to see why people prefer seeing a chiropracter - that was what I thought too. But I could have prevented my disc prolapse by taking a more active role in my recovery by doing the hard work that a PT gave me - I could have prevented 2 years of pain, inability to walk and the permanent disability I now have by taking more responsibility for my condition. Thats why I urge people to carefully assess what you are doing and to reconsider placing a higher priority on your long term health rather than the short term relief that chiropractic spinal adjustment gives. Good luck.

I find the chiropractor to be the most helpful of anything I have tried, and my neurologist (and the ortho before him) say that this is ok. It worked the best before my surgery, but I reached a point where even the chiro didn't help, so I did stop going. I went back to the chiro 8 weeks after my surgery (with the surgeon's approval) I only went twice, and I do think it helped my leg pain, but the last time I went (last Thursday) the next day I was in the worst pain. But, since then, I must say I do feel better this week than I have felt since my surgery nearly 10 weeks ago. I have not yet decided if I will return to the chiro, but I did find it helpful. My chiropractor is very nice, and very gentle, and she has been a great source of knowledge for me without even touching me, when the docs didn't answer all my questions. I think different things work for different people. Physical therapy does not work for me, it makes me much worse - so that is an avenue I will not try again.

Wow! Firestarmist, I am so glad you referred me to this thread. I am going to steer clear of Chiropractors and adjustments as all I want is a quick fix. I already know the PT exercises, when done faithfully help me tremendously so I just have to do it. Thanks so much because I know I would have let him/her adjust me even after the warnings. You have really helped me. Take care.

i wouldn't do it