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Back Pain: Update - Grumpyguy - 07-01-2008
I've been going to a chiropractor since mid May, receiving both traditional manipulations and decompression therapy for my herniated disks. Original thread: http://forums.macresource.com/read/1/494060/494084#msg-494084
The chiropractor and others told me it would be a long haul, but here are my results so far. These may seem stupid benchmarks, but they are activities that really bothered me:
-To give you an idea how bad I was getting--putting my underwear and my socks on was a major and painful undertaking. I had to sit and prop my legs up on another chair....
--Putting the golf tee in the ground was damn near impossible (swinging the club doesn't bother me at all--just bending over). Really weird, work was killing me, but after playing 9 holes, I felt just fine....
Within the last couple of weeks, I've seen marked improvement. I don't dread putting my underwear on (can actually do it standing), I can bend over and get the shower towel off the floor, and last Thursday, I could reach over about 95% of the way pain free to put the tee in.
Work--lifting, bending, still bother me at night, but not as much.
Overall, the numbness in my leg has decreased by 75%, my daily limp (as the day wore on) has disappeared.
Not sure which is the more important. The manipulations (the doctor resorted to a little more physical "back cracking" over the last two weeks which seemed to provided immediate relief) or the decompression therapy, which basically stretches your compressed spine.
For reference, my insurance is picking up the manipulations, but I pay $35 per visit for the decompression--which my insurance doesn't cover.
Re: Back Pain: Update - M A V I C - 07-01-2008
A good chiropractor is well worth it. I had started to think my back aching after taking pictures for hours, or long rides in the car... was normal or just signs of aging. My wife worked for a chiropractor for a while (a "wellness" practitioner, not a PI only doc) and so I started going for free. I had never been to one before.
I don't get to go for free anymore, but it's still well worth it. Life is much more enjoyable.
Oh, and of course, glad to hear you're doing better!
Re: Back Pain: Update - mstats - 07-01-2008
Numbness in your legs ! Be careful. This can be a sign of pressure on the spinal cord. Does your chiropractor know you are having numbness in your legs? Make sure he does before he performs any more manipulations.
Re: Back Pain: Update - karsen - 07-01-2008
Glad to hear you're doing better. If you keep it up you'll need to change your name from Grumpyguy to Happyguy.
Re: Back Pain: Update - davester - 07-01-2008
What mstats said. There is a long history of chiropractors who have caused irreversible harm (and death) to their clients. I would be very wary, especially if I had sciatica (which is what it sounds like you have.
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/317/7152/160
whatstheharm.net/chiropractic.html
Re: Back Pain: Update - richorlin - 07-01-2008
If you have a herniated disk, I would suggest an MRI and a visit to a neurosurgeon. Manipulation by a chiro is NOT going to repair a herniated disk and might even aggravate it further. The relief you are feeling now may be short-lived.
Re: Back Pain: Update - Black Landlord - 07-01-2008
Herniated discs can heal on their own over time, which is exactly what your seems to be doing. Keep on doing what you're doing now, and enjoy the chiro as long as the insurance is picking up the tab.
Re: Back Pain: Update - Racer X - 07-01-2008
I agree with BL. My uncle has had chronic back pain for 3 decades, and has had over a dozen operations. About half of those were to correct previous problems caused by earlier operations. Once they start cutting, there is almost no going back.
As an aside, he became addicted to narcotic pain meds, and had to retire from the police force as head detective. In retrospect, he wishes they had never started to cut.
Re: Back Pain: Update - Article Accelerator - 07-01-2008
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2008/06/13/chiro-lawsuit.html
Re: Back Pain: Update - Racer X - 07-01-2008
and how many surgeons have messed up a back surgery? I can get you the names of several, and they were all with the same patient!