Injured back

[Damn True]

So I jacked up my back on Friday. Never gone through pain like this before. Just wanted to get some feedback from those that have.

What have your experiences been with Chiropractic care and/or traditional medacine and physical therapy?

[dropit69]

all depends on what you did to it...muscle ..hernieted disk and such..some have good experience with chiropractor some dont..guy at work had surgery for a bad vertabrae says he never felt better..no matter what you did to it back problems suck..hope ya the best..

[jy211]

I swear by the chiropractor. Whether I screw my bad up lifting car parts or in when I do it in the gym...

[Rybar]

I'm in your boat as well, been seeing a Chiro for the last few months I think I have a herniated disk and it definately sucks. I do excercises daily but it has been a real slow go.

Medicine can relieve the pain and enflamation, but it wont heal you for sure.

I'd also like to know if Physio is any better than a Chiro.

[Jagarang]

First see a doctor.
Second see a chiroprator.

If theres serious issues with your back and they go undiagnosed and properly treated, the chiropractor might do more damage. Chiroprators are NOT doctors.

[MrQuick]

Very true, see the doc first then he will recommend whats required. sorry to hear your layed up. Take it easy.

[BonzoHansen]

I used to go to a chiropractor all the time. Then I blew out the lower disc in my back. My freaking left leg hurt so damn bad. I actually though I somehow pulled/tore my hamstring. I told him everything that was happening, etc, he did his normal thing and told me to rest, blah blah. It didn’t get better, so I saw an orthopedic surgeon a few days later. That is where I found out about my disc. If the chiro had just said, ‘gee you might want to get this checked out’ (MRI, etc.), I would still respect him. Too bad, he was a nice guy. But in retrospect, I think a good massage (not the happy ending kind, but that might be nice too) would work just as well as chiro.

Four cortisone shots and 6 months of physical therapy and I was like new. In retrospect, my doc thinks I would have healed faster if I had a micro-discectomy right away. (they use a little tool to go in and just clean out the herniated part – much less invasive than the old days).

He also taught me how great ibuprofen is as an anti-inflammatory. Don’t bother with Tylenol or anything else. The best stuff for stiffness/soreness.

My advice, if it really sucks, go to a orthopedic surgeon for an opinion.


Side note, my old chiro was the ex-brother-in-law of Ed Hamburger. Small world.

[Andrew McBride]

I recommend looking for a Chriopractor who practices The "Gonstead" Method. I was going to go to chiropractic school, but have decided to continue my finance degree for now.

I think Chiropractic is a great route. A lot of old timer Dr.'s are against chiropractic, but from experience they can do great things.

[Rybar]

I used to go to a chiropractor all the time. Then I blew out the lower disc in my back. My freaking left leg hurt so damn bad. I actually though I somehow pulled/tore my hamstring. I told him everything that was happening, etc, he did his normal thing and told me to rest, blah blah. It didn’t get better, so I saw an orthopedic surgeon a few days later. That is where I found out about my disc. If the chiro had just said, ‘gee you might want to get this checked out’ (MRI, etc.), I would still respect him. Too bad, he was a nice guy. But in retrospect, I think a good massage (not the happy ending kind, but that might be nice too) would work just as well as chiro.

Four cortisone shots and 6 months of physical therapy and I was like new. In retrospect, my doc thinks I would have healed faster if I had a micro-discectomy right away. (they use a little tool to go in and just clean out the herniated part – much less invasive than the old days).

He also taught me how great ibuprofen is as an anti-inflammatory. Don’t bother with Tylenol or anything else. The best stuff for stiffness/soreness.

My advice, if it really sucks, go to a orthopedic surgeon for an opinion.


Side note, my old chiro was the ex-brother-in-law of Ed Hamburger. Small world.

I'm having doubts about the Chiropractor, I think thier idea is they try to heal you naturally without surgery or medicine.

What does a Cortisone shot do and what is a micro-discectomy?

[BonzoHansen]

I’m no doctor; I just play one on websites. :) But as I understand, the cortisone is drug they shoot right into the inflamed area that reduces the inflammation, and in this case, soothes the nerves that are irritated (thus the leg pain).

My doc is part of a group that works out of NYC and Princeton. They do pro athletes, so they are no hacks. When they did mine, this was still considered ‘new’ treatment. I saw news stories on it months later.

In their office operating room, they laid me down on my belly, shot anesthesia into the area of my back that was going to be dealt with. That hurt the most, but it was not unbearable (I am still here). Then they shot dye in, a very strange feeling; I could feel the area fill up, like a balloon. They used that dye to watch the whole procedure on a TV so they knew they were not going to stick the big needle. They used like an 18” needle to shoot the cortisone in. That was it.

A micro-discectomy is like I said, they use a little tool to go in and just clean out the herniated part – much less invasive than the old days. The hole they cut into you is like 3/4" instead of 5" wide, which is a big deal since they are cutting through muscle. They do not remove the discs anymore, just the herniated part. Imagine an ice cream sandwich. That is your disc, but tastier. Now squeeze it a bit so ice cream comes out the side. That ice cream represents the herniation. Now cut the excess ice cream off with a knife. That is a micro-discectomy, as I understand it.

[toxicz28]

I blew out the six lowest discs in my back at once, so I know back pain. I could go into a whole rant about insurance companies and workers comp, but I have to be to work tomorrow at 7am, so I won't. First off, chiropractic did not take away all of my pain, mine was an extreme case, but it made the pain bearable. If you want clarification on bearable, I was able to function (walk, sit, stand, drive, and lay downfor more than 10 minutes without having back spasms)
Second, if the pain is nerve related, there are only two drugs that took away my pain. Alcohol(and large quantities of it), and Vicodin, but not the kiddie candy crap that you get from a dentist ( that's mostly tylenol) I mean real man's 500mg vicodin.
Third, If surgery is needed, opt for the laminectomy first. A spinal fusion decreases mobility, and the pain and recovery is worse.
For those that say "you never have just one{back surgery}" I had mine in April of 1997 and it's the only one I've had.

As for the comment about a chiropractor doing more harm than good, it is possible, but a good chiropractor will take their time adjusting you if the is an injury or pain involved.


Chiroprators are NOT doctors.

That is not true. Graduating after eight years of college gives you a doctorate. They take the pre-med and med school courses just as a medical doctor does. They also have to be licenced by the state that they practice in. So they can't perscribe medicine, they don't believe in it anyway. That doesn't make them any less of a doctor than a shrink!

[vanzuuk1]

True

What exactly did you do and how?

What kind if shape are you in?

I am not a dr. but when i started having back trouble swimming and exercise seemed to help. You will likely have to heal a little first but swimming or even just being in a pool seemed made me feel better.

[toxicz28]

I'm having doubts about the Chiropractor, I think thier idea is they try to heal you naturally without surgery or medicine.

That is their idea. I've heard stories of chiropractors that stopped talking to family members because they had back surgery(for scoliosis). My Dr was all for my surgery. he knew he couldn't totally take away my pain, and he accepted that surgery was what was best. He also did push for me to get an mri, as well as me going to see a neurologist(which was the waste of my time, he did nothing for me)


What does a Cortisone shot do and what is a micro-discectomy?
Can't answer on the cortisone shot, I never had one. The best way to describe the discectomy, they clean out the mushed disc material, so it doesn't put pressure on your nerves.

[BonzoHansen]

True

What exactly did you do and how?

What kind if shape are you in?

I am not a dr. but when i started having back trouble swimming and exercise seemed to help. You will likely have to heal a little first but swimming or even just being in a pool seemed made me feel better.I believe that. Mine is aggravated by ‘tight’ muscles. If I start having any pain, I get back into (I should never stop, but I do) my stretching exercises and everything gets a better.

[Damn True]

It was such a benign thing. I was sitting at a desk and rolled my shoulders back and stretched, arching my back and TWANG! Something went in my back. Ive been to the chiro twice and the medical Dr. prescribed some anti-inflamatories and "man-size" vicodin. Feeling better, but it still spasms if I engage that muscle.

[Mark Smith]

sounds like back pain is for everybody.some experience more severe pain than others.I personally have had the micro disectomy surgery and it was successful.alot of that is determined by who does it.my doctor does the pro atheletes around tis area and he came highly reccomended.had a bad dirt bike accident and really screwed myself up.4 broken ribs, collapsed lung ,broken collar bone etc. My type of work is hard on the back so I had issues before this.did seek chiropractic help then and again it depends on the dock.my surgery was 11 years ago and with starting a work out routine including weight lifting,I feel great.I would reccomend stretching and therapy first.if your pain is severe as mine was you probably will need surgery,as my doc told me you can see me now or see me later.good luck either way

[BRIAN]

Been there and living through that now. DO NOT get surgery unless it is mandatory. My surgeon was the chief spine surgeon at NYU so it really doesn't matter who operates on you more how your body will accept the change.

The only reason you should get surgery is if you are losing strength in a limb or part of your body that is caused by the herniation. I am talking about not being able to lift your arm or having your leg go numb. But be ready for some long and hard rehab. The pain can be 10x worse if you can possibly imagine that.

It all depends on the individual and how your body reacts to treatment weather it be chiro or simple stretching. From the sounds of how it happened I would have to say it probably is just a muscle deal as there was no trauma.


I tell everyone take 2 Advils 4x a day for about 2 days and you will feel relief. Advils help swelling and do not mask the pain like Vicodin does. I take them and about 10 yes 10 other pills daily due to pain. I am no doctor but quickly becoming an expert on the subject.


I do not like spilling my personal stuff on internet but do not want anybody else to go through the pain if they can help it. As annoying as it is now remember it can be worse.


Get drunk, hire a hooker and when you wake up the fear of having AIDS will take your mind of your back pain. ONLY KIDDING!!!!

[toxicz28]

I do not like spilling my personal stuff on internet but do not want anybody else to go through the pain if they can help it. As annoying as it is now remember it can be worse.
It's alot easier on the net, more anonymous.



Get drunk, hire a hooker and when you wake up the fear of having AIDS will take your mind of your back pain. ONLY KIDDING!!!!
That's a good one. All kidding aside. In most cases, surgery is a choice. I had the choice for mine. The choice was "live with the pain, or take the chance that it will work" I did not want to deal with the pain, or be on meds forever. And I am sure glad I had it done. Now mind you I was dealing with the pain for 9 months before they cut me, so it wasn't a rushed decision. I say, don't rush into anything, get surgery as a last resort, and feel better.

[Jim Nilsen]

Oct. 14th 1974, fell out of a tree and crushed L2 vertabre. Orthopedic doctor and physical therapy and determination and I was riding my 10spd bike in 6 mo. and had pain for the next 5 yrs that I finally learned to tolerate and it finally stopped nagging me 10 yrs later. If I do something stupid it will remind me but it is ok.

1993 while going to get a new job I woke up and had numbness in both arms and couldn't move my kneck. I went to my brothers Chiropracter and he xrayed me to make sure it wasn't something else he would need to send me for an MRI for and he started to adjust me. By that afternoon when I had to go to the interview I could at least move enough to not look like I wasn't crippled. By the 3rd day when I had to go to my physical I was moving and feeling more than well enough to pass. I went for 2 yrs and learned how to exersice for my subluxation that was forming in my neck and back.

Now I exercise and keep myself from doing stupid lifting tricks and I do just fine. I believe in both kinds of doctors and would recommend that for the initial onset of a back injury to see an orthopedic doc to make sure. The Wife got in an accident and we went to the chiro and it made it worse and the regular doctor gave her meds and rest and then some therapy and it was much better.

Everyone reacts differently to treatment of different types and it is something to not experiment with and no 2 docs are the same even in the same field of medicine. I always question them about their success rate about treating injuries like mine and ask them if they have a boat? I always am a bit shy of a doctor that has a boat ever since I knew a dentist that had one and would recommend everything to be done just so he could pay for it. Thats why they call those teeth you have "wisdom teeth" if you have them removed and they haven't ever bothered you then your dentist was a lot wiser than you!!! and probably had a boat.

Jim Nilsen

[MrQuick]

I hurt my back sneezing once, it just happens. Its important to exercise and stretch daily, sit ups and other stomach exercises will help with you posture and help balance back muscle usage.
I blew out my knee and was given a cortizon shot after it was drained...felt real good. I was told it was also a joint lubricant. Almost sounds like a pulled or strained muscle. take it easy for awhile...maybe get a better computer chair!

[Norwoodx55]

I had a girl slide on the ice across the highway last Feb. and t-boned her. We were both doing about 50 mph. It was a pretty good hit. I started with a Chiro. for about 7 mos. I didn't get any real relief from muscle spasms and stiff/soreness till I went to a physical therapist. I now do stretches and excercises daily and am much improved. The P.T. told me that the excercises strenghten the muscles supporting the vertabra and keep them aligned better= less problems. Dunno, but it seems to be working for me. Just my experience.
Good luck,
Brett

[bnickel]

man i feel for you guys. i have chronic back, neck and shoulder pain and lately my psiatic nerve has been killing me too. unfortunately what i have is not curable and the meds only slightly help. i have osteoarthritis, fibromayalgia, degenerative disc disease and i also suffer from chronic depression because of al the other probs. my daoctor just changed my main pain meds to methadone last week and i can't tell if it is doing any better than what he's had me on before. i also take lortab (hydrocodone), celebrex, wellbutrin xl, paxil, my muscle relaxer is called robaxin and i also have ambien and amitryptiline to help me sleep. and i have had 2 surgeries, one on my neck and one on my left shoulder.

[BonzoHansen]

I hurt my back sneezing once, it just happens. Its important to exercise and stretch daily, sit ups and other stomach exercises will help with you posture and help balance back muscle usage.My P/T also had me do exercises that help strengthen the lower back. If you only work the abs, you can actually tighten the front so much it pulls you forward. Just thought I’d toss that in.

[MrQuick]

good point thats why you mix it up. : )

[zbugger]

I have a pinched nerve in my shoulder right now. I have no idea how I did it. Damn does it make me feel old though. Then again, it doesn't stop me from working out.

[Norm Peterson]

I've been through a few bouts of back trouble over the years, but have managed to avoid surgery. For me, Naprosin (sp?) seems to work quite well, one or two usually being sufficient.

It also appears that you're more apt to have trouble from either being insufficiently active (physically) or from overdoing it.

One of the times I went to a doctor (a really bad case where I could hardly bear to sit long enough to ----) the doctor was clearly not paying attention to my descriptions. I guess he'd already made up his mind and didn't want to be confused with the realities of my condition, so he gave me a shot of Novocain (so I wouldn't feel the next 45 minutes worth of body movements that might well make things worse?) and sent me on my way. Laying down in the back seat, as sitting was out of the question. 13 years later and I'm still pissed at the way I was treated there. [/rant]

Naprosin and some other med obtained through another doctor had it cleared up within about a month.

Norm

[shmoov69]

I have went to the chiropractor several times in the last few years (I am a roofer and it is a tad rough on the back!) and have had to change because the first one wanted me on his retirement plan. He kept on trying to guilt me into coming back twice a week. Screw that! The new one is great, he will shoot me straight and advise me if I NEED to come back, or if I am ok to just come back if I hurt it again. Some are crooks and some are not I suppose, just like about everything else! Just if you do go to one, tell him first thing, that you are on YOUR OWN retirement plan, NOT HIS! You might have to go to a few to find one that you like also
IMO!

[Smoke'm]

I am going on three years from a broad that hit me ..best advice I can give is get a MRI...and find a really good spine and sport guy to go over it with you and come up with a plan...I tried the local referal and he worked the problem but did not even get close to getting on the path to getting me better..I asked my primary Doc if she could refer me to someone up the ladder..I am at a guy that handles some of the Seahawks and such now...wow he new what was up just looking at me the first visit..he ordered a MRI and I had three discs inflamed and bulging out of my kneck...he sent me over to the bone cruncher he trusts and man I felt way better after a few visits....he pushed the discs back into place and now I am in muscle therapy to fix the shoulder muscle that was torn and has major scar tissue from being neglected for two years...

bottom line, seek out the best in the area from the get go not down the road...and get the young guys to lift your blocks around now,lol