Chiropractic Experiences? Can You Share Yours?

[ChristineVA]

I recently started seeing a chiropractor--actually, yesterday! I am still a little leary about this and was wondering what experiences others have.

For the past year (give or take some time), I have had nagging, low-level pain right on the "dimple" bone above my left buttock. It has really been "nothing" and most of the time it just feels like I overexerted myself and it goes away for awhile then comes back. But I have noticed that it is more uncomfortable when I lay on my stomach at night or at the end of my Pilates tape when we do the "cobra-type" move where I'm on my stomach and I arch up. Again, nothing bad.

Well, last November when I had a breast lump removed, it flared up at the same time I was recuperting. I joked that they must have dropped me in the O.R. It was really bad and since I was healing from surgery I couldn't take aspirin or Ibuprofen. Finally, I got a heating pad on it and when I could take Motrin, it would go away. Ever since that time, I've been having flare-ups that are more than just a nuisance. And in the last month, the flare-ups are happening several times a week. And then it will just go back to low-level for no reason.

I finally went to see my GP. He told me I had sciatica. I questioned this because, I had done my research, and I have NO pain, numbness, whatever, down my leg. Just a stabbing sensation in the bone above my left buttock. He gave me some stretching exercises and prescribed high dose Iboprofen therapy. I don't mind doing it, but I feel like I have a wrong diagnosis. So, I started doing more reading and it seemed my next step was a big-wig back specialist. I'm still not ruling that out, but I'm wondering if I just got some proper care, I could avoid the specialist.

So, I got a referral for a chiropractor and he got me right in on Friday. He determined that I had an "SI" joint problem and that two of my lower verterbrae were "irritated" because it hurts when I arch backward. I seem to do fine standing and walking, but sitting hurts and torsion/twisting movements bother me on that left side.

He adjusted me and then did electronic stimulation. I have to say, the adjustments kind of flipped me out though they did not hurt. I can't say I'm any better today (and he did not promise me immediate relief). In fact, the pain is kind of different. I find sitting in my car to be almost intolerable (my back sits lower than my knees) and it only bothered me mildly before yesterday. I kind of feel better in other areas though (walking, for instance).

I'm just a little worried that he didn't do an x-ray. In fact, no one wants to image my back at all, while I read about others having x-rays, MRIs, etc.

Do you think this care is appropriate so far? What experience have you had?

I will be going back Monday as he wants to see how I feel after his adjustment. This is just all so foreign to me.

Thanks,
Christine

[mrswaz]

For me the red flag is the electronic stimulation. I recently had a neck problem and went for my first chiropractic visit as well. I could not believe the electronic stimulation. I went back for the 3 days of follow up, and every time he did the stimulation. I just assumed it was par for the course, although it creeped me out. A week afterwards my neck still felt tender from the electronic stimulation, so I asked around and saw a chiropractor who does not use electronic stimulation. He did some adjusting, and some massage, and some manipulation, and after a few visits I was back to normal. I will never subject myself to electronic stimulation again. No matter what they call it now, it's still shock therapy, and not for me.

Chiropractors in general have always creeped me out, but if you're not comfortable with the one you've been seeing, find someone else. Regardless of who you see it will probably take a series of adjustments before you feel normal again. I don't know that you'd need an x-ray though. A good chiropractor should be able to feel a problem if there is one. At that point, he may suggest an x-ray, but unless he feels a problem, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[oceanjasper]

I don't have any experience with chiropractors myself and I have to admit they kind of scare me a bit too. However, a friend of mine had a problem with her SI joint. Once she ended up being hospitalized and couldn't even get out of bed for days. She was on sick leave from work for at least half a year, because she couldn't handle sitting at her desk all day. The one and only thing that has brought her almost back to normal has been seeing a chiropractor (adjustments only). She is still super careful and rests often, but the progress I have seen in the past couple years is really quite amazing. For that reason alone, if something like that ever happened to me, I would definitely give it a try.

[ChristineVA]

Originally posted by mrswaz
For me the red flag is the electronic stimulation.

Wow, it did not bother me at all. Can't say that it helped either, but it didn't hurt. Honestly, though, I can't imagine having that done on my neck!

[jjsooner73]

Originally posted by ChristineVA


Wow, it did not bother me at all. Can't say that it helped either, but it didn't hurt. Honestly, though, I can't imagine having that done on my neck!

I have had no problems with e-stim. I also have a friend whose insurance purchased her a machine (though a smaller, cheaper version) to use at home. Sometimes, it's the only thing that gives her any relief. She was dropped in college cheerleading, and then over the last 7 years has been rear-ended 3 times. Her pain is in her upper back/neck area.

My chiro also told me that the first few times I get adjusted, I would be sore as my body is getting used to it.

IMO, the red flag is that he didn't do x-rays.
I first went to a chiropracter back in October when my lower back was killing me. I was lifting a heavy student from her wheelchair to a changing table daily, plus one time lifted her from the floor to her chair (bad, I know).
Anyhow, I found out I have a congential condition in my lower vertebrae (forget what it's called) that wouldn't have been detected w/o x-rays. After several treatments, and no more lifting or careful lifting on my part, my lower back is fine. I go see her every 2-3 weeks for adjusting and get special attention if I'm having any problems anywhere.
My feet have been bothering me--I've had chronic plantar fascitis for about 4 years now--and she did e-stim on them, adjusted them, and used this 'thumper' thing to work out the kinks. I could tell a difference immediately!

I would maybe try and find another chiropracter in your area. Check with friends, coworkers, etc. That's how I found mine--a lot of the teachers where I work go to this one and we all love her.

[ChristineVA]

Originally posted by jjsooner73


IMO, the red flag is that he didn't do x-rays.


I would maybe try and find another chiropracter in your area. Check with friends, coworkers, etc. That's how I found mine--a lot of the teachers where I work go to this one and we all love her.

Well, this is what I did and everyone seems to love this guy. He has his own x-ray equipment and I specifically asked him if he needed to do one. He was pretty adamant, after the exam that he gave me, that he felt he didn't need one. So, I guess I was confused because it would have been easy enough to go right in and do it. I will be seeing him tomorrow and maybe I will "push" the x-ray bit and tell him I'm not comfortable without one.
Christine

[TLee4]

I am interested about the x-rays too. Last year I went to a chiro because I was having some neck/back problems (also not terrible, but wanted to try clearing them up as I was getting ready to train for a marathon). I was afraid of big expenses, so I was hoping maybe I wouldn't need an x-ray. I pm'd DocAgnocs (a chiropractor who weighs in on this BB a lot) and asked him if I'd be able to avoid the x-ray, and he said that he pretty much ALWAYS does x-rays on his patients, and it is important. Anyway, the good parts of the story are:
1. I LOVE my chiropractor. He did give me a lot of relief and I ran a successful marathon!
2. The insurance paid for a lot of my treatment.

And he did do the x-rays.

Terri

[rburganmckinley]

I've had to see a chiropractor twice (for many treatments in each course). The first one did not give me any exrays, but wasn't happy about it. He preferred to but I was pregnant at the time. The second one did give me xrays. I would find it odd that xrays were not required. I'm not sure how one could diagnose by feel alone, especially since not the entire spine can be felt (some faces frontwards??). I have had good success with both rounds of treatment. But it was not an immediate relief for me. The first time healed much more quickly than the second. The second time took several months of treatments before I could wean down to 1 adjustment a month or so. I am a firm believer in the benefits of chiropractic care. I would bet that my normal physician would have just loaded me up with drugs and sent me on my way (that seems to be their solution for everything).

[MrsReber]

I first went to a chiro when I was pregnant. I had such back pain and severe headaches. It was the only thing I could think of that might help as Tylenol would basically do nothing unless I took mega doses of it (which I refused to do while pregnant). I got such relief! Just by feeling my neck, this guy could tell where I had pain. He felt the spot behind my ear and said "this hurts, right?" Yep. It had hurt for literally 10 years. I had been to doctors to figure out why, but nobody could say. The dentist made me a $300 mouth guard to try to help the jaw pain. Well, this chiropractor did some adjusting and the pain was gone. It's never come back.

He had wanted to do x-rays back then (4 - 5 years ago) but couldn't since I was pregnant. I recently went back to him for my neck again. It just about seized up one day while I was getting dressed. I could barely move and wound up going everyday for almost 2 weeks. I did get immediate relief, however, it was a little bit of relief with each visit. He doesn't do x-rays in his office anymore and he knows that if he referred me for x-rays, I'd have to pay for them myself. He said he can get by without them for now. He thinks that I have a bulging disc, but he's pretty sure it's not a herniated disc based on my symptoms. He explained that it would take some time to get the pressure off the nerve and then to let the nerve heal. Pain relievers won't do much at all, except motrin which does have an anti-inflammatory in it.

All in all, while I had many doubts about chiropractic care, I can honestly say it gave me much needed pain relief.

I have a similar pain in my hip area. My hips are always out of place. It takes a bit of adjusting to get the bones to do what they're supposed to do!

[ChristineVA]

Thanks for your replies. I had my second visit last night. Things *do* seem to be improving but I still feel pretty bad when I sit in my car. But I feel better while standing and walking.

One of the reasons this chiro doesn't feel that I need x-rays is that my problem seems to be in the SI joint rather than the spine. The SI joint is extremely hard to "image" so I guess he feels why bother? I think if I had pain in my spine he would do the x-ray. I guess I have to trust that. He has on-site X-ray and it would only be to his advantage to x-ray me, so why doesn't he? He did say that since my pain is so long-standing that it may well take a month to feel better and he hoped I wasn't expecting to be "cured" in one day. I told him I had no such expectations but he said many people do.
Christine

[Laurielee]

I love my chiro, I have a similar problem that flares up, just yesterday I had to go. When I dont excercise I lose strength in the area that causes, ( I cant remember the name) to rotate. And I have a rib that does the same thing. I dont need xrays, he just feels it, to see its rotated. I dont think all people need x rays. sometimes I thinks its just a scam when every chrio want ot do xrays the first time you see them and then okay see me for the next 2 months 3 times a week. But if they do an exam and cant find anything by physically examining the area, then it should be warranted.

I get immediate relief, but I think sinc eyou have been feeling this way for such a long period of time, it will take time for hte pain to subside.

I first found chiro care when I started having excruciating headaches not long after a car accident. had numoruos xrays done by md's nothing was found, they thoguht it was sinus, had huge tubes stuck up my nose nothing. finally after 3 months of this a co-worker recommended his chiro, I thought what have I got to lose, I have tried almost everything else. after 2 visits my heaches were gone he said I had a pinched nerve at the base of the back of my neck that was radiating to the front of my head wehre the headaches were.

so I am a believer

Laurie

[buffygirl]

Count me in as a believer in chiropractic care. I had a major hip reconstruction 3 years ago (femorral osteotomy). It took me 9 months to be able to walk without assistance and I was left with a very noticable limp. My orthopaedic surgeon said that there wasn't much that could be done about it other than strengthening my leg and gave me series after series of exercises to do, none of which helped.

Last August, as a "last resort" I decided to see a chiropractor for some neck pain that I was having and just casually mentioned the hip ordeal. Within 2 visits my limp was gone! He did lots of deep tissue massage on the hip/leg and VERY deep stretching.

I just started seeing him again in the last month since I'm now in my 5th month of pregnancy. With the weight gain/shift things are moving around a bit.

All in all I am extremely satisfied with my treatment!

Kim

[Gecko]

If your insurance covers it, another thought might be to consult a Physical Therapist. They see all sorts of injuries and nagging pains and may be able to suggest some exercises for you to do routinely that will help alleviate the pain. A good one will also know when it is time to get a consult with an orthopedic. Maybe therapeutic massage would help too, although insurance does not always cover this.

The chiropractor is correct in stating that this won't be cured overnight, and I know you realize this. Which ever way you decide it will take time and perserverence, which soun ds like you are well aware of. Good luck!

(P.S. - I can't belieive I am suggesting PT after my jobs woes , but I really have seen it help people and not all are like my recent boss)

[ChristineVA]

Gecko,

Well, my chiropractor used to be a PT and he shares an office with a PT group. He has given me some exercises to do also. So, I feel like I am getting some PT along with the chiropractic care.
Christine

[DocAgocs]

This has been an extremely interesting read for me. Thanks! To clear some things up and address some things:

1) Christine, I think you are getting totally appropropriate care and based on the original message I think it sounds spot-on that that is what is going on.
2) SI joint problems can be a real bear to deal with. I've found, personally, that they require a lot of thinking, and a lot of playing around with my techniques to find what works for that patient.
3) About the x-rays: I don't require them on all patients and they aren't mandatory. If someone has a decent set of current films I can use I will do so, and when a patient is pregnant or a baby or something I obviously don't do them, either. Some SI joint problems are so crystal clear to me that, becuase of the technique I am using, it is not necessary to take x-rays, but I am a very non-invasive practitioner. If I choose to not shoot the x-rays, but we're not getting the results I'm used to or something doesn't seem right or whatever, then I take them.

Many people who don't want x-rays don't want to pay for them. In true cases of need without financial ability I shoot the films and pay for them out of my own pocket. They are important because there are some biomechanical things that happen in the spine that can greatly change the doctor's care, etc. Or there can be other weird stuff that you may not know. Tumors, etc. Pain is a signal that something is wrong, but doesn't tell you at all what the problem is.

Anyway, Christine, in my experience, SI joint problems take a while (for me and the way I do things, I generally get results within a few adjustments. That doesn't mean they're 100%, but at least everyone agrees we're on the right track) to get a handle on, and they tend, unfortunately, to not be the type of thing you "fix" and never have a problem with again. Most people seem to have pretty consistent problems that I think are symptoms of the way the joints are shaped for them, posture, activities, etc. So, they tend to recur. The people I've had through my practice who do the best with managing SI joint problems tend to drop in for a visit about once every 4-6 weeks for "maintenance" or preventative care. I think it's a good idea and that's what I do for myself. I'd rather see someone 12 times a year and have them doing generally good than 12 times in one month because they let things go so badly that we have to go crazy trying to get them back on their feet.

[ChristineVA]

Doc,
I'm so glad you responded! I was hoping you would notice my thread.

Thank you for making me feel better about the x-rays. One of my concerns is that I had thyroid cancer 10 years ago. Now, thyroid cancer generally does not spread to the bones and it would be even more weird for it to jump from my neck down to my left hip area. But still, I was nervous about it even though I am followed closely by my endocrinologist. I did bring my fears up with the chiropractor--sort of as a test. And, I was impressed with the amount of knowledge he had about thyroid cancer (most people know nothing) and about how unusual it would be to go from my neck to the lower back/hip area. I think that if he was truly worried about neglecting something, he would have done the x-ray after that discussion but he seems very confident in his diagnosis.

I have been for 3 adjustments now and I *do* think I am improving. The only reason I'm not sure is that I have had to take ibuprofen since yesterday for other reasons and I have been relatively pain-free. I keep thinking "I'm not really getting better--it's just the ibuprofen." But then I remember that last week when I was in sheer misery, I was popping ibuprofen and it really wasn't even touching the pain. So, obviously, I have improvement. I think I will be going 3 times a week for another week. I think he is aggressively trying to get me relief. I'm certainly not opposed to going in once a month for a "tune up."
Christine

[DocAgocs]

The x-rays part of this discussion has been interesting. I've never had anyone put up ap struggle about x-rays, but I spend a few minutes explaining why they are important, I take EXCELLENT films and I charge a reasonable amount. Most people are happy to have them because they understand the reasons for them after I explain it.

What I've noticed recently is that, probably due to "pay for performance" incentives from insurance companies to MD's (which translates to getting cash kickbacks for more economical medical care, which translates to cutting corners in my opinion), people who should've gotten x-rays for problems haven't, and when they get to my office they are visibly comforted and thankful when I say we should get some pictures. This has happened twice recently. One was a nurse in my building who fell in the shower and smashed the hell out of her head on the faucet in the shower. HEadaches, neck pain, dizziness, blurred vision, foggy thinking. Went to her medical office and the doctor she works for said "Ahhh, you're a wimp..." She went three months getting worse and worse until she stopped in the other day. Another took a dive on the ice and cracked her head on the driveway. She got worse and worse for a day, went to the ER, the doc had her squeeze each of his hands, wiggle her toes, and he said "You're fine, see ya".

In both cases they didn't have fractures or anything, but if head trauma isn't a good reason for an x-ray, what is?

[donleyk]

I have been for 3 adjustments now and I *do* think I am improving.

De-lurking to say how glad I am it seems to be working for you. My DH visits a Chiro and responded well. I didn't have any personal experience to share but was interested. Hope things continue to go well.