Chiro feeding me a line??

[Protobuilder]

I hate docs but I finally broke down and decided to go see a chiro. He said he can fix me up if I come in for about 18-24 sessions. It sounds nuts to me, but he's making just enough sense that I'm not sure what to think.

I hurt my back the other night doing SLDL. I thought it went away but about 4 weeks later, I hurt it again doing BB hacksquats. It's been sore for aobut a week down around the lower lumbars. So I go see this guy. He takes X-rays and shows me that my lumbars curve off to the side a little (minor scoliosis maybe?). Not a big curve, but you can see it. It makes my pelvis sit a little crooked, one side higher than the other. He said the vertebrae curve and twist, which causes it to pinch the nerve. He said b/c of the curve, I probably tore the ligaments down one side. Not bad, but torn a little. He said he can keep adjusting little by little, and over about 18-24 sessions, he can get rid of the curve and the ligaments will heal up w/ stretching, adjustments, and some exercises, etc. The usual crap.

OK -- here's my question -- is that little curve in my spine really something I should pay this guy to fix? Or is he full of crap? I don't want torn ligaments obviously, so I need to figure out how to heal 'em up right so I can keep pounding the iron. But is him popping my back 3x/wk. really going to do anything that important?

Sorry for the long post. I just have no idea what to do w/ this b/c I usually ignore docs and do my own stretches, etc. LoL

 

[young_squatter]

OK -- here's my question -- is that little curve in my spine really something I should pay this guy to fix? Or is he full of crap? I don't want torn ligaments obviously, so I need to figure out how to heal 'em up right so I can keep pounding the iron. But is him popping my back 3x/wk. really going to do anything that important?

Sorry for the long post. I just have no idea what to do w/ this b/c I usually ignore docs and do my own stretches, etc. LoL

Every part of the back is important, you dont want to have anything to be wrong with your back if you plan on lifting. If he says that he can fix you up then listen to him, no one on here is going to say if it is going to do anything important because we are not doctors. If the doctor says he can fix the problem then let him fix it, even if you do have to see him that many times.

 

[d-dub]

If you think he is full of crap go see another qualified professional for a second opinion.

 

[rbtrout]

I trust my chiro completely. Of course, he is a good friend........
I'd have him fix it. That number of visits sounds normal for a minor problem like that. Also, something another chiro made mention to me that has helped wonders - either put your wallet in your front pocket or find another way of carrying all the stuff in your wallet. I carry only the essentials - driver's license, a couple of credit cards and my atm card. Cash goes in a clip in my front pocket. A thick wallet makes you sit crooked, as well, which won't help.
Also, if you're one of those guys that sits in your car, leaning on the center console to look cool, stop. Sitting like this won't help your back, either.
I got a couple of adjustments from my friend and then started doing light weight good mornings (about 9 months ago). I then started doing light weight deads. My back is strong (I just got a 495# dead yesterday). I haven't had any problems since doing the good mornings and then deads - I don't do the good mornings any more.
Hope this helps.

 

[tay1506]

Yeah i would see a few other chiros before letting him pop ur back just to see what they tells u.

 

[Anthrax Invasion]

Gather as many opinions as possible. This is always the first step before getting sucked into something like this.

 

[Protobuilder]

Update -- the pain is gone but I don't think it has anything to do w/ the fact that the chiro. has popped my back on two occasions. The pain was a dull ache and it was going away even before I went to visit him. I knew it would go away completely on it's own but I thought I'd better get it checked out b/c I've "pulled" that area a few times over the past year.

Also, I did some research and I don't think I tore a ligament like the chiro said. The pain wasn't severe at all, just an achey feeling, and I think a torn ligament would hurt like hell.

 

[JarheadChiro]

I admit, there are some Chiropractors doing some weird stuff these days.

You skepticism is warranted.

Here is my take on the matter:

1. Most issues/conditions like this take time to occur or produce symptoms, don't expect a Chiropractor to get rid of them in one visit.

2. Getting adjusted is only part of the fix, you need to execise your back proerly to stabilize it, maintain the proper curves and allow the adjustments to "hold".

I reccomend you take a look at this: http://test.life.edu/spinalhygiene/
It was done by my old school on request of the World Health Organization.

3. Make sure that your Chiropractor is strong enough and skilled enough that he/she can move you bones. Too many "failed" thrusts can cause more injury.

4. What technique are they using?
Some Chiropractors use some very strange techniques, such as adjusting one bone in the neck, sometimes with a mechanical device. Even though these techniques have helped some, I advise sticking to the tried and true techniques such as Full Spine/ Diversified, Gonstead and Thompson.

5. Additional therapies from your Chiropractor are not alway necessary.
They are necessary though if your un-healthy, overweight, poor diet, smoker...
Those bodies need help relaxing for the adjustment and have limited abilities for repair...

6.A standard care plan should be quick and efficient.
If your not feeling better right away, then your doc is doing something wrong.

Hope this helps.

If you have any specific questions please speak up.

 

[b fold the truth]

I'd go see the Chrio but I'd also see a GOOD Massage Therapist. One of the reasons that it might take him so many sessions to fix you is becuse he can put the spine back into place but if a muscle(s) are pulling it out...it will only work temporarily. He is hoping to put it back into place so often that the muscles surrounding it will go back to "normal" as well.

B True

 

[AlwaysOn]

whats the diff between chiropractor and massage therapist AND GETTING THINGS COVERED BY INSURANCE???

 

[JarheadChiro]

Guy's,

Two distinct physiological aspects of the Chiro's job verses the Massage Therapist.

Here are the 2 theories:

Chiropractors believe that they remove the nerve disfunction, if this is not done the muscle will not relax.

Massage people may relax the muscle but, if the nerve disfunction is still there...

My take is this:
Once the Chiro does an adjustment the muscle can (in some cases) cause the spine to come back out of alignment, this theory is called rebounding.

If this happens, or if the patient is chronic, a massage post adjustment is warranted.

I belive that massages can do what the Chiro does due to the rebounding reverse effect (my definition) where as the spine and nerve correct themself post massage therapy.

So, I as a Chiro do this:
1.I survey the patients health for many things but, for simplicities sake I identify their level of health in bringing the desired outcome quickly and efficiently.

2. I adjust the patient.

3. I check for muscular issues as per the nerve levels I adjusted and according to the patients cheif complaint(s).

4. I remove or reduce said muscular issue(s) with varying degrees of advanced muscle work (trigger point therapy, muscle energy techniques, DMSO...)
Varying meaning, if your healthy and your issue(s) is/are NOT too chronic then I used a conservative approach. No use flooding the body with toxic waste material from those tissues which may make the patient un-comfortable, they may not come back!

5. I advise icing, hyperhydration and SPECIFIC exercises to move the patient to the desired result. (Usually out of pain.)

6.I tell the patient once they're holding their adjustments well, or I find less and less things to adjust, AND virtually ALL elimination of said muscular issues reguarding their cheif complaint, they should come see me when they need to.
This happens before I tell them most of the time. There gone and not comming to there appointments because they feel better.
Well that's great I did my job so well I'm out of work.

As far as the Insurance question, Chiros can bill your insurance for a certain number of visits if your insurance is good with them.

Chiros are getting hammered by the insurance companies these days, they pay (the insurance companies) only a small percentage of what they usually charge and that already is not much.
An adjustment is usually $25-35, the insurance companies may pay the chiro $15-20.

This is one of the reasons I'm no longer a practicing Chiro, I'm taking M.D. classe at Emory part time and selling insurance on the side. Better to get paid for you efforts making the insurance companies money than trying to take it away.

I the Chiro want you to come in alot like 2-3 time a week for 3 weeks then 2 times a week, then...

Their just trying to get paid, that is all, that is how we're taught to do it in school.

It's the only way to payback $200K in loans and still have food in the frige.

Chiropractic is cool stuff, the profession and the business aspect sucks though.

Peace Bro's.

Tom

 

[Dial_tone]

Ditto on the massage therapist before the chiro. If he's good why does he need 18-24 sessions to fix you up? How does he know you won't be fixed in 4-5? sounds like ne wants a revenue stream. probably $50-100 a pop too. As you can tell I don't think highly of chiro's. In Atlanta it seemed every other moron in Coffee's gym was a guido from MY/NJ studying chiro at Life College. They lost their accreditation for a while from financial aid abuse. There are some good ones but a lot of nut jobs in between.

 

[Extra_Strong]

I'd go see the Chrio but I'd also see a GOOD Massage Therapist. One of the reasons that it might take him so many sessions to fix you is becuse he can put the spine back into place but if a muscle(s) are pulling it out...it will only work temporarily. He is hoping to put it back into place so often that the muscles surrounding it will go back to "normal" as well.

B True

I agree with this..!!! check out a deep tissue therapist.
chiro's are the only once that fix the problem reg docs just give you drugs.

Chiropractors if you get a good one are a bodybuilders best friend.

2 more semesters and I myself will be starting the program.

 

[blut wump]

You can get a lot of quack chiros. They'll line you up for a quick snap and flip and as you're walking out of their treatment room someone else is walking in through the other door. Avoid them.

It took me a while to find my current chiro. A session with him gets me a half hour and always begins with a massage of the area he's going to work. I was initially impressed with him on the first visit when he got down onto the floor to show me the stretches that he'd like me to do. He also assured me that, while he might make significant changes in the first couple of sessions, he couldn't cure me. A long-term difference was something only I could give myself but he could help me to get there.

 

[Protobuilder]

Great stuff here. Thanks guys. Here's the key issue for me: how common is it to have a slight lateral curve in part of the spine? The x-rays showed that my lumbars curve to the right a little bit, and the chiro said that causes me to lift unevenly, which leads to injury. This can be "fixed" with multiple sessions according to him . . . he didn't say whether it would come back though. LoL Anyway, does that sound reasonable to you guys?

Also -- he thought I'd torn somel igaments on one side of my lumbars. he said he could see that on my x-rays . . . but can't you only see bone on an x-ray? Also, if I'd torn a ligament, wouldn't it hurt like hell??? It doesn't and it never did. These things make me think he's feeding me bull . . .

 

[blut wump]

Get a second opinion. We have a national health service over here so a visit to a GP is, essentially, free. Maybe it's different in the States but you clearly have enough doubt that a second opinion is needed.

Try also to speak with someone who has used this chiro. There's nothing so good as a personal recommendation. Alternatively, find another and see what that one says.

 

[Extra_Strong]

I agree with the second opinion most chiros will not charge to give U and examination.

but it dowes make since that if you are not straight that there is more stress to one side of the body than the other. and that you have tighter muscles on one side than the other keeping your body in the position. You would not want to build a house on a crooked foundation .. this would cause a week spot and eventually will give causing damage.. or pain.. good luck..