My Back Pain/Chiropractor/Updated #15/Updated #19

[JustLurkin]

I finally had an MRI after months and months of complaining of back pain. Apparently my L3-L4-L5-S1 are all messed up.

My doctor has provided narcotics and discussed pain management options. This is how I'm understanding my treatment: If (but probably when) the pain increases I will be provided stronger and stronger narcotics, then referred to a pain treatment clinic where narcotics (or something) will be injected into my spine, as a last resort I will have spinal surgery. And, oh by the way, if you want to try physical therapy or a chiropractor they may help some.

I have not filled the narcotic prescriptions. I've mentioned before I have no idea about my family medical history....but I know addiction runs rampant.

Currently I am taking Lyrica to manage the pain, it is not a narcotic but is not FDA approved for my problem. (Does that mean I will any insurance problems?) I have read losing weight will help, and I have 30 "extra" pounds so will get on that.

I'm very concerned that as I google all the terms in the report (mentioned the most: facet arthopathy, neural formalinal stenosis, ligamentum flavum hypertophy) it says "this condition is found in elderly patients"...I'm 37.

Anyway, I hate to say I've always heard Chiropractors are quacks...but I have. For once I'm hoping to be completely bashed and have people say things like a Chiropractor relieved them of every ache and pain they've ever had...or saved them from a burning building.

Assuming I do start seeing a Chiropractor regularly, I would have to find one with evening hours--or I can file FMLA paperwork to take time from work, right?

Thanks everyone.

ETA: I went to a physical therapist not long ago, as my doctors were trying to figure out if I was having back pain or uterus pain. The therapist had me do a broad range of exercises, then said a report would be sent to my doctors saying nothing was wrong with my back. However, my doctor said they may do some ultrasound therapy to help with the pain. Anyone had that?

[Sharon]

I have been seeing a chiropractor/naturopath for my lower back pain. He was the one who ordered the x-rays, not the MD. I have degenerating disks. The MD was just lose weight and you will fill better. We are approaching this from multiple angles and I am seeing relief from the pain. He radically changed my diet which helps reduce the inflamation. Lots of lean protein(chicken and fish) and veggies, supposedly no beef but that is too hard for me. He has done ultrasound on my back which is wonderful. I have been given excercises to do. They are not hard and mostly stretching. The diet change is also helping get rid of the extra weight.

[Wizard of Id]

"My BIL has degenerating disks, too and blames it on all the carbonated drinks he has for years consumed. Don't know, but he gets chiro treatments where he's put on a stretching rack. It helped so much that he bought one of those inversion beds that tip you upside down, basically doing the same thing. "

The "stretching rack" does spinal decompression. With the machine they can target the specific joints in the spine and relieve the pressure on the discs. I tried many different approaches to alleviate the pain and nothing really worked. It's been two years since I had it done and the pain has not come back.

[Mad Dawg Wiccan]

I have had great relief from a chiropracter.

[Artemis Windsong]

The chiropractor helped me and put me on an exercise routine to strengthen the muscles. I became lax on doing the exercises, had to be adjusted again, and I'm back on the weight training. I make sure the leg curl and extension machines are set on the correct setting for me as that aggravated the problem.

I don't know where in the spine the places are that you mentioned. If they are in the waist area, sometimes a tight wrap will give the support needed. A 5 inch wide stretchy belt helped me. Then my muscles got stronger.

[JustLurkin]

Have an appointment next week. As always, thanks everyone for sharing your stories.

[Epiphany]

Chiropractor's are like any other doctors - there are some good and some bad. Make sure you take your mri to show him and he gets x-rays before working on you. To me it is completely illogical to just continue taking pain meds to mask the symptoms instead of having your spine put back into alignment. It'll take some time with the chiro but it makes sense that he could manipulate the vertebraes back into alignment to heal you. Now chiros that say they can cure cancer and colds are quacky... but to me so are md's who won't do anything but be drug pushers.

[Artemis Windsong]

Jul 26, 2011 14:52:47 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

Does anyone use the big exercise ball for their backs? I love mine. I will sit on it, while watching television, and rotate my hips. Hubby loves watching me do it. ;D

Yes, I have an ex. ball and do have back ex. to do on it. I do the workout that is on the poster at the fitness center when I'm done with weights.
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Don't dance with a chiropractor as they can throw your back out while dancing.

[kadee79]

I too have gotten relief from the chiro when MDs weren't able to help.
Both of my hubbys have gotten relief from them too.
Weight loss and strengthening exercises help too in the long run.

One other thing that we have found that helped us immensely was getting a # bed....air chambers. DH needs his much firmer than I need my side and it works really well for both of us. He used to have a very hard time getting out of bed but not any more and I used to always wake up with a backache...and it didn't matter what mattress we had...we had tried several! They just didn't work but the air chambers have!

[JustLurkin]

Just got home from the chiropractor. It went really, really well.

He looked at the MRI results and said "This is what everyone's back looks like, the only difference between you and everyone else is you've had an MRI. If you hadn't paid for this piece of paper, I'd ball it up and put it in the trash."

Then, he asked me to describe the pain. When I was finished describing it, he touched an area that's a little more in the ass area than the back area and said "this is where it hurts". I thought I was going to start crying because it was *exactly* where it hurt.

He said there is a muscle under my pelvis that has moved out of place--I have to have the physical exam again next week because I have a lot of drugs in my system and am on my cycle. Because of that he couldn't gauge the extent of the problem.

He hooked me up to these electrical pads for a few minutes, then did an alignment--not that back cracking thing you see on TV though. I will be coming in for that and physical therapy on a regular basis starting next week.

I have also started watching my diet (counting points) and working out again.

Thanks again everyone for your stories and responses--I probably wouldn't've gone without them

[Artemis Windsong]

I love those warm electrical impulse pads for relaxing.

Is that your psoras (sore a**) muscle that knotted up? That really is a muscle that I make jokes about.

[JustLurkin]

Just wanted to follow up again. I saw my chiropractor twice a week for 4 weeks. I had an exam, alignment, physical therapy, and the TENS at each session. During the exam he'd run this piece of metal across my back to break down scar tissue in the affected area. The first 3 times of that I was in tears; the last 3 times I couldn't even feel it. I've really been feeling a lot better, and haven't used any pain medication. I'm under the impression I'll have to go in every once in awhile for the scar tissue part. No one has brought up the word hysterectomy again.

[Deleted]

Thumbs up for good chiropractor's..

Mine sure help me when I'm consistent with my visits..