question about chiropractors- update post #29

[luvflorida]

Has her Dr. specifically checked her for a pars defect? With her age and all of that dancing I would think it is a big possibility. Has she gone to a sports specific Dr.? An x-ray or MRI would help too. You don't want to let something like that go without being checked. Back problems later in life are not fun so if it can be cured now, I would do it!

Hope this helps!

PS - I am not a Dr. and I don't play one on TV. And I did not stay at a Holiday Inn last night either!

You're right, and that's why I want to have her looked at now. Her regular doctor doesn't seem too concerned about her complaints, but I am.

 

[ohiominnie]

I've never been to a chiropractor but have always toyed with going to one....I have a lot of the aches and pains typical of someone getting older, out of shape and with poor posture.

Then our dear friend (and best man at our wedding) had an adjustment (at the chiropractor he had been going to for awhile) and ended up in the ER hours later having a stroke. He had a dissecting vertebral anneyrusm (sp?) Basically he had the anneyrusm and the adjustment caused it to rupture causing a stroke in an otherwise healthy 30-something year old.



I know this is the exception, not the norm, but it's something to consider.

 

[Beca]

I LOVE my chiro....she is also a naturopath, and helps me TREMENDOUSLY. I have terrible migraines, but if I stay on chiropractric treatment....I don't have any problems....I don't even need Tylenol.

A week ago, I threw my back out after doing some Yoga Yep....leave it up to me!! Anyway, she treated me daily, and gave me an herbal muscle relaxant...and, one week later I am back to normal. And, it was BAD...like, I couldn't move for two days, and the swelling was compressing some nerves that caused acute dizziness (that would be why I have been on the dis so much lately...bed ridden).

My dd was a "failure to thrive" baby, and was sick constantly. When we moved to TX, our chiro here said she could help her if I would allow her to treat my dd. We did....and my dd only has only had TWO colds in this last year....and she is gaining weight for the first time in over two years. It really has done wonders for her (she is 4). She is also very involved in gymnastics, cheer and dance. Anytime she has a bad fall at one of her classes....we go straight to the chiro. My chiro doesn't like me "telling her" what happened...she prefers to examine my dd and "tell" us...it's a mental game with her. But, she hits the nail on the head everytime.

I think what people forget is that the main nerves of your body run thru your spinal cord/system. If your spine is out of alignment, one or more of those nerves could be compressed in a way makes a body part/system susceptible to injury. To me, keeping my spine aligned is as important as cleaning my teeth.

Good luck...like any profession, there are some AMAZING chiros, and there are some real crooks...I hope you find a wonderful one!!



Beca

 

[DVC Daisy]

You're right, and that's why I want to have her looked at now. Her regular doctor doesn't seem too concerned about her complaints, but I am.

I would be concerned too, sometimes Moms just have to be a squeeky wheel for our kids!

I only asked about the sports Dr. because I am not even sure if a regular Dr. would check for this aggressively. With your DDs age and the Dance I would think this would be one of the main things that they check for with her. I think it is pretty common, and if I remember correctly Dance is way up there with sports that see this frequently. Like way, way up there. An x-ray (or MRI) would tell for sure. Just make sure you get an x-ray somewhere to rule it out since if it is Pars Defect I think a chiro may make it worse.

I love my chiro, could not do without him and I think they are great. But, I would still be really careful, just in case.

 

[luvflorida]

Wow, some of these experiences with chiropractors are a little scary. Someone mentioned that the way to find a chiropractor is really no different than trying to find a regular doctor, but I think there's more to consider with choosing a chiropractor.

Another dance teacher recommended a doctor specializing in osteopathic manipulation, a DO. I'm looking into that now.

Thanks for sharing your experiences and I'd be interested in any more info anyone has on chiropractors and/or osteopathic manipulation.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

That may be good--I never heard of that.

My PT could do all adjustments to a certain level and the chiro was only one level above her. So I wonder if your DO does something similar to my PT and if so a big thumbs up on that!!!

But still inquire about that Psoas--it is amazing that if it is supertight how much torque it puts on your spine. (i.e. like it twists you a little bit).

 

[Aimee K]

That may be good--I never heard of that.

My PT could do all adjustments to a certain level and the chiro was only one level above her. So I wonder if your DO does something similar to my PT and if so a big thumbs up on that!!!

But still inquire about that Psoas--it is amazing that if it is supertight how much torque it puts on your spine. (i.e. like it twists you a little bit).

A good neuromuscular massage therapist can help with a psoas problem too

 

[luvflorida]

But still inquire about that Psoas--it is amazing that if it is supertight how much torque it puts on your spine. (i.e. like it twists you a little bit).

I'll be sure to ask about that. My daughter has an appointment on Monday the 24th with a DO. I'll update then.

And I forgot to mention it earlier, but congratulations to you!

 

[luvflorida]

My daughter had an appointment this afternoon with an Osteopathic Doctor. He took a medical history and talked to her about her lower back pain. After looking her over, he didn't think x-rays were necessary. He said it appears as though she has a rotated vertabra and some tight muscles in her lower back. He spent appproximately 20-30 minutes putting her through various leg/arm movements and pressing on different parts of her body. He also did a few things that made loud cracking noises that sounded awful, but my daughter said it didn't hurt.

After the session, my daughter told him her back felt better. We have another appointment for this Thursday, and the doctor thinks she won't need another one after that.

I don't know. Like I said, we have no experience with chiropractors or osteopathic manipulation, but if it takes care of her back pain, then I'm all for it. It just all seemed a bit strange, but I want to believe that it'll help. Does anyone know if a chiropractor would have handled it in a similar way?

 

[hlbtimes2]

Chiro would have taken medical history, done some checks (moving arms/ legs/ neck/ bending, etc while asking what hurts), and would have taken xrays. I've never seen a chiro that didnt take xrays before doing an adjustment. After looking at xrays they have you come in for a few spine manipulations/ adjustments. If the muscles are really tight they will keep pulling the twist vert. out of position until they can get them relaxed. So, in general, the appt would have been very simular.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Does anyone know if a chiropractor would have handled it in a similar way?

sounds very similar sort of to how my PT would do it--almost a cross between PT and Chiro (my chiro didn't touch my muscles..my PT didn't make me crack..but my PT could get bones shifted and such similar to how your daughter's doc handled it, just no popping.)

 

[shortbun]

Love my chiropractor. She's very up to date and has helped me to get rid of two old injuries and their flare ups. She's gentle and thoughtful, not in it for the money but actually interested in healing. I think you need to ask and listen to what people say about their doctors. Don't just go to some chiropractic clinic without real people really recommending them. My first experience with a chiropractor was bad; I almost wrote off the whole profession. My doctor, for example, would have known about the psoaz muscle holding back the sacral adjustments right away. She has three VERY healing massage therapists working for her. Sorry we're not in Maine. My son is very athletic and very physical, he gets adjustments quarterly because his body take so very many hard thumps.

 

[luvflorida]

Love my chiropractor. She's very up to date and has helped me to get rid of two old injuries and their flare ups. She's gentle and thoughtful, not in it for the money but actually interested in healing. I think you need to ask and listen to what people say about their doctors. Don't just go to some chiropractic clinic without real people really recommending them. My first experience with a chiropractor was bad; I almost wrote off the whole profession. My doctor, for example, would have known about the psoaz muscle holding back the sacral adjustments right away. She has three VERY healing massage therapists working for her. Sorry we're not in Maine. My son is very athletic and very physical, he gets adjustments quarterly because his body take so very many hard thumps.

Sounds like you have found a terrific chiropractor. My daughter goes back this afternoon for her second appointment. After her first appointment she said her back felt better, but the following day she said it still hurt. The doctor did say that it may take a few adjustments before things start to feel better.

I'm still skeptical but maybe we just need to give it more time. If things don't seem to get better, I'm not sure what the next step will be. I'll probably make an appointment with her regular doctor and see about having some x-rays done and go from there. And seeing a chiropractor is another option.

I'm so afraid, after watching and hearing what the Osteopathic doctor did at the first visit, that she'll end up with worse pain. It seems like a lot of guess-work, not like you have a broken bone and know exactly how to fix it.

 

[MaryJ]

My daughter had an appointment this afternoon with an Osteopathic Doctor. He took a medical history and talked to her about her lower back pain. After looking her over, he didn't think x-rays were necessary. He said it appears as though she has a rotated vertabra and some tight muscles in her lower back. He spent appproximately 20-30 minutes putting her through various leg/arm movements and pressing on different parts of her body. He also did a few things that made loud cracking noises that sounded awful, but my daughter said it didn't hurt.

After the session, my daughter told him her back felt better. We have another appointment for this Thursday, and the doctor thinks she won't need another one after that.

I don't know. Like I said, we have no experience with chiropractors or osteopathic manipulation, but if it takes care of her back pain, then I'm all for it. It just all seemed a bit strange, but I want to believe that it'll help. Does anyone know if a chiropractor would have handled it in a similar way?

Since you mentioned that part of your DD's problem is tight muscles, you might also want to look into a chiropractor that uses active release therapy. (www.activerelease.com) I don't know where you are in Maine, but I did a quick search and found one in Portland and another in Westbrook. My shoulder began hurting in Oct. 2004. I started going to a local chiropractor for it (after all ready trying an orthopedist and physical therapy). She was able to help a little bit, but when I reached a plateau, she sent me to a chiropractor in the next city that practiced Active Release. For the first time since Oct. 2004, my shoulder is now almost pain free. I sleep better at night, and am able to lift things over my head again!

Also, when my DD hurt her shoulder working at WDW and wanted to find a chiropractor in Orlando, I asked my doctor what she should look for. She said that she should ask where they went to chiropractic school, and that if they are a Logan or Palmer graduate, they should be okay. I have been to doctors that are grads of both schools, and must say I prefer the techniques of the Logan grads. Hope this helps!