Question for those that see a chiropractor

[Kellydelly]

I started having sciatic nerve pain after I began working a couple months as a nurse on a busy surgical unit. (new to nursing altogether!) So I suffered for about 3 months and decided it was time to get some help. I began seeing a chiropractor 3-4 wks ago. He told me that I had a compressed disk in my lower back and that he could fix it in 3-4 wks. I have been getting adjustments 3 times a week and I don't feel any relief (actually, the pain that was only in my rear is now creeping down my thigh too). I am not even sure if I will get straightened out, considering I cannot stop working and stay off my feet for my 12 hr shifts . This chiro hasn't suggested any stretches, better mattress, shoes or anything besides wearing a lower back brace that I bought from him. How long do I keep paying him for the adjustments before I know if it's actually helping? Now my lower back is hurting too, above the sciatic. I am a mess and I can't afford to keep getting adjustments if it's really not going to do me any good.

 

[mrsheppo]

If you are still interested in using a chiropractor, I would suggest finding another one. After this length of time, you should have had some relief. I have sciatica that flares up on occasion and I usually have relief after 1 or 2 visits. Mine also encourages me to do stretching exercises. If you don't want another chiro, think about going to physical therapy.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

 

[stsomewhere]

Our chiro offers a discount plan. We paid $100 a month for a year and all four of us could see him as many times as we wanted.
Now, my husband does computer work for him and they trade services. Each one thinks that they are getting the best deal.

I know another patient takes care of all the plants in the office as a trade.

 

[HeatherH]

I started having sciatic nerve pain after I began working a couple months as a nurse on a busy surgical unit. (new to nursing altogether!) So I suffered for about 3 months and decided it was time to get some help. I began seeing a chiropractor 3-4 wks ago. He told me that I had a compressed disk in my lower back and that he could fix it in 3-4 wks. I have been getting adjustments 3 times a week and I don't feel any relief (actually, the pain that was only in my rear is now creeping down my thigh too). I am not even sure if I will get straightened out, considering I cannot stop working and stay off my feet for my 12 hr shifts . This chiro hasn't suggested any stretches, better mattress, shoes or anything besides wearing a lower back brace that I bought from him. How long do I keep paying him for the adjustments before I know if it's actually helping? Now my lower back is hurting too, above the sciatic. I am a mess and I can't afford to keep getting adjustments if it's really not going to do me any good.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go get a work-up done by an orthopedist or neurosurgeon who can properly diagnose you! I am a poster child for having a chiropractor completely misdiagnose my herniated disk and making it MUCH MUCH worse with his treatments! The fact that you have pain going down your leg now is a very strong indicator that you have a herniation as well, and those treatments will NOT help, and as you have discovered, will actually make it worse.

I hope you call TODAY and get an appointment. There are plenty of conservative treatments for herniated disks that don't involve surgery (I eventually did have surgery, after two years of treatment) and it was completely successful.

Good luck! Please keep us posted.

 

[chasbos]

While I agree with getting a second opinion - to ease your mind. Treatments at the chiropractor are not instant and a lot times things get worse before they get better.

I had a shoulder injury that left me unable to lift my arm past my waist - it took 8 months to get my full motion back and that was going 2x a week to the chiropractor. And in the beginning every time I got home I swore I was never going back because I was in more pain than before.

Now that is not my back and I know that back pain is unbearable - so get a second opinion or ask the chiropractor what is up and what the course of treatment is going to feel like/how long it should take etc.

Did your chiropractor take x rays at all??? Mine would not touch me until they had seen xrays and ultrasounds of my shoulder and neck area.

 

[MushyMushy]

I think you need to find another one. I've been to chiropractors a few times in my life, and just recently started a treatment plan with another.

In my experience, in the beginning of treatment, you might feel a bit worse after a couple of treatments, but then you'll start having periods of no pain. Those pain-free periods should start getting longer and longer, while the pain gets less and less.

I think you've given this doctor enough time.

BTW, is he doing manual adjustments or is he using a pro adjuster type of machine?

 

[DawnCt1]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go get a work-up done by an orthopedist or neurosurgeon who can properly diagnose you! I am a poster child for having a chiropractor completely misdiagnose my herniated disk and making it MUCH MUCH worse with his treatments! The fact that you have pain going down your leg now is a very strong indicator that you have a herniation as well, and those treatments will NOT help, and as you have discovered, will actually make it worse.

I hope you call TODAY and get an appointment. There are plenty of conservative treatments for herniated disks that don't involve surgery (I eventually did have surgery, after two years of treatment) and it was completely successful.

Good luck! Please keep us posted.

Absolutely! Radicular pain is a sign of nerve irritation/and compression. The OP as a nurse should no that nerve compression can lead to permanent "foot drop". Makes it a lot harder to walk that way, in addition to the chronic pain.

 

[Coach K]

I would look for a new chiropractor. The first thing he should've done was take x-rays to find the specific problem area. He should've discussed with you a comprehensive treatment program which includes stretching, strenthening exercises (once you have regained full range of motion) and physical therapy. A brace is only a temporary fix until your body adjusts to treatment and therapy. Run from him and fast!!

 

[DawnCt1]

While I agree with getting a second opinion - to ease your mind. Treatments at the chiropractor are not instant and a lot times things get worse before they get better.

I had a shoulder injury that left me unable to lift my arm past my waist - it took 8 months to get my full motion back and that was going 2x a week to the chiropractor. And in the beginning every time I got home I swore I was never going back because I was in more pain than before.

Now that is not my back and I know that back pain is unbearable - so get a second opinion or ask the chiropractor what is up and what the course of treatment is going to feel like/how long it should take etc.

Did your chiropractor take x rays at all??? Mine would not touch me until they had seen xrays and ultrasounds of my shoulder and neck area.

A lumbar xray may reveal a narrowing of a disc space but it will not accurately diagnose a bulging or herniated disc. Chiropractors are where you go when you know exactly what is wrong with you and the physical therapist booked.

 

[DMRick]

..but edited it to say that chiro vs ortho or neuro is almost a political argument. I decided to pass.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go get a work-up done by an orthopedist or neurosurgeon who can properly diagnose you! I am a poster child for having a chiropractor completely misdiagnose my herniated disk and making it MUCH MUCH worse with his treatments! The fact that you have pain going down your leg now is a very strong indicator that you have a herniation as well, and those treatments will NOT help, and as you have discovered, will actually make it worse.

I hope you call TODAY and get an appointment. There are plenty of conservative treatments for herniated disks that don't involve surgery (I eventually did have surgery, after two years of treatment) and it was completely successful.

Good luck! Please keep us posted.

 

[Jennasis]

No chiro should touch you without an MRI. I echo the sentiments above. I was almost crippled for life by a chiro. I had the same problems the OP had and went to a chiro desperate for help. He looked at my spine X-rays, pronounced my back GREAT and tried to tell me my pain was caused by muscle contractions in my glutes.

After the first adjustment, The pain tripled and my leg went numb, and foot-drop set in. ONE VISIT.

Two days later a doctor friend (pain specialist) made me go for an MRI which diagnosed a massively herniated disc which required immediate surgery.

 

[DawnCt1]

No chiro should touch you without an MRI. I echo the sentiments above. I was almost crippled for life by a chiro. I had the same problems the OP had and went to a chiro desperate for help. He looked at my spine X-rays, pronounced my back GREAT and tried to tell me my pain was caused by muscle contractions in my glutes.

After the first adjustment, The pain tripled and my leg went numb, and foot-drop set in. ONE VISIT.

Two days later a doctor friend (pain specialist) made me go for an MRI which diagnosed a massively herniated disc which required immediate surgery.

At least you would be able to drag your foot. What about those patients who had a cervical adjustment and ended up with a stroke!

 

[Charleneluvsdisney]

I too was having sciatic problems and am currently under the care of a Chiropractor. My pain went down my leg, and on a bad day would circle my ankle.

I have had 3 sessions and am doing great! I do have different exercise's to do everyday and see a great difference. I am surprised that you do not have exercises? I was given a 4-week treatment plan, and have not had any pain at all in the last week with one more session to go.

 

[Shmily1]

I've been going to the chiro off and on for years as well as DS20 and DD19 going but I would definitely suggest you find a different chiro. You should atleast have had some periods of relief after all that time.

 

[bumbershoot]

At least you would be able to drag your foot. What about those patients who had a cervical adjustment and ended up with a stroke!

Dawn, please. There's a higher chance of having a stroke while having your hair washed at the salon. Seriously.




OP, I am a non-practicing chiropractor, and I have had bouts of sciatic pain. When it comes on for me, it is a full leg thing, there's no starting off small.

Frankly, most adjustments just don't do much for me, when I'm having something like sciatica. Which is funny to say, but it's true. For me I need *light* touch adjustments...I used to do Network Spinal Analysis, which is mostly very light touch, and currently I'm under care with a guy that does BGI (Biogeometric Integration) and it's *amazing* work. That is the sort of adjustment that helps me out of sciatic pain.

But my sciatic stuff usually happens after a period of completely inactivity, like when I've been really sick, or when I'm just not doing much of anything. But you're active, so what works for me might not work for you.



Have you noticed any positive changes in any other part of your body? Is there *any* change for the better? Adjustments certainly can increase discomfort for awhile (when I was in chiro school and had found Network, which was very different than anything I had experienced before, my lumbars and sacral area started creating a proper curve where there had been a horrid straight line before, and I will tell you, that HURT...muscles and ligaments and tendons all changing, moving, pulling, stretching...youch! but at the end of it, I had a better spine, better posture, and better everything) but you should also be noticing happy changes in other parts of your body. If you're finding nothing, or if you just don't trust this guy, find someone else.

FWIW, I never gave anyone exercises to do...not my area of expertise! Wasn't taught it in school, wasn't going to just make stuff up b/c someone who took a seminar once feels comfy with it. So just b/c you weren't given exercises doesn't mean the chiro is bad...


If you're called to get a more medical workup, go for it. No DC should tell you not to see an MD, just like no MD should ever tell someone not to see a DC (after all, the AMA lost that HUGE anti-trust lawsuit 15 or so years ago for doing just that!)...do what you feel comfy with.

Best of luck!

 

[Kellydelly]

Now I'm totally confused . I have had a couple of days where it felt like maybe the adjustments helped, but overall I do not feel like I've made any progress, especially since the pain is now shooting down my leg. The chiro did do x-rays before he adjusted me. I have not worked for 3 nights, so if inactivity has anything to do with increased pain, then that could be a factor . All the adjustments were manual, with the pretzel move, and with him cracking my back by pressing straight down on it (well, at least that is how I interpreted his moves). He also was working on my neck, which was stiff and crunchy (crepitis). My neck has better range of motion, but I still have intermittent pain. He told me I have whiplash, and have had it for a while. I am trying to get a referral from my family doctor to a DO. I don't know whether to go back to that chiro or not. It costs me $30 every visit and it's starting to add up.

 

[DawnCt1]

Now I'm totally confused . I have had a couple of days where it felt like maybe the adjustments helped, but overall I do not feel like I've made any progress, especially since the pain is now shooting down my leg. The chiro did do x-rays before he adjusted me. I have not worked for 3 nights, so if inactivity has anything to do with increased pain, then that could be a factor . All the adjustments were manual, with the pretzel move, and with him cracking my back by pressing straight down on it (well, at least that is how I interpreted his moves). He also was working on my neck, which was stiff and crunchy (crepitis). My neck has better range of motion, but I still have intermittent pain. He told me I have whiplash, and have had it for a while. I am trying to get a referral from my family doctor to a DO. I don't know whether to go back to that chiro or not. It costs me $30 every visit and it's starting to add up.

Is the DO an orthopedist? We had a friend who was a DO and specialized in psychiatry. See an neurosurgeon or an orthopedist.

 

[bonoriffic]

Dawn, please. There's a higher chance of having a stroke while having your hair washed at the salon. Seriously.

There isn't much research being done on hair salon induced stroke. There is however plenty of research into the linkage, increased risk, and possible outright cause of stroke in people under 45 who undergo neck manipulation at the hands of chiropractors.

WebMD is confident at posting a 6.6% increase in chance of stroke by using a chiropractor who does neck manipulation. Chiropractors as a whole are well funded and love to sue to protect their name, so for a mainstream medical site to say this speaks volumes. The article has been up since 2003, which means chiropractors have had plenty of time to dispute this and haven't.

Seriously.

 

[okeydokey]

I had very bad sciatic pain this past spring. My right leg through my knee was so painful. I went to a chiro recommended by a friend. He practices Atlas chiropractic method. it took a couple of weeks to see an improvement but after that it helped tremendously. I feel great now. You may need to find a new chiropractor. Be sure he does an x-ray before he starts.

 

[MIGrandma]

I had a herniated disk a few years ago and went to a chiropractor for it. Had treatments 3x weekly and after 6 weeks and not getting any better I quit going. It healed on its own a month or so later. I actually think it would have healed faster had I just left it alone. I think going to the chiropractor hurt it more than helped.

Now, on the other hand, I hold my chirotractor fully responsible for ending my migraine headaches 30 years ago.

In some situations they are helpful, in others not so much.