Question for those that see a chiropractor

[Kellydelly]

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

Sorry, I meant orthopedic surgeon/specialist.

 

[Magpie]

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.

I haven't read everyone else's comments, but I have to say that this doesn't sound anything like our chiropractor.

When I had a pinched nerve in my neck, he didn't promise me X number of weeks to a cure. He said my recovery would depend on my participation in the exercise routine he gave me, as well as regular adjustments from him. He also said it would hurt MORE before it got better - but that I would see improved mobility right away. He was right - the first few weeks were awful, but I could move lots more freely. He said the pain was my nerves basically waking up and having a party - ouch!

Besides adjusting me, he gave me stretches to do every day, a routine for applying heat and cold alternately, and he asked me to demonstrate my sleep position. He advised me to sleep on my back on a firm mattress and also what kind of pillow I should buy. He also emphasized good writing habits and sitting up straight and moving around periodically, doing more stretches. Also, exercise. He's never sold me any kind of equipment. He did fix my neck. And my daughter is seeing him now to work on her very bad posture (it was a little more complex than just "stand up straight, dear!").

Now, my chiro would like to see me once a month for the rest of my life for "maintenance" but he didn't give me a hard time about quitting once I was feeling better. He says most chiropractic patients come in in crisis (like you and me) and leave when they feel better. He wishes we'd come in for regular maintenance and prevention visits, but he recognizes that we mostly don't.

Personally, I think you may need to try and find a different chiropractor. Yours doesn't seem to be operating from a very holistic, whole-life approach. Have you told him that you're feeling worse? Have you described how the pain is moving down your leg? What is his response?

P.S. My chiro does X-rays before he touches anyone with suspected spinal problems. My daughter even got to do this cool computer picture thing with little yellow balls stuck all over her, and it was sent to a lab for analysis.

 

[Jennasis]

Just a note about this "feeling worse before you feel better" notion:
I was 95% pain free the second I woke up in the recovery room after surgery. Don't get me wrong, surgery isn't for everyone or every problem. I was in P/T about 2 weeks after surgery and made steady measurable progress each day. I had one issue where I "backslid" (due to me trying to do too much too soon) but I took it easy and worked harder on my P/T and made a complete recovery. Surgery was 6 months ago to the day.

There are good and bad in every profession. If your chiro isn't helping, or is makiing the situation worse, find a new one. Same for any doctor, lawyer, plumber etc.

 

[webprinter]

I have had good Chiro. and bad ones. They have not totally helped my sciatic pain but the current one I have has helped the most. He referred me to a Neurosurgeon who put me on Lyrica which helps quite a bit but the thing that helped the most also hurt the most. It was the massage therapist who specializes in "therapeutic deep tissue massage". I stopped going to her, (money issues) and can really feel the difference. I didn't realize how much good she was actually doing. Unfortunately my insurance won't pay for her and DD has a huge dental bill I have to pay off first.