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OT: Lower Back Pain… Help!
- This topic has 9 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 3 months ago by
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Ladies,
You have been a wealth of information here… I am sure that someone has some good advice for me on this. I hope!
I have been going to the chiropractor for about a year-and-a-half and I just don’t think it is working. It seemed like it was for a short while (after many, many appts) but today I am in so much pain that I just don’t know what to do. And the worst part is that I just had an appt. on Friday! That is just 4 days ago. I should be experiencing relief right now but I am so far from that. My 1st chiropractor used the muscle stimulator on me and that was amazing. I’d walk out of her office with no pain. My current chiropractor doesn’t like to use that, I am not sure why. He is really conservative (which normally I like but I am in a lot of pain!). Should I continue with chiropractic care? More importantly, does anyone know of an effective way to greatly reduce lower back pain? I can’t really function with this pain… I just feel like toast. Don’t know where to go from here. I also wonder if it will be like this forever bc I am still pretty young! If you have any experience with this, I would love to hear from you. Thanks!!
Having worked for a chiropractor in the past and getting regular adjustments for almost 6 years, if what your current chiro is doing isn’t working for you, it’s time for a new chiro. Also, NEVER use heat, but use cold instead. Keep it on for 10-15 minutes, then take it off, then apply it again. Heat can cause excess inflammation, which is the last thing you need. Is your chiro giving you manual adjustments (twisting/turning you all over the place/popping) or does he use a drop table? Does he use an activator (looks like a big syringe and makes a clicking noise)? Does he check your leg lengths? Muscle test? Does he consider himself a relief care doctor or a corrective and wellness care doc? These are all questions you should ask, as the answers will greatly affect your care. Not all chiros are created equal!
Also, is it possible you have an old injury that’s crept up on you? For example, I flew off a merry-go-round in 2nd grade and broke my tailbone. To this day, sitting can be very painful for me. I always know if the weather is changing because my tailbone will ache. This is one of those injuries that will probably not improve much, no matter how much I see the chiropractor. Tail bones are not efficient healers, and that isn’t the chiro’s fault. A fall, wreck, roller coaster, sitting in the wrong chair for too many hours a day, slipping on ice, a sports injury–all of those things can be causes for pain, even if they were decades ago. Sometimes you don’t think that the car wreck you were in five years ago is what’s causing horrible migraines now, but it can very well be the cause. So what I’m asking is, is there an old injury that you may have forgotten about that could be the cause of your discomfort? If so, tell your chiro about it and it may change the way he adjusts you.
Above all, if you’re not getting the care you want/need, you should seriously consider going to a new doc. And it may be that you need more extensive care, such as an MRI, to diagnose a possible herniated or bulging disk. My chiro found a healed fracture at L5 the last time I had X-rays! You could have knocked me over with a feather! To this day, I still have no idea how it happened!
I pray you get some relief!
Lindsey
Did your chiropracter suggest any exercises to be done at home. They’d be physical therapy types of movements to strengthen your core muscles. Posture can be a huge issue, too. My chiro gave me pointers on how to sit while driving/riding in the car. At first, it hurt, made me sore, and I really didn’t want to do it. But, after just a short time, I noticed such relief that I do NOT let myself sit slouched in the car, or chairs for that matter. He also reminded me that every pound lost is four pounds of pressure/stress on my body. I don’t know if that’s an issue for you, but it one that I need to work on at this point.
I’m agreeing with Lindsey. If your current chiro isn’t working, you may need to find another, or find out if there’s another underlying cause for the pain.
Praying for you!
I have been having back problem for a long time (since I was 14). I have done countless things, so many chiropractic appointments and I also found it doesn’t help me much (and they are very good chiropractors).
I do have a muscle stem machine, a small portable one, you can find that online for when it gets really bad.
Everyone is different and so will respond better to different things. The best thing for me for my back are cranio sacral adjustments and some physical therapy. Most back problems come from weak ab muscles so it is super important to build that up slowly but consistently.
I’m so sorry for your pain! I hurt my back last year and it took a long time to heal. I did find out that I was dedyrated which was slowing my healing. Drinking water is important to healing! My husband has suffered from back pain for years and he also found the e-stem machine to be helpful. I hope you find something that helps.
Can you get a massage? I’ve found that if I have a massage one day, do the chiropractor the next day (or even the same day, if all the planets are aligned*L*), then do a massage within a day or so of that, I have much better results from my chiro.
I know some back issues might be made worse with massage. So, do what’s right for you.
I very rarely post, but have gained a huge amount of wisdom from the ladies on this board. Approx. 25 years ago I began to suffer from back pain and been to several different chiropractors with only temporary relief. Approx. four years ago the pain was so bad I saw my general doctor for pain meds as well as muscle relaxer. He also sent me to physical therapy where I was taught various exercises for the core muscles. Since then I have very inconsistenly been doing the exercises, but have not had any issues since. It may be an option for you to consider.
Thank you! Lots of good stuff here! Dehydration, previous injury, car accident… all possibilities. I talked with my chiro and he decided to order x-rays. My husband suggested a vitamin D deficiency. I’m sure that is part of it!!
If current chiro is working, go else where. Also most people do not know this, but if you look for a Dr. with the intials D.O. this means Dr. of ostopathy or bones…. they also do adjustments in offie and I have gotten these covered under insurance, when my chiro wouldn’t be, but anyway, they can do a wonderful job. Just thought I would mentioned because some places only have one chiro as an option. Also, I was told to always rotate hot and cold 20 minutes each. Heat increases blood flow to the area increase healing and the cold helps reduce any swelling in the area. i also second Becca about the at home exercises to strength core muscles. I used to work at a Orthopedic office and I have seen all kinds of injuries. HTH
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