Is there an alternative to a chiropractor?

[MoeFaux]

All right, I've got a question, and this is easier than mucking around on google, so here goes.

I've got some sort of pinched nerve in my lower back. It hurts sometimes like a, well, see name above avatar.
I have a touch of scoliosis, nothing too serious (I think). It wasn't noticed until I was 18, and I was checked for it all through junior high, so it must have just came out of nowhere. Maybe the two things are connected.
Moking on in my back saga...
A few years ago my tailbone started sticking out. It just gradually shifted and I had a tiny little hump. Nothing anyone would really notice, but since I'm vain it drove me nuts. I had it fixed by some doctor that came to our office for $30. He just pushed in and everything was perfect.
I think about finding someone like him again often. I would love so much for someone to adjust my lower back to get rid of the pain. Someone suggested a sports medicine doctor, but I don't know a thing about that, I thought it was just related to football injuries.
Now, I don't know what the guy who adjusted my back practiced under. I don't think he was a chiropracter. He didn't do the chiropractor things. (and besides, I'd have to be dead before some could touch my neck).
There just happens to be a chiropractor accross the street from where I am now, and I'm playing with fire, but I've been tempted to call them up and see if they're heavy into sublexations or cool.
But then tonight, I just thought I'd bring it up here.

What do I do about my back? Do I call chiropractors and see who's the least woo-woo? Or is there another option? Is the pain a sign of something bad? (which reminds me - I can throw my back out doing something as easy as folding laundry. If I lean just a little forward, I feel like my back is about to go out. It's happened two times before, boy it was awful).
Anyone know anything about this? Any suggestions?

[SRW]

I once went to an MD who was very much like a chiropractor but I cannot recall what he was called It think he was an OD. I have chronic pain and he treated me with a combination of drugs, manipulations and injections. I was doing real well until he dropped out of my insurance group and I had to switch doctors.

The next doctor I went to put me on Oxycotin. I would not recommend that.

[Zep]

The alternative to a chiropractor is a doctor.

I've always found that a sore back can be mightily assuaged by means of some good deep massage by someone you have close personal ties to. Really.

Massage is actually medically recommended in some cases as an aid to pain relief and relaxation, in place of light drugs for the same purpose. It's not poisonous (unless you massage with petrol for some reason...) and it is free and freely available. And if you like, it can lead to other things, or even just sleep. But mostly it's FUN!

Gentle yoga-type back stretches may also help, but do ask a real doctor about those in case you may hurt yourself further.

[Denise]

My daughter's former daycare provider is a massage thereapist. She is not a woo woo, unless one considers Catholics woo woos. She has a room in her house set up for her business and gets all of her clients by word of mouth.

She used to work for a health club where she began her trade and built up her first list of clients. I think maybe you could try a healthclub and find out if any of them have a side business. That way, the money would be going to them mostly, instead of the health club.

If you have a serious problem I would recommend going to a physical therapist first. Often, they have excercises you can do. Then go to a masseuse for pain alleviation.

[popsy]

You might try a DO (doctor of osteopathy) They can prescribe as well as do spinal manipulation. They are licensed doctors. I think many 'sport's doctors' are DOs.

[tedly]

Physiotherapists work with MD's and do 'sports medicine' although they can't prescribe. Many have been trained in spinal manipulation without the woo-woo aspects. They can also help you with massage, whirlpool, TENS and other evidence based treatments. My doctor sent me to one for a knee. A regime of manipulation of the knee, and some excercises has avoided surgery.
There is a very good book on lower back pain called 'The Back Doctor' by Hamilton Hall. He's an orthopedic surgeon, a back-yard basketball player, and has low back pain. No woo-woo. He's the guy who took a chiro into surgery, hooked a clamp onto the spine and had him try to move the bones relative to each other. A sort of 'Manipulate this' challenge.

Amazon link (http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/911342)

[a_unique_person]

In Australia we call them physiotherapists. They are formally trained, and are not woo-woo.

For basic back problems, I find Yoga to be really good. A good hour spent doing yoga exercised makes me fell like I have a new spine. If I get a teacher who starts off on mantras or similar nonsense, I find it is a good chance to daydream for a while.

[Dragon]

MoeFaux

Find a good physiotherapist. Sounds to me that you need to do appropriate excercises and get advice on posture, how to sit properly etc (I'm serious!) as well as massage/manipulation.

I suffered from a slipped disc and sciatica about 4 years ago. Initially I went to an osteopath (not generally as woo-woo as chiropractors, but still prone to some odd beliefs) and it helped, but only up to a point.
What really sorted me out was intense physiotherapy and a programme of exercise to strengthen my lower back.

Don't delay, it probably won't get better on its own.
Trust me, you do not want sciatica.

[MoeFaux]

It's not so bad that I would take prescription drugs for it. I'ts mostly just an annoyance, but it's an annoyance that I'm getting really tired of.
I don't have health insurance, so I have to factor that in. I would think a massage would be much cheaper than a doctors visit, but I don't think that would fix the problem. I like the pysiotherapist option the most. With that information, I'll search around. Thanks.

I've got my youth on my side, so I'm not terribly concerned about slipped discs or sciatica. And while I'm not enrolled in a yoga class, I'm still very flexible from several years of gymnastics as a child. I do all kinds of nutty streches, so I don't think it's a lack of movement thing. But, it would be prudent to talk to a doctor about it.
Thanks for the suggestions.

[Rolfe]

Originally posted by MoeFaux

I don't have health insurance, so I have to factor that in.
Let's hear it for the NHS, guys!

I don't understand this US system, doctor or osteopath or chiropractor - here there are just doctors, and they might refer you to a physiotherapist. There are private clinics with osteopaths and chirporactors, but these people aren't doctors and I very much doubt one would refer you there.

If it wasn't for the money, I'd definitely think that story should be seen by an orthopaedic specialist. Then at least if you went on to a physiotherapist, you'd know there wasn't something underlying that maybe needed surgery. But failing that, then let's hope you find a physiotherapist that can also spot if something is a bit beyond his or her turf.

Rolfe.

[Dragon]

Originally posted by MoeFaux
It's not so bad that I would take prescription drugs for it. I'ts mostly just an annoyance, but it's an annoyance that I'm getting really tired of.
I don't have health insurance, so I have to factor that in. I would think a massage would be much cheaper than a doctors visit, but I don't think that would fix the problem. I like the pysiotherapist option the most. With that information, I'll search around. Thanks.

I've got my youth on my side, so I'm not terribly concerned about slipped discs or sciatica. And while I'm not enrolled in a yoga class, I'm still very flexible from several years of gymnastics as a child. I do all kinds of nutty streches, so I don't think it's a lack of movement thing. But, it would be prudent to talk to a doctor about it.
Thanks for the suggestions.
MoeFaux,
Glad to hear you're going to seek out a physio - shouldn't be too expensive.
I was making the point that you should take action now before it gets any worse. Don't imagine that sciatica is only suffered by old gits like me (slipped discs aren't the only cause btw).
Despite your gymnastics and stretching you might still have got into bad habits with your posture,etc and this can cause problems. Also, once you get lower back pain your body adjusts to try and compensate which can mess up your posture and accelerate the damage.
At the risk of sounding new-agey - Your body is telling you something so listen to it.

[SquishyDave]

Originally posted by MoeFaux
I'm still very flexible from several years of gymnastics as a child. I do all kinds of nutty streches,
Is it getting hot in here?