Are Chiropractors Good For ANYTHING?

wolfgirl · 15th July 2012, 06:17 AM

I've recently been suffering from a bulging disc in my lower back which is causing sciatica, and also facet syndrome, all of which has pretty much changed my life overnight. I've always been a very, very healthy person. I haven't taken a sick day from work in as long as I can remember. I rarely even get a cold. But now I'm in constant pain and can't sleep or do anything I enjoy. And I'm a big "no meds unless absolutely necessary" kind of gal, but I'm taking pain pills every night. I can manage without them during the day, but I've tried to skip them at night, and every time, I've woken up in horrendous pain and had to get up and take them anyways and then pace the floor waiting for them to take effect.

I've been seeing a Pain Management specialist, who's treating me with epidural steroid injections. The first set (she does two at a time) helped quite a bit with the white-hot pain that shot down my leg into my foot but did nothing for the pain in my back/hip/buttock area. The second set didn't seem to do much, and the third helped a little. It seems to be a matter of getting to the exact right spot(s).

Almost everyone I tell about this asks if I've seen a chiropractor. I just politely tell them no, I'm seeing a Pain specialist. But a really close friend had a bulging disc and sciatica, and his chiropractor did some kind of disc decompression, like traction, and he's completely recovered. I feel silly telling him I don't believe in chiropractors when he's obviously had success with his.

Now I know chiropractic "adjustments" for most health problems are woo, but I seem to recall that chiropractors really can sometimes help with back issues. So...if I get desparate enough, should I try it?

xtifr · 15th July 2012, 12:23 PM

As I'm sure you know, there's plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting that chiropractors have helped various individuals. There's also hard evidence that they have seriously injured people. My advice is to ask your doctor whether going to a chiro would be safe for your condition before attempting anything drastic.

JREF may have plenty of skeptics (and a reasonable collection of non-skeptics trying to convince us that their favorite woo isn't woo), but it's probably not the best place for actual medical advice.

Jeff Corey · 15th July 2012, 12:42 PM

Speed bumps.

Xero · 15th July 2012, 12:57 PM

I was suffering from a pinched nerve in my lower-back, right where it sockets into my hip. Eventually went to see one, as no one else (doctors, etc) had any useful advice, was mostly told it would "correct itself" eventually. He had a chat with me, checked how it distorted my walk, etc, and his manipulations did some snap, crackle, pop, and relieved the pain. Everything was back as it originally was. Actually, until it was gone, I hadn't realised how much pain I was in, i'd just grown used to it over the months, but once he made everything right, it was like a weight was lifted, and i felt amazing. So, yeah, for some things, they actually can be helpful.

Actually, it was what I thought they always did, had no idea of so much of the woo associated with it until much later. But yes, it can help in some situations.

Tatyana · 15th July 2012, 01:01 PM

http://www.trickortreatment.com/

Chiropractic has been found to be as effective as pharmaceutical intervention provided by most GPs for lower back pain (or something towards that effect, it has been some time since I read the book).

However, unless you see a chiropracter who is working more along the lines of a physiotherapist, I wouldn't let one near my body for any amount of pain in the world.

I would recommend seeing a good physio.

Tsukasa Buddha · 15th July 2012, 01:30 PM

I see adverts for them in my newspaper and they have way too much woo to recommend. The people I know who go to them are/were "permanent patients".

Random study:

Quote:

Conclusion. Combined chiropractic interventions slightly improved pain and disability in the short term and pain in the medium term for acute/subacute LBP. However, there is currently no evidence that supports or refutes that these interventions provide a clinically meaningful difference for pain or disability in people with LBP when compared to other interventions.

Linky.

The trick would be comparing it to various other treatments and "treatments", but I don't have data on that.

Pantaz · 15th July 2012, 02:32 PM

I've had back trouble most of my life. I've experienced pain severe enough to require the use of crutches. Chiropractic manipulation has helped me many times. I imagine that a good physical therapist could probably achieve the same results, but I never received a referral from any doctor that I visited. Prescription pain meds just put me to sleep, and "bed rest" (as prescribed by a couple of different MD's) really isn't helpful. (Also, bed rest is kind of a given when the pain is too great to sit or stand.)

I know a couple of people that go for monthly "adjustments", but I never bought-into that. Perhaps I've been fortunate, as only one chiropractor tried anything goofy on me -- cranial something -- I forget the term. He would press on various spots on my upper palette (with surgical gloves). Never made sense to me, and it certainly didn't help. I've never been offered any of the other odd treatments that I've read about here.

The most helpful thing for me now is exercise. If I stay active, I have fewer episodes, and the pain subsides more rapidly. (This wasn't the case in my late teens through twenties. One of my worst episodes hit in high school while walking to football practice. My back just "went out", and I spent a full week in bed.)

The occasional episodes in the past several years have not been so bad. In fact, I haven't been to a chiropractor for at least 7-8 years.

wolfgirl · 15th July 2012, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by Tsukasa Buddha

The people I know who go to them are/were "permanent patients".

This is one of the things I fear. It seems as though nobody ever just goes to a chiropractor and then is done. They always have to go and get repeated "adjustments." I'm thinking whatever they do to you makes you so that you'll require these treatments on an ongoing basis. But people don't seem to see it that way, they just say "Oh, I know when I need to go back for an adjustment" as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

xtifr · 15th July 2012, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by wolfgirl

This is one of the things I fear. It seems as though nobody ever just goes to a chiropractor and then is done. They always have to go and get repeated "adjustments." I'm thinking whatever they do to you makes you so that you'll require these treatments on an ongoing basis.

I tend to doubt that. I find it more likely that the treatments simply don't offer a permanent solution to many problems. Because it's more-or-less just a "push stuff around and hope it helps" approach as far as I can tell. I second Tatyana's suggestion that you consider physiotherapy as a less woo-filled option (even though many chiros, to their credit, don't take the woo stuff seriously), and I repeat my own suggestion to check with your doctor before doing anything drastic. The spine is a sensitive and very important organ, and if yours is in bad shape, it may be easier to damage than the average spine. Your doctor can probably tell you if your spine is unusually at-risk.

Robrob · 15th July 2012, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by wolfgirl

But a really close friend had a bulging disc and sciatica, and his chiropractor did some kind of disc decompression, like traction, and he's completely recovered. I feel silly telling him I don't believe in chiropractors when he's obviously had success with his.

Medicine is not proprietary. A good doctor is going to be at least passingly familiar with all forms of treatment for conditions relating to their specialty. I would suggest asking your Doctor their opinion on traction decompression and your specific spinal situation. That way you can make an informed decision about your treatment.

My experience with chiropractic is as described above; it feeds on "permanent patients." My "Doctor" worked a four table assembly line of patients every morning. I estimate 5-10 minutes with each patient total and no objective measurement of progress other than using a "calibrated" eyeball, hand on your back and "how do you feel?"

While the initial exam had included a range of adjustments, the assembly line consisted of the exact same four adjustments for everyone regardless of age, condition or complaint. After a while I found I was only going because it was relaxing, similar to a massage (and free). I drew the line when I noticed the "Doctor" adjusting infants and stopped going.

AlBell · 15th July 2012, 05:33 PM

Hmmm. Would they be good ingredients in soylent green?

Jeff Corey · 15th July 2012, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by AlBell

Hmmm. Would they be good ingredients in soylent green?

Only after being tenderized a la post #3.

Cainkane1 · 15th July 2012, 05:54 PM

Good luck getting relief from your pain. I hope you get cired in a very timely manner. A friend of mine is a chiropracter but he can't do anything for certain kinds of disorders including spinal scholiosis.

portlandatheist · 15th July 2012, 07:35 PM

They could be used in scientific studies instead of mice or rats. There are some things rats just won't do and occassionally scientists become attached to their rodent subjects.

Xero · 15th July 2012, 10:36 PM

I only needed the one visit, but then mine only needed the one correction really. He of course suggested i return for a follow-up, but I've been mosly pain-free from it since, and prefer to remain that way. No intentions of pushing my luck.

Your injury sounds a tad more complicated, so my experience isn't necessarily a good indicator for you, as our injuries are not the same, and neither are most Chiros. Look into it, but also consult your GP first. It would be awful if he only made things worse.

SusanB-M1 · 15th July 2012, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by xtifr

I tend to doubt that. I find it more likely that the treatments simply don't offer a permanent solution to many problems. Because it's more-or-less just a "push stuff around and hope it helps" approach as far as I can tell. I second Tatyana's suggestion that you consider physiotherapy as a less woo-filled option (even though many chiros, to their credit, don't take the woo stuff seriously), and I repeat my own suggestion to check with your doctor before doing anything drastic. The spine is a sensitive and very important organ, and if yours is in bad shape, it may be easier to damage than the average spine. Your doctor can probably tell you if your spine is unusually at-risk.

Yes, I'd go for the physiotherapist option too. We have self-referrals at the GP surgery and not long waiting times, so perhaps I'm lucky. One gave me exercises for a sacro-iliac hypermobility and they really have helped, but I haven't had really bad back pain, thank goodness.

Also I'm particularly interested in this thread because a good friend is at present just about beside herself with the pain of sciatica.

thebicyclist · 15th July 2012, 11:13 PM

Stundie nomination :-)

Mark6 · 16th July 2012, 06:03 AM

Originally Posted by wolfgirl

This is one of the things I fear. It seems as though nobody ever just goes to a chiropractor and then is done. They always have to go and get repeated "adjustments." I'm thinking whatever they do to you makes you so that you'll require these treatments on an ongoing basis. But people don't seem to see it that way, they just say "Oh, I know when I need to go back for an adjustment" as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Which is why I think I lucked out with my chiropractor. I went because my back was in pain. He did some adjustments (which helped, greatly), and asked "Do you sit in front of computer all day?" I said yes. "If you do not exercise, it will happen again." Then he prescribed me specific exercises. As long as I do them, my back is fine. And once or twice when I let my exercise regime lapse, my back did go out of alignment, and I had to go to him again.

So his advice was not only correct, but kept me from spending more money on him. No charlatan would deliberately lower his income that way.

wolfgirl · 16th July 2012, 12:21 PM

I did do the physical therapy route; that was actually the first thing my GP had me try. After four weeks with no improvement, that's when he ordered the MRI and then referred me to Pain Management.

Just got back from the Pain doc, and since the injections haven't brought about enough improvement, she offered me two options. One, she could refer me to a surgeon to see if I'm a good candidate for surgery. I shuddered at that thought, as I've heard so many people say that surgery only made them worse and should only be considered as a "last resort." So she offered me option two, which is another medication that might help ease the pain. So I guess I'll try that, though I hate the thought of yet more drugs...

ArmillarySphere · 16th July 2012, 01:09 PM

I had good luck with the one time I went to a very much non-woo chiropractor. Double specialist in physical therapy and orthopaedic medicine, so maybe the title is misleading in his case.

I had no pain, but significantly reduced mobility in my neck. He spent a few minutes examining my range of motion, did a snap-crackle-pop and the problem was fixed.

Battman · 16th July 2012, 09:40 PM

I had pretty severe sciatica when I was in my early 20's and the GP referred me for physio. After about 6 weeks of sessions, he could do nothing more for me than relieve the pain for 1/2 a day or so and referred me back to my GP so I could be referred to a specialist. Said specialist turn out to be an orthopeadic surgeon. It turned out the the only cure was going to be surgery as I had a small piece of a vertebrae growing improperly and it was pinching the sciatic nerve. I'll say right now, that lower back surgery is NOT something that I ever want to go through again, but after 25 years, I've had absolutely no further problems. Unlike a chiropractor, the surgeon didn't ever want to see me again.

xtifr · 17th July 2012, 04:05 AM

If you've already been to a physical therapist, and got no relief, I tend to doubt a chiro will give you different results. But I'm not sure--chiros are a little more specialized in working on the back. If you really want to give it a try, and your GP doesn't object, what I might try doing is asking a chiro what he thinks he can do that the physical therapist couldn't. If his answer sounds like woo, take yourself to another chiro. If it makes sense, then maybe give it a shot.

The ones that believe that what they do is some sort of magic are probably the least likely to focus on the practical aspects of their trade, and approach it pragmatically, and thus, the most likely to be dangerous.

VanillaCone · 18th July 2012, 11:39 AM

I hired one of those accident-injury lawyers once after someone plowed into my car on the freeway and messed up my back. As a condition of his taking my case, the lawyer required me to get several treatments by a chiropractor with whom he clearly had some sort of referral arrangement. My experience was that each treatment provided some temporary pain relief but was not necessarily any more effective than a good massage. The "adjustments" he did were a little bit unnerving but did not hurt or cause me any problems as far as I could tell. The bulk of each treatment consisted of lying on my back on a machine that basically gives you a massage. It felt pretty good, but I don't think it had any lasting benefits.

ectoplasm · 18th July 2012, 01:09 PM

Again this whole discussion makes me wonder what chiros actually do. We know from clinical trials that chiropractic is no more effective than conventional medical treatment for lower back pain and it has major risks. Yet many people swear it gives them instant pain relief.

It doesn't fix herniated discs or move your vertebrae back into place.

That suggests to me it is doing something temporary to alleviate pain without fixing the underlying problem.

Blue Wode · 19th July 2012, 01:31 AM

Originally Posted by ectoplasm

Again this whole discussion makes me wonder what chiros actually do. We know from clinical trials that chiropractic is no more effective than conventional medical treatment for lower back pain and it has major risks. Yet many people swear it gives them instant pain relief.

It doesn't fix herniated discs or move your vertebrae back into place.

That suggests to me it is doing something temporary to alleviate pain without fixing the underlying problem.

Could it simply be a placebo dependent on the practitioner's attention and touch?

It’s worth bearing in mind the conclusions of a 2011 update of a systematic review of systematic reviews of spinal manipulation:

Quote:

“The aim of this update is to critically evaluate the evidence for or against the effectiveness of spinal manipulation in patients with any type of clinical condition…Conclusion: Collectively these data fail to demonstrate convincingly that spinal manipulation is an effective intervention for any condition.”

http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/abstract.php?id=4815

There’s also the WHO’s 2003 bulletin on Lower Back Pain which mentions chiropractic and the reasons people turn to it:

Quote:

“People with low back pain often turn to medical consultations and drug therapies, but they also use a variety of alternative approaches. Regardless of the treatment, most cases of acute back pain improve. At the time, people in such cases may credit the improvement to the interventions some of which clearly are more popular and even seemingly more effective than others (e.g. chiropractic and other manipulative treatments in which the laying on of hands and the person-to-person interaction during the treatment may account for some of the salutary results).”

-snip-

“The spread of chiropractic and other manipulative treatments worldwide has won many adherents to this treatment, who perceive that it works better than others. This hypothesis was recently put to the test (25) and, although the respondents still favoured such approaches (chiropractic adjustment, osteopathic manipulation, and physical therapy) perhaps because of the time spent and the laying on of hands meta-analysis cannot confirm the superiority of manipulative treatments (or, for that matter, of acupuncture and massage (26)) over other forms of therapy, or even time as a healer (25), which substantiates the contentions of WHO’s document (1). In most instances, manipulative treatments are more expensive than others (apart from surgery) and not more helpful to outcome (26).”

http://whqlibdoc.who.int/bulletin/20...9)_671-676.pdf

wolfgirl · 12th August 2012, 09:32 AM

My friend was over for dinner last night and swears that he had debilitating sciatica, to the point of not having any feeling in his leg and having to crawl to the bathroom, and after a series of decompression treatments by his chiropractor, he is now fine.

I told him I was going to trust a "real" doctor (orthopedic spine specialist I'm going to tomorrow), but he insisted that his chiropractor is not a quack and fixed him up. His insurance didn't pay for it, though, so he had to pay $4,000 out of pocket (which I don't have regardless).

Bionic Hips · 12th August 2012, 09:53 AM

As I have mentioned, see a physiatrist (may be listed under physical rehab) for back problems.

BionicHips

ectoplasm · 12th August 2012, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by wolfgirl

My friend was over for dinner last night and swears that he had debilitating sciatica, to the point of not having any feeling in his leg and having to crawl to the bathroom, and after a series of decompression treatments by his chiropractor, he is now fine.

I told him I was going to trust a "real" doctor (orthopedic spine specialist I'm going to tomorrow), but he insisted that his chiropractor is not a quack and fixed him up. His insurance didn't pay for it, though, so he had to pay $4,000 out of pocket (which I don't have regardless).

What are decompression treatments? How do they address the underlying problem?

wolfgirl · 13th August 2012, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by ectoplasm

What are decompression treatments? How do they address the underlying problem?

The treatments consist of a series of slow stretching of the spine to slowly pull the vertebrae apart, the theory being that the disc will be "sucked" back into place. (The word "sucked" is mine, I think it's supposed to create a bit of a vacuum that will draw the bulging disc back into place.)

It sounds reasonable on the face of it, but so do a lot of things. From what I've seen, some medical doctors also do this, so if it is legitimate and a "real" doctor recommends it, I'll have it done by them.

wolfgirl · 13th August 2012, 02:52 PM

Okay, just saw the spine specialist. He recommends surgery but says I can wait a little while before I have to decide.

We asked him about the decompression stuff, and he said it doesn't do anything. It will not fix a bulging disc or suck it back into place. There may be some temporary relief as the pressure is relieved. As for my friend's miracle "cure," he says he probably was going to get better on his own anyway.

On to my second opinion doctor, a neurosurgeon, in two weeks...

Pantaz · 13th August 2012, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by wolfgirl

... bulging disc ...

Just curious -- Is that visible on an X-Ray, or did you have an MRI, or something else?

Soapy Sam · 13th August 2012, 07:51 PM

Spinal manipulation, done safely and knowledgably, whether by a chiropractor, osteopath or physiotherapist can help problems caused by spinal distortion. It can also aggravate them.
The problem is finding a therapist who knows his stuff and his limits.

No amount of manipulation can straighten teeth, cure flat fleet, halitosis or infant colic.

In the (mostly well deserved) scorn which sceptics have heaped on chiropractic, there is a smallish baby floundering in the bathwater.

In the case of a bulging disc, I can't see how manipulation could help. It could make things worse.

ectoplasm · 14th August 2012, 08:33 AM

Slightly OT, but Science Based Medicine covered chiropractic strokes again today. That is enough in itself to keep me far away from any chiropractor.

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/...te/#more-22072

Shiner · 2nd September 2012, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by wolfgirl

I did do the physical therapy route; that was actually the first thing my GP had me try. After four weeks with no improvement, that's when he ordered the MRI and then referred me to Pain Management.

Just got back from the Pain doc, and since the injections haven't brought about enough improvement, she offered me two options. One, she could refer me to a surgeon to see if I'm a good candidate for surgery. I shuddered at that thought, as I've heard so many people say that surgery only made them worse and should only be considered as a "last resort." So she offered me option two, which is another medication that might help ease the pain. So I guess I'll try that, though I hate the thought of yet more drugs...

Just found this, it could just about have been written by me. My Sciatic pain has come and gone for over ten years. 6 months ago it came back with a vengeance. Varies from very painful to ridiculously excruciating. Like you, I am reluctant to use medication unless it's a critical thing. I have a very high pain tolerance, which is why it got so bad ,I guess.

Morphine, codeine, aspirin , paracetomol, ibuprofen, all have little to no effect. Diclofenac, celecoxib, have mild to medium effect, but nothing really works well enough to justify taking them regularly (kidney damage).

I'm on Pregabilin atm, which is for nerve pain. Works better than others, but after a week, I'm considering dropping it as well. The pins and needles seem to be more intense, and painful in a completely different way. And it's bloody expensive.

CT scan shows,

"A large right paracentral disc protusion (14mm * 10mm * 9mm) is resulting in posterior displacement and flattening of S1 nerve root [snip].
...neurosurgical review should be considered."

Had 6 weeks physio , for nil effect. Have been refered for epidural Cortisone injections, but I passed. I've read plenty of accounts like this where it had little to no effect. I have exercised my entire life and doctors describe me as powerfully built, I have no spinal compression, or displacement, so manipulation cannot help me. There is no evidence at all to suggest manipulation can correct disc herniation.

All the best with you coindition and treatment Wolfgirl, I'm on a waiting list to see my neurosurgeon atm. Surgery is my only option. Still doing my physio exercises daily, but they don't help. I believe the fitter I am going into the surgery, the quicker I'll bounce back and get back to work..

jhunter1163 · 2nd September 2012, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by wolfgirl

I've recently been suffering from a bulging disc in my lower back which is causing sciatica, and also facet syndrome, all of which has pretty much changed my life overnight. I've always been a very, very healthy person. I haven't taken a sick day from work in as long as I can remember. I rarely even get a cold. But now I'm in constant pain and can't sleep or do anything I enjoy. And I'm a big "no meds unless absolutely necessary" kind of gal, but I'm taking pain pills every night. I can manage without them during the day, but I've tried to skip them at night, and every time, I've woken up in horrendous pain and had to get up and take them anyways and then pace the floor waiting for them to take effect.

I've been seeing a Pain Management specialist, who's treating me with epidural steroid injections. The first set (she does two at a time) helped quite a bit with the white-hot pain that shot down my leg into my foot but did nothing for the pain in my back/hip/buttock area. The second set didn't seem to do much, and the third helped a little. It seems to be a matter of getting to the exact right spot(s).

Almost everyone I tell about this asks if I've seen a chiropractor. I just politely tell them no, I'm seeing a Pain specialist. But a really close friend had a bulging disc and sciatica, and his chiropractor did some kind of disc decompression, like traction, and he's completely recovered. I feel silly telling him I don't believe in chiropractors when he's obviously had success with his.

Now I know chiropractic "adjustments" for most health problems are woo, but I seem to recall that chiropractors really can sometimes help with back issues. So...if I get desparate enough, should I try it?

I used to work for a chiropractor so I am more than passingly familiar with it. The short answer to your question is no; chiropractic does nothing for disc problems and may actually be harmful. The chiro I worked for wouldn't touch a patient who came to him with a disc problem; he'd send them to their MD.

That being said, chiropractic can be helpful in limited circumstances, just like physical therapy or massage therapy. I've had a great many chiropractic adjustments, and they've always helped somewhat, for a while.

JoeBentley · 2nd September 2012, 08:46 PM

Oh chiropractors are wonderful for one specific type of back problem.

You see if you keep a large in your back pocket it can cause your lower spine to sit at an angle when you sit, leading to lower back pain in some cases.

A chiropractor will be more then happy to make that wallet thinner.

Shiner · 2nd September 2012, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by JoeBentley

Oh chiropractors are wonderful for one specific type of back problem.

You see if you keep a large in your back pocket it can cause your lower spine to sit at an angle when you sit, leading to lower back pain in some cases.

A chiropractor will be more then happy to make that wallet thinner.

fuelair · 2nd September 2012, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by Jeff Corey

Speed bumps.

Shark bait, rest room attendants, homeopathic medicine consultants, arse wipers,

uke2se · 3rd September 2012, 12:48 PM

I have a chronic back problem stemming from a sporting injury 20 years ago. Whenever my back starts acting up, I visit a chiropractor. He always manage to help me.

*Dramatic pause to get people properly worked up*

The thing is, though, that the guy is also a licensed physical therapist, and what he treats me with (massage and ultrasound mainly) is physical therapy, not chiropractic. He actually charges me less per treatment than a private physician would.

comixman · 3rd September 2012, 01:47 PM

Sorry to hear of your dilemma wolfgirl. One of the reasons back pain treatment is so controversial is that in most cases it gets better no matter what you do. For ruptured discs the pain will last at least 6 months. Many people cannot tolerate the pain for that long.

I personally know of 3 people with MRI documented disc herniations with nerve impingement who eventually got better. None of them had surgery. One of my friends was getting chiropractic treatment which wasn't helping. When the MRI was positive the chiropractor stopped treating her. As mentioned above some chiropractors won't treat people with known ruptured discs. There is a potential to worsen things.

15th July 2012, 06:17 AM	#1
wolfgirl Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Kearney, MO Posts: 1,361	Are Chiropractors Good For ANYTHING? I've recently been suffering from a bulging disc in my lower back which is causing sciatica, and also facet syndrome, all of which has pretty much changed my life overnight. I've always been a very, very healthy person. I haven't taken a sick day from work in as long as I can remember. I rarely even get a cold. But now I'm in constant pain and can't sleep or do anything I enjoy. And I'm a big "no meds unless absolutely necessary" kind of gal, but I'm taking pain pills every night. I can manage without them during the day, but I've tried to skip them at night, and every time, I've woken up in horrendous pain and had to get up and take them anyways and then pace the floor waiting for them to take effect. I've been seeing a Pain Management specialist, who's treating me with epidural steroid injections. The first set (she does two at a time) helped quite a bit with the white-hot pain that shot down my leg into my foot but did nothing for the pain in my back/hip/buttock area. The second set didn't seem to do much, and the third helped a little. It seems to be a matter of getting to the exact right spot(s). Almost everyone I tell about this asks if I've seen a chiropractor. I just politely tell them no, I'm seeing a Pain specialist. But a really close friend had a bulging disc and sciatica, and his chiropractor did some kind of disc decompression, like traction, and he's completely recovered. I feel silly telling him I don't believe in chiropractors when he's obviously had success with his. Now I know chiropractic "adjustments" for most health problems are woo, but I seem to recall that chiropractors really can sometimes help with back issues. So...if I get desparate enough, should I try it?
	__________________ My moral compass was within myself, not in the pages of a sacred book. - Ayaan Hirsi Ali

15th July 2012, 12:23 PM	#2
xtifr Muse Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sol III Posts: 563	As I'm sure you know, there's plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting that chiropractors have helped various individuals. There's also hard evidence that they have seriously injured people. My advice is to ask your doctor whether going to a chiro would be safe for your condition before attempting anything drastic. JREF may have plenty of skeptics (and a reasonable collection of non-skeptics trying to convince us that their favorite woo isn't woo), but it's probably not the best place for actual medical advice.
	__________________ "Those who learn from history are doomed to watch others repeat it." -- Anonymous Slashdot poster "The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore." -- James Nicoll

15th July 2012, 01:30 PM	#6
Tsukasa Buddha Other (please write in) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NeverLand Posts: 9,887	I see adverts for them in my newspaper and they have way too much woo to recommend. The people I know who go to them are/were "permanent patients". Random study: Quote: Conclusion. Combined chiropractic interventions slightly improved pain and disability in the short term and pain in the medium term for acute/subacute LBP. However, there is currently no evidence that supports or refutes that these interventions provide a clinically meaningful difference for pain or disability in people with LBP when compared to other interventions. Linky. The trick would be comparing it to various other treatments and "treatments", but I don't have data on that.
	__________________ As cultural anthropologists have always said "human culture" = "human nature". You might as well put a fish on the moon to test how it "swims naturally" without the "influence of water". -Earthborn

15th July 2012, 02:58 PM	#8
wolfgirl Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Kearney, MO Posts: 1,361	Originally Posted by Tsukasa Buddha The people I know who go to them are/were "permanent patients". This is one of the things I fear. It seems as though nobody ever just goes to a chiropractor and then is done. They always have to go and get repeated "adjustments." I'm thinking whatever they do to you makes you so that you'll require these treatments on an ongoing basis. But people don't seem to see it that way, they just say "Oh, I know when I need to go back for an adjustment" as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
	__________________ My moral compass was within myself, not in the pages of a sacred book. - Ayaan Hirsi Ali

15th July 2012, 04:41 PM	#9
xtifr Muse Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sol III Posts: 563	Originally Posted by wolfgirl This is one of the things I fear. It seems as though nobody ever just goes to a chiropractor and then is done. They always have to go and get repeated "adjustments." I'm thinking whatever they do to you makes you so that you'll require these treatments on an ongoing basis. I tend to doubt that. I find it more likely that the treatments simply don't offer a permanent solution to many problems. Because it's more-or-less just a "push stuff around and hope it helps" approach as far as I can tell. I second Tatyana's suggestion that you consider physiotherapy as a less woo-filled option (even though many chiros, to their credit, don't take the woo stuff seriously), and I repeat my own suggestion to check with your doctor before doing anything drastic. The spine is a sensitive and very important organ, and if yours is in bad shape, it may be easier to damage than the average spine. Your doctor can probably tell you if your spine is unusually at-risk.
	__________________ "Those who learn from history are doomed to watch others repeat it." -- Anonymous Slashdot poster "The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore." -- James Nicoll

15th July 2012, 12:42 PM	#3
Jeff Corey New York Skeptic Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 13,794	Speed bumps.

15th July 2012, 12:57 PM	#4
Xero Thinker Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Western Australia Posts: 178	I was suffering from a pinched nerve in my lower-back, right where it sockets into my hip. Eventually went to see one, as no one else (doctors, etc) had any useful advice, was mostly told it would "correct itself" eventually. He had a chat with me, checked how it distorted my walk, etc, and his manipulations did some snap, crackle, pop, and relieved the pain. Everything was back as it originally was. Actually, until it was gone, I hadn't realised how much pain I was in, i'd just grown used to it over the months, but once he made everything right, it was like a weight was lifted, and i felt amazing. So, yeah, for some things, they actually can be helpful. Actually, it was what I thought they always did, had no idea of so much of the woo associated with it until much later. But yes, it can help in some situations.

15th July 2012, 01:01 PM	#5
Tatyana Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Experiment 1: Flame and Flesh Posts: 3,431	http://www.trickortreatment.com/ Chiropractic has been found to be as effective as pharmaceutical intervention provided by most GPs for lower back pain (or something towards that effect, it has been some time since I read the book). However, unless you see a chiropracter who is working more along the lines of a physiotherapist, I wouldn't let one near my body for any amount of pain in the world. I would recommend seeing a good physio.

15th July 2012, 02:32 PM	#7
Pantaz Muse Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Van Nuys, CA Posts: 896	I've had back trouble most of my life. I've experienced pain severe enough to require the use of crutches. Chiropractic manipulation has helped me many times. I imagine that a good physical therapist could probably achieve the same results, but I never received a referral from any doctor that I visited. Prescription pain meds just put me to sleep, and "bed rest" (as prescribed by a couple of different MD's) really isn't helpful. (Also, bed rest is kind of a given when the pain is too great to sit or stand.) I know a couple of people that go for monthly "adjustments", but I never bought-into that. Perhaps I've been fortunate, as only one chiropractor tried anything goofy on me -- cranial something -- I forget the term. He would press on various spots on my upper palette (with surgical gloves). Never made sense to me, and it certainly didn't help. I've never been offered any of the other odd treatments that I've read about here. The most helpful thing for me now is exercise. If I stay active, I have fewer episodes, and the pain subsides more rapidly. (This wasn't the case in my late teens through twenties. One of my worst episodes hit in high school while walking to football practice. My back just "went out", and I spent a full week in bed.) The occasional episodes in the past several years have not been so bad. In fact, I haven't been to a chiropractor for at least 7-8 years.

15th July 2012, 05:14 PM	#10
Robrob Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 3,660	Originally Posted by wolfgirl But a really close friend had a bulging disc and sciatica, and his chiropractor did some kind of disc decompression, like traction, and he's completely recovered. I feel silly telling him I don't believe in chiropractors when he's obviously had success with his. Medicine is not proprietary. A good doctor is going to be at least passingly familiar with all forms of treatment for conditions relating to their specialty. I would suggest asking your Doctor their opinion on traction decompression and your specific spinal situation. That way you can make an informed decision about your treatment. My experience with chiropractic is as described above; it feeds on "permanent patients." My "Doctor" worked a four table assembly line of patients every morning. I estimate 5-10 minutes with each patient total and no objective measurement of progress other than using a "calibrated" eyeball, hand on your back and "how do you feel?" While the initial exam had included a range of adjustments, the assembly line consisted of the exact same four adjustments for everyone regardless of age, condition or complaint. After a while I found I was only going because it was relaxing, similar to a massage (and free). I drew the line when I noticed the "Doctor" adjusting infants and stopped going.
Robrob Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 3,660

15th July 2012, 05:33 PM	#11
AlBell Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,487	Hmmm. Would they be good ingredients in soylent green?
AlBell Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,487

15th July 2012, 05:51 PM	#12
Jeff Corey New York Skeptic Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 13,794	Originally Posted by AlBell Hmmm. Would they be good ingredients in soylent green? Only after being tenderized a la post #3.

15th July 2012, 05:54 PM	#13
Cainkane1 Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The great American southeast Posts: 7,191	Good luck getting relief from your pain. I hope you get cired in a very timely manner. A friend of mine is a chiropracter but he can't do anything for certain kinds of disorders including spinal scholiosis.
	__________________ If at first you don't succeed try try again. Then if you fail to succeed to Hell with that. Try something else.

15th July 2012, 07:35 PM	#14
portlandatheist Master Poster Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,111	They could be used in scientific studies instead of mice or rats. There are some things rats just won't do and occassionally scientists become attached to their rodent subjects.

15th July 2012, 10:36 PM	#15
Xero Thinker Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Western Australia Posts: 178	I only needed the one visit, but then mine only needed the one correction really. He of course suggested i return for a follow-up, but I've been mosly pain-free from it since, and prefer to remain that way. No intentions of pushing my luck. Your injury sounds a tad more complicated, so my experience isn't necessarily a good indicator for you, as our injuries are not the same, and neither are most Chiros. Look into it, but also consult your GP first. It would be awful if he only made things worse.

15th July 2012, 10:54 PM	#16
SusanB-M1 Incurable Optimist Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Almost in the New Forest, Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,865	Originally Posted by xtifr I tend to doubt that. I find it more likely that the treatments simply don't offer a permanent solution to many problems. Because it's more-or-less just a "push stuff around and hope it helps" approach as far as I can tell. I second Tatyana's suggestion that you consider physiotherapy as a less woo-filled option (even though many chiros, to their credit, don't take the woo stuff seriously), and I repeat my own suggestion to check with your doctor before doing anything drastic. The spine is a sensitive and very important organ, and if yours is in bad shape, it may be easier to damage than the average spine. Your doctor can probably tell you if your spine is unusually at-risk. Yes, I'd go for the physiotherapist option too. We have self-referrals at the GP surgery and not long waiting times, so perhaps I'm lucky. One gave me exercises for a sacro-iliac hypermobility and they really have helped, but I haven't had really bad back pain, thank goodness. Also I'm particularly interested in this thread because a good friend is at present just about beside herself with the pain of sciatica.
	__________________ I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.

15th July 2012, 11:13 PM	#17
thebicyclist Scholar Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 109	Stundie nomination :-)
thebicyclist Scholar Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 109

16th July 2012, 06:03 AM	#18
Mark6 Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,173	Originally Posted by wolfgirl This is one of the things I fear. It seems as though nobody ever just goes to a chiropractor and then is done. They always have to go and get repeated "adjustments." I'm thinking whatever they do to you makes you so that you'll require these treatments on an ongoing basis. But people don't seem to see it that way, they just say "Oh, I know when I need to go back for an adjustment" as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Which is why I think I lucked out with my chiropractor. I went because my back was in pain. He did some adjustments (which helped, greatly), and asked "Do you sit in front of computer all day?" I said yes. "If you do not exercise, it will happen again." Then he prescribed me specific exercises. As long as I do them, my back is fine. And once or twice when I let my exercise regime lapse, my back did go out of alignment, and I had to go to him again. So his advice was not only correct, but kept me from spending more money on him. No charlatan would deliberately lower his income that way.
Mark6 Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,173	__________________ Gamemaster: "A horde of rotting zombies is shambling toward you. The sign over the door says 'Accounting'"

16th July 2012, 12:21 PM	#19
wolfgirl Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Kearney, MO Posts: 1,361	I did do the physical therapy route; that was actually the first thing my GP had me try. After four weeks with no improvement, that's when he ordered the MRI and then referred me to Pain Management. Just got back from the Pain doc, and since the injections haven't brought about enough improvement, she offered me two options. One, she could refer me to a surgeon to see if I'm a good candidate for surgery. I shuddered at that thought, as I've heard so many people say that surgery only made them worse and should only be considered as a "last resort." So she offered me option two, which is another medication that might help ease the pain. So I guess I'll try that, though I hate the thought of yet more drugs...
	__________________ My moral compass was within myself, not in the pages of a sacred book. - Ayaan Hirsi Ali

16th July 2012, 01:09 PM	#20
ArmillarySphere Muse Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: London Posts: 709	I had good luck with the one time I went to a very much non-woo chiropractor. Double specialist in physical therapy and orthopaedic medicine, so maybe the title is misleading in his case. I had no pain, but significantly reduced mobility in my neck. He spent a few minutes examining my range of motion, did a snap-crackle-pop and the problem was fixed.

16th July 2012, 09:40 PM	#21
Battman Scholar Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Out on the bald prairie Posts: 90	I had pretty severe sciatica when I was in my early 20's and the GP referred me for physio. After about 6 weeks of sessions, he could do nothing more for me than relieve the pain for 1/2 a day or so and referred me back to my GP so I could be referred to a specialist. Said specialist turn out to be an orthopeadic surgeon. It turned out the the only cure was going to be surgery as I had a small piece of a vertebrae growing improperly and it was pinching the sciatic nerve. I'll say right now, that lower back surgery is NOT something that I ever want to go through again, but after 25 years, I've had absolutely no further problems. Unlike a chiropractor, the surgeon didn't ever want to see me again.

17th July 2012, 04:05 AM	#22
xtifr Muse Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sol III Posts: 563	If you've already been to a physical therapist, and got no relief, I tend to doubt a chiro will give you different results. But I'm not sure--chiros are a little more specialized in working on the back. If you really want to give it a try, and your GP doesn't object, what I might try doing is asking a chiro what he thinks he can do that the physical therapist couldn't. If his answer sounds like woo, take yourself to another chiro. If it makes sense, then maybe give it a shot. The ones that believe that what they do is some sort of magic are probably the least likely to focus on the practical aspects of their trade, and approach it pragmatically, and thus, the most likely to be dangerous.
	__________________ "Those who learn from history are doomed to watch others repeat it." -- Anonymous Slashdot poster "The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore." -- James Nicoll

18th July 2012, 11:39 AM	#23
VanillaCone Muse Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Square One Posts: 738	I hired one of those accident-injury lawyers once after someone plowed into my car on the freeway and messed up my back. As a condition of his taking my case, the lawyer required me to get several treatments by a chiropractor with whom he clearly had some sort of referral arrangement. My experience was that each treatment provided some temporary pain relief but was not necessarily any more effective than a good massage. The "adjustments" he did were a little bit unnerving but did not hurt or cause me any problems as far as I could tell. The bulk of each treatment consisted of lying on my back on a machine that basically gives you a massage. It felt pretty good, but I don't think it had any lasting benefits.
	__________________ I believe I am doing what I think is right. -Closing line of a "Nigerian Prince" e-mail I received.

18th July 2012, 01:09 PM	#24
ectoplasm Thinker Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 213	Again this whole discussion makes me wonder what chiros actually do. We know from clinical trials that chiropractic is no more effective than conventional medical treatment for lower back pain and it has major risks. Yet many people swear it gives them instant pain relief. It doesn't fix herniated discs or move your vertebrae back into place. That suggests to me it is doing something temporary to alleviate pain without fixing the underlying problem.
ectoplasm Thinker Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 213

19th July 2012, 01:31 AM	#25
Blue Wode Graduate Poster Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,277	Originally Posted by ectoplasm Again this whole discussion makes me wonder what chiros actually do. We know from clinical trials that chiropractic is no more effective than conventional medical treatment for lower back pain and it has major risks. Yet many people swear it gives them instant pain relief. It doesn't fix herniated discs or move your vertebrae back into place. That suggests to me it is doing something temporary to alleviate pain without fixing the underlying problem. Could it simply be a placebo dependent on the practitioner's attention and touch? It’s worth bearing in mind the conclusions of a 2011 update of a systematic review of systematic reviews of spinal manipulation: Quote: “The aim of this update is to critically evaluate the evidence for or against the effectiveness of spinal manipulation in patients with any type of clinical condition…Conclusion: Collectively these data fail to demonstrate convincingly that spinal manipulation is an effective intervention for any condition.” http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/abstract.php?id=4815 There’s also the WHO’s 2003 bulletin on Lower Back Pain which mentions chiropractic and the reasons people turn to it: Quote: “People with low back pain often turn to medical consultations and drug therapies, but they also use a variety of alternative approaches. Regardless of the treatment, most cases of acute back pain improve. At the time, people in such cases may credit the improvement to the interventions some of which clearly are more popular and even seemingly more effective than others (e.g. chiropractic and other manipulative treatments in which the laying on of hands and the person-to-person interaction during the treatment may account for some of the salutary results).” -snip- “The spread of chiropractic and other manipulative treatments worldwide has won many adherents to this treatment, who perceive that it works better than others. This hypothesis was recently put to the test (25) and, although the respondents still favoured such approaches (chiropractic adjustment, osteopathic manipulation, and physical therapy) perhaps because of the time spent and the laying on of hands meta-analysis cannot confirm the superiority of manipulative treatments (or, for that matter, of acupuncture and massage (26)) over other forms of therapy, or even time as a healer (25), which substantiates the contentions of WHO’s document (1). In most instances, manipulative treatments are more expensive than others (apart from surgery) and not more helpful to outcome (26).” http://whqlibdoc.who.int/bulletin/20...9)_671-676.pdf
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12th August 2012, 09:32 AM	#26
wolfgirl Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Kearney, MO Posts: 1,361	My friend was over for dinner last night and swears that he had debilitating sciatica, to the point of not having any feeling in his leg and having to crawl to the bathroom, and after a series of decompression treatments by his chiropractor, he is now fine. I told him I was going to trust a "real" doctor (orthopedic spine specialist I'm going to tomorrow), but he insisted that his chiropractor is not a quack and fixed him up. His insurance didn't pay for it, though, so he had to pay $4,000 out of pocket (which I don't have regardless).
	__________________ My moral compass was within myself, not in the pages of a sacred book. - Ayaan Hirsi Ali

12th August 2012, 09:53 AM	#27
Bionic Hips Student Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 28	As I have mentioned, see a physiatrist (may be listed under physical rehab) for back problems. BionicHips

12th August 2012, 10:28 AM	#28
ectoplasm Thinker Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 213	Originally Posted by wolfgirl My friend was over for dinner last night and swears that he had debilitating sciatica, to the point of not having any feeling in his leg and having to crawl to the bathroom, and after a series of decompression treatments by his chiropractor, he is now fine. I told him I was going to trust a "real" doctor (orthopedic spine specialist I'm going to tomorrow), but he insisted that his chiropractor is not a quack and fixed him up. His insurance didn't pay for it, though, so he had to pay $4,000 out of pocket (which I don't have regardless). What are decompression treatments? How do they address the underlying problem?
ectoplasm Thinker Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 213

13th August 2012, 06:59 AM	#29
wolfgirl Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Kearney, MO Posts: 1,361	Originally Posted by ectoplasm What are decompression treatments? How do they address the underlying problem? The treatments consist of a series of slow stretching of the spine to slowly pull the vertebrae apart, the theory being that the disc will be "sucked" back into place. (The word "sucked" is mine, I think it's supposed to create a bit of a vacuum that will draw the bulging disc back into place.) It sounds reasonable on the face of it, but so do a lot of things. From what I've seen, some medical doctors also do this, so if it is legitimate and a "real" doctor recommends it, I'll have it done by them.
	__________________ My moral compass was within myself, not in the pages of a sacred book. - Ayaan Hirsi Ali

13th August 2012, 02:52 PM	#30
wolfgirl Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Kearney, MO Posts: 1,361	Okay, just saw the spine specialist. He recommends surgery but says I can wait a little while before I have to decide. We asked him about the decompression stuff, and he said it doesn't do anything. It will not fix a bulging disc or suck it back into place. There may be some temporary relief as the pressure is relieved. As for my friend's miracle "cure," he says he probably was going to get better on his own anyway. On to my second opinion doctor, a neurosurgeon, in two weeks...
	__________________ My moral compass was within myself, not in the pages of a sacred book. - Ayaan Hirsi Ali

13th August 2012, 04:56 PM	#31
Pantaz Muse Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Van Nuys, CA Posts: 896	Originally Posted by wolfgirl ... bulging disc ... Just curious -- Is that visible on an X-Ray, or did you have an MRI, or something else?
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13th August 2012, 07:51 PM	#32
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,885	Spinal manipulation, done safely and knowledgably, whether by a chiropractor, osteopath or physiotherapist can help problems caused by spinal distortion. It can also aggravate them. The problem is finding a therapist who knows his stuff and his limits. No amount of manipulation can straighten teeth, cure flat fleet, halitosis or infant colic. In the (mostly well deserved) scorn which sceptics have heaped on chiropractic, there is a smallish baby floundering in the bathwater. In the case of a bulging disc, I can't see how manipulation could help. It could make things worse.
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,885

14th August 2012, 08:33 AM	#33
ectoplasm Thinker Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 213	Slightly OT, but Science Based Medicine covered chiropractic strokes again today. That is enough in itself to keep me far away from any chiropractor. http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/...te/#more-22072
ectoplasm Thinker Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 213

2nd September 2012, 07:28 PM	#34
Shiner Motor Mouth Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Up the creek. Posts: 1,028	Originally Posted by wolfgirl I did do the physical therapy route; that was actually the first thing my GP had me try. After four weeks with no improvement, that's when he ordered the MRI and then referred me to Pain Management. Just got back from the Pain doc, and since the injections haven't brought about enough improvement, she offered me two options. One, she could refer me to a surgeon to see if I'm a good candidate for surgery. I shuddered at that thought, as I've heard so many people say that surgery only made them worse and should only be considered as a "last resort." So she offered me option two, which is another medication that might help ease the pain. So I guess I'll try that, though I hate the thought of yet more drugs... Just found this, it could just about have been written by me. My Sciatic pain has come and gone for over ten years. 6 months ago it came back with a vengeance. Varies from very painful to ridiculously excruciating. Like you, I am reluctant to use medication unless it's a critical thing. I have a very high pain tolerance, which is why it got so bad ,I guess. Morphine, codeine, aspirin , paracetomol, ibuprofen, all have little to no effect. Diclofenac, celecoxib, have mild to medium effect, but nothing really works well enough to justify taking them regularly (kidney damage). I'm on Pregabilin atm, which is for nerve pain. Works better than others, but after a week, I'm considering dropping it as well. The pins and needles seem to be more intense, and painful in a completely different way. And it's bloody expensive. CT scan shows, "A large right paracentral disc protusion (14mm * 10mm * 9mm) is resulting in posterior displacement and flattening of S1 nerve root [snip]. ...neurosurgical review should be considered." Had 6 weeks physio , for nil effect. Have been refered for epidural Cortisone injections, but I passed. I've read plenty of accounts like this where it had little to no effect. I have exercised my entire life and doctors describe me as powerfully built, I have no spinal compression, or displacement, so manipulation cannot help me. There is no evidence at all to suggest manipulation can correct disc herniation. All the best with you coindition and treatment Wolfgirl, I'm on a waiting list to see my neurosurgeon atm. Surgery is my only option. Still doing my physio exercises daily, but they don't help. I believe the fitter I am going into the surgery, the quicker I'll bounce back and get back to work..

2nd September 2012, 08:40 PM	#35
jhunter1163 Beer-Swilling Semiliterate Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Room 118, Bohemian Grove Marriott Posts: 15,557	Originally Posted by wolfgirl I've recently been suffering from a bulging disc in my lower back which is causing sciatica, and also facet syndrome, all of which has pretty much changed my life overnight. I've always been a very, very healthy person. I haven't taken a sick day from work in as long as I can remember. I rarely even get a cold. But now I'm in constant pain and can't sleep or do anything I enjoy. And I'm a big "no meds unless absolutely necessary" kind of gal, but I'm taking pain pills every night. I can manage without them during the day, but I've tried to skip them at night, and every time, I've woken up in horrendous pain and had to get up and take them anyways and then pace the floor waiting for them to take effect. I've been seeing a Pain Management specialist, who's treating me with epidural steroid injections. The first set (she does two at a time) helped quite a bit with the white-hot pain that shot down my leg into my foot but did nothing for the pain in my back/hip/buttock area. The second set didn't seem to do much, and the third helped a little. It seems to be a matter of getting to the exact right spot(s). Almost everyone I tell about this asks if I've seen a chiropractor. I just politely tell them no, I'm seeing a Pain specialist. But a really close friend had a bulging disc and sciatica, and his chiropractor did some kind of disc decompression, like traction, and he's completely recovered. I feel silly telling him I don't believe in chiropractors when he's obviously had success with his. Now I know chiropractic "adjustments" for most health problems are woo, but I seem to recall that chiropractors really can sometimes help with back issues. So...if I get desparate enough, should I try it? I used to work for a chiropractor so I am more than passingly familiar with it. The short answer to your question is no; chiropractic does nothing for disc problems and may actually be harmful. The chiro I worked for wouldn't touch a patient who came to him with a disc problem; he'd send them to their MD. That being said, chiropractic can be helpful in limited circumstances, just like physical therapy or massage therapy. I've had a great many chiropractic adjustments, and they've always helped somewhat, for a while.