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sciatic pain

#21
I don't know if it is particularly bad over here or not (relatively), it's more that it's only the reputation in the UK that i'm familiar with.

And wow, sued for speaking the truth :scowl:

I've had many a story from my old man in regards to having to fix up patients who decided to see a chiropractor (he's a retired physio). Needless to say, he doesn't think too highly of them.

And +1 about it all being dependant on what is needed for the patient, my old man got in bother a few times for telling patients that he couldn't help them and the doctor who had put them on the waiting list for physio was wasting their time.
 
#22
Well, I can't speak to the practice as a whole but my old chiropractor was pretty good near as I can tell. I'd limp into his office and skip back out. I can say, however, that I didn't really have this thigh/butt pain untill this new guy adjusted me the first time. He's only done it twice. The pain in my lower back seemed to get better but the butt pain appeard about a day later maybe. My maid doctor talked like a lot of times the discs in your back, if they get out of place will basically suck themselves back in over time given a chance to. Then it would be a matter of strengthening the muscles and not doing anything to make it happen again (probably esier said than done).
 
#23
I've had things a bit out of alignment before, and it can cause aches (I used to get it really bad higher up my back, causing pain at mainly the front of my sternum). A bit of manipulation and being strict on posture for a day or two would sort it out. (however, I will also add that manipulation done incorrectly can very easily make things much worse).
 
#24
i_got_a_mohawk said:
(however, I will also add that manipulation done incorrectly can very easily make things much worse).
Click to expand...

It can even kill you, in the neck.

Chiropractic manipulation definitely FEELS good. But the fundamental premises behind it are:

1. Illness in the body (such as smallpox, according to the founder of chiropractic) can be caused by misalignment in the spine (obviously false)

2. Manipulation of the spine can correct these problems (again, false)

Chiropractic is only useful if done as a form of physical therapy. A chiropractor cannot correct problems such as spinal stenosis, or radiculopathy, let alone disease. While there is no such thing as a legitimate chiropractor per se, a more legitimate one will do the right thing and give physical therapy as needed for back pain, but refer to an orthopedist/neurologist/PM&R/internist when necessary.

Any chiropractor who attempts to treat anything that doesn't strictly pertain to the musculoskeletal system (ie: 'flu adjustments') is a 'straight' chiropractor according to their terminology, or in modern English, a quack. Fortunately these chiropractors are in the minority - most accept that their role is primarily in dealing with musculoskeletal pain and injury, which is not unreasonable for a chiropractor to treat so long as they know when to refer to a doctor.
 
#25
In this country, if you want chiropractic care, you can see a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, or D.O. In addition to training much like what an M.D. has, they also have training in Osteopathic manipulative medicine, which includes chiropractic, among other manipulative methods.

I would trust a D.O. much more than I would trust most Chiropractors. I have used one in the past that I trust, but know a lot of people who have had very bad experiences with Chiropractors. I agree with the statement Eric made about most of them being quacks. Your back being out of whack cannot cause cancer, blood disease, indigestion, or many other internal illnesses/diseases that Chiropractors claim to be able to treat.
 
#26
And the good thing is that most chiropractors don't actually believe in the quackery, but it would be risky going to one who does.

As for DOs, their training is similar to an MD with some chiropractic thrown in. Not all of them do chiropractic though. Some of them just did the DO route because it's less competitive. I know one guy who is a DO cardiologist. But generally speaking, they go into less competitive fields, typically internal medicine or physical medicine and rehabilitation.

As long as you don't damage the patient's back or neck, manipulation feels great! I do it to myself all the time. It may be effective at temporarily relieving pain. But for any disease it's useless, as well as for any serious back problem - if you have spinal stenosis (narrowing of the holes in all the backbones, which the spinal cord passes through), no manipulation is going to help that.
 
#27
Ericman197 said:
It can even kill you, in the neck.

Chiropractic manipulation definitely FEELS good. But the fundamental premises behind it are:

1. Illness in the body (such as smallpox, according to the founder of chiropractic) can be caused by misalignment in the spine (obviously false)

2. Manipulation of the spine can correct these problems (again, false)

Chiropractic is only useful if done as a form of physical therapy. A chiropractor cannot correct problems such as spinal stenosis, or radiculopathy, let alone disease. While there is no such thing as a legitimate chiropractor per se, a more legitimate one will do the right thing and give physical therapy as needed for back pain, but refer to an orthopedist/neurologist/PM&R/internist when necessary.

Any chiropractor who attempts to treat anything that doesn't strictly pertain to the musculoskeletal system (ie: 'flu adjustments') is a 'straight' chiropractor according to their terminology, or in modern English, a quack. Fortunately these chiropractors are in the minority - most accept that their role is primarily in dealing with musculoskeletal pain and injury, which is not unreasonable for a chiropractor to treat so long as they know when to refer to a doctor.
Click to expand...

Wow, I must admit that I never knew the foundation of chiropractory was so nutty!
 
#28
i_got_a_mohawk said:
Wow, I must admit that I never knew the foundation of chiropractory was so nutty!
Click to expand...

Read the wikipedia article on Chiropractic. I love this quote (among others) by its founder, D.D. Palmer:

"A subluxated vertebra… is the cause of 95 percent of all diseases. …The other five percent is caused by displaced joints other than those of the vertebral column"

Many of them oppose vaccinations, water fluoridation, etc. As long as a chiropractor acts as a physical therapist, I don't see a problem with it. But when they start to encroach on MD territory (with the exception of DOs), it's quackery.
 
#30
Hi,

I just returned from hospital and got surgery at L5 level. 13 year ago same at L4 level.

I hope the MRI scan will be a good guidance for whether they will do surgery on you or not.

Like others have said before, all patients have more or less consistent severe pain mostly ranging from left cheek all the way to left foot, but some will also experience the immense pain-waves/spasm that might come as often as several times a day and will take you to your physical and mental limits. No matter how tough you are, you will break.

Keep us posted, I hope you will do well, and that your body can recover without the need of surgery.

In the mean time, and that goes for everybody, take care of your back.
The heavy full stack, long drives to a gig and the 3 hours shows do have an impact on your back.
Some of us just have stronger backs than others. You'll only know when it's too late.

Hang on in there!
Mich
 
#31
Also, I did a little research into inversion therapy. The doctors I spoke to said that best case scenario it won't help, but it will most likely aggravate back pain (as well as cause serious problems/death if done wrong). That is because back pain is largely from loading/unloading forces. In this case you're doing the opposite of what is normal: rather than a moderate load (picking up a 30 pound package) followed by an unload, you have a heavy unloading force (your body upside down, followed by a load (your body, not upside down). N

ot having back pain myself, nor having tried the therapy, I have no idea what it actually feels like. But in patients who have real disk pathology (ie ligament rupture), inversion therapy is not likely to repair that problem, though it may aggravate it. Honestly I think it would feel cool and I'd like to try it for fun, but being upside down makes me very uncomfortable.
 
#32
1. ice packs and ibuprofin (and pineapple) for swelling, lyrica (not neurontin, which you may be offered) for nerve pain, valium for muscle spasms, and hydrocodone for severe pain.

2. learn how to move properly, as in, taking a knee to reach something on the ground instead of bending at the waist, and keeping your back straight and core muscles flexed when lifting anything. also make sure you sleep on a good matress, on your side, pillow between the knees, spine straight. this makes a big difference.

3. find the best doctor (physiatrist) and physical therapy place. physical therapy is incredibly helpful, but only when your posture is precise. you may read a description or see a diagram of an exercise, but having a professional watch your form until you are more confident is crucial. you can definitely hurt yourself doing it wrong.

i think thats all... oh, and as has been mentioned, heavy bass gear isnt a good combination with a bad back, so now you have a good excuse to look at lighter gear... and a comfortable strap.
 

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