What's a skeptic to do?

[MonkeyFunk]

I have a herniated disk in my back, and I've been in bad pain for 5 months now. It's severely limiting my life - I can't walk more than 50 yards or so without having to sit. I didn't get a night's sleep for months, and I still struggle to get rest.

Because I went to the Urgent Care clinic shortly after it happened, it's a "pre-existing condition". I just started a new job in May, so I can't get any insurance coverage for treatment until late November.

I have friends and family who just swear by their chiropractor. My best friend worked for a chiropractor for years, and swears he's honest and conscientious. I know other people who had the same condition I have, and swear a chiropractor helped them immensely.

But I think it's mostly bunk. I get pissed when I see chiropractors claim to cure allergies, or asthma, or other conditions. But I *DO* think it's reasonable that adjusting the spine can help deal with spinal problems. But then, they talk of "subluxations", and I think that's all bullshit.

So... should I consider giving it a shot?

[varkam]

1. Here's a skeptic's take.

Many chiros are legit. They claim to help with back/neck injury and nothing more. The ones, however, that claim to cure your mental illness or allergies or auto-immune disease are completely full of shit.

IOW, all chiros aren't quacks. Some of them are very good, and they do have a purpose. Some of them, however, are just total woos.

[MonkeyFunk]

2. Thanks

I appreciate your input.

[varkam]

3. No problem.

I hope that you're able to find something/someone that helps!

[MonkeyFunk]

4. So do I

which is why I'm considering seeing a Chiro.

My impression of them is less favorable than yours, but I DO think it makes sense that spinal manipulation can fix mechanical problems with the spine like I have.

Maybe I'll see my friend's former employer. She was his receptionist and claims he never tried to do ongoing treatments with his patients - if one visit fixed the problem, one visit was all he scheduled.

[cosmik debris]

5. Chelation Therapy! good for what ails ya!

well, not really.

I suggest you read what quackwatch says about chiropractors. And be very careful when selecting the chiropractor who treats you.

Several years ago I was injured in a motorcycle accident. My insurance company offered me a choice between a chiropractor and a massage therapist to compliment my physical therapy/rehab. I chose the message therapist and I was VERY pleased with my decision. But then, I did not have a herniated disk.

If it was my decision, I'd consult an M.D.

[TZ]

6. I agree with varkam

There are some legitimate chiros...Just figure out what they claim to do. I don't know any good ones who will claim to be able to magically heal you..The good ones will admit their limitations and tell you what they can and can't do for you.
I've had several people very close to me with serious back issues..a chiropracter can help but that help is indeed limited..when you get health insurance..I would advice talking to a neurologist/neurosurgon of some sort. Because unfortunately with herniated discs..Its not if you need surgery but WHEN are you going to have surgery..and there is no chiropractor in the world who can fix a damaged disc...Nor can they lesson the likelyhood of a rupture..the best thing a chiropractor can do is buy you a little time and lesson the pain temporarily...

[realisticphish]

7. Here's the problem

the amount of force required to adjust the spine is incredibly high, from what i've read. No chiro will EVER move the actual bones without causing you injury.

If you go in there knowing you're basically getting an intense massage, and you can afford it, go for it.

But don't assume that miracles will happen


Good luck :hi:

[HamdenRice]

8. As a former disk patient, I would say be very, very careful

It depends on what kind of disk problem you have. About 10 years ago, I developed severe back pain, shooting pains in my arm, numbness, loss of motor control in my right hand (could barely write my name), and an unsteady gait.

At first my GP and then neurologist assumed that my bad disk or disks were pressing on a root nerve, the most common form of sciatica. After x-rays, MRIs and CT scans, however, the docs found that my disks were pressing directly on my spinal cord, and had compressed it by about 90%. There was a good chance that if I didn't have surgery I would be paralyzed from the neck down.

Fortunately, I had a family member who is a doctor who steered my search for a great surgeon (and past one at a prestigious NYC hospital whose proposed surgery probably would have been a disaster). The surgery, a laminectomy, was extremely successful (if very debilitating for a few months).

My main point about chiros, though, is that both the doctor in the family and my surgeon told me that if I had gone to a chiro with my condition (90% spinal cord compression), an attempt at an "adjustment" could very well have left me paralyzed from the neck down.

Before you go, make sure you know what kind of neurological problem you have.

[MonkeyFunk]

9. That's the problem -

they can't really tell without an MRI, and I won't get insurance coverage for something that until late November.

[HamdenRice]

10. Then I wouldn't risk it if I were you

If you had garden variety back pain, sure. But if you know you have a disk problem, then a chiro might be a dangerous option.

[LeftishBrit]

11. I haven't had personal experience...

but I've heard very favourable reports from lots of people of both chiropractors and osteopaths - so long as they confined themselves to orthopaedic problems and didn't claim to cure all ills in existence. I've also known a couple of people who weren't helped at all.

So I'd say: give it a try. Obviously, check the person's credentials carefully, and don't trust anyone who tries an excessively hard sell.

Good luck!

[Heddi]

12. I'm a nurse, and I've had a herniated disc

Unlike you, I had insurance when I had my herniated disc. However, I didn't get treatment because at the time, I was 27 years old and my MD felt that I was too young for back problems and told me to my face that I had drug seeking behaviour. Told me to take "as many Advil as it takes"---I finally went back in and saw his partner when I was taking between 24-31 Advil a day. I couldn't walk, sleep, move, sit. I had to have a pillow under my leg at all times. Sex? What dat be?

After 12 months of no treatment, I saw his buddy who, for the first time, did an MRI, and gave me pain meds (thank the gods) and I had surgery within 2 months of seeing the partner. I would have never gotten surgery through the original doc.

However---when I was not being treated by my doctor I made the horrible mistake of going to a chrio. I had never been to one before, and I thought that at least they may be able to do SOMETHING to help my back.

Long story short, I feel I was in worse condition AFTER I left the chiro than before. I had to call a cab home and wasn't able to stand straight for 2 days. I don't know what the fuck he did to me, but he did it wrong and he did it bad.

My original bad Doc had ordered physical therapy as well 3x's a week for an hour each time, and that, too, left me in considerable pain so I don't necessarily think it was the chrio, I think it was the nature of the injury was not relieved through stretching and stuff like that. It's not a muscle or ligament problem---a large chunk of your spine jelly is protruding out and pressing on your spine.

---

You have my ultimate sympathy. Did the MD's at the urgent care give you ANY kind of pain meds? ANYTHING to decrease the nerve pain? I had been put on Nortryptlyne, it's a tricyclic antidepressant but it decreases nerve pain, and it really worked. Knocked me out, but it worked. I was on a butt load of other meds too for pain---coudln't take them at work but man, I was finally able to sleep more than 2 hours at a clip.

[MonkeyFunk]

13. they gave me a couple days worth of vicodin

which did nothing at all for the pain. I've since gone to my regular back doctor, and she gave me a couple shots in the spine that helped a lot. Cortisone, liquid advil and lidocaine.

It's still bad, but the excruciating pain is gone, and I can sleep again. But I seem to have just hit a plateau - it's not getting any better.

She also gave me Tramadol, which I'm not sure is doing anything either. I still have a prescription for that, but I try only to take it in the morning. It seems to cause acid stomach which makes it hard to sleep at night.