Not going to help you in Calgary but my chiropractor is good. In the past I hadn't had much luck and was always turned off by the "we can cure anything!" nature of many chiro offices.
The office I now go to does sports physio along with chiropractic treatment and the "doctors" (yes in quotes) all have an undergrad in biology or physiology. They don't pretend to be able to cure anything even though you will see the standard chiro posters around. I hurt my back about 8 years ago. 2 years ago it was getting so bad I was almost constantly on muscle relaxants and starting to miss days of work. After the usual battery of tests with my physician, she suggested I give this office a try. 2 years and only one day have I had muscle spasms since going to that office (after being crosschecked and fallen upon). I started going a couple times a week for adjustment and then physio to strengthen what needed to be strengthened so things didn't go out of whack again. I now go when I need to as between work, hockey, and home it can take a beating...I'm on pace to go about 3 times this year. The end goal of the office I go to is to only have me come back as I would for a yearly checkup elsewhere...or not at all.
There is always more involved than pop and snap this into place, and it seems like your therapist did exactly what they are supposed to do. Identify the problem, solve the problem through a regime that I would imagine including strengthening the stabilizers to better help support your 'problem' area.
I just know so many people who have fallen whim to the idea that their chiropractor can solve any problem they have. And there is no arguing with them. Drives me nuts.
I agree. the pop and snap really only opens and loosens my back up (sometimes a 10 minute electrical stim will do the same and I try that first). It's all the other stuff that keeps things that way. The daily stretching I do, the more extensive stretching i do before exercise, the activities specifically aimed at keeping the area strong , specific stretching for the activity I'm doing. A lot of my problems do stem from an honest to goodness slight curve in my spine from side to side that my real doctors picked up on first and why they suggested I go to the office I go to. This stresses the hip/thigh area and finds it's way into my back. Getting that hip stretched out really really well before skating is a necessity for me. Teammates will stretch for a quick couple of minutes when they hit they ice whereas I am usually starting things out 20 minutes before hitting the ice. Essentially I'm suited up and stretching before most of the team arrives.
These were the first guys that truly taught me all of that and it has done wonders. All other chiros simply wanted me to come back every week to pad their wallets. These guys really don't want to see me which is a nice change of pace.
^^^^ they do have their place. It just isn't in the realm of curing asthma etc.
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I would be very worried about the Neck Manipulation part of it if you do decide to use a Chiropractor. There seems to be some strong evidence of Strokes caused by neck manipulation. Anecdotally I have had two patients that had a stroke following a visit with Chiropractor.
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I agree. the pop and snap really only opens and loosens my back up (sometimes a 10 minute electrical stim will do the same and I try that first). It's all the other stuff that keeps things that way. The daily stretching I do, the more extensive stretching i do before exercise, the activities specifically aimed at keeping the area strong , specific stretching for the activity I'm doing. A lot of my problems do stem from an honest to goodness slight curve in my spine from side to side that my real doctors picked up on first and why they suggested I go to the office I go to. This stresses the hip/thigh area and finds it's way into my back. Getting that hip stretched out really really well before skating is a necessity for me. Teammates will stretch for a quick couple of minutes when they hit they ice whereas I am usually starting things out 20 minutes before hitting the ice. Essentially I'm suited up and stretching before most of the team arrives.
These were the first guys that truly taught me all of that and it has done wonders. All other chiros simply wanted me to come back every week to pad their wallets. These guys really don't want to see me which is a nice change of pace.
^^^^ they do have their place. It just isn't in the realm of curing asthma etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hesla
^^ A good Physiotherapist would have gained you the same results.
The reason that Chiropractors are going the Naturopathy/Homeopathy route is that the other part of their profession (manipulation) is dying.
I would be very worried about the Neck Manipulation part of it if you do decide to use a Chiropractor. There seems to be some strong evidence of Strokes caused by neck manipulation. Anecdotally I have had two patients that had a stroke following a visit with Chiropractor.
Agree with both of you. I continued on with my regular fitness routine, but my 40+ yr old body, is showing it's age, 25 yrs of rugby is causing it to breakdown a bit.
I would be very worried about the Neck Manipulation part of it if you do decide to use a Chiropractor. There seems to be some strong evidence of Strokes caused by neck manipulation. Anecdotally I have had two patients that had a stroke following a visit with Chiropractor.
A good physiotherapist may have gained me the same results but I doubt it. First the problem of finding a good physio is about the same as finding a good chiro...there are not many around. Various physios had 6 years to get me to where my current guys got me within a couple of weeks. No one could manage it. In fact, many tried essentially the same physio exercises but nothing took until the back was adjusted first. Now that doesn't necessarily mean that correlation = causation but I find there to be significantly strong evidence to suggest the adjustment needed to occur for the physio to be effective.
In short...I would stay away from ANY chiro who doesn't couple things with physio as they don't want to fix the problem but rather maintain the problem and have you coming back. I would also give physio only a good chance to work as indeed it will correct/help most things (6 years and multiple therapists and it did nothing for my back. I've had physio on my shoulder and knees that was wonderful). And really remember that as with most professions the bulk of people are NOT top notch and if a person is dealing with your body you want to search out the people that are top notch. It took me 6 years and multiple cities and countries to find those people. I'm not about to discard them because they have the misfortune to be called a "doctor" of chiropractic. For someone who essentially had crippling back pain and muscle spasms (the final 12-18 months was just straight hell) they gave me my life back where no one else could. I was lying on the floor playing cars with my son and daughter yesterday afternoon...about 2 years ago that was impossible and had been for the previous 6 years (especially when is degraded into jump and tackle daddy as it always does). I couldn't give them a bath and lift them out of the tub. I couldn't play sports unless I was having a good day.
I agree on neck adjustments btw. Stay away from them. My guys will not do them unless you request it and even then they will usually decline.
A good physiotherapist may have gained me the same results but I doubt it. First the problem of finding a good physio is about the same as finding a good chiro...there are not many around. Various physios had 6 years to get me to where my current guys got me within a couple of weeks. No one could manage it. In fact, many tried essentially the same physio exercises but nothing took until the back was adjusted first. Now that doesn't necessarily mean that correlation = causation but I find there to be significantly strong evidence to suggest the adjustment needed to occur for the physio to be effective.
In short...I would stay away from ANY chiro who doesn't couple things with physio as they don't want to fix the problem but rather maintain the problem and have you coming back. I would also give physio only a good chance to work as indeed it will correct/help most things (6 years and multiple therapists and it did nothing for my back. I've had physio on my shoulder and knees that was wonderful). And really remember that as with most professions the bulk of people are NOT top notch and if a person is dealing with your body you want to search out the people that are top notch. It took me 6 years and multiple cities and countries to find those people. I'm not about to discard them because they have the misfortune to be called a "doctor" of chiropractic.
I agree on neck adjustments btw. Stay away from them. My guys will not do them unless you request it and even then they will usually decline.
Unless the area is inflamed, which I would guess (what the hell do I know though) that most back pain is due to some sort of inflammation.
Ask your doctor - As a preventative, take a daily Vitamin D, and cod liver oil. Eat fish three times per week. They have an anti-inflammatory effect. Lift weights and exercise. I have not had back pain for a few years since I started doing this.
Last edited by troutman; 07-10-2012 at 09:33 AM.
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Ask your doctor - As a preventative, take a daily Vitamin D, and cod liver oil. Eat fish three times per week. They have an anti-inflammatory effect. Lift weights and exercise. I have not had back pain for a few years since I started doing this.
But then you need to eat fish.
My doctor wanted me to do the same (for a different issue) and I suggested that she was on crack. I am totally willing to do the fish oil horse pills though.
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