Chiropractor?

[Bird Dog]

I've been to orthopedic surgeons and chiropractors. Neither of them have told me what's wrong with my back. I get a sharp pain in my lower back but off to the side of the spine. The pain is there everyday. It's not bad on most days, but on days that it is, it's hell. Once it was so bad that I could barely walk. I needed a wheelchair going into the chiropractor's office. He laid me on a table and cracked my back and it instantly went away. I could've done back flips out of his office. I've got one of those inversion tables at my house and they really do work. Whenever the pain gets too much, I just hang there upside down for a couple minutes and it lessens the pain or goes away.

[seapower]

This may sound silly but it's true. I got so tired over the year's of going to Chiroprator's and Doctor's with my back (and yes a good Chiropractor can work wonder's but only for so long) I started my own cheap way of stretching my back. Go to a swing set, monkey bar's any place where you can hang up-side down by your knee's. Get up side down, stretch your arm's down freely, relax and start to twist slowly side to side. If you'll hang there long enough and RELAX you back muscle's, you'll hear the vertibrates popping as they free up. Ease yourself down and walk. Walking is one of the best exersizes for a hurting back, not running. It has to heal and the inflamation has to go back down before you get back to life as normal. Frank

[Big Jay]

This may sound silly but it's true. I got so tired over the year's of going to Chiroprator's and Doctor's with my back (and yes a good Chiropractor can work wonder's but only for so long) I started my own cheap way of stretching my back. Go to a swing set, monkey bar's any place where you can hang up-side down by your knee's. Get up side down, stretch your arm's down freely, relax and start to twist slowly side to side. If you'll hang there long enough and RELAX you back muscle's, you'll hear the vertibrates popping as they free up. Ease yourself down and walk. Walking is one of the best exersizes for a hurting back, not running. It has to heal and the inflamation has to go back down before you get back to life as normal. Frank

That's actually a good way to do it. You can get whats called gravity boots that have hooks on the heels. They basically do what an inversion table does. you just have to be able to pull yourself up and hook on and off with the boots. Also, goes without saying, make sure you have somewhere sturdy to hang so you don't break your neck.

[worldcat lemon]

Noodle, the Activator is an instrument, not a table.

For all the voodoo cynics, did you know that in 2003 the US Congress reviewed over 3,000 research articles comparing Physical Therapy, drug therapy, surgery, and Chiropractic for outcomes in patients with chronic disabling lowback pain (LBP). They looked at the #'s of people with long term disabilities from LBP. Their conclusion was that Chiropractic returned workers back to work 3-4 times faster, dramatically reduced disabilities, at a cost savings of 4 times less cost than traditional medical care. Therefore, Congress enacted a move to add Chiropractic to all military bases. Call any VA hospital and they have a Chiro on staff.

Duck, you need a systematic approach to evaluating your spine, and a "good" Chiro will examine and x-ray you before doing any treatment. Spinal discs do respond to traditional hands on adjusting, but your problem could be your pelvis or sacrum. Have someone good examine you.

In 1997 there were 243 million MORE VISITS made to alternative practitioners than to ALL of mainstream medicine, 70% were to Chiro's. J. of Amer. Medical Assoc.1997

[Big Fish Billy]

Hey now, Ima slightly edumacated kinda guy. I understood both just fine. I know my spring rating, thank you Im working on the weight issue, cant drop too much or all the girlies will be swooning and the rest of you will be shit outta luck.

Lemon I understand the basics of whats going on, but I dont know all the technical terms. Im assuming The Activator is the table? Ive never heard it referred to as that, just the table or "The Rack". I need to decide which Chiropractor (which type) I want to go to, once I do that, obviously first they'll take Xrays and see what they think is going on. Of course having the Xrays would probably help decide what I need to do. So does anybody have a preference or experience with both?

Here's the simplest solution I forgot to mention...take an 800 Ibuprophen, 3 times a day for three days and call me back, I'll bet you're cured...as for the Dominican Republic one, I wonder what else she can cure.....

[nautiduck]

All right Jay Im 250lbs not 450lbs. I can get my feet up onto a hook (although that would be kinda funny getting stuck up there). I am a little concerned about the whole damn thing dropping me on my head, that would be about par for the course.

Lemon I know the table is more than just a table is that the piece of equipment your speaking about, or is it the popper thingy (highly technical term) someone else mentioned? You nailed the biggest problem on the head, finding a good Chiropractor. I havent even been able to find a good MD in four years, and Ive been through 5.

Billy I find that Aleve works better for me and I have some scrip strength and flexiril left over from when I ripped a muscle a year or so back.

Frank I think I may just give the inversion a try first. I had a bunch of stuff to do today which involved a lot of moving and walking and my back is feeling better. Im going to try that, and the hot, cold, treatment for a week and see what happens. Plus it will give me a chance to weed out a good Chiropractor. Now if I can get her to do it, my wife is actually a licensed Massage Therapist. Youd think she would be right there wanting to make her hubby feel better, but noooo. I complain one time cause it feels like shes trying to dig the bone up from under the muscle, and Im blacklisted for life. Ill tell you there just no justice in the world.

[hoggard]

i've been through all of the above mentioned methods. but, my disc's were ruptured so i had to have surgery and had a double discoptomy ?spelled?, and after 2 surgeries, i only have severe pain when i "over do it". I always have some discomfort but it's managable 90% of the time. once you get back pain, or have surgery, it's gonna be there off and on the rest of your days... nothing fun about any of it.

[worldcat lemon]

Duck,

Flexion distraction is usually done on a "COX" table. The "Activator" is a hand held tool that makes a clicking sound when it is used.

Here is a short list of criteria to use to help you weed out and find a "good" Chiro:

1-Palmer College of Chiropractic graduate
2-One who also does Pettibon, ASBE or SOT techniques
3-one who has at least 10 years experience
4-One who examines and x-rays you before adjusting
5- one who spends time taking your injury and exercise history

This is not an end all list but it will get you started.