Who to see for low back pain?

[exphys88]

I am guess my clinic has both because they have difference procedures depending on the patient. They do spinal adjustments , but they also do electrode shock therapy, hot and cold treatments, massaging (this I love the best) And some kind of machine that actually hold you up side down at an angle and takes pressure off your spinal with is awesome when back is in pain, and much more with insurance all this is only 25 bucks. I usually only have to go once or twice before the problem is fix. I am a lifer I have had back problem for years now and trying to do everything to avoid surgery at this point its still manageable with out it.

most of those modalities are borrowed from physical therapy.
I have had success with a chiropractor before. But, all he did was help with some deep stretching, massaging and then had me do strength exercises for my upper back. He never did any spinal manipulation. He was the only one that ever helped me.
What he did was not typical chiropractor work, their entire profession was built on the premise that spinal manipulations can cure all disease. Which we now know to absolutely absurd.

 

[gamma]

Gotta ya , I guess don't really know the differences between them all. In the beginning I went to my GP and all he wanted to do was give me pain meds and muscle relaxers which is ok when I get layed up but doesn't do a thing for recovery.

 

[exphys88]

Gotta ya , I guess don't really know the differences between them all. In the beginning I went to my GP and all he wanted to do was give me pain meds and muscle relaxers which is ok when I get layed up but doesn't do a thing for recovery.

Unfortunately, this is becoming the norm. I've had a few family members need rehab for their pill addiction. All bad backs.

 

[TJTJ]

Try to find a Decompression Machine. But first a MRI is needed, for sure. The first time I stumbled upon a Decompression Machine, a couple of years ago, I thought is was a God send. Never had I felt better. For 15yrs I thought this pain was just going to be a fact of life. Something I was going have to deal with. But this machine changed my life, literally.

12 sessions, 3x a week for 4 weeks did wonders. Afterwards I was pain free for 6months. Though I wasn't allowed to exercise during that time. Not that I could anyways. The only thing is insurance doesn't cover it and it's mad expensive. But well worth it.

These last few months I've been out of the gym because of a recent flare up. And because I'm completely broke this time around all I could do was rest it out.

Good luck bud.

 

[troubador]

UPDATE:
I went to the chiro that was recommended to me. He took x-rays and didn't see anything; except he mentioned I have one thin disk(whatever that means) but shouldn't be anything to worry about. I had two sessions then he said yesterday I didn't need to schedule another appointment and to see how I do, stay away from squats and deads, come back if the pain returns. My back did feel pretty good but I hadn't lifted in a week either. Well after some physical activity last night the low back pain is bad enough that I probably won't go to the gym today as I planned. I'll give it a couple days to see if some miracle happens but most likely I'll call early next week to setup and appointment with an ortho.

 

[TJTJ]

So you did use a decompression machine? X-rays are crap why not get an MRI? Maybe it's your kidneys? Stressed kidneys can give you back pain.

 

[Canucklehead]

that's nice that you buy it, but there's zero evidence that spinal subluxations play any part in disease-zero. They've even made the claim that it's the cause of bedwetting. It was a nice hypothesis decades ago, but obviously nobody takes it serious anymore. The chiropractors nowadays are much like mormons and don't really want to talk about their beginnings.
The point of the discussion is physical therapy vs chiropractic care. Physical therapists use spinal adjustments for issues that require spinal adjustments, chiros use it for everything.

My youngest sister had bed-wetting problems for years. One (not repeated, just one) visit to a proper chiro stopped the problem instantly and it hasn't come back... just saying.

I also think that there is a big difference between the standards for chiropractic care in different countries, from what I have seen and experienced, American chiropractors are probably the worst in the world, with the the lowest standards of training/highest level of quackery. Chiropractors in other countries are required to undergo much longer training and are usually much more pragmatic/less new agey with their treatments. I was used to seeing Canadian chiropractors (where does it hurt, what is the physical cause?) and once saw an American style chiro that a friend had recommended and he started talking about "energy flow" and had crystals in his office. I didn't let him touch me. My normal chiro went to university for 7+ years and is actually a D.C, and has medically sound treatment plans.

 

[Canucklehead]

From wiki:

" Canadian accrediting standards are higher than the United States, and admission requirements into the Doctor of Chiropractic Degree programme are the strictest in North America.[SUP][3][/SUP]Regulation & standards
Chiropractic is regulated by provincial statute in all 10 Canadian provinces. Chiropractors along with medical doctors, dentists, psychologists, and optometrists have the legislated right and obligation to communicate a diagnosis and to use the title doctor. Each province has a regulatory college established by legislation in the same manner, and with the same structure and similar regulations, as the regulatory bodies for other health care professions. The regulatory colleges are responsible for protecting the public, standards of practice, disciplinary issues, quality assurance and maintenance of competency."

 

[dirtwarrior]

I got cortisone shots right in my back for pain so bad I could not walk. So far so good

 

[Canucklehead]

I have severe lower back problems and sciatica due to a degenerated L5/S1 disk and other issues, personally I have found the most treatment success utilizing a combination of PT/chiro/regular exercise, with proper exercise by far being the most important. Thankfully I have a good PT so I haven't had to go back to him for over a year. He taught me a few simple exercises and stretches that make a huge difference. When my back is acting up I use the PT exercises with heat/ice till the muscles relax enough for my chiro to adjust it. Works pretty good.

One thing I know for sure though, is bed rest is always the worst thing you could possibly do for your back. Remaining active is vitally important, even if all you can do is walk short distances or swim. Swimming is great rehab exercise for backs because it takes the load off.

 

[troubador]

X-rays are crap why not get an MRI?

I probably will once I see an ortho.

 

[andyrodgers]

i think you should see a doctor he will be able to guide you better

 

[nikos_]

i believe orthopedic is the one to go.
anyway,the thing now is


what to do to avoid having issues with your back?

1)warm up :stretcing or lifting less weight at first
2)support your collagen production : vitamin c,proline
3)make sure you care about your bones health : magnesium,calcium,vitamin d3.vitamin k2

 

[janne]

i will recommend you to visit chiropractor ON the other hand you must take good rest and dont lift heavy weight Sometimes this pain becomes permanent due to carelessness So be careful