Stupid question I need opinions on

[nebe]

Sooo, I told you guys about the car accident a few weeks ago. The back story (ha!) on the issue is that I have moderate (to severe, depending on which doctor you ask) scoliosis that begins in my neck and goes all the way down between 5 and 35 degrees. The day after my car accident, I went to a chiropractor and I''ve been going 3 times a week since.

My back is not getting better. My shoulders hurt, my neck is extremely stiff and my upper back (which has never been a major issue, it was always lower) is beginning to bother me to the point where I can''t sit for a long period of time without shifting due to being so uncomfortable.

So, who thinks I should go back to my orthopedic surgeon? I''m pretty happy with my chiropractor, but I beginning to wonder if I''m doing myself more harm by not going to see my "real" doctor. I''m kinda confused on what to do. I''ve always believed in chiropractic, and I''ve been pretty happy with mine off and on for years, but I''m starting to think I hurt myself more than I originally realized.

Plus, I don''t know if my insurance will cover both doctors, which is a major issue I need to call and figure out. Opinions are totally welcome as I''m kind of torn on what to do. TIA!

 

[mimzy]

you need to go back and see your MD (or DO i guess). chiropractic can always help alleviate pain, etc, but it will never ever fix a problem. if you continue to see only your chiropractor, you will continue to see the chiropractor three times a week for the rest of your life. i don't know much about scoliosis, but the best way to get rid of back pain is physical therapy to strengthen the muscles so that they stay in place.....not to just repeatedly get them put back in place by a chiro.

i was going to the chiro two to three times a week when i was twelve years old for both my back and my jaw, and it always felt better for like two days...then it would be out place again. i finally hurt myself so badly a few months ago that i went to my MD for pain medication and he wrote me a scrip for PT...and it actually helped. Of course you can see both doctors...but most likely they will be at odds with their treatment routes and it may not be possible to follow both.

whatever you decide, i hope you feel better!

 

[Haven]

Surgeons are trained to fix things using surgery, chiropractors are trained to fix things by adjusting your body, so go to your surgeon if you want surgery, stick with your chiropractor if you don''t. I would say stay far away from any surgeon, but that''s my own personal belief.

Check out Muscle Activation Techniques, muscleactivation.com, and see if there''s a Specialist in your area. It''s an incredible technique.

Feel better, I''m so sorry you''re in pain, Nebe!

 

[Independent Gal]

Awww, Nessa, I don''t have any advice, just wanted to say I hope your back feels better soon.

 

[surfgirl]

I have to disagree with Haven. I understand why she''s saying what she is, but not all ortho surgeons are knife happy. I have a wonderful back doc and he''s an ortho surgeon. All my ortho docs work on the local sports teams, that''s how I choose the best in my area...Anyway, he and his group operate (no pun intended) on a "do no surgery unless really necessary" theory. I''d try to find a good ortho (unless you are happy with your current doc) who will try physical therapy first. I had a lower disc protrusion as a result of a broken ankle (the walking boot/cast made my hips uneven and screwed up my back, nice, huh?!) and I did a LOT of PT and it really worked. If you do try PT (and I think anyone with a serious injury should always try PT before surgery), find a PT center that has a "therapy pool". They''re heated pools (about 90 degrees) where you can do therapy exercises without any strain on your back because you''re in the water. It''s a wonderful way to rehab a back.

Good luck!

 

[icekid]

Why is your only option chiropractor vs. orthopaedic surgeon? I would call those polar opposites, and there are plenty of good options in between. And who is it that has diagnosed you with scoliosis? Have you seen your PCP, or just the chiropractor? Had imaging?

Not having a full story, I might recommend that you see a sports medicine doctor. They can be really great for exercises that may help you to avoid surgery, and may refer you to physical therapy if that may be useful for your condition.

Regardless, it seems you are not getting better in a reasonable timeframe w/ the assistance of the chiro and if it were me, I'd be looking elsewhere. Hope you feel better soon!

 

[lumpkin]

If I have any sort of new health problem I do a lot of research on the internet and I''ve been known to "interview" doctors. I have been known to switch doctors, too.

About 8 years ago I pulled a major muscle group in my shoulder and ended up seeing three different doctors (and because of my insurance I had to stay within the same practice) until I found one that correctly diagnosed the problem. He was just a family doctor, not a specialist, but because of our HMO I had to go there and get a referral before I could see a specialist. Turns out I didn''t need to. He gave me a prescription for a muscle relaxant and told me once I started to feel some of the knots release to get a massage and keep doing that until the muscles quit cramping. It was so bad I couldn''t drive and could not get comfortable in any position. I spent a lot of time in the shower with the hottest water I could stand. The prescription helped almost immediately and I got a good massager from Target that really gets the knots out. It took awhile, but within about 2 weeks I was pretty much back to normal. But if I had stuck with the first doctor, who knows how long I would have been laid up. I think if what you are doing now is not helping you make progress, you need to get another opinion and try new strategies until something works. You might even see a different chiropractor as well as an orthopedic surgeon. And don''t write off the family doctors because they see a little of everything and have a good grasp of the big picture. Good luck!

 

[nebe]

I made an appointment with my old ortho (who originally braced me for scoliosis) for this week, so hopefully he can look at my x-rays from my chiropractor and tell me if I seriously hurt self even though I really don''t want to see him because I''m not that confident in him.

I also called a multi-kajillion dollar spine and sports office owned by a guy I used to be friends with from my old job to see if he can see me (he usually books a year out) so hopefully he''ll call me back, fingers crossed. My ex-boss wouldn''t call his cell phone and give him my number (the guy really likes me, he''s nice) so now I''m pissed off and feel like I can''t count on him for anything (including a reference, damnit). The past year has not been great, let me tell you!

Hopefully one of the several doctors I''ve called can make me feel better because I cannot stay like this!

 

[Blenheim]

It looks like I''m a little late, but I definitely agree with making an appointment to see the ortho. My experience is that orthopedists and neurosurgeons really try to avoid back and neck surgery if at all possible, and will work on you with more conservative treatment that will hopefully help. Also, I feel that if there''s anything else going on, they''d be more likely to pick up on it and correctly diagnose you.

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

I find chiroprators to not be much help long term. Besides the sport''s medice guys which I think is a great solution, you might want to consider medical massage or acupuncture. I have pre arthritis in my back which 3 different chiropractors did nothing to help, but the massage did.
Pretty much every study done on the matter says that acupuncture is more effective in pain management ane flexibility than chiropractors.
If I were in your position I would being going to the orthopedic surgeon first.