Back Pain

[TurboKinny]

I think my chiropractor just broke up with me.

I've been having lower back pain for a couple months now, and I'd been going to a chiropractor. It hasn't been helping, though, and they just put me on restrictions at work to see if that made a difference. I went in for my appointment this morning, though, and they basically said that since they can't help, they could refer me to an orthopedist (I think?) if I decided I want one. And that they'd enjoyed seeing me, and best of luck. WTF?

Anyway, I'm left with a back that still hurts. Short of sitting in a chair all day with a heating pad (impossible to do at my retail job), what in the world can I do to help? Is it worth it to try and find another chiro, or should I put the money that I would be pending on one to buy orthodic shoes and cross my fingers that those will make a difference?

I need success stories- I can't live with this the rest of my life!

[wyeast]

Have you had it checked out? My brother used to complain about back pain - turns out he had a blown disk and had to have surgery for it. :( He's fine now, although we usually give him crap if he tries to do much heavy lifting around the house. ;)

[DangerousDaze]

I'm afraid I can't offer anything except for sympathy. I've had a couple of minor back problems that went away on their own but even they were excruciating. I sincerely hope you get some respite, however you manage it.

[NoName]

While I've had chronic lower back pain, it's never been anything severe. Actually, what DangerousDaze said is exactly what I'm thinking.

Have you tried wearing a back brace during the day? I have carpal tunnel and a wrist brace does wonders for me. Maybe the same applies to backs :). (and they're not very expensive)

[TurboKinny]

Have you had it checked out? My brother used to complain about back pain - turns out he had a blown disk and had to have surgery for it. :( He's fine now, although we usually give him crap if he tries to do much heavy lifting around the house. ;)Yeah, they did xrays. Turns out my lower spine is slightly rotated, my left hip is lower than my right, and my discs don't quite line up. Fun times.

[AtariV8]

If it's from sitting behind a desk all day, I used to have back pain until I started sitting, low rider style, at my desk. If you chair can do it, I would lean it back at about a 45 degree angle and slide under your desk as far as you can with your head resting back on the chair and your arms resting on the top of the desk. People make fun of me all the time but I haven't had lower back pain in a while. Sounds crazy but it works.

[c0m3d14n]

i have back pain from sitting in a chair most of the day, short term help for me is shiatsu, dont know if this is popular in the us, its kind of a massage which is more like light pressure and push and pull, also depending on the school of training
long term my backpains got a lot better from pilates which was a little bit boring to me, so now i am doing yoga which also helps a lot and is more exciting than pilates
also i play basketball at least 2 times a week now, which, although i would not have suspected to do much good for my back, has helped...
so in general i would suggest being physically more active

a side note about yoga: i already did yoga a few years back and it didnt really do very much for me, but the insturctress? (female instructor ^^) where i do it now is so much better than the other one i went to before, and that really makes a lot of difference, we are doing fewer different stances? but the ones we do, she checks everyone to do it right, and thats why i see a steady improvement in my body coorination and feeling in general opposed to what happend i my first yoga class, so thats what i would look for in a instructor, quality over quantity of excercises and attention to each individual

[DoctorFinger]

Wow. You may actually have the best chiropractor yet. They almost never say "I can't help you anymore".

An orthopedist is probably your best bet. They may be able to make you some sort of an orthotic - a shoe insert, a brace, etc - to alleviate the pain or even correct the misalignment.

[DangerousDaze]

i have back pain from sitting in a chair most of the day, short term help for me is shiatsu, dont know if this is popular in the us,
I had a Shitzu massage once. I enjoyed it but the dog wasn't too keen. Yapping little bastard.

/edited to make the joke a bit more obvious. Well, I thought it was funny.

[Psykoboy2]

Wow. You may actually have the best chiropractor yet. They almost never say "I can't help you anymore".

An orthopedist is probably your best bet. They may be able to make you some sort of an orthotic - a shoe insert, a brace, etc - to alleviate the pain or even correct the misalignment.

Trust him. He's a Doctor.

[wyeast]

Yeah, they did xrays. Turns out my lower spine is slightly rotated, my left hip is lower than my right, and my discs don't quite line up. Fun times.

Then I suppose it's possible that orthodics can help. Usually they help for foot/leg pain, but maybe if they can raise up your hip it'll ease the pressure off your spine?

Sorry you're in pain, TK. :( You just gotta hurry up and get to grad school so you can line up a cushy desk gig! ;)

[KingGorilla]

TK, Chiropracty is a crock. Sometimes their craching "techniques" can temporarilly relieve pain, but any time you need a regimen of "treatments" you need to run...hoble out. I suggest consulting your general physician for a good orthapedist, preferably one with a specialty on lower back problems. Maybe a good sports medicine office, they tend to have good staff on the lower back.

[Mdot]

I can remember the specific moment I was lifting at the gym and my back just went out. Honestly, it's never been the same after that. I have to constantly watch myself when I'm lifting heavy things, opening garage doors, etc. For the most part, it doesn't bother me, but like I said, I have to keep an eye on it and be cautious, hoping not to aggravate it.

My family and I went to a chiropractor for a few months (this is prior to my "injury") and it made me feel great.

[Ghostbear]

chiropractors are the modern day equivalent of witch doctors.

[Bad Buddha]

I had a pinched nerve in a facet joint in my neck for about 9 months. The left side of my neck and my left shoulder were totally locked up. I tried muscle relaxers, deep tissue massage, RF Neurotomy (http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/injections/radiofrequency-neurotomy-facet-and-sacroiliac-joint-pain) (They stick a needle in your neck and fry the nerve root with Radio Frequency in order to stop the pain impulses.)

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/7731/necksmallbx0.jpg
Yeah, That's me!

I was taking vicodan and percocet daily for about 4 months. Tried Trigger Point Dry Needling (http://www.bethesdaphysiocare.com/services/sv-trigger.html) and Trigger Point Needling with painkillers and anesthetic.

All these doctors gave up on me and one finally sent me to a "less shady" chiropractor as a last resort. The chiro checked out my medical history, Started adjusting my lower back and working his way up to my neck. He got a Sam Fisher grip on my head and jaw and popped my neck like I had been smacked with a 4x4 post wrapped with electrified barbed wire. But it fixed my neck! I went back for several more adjustments, as it started to tighten up a bit, but I haven't had that issue since.

I wouldn't hesitate to go to a chiropractor as a last resort.

[DangerousDaze]

http://www.filmsite.org/speeches/jacobsladder.jpg

/Approves

[Kielaran]

I have had a fair amount of back problems (the latest being a result of a car accident) and the chiropractor I go to has been great. I would listen to Finger though. See what else is out there and if someone else can help you more. If that doesn't work, maybe you should find another chiropractor. Good luck :o

[DoctorFinger]

chiropractors are the modern day equivalent of witch doctors.
Good chiropractors are worth their weight in gold. They really can fix - without surgery or drugs - some really debilitating problems. Unfortunately most chiropractors aren't anywhere near 'good' and insist on 2 visits a week until the end of time.

[Gormanimal]

Good chiropractors are worth their weight in gold. They really can fix - without surgery or drugs - some really debilitating problems. Unfortunately most chiropractors aren't anywhere near 'good' and insist on 2 visits a week until the end of time.
That's not entirely true; they'll usually stop taking your appointments once they have all your money. :p