Here's my dealing with Chiro's.

I'm 47. Injured my low back when I was 16. Went to many medical doc's and 3 differant chiro's over the year's, and nothing helped.

Then one day I happened across a differant chiro just because I was next door. Told him my sob story. He said, "You've paid your due's. Pay for x-ray's, and I'll charge you $20 a visit for 6 visit's. If I can't fix you by then, I'll not charge you any more and won't keep you coming back".


Well you know what. That little fat man crawled on top of me, and did some kind of cross body twisting crack job on me, and I swear that was the first time my back ever popped in that spot. And, the pain was gone. He fixed me on the very first try. Well I went my 6 visit's and never felt better. Then, I got in a car wreck, hit by a drunk, and have never been able to get my back where he had it.

So I do believe if you find the right one,,,they can help.

 

Jfox I hope you dont think I was judging you about the pills. I remember when I hade my ACL surgery and trust me I TOOK ALL THE PILLS they would give me. I just don't function well with them No hard feelings

 

Ya ok so we all start to hurt as we age. Get passed 50 and you can tell me you are sore.
Here is something that was brought to my attention just recently. Devil's Claw. You can buy it any where you can buy vitamins. It will give you a new body.

 

No I didn't think you were judging!!!! ( if I did I would send a PM)!!!!
Just wanted to share my story, maybe someone can benefit from it.
I have recently been introduced to herbal medicine.
I see no reason to think it won't help.
( I still have 2 bad discs in my neck.)

 

I feel your pain as I have had three blown discs all of them were the same ls 4 or 5.The first one was snipped the regular surgical fashion, the next time it was done with the micro incision and the last was a fusion. All of these happened within a two to three year period in which I was taking the Vicadin and Hydracodene as well as viox pre and post surgerys. I was fortunate to have a great doctor doing the fusion. I am a taper and walk on stilts half the time. i am also 51. The surgerys were less than ten years ago. WARNING, I had a real bad ordeal when I stopped using the Vicadin after the final fix. I mean really really bad. It can take up to 90 days to get out of your system. Good luck with the fight. I hope therapy does it but you will know if you need the knife. Just do background checks on the doctor.

 

I guess everyone's situation is different. 14 years ago my back went out and I was diagnosed by 2 different Dr's to have degenerative disc disease. I had pain so bad sometimes I would have to crawl to the bathroom. I could not put my shoes and socks on and sometimes spasms would hit so hard I would fall down on the floor.I was told I needed to re-train for a non physical job, I only had maybe 2 years left before my back would be useless for anything physically demanding. I avoided the knife at all costs, I exercised to strengthen my back and took great care not to stress it further than I already had. I stayed away from painkillers, they will fool you into thinking you are not doing any damage. As my back got stronger I began to use it more and make more demands of it. In the last 7 years I have added 1000 square feet to my house, doing all the work myself, and became a very active firefighter with no signs of back trouble. I can lift and carry several hundred pounds without pain. I still have to exercise my back and make sure it gets the rest it needs after I abuse it. I realize some injuries just cannot be healed without surgery, however, I would make sure it is absolutely necessary before allowing some Doc. so carve on it.

(The statements above are purely opinion and not intended to be considered medical advise, nor should results such as these be expected in every case. I have no medical training and know nothing about that which I speak except from experience and pure speculation!)

 

Purely opinion related

In the late 80's I blew my lower back out. Since then, once a year, it goes out on me. Usually I am within striking distance of a chiro, they pop it back in, life goes on.

Last spring, it went out, I wasn't near a chiro, finished the job, then went. Too late. By the end of may, could hardly walk, sit, stand, etc. Putting socks on was almost impossible, and tying your shoes... forget it.

So, Physio made it worse instead of better. Chiro wasn't doing it. Finally, I went back to the old standby. An inversion table, like this one http://www.teeterhangups.com/home.html

Two weeks, I was walking properly, four weeks and I was back to functioning at about 80%. within two months, it was like the pain never happened.

I still use it every day, for 10 minutes, in the evening. Sort of a PM program for the back.

Just something to think about. Be sure to ask your doctor about any issues with blood pressure and so on before using it.

 

My neurologist(three of them) say stay away from chiropractors. The first or second question they asked me after my stroke was "have you seen a chiropractor lately". I used to go to them and I asked one if I could do any exercises to improve my back, and he said no. So, I saw a physical therapist and used a group of exercises called the Mac Kinsey method (sp). I bought the book from an Ocupational therapist web site. Worked for me, my farrier, and my neighbor who trains horses. Easy to do, and relieved the pain.