Chiropractic Questions

[torpid]

What is a good "neck pillow" and how much should I expect to pay?

 

[Adul]

eits I take it you are a chiropractor? if so do you use the actuator method?

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: Adul
eits I take it you are a chiropractor? if so do you use the actuator method?

do you mean activator? no, i don't. i'll probably learn it, though, for babies and elderly people who don't like the manual adjustments.

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: torpid
What is a good "neck pillow" and how much should I expect to pay?

i don't know enough about the various brands, so i can't tell you for sure. i can tell you that i trust tempurpedic. you might wanna go to a local bed store and ask them.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

A couple years back I broke my ankle. When I did that it did something in my back as well. Now days I have pain in my ankle (nothing a chiropracter can do for this I assume) but also my lower back, right shoulder, and neck. Now, if I were to see a chiropractor, what area would s/he likely be working on?

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
A couple years back I broke my ankle. When I did that it did something in my back as well. Now days I have pain in my ankle (nothing a chiropracter can do for this I assume) but also my lower back, right shoulder, and neck. Now, if I were to see a chiropractor, what area would s/he likely be working on?

a good chiropractor would work on all of those... including your ankle.

for your ankle, the goal is to regain and maintain stability in the joint and to improve proper motion in the joints... also, to clear away dying cells and to jump start the mitochondria to produce enough energy of the good cells to help repair damaged tissues (cold laser, etc.). s/he would also probably adjust your ankle, too. yes, there are adjustments for ankles.

any joint in the body can be adjusted... even the joints between your skull bones. it's not the same kind of adjustment or anything... it's more of a slight pressure and torquing thing and relaxing the muscles on the sides of your head enough to be able to do it. according to chiropractors who use this technique, it works wonders for migraine patients.

 

[SsupernovaE]

Is there anything a chiropractor can do about severe scoliosis caused by degenerative myopathies/neuropathies (e.g. muscular dystrophy)?

Do you believe spinal fusion surgery with Harrington rods is the logical course of treatment?

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: SsupernovaE
Is there anything a chiropractor can do about severe scoliosis caused by degenerative myopathies/neuropathies (e.g. muscular dystrophy)?

Do you believe spinal fusion surgery with Harrington rods is the logical course of treatment?

honestly, no. there's not too much chiropractic can do as far as restoring the natural curve of your scoliosis, unless it's caused by an unlevel pelvis. if it's idiopathic, there's not much that can be done, except pain management and helping free up the rib cage for easier breathing.

how severe is your scoliosis? what degree curve do you have? is it secondary? teritary?

if you can avoid spinal fusion, that's be great. same goes with the rods.

if you can, try seeing a chiropractor for a bit to see what they can do. after the reevaluation and you get re-x-rayed, if there's not enough improvement and you don't feel any better, you might want to consider the surgery. if the chiropractor finds that the scoliosis is because of an unlevel pelvis, he might be able to restore your normal curve. if the hips are level and the spine is just going nuts up to your skull, then there's not a whole lot that can be done as far as correcting the curve.

the thing with the surgery is like i said earlier in the thread... if you fixate or facilitate a motion segment, it causes compensations at other levels. that means that you'll be causing a faster rate of degeneration if you get the surgery than if you don't. if that's something you think you'll be ok with and that you'd be fine with handling as an elderly adult, go for it. just keep in mind that there are lots of scoliosis patients who've never gotten the surgery who live normal lives and have no real issues.

basically, avoid surgery if possible. if it's not possible, then go for it. in either case, make sure you get the best doctor for the job... do some research and find out who the best chiropractor around is for scoliosis and who the best orthopedic surgeon is for spinal surgery.

edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrington_implant see if this is something you wouldn't mind dealing with.

edit 2: i went back and re-read your question. if you have scoliosis for a myopathic syndrome, i'd advise against getting the surgery. traction and muscle strengthening exercises have been shown to help. by that, i mean exercises that you do at home in order to strengthen the convex side of the scoliosis, which will work to pill your spine back to neutral. the traction will assist in your vertebrae "resetting" and the muscles having more room to further contract. chiropractic adjustments are not necessary, but they will help with the entire overall goal. i say give it a shot.

do you have cp or md? how old are you? are you taking steroids to help?

make sure you have more than enough vitamin d, calcium, coenzyme q 10, protein, and creatine in your daily diet. start taking them and then after a month, see how you feel. you should feel much, much better and stronger.

also, do you work out at a gym? if not, you should start. the less you do, the easier it is for the muscle to wear away. you know the saying "if you don't use it, you lose it"? well, that goes double for you.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: eits
there are a lot of misconceptions about chiropractic out there. i'd like to take this chance to open this thread and field questions you people might have.

there are bad chiropractors out there, unfortunately. some are honest to God quacks who're out there only for the money. they're the idiots who think things like upper neck adjustments will cure cancer and whatnot. the good news is that they are a dying breed. most of those people are the older chiropractors who don't know the newer research and avoid all things medical.

today's chiropractic physicians work hand-in-hand with medical doctors for lots of problems. they're being more integrated into today's healthcare and it's because chiropractic care actually does work.

anyways, please no trolling or thread-crapping. if you do, i'll just ignore it and notify a mod. only serious questions, please.



edit: by the way, most of the negative view of chiropractic came from the ama (american medical association). for years, they spread a bunch of negative propaganda about chiropractic. there was a supreme court case about it... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W...an_Medical_Association

why cant chiros cure my chronic lower back pain? (xrays show no problems)

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: eits
there are a lot of misconceptions about chiropractic out there. i'd like to take this chance to open this thread and field questions you people might have.

there are bad chiropractors out there, unfortunately. some are honest to God quacks who're out there only for the money. they're the idiots who think things like upper neck adjustments will cure cancer and whatnot. the good news is that they are a dying breed. most of those people are the older chiropractors who don't know the newer research and avoid all things medical.

today's chiropractic physicians work hand-in-hand with medical doctors for lots of problems. they're being more integrated into today's healthcare and it's because chiropractic care actually does work.

anyways, please no trolling or thread-crapping. if you do, i'll just ignore it and notify a mod. only serious questions, please.



edit: by the way, most of the negative view of chiropractic came from the ama (american medical association). for years, they spread a bunch of negative propaganda about chiropractic. there was a supreme court case about it... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W...an_Medical_Association

why cant chiros cure my chronic lower back pain? (xrays show no problems)

well, they can't really "cure" anything... your body is supposed to do that. chiropractors make it so that the body can fix itself, just the way it was designed to. what's the diagnosis of your low back pain? what's causing it? were you ever told? did the doctor ever tell you to start doing things to help, like exercise or correct your posture or something?

 

[DrPizza]

I used to need tylenol and advil just about every morning to get rid of chronic headaches. I thought that most of it was sinus problems or something. Finally, at the urging of a family member who had great success with her chiropractor, I went - just to pacify a couple people. I thought it was quack-medicine at the time. I, like others have mentioned, ended up having to go twice a week at first, then once a week for a while. Immediately, the headaches were gone, but would start coming back right before the next visit. Eventually, they never came back.

Now, twice since then, I've reinjured my neck area which was apparently the root cause of the headaches. Once, I needed a follow-up trip; the other time I did not. And, on a third occasion, I was having neck pains (which would lead to a headache some days) and tingling in my finger tips at times. I thought it might be a pinched nerve or something. Headed to the chiropractor. I wasn't as concerned about the tingling and hadn't mentioned it yet; first I complained about the neck and upper back pain. (Not horrible - and certainly not something that even slowed me down from daily activities - I just didn't like the uncomfortable feeling and absolutely hate headaches.) He felt all over my spine and muscles in the upper back, "I'll bet you're having trouble with some tingling in your right hand at times?" "Whoa, how'd you know?" "Deep breath... let it out <snap> That should take care of it." And, it did.

One other thing to note: for several years, I thought that bump on my lower neck was a vertebra. Nope, it was a muscle in a little ball. That was the original problem. It's now nice and smooth.

 

[bctbct]

I didnt read the whole thread. I went to CPs for a few lower back injuries and I just didnt have good results. The treatments seemed temporary and never improved. Of the two times I recall I ended up going to a MD who prescribed pain pills and muscle relaxers which cleared up the problem.

The first time he explained that 1 of my legs was shorter than the other and he wanted to fit me for a lift. Hogwash.

The second time he kept telling how many more appointments my insurance would cover, come back tomm. He used an electro stimilation device we was annoying.

Sorry, didnt work for me.

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer

Originally posted by: jjsole

Official ATOT Chiropractic Expert (Still in training, however)

Thanks for the chiropractic support, but isn't this a contradiction? ("expert" vs. "in training" )

Perhaps you can answer this tho. If I get my xrays from my chiropracter, how can I get them scanned to a computer image file?

Hes the expert on ATOT. However he is still in official training

My brother could do it with his LS20 ( like the username above! ) digitizer. It would be a DICOM standard image. It takes a DICOM reader to actually view it.

A short testimonial:
Mom started having totally crippling migranes, head under the pillow, shades closed, call in sick. This is a woman who NEVER called in sick. She was an RN at the time.
The doctors and Orthopedic surgeons were clueless. She reluctantly went to a chiropractor, thinking what the heck nothing else is working. He does the full set of X-rays.
Asks if she had been in a car wreck recently? Yup.
Hit windshield? Nope.
Hit head on roof, bracing arms against steering wheel? maybe so!?!
He starts fixing the messed up neck, and migranes were gone forever. She goes no more than a total of 6 months.

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: bctbct
I didnt read the whole thread. I went to CPs for a few lower back injuries and I just didnt have good results. The treatments seemed temporary and never improved. Of the two times I recall I ended up going to a MD who prescribed pain pills and muscle relaxers which cleared up the problem.

The first time he explained that 1 of my legs was shorter than the other and he wanted to fit me for a lift. Hogwash.

The second time he kept telling how many more appointments my insurance would cover, come back tomm. He used an electro stimilation device we was annoying.

Sorry, didnt work for me.

pain is caused by something going wrong. pain pills don't magically fix the problem. they just stop the pain receptors being perceived by the brain.

if the adjustments didn't help, it's more than likely because you were doing something to counteract the adjustment or you weren't doing your stretches or you were too fat in front or something. it could also be that your chiropractor is not that great of an adjuster.

please read the thread... at least skim it. you'll find a lot of answers. i'm really tired and don't feel like typing very much right now

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: skyking

Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer

Originally posted by: jjsole

Official ATOT Chiropractic Expert (Still in training, however)

Thanks for the chiropractic support, but isn't this a contradiction? ("expert" vs. "in training" )

Perhaps you can answer this tho. If I get my xrays from my chiropracter, how can I get them scanned to a computer image file?

Hes the expert on ATOT. However he is still in official training

My brother could do it with his LS20 ( like the username above! ) digitizer. It would be a DICOM standard image. It takes a DICOM reader to actually view it.

A short testimonial:
Mom started having totally crippling migranes, head under the pillow, shades closed, call in sick. This is a woman who NEVER called in sick. She was an RN at the time.
The doctors and Orthopedic surgeons were clueless. She reluctantly went to a chiropractor, thinking what the heck nothing else is working. He does the full set of X-rays.
Asks if she had been in a car wreck recently? Yup.
Hit windshield? Nope.
Hit head on roof, bracing arms against steering wheel? maybe so!?!
He starts fixing the messed up neck, and migranes were gone forever. She goes no more than a total of 6 months.

:thumbsup:

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
I used to need tylenol and advil just about every morning to get rid of chronic headaches. I thought that most of it was sinus problems or something. Finally, at the urging of a family member who had great success with her chiropractor, I went - just to pacify a couple people. I thought it was quack-medicine at the time. I, like others have mentioned, ended up having to go twice a week at first, then once a week for a while. Immediately, the headaches were gone, but would start coming back right before the next visit. Eventually, they never came back.

Now, twice since then, I've reinjured my neck area which was apparently the root cause of the headaches. Once, I needed a follow-up trip; the other time I did not. And, on a third occasion, I was having neck pains (which would lead to a headache some days) and tingling in my finger tips at times. I thought it might be a pinched nerve or something. Headed to the chiropractor. I wasn't as concerned about the tingling and hadn't mentioned it yet; first I complained about the neck and upper back pain. (Not horrible - and certainly not something that even slowed me down from daily activities - I just didn't like the uncomfortable feeling and absolutely hate headaches.) He felt all over my spine and muscles in the upper back, "I'll bet you're having trouble with some tingling in your right hand at times?" "Whoa, how'd you know?" "Deep breath... let it out <snap> That should take care of it." And, it did.

One other thing to note: for several years, I thought that bump on my lower neck was a vertebra. Nope, it was a muscle in a little ball. That was the original problem. It's now nice and smooth.

:thumbsup:

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: yowolabi
I went with my girlfriend to a chiropractor, and quite frankly thought that he was full of shit.

He kept quoting some numbers that are supposed to be the optimum angles for the spine. He also told numerous stories/showed x-rays of people who had various sicknesses, and after adjusting their spine to this magical angle they all got better.

Was he representative of the typical chiropractor? If so, where do they get their information?

thats the problem. seem sa field still filled with quacks.


I am sure Eits is great (i have talked with him via PM about some things in the past) and i would have no problems going to him. just seems a crap shoot finding a honest one.

but i have confidance in a few more years it will be good.


though i do swear by message thearpy! until my insurance changed i was going twice a week every week for like a year. it kept my pain down, i was more flexible etc.

And look where it got you and your wife.

 

[eits]

any more questions?

 

[Felisity]

This may already have been posted previously, and if so I apologize.. just don't have time to read every response in every thread.

Q: Are there a resources an everyday person can consult to help us find a good chiropractor in our area? One that rates the chiro and their techniques ? -obviously you can look online, or through your insurance provider but it's such a pain to find a really good chiro.. especially if you move around alot like me.

Q: Is it harmful to turn put your hands on the arm-rests and turn your upper torso slightly while sitting in a chair? (this pops my back quite frequently and seems to relieve tension)

One for the massage therapists out there....
Q: Are there resources an everyday person can consult to help us find a good massage therapist in our area?

 

[SparkyJJO]

I go to a chiropractor, a good one. Helpful, especially after I do something stupid and throw my back/neck out - like fall out of bed 6 feet to the floor on my tailbone

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: Kaelyn
This may already have been posted previously, and if so I apologize.. just don't have time to read every response in every thread.

Q: Are there a resources an everyday person can consult to help us find a good chiropractor in our area? One that rates the chiro and their techniques ? -obviously you can look online, or through your insurance provider but it's such a pain to find a really good chiro.. especially if you move around alot like me.

Q: Is it harmful to turn put your hands on the arm-rests and turn your upper torso slightly while sitting in a chair? (this pops my back quite frequently and seems to relieve tension)

One for the massage therapists out there....
Q: Are there resources an everyday person can consult to help us find a good massage therapist in our area?

no, i don't think there are any rating services or anything for chiropractors. the best you can do is call up some places in your area and ask what school they went to and what technique they use. to find the names, you just go online and look for a healthcare provider database that lists chiropractors. the three top schools are logan, national, and new york chiropractic colleges... they typically have the best docs come out of their schools. don't trust many who have graduated from a school in california or palmer.

the best way to find a good one in your area is to keep your ears open and ask around. word of mouth = the best way. don't trust chiropractors who have a lot of ads in the newspaper or billboard or yellow pages right off the bat... a good chiropractor doesn't need to advertise in order to maintain a successful practice.

yes, because you're torquing the disc too much, which leads to microtears within the rings of the disc. after a while, the jelly-like stuff in the center of the disc pokes it's way through those little tears and you can end up with a disc herniation.

 

[Felisity]

Thanks for the advice.

I had no idea what kinds of criteria I might ask about, other than technique. My current chiro is not terribly good and I thought he was helping me but I've had more headaches this year than I have ever had. I don't know why it didn't occur to me before reading some of your posts that having the wrong doctor could be my issue. He uses the activator only technique with a little bit of occasional back adjustment. Every chiro I've ever been to prior to this one, does actual real adjustments. Time for a change.

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: Kaelyn
Thanks for the advice.

I had no idea what kinds of criteria I might ask about, other than technique. My current chiro is not terribly good and I thought he was helping me but I've had more headaches this year than I have ever had. I don't know why it didn't occur to me before reading some of your posts that having the wrong doctor could be my issue. He uses the activator only technique with a little bit of occasional back adjustment. Every chiro I've ever been to prior to this one, does actual real adjustments. Time for a change.

yeah, i don't like activator. it's fda approved and has a lot of research backing it, but i don't care... i don't like it. i feel like i could do the same thing by flicking...

the techniques you might be interested in are diversified and gonstead. thompson is pretty good, too.

 

[JackMDS]

It is quite funny.

If you look in the Technical forums, you see that most participants here are very knowledgably and particular in each minutia of their field of interest.

They would know which HSF is better to every particular CPU. Lapping Airflow Case design every little thing.

For some reason when it come to topic like this (which is probably more important than computer hardware), the importance of specific situation drops and you can see that most of the question/concerns are on a level like.
I have A CPU should I use an Big HSF or a small HSF?

I worked with Chiropractors, I saw patients that and where helped, many that just wasted their money (nothing good, or bad, came out of the treatment), and some that got major Sc**w up from the treatment..

The difference is not old or young chiropractors.

There are groups of Chiropractors that know their staff and understand the advantages and the limitations of their practice, and do a lot of Good.

In contrast there is large group of Chiropractors who really believe that their chosen filed of work can solve every Medical problems (and they are dangerous).

How to choose a chiropractor, http://www.andersenchiro.com/How%20to%20choose.htm

What the consumer should do?

Just like we educate ourselves about CPU, HSF, PSU, and Mobo, we have to educate ourselves about medical issues that we personally encounter.

Lucky for us in today?s world due to the Internet it I very easy to do.

Example for good general site concerning behavioral issue, http://www.helpguide.org/index.htm

As for Chiropractics.
This in the NIH site, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/chiropractic.html

http://www.advocatehealth.com/...ness/chiropractic.html

A Hospital takes on chiropractic services.

http://www.advocatehealth.com/...ness/chiropractic.html

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/chiropractic/

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medline...ncy/article/002001.htm

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: yowolabi
I went with my girlfriend to a chiropractor, and quite frankly thought that he was full of shit.

He kept quoting some numbers that are supposed to be the optimum angles for the spine. He also told numerous stories/showed x-rays of people who had various sicknesses, and after adjusting their spine to this magical angle they all got better.

Was he representative of the typical chiropractor? If so, where do they get their information?

thats the problem. seem sa field still filled with quacks.


I am sure Eits is great (i have talked with him via PM about some things in the past) and i would have no problems going to him. just seems a crap shoot finding a honest one.

but i have confidance in a few more years it will be good.


though i do swear by message thearpy! until my insurance changed i was going twice a week every week for like a year. it kept my pain down, i was more flexible etc.

And look where it got you and your wife.

yeah! two darn children! though hanging upside down while doing the reverse cowgirl was fun..