Sciatica

[svtfocus2cobra]

^Good to know. I am a daily drinker of hard liquor so I wonder if there is a correlation of some sort.

Definitely try it. When I stopped drinking to verify if it was the cause and the pain did stop, I didn't drink for 6mo after that and I was drinking pretty much every night before that. I was able to quit in one day because the pain was so agonizing.

 

[FJohnny]

Chiropractors main goal is to lock you in as a lifelong client. I don't begrudge this; it's a good business model.

You can get short term relief but the root cause will not be helped. Luckily, you can help yourself.

Years ago my wife drove us off a cliff in the Rockies. Upon landing we both took compression fractures low down (L4, L5). For awhile I couldn't do much of anything. No golf for 3 years.

Finally visited the Canadian Back Institute. They told me they were 95% likely to help or fix me but that I was at least 80% likely to be unwilling to do what was necessary. Brutal honest stats that they compile and don't mind spouting.

Their solution was a combination of stretching and abdominal/core exercises. As mentioned by @delvin.a a combo of yoga and workout (pilates type) can help pretty much anyone with lower back pain. All this stuff is easily findable online.

Just don't push into pain and take it slow. Longterm thinking so you don't aggravate what you already have done.

Both my wife and I have been fine now for over 30 years despite doctor's promise that operations would be needed. All good.

 

[DSG2003Mach1]

I’d look for a chiropractor that does upper Cervical care and maybe an inversion table (usually save a decent amount buying one on CL or something). An upper cerivcal care chiro doesnt snap/crackle pop you but its a bit more upfront for the Xrays to be able to adjust you properly. Stretching and strength training can help keep everything in place.

As mentioned alcohol is pretty bad for inflammation, knock that off and maybe a few pounds will follow which helps too.

 

[Hef]

Go to an upper cervical specialist. Been going to mine for 3 years since my back injury, all good now. They align your top 3 vertebrae that are held by muscles. The muscles hold you in alignment allowing your body to do what its meant to do and heal you. Now I go every 6 weeks as maintenance. So many fiber optic type fibers run down your spine, if your not aligned up top, it can affect many things

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[Hef]

This is where I go here in Ohio
Upper Cervical Health Centers of America - Botkins, OH


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[VegasMichael]

I’d look for a chiropractor that does upper Cervical care and maybe an inversion table (usually save a decent amount buying one on CL or something). An upper cerivcal care chiro doesnt snap/crackle pop you but its a bit more upfront for the Xrays to be able to adjust you properly. Stretching and strength training can help keep everything in place.

As mentioned alcohol is pretty bad for inflammation, knock that off and maybe a few pounds will follow which helps too.

i think you hit on a key point here. I was forced to work from home around Thanksgiving and have been sitting on my ass behind a computer for 8 hours a day. I've also gained 11 pounds in that time frame and have not been exercising. I've always been a very fit and active person too. Fortunately, I've been given the okay to return to the workplace this coming Monday so my old life is gradually coming back.

 

[DSG2003Mach1]

i think you hit on a key point here. I was forced to work from home around Thanksgiving and have been sitting on my ass behind a computer for 8 hours a day. I've also gained 11 pounds in that time frame and have not been exercising. I've always been a very fit and active person too. Fortunately, I've been given the okay to return to the workplace this coming Monday so my old life is gradually coming back.

ive had some issues from sitting at a desk too much, they emphasized some quad/hamstring stretching to alleviate some of the pull on the low back

 

[Logan2003Cobra]

Are chiropractors legit? I've heard a lot of mixed things about them.

Chiropractors are musculoskeletal experts, similar to how podiatrists are foot and ankle experts.

Are there chiropractors with questionable morals/ethics? Certainly, but there are health care professionals at every level who have questionable morals/ethics.

As for the "business model" of repeat care/treatment, I would put these people in the same category as pill pushers.

Can/will a chiropractor help you? Absolutely; they are very similar in practice and philosophy to a physical therapist.

The reality is that our body is best at taking care of itself if we allow it to through proper diet, exercise, stretching, sleep, etc. A good chiropractor, like a good physical therapist, or a good MD for that matter, will help us (and recommend) get back to where our body can do what it needs to do.

 

[Serpent]

Just get an inversion table.

I actually sold mine because my bros and I installed a pull up bar in the backyard. I got gravity boots which is even better than an inversion table. I have two 50lb dumbells that I used while im hanging upside down and it stretches my back even more. I need to try 2 45lb plates and an olympic bar.

But yea, inversion table or just dead hanging on a pull up bar does wonders. I sit on my ass all day for work.

 

[coposrv]

Massage gun has been a game changer. I’m sure you like myself feel when it’s starting to act up. 10/15 mins with a massage gun works well. I have a morning stretching routine as well. Nothing too complicated. Takes 30 seconds.


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[Blkkbgt]

As someone who has dealt with this before and is dealing with it again I'll tell you two things.

1. Get an MRI asap to figure out what is the cause.

2. STAY THE **** AWAY FROM CHIROPRACTORS. Especially since you have NO idea what exactly is causing it or how bad it actually is.

People love to push going to see one but they completely ignore the fact the chiropractor doesn't actually know what is wrong. All they can do is guess.

According to every MD, PA and two orthopedics I talked to during my last ordeal a chiropractor is just a likely to make the injury worse they are to help it. You can't even call that a 50/50 shot at getting better if they can make it worse, right? The first PA I spoke to insisted I stop seeing mine immediately.

I went to a chiropractor for 2 months and got minimal relief and in one case felt far worse the following day. That's when I decided to see my doctor. Biggest waste of 2 months.

Turnes out I had a large disc legion that required a steroid injection near the disc. The relief wasn't right way but about 2 weeks later I woke up one morning pain free. Kind of wierd honestly.

Until you can get in to see your doctor don't bend at the waist for starters, don't try to touch your toes to stretch. There are other ways to stretch that won't pinch the disc.

Try sleeping with a pillow between your legs and on the side opposite the pain.

Figure out what helps most ice or heat. For me initially it was ice then later the heat worked better.

Take ibuprofen or aleve on a schedule but try to take your last dose close to bed time so you can sleep.

 

[svtfocus2cobra]

As someone who has dealt with this before and is dealing with it again I'll tell you two things.

1. Get an MRI asap to figure out what is the cause.

2. STAY THE **** AWAY FROM CHIROPRACTORS. Especially since you have NO idea what exactly is causing it or how bad it actually is.

People love to push going to see one but they completely ignore the fact the chiropractor doesn't actually know what is wrong. All they can do is guess.

According to every MD, PA and two orthopedics I talked to during my last ordeal a chiropractor is just a likely to make the injury worse they are to help it. You can't even call that a 50/50 shot at getting better if they can make it worse, right? The first PA I spoke to insisted I stop seeing mine immediately.

I went to a chiropractor for 2 months and got minimal relief and in one case felt far worse the following day. That's when I decided to see my doctor. Biggest waste of 2 months.

Turnes out I had a large disc legion that required a steroid injection near the disc. The relief wasn't right way but about 2 weeks later I woke up one morning pain free. Kind of wierd honestly.

Until you can get in to see your doctor don't bend at the waist for starters, don't try to touch your toes to stretch. There are other ways to stretch that won't pinch the disc.

Try sleeping with a pillow between your legs and on the side opposite the pain.

Figure out what helps most ice or heat. For me initially it was ice then later the heat worked better.

Take ibuprofen or aleve on a schedule but try to take your last dose close to bed time so you can sleep.

That's not entirely true. I have a whiplash injury and the only people who managed to make an improvement with it were chiropractors, and they weren't guessing either. With chiropractors you do have to be careful and make sure you aren't letting some hack tweak and twist your body. If they aren't doing an Xray first then I'm not letting them touch me because how would they if I don't have a broken back or neck or something?

There are chiropractors who have medical backgrounds. In the Marines they sent me to like a sports medicine doctor on Camp Pendleton and he had Xrays done for me and after looking at them he pinpointed 3 major issues and told me upfront he nor anyone could fix all of them without surgical procedures but he told me he was sure he could fix the constant migraines and and some of the other issues I was having with chiropractic adjustments, and after just the first visit he was able to, in layman's terms, realign my skull that was sitting off center on my spine which was causing severe migraines which was the most problematic symptom of them all and was making me throw up and lose vision. This guy wasn't guessing. He knew exactly what was wrong and what needed to be done to correct it, and so far he has been the only one to be able to see the issues going on and be able to show me on the Xrays so that I understood it. The VA has sent me to various doctors to get my back and neck checked out and none of them have been able to see what is wrong, even after I describe what the other guy showed me. I may have slightly improved but I doubt it has that much considering I had to vertebrae grinding on each other because the curve in my neck straightened out.

 

[john11gt]

Find a GOOD chiropractor. I found one that went to a college for it and was a chirp for some big sports teams. The guy, I think, went home and beat his dick to chiropracting.

I couldn’t get into my car without holding the roof and falling in but he fixed me up.

 

[VegasMichael]

A conversation about the legitimacy of chiropractors is a thread worth talking about. Are there any M.D.'s on this site? I think there is a member in Ohio with a handle with Kirk in it but I can't recall his full handle. I'd appreciate his input.

 

[svtfocus2cobra]

A conversation about the legitimacy of chiropractors is a thread worth talking about. Are there any M.D.'s on this site? I think there is a member in Ohio with a handle with Kirk in it but I can't recall his full handle. I'd appreciate his input.

@kirks5oh

 

[VegasMichael]

@kirks5oh

That's who I was thinking of.

@kirks5oh You out there, brother?

 

[biminiLX]

A conversation about the legitimacy of chiropractors is a thread worth talking about. Are there any M.D.'s on this site? I think there is a member in Ohio with a handle with Kirk in it but I can't recall his full handle. I'd appreciate his input.

So the guy who responded in post #9 is a doctor with double board certification to treat your exact issue.
He actually responded at his lunch break from doing about 30 of the exact spinal procedures you may need.
-J

 

[Great Asp]

Are chiropractors legit? I've heard a lot of mixed things about them.

When my back has gone out (I cannot walk upright, and I am in pain for weeks if I do not go), I go to my Chiropractor. In 15 minutes, he has my muscles relaxed, 90% reduction in pain, and me walking upright out the door. I usually follow up with 2-3 more visits to make sure.

It is a different treatment than conventional medicine (IMO) but for me?, it really works.

E

 

[VegasMichael]

So the guy who responded in post #9 is a doctor with double board certification to treat your exact issue.
He actually responded at his lunch break from doing about 30 of the exact spinal procedures you may need.
-J

Thanks for that.

 

[Blkkbgt]

That's not entirely true. I have a whiplash injury and the only people who managed to make an improvement with it were chiropractors, and they weren't guessing either. With chiropractors you do have to be careful and make sure you aren't letting some hack tweak and twist your body. If they aren't doing an Xray first then I'm not letting them touch me because how would they if I don't have a broken back or neck or something?

There are chiropractors who have medical backgrounds. In the Marines they sent me to like a sports medicine doctor on Camp Pendleton and he had Xrays done for me and after looking at them he pinpointed 3 major issues and told me upfront he nor anyone could fix all of them without surgical procedures but he told me he was sure he could fix the constant migraines and and some of the other issues I was having with chiropractic adjustments, and after just the first visit he was able to, in layman's terms, realign my skull that was sitting off center on my spine which was causing severe migraines which was the most problematic symptom of them all and was making me throw up and lose vision. This guy wasn't guessing. He knew exactly what was wrong and what needed to be done to correct it, and so far he has been the only one to be able to see the issues going on and be able to show me on the Xrays so that I understood it. The VA has sent me to various doctors to get my back and neck checked out and none of them have been able to see what is wrong, even after I describe what the other guy showed me. I may have slightly improved but I doubt it has that much considering I had to vertebrae grinding on each other because the curve in my neck straightened out.

First off that's great that a chiropractor was able to help you.

I am also not saying there isn't a time to see a chiropractor. I simply do not believe anyone should see one for sciatic nerve pain especially when you're most likely dealing with a bulging/ruptured or herniated disc. Without an MRI they have no idea where the problem physically is. Then they manipulate your spine, this is nothing short of guessing.

Again, after talking to MDs, PAs and Orthopedics I'll never see one for my issue. My own experiences with a chiropractor provided very short term relief (hours at best) and one time made it worse.

With all that said there is literally nothing you or anyone can say to get me to ever consider going back nor will I recommend it to anyone.

Again I am glad to hear you were able to get your issues resolved but on the issues of sciatic nerve pain I'll have to agree to disagree.