I have a couple of vertebrae that don't seem to be too friendly with each other (#5 Lumbar and #1 Sachro), 5 swollen discs and 3 of them herniated. One leg is shorter than the other and not too friendly Arthur Itis along entire spine. I have managed to keep going for over 60 years with varying amounts of pain and relief. It started (altho no symptoms of pain until much later) when i fell off a playground slide at around two yrs old and landed on my head. That probably explains a whole lot of problems that we are not going to get into right now. :
I have been going to chiropractors off and on since i was 3 or 4 yrs old. They managed to clear up the scoliosis from the original fall. I don't remember having any pains from the beginning until after i came out of the military and started my own masonry biz. Of course, I did have a few other, apparently minor, accidents along the way that have been contributors to the pain. I now wear a full sole 1/2" lift in my right shoe, even in house slippers.
Since i got out of the service, I have been going to chiropractors and have many stories about the good, the bad and the downright ugly. Some of them could be downright scary. One was actually a contributor to further pain. 33 years ago, my back got so bad (some as result of my own foolishness) that i could not stand or walk. I learned from a friend about another chiropractor who I litterally had to crawl to his office. He took X-rays immediately and during the discussion that followed, I was told I was within a mm or two of not walking again and an 80% chance of never going back to work. He knew of several surgeons who would be glad to operate, but once an operation, I could not come back to him. If he could not help me, I could always go to a surgeon. I liked the way he talked and asked him to get to work. I was impressed that for the first few visits, he brought out the X-ray and looked it over very carefully before doing anything about the adjustment procedure.
I asked him about advice for exercises. I had asked every chiropractor I had been to since my health had become my own responsability the same question. None of them every gave me any advice other than to take it easy and continue with the visits. This man did give me advice. He gave me a booklet with dozens, maybe hundreds, of different exercizes for every backpain immaginable. He sat down with me and highlited the exercizes that I should be doing. He also "X" off the exercizes that would probably not help me and those that could be very dangerous to my situation he crossed off completely. We ende up with five that I should do every day. I still do them, altho not every day anymore. I asked if I should be bicycling to help and his answer was that would be very counter productive and possibly even dangerous to my condition. Walking, he highly advised. All in all, he has kept me on my feet for 33 years. He is a good one. Other chiropractors along the way have ranged from very good to downright dangerous.
I have listened to others who have advised me to stay away from chiropractors. Other friends have highly recommended. One needs to determine for him/her self whether such treatment helps. Some recommend osteopathy and others recommend surgery. For me, with the arthritis being a large part of the problem and one short leg, i am afraid surgery could be a waste of time, so I just keep going, do my exercises and visit my friend, Dr. Jim atleast once per month.
I feel for you and know how debillitating your pain can become. I do hope you can overcome, whether by surgery, osteopathy, chiropractic or other methods. Be aware of how you are feeling and, IMHO, keep as active as you can and pay attention to your core muscles. Don't take advise of every tom, dick and harry who is willing to offer. If you find the method that does help, stay with it. Don't despair as there are other methods that may help. i found the help i needed in one chiropractor after several freightening experiences with those who were not so good. Others have gone different routes. Just be careful that you do trust who you go to for help.
Tinker
I have been going to chiropractors off and on since i was 3 or 4 yrs old. They managed to clear up the scoliosis from the original fall. I don't remember having any pains from the beginning until after i came out of the military and started my own masonry biz. Of course, I did have a few other, apparently minor, accidents along the way that have been contributors to the pain. I now wear a full sole 1/2" lift in my right shoe, even in house slippers.Since i got out of the service, I have been going to chiropractors and have many stories about the good, the bad and the downright ugly. Some of them could be downright scary. One was actually a contributor to further pain. 33 years ago, my back got so bad (some as result of my own foolishness) that i could not stand or walk. I learned from a friend about another chiropractor who I litterally had to crawl to his office. He took X-rays immediately and during the discussion that followed, I was told I was within a mm or two of not walking again and an 80% chance of never going back to work. He knew of several surgeons who would be glad to operate, but once an operation, I could not come back to him. If he could not help me, I could always go to a surgeon. I liked the way he talked and asked him to get to work. I was impressed that for the first few visits, he brought out the X-ray and looked it over very carefully before doing anything about the adjustment procedure.
I asked him about advice for exercises. I had asked every chiropractor I had been to since my health had become my own responsability the same question. None of them every gave me any advice other than to take it easy and continue with the visits. This man did give me advice. He gave me a booklet with dozens, maybe hundreds, of different exercizes for every backpain immaginable. He sat down with me and highlited the exercizes that I should be doing. He also "X" off the exercizes that would probably not help me and those that could be very dangerous to my situation he crossed off completely. We ende up with five that I should do every day. I still do them, altho not every day anymore. I asked if I should be bicycling to help and his answer was that would be very counter productive and possibly even dangerous to my condition. Walking, he highly advised. All in all, he has kept me on my feet for 33 years. He is a good one. Other chiropractors along the way have ranged from very good to downright dangerous.
I have listened to others who have advised me to stay away from chiropractors. Other friends have highly recommended. One needs to determine for him/her self whether such treatment helps. Some recommend osteopathy and others recommend surgery. For me, with the arthritis being a large part of the problem and one short leg, i am afraid surgery could be a waste of time, so I just keep going, do my exercises and visit my friend, Dr. Jim atleast once per month.
I feel for you and know how debillitating your pain can become. I do hope you can overcome, whether by surgery, osteopathy, chiropractic or other methods. Be aware of how you are feeling and, IMHO, keep as active as you can and pay attention to your core muscles. Don't take advise of every tom, dick and harry who is willing to offer. If you find the method that does help, stay with it. Don't despair as there are other methods that may help. i found the help i needed in one chiropractor after several freightening experiences with those who were not so good. Others have gone different routes. Just be careful that you do trust who you go to for help.
Tinker
