chiropractor for back pain.
 

I've been wrestling with some lower back pain for a few months now. It comes and goes, problem is , I use the heck out of my back daily . I keep getting to feeling better , then I go out and over do it.
I just started to wear a brace/belt, and that is helping pretty good, but I really over did it Monday. 12 hour day, and shoveled about 4 wheel barrow loads of gravel. I was still feeling good, then I tried to start the log splitter, and whamo. Im hurtin'
I do not have any numbness, or tingling, just sore muscles , I think .
I may go see the doc if It does not feel better in a few more days.
My bud mentioned, that the chiropractor seems to really help when his back goes wonky .
Worth a shot ?

I've had something similar. Sometimes going to the chiro makes it better, sometimes it makes it worse. Same for massage - sometime I'll get a massage and then I can barely stand.

Chiropractors can be good or bad and that can also occur from patient to patient, same doc.

Choose carefully is all I can say. I've had mixed results and had to take one to task for basically stealing my money. Long story so I'll leave it at that.

I did had 2-3 that were absolutely great. The rest fell somewhere between hustlers and quacks.

The entire industry of chiropractic is mostly snake oil. If the place claims to help with diabetes, or kidney issues, RUN. They are just pure scammers. If he tells you he can get some kinks out maybe give it a try. Keep a tight watch on costs. There must be a few good honest ones, just out of overall odds.

I go to my chiro about twice a month. Previous chiro was in the same office, big guy who popped one of my ribs out. Now I see a petit gal who doesn't muscle me around as much but still seems to get the job done.

Also think about getting a TENS unit, that helps too.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BHSMFGQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have an inversion table that has helped me, tremendously, over the years. I bought a used one on Craigslist for $50. I use it semi-regularly, but especially when my back hurts or I can tell it is leaning that way. When I had really bad back trouble years ago when doing some heavy work over a number of days, I sought out a Chiropractor to assist in my recovery. I think I recovered quicker, however, due to using the table and seeing the Chiropractor, simultaneously. Using just one or the other wouldn't have been nearly as beneficial.

I don't know if you have done this, but placing ice on your lower back is your best friend. Say, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off when you get home from work for an hour or two while laying down watching TV. Also, use Ibuprofen for two or three days to assist in removing the inflammation, internally.

While you are recovering, use some limited length stretching techniques to help in stretching your muscles. Do not force it. Once you have recovered, start stretching in the morning for a couple of minutes before going to work.

This is one of the ways you can separate a good chiro from a quack.

The good one will recommend ice if what you have is muscle pain.

I have been once, it was very helpful.

I would not let a chiropractor manipulate my neck though...

I've had very similar back pain. After trying everything I can say you should go to a registered physical therapist who does some hands-on modalities. I do believe that some muscle massage or stretching helps immensely when your muscles get all knotted up and start spasming. But long term relief only comes when you've strengthened the muscles that are being overworked and get the strong and weak parts of your body working in tune again.

PT is tough and being diligent to do the exercises sucks, but if you do you will see extraordinary results in about two weeks. And if you stop doing your exercises you'll see the (negative) results even faster! But once you get fixed back up you should be good for a long time with just some basic exercises and stretching and a bit more body position/posture awareness.

Try acupuncture. My wife swears by it.

Those TENS units are scary little devices! Bought one on a lightning deal for $20 just because. The engineer in me prohibits reading instructions before trying anything, so I put a couple of pads on my neck and turned the thing on. Holy crap, my neck muscles started to spasm and I tore the pads off. Reading the instructions there were 2 warnings in BOLD: never put it on your neck as the muscle may spasm and choke you to death. And never put it on your chest because it screws up your heart rhythms and can stop your heart completely. :eek: Haven't worked up the courage to try it again :)

This is the correct answer - I have been thru this for 30+ years and MRM has clearly stated my same experience and results. Getting the right exercises and sticking with them is the secret sauce . . . However, please go to an Orthopedic MD to get a complete testing and diagnosis first . . . each person is different and if there is some basic abnormality in your spine/muscles the Ortho should determine this before starting long term rehabilitation . . . IMHO of course . . .

Regards,

I was where you are. 6 weeks of physical therapy coupled with chiropractor help and a tens machine and I've been pain free ever since.

HAVE YOUR ARCHES CHECKED AND GET LIFTS AND GOOD SHOES for construction work. Walmart shoes= lower back pain.

You have to have a good foundation if you want to heal right.

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Find out who the local firefighters use. They tend to avoid the quacks..

I have used one in the past, my injury is beyond his ability to help me, I have a bulging disc very low down near my pelvis.

Yes, PT works. Get PT and they will provide some special exercises to tone the important back supporting muscles that don't get normally worked. I've been through this about 3 times and it works. The reason it reoccurs is I don't do the exercises as I should. PT is paid for by Medicare. You might get 6-9 visits or so.

I have had chiro for many years. There are a lot of heating pad, so called chiropracters out there. They are a rip off. I have had 2 excellent chiropracters. I only use the type that do a good cracking. They are the only ones that work for me. Chiropracters are not snake oil salesmen as previously mentioned...at least not the ones I have had. I have been saved from spinal surgery (disc) and complete disability (crushed sciatic nerve) by my chiropracters.

Highly recommend it Fred. If you find a good one, works wonders. Better than having spinal surgery, of which doc's told me 20 years ago was imminite. Never had it - just watched what I did, visited the Chiropractor now and then to keep me tuned up.

I was hitting Orchids of Asia for back pain relief until Kraft dicked up the whole deal...

Seriously, MRM is on point.

Bourbon and lots of it!
Now... seriously... look into yoga core strengthening. I have 3 herniated disks in my lower back and as long as I do the core strengthening, I'm good.

In the meantime, I would try ice and stretching. Lie on you back, draw your knees up to your chest, put your arms around them and draw your knees in while relaxing your lower back as much as you can. The other stretch is to do it like the muslims do during prayer with the same relaxing of your lower back and tensioning. I went to a chiro once. The experience was a total bust. Of course he may have been one of the many bad ones.