*PREVIOUS POST*
michael
Nov 12, 2008 - 1:41PM
Quote Reply
Chiropractor, siatica
Sorry I've been posting so often but, quick question, does anyone recommend chiropractors for this horrendous siaticia I have? I've been doing the LTBP & Egoscue, inversion, enzymes, etc, daily with out relief, yet. I've not tried chiropractors yet. Does anyone have any positive results from chiropractors working on siatica problem? Thank you in advance.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Paul
Nov 12, 2008 - 3:07PM
Quote Reply
Re: Chiropractor, siatica
This is just my personal opinion only.
If I did not have a definitive diagnosis or MRI and had sciatica I WOULD NEVER go to a chiropractor for and adjustment....or 2-3 per week.
What if it is a herniation that is causing this sciatica? Read the website www.chirogeek and his journey. He is a chiropractor who threw out his back and had a colleague adjust him and made him so bad he needed a microdisectomy and took him 4 additional years to be able to function without sciatica (he had it after surgery as well).
My point is that you need to get an MRI and diagnosis....even if you have to put it on a credit card. You can always make money back but you sometimes can not get your health back. I am not trying to tell you what to do, but take it from someone who had to leave a 145k a year job for 2 years while i found my solution. YOU CAN NOT PUT A PRICE ON YOUR HEALTH....
Even if you went to the chiro they will set you up on a program that will cost you more in the end anyways.
Pmazzdog@aol.com
______________________________________________________________________________________
karl
Nov 12, 2008 - 3:36PM
Quote Reply
Re: Chiropractor, siatica
Agree with above. I took the plunge and had an MRI done privately.
Whilst it didnt give me a clear indication of my problem it more importantly ruled alot of issues out which meant i could took off a lot of possibilities and concentrate on others.
Unfortunatly with long term back pain it seems to be a case of trail and error and an MRI can rule out a lot.
______________________________________________________________________________________
dave hutchieson
Nov 13, 2008 - 1:01PM
Quote Reply
Re: Chiropractor, siatica
Hi Karl
You have hit on a very important technique that I have used many times: eliminating those things that are NOT repsonsible for your pain.
Each time you do this, your list of possibilities gets smaller and smaller.
Sherlock Homes said "When you have eliminated absolutely everything, then whatever is left over, not matter how improbable, MUST be the cause".
Dave
______________________________________________________________________________________
Lance
Dec 4, 2008 - 11:41AM
Quote Reply
Re: Chiropractor, siatica - Comment on Paul's Take
Paul, I found that the physical therapy/chiropractic approach to be quite expensive and ill-advised. The office, I visited had both, so naturally, I submitted to the protocol, recommended. Big mistake, the physical therapy was wonderful, post surgery, additional work at home; the chiropractic portion, was, I felt, a waste of both time and money. They attempted to stretch out my therapy, far beyond my personal/medical needs. You have to know when to say, enough is enough! As long as your insurance plans allow, they will suck all of the money out of your plan.
I entered therapy, three weeks, after surgery, walked immediately (two days after-drove to supermarket, with pain, but was told by surgeon, walk was neccessary). Entered therapy, and within 3 months, was working out at home and at the health club. I played in a golf tournament, less than six months,post surgery and feel, only an occasional twinge in the buttocks. My tennis ball, travels with me, wherever and whenever, the need arrives. (see ealier message, written today. Lance
______________________________________________________________________________________
dave hutchieson
Dec 5, 2008 - 1:19PM
Quote Reply
Re: Chiropractor, siatica
There are a few circumstances when a GOOD [ and that's part of the problem, trying to find a good one ] chiropractor can help.
The vast majority of TRUE sciatica cases [ where the pain is down the BACK of the leg ]are caused by tightness in the piriformis muscle:
[ If you have pain down the side of your leg or front - you do not have TRUE sciatica ]
Take a look at the picture:
http://www.eorthopod.com/images/ContentImages/spine/spine_lumbar/lumbar_piriformis/piriformis_anatomy02.jpg
The piriformis muscle is attached to the sacrum [ the little triangle at the base of your spine ].
It is also attached to the top of your leg bone [ called the FEMUR ], to a little "sticking out " piece of bone called the GREATER TROCHANTER.
Now, you might think that this muscle can only press against nerves when it becomes shorter and contracts.
Unfortunately it can also do this when it becomes twisted and stretched.
So how can this happen ?
Take a close look at the picture.
Do you see where the hip bone connects to the sacrum ?
This joint is not fixed and can move a bit. It is called the sacro-iliac joint [SI joint ]
If it goes out of place [ as mine did ], the sacrum can move away from the hip a little bit.
Now, the piriformis is attached to the sacrum at one end and to the leg bone [ femur ] at the other end. The leg bone is connected to the hip bone [ as in the old song ].
So, if the SI joint is out of place, that can cause the piriformis to stretch and twist, putting pressure on the sciatic nerve.
This is why in some cases, people stretch and stretch and still cannot get relief from sciatica.
If the SI joint is locked, in the majority of cases, it will take a chiropractic adjustment to release it.
Mine was out so badly, I had to put my foot on the chiro’s chest and he had to push with all his force.
This was called a HYPO-mobile joint [ meaning it doesn’t move much ].
Dave Hutchieson
______________________________________________________________________________________
fred wade
Dec 8, 2008 - 9:48AM
Quote Reply
Re: Chiropractor, siatica
How can you tell if the SI joint is out of place?
______________________________________________________________________________________
Connie J
Dec 8, 2008 - 12:44PM
Quote Reply
Re: Chiropractor, siatica
I'm begining to think the chiro is fine for some things but NOT sciatica!
______________________________________________________________________________________
dave hutchieson
Dec 8, 2008 - 1:20PM
Quote Reply
Re: Chiropractor, siatica
Hi Fred
That's a difficult one.
You need a GOOD chiropractor who knows what he's doing.
Some good physical therapists can do this as well.
There are a whole bunch of tests to check:
Google: "Stork test", "SI joint movement tests"
Dave Hutchieson
______________________________________________________________________________________
dave hutchieson
Dec 8, 2008 - 1:23PM
Quote Reply
Re: Chiropractor, siatica
Hi Connie
If you read my posting very carefully again, you will see that what I am saying is this:
"If you have completed all the standard stretches on the piriformis for sciatica [ after being certain that the pain is indeed coming from the piriformis muscle ] then there is a strong possibility that your SI joint has been displaced and that you may indeed need a chiropractic adjustment"
I only recommend this when all else has failed.
Again, I am talking specifically about piriformis induced TRUE sciatica.
Dave Hutchieson
______________________________________________________________________________________
Mark
Feb 1, 2009 - 10:52AM
Quote Reply
Re: Re: Chiropractor, siatica
Dave,
is the only way to ensure that the adjustment might be needed from a good chiropracter is to try the LTBP system first? from what you describe it sounds like there is at least some good probability my issue is not from the piriformis muscle but perhaps this SI joint issue.
I say that because I have had shooting pain down the leg before but not for quite some time. And it seems like all the stretching in the world is just not helping. I am interested in this system, just do not want to purchase it if we can determine that what i really need is a certain kind of chiropracter.
I was seeing one but he never did a full assesment and just does the same adjustments every week with minimal relief...
I have also done physical therapy and am with the 2nd therapist right now. it does not seem to be helping.
I bought a new Simmons Beauty rest next generation with the latext memory foam. first night was tough to sleep on and 2nd night a little better but if anything my back feels worse. I was told to wait at least 2 weeks to determine if it is helping or hurting...
any feedback would be greatly appreicated. frustrated with this condition which I have had about 4 years now..
Thanks
Mark
Biz1markie@gmail.com
______________________________________________________________________________________
Doug
Feb 6, 2009 - 12:54PM
Quote Reply
Re: Chiropractor, siatica
You need to see a chiropractor who can evaluate you and order the MRI. There are indications for MRI's, and chiropractors know them - many insurances will allow your chiropractor to order the tests you need. Not all chiro's just crack backs - they can offer McKenzie exercises, spinal decompression / traction, and other manual techniques to treat herniated discs. Many DC's are EXCELLENT diagnosticians, at least mine is, and PT's can't even order an MRI because their scope does not allow them to. So, I'd be less scared by a potential visit to the chiro. Just find a good one.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Beth Morton
Mar 5, 2009 - 6:53PM
Quote Reply
Re: Chiropractor, siatica
My sciatic got worse when I went to the chirpractor. Plus it cost me $2,000 out of my own pocket. It took me 2 years to recover on my own with swimming & exercise.
Beth
