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Chiropractic VS physical therapy----NEED ANSWERS PLEASE!!
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<blockquote data-quote="susiestar" data-source="post: 506341" data-attributes="member: 1233"><p>Have you had any xrays or mri's of your back done since this got so bad? You MUST get the ortho and/or your reg doctor to look at your back and figure out what is going on. Just treating the spasm is NOT the best thing. Unless you know that there is not some type of damage or problem causing the pain, the chiro and/or PT treatments could make things a LOT worse. </p><p></p><p>You NEED pain medications and muscle relaxers and an anti-inflammatory. PLEASE get your reg doctor to get you in to see a pain specialist asap. You may not need them forever, but they could be a HUGE help right now. Get them to rule out spinal/disc issues and then work on treating the symptoms and strengthening the muscles. </p><p></p><p>Robaxin is usually more effective than the flexeril (I have taken every muscle relaxer they make according to my docs), but you may need something stronger like baclofen or zanaflex (tizanidine). If you are not sleeping, any movement while sleeping has you waking up in pain, etc..., then I would ask the doctor about zanaflex. It is available in generic and is what the football and basketball teams at the university here use when needed. Chances are it will knock you out the first few weeks you are taking it. I used to take that at night and a different muscle relaxer during the day. </p><p></p><p>Both chiro and PT can be helpful if you have a good chiro and PT. You may want to explore trigger point therapy. There is an awesome book on it, and it was one of the most helpful things I have used with back problems. If you don't have a theracane, get one. It is a hook like thing that you use to massage areas you can't reach. This amazon search will show you some different versions. I have the one at the top. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thera-Cane-JMAS5000-Massager/dp/B000PRMCJU/ref=sr_1_1" target="_blank">Amazon.com: theracane massage tool</a> I also use it to put muscle rub on places that hurt. I put a clean pantyliner on the ball on the end and put the muscle rub on that, then I can put it where I need it. </p><p></p><p>This is the book I was talking about: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment/dp/1572243759/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328682593&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon.com: The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief, Second Edition (9781572243750): Clair Davies, Amber Davies, David G. Simons: Books</a> It was written by a man who tuned pianos and learned all he could about muscles and trigger points etc.... after his daughter was injured. I have a cousin who is a PT who says it is the BEST book out there for professionals and lay people alike. It can help you figure out how to help these muscle problems. The theracane lets you do what the book shows you.</p><p></p><p>Along the list of things that might help are hot and cold packs. If hot helps, consider using a muscle rub with capsaicin in it. That is the stuff that makes peppers so hot. If you have a muscle rub with capsaicin on, you will feel the warmth and if it cools or the warm sensation goes away, you can re-activate it by leaning on something warm or taking a hot shower/bath. For days when I have to be out and about this works a LOT better than a heating pad or rice bag. Just be careful when you put something warm on the area so that you don't leave it there or fall asleep with it on the area with the muscle rub. Wear gloves when you put the rub on too.</p><p></p><p>Do you have lidoderm patches? They are 4"x6" patches of lidocaine that you can wear for up to 12 hours out of 24. They are incredible. Many docs don't seem to know about them or to remember them, but they are a big help. I often end up putting spanx or vet wrap or an ace bandage over the area with the patch (depending on where it is) because they don't stick well on me. They are not cheap, but insurance should pay for them. At least we never had a problem until we had medicaid. </p><p></p><p>I hope something I suggested helps. PLEASE, if NOTHING else, get your back seen by the ortho and get an mri done. If there is damage, the chiro and PT need to know because they could make things worse. </p><p></p><p>(((((hugs))))) I am SOOOO Sorry that you are in such pain.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="susiestar, post: 506341, member: 1233"] Have you had any xrays or mri's of your back done since this got so bad? You MUST get the ortho and/or your reg doctor to look at your back and figure out what is going on. Just treating the spasm is NOT the best thing. Unless you know that there is not some type of damage or problem causing the pain, the chiro and/or PT treatments could make things a LOT worse. You NEED pain medications and muscle relaxers and an anti-inflammatory. PLEASE get your reg doctor to get you in to see a pain specialist asap. You may not need them forever, but they could be a HUGE help right now. Get them to rule out spinal/disc issues and then work on treating the symptoms and strengthening the muscles. Robaxin is usually more effective than the flexeril (I have taken every muscle relaxer they make according to my docs), but you may need something stronger like baclofen or zanaflex (tizanidine). If you are not sleeping, any movement while sleeping has you waking up in pain, etc..., then I would ask the doctor about zanaflex. It is available in generic and is what the football and basketball teams at the university here use when needed. Chances are it will knock you out the first few weeks you are taking it. I used to take that at night and a different muscle relaxer during the day. Both chiro and PT can be helpful if you have a good chiro and PT. You may want to explore trigger point therapy. There is an awesome book on it, and it was one of the most helpful things I have used with back problems. If you don't have a theracane, get one. It is a hook like thing that you use to massage areas you can't reach. This amazon search will show you some different versions. I have the one at the top. [URL='http://www.amazon.com/Thera-Cane-JMAS5000-Massager/dp/B000PRMCJU/ref=sr_1_1']Amazon.com: theracane massage tool[/URL] I also use it to put muscle rub on places that hurt. I put a clean pantyliner on the ball on the end and put the muscle rub on that, then I can put it where I need it. This is the book I was talking about: [URL='http://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment/dp/1572243759/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328682593&sr=1-1']Amazon.com: The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief, Second Edition (9781572243750): Clair Davies, Amber Davies, David G. Simons: Books[/URL] It was written by a man who tuned pianos and learned all he could about muscles and trigger points etc.... after his daughter was injured. I have a cousin who is a PT who says it is the BEST book out there for professionals and lay people alike. It can help you figure out how to help these muscle problems. The theracane lets you do what the book shows you. Along the list of things that might help are hot and cold packs. If hot helps, consider using a muscle rub with capsaicin in it. That is the stuff that makes peppers so hot. If you have a muscle rub with capsaicin on, you will feel the warmth and if it cools or the warm sensation goes away, you can re-activate it by leaning on something warm or taking a hot shower/bath. For days when I have to be out and about this works a LOT better than a heating pad or rice bag. Just be careful when you put something warm on the area so that you don't leave it there or fall asleep with it on the area with the muscle rub. Wear gloves when you put the rub on too. Do you have lidoderm patches? They are 4"x6" patches of lidocaine that you can wear for up to 12 hours out of 24. They are incredible. Many docs don't seem to know about them or to remember them, but they are a big help. I often end up putting spanx or vet wrap or an ace bandage over the area with the patch (depending on where it is) because they don't stick well on me. They are not cheap, but insurance should pay for them. At least we never had a problem until we had medicaid. I hope something I suggested helps. PLEASE, if NOTHING else, get your back seen by the ortho and get an mri done. If there is damage, the chiro and PT need to know because they could make things worse. (((((hugs))))) I am SOOOO Sorry that you are in such pain. [/QUOTE]
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