Chiropractors & SCS
 

Hello gangsters :)
Perhaps we've hit on this subject before but I was wondering your opinion on whether or not it's 'safe' to see a chiro? My husband thinks I should have one mess around with my back and maybe it would help with the back spasms.

I would normally be very leary of someone messing around my leads, but I'm getting desperate. The leads have scarred in for 2 yrs, so ? maybe? yes? no? go back under your rock Rae?

:grouphug:

Raye, I don't blame you for being leary. I had an unsuccessful trial; but even if I had the permanent, I just can't imagine letting a chiro near me.

I am on narcotic meds; but do take 1 - 2 vallium a day. They are not only for anxiety; but muscle spasms. I suffered for many years (long before the PN) with terrible neck, shoulder and shoulder blade area painful spasms. Since I have been on the vallium (diazepam) 5mg, it is so much better. I had, for years, been unable to sleep on my left side. I am able to do so now. The only things I can attribute this to is the diazepam.

When I had spine fusion 5 years ago, while in the hospital, I was given Percocet, along with a vallium. I was told at that time it helped the percocet work better. I have continued doing this. I hope and pray you make the right decision.
Gerry

Hmmmm...... well
 

Only thing I can offer is this, Rae.... my family chiro is a well and trusted friend, and if he felt as though he was willing to help me and felt safe about it, Rick [his name, best man for that job in this part of the universe] would treat me in a heartbeat. Once I was fused, he no longer felt comfortable working on my back, only would adjust my cervical area.... the neck.

Now, with the implant, he says he is concerned about detrimentally affecting my T8/T9 location of the paddles, and will not treat me. I both trust and value his judgment as he is a very close friend of our family, and brilliant to boot.

That may not be what you would like to hear, but it is the situation for me,
So sorry you are SO desperate, and I am praying for you for SURE,
Mark56:hug:zzzz

Rae, I did ask my pain doc about this and he said NO. The reasoning he gave is that the leads and wires are delicate and could be damaged during spine manipulation. Potassium has helped me a lot with spasms. Good luck Rae and I hope that they ease up
soon.

Potassium!
 

I'm on my way to the store to get potassium as we speak!
:OuttaHere:

My goodness, I have this 'feeling' that it just HAS to be something simple like that! I just need to seek it out! Between this suggestion and the Yoga, I might just have found the magic formula (Please Lord!)

Thank you, everyone for your input!
I've heard enuf now to know that I will NOT be trying the Chiropractor!
That's pretty much what I thought, but wanted to run it by my trusty peeps.

:grouphug: Rae :grouphug:

Hello, Rae. Has been a while. Won't go into details about last few months as I already posted about the botox shots and the aftermath and the current plan.

I see a chiro. who does more accupressure type stuff and I'm allowed to see him even with both my implants. He doesn't do the usual jarring around chiro. stuff but gently touches you in certain spots to release muscle tightness. My dr. who put the SCS's in me is ok with this since I described to him how my chiro. does things.

So, I guess it depends upon what type of techniques your chiro. would use.
My chiro. got away from the traditional "chiro." techniques years ago as he said he didn't notice much improvement in his patients and they had go keep coming back...this was good for steady income, but he felt it meant he wasn't really helping them. Thus, he went over to this accurpressure type method, but he still holds the title of "chiropractor". Hope this helps :hug::hug:

I started seeing mine 2 years after I had the surgery but I have never had any problems with the leads surgically or anything. You might have to turn down the amps while he twists to adjust because it gets closer to your spinal cord, but i have had no problems, and it is tremendous relief for my back that was so so stiff from all the surgery and not moving even thought i did physical therapy.

Hi Rrae :)
 

I had seen my chiropractor for 20+ years, and he worked wonders for my tweaked out muscles and helped me learn some stretching moves. After my lumbar fusion, he would only work on my cervical area, as those vertebre are pretty much fused on their own. (lol my crazy body)
Possibly your chiro could provide pressure point massage to relieve the tightness. Its amazing how our spazzed out muscles can cause so many problems, besides pain - to our posture. I agree with the others in this thread, that a knowledgeable professional would only touch you if he honestly knew he could help and not harm anything. :)

No way, not in this lifetime, and not the next either!! I think they do more harm than good. Accupuncture may help, my Aussie had several treatments, seemed to help him. His spine was all messed up. Vet called it severe spondylosis.

Thanks guys!
 

I appreciate the varying responses! Now I can see it from both sides.
My husband thinks his 'oldie but faithful' chiro will do it right. He is leary of the newer ones with all new techniques.
I agree it absolutely needs to be someone who is experienced enuf to know what NOT to do as opposed to a young buck who's willing to try anything

I appreciate this very much :hug::hug:

Don't underestimate the chiropractor
 

I think it depends on the chiropractor. Chiropractors do a lot more than the basic bone-crunching adjustment. They can help with trigger points, do some very gentle manipulations (even with fusions and implants in place) mind you - VERY gentle. Some are trained to do energy work, accupressure, even cranial-sacral work. I've had the cranial-sacral work done for migraines, and once for when I had a spinal fluid leak. They lay their hands on your lower spine, very gently, and gradually match your body rhythms. Then they gently travel up your spine, and oh so gently make very small movements to bring things back in to balance. It's an incredible help, and you wouldn't even know anything was adjusted other than the headaches, etc melt away. Ask your chiropractor what all they can offer you - after SCS, definitely can't do a regular adjustment. But the more minor energy work, that can make huge changes! You never know what each one is trained to do. Hope this helps - ElizaJane

Can't help it Rae, still am concerned about the risks of a chiro.
Ger

Rae

I hope you know of a qualified chiropractor. I don't have back issues but would be so very careful. The chiropractors I've been to seem very rough. I've only seen 3 or 4 so I don't have alot of experience in this matter.
Since the implant I am so nervous about anyone touching my back, but I am only 4 months post op and you are two years out and know so much more.
Hope you get some relief and have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Sandy Kay

Agree!
 

Thanks, ElizaJane - this IS very helpful. You and my husband sound about the same :) He has had very good luck with Chiro's all his life. Some people swear by them, others think they are quacks :p. I spose alot of it depends on the techniques that are used and whether or not they really listen to the patient. I agree, some are very very rough and seem a bit 'over confident' in themselves and dive right in and the sound of cracking bones yikes. You're laying there at their mercy.

Sandy Kay and Ger - you sound like me :o. I certainly am very leary. Mainly because I don't think the ones in my area really comprehend what an SCS is and I'm afraid they wouldn't respect it for what it is. Yet, my husband is so sure of them and swears something could be done about my lower back issues and spasms. This is why I'm on the fence about this.
Well, I certainly won't do anything unless/until one of them says they know exactly what an SCS is. Perhaps he will say he'd rather not mess with it, as Mark's did. I would sure respect that as opposed to an over-aggressive one.

Well Our Chiro, ahem, the bestest in the world.....
 

engages in accupressure and also massage to help the weary muscles. Be blessed if you try this, reminding doc to be GENTLE with you, because the hordes of this forum will descend upon him otherwise!!!!

Agape,
Mark56
Marry Christmas:hug::grouphug::circlelove:

I'm actually glad you posted this. It's good information! (Filed away in my brain.) How's the potassium working for you?

Well, so far it's hard to say, BUT that is probably because of the ridiculous amount of extra pressure and demand I've been putting on my body....
Trying to take care of our horses in the big blizzard that hit the southern midwest and our 4-wheel drive trucks kept getting stuck.....lots of puuuushing! And of course running around like a madman getting ready for Christmas once all the stores were able to dig themselves out of the snow! :eek:

I have high hopes of seeing improvement tho. I really do!

Thanks again for reminding me how important potassium is. I used to follow the supplement plan over on the PN forum and I was taking SO many pills! Then I kinda burnt out with it after about a year. I'll keep it simple this go-around. Potassium and zinc and B12.