That is why I go. Maybe you are limiting the chiropractor to just the actual adjustment? The whole session is more than that, actually only 10-15% of my visit. Physio and stretching, Graston technique, diet & medicine, training with results analysis are all part of the visit.

There are sports rehabilitation centers in many cities. I would suggest anyone with back issues to visit them for therapy over our standard health clinic. The sports rehab's have every discipline from doctors, PT's, to chiro's and acupuncture. They take a team approach to use their specialties as needed. It's worth giving this ago before considering a surgery.
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Well I never thought my post would get 5 pages of responses. Thanks to everyone.
I am not anti-Chiro by any means. My wife & I along with both of our famalies have been going to the same Chiro for years and we all like him. He has done great things for all of us. But I also think that Chiro's can not solve all of your problems each and every time. I am not dead set on surgery. I will talk to a Neuro-Surgeon, My regular Dr, My pain Dr and my Chiro before I make a decision. I like all of them and trust their advice.
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That just shows you how controversial treatment for back pain is, and how common it is. As one of my colleagues says, if you ask a 40 year old if he's ever had back pain and he says no, he has dementia.
Sounds like you have an open mind and a balanced approach to this, best of luck with your pain.
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How did your appointment go?

I have been dealing with back problems for 4 years. I started with the chiro, then did anti inflammatories, then injections, then a ton of painful tests, then a micro-discectomy, then a multi level spinal fusion. and now I am a chronic pain patient. My back is debilitating!! I had to retire from the job I loved (police officer). Now I take powerful pain meds and my doc wants me to consider a spinal cord stimulator. I guess my point in telling you all this is that you need to be sure, get more then one opinion!! See a spine specialist. FRom my understanding neuro-surgeons are more for thoracic (neck) pain. I included the link to the blog I started maybe it will answer some more questions. BEcause of this pain I have gained weight and became depressed and oh did I mention the blood clots I got from my fusion surgery? I dont mean to scare you just being realistic.

http://lucy655-chronicpainpatient.blogspot.com/
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I had a compression fracture of L5 a day before my 17th birthday (Auto accident). With this, I have 3 bulging disks. I did not have surgery (due to my age). I am now 23 and certainly feel it some days. The best thing I did was to buy a foam roller and use it 2-3 times a day. It hurts like hell at first, but then it gets better. All surgeons are assholes (know this because I have way too many surgeons in my family) and I must say chiropractors are a hell of a lot better than some of these surgeons who just want to cut you up and your wallet. I know at some point I will need surgery, but working out, keeping the belly fat down and stretching will prolong the surgery. Best of luck my friend!
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OK...here's my :-)...

I've had back problems since after my freshman year in college, and it is was ended my college football career. Now this was in the early 90s, and treatmetns weren't as advanced as they are now. Surgery was not recommended back then, as those who had it generally didn't get the results they were hoping for.

Here's the story with my injury. I was doing squats with weight that was not a huge amount for me. I finished a set and racked the bar. As I did so, I felt pain in my hammy. I thought it was actually my hamstring and lightened the weight and finished all my lifting for the day (2 more sets of squats and 3 sets of cleans were included). Then I went and played ~5 games of basketball that night. The next morning, I couldn't move. PAIN and numbness on the back of my right leg from my hip to my heel. Went to a chiro for a while, and he thought pinched nerve. Got treatment for about 3-4 weeks and didn't see a huge improvement. He had me go get an MRI, adn that's when they found it. Herniation at L5-S1, and 2 bulging discs above that, plus the typical "degeneration" that they seem to throw into everyones report. Immediately had me see a neuro, who prescribed some steroids and told me to use Advil for pain. When I went back to campus at the end of the summer, I was in the trainers room doing therapy every day of the week. I had the classic foot drop, which they recorded me walking to use as a teaching tool. It got better and better. In the spring, I was able to play in spring practices and the spring game. I felt great, but had good and bad days, and then through the summer, so I made the decision to give it up. One thing the head trainer told me has stuck with me to this day. Eveyone will be different...You can look at an MRI of someone that looks REALLY bad, and they feel absolutely no pain, while someone who barely looks like they have anything wrong in theirs is in crippling pain. You gotta base your decisions on how you feel, in combination with how things look, not just one or the other. And he said he didn't feel that surgery was a good option.

Over the years since then, I've gone through periods of inactivity and that is when I had more flareups. I've played basketball with no issues, and in the last 2 years, I've gotten into triathlons. I still have been symptom free. I have a good chiro that I go see when I need to. he doesn't just do the crack here and there, so you're good. He adjusts where the body needs it, and the techniques he uses actually work. I've been very pleased with the results I saw from him.

All I can say is do what you feel is right and will work for you, and please get opinions from more than one doc. It will only serve to help you make the best decision. :-)
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I think we're on the same track, Moses. We're just not comparing apples to apples. You're talking about a fully rounded sports medicine facility that includes chiropractic as part of a wellness plan that's situated in a large city. I don't disagree that that could be a realistic, helpful, and even possible curing venue.
What I'm talking about is everything outside those big complexes. The chiropractors on every street corner who claim that misalignment is the cause of colds, cancer, rabies, cottonmouth, cankers and bad smelling farts. A simple adjustment will cure all your ailments.
While I do believe that an alignment can relieve some sort of nerve pressure, it's only going to last as long as you retrain the muscles around the natural misalignment. Part of a plan, as you're speaking of.
That doesn't happen in backwater. It's crack, that'll be 90 bucks, please.
To call what you're calling Chiropractic is borderline insult to what those facilities are doing. It's not comparative.
I just don't want folks to walk into the corner chiropractor and expect results like you and I have been debating.
If someone walks into a backwater chiro with zero to very low expectation, odds are they'll be pleased with the results.
If someone is suffering nerve impingement from significant structural damage to their spine, I think it's just plain wrong to point anyone in the direction of a Chiropractor. The chance that the chiro is going to do further damage is far greater than the chance that they'll achieve any type of relief.
If there is not significant structural damage, there are tons of things that can help. Of those, I think you hit on a fabulous suggestion, if a facility like that is within reach of the person who's in pain.

Bottom line is that each person is different and can tolerate different degrees and durations of pain. As bad as my body has hurt, and as long as it has, I can take focus off the pain now. The pain management drugs make me feel like crap, so I deal with the pain as best as I can for as long as I can before I use a full dosage of them. Even when I do use them, they don't provide relief, and I'm prescribed an incredible amount of pain meds. They do take the edge off, but render me worthless.
Conversely, I can remember hurting my back to a much lesser degree when I was younger and I was absolutely wrecked by the pain. It was completely dehabilitating despite there being no structural damage at all. Just a pinch that caused some swelling that went away in a couple weeks.
I mention that because I believe a person needs to be armed with knowledge that they gain through tests, studying, asking questions, and knowing every single thing there is to know about their condition. A person should become incredibly well-informed, well educated, and make sensible decisions about how they approach their injury, and try as best as possible to be realistic about what's wrong. As insensitive as it may sound, pain is not a very good indicator of condition because it will wax and wane with care as simple as an ice bag. The pain is what we always want fixed first, though. The problem is that doctors don't necessarily empathize with the pain, and don't really aim to treat it so much as they try to treat a person's underlying cause of the pain.

I hope and pray that all of you find relief, with whatever road you choose. I know how hard it is, and how long it takes.
If you feel a Chiro is right for you, by all means, please try one. I'm only stating my position and my experience based on my personal physical condition. I certainly don't know as much about your condition as you do, and I'd feel awful if all my blather kept you from finding some relief. :-)
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Travis Just my 2cents but avoid surgery at all costs. I have broken my back twice and had bulging disks a few times. My last time I severed the nerve with the disk and it has now left my right leg in a constant state of numb. I have had 6 surgeries and who knows how many procedures injections, chrio treatments, fusion, lameectomy discotmy, fusion hardwear removal. Blah blah blah. Long story short is if you have other options exhaust all of them before surgery and get a second opinion. Wish I had known then what I know now. Research everything the doctor get references and then google alot.

Either way I hope you start feeling better.
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