I guess that my first chiro was as far from a frog as could be. We clicked right away as her help was immense. I loved it when she pushed on my spine till it 'talked', same with my neck. I will visit her again as soon as there is a need.
BobbyJim ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] ; [email protected] Sent: Monday, April 04, 2011 4:30 Subject: Re: [TMIC] Chiropractic treatment Hi Jude, In my case, had I not had the fusion, the curve in my spine would have continued to progress and would have eventually crippled me. The doctor who performed the surgery said I might have ended up with the side under my armpit nearly touching my hip. In addition, it can adversely affect your internal organs. At age 19, I had a 4-and-a-half-hour surgery to fuse nine vertebrae in my upper back and wore body casts for 11 months. Thank goodness I didn't have to have Harrington rods attached to my spine. I originally had to wear a Milwaukee brace when I was 12, but it didn't work as we hoped it would. The idea was to wear it until my bones stopped growing - at about 18 or 20. But because my spine was also revolving besides curving in a sideways "S", I had difficulty wearing the brace. It only lasted 2 years. After that I spent the next several years wearing a corset-style brace and going to a chiropractor to help ease my back pain and relieve my headaches... because my neck axis is "off" due to the curvature, I suffered severe headaches. However, my parents and I knew chiropractic manipulation only helped the symptoms and would never "cure" the problem - even though two chiropractors I went to tried to convince us otherwise. Just as the saying goes "you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince," you also must be diligent about finding a "good" chiropractor! There are many quacks out there and you have to keep trying until you find one that helps you without taking advantage of you. I soon found I had to take control of when I needed to see the chiropractor. Nearly all of them will try to make you come in 3 times a week to start for a couple weeks or months, then 2 times a week for several more months, then once a week "maintenance". If you are truly "in touch" with your own body, you know when you need to see a chiropractor. It got to where when they tried to schedule me for my next visit, I told them I'd call when I needed to come in again. I do believe chiropractors help people in pain, it's just too bad there are so many "frogs" out there! Betty In a message dated 4/4/2011 12:44:42 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Hi Betty, Why does one have fused vertibrae? I have always wondered what the benefits are and so many people have had it done. Not one of my docs has ever suggested it and I forget to bring it up. Much love, Jude Practice Random Acts of Kindness -----Original Message----- From: Beeclark <[email protected]> To: tmic-list <[email protected]> Sent: Sun, Apr 3, 2011 9:45 pm Subject: Re: [TMIC] Chiropractic treatment I've wondered about that too... I've had Scoliosis since I was 12, had 9 vertebrae fused together at 19 and now TM. Wish i could hit the Lottery with that much luck! Betty (in Northern Calicornia) In a message dated 4/3/2011 5:53:37 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: There is a good amount of people with TM that has had spine injuries prior to getting TM. Is there a connection to this or just coincidence? Does anyone know? Emily Meyers -------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: bobby jim [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, April 03, 2011 7:41 PM To: Bob and Sue Mattis; TMIC list Subject: Re: [TMIC] Chiropractic treatment Well, I have spondylolisthesys at L-2,3 .... which means that L-3 is out of place and pulled back from L-2. I got it in the mid 1980s when trying to lift a very heavy window without support. I felt a ping in my lower back, but that was all. I forgot about it till: after trying to move a crate weighing over 220 lbs, I pulled that old injury to my spine and a few dayze later, I had a bad case of sciatica and then lumbago. So I went to a chiropractor who took x-rays of my spine, pinpointed the troubling spot and proceeded to manipulate my back, pushing here, massaging there, etc........ My neck was also having a bout of crepitation so she worked on that one as well. Five years afterwards, I lost all discomfort in my back and neck. Yes, it took that long....but it was worth it. However, when I overdo it at work some 'pain' comes back so I do some exercises she also taught me, some involve stretching and bending; and when doing some of them I can 'hear' my spine shifting (crunch crunch) and the 'pain' is gone. Same with my neck. The noises have never bothered me, and have never been threatening to my back or neck. I've heard of some horror stories about chiropractors. But not me.... did I luck out.......???? If I had to do it again, I'd jump right in. BobbyJim From: Bob and Sue Mattis To: TMIC list Sent: Friday, April 01, 2011 16:35 Subject: [TMIC] Chiropractic treatment Hey group! I don't usually ask about opinions dealing with myself, but more often about concerns of other folks, but this time it's about me. Has anyone in our group ever used chiropractic treatment after TM? I have had TM for 10 years and are able to walk either unaided or with a cane or walker depending on the circumstances. Over the last few years, because of my gait issues, and the way I "waddle", I have developed hip pain on a daily basis. I have gotten approval from my neuro to see a chiropractor but there is still that little nagging voice in my head that tells me not to mess with my spine. I'd appreciate any thoughts you have on this. Thanks folks! Sue
