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I am wondering if anyone else has ever visited a chiropractor post surgery?
I had my Harrington rod inserted 35 years ago. I learned a couple of years ago during an episode of upper back problems that the rod is actually broken and one of the hooks has come loose. I don’t have notes on the length of my fusion as it was so many years ago and I was only 16 at the time. But I do know it covers a large portion of my thoracic and lumbar spine.
The reason I went to see a chiropractor was because I have recently been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists, and surgery was recommended for both. In an effort to avoid surgery, I went to a chiropractor for treatments on my wrists. In the process, he told me that I had a “double crush” on my median nerve – it was not only my carpal tunnel that was impinging on my nerve, but also higher up where the nerve leaves the spinal cord through the foramen in the vertebra. He told me that I had degenerating discs between C5-6 and C6-7 that were stage 3. (There are only 4 stages of degeneration which he showed me on models of the spine.) He recommended a chiropractic treatment. I was extremely skeptical and fearful as I had been told by the orthopedic surgeon 35 years ago never to have chiropractic treatment. The chiropractor assured me that chirpracty has come a long way and that the treatment to my neck would not hurt me. The testing procedure with the “ProAdjustor” was so gentle, and another patient in his waiting room told me how she was having the same treatment and that it was best described as “relaxing” compared to the traditional “bone crunching” people think of. Within a couple of days, after talking with my husband, I decided to try it. But the treatment itself was on a different machine than the ProAdjustor, and I don’t remember the name of it. I was a hand-held device that basically pummeled my vertebrae. I was shocked at how forceful the devicde was. I had one treatment and felt fine enough until that evening when my spine in between my shoulder blades felt like something was wrong. I was so uncomfortable, I felt like I had to hold my breath in order to stand or sit upright. It was the same feeling I had a couple of years ago when I had to take two months off work because I couldn’t sit up for 8 hours at work. I couldn't sleep that night. On the next visit, the chiropractor told me he could lessen the force applied. But I have discontinued this part of the treatment and have only continued with the part of the chiropracty directly on my wrists. I have done a lot of resting, use of heating pad, using a back brace and massage therapy, and after two weeks my back feels pretty much back to normal. I cannot say that I had pain, but more like a feeling that my back was coming apart. It’s hard to describe, and my story really pales by comparison to what many of the forum users are describing, but I still find it troubling.
My husband is worried what will happen to me in the long term if I don’t have any treatment on my neck. He thinks I will end up having surgery years from now when my discs degenerate to stage 4, and that I will end up with a neck fusion and little movement in my neck, and all the attendant risks of surgery. I am more worried about whether a chiropractic treatment on my neck will dislodge an old fusion lower down in my spine, or maybe displace the broken rod even further than what it already is, and result in worse problems.
I am grateful to the chiropractor for actually taking the time to listen to me and all my concerns. If it wasn’t for him and his thorough examination, I wouldn’t even know about my disc degeneration. Now I see from other posts on the forum that degeneration above and below the fusion is quite common because of the extra stress placed on these areas. The chiropractor seemed well aware of this issues, of which I had never previously been informed. However, I find the chiropractic treatment rather brutal and worrisome.
In contrast, my family doctor got a copy of the same X-ray report on my neck that was ordered by the chiropractor. He skimmed the report during my last office visit to discuss the carpal tunnel syndrome and I heard him mumbling “blah blah narrowing of the foramen, that wouldn’t affect it” (he was referring to the carpal tunnel). Tomorrow I am going back to my family doctor to discuss what is a suitable treatment for my degenerating discs in the neck. Although I don’t hold out much hope of being heard. I don’t know why he left this unaddressed at the last visit. I also don’t know why the orthopedic surgeon didn’t say something two years ago as I am told by the chiropractor this is a process that has taken probably 15 years to get to this point. And I had full X-rays of the spine taken two years ago. It seems like the traditional orthopedic and neurological doctors can only help once the problem is really far gone.
I’m sure I need exercises for my back to strengthen it, but have been confused about what to do. I only know that swimming is supposed to be good, but I am not much of a swimmer (a bit of a fraidy-cat in the deep end of the pool). I used to have awesome exercises from a physiotherapist when I was quite young – before surgery. But I didn’t think I could use them now. The orthopedic guy two years ago suggested core strengthening when I asked about physio, but the only local physiotherapist who seemed credible (i.e. actually took the time to consult colleagues and make a considered opinion) said he would never do core strengthening for someone in my situation.
I know these are a lot of questions. But what do I do? Does anyone have any suggestions/experience on any of these points?
Thanks in advance for any comments, and regards to all who use this forum. I wish you all well.
PS: I hope I have posted in the right section of the forum.
I had my Harrington rod inserted 35 years ago. I learned a couple of years ago during an episode of upper back problems that the rod is actually broken and one of the hooks has come loose. I don’t have notes on the length of my fusion as it was so many years ago and I was only 16 at the time. But I do know it covers a large portion of my thoracic and lumbar spine.
The reason I went to see a chiropractor was because I have recently been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists, and surgery was recommended for both. In an effort to avoid surgery, I went to a chiropractor for treatments on my wrists. In the process, he told me that I had a “double crush” on my median nerve – it was not only my carpal tunnel that was impinging on my nerve, but also higher up where the nerve leaves the spinal cord through the foramen in the vertebra. He told me that I had degenerating discs between C5-6 and C6-7 that were stage 3. (There are only 4 stages of degeneration which he showed me on models of the spine.) He recommended a chiropractic treatment. I was extremely skeptical and fearful as I had been told by the orthopedic surgeon 35 years ago never to have chiropractic treatment. The chiropractor assured me that chirpracty has come a long way and that the treatment to my neck would not hurt me. The testing procedure with the “ProAdjustor” was so gentle, and another patient in his waiting room told me how she was having the same treatment and that it was best described as “relaxing” compared to the traditional “bone crunching” people think of. Within a couple of days, after talking with my husband, I decided to try it. But the treatment itself was on a different machine than the ProAdjustor, and I don’t remember the name of it. I was a hand-held device that basically pummeled my vertebrae. I was shocked at how forceful the devicde was. I had one treatment and felt fine enough until that evening when my spine in between my shoulder blades felt like something was wrong. I was so uncomfortable, I felt like I had to hold my breath in order to stand or sit upright. It was the same feeling I had a couple of years ago when I had to take two months off work because I couldn’t sit up for 8 hours at work. I couldn't sleep that night. On the next visit, the chiropractor told me he could lessen the force applied. But I have discontinued this part of the treatment and have only continued with the part of the chiropracty directly on my wrists. I have done a lot of resting, use of heating pad, using a back brace and massage therapy, and after two weeks my back feels pretty much back to normal. I cannot say that I had pain, but more like a feeling that my back was coming apart. It’s hard to describe, and my story really pales by comparison to what many of the forum users are describing, but I still find it troubling.
My husband is worried what will happen to me in the long term if I don’t have any treatment on my neck. He thinks I will end up having surgery years from now when my discs degenerate to stage 4, and that I will end up with a neck fusion and little movement in my neck, and all the attendant risks of surgery. I am more worried about whether a chiropractic treatment on my neck will dislodge an old fusion lower down in my spine, or maybe displace the broken rod even further than what it already is, and result in worse problems.
I am grateful to the chiropractor for actually taking the time to listen to me and all my concerns. If it wasn’t for him and his thorough examination, I wouldn’t even know about my disc degeneration. Now I see from other posts on the forum that degeneration above and below the fusion is quite common because of the extra stress placed on these areas. The chiropractor seemed well aware of this issues, of which I had never previously been informed. However, I find the chiropractic treatment rather brutal and worrisome.
In contrast, my family doctor got a copy of the same X-ray report on my neck that was ordered by the chiropractor. He skimmed the report during my last office visit to discuss the carpal tunnel syndrome and I heard him mumbling “blah blah narrowing of the foramen, that wouldn’t affect it” (he was referring to the carpal tunnel). Tomorrow I am going back to my family doctor to discuss what is a suitable treatment for my degenerating discs in the neck. Although I don’t hold out much hope of being heard. I don’t know why he left this unaddressed at the last visit. I also don’t know why the orthopedic surgeon didn’t say something two years ago as I am told by the chiropractor this is a process that has taken probably 15 years to get to this point. And I had full X-rays of the spine taken two years ago. It seems like the traditional orthopedic and neurological doctors can only help once the problem is really far gone.
I’m sure I need exercises for my back to strengthen it, but have been confused about what to do. I only know that swimming is supposed to be good, but I am not much of a swimmer (a bit of a fraidy-cat in the deep end of the pool). I used to have awesome exercises from a physiotherapist when I was quite young – before surgery. But I didn’t think I could use them now. The orthopedic guy two years ago suggested core strengthening when I asked about physio, but the only local physiotherapist who seemed credible (i.e. actually took the time to consult colleagues and make a considered opinion) said he would never do core strengthening for someone in my situation.
I know these are a lot of questions. But what do I do? Does anyone have any suggestions/experience on any of these points?
Thanks in advance for any comments, and regards to all who use this forum. I wish you all well.
PS: I hope I have posted in the right section of the forum.
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