a back injury i got in a car accident. i compressed a disc between s4 and s5 about 25%.

has anyone ever gotten on a spinal decompression machine? i'm already in physical therapy since the accident and things are going well, just wondering if this would be a good possible suppliment.

6/16/2008 1:12:39 PM

Physical therapy is real theapy.

Chiropractor is basically a free weekly massage.

Do what you want.

6/16/2008 3:01:59 PM

Chiropractors are quacks. Sounds like you're already seeing a real doctor, why lower the bar.

6/16/2008 3:04:07 PM

Your "real" doctor gives you cold medicine and acne cream. Stick with physical theraphy for a while. If it's not getting better, I would recommend a chiropractor. My mom made a bad mistake of not have a specialist look at her spine after her accident.

6/16/2008 3:14:09 PM

^my mom calls them phonies, too. she's scared they'll paralyze the world or something.

6/16/2008 3:14:25 PM

nearly every legitmate thing chiropractors do is a subset of what a PT can do. Anything a chiro does that a PT doesn't probably won't help

6/16/2008 3:18:52 PM

Quote :

"has anyone ever gotten on a spinal decompression machine? "

Yes, they are AWESOME. Usually not expensive either, I would try it once if you're not sure about it. If you don't think it feels fantastic and your back doesn't feel great after, don't go back.

Just like any profession, some chiropractors are quacks and some aren't. There are lots of good things a chiropractor can do for you that an MD won't.

I had really bad arm and shoulder problems a few years ago. The MDs told me to take ibuprofen, ice it, and "get over it." The chiro actually wanted to try to do SOMETHING to get my arm better and functional. They gave me some really powerful icy hot to put on it also.

Most health insurance plans will cover chiropractic care after an auto accident, so I'd at least try it out.

[Edited on June 16, 2008 at 4:39 PM. Reason : .]

6/16/2008 4:39:23 PM

^ so why did you have to get on the machine in the first place?

I am thinking of giving it a shot since my lawyer is helping me get all the medical attention i can for my injuries. but i called a local chiro and they gave me bullshit about how i have a degenerative condition now and it's going to get worse everyday of my life until i come into their office for an evaluation. that's a sign of 10 on the quackoshit meter for me. but the therapy does make sense to me albeit i saw the therapy demonstrated on a late night INFOMERCIAL while i was laid up with ma hydros. i'd like to try it eventually. going to do what my PT says first though, then maybe talk to some yoga people.

6/16/2008 5:27:43 PM

can't you just hang upside-down?

6/16/2008 5:39:53 PM

Quote :

"so why did you have to get on the machine in the first place?"

My back hurt too, and the chiro said "You should give this a try"

I did and was very pleased with the results.

6/16/2008 6:13:52 PM

Quote :

"has anyone ever gotten on a spinal decompression machine? i'm already in physical therapy since the accident and things are going well, just wondering if this would be a good possible suppliment. "

YES!!! I am going every day as we speak right now!!! Gotta say it definitely helps. I mean, granted my herniated disc is SUPER SEVERE (is a slipped L4 disc that is pinching my L5 nerve and my sciatic nerve that gives me sharp pains in my hip thigh area, burning leg, tingly foot and lower back pain), but it's a slow process for me either way. I've had this slipped disc for 5 months (had the epideural steroid injections, pain killers, oral steroids, etc.) and my mama did some research on the IDD therapy (spinal decompression) and it is a BEAUTIFUL THING.

The only downfall though is that NO ONE in Wake County performs it (I heard b/c the table is like $250,000 and it's not a "proven" therapy by mostly insurance agencies yet), except for one in Cary. However, he will charge you $4000 for his 20 visits. I go to one in Sanford, NC that only charges me my $30 co-pay for my first 20 visits, and if you have to get treatment any after the 20, then you don't pay a thing. Plus, I get adjustments every day afterwards.

PM me for further details! I'll be glad to help offer advice.

6/16/2008 10:36:50 PM

spinal decompression has a long history of use

6/17/2008 1:11:23 PM

I've had spinal decompression therapy. It hurt like hell the first time I did it but he made some changes and it ended up helping a lot. I also have a severely compressed nerve as a result of a herniated disc in my L4/5.

Definitely don't see a chiropractor if your pain is real.

Physical therapy is your best bet, although -- in truth -- you're likely to always deal with some level of back pain for the rest of your life.

6/17/2008 1:29:03 PM

Funny how you are charged in advance for 20 sessions.

Wouldn't logic dictate that if it was better after then 3rd time then that would be enough?

Pop quiz: Do you know what a subluxation is? Because it's dubious at best.

6/17/2008 3:04:58 PM

subluxation is not just "at best" dubious. At best, it's complete bullshit, and at worst, it's a dangerous scam.

Many/some chiros don't subscribe to subluxation as a theory, though. The "straights" are the old-style chiropractors who think it's real (like Palmer himself), but the "reforms" don't believe in subluxation as a healing power and just do normal PT work (except without the whole "going to medical school" part)

6/17/2008 3:58:41 PM

Quote :

"Chiropractor is basically a free weekly massage."

wrong...going to a Chiropractor and going to a Masseur is as different as apples to oranges

6/17/2008 4:38:36 PM

subluxation is real. However, what chiropractors call subluxation is completely fake and dubious. You would not go to a chiropractor to have a subluxation fixed.

Chriopractors are complete bullshit and do more harm then good.

[Edited on June 17, 2008 at 4:43 PM. Reason : .]

6/17/2008 4:42:32 PM

yeah. i got a sterroid shot today. it really burned inside my left asscheek. i thought it was sciatica setting in. i think i'm just going to be taking a while to heal. but that's awesome about the spinal decompression. my orthopedist doesn't think i'm even a candidate, but happy to know it's an option.

[Edited on June 18, 2008 at 12:18 AM. Reason : .]

6/18/2008 12:16:43 AM

Sooooooooo i haven't read everything everyone else has said....but at the massage center i work at we work with a lot of pain mangement. You could get your doctor to prescribe you a prescription for massage and you can file our reciept with your insurance so all you have to pay is maybe a co-pay. But massage is definitely the most beneficial thing to deal with pain.
If you want to know more you can pm me.

but otherwise good luck with everything!

6/18/2008 12:39:39 AM

I would urge you to do whatever you reasonably can to help yourself.

Acute pain turning into chronic pain sucks.

6/18/2008 2:34:36 AM

^ And unfortunately, that's what mine has done. Herniated discs SUCK!!! Grrrrr.

[Edited on June 18, 2008 at 3:04 AM. Reason : Going on 5 months now....*sigh*]

6/18/2008 3:03:42 AM

i wouldnt mind a broad stepping on my back about now

6/18/2008 3:07:49 AM

SHIT! i was going to ask my doc if he could do a script for a message or not!! i'll call him bout that today.

also going to have plastic surgery on my nose next week.

6/18/2008 8:00:57 AM

mine's been 1 year now, and the shots didn't help me.

worked for about a week or so and then the pain came back as strong as before


but you're still early on in your injury (I think), so just try and take it easy as possible. stay off your feet while you're recovering from your nose surgery. some people just need to take the pressure off their spine for a while and give it time to heal [/optimism]

6/18/2008 9:15:28 AM

thanks for the optimism. i'm sorry about your back. i never thought i'd go through anything this painful. it sucks, and makes me want to stay the hell away from anything dangerous.

^my aunt is a RN, and she said 7 weeks is a drop in the bucket for any serious back injury.


[Edited on June 18, 2008 at 9:37 AM. Reason : .]

[Edited on June 18, 2008 at 9:39 AM. Reason : .]

6/18/2008 9:35:59 AM

That may be true but the prognosis for illness gets worse the more chronic something becomes, generally speaking.

6/20/2008 4:04:22 AM

yeah. i got shooting pain in my right leg today. i cried. i'm emotional abou this. it's my back and even with PT i can't be positive. i have other trauma issues too but this is hard to accept.

6/20/2008 7:20:02 PM

^^ Well then I'm fucked. B/c I've had a herniated disc KILLING ME for going 6 months!

6/20/2008 7:29:26 PM

^^don't sweat it wgrl. i've got other shit on the pile of life that's giving pressure too. yoga's doing a lot to heal my physical wounds. it's just a real fucked up time for this to happen. but i'm dealing well. my PTherapist is cool. i really am lucky to be doing so well. it just hit hard because i wasn't in control of the car when it happened.

6/20/2008 11:26:32 PM

Gonna crack your bones

6/20/2008 11:54:23 PM