Please suggest what I can do about my back problems.

[td1111]

I am/was a tall slim guy 6"2. 8 to 10 years ago, I strained my back badly a few times, twice lifting furniture, once squatting. Through lots of chriopractics, physio, and stretching, it healed but never quite right. For the last 5 years, when I look in the mirror, my head/neck seems to pull to the right, and when I walk my right hip never swivels freely like my left.

I have become quite dilegent with stretching hams, glutes, quads, hip flexors, plus using my inversion table, and it is a constant battle as everything always tries to tighten right back up out of whack.

I have tried 3 chiropractors, and lots of massage therapy, and all of them help temporarily, but never cure the root problem. It seems that my muscle memory is premanently stuck in the old injured pattern, and cannot allow my spine to be straight.

I am at a loss of where to go next. Who should I talk to? Are there any more options, like surgery? No chiropractor has ever asked for an Xray, or anything.

Thanks for the help guys.

[guest1]

If your chiros have never asked for an xray then they are incompetent and/or just want your money without ever fixing the problem . The two chiros I've been to demanded xrays before treating me . you need to see a physician who will try and get you an MRI or at least an xray

[St]

With a massage you have to go back about every other month to keep it lined up,a RMT is like a piano tuner.Just keep going back to get some deep tissue massage i go all the time.

[BolicPower]

I would change doctors, How do they know what problem is with no x-rays? You need help, good somewhere else for more opinions

[Mr Ontario]

Check with Felinecougar from M.N There is a thread somewhere on there with different options etc.

[dainbramaged]

If it happens to be muscular related, either an imbalance or something previously didn't heal correctly, maybe you should talk to a physiotherapist [or potentially a sports doctor, if you can find one...find a good one...find one you don't have to wait 2 years to see..]. There may be muscular work that you need to undergo to correct your problem?

[Bowlcut]

Check out this guy http://www.ericcressey.com/home.html

Him and Mike Roberts are really good at dealing with injuries and posture problems.

[MuSuLPhReAk]

Surprised you have never had an xray. You may have a herniated disk which may need to be operated. Go see a specialist to see exactly what is wrong with your back.

[waderow]

physiotherapist...not chiropractor is required. IMHO a chiropractor should never be used.

[SiLvErBaK]

ever consider seeing a neurologist? could be some sort of nerve damage, may be something that would require surgery??physiotherapy...
talk to as many docs as you can and in the mean time....go your ass to an acupuncturist.
let me know how it wrks out

[Felinecougar]

TD...I read your situation and it does sound like you may need to see a Dr rather then a Chiropractor. Chiropractors do not do x rays because in Canada you will have to pay for them if they require an x ray for treatment.

MP suggested seeing a Neurologists. I agree. I saw one for my several different problems and found the actual Dr was useless. It was the tests his nurse did that had valuable info for me. A nerve study will be done. Electrodes and needles are placed on or in your body part that is affected. They then shock that nerve area and can tell what nerve is affected.

http://www.csmc.edu/7080.html

This study told me what nerves were affected. I later found out why. A CT scan did not find it. A bone scan did.

I'm reading between the lines, can it be that when the Drs hear that you have suffered for nearly 5 yrs that they pass it off as "something you can live with?".

Living in pain and dealing with it is one thing. It's wanting to get past it is what will help you find the answer. I wanna see that in your eyes when you talk to a Dr next time. Do NOT accept no answer again.

I told a DR last fall that I wanted to hurt him if he told me again that it was nothing he could do anything about. I was then given Diazapam and Oxycodon. Don't go the pain killers..find your reason and your answer. I did and am back to lifting again and loving life.

OH..it was a broken rib number 11 and osteoarthritis in my elbow.