Pinched nerve in neck

[INJURY_69]

i recall reading stretchin may not be all advantgeous? It was a scientific study but i can't see why one wouldn't stretch.

I saw a chiro for the first time a couple of yrs ago. man this guy tore me up! he did this "leg same length" thing ...but then my lower rib hurt (esp when i laugh) kinda felt like it caved in.

Wierdest part was what he did to my shoulder, made my head feel super heavy and the shoulder feel wierd for a long long time ?

I saw another guy who was more 'gentle' but he slipped while adjusting my neck ... and I member afterwards black tunnel vision caving in!and headaches! pretty scarey when your driving and it's sudden.

I don't see him anymore 'cause my neck didn't hurt in the first place...and then i get advertisement mail saying how he is neck specialist?

I could go on about this guy and more negatives but

worse part i suppose for me is not exhausting all possiblities for treatment/diagnosis.

if I would have known I had a t3 and t5 compression fracture (these guys are like...we will fix it .....without any knowledge or x-rays or...) I would have been like "just release pressure inbetween the shoulder blades"

and that is it!

i wouldn't recommend a chiro but if so....put him/her on the bottom of the heirarchy after alternate treatments are ruled out. even then make sure to find a good experienced one and see them no more than once a mo.

just MHO

[DRZCatastrophe]

Really? Then I want my money back from my MD prescribed physical therapy which involved a great deal of stretching.

[mxchic]

I work with a chiropractor as an assistant ( administering theraputic modalities) and as a massage therapist. I have to say that most of our patients have been very satisfied with their chiropracitc care. A very small population gets a little sore after a first adjustment, and they are told of that possibility in advance. Sometime the muscles will react after an adjustment. Most of our patents that stick to their treatment plan recover. There are a small number that don't. We have also seen a small number of patients that are using us as a last resort to surgery. Their MD told them they need surgery because the pain meds or corticol steriod injections are not working. They figure they have nothing to lose as this point. The majority of these patients returned to work and have had minimized their pain enough to have normal lifes without resorting to surgery. These people usually see us monthly to help maintain the functions of the area.

Different treatments work for different people. I really see a limitation in MD's for back problems. They can prescribe medicine (which sometimes masks the problem) or refer you to a surgeon. Sometimes surgery is needed, but I have seen too many people have back or neck surgeries that left them worse off. In general, I beleive if you can avoid surgery and avoid long term pain medicine or anti-inflamitory medicines you are better off in the long run.

Before seeing any professional, MD, DC, Surgeon etc. I always do my research. There are bad people in every profession, and I trust no one on just good faith.

Also keep in mind when it come to Chiropractors, there are many different adjusting techinques. There are some techinques that I don't personally care for. So if decide to give a DC a try, do you homework and find out what techique they use. Ask a lot of questions. If they can't explain the theory of how it works (everything is a theory in medicine) then I wouldn't trust them. The DC's I know are very knowlegdable about the functions of the entire body and specialists in the area of the spine. They are intelligent and have earned the title of Doctor.

[mxchic]

Also.....I am not trying to change anyones minds on Chiropractors. I am just telling you of my limited experiences I have had working with these two chirpractors for 5 years. Form your own opinion. ?

[Mike_in_Roseville]

I think at this point I am going to try the massage route. Before going into something that I really feel uncomfortable with (IE: Chiropractics) I will see if massage will help. Question: Can massage hurt? I mean, make it worse. I have had massages in the past, and the massage therapist stated I was very tight in my shoulders. Too much stress over the years I suppose.

Are there any muscle relaxants out there (over the counter) that work?

MIR

[DRZCatastrophe]

Massage therapy (which is different than just getting a massage from a masseuse) can make you very sore and it can hurt while they are working on you. You just need to communicate with the therapist. But it won't hurt you. The whole point is to restore circulation in the spasmed muscle. Muscle constriction reduces blood flow to that area which makes it hard for your body to fix itself.

The only thing I've EVER read in my massage manuals is that it can send you into premature labor if you are pregnant. Are you pregnant? ?

If you have muscle tightness and spasms, stretching EVERY DAY will help you. I know this because that's what I have--

[lilGirl]

The soreness does not go down the arm, so maybe not a pinched nerve.

My suggestion would be to go to a Physio. They'll assess and try a few things such a TENS (fabulous for spasms- I own a little machine myself as I'm prone to these pesky devils), ultrasound for relief, determine the proper exercises, etc.... If they think it's something more severe they'll pass you onto a Sports Med Dr or similar.

If you have a University or College nearby phone their Athletics department and ask who they suggest/use, they've usually got a pretty good one.

Next- get yourself some neck protection for riding. ?