When or should I see a ortho for my back?

[sundial]

I have found using a variety of treatments, ie medical massage therapy, physical therapy and chiropractic care, helps me. If I had access to a reputable acupuncture clinic, I would probably incorporate that too.

I also use small yoga balls--the kind that is about the size of a softball--to help with my joint pain. It gives me relief as well.

[smilingcat]

Thank you,

I will be making an appt with my GP and have him recommend me a specialist for my back. Like to know how much my discs have deteriated... If it isn't too bad then I might go for Rolfing for deep tissue massage and definitly some PT work. I need to spend sometime to learn about what McKenzie PT is all about. Sounds interesting.

I looked into the Mckenzie certified PT's. They are located close by At this point, I'm willing to try something new.

smilingcat

[KnottedYet]

McKenzie's been around since the 60's, but more popular in countries with socialized medicine. (cuz for your standard disc issues it gets people out of treatment in 4 to 6 visits. Great for socialized medicine, but not so popular for the profit-driven systems where you keep a patient for much much longer and make more money off their insurance.)

It works very well for specific disc issues, and if your back doesn't respond like one that McKenzie works for, you'll know at that first visit. Your cert or dip PT would tell you if your back is appropriate. No wasted time/money.

The basic idea is that you put your back out, you can put it back in. (as long as the disc hasn't fragmented or hasn't caused cauda equina damage. if that is the case you are sent back to your doc.) The PT helps you figure out which movements put your disc back in, you do those every 1-2 hours, and after a week or so of no pain you are tested thru movements to see if the disc has healed into place. If it has healed then you begin careful stretching exercises for the disc so it is flexible and less likely to bust open/"go out" again.

There is a book "Treat Your Own Back" by Robin McKenzie that might be worth looking over.

[Di bear]

I go to a chirpractor on occasion. Try one. Not any one, but a good one. I asked for a lot of opinions before I let someone mess with my back. Life has been a lot better ever since.

However....some people require more. Steroid injections are typically done under CT and are quite successful. If all else fails, don't be afraid to go down this path. :-)

[smilingcat]

Again, thank you all for your kind comments.

I know I have bone spurs on two of my vertabrae. It's been there since I nearly broke my back over 30 years ago from a bad, bad, really bad head plant while doing aerials on my skiis. I'm still amazed that I didn't break my back then. Anyway, couldn't remember which two it was. Yesterday, I went to my weekly chiro since June and had him pull out my old x-rays from about 14 years ago. Yup its there on L3 and L4. and that is where my back is out. major OUIE!!!

Making an appt for MRI to see how much it has deterriated.

not looking forward to the bad news.
Smilingcat

[Dogmama]

I was going to suggest an MRI to see what is going on. I had a cervical fusion 1.5 years ago when one disk had slipped & was impaling itself into my spinal cord. No fun.

Now, I'm having lower back issues too. All docs agree that neck & low back pain go hand-in-hand. My ortho did an MRI & said discs are bulging. I've just started to see an acupuncturist who is helping.

Caution about chiro's - be sure you have a good one. I saw a chiro before an ortho & I believe that the chiro might have made things worse. He didn't have an MRI to consult, so it wasn't really his fault.

I had a cyclist for my PT after my cervical fusion. He prescribed exercises that I could do at stoplights. Looks a little weird, but gives people something to talk about! "Hey Mildred - look at the crazy woman doing a turtle thing with her neck! HA HA HA!"

[smilingcat]

I finally threw my towel in saw my doctor yesterday. He didn't think I needed to see an orthopedicist but he wanted to see X-ray images first. From what I told him, he said that the bone spur may be irritating the muscles in the back... Anyway I'll find out what I need to do next. One nice thing about living in LA is I can be referred to someone who has worked for US Olympic team as either as a doctor, chiro, massuese...

Depending on what he sees, he'll recommend what he think is appropriate. Also had my basic health check done. same old same old. except my heart rate had climbed to 72 resting and my bp was 110/8?. This was like minute after I had another moment of YYEEEOOUUCH! down my back. getting out of my seat.

Well I'm thinking maybe hey, I'll go get my back ROLF'ED or look for McKenzie trained PT's. I'll ask my doctor about that too.

Yes my back is still giving me grief. grrr...

smilingcat