adventures in chiropractors

[kenyonchris]

My back continues to bug me on the bike. Pretty much exclusively on the bike, but if I sit in one place long enough (like the car), it bugs me there too. I have switched bikes, my bike was a bit too big, and it helped a bit, but I finally broke down and went to the dr. as I have two major rides in California that DH and I are doing for our honeymoon (leaving on the 16th). The Dr. sent me to the chiropractor, who took an xray of my lower back, put the electrostimulation on me for 10 minutes or so, then poked around on it for a bit, found a few very sore points (mainly on the right side, which is the side bothering me on the bike) and told me to come back tomorrow. He said he wanted to read the xrays and give the tissue time to settle down after the electrostimulation.
So now, an hour or so later, my back is quite sore. It has never been sore before, except on the bike. And I feel pretty achy all over, sort of flulike without the flu part. I had planned on a ride, but bagged that. And now I am paranoid that I am doing more harm than good with it, and am worried about going back tomorrow for more. Anyone been to a chiropractor before and had this happen? I'm now worried that I should have belted up, gotten through my two rides, THEN addressed the problem.
I am sort of chiropractor wary, although this is the guy that my regular dr. told me to go to....
ugh. I need to get some miles.

[tulip]

A chiropractor helped me tremendously a few years back when I had horrible pain in my lower back. It's pretty amazing that someone who knows where to touch can find soreness and tension and problems. When I first started working with him, I found that I was sore, almost fragile feeling. But after a while, I felt so rejuvenated after sessions.

If you are concerned, call him up and ask him.

[sarahspins]

The electrostimulation could have done it.. every time I've had it done I've been absolutely MISERABLE afterwards.. so it's hard to say.

[nscrbug]

I agree about the E-Stim...I've had this done many times (my chiro was a firm believer in e-stim and used it on me at every session). While it felt wonderful during the session, afterwards I always felt like crap. Sore, stiff and extremely tight throughout my lower back. I could barely get myself up off the table afterwards...and I felt like I could hardly stand up straight. However, I do have an actual spine condition called spondylolisthesis (at the L5/S1 level), which basically means that my L5 vertebra has slipped forward at least 50% over my S1 vertebra. So my discomfort after the E-stim might be due to the nature of my back condition. I have trouble getting out of bed, too. And yes, biking does bother my back, but in all honesty...everything does, so I guess I have gotten used to living with the chronic pain. It really sucks sometimes and can totally put a damper on some of my rides (especially long rides)...but having fusion and laminectomy surgery really isn't high on my "to do" list.

[mekira]

I'm always sore after I see my chiropractor. I'm stiff the next day (I take that day off from training) and I feel really good 48 hours after.

[kermit]

After a broken L3 and bursitis in my hips I get a full on treatment from my DO starting with electrostim. The massage therapy and then chiro adjustment and occasional injections of prolotherapy or triggers, it'll all be sore. The electrostim makes your muscles spasm and flex, it will help in the long run. Try some ice, and motrin. I would give him a good shot, he sounds like he cares in helping. I discovered that sitting in the car with the gun belt really did alot of damage and started the bursitis. Lots of walking on duty and stretching. I usually plan to do my rides before the doc or just plan a day off!

[Kathi]

I spent 4 mos with a PT trying to work out back issues. I went home in tears feeling worse than I did before I saw him. Definitely had to use ice after treatment. In 4 mos I didn't get better. I saw a different PT and it turned out I had a locked SI joint. In retrospect some of my symptoms were sitting slightly sideways on my bike, feeling very painful after long periods of sitting, as in traveling in the car and sitting on a slight angle. It was very difficult to stand straight for a few minutes.

X-Rays and an MRI showed nothing. My pain was on the opposite side, painful right, locked SI joint (no Pain) on left.

[malkin]

I worked for a chiro for a while.
Some of the stuff we handed out seemed like pure BS to me (like the paper about curing measles by having spine adjustments instead of immunizations).

Fixing stiff necks and sore backs seemed legit.

Lots of old folks and Moonies came in and left feeling better. (it was Berkeley)

I still don't know what to make of the time I came in to work feeling like I was "coming down with something" and the boss cracked my neck and back and then I felt fine and didn't get sick.

Magic?

[kenyonchris]

Thanks everyone...He seems legit....after all, it was a referral from my normal dr...
I feel better now....still pretty achy, we will see what happens tomorrow. I really need to get some miles in, but I may have to sit one more day on the bench.

[KnottedYet]

Some people have bad reactions to e-stim.

It should NEVER make you feel worse. You should never feel icky as a result of e-stim. If you do have a bad reaction, please don't continue to get e-stim treatments. Feeling worse after e-stim is not normal, and is a counter-indication.