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Originally Posted by millersod215
Alright, might be a little off topic for this forum, but i'm hoping to find a little insight from other guys out there who might be dealing with this same problem. I've been driving now for 4 years, and for about the last year i have had some of the worst back pain that i've ever had, it's not like an every once in a while thing, it's an everyday occurence. Now mind you, i race motocross (dirtbikes), and have been doing so for the last 6 years, i've never had a problem until now. Now here's the other kicker, i just started having these problems when i started hauling sod, i don't know if it's a combination of the rough roads and fields, the forklifts and piggybacks, or what, all i know is i would sure like to know that i'm not the only one out here dealing with this problem, i'm only 23 and it's pretty damn frustrating waking up everyday feeling like i'm 80. SOOOO, what is it that i might could do to resolve this problem, i'm going to start doing some pain management with a local clinic here where i live, has anyone had any experiences with clinics like this, Ex:Cortizone treatments, etc., and if so what kind of results have you gotten. Any answers would be greatly appreciated.
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Well... THIS one certainly "took off!" :lol:
Millersod, there have been several threads on this already. I've posted on most of them. I may NOT be the ONLY "expert" on this.... but I'm certainly one of them! :lol:
I'm 50 yrs old, and have had chronic back pain since about 13! I was fortunate enough to have found an EXCELLENT chiropractor, who was about 75 years old at the time, when I was just a young kid. He never took an X-ray (although, I believe this is a good idea,) but was able to just TOUCH me in places and say, "that HURTS, eh?" Damn right it did! And, I'm even talking about places on my HEAD.... that I didn't even know were affected! Your SPINE affects your whole body and even your entire HEALTH! It is literally the "backbone" of your existence.
General Practitioners (Medical doctors) spend most of their time in school learning about your ORGANS, and about chemical remedies or surgeries. Chiropractors spend about an equal amount of time learning about ONE thing! How your spine affects your health. Go with the Chiropractor!!
At 15, I was temporarily paralyzed by a slipped / degenerated disc. When I joined the Air Force, they insisted that they had to FUSE my backbone before I could be qualified for airborne duty. I told them to F#ck off! I had lived with this problem for years, and KNEW it was a simple matter of spinal alignment and muscle tone. They finally 'waived' me and let me fly.
M.D.'s only KNOW one thing (or two.) MEDICINE to ease the pain, or surgery to correct a problem whether it exists or not! Chiropractors recognize the fragility of the human spine, and how it affects our lives.
You DO need to avoid a chiropractor that just wants to "milk" your insurance.... they are out there (not unlike doctors.) And those who want you or your insurance to help them pay for all their expensive "ultrasound" equipment. I even had one that was bonkers for "magnetic theories." You have to stand your ground. Spinal alignment is a SIMPLE thing, but is responsible for MOST back problems.
Ultrasound is mostly needed ONLY if you cannot relax enough to allow "movement" of the spine. Trust your chiropractor, and all will be well. Sometimes, when you walk out, you will STILL hurt. That is because the muscles in the area are still inflamed and are pinching nerves. That does NOT mean that the chiropractor hasn't done his job. Once the spine is aligned, the muscles relax and the nerves are no longer pinched.
With the "history" you revealed to us, it would be hard to know just what aggravated your alignment. Regardless, sometimes it only takes a simple PULL of a muscle at the wrong time to yank your spine into a postition to pinch the MAJOR nerves that run right beside it. It can take months for this to get to an aggravated state.
Either way, with a simple X-ray (do NOT pay for an MRI!) a chiropractor can tell immediately what is causing your problem. Cortisone shots are OUT OF THE QUESTION for now. It would take a serious problem for them to be necessary.
I was about your age before it was apparent that one of my discs was "underdeveloped" and it could be your case, too. Hope not. But, years earlier, I learned that one leg was a simple 3 mm shorter than the other, which led to much of my problems. You see, it is literally a matter of mm's (not even inches!) that can affect your health. Do NOT ignore the issue.... learn about it. And don't bother with an M.D. unless you get no relief from a chiropractor.
Once you get yourself "aligned," do exercises to strengthen your lower back ( the lumbar region. ) One of the best is what is called a "flying situp" where you lay over a fulcrum with your ankles anchored, and let your torso drop towards the floor, then SLOWLY lift yourself up to a LATERAL position. It's like a "crunch" in reverse.
Like many here have said, chiropractors are CHEAP for what service they provide! Another thing.... look at what is on the wall of his office and exam room. If there are pictures of big houses and sandy beaches.... RUN! Find the guy with pictures of your spine and the affected muscles. Tell him you don't believe in Ultrasound. See what he says.
But remember, the WORST chiropractor I ever went to, helped me more than the best M.D. I ever saw! And remember... God created your spine! Scientists and pharmacists created drugs!
Good luck! Let us know how you feel in a few days!
Hobo