Strained back...any suggestions?

[KipGirl91]

I just found out that I strained my back last week. I'm guessing it's a combination of wear and tear over time(my RMT said the arch of my back is more defined than the average person, due to gymnastics), and over stretching on Friday(I helped coach an all day PD Day Camp).

My chiropractor did some Ultra-sound and adjustments on my back, and it seems to be helping a bit, but it still hurts from time to time. Especially any time I do any kind of stretching backward. I actually skipped practice Monday night, because I couldn't even do a basic seal stretch without being in pain. Standing for a long period of time is also getting to be uncomfortable(which is not good because I'm also in a choir). I've been doing some reverse stretches(stretching forward instead of backward), and watching my posture even more, but it still hurts a bit. Does anyone have suggestions for stretches or anything I could do to make it better any faster?

 

[Tim_Dad]

Just a suggestion:
Look up "Sports medicine - physical therapy" in the phone book and get a 2nd opinon from someone that's NOT a chiropractor.

 

[Rec Coach]

Ice!!!

And I did the same thing just the other day!

I also spent an hour at the pool today, just floating around, stretching lightly and sitting on and off in the hot tub. It helped my morning go by nearly pain free.

 

[Tumblequeensmom]

I agree ... get a REAL medical diagnosis before any further damage is done! I've seen many people injured from chiropracters performing adjustments!! Be careful.

-Lynn

 

[sgnsp235]

I agree with everybody!
Go to a physical therapist, orthopedic doctor, sports medicine specialist, etc...
somebody with an MD, for a second opinion

 

[Rec Coach]

Wow - maybe the situation in different in the US but I'm surprised at the response against chiropractors....

In Canada (or at least in my area) they are MDs and generally accepted as legitimate health practitioners.

From personal experience, my quality of life would be drastically reduced without having access to a chiropractor. I've had migranes from a young age that would last for weeks or months and now when I get one, I can go to my chiro who adjusts a tiny bone near my jaw and it's gone within days. Any doctor I went to before just told me to take a muscle relaxant and/or pain reliever....No thanks! That would be a lot of drugs through my life!!

Anyway, just my $0.02

PS> Just noticed the OP is also from Canada which may explain her use of RMT and Chiro over a doctor

 

[KipGirl91]

"Wow - maybe the situation in different in the US but I'm surprised at the response against chiropractors....

In Canada (or at least in my area) they are MDs and generally accepted as legitimate health practitioners."

Me too. My chiropractor is very good, and I would be in a LOT of pain without her. When I have a cold, all she has to do is adjust a few spot in my neck, and healing time is dramatically reduced. I know that when thinking of Chiropractors, most people think of the hard (for lack of a better word) adjustments that they all used to use, but my chiropractor doesn't actually do that. She uses a combination of muscle massage(very much like a massage therapist), and a tool called Activator Link Removed. which really works well.

From personal experience, I actually don`t have a very high opinion of sport specialists and MDs. I had tendinitis in my shoulder in the spring, my MD told me to take 2 Advil 3 times a day and see a sport specialist. The sport specialist told me that I should go see eek a chiropractor and RMT! Which coincidentally is what I had already been doing. Not to dismiss everyone`s opinion, but that`s just my $.02 from experience.

 

[bogwoppit]

Just to clarify, I am in Canada and most of our family is in the medical profession, and are MD's. You do not have to be an MD to be a chiropracter in Canada.

The following is an excerpt from the Canadian Chiropractic Association

Link Removed

Chiropractic is a regulated health profession recognized by statute in all Canadian provinces and American states. Canadian chiropractors undergo an intensive four-year, full-time course of study following three years of university before qualifying to undertake national examinations and become licensed to practice.

It is clear that they do not have to be MD's.

 

[Tim_Dad]

Licensed or not, chiropractors are not orthopedic doctors. And orthopedic doctors may also not be well versed in the field of sports medicine. That's a whole separate specialty. At least, in the U.S. it is.

Case in point: My son.

When he was 15, he joined the HS wrestling team. After about 1 month, he had problems with his arm pulling out of the shoulder socket. DW took him to a friend recommended chiropractor who said "all very normal, blah blah blah, we just need to schedule you in for a few adjustments a couple times a month to allow the joint to heal and you'll be good to go."

Guess what -- it didn't do anything but provide temporary relieve.

I later took him to a orthopedic doctor that specialized in sports medicine. He took one Xray, told him he is done growing, and it doesn't matter how many "adjustments" he gets, he will always have a weak rotator cuff. His recommendation, give up wrestling for something like swimming. He also reminded us that ONLY chiropractors recommend scheduled "adjustments". This is their primary source of income. Food for thought.

When i had chronic back pain... I was at the chiropractor twice monthly. Massage and all helped for sure. Felt great after, but didn't address the cause. Which incidentally, wasn't even in my back, like the chiropractor said, but rather in my legs! My primary physician recommended a physical therapist, who recommended some stretches I can do at home and while sitting at my desk at work. I haven't had a backache for years.

Bottom line: If a chiropractor makes you feel good...great. Just don't expect them to fix or cure what's causing the pain in the first place, because frankly, I don't think they know themselves. And it makes one wonder...if all it took was a well placed adjustment, activator, massage..etc.... WHY wouldnt a medical doctor be recommending the same thing?

 

[KipGirl91]

I am sorry for those of you who have had unpleasant or unfortunate dealings with chiropractors in the past. While I agree that some chiropractors do have you schedule several times a month all for the sake of making money(we left our first chiropractor for that very reason), however not all chiropractors are like that, and some actually do target the cause and bring healing. Mine does not schedule regular appointments(as it were) unless you really need it. Otherwise it is at the patient's discretion, depending on how they feel. At the most, one or two additional appointments.

Like I said, seeing a sport specialist felt like a waste of time, since what he recommended was what I had already been doing in the first place. He did nothing as far as X-rays or anything like that. Basically all happened was he examined me, and said "Yep, you have rotator cuff tendinitis, you should see a Chiropractor and RMT. Oh, and take about a week off work and training." (Which is what my MD said) I'd see him again, but if all that's going to happen is him saying "Yep, you have a minor strain in your back, go see a chiropractor and RMT, put some ice on and take some Advil.", I'd just as soon say no thanks, I know that already.

Not to seem defensive, but when I asked for suggestions on how to help my back, I didn't know I was going to be getting into a discussion about the ethics of chiropractics and Sport Specialists and the lot.:shy:

 

[bogwoppit]

Ah you know how we love to discuss everything, and occasionally drag it right off track. But, there was some good advice thrown in with all the pontificating. I hope your back is feeling somewhat better now.

 

[MdGymMom01]

I agree with Tim_Dad in that sometimes back problems are a symptom of another problem altogether. Backs are very tricky and can be a real pain (no pun intended). I have issues with my back from years and years of running (had to have a discectomy on L4/L5), so now I just have to be really aware of my back and stretch all the time. My lower back muscles are very weak and since I sit at a desk all day my shoulders get tight also. I have tight hamstrings from running all the time also so that plays a part in my back issues also. A good suggestion for anyone who has back issues is to get up every hour and stetch and walk around. Try to do a little light stretching every night and morning and that should help. Also--Listen to your body and don't over do anything!

I hope this helps!

 

[KipGirl91]

Thanks! Yes, my back is feeling quite a bit better, I've been taking it pretty easy, and doing a bit of stretching. Fortunately I only coach once a week, so I've been putting minimal stress on it. My mom wouldn't even let me go out to shovel to snow! lol I know there's a lot of good advice here, that's what I love about this site, I just wasn't aware about the general consensus about chiropractors. I digress myself sometimes too, completely forgetting what I was initially talking about.

 

[maddiekate]

I strained my knee over a year ago and my coach told me I should go to a chiropractor. He did some "adjustment thing" and it felt better for the next day or too, but then it got worse. I went to the doctor after a while and he said the chiropractor had moved a tendon or something out of where it should be. He fixed it and gave me exercises to do and after that it was fine. I don't trust chiropractors. It seems like they will make something feel better for a day and then say, "come twice a month and I will temporarily make you feel better".

 

[bogwoppit]

Thanks! Yes, my back is feeling quite a bit better, I've been taking it pretty easy, and doing a bit of stretching. Fortunately I only coach once a week, so I've been putting minimal stress on it. My mom wouldn't even let me go out to shovel to snow! lol I know there's a lot of good advice here, that's what I love about this site, I just wasn't aware about the general consensus about chiropractors. I digress myself sometimes too, completely forgetting what I was initially talking about.

Great, you know shovelling snow is one of the worst things for your back, though I suppose spotting kids is probably right up there with it. Keep up the rest and I am sure you'll be fine.

 

[ShootingStaRr]

sorry this will probably go of topic

i also agree with Tim_Dad !!
my brother used to have problems with his feet + shin splints etc
he saw lots of people (people with degrees in manipulative therapy,s ports medicine etc)
but none of them could address the root of the problem, they could on give temporary relief.
he is in Nz Army and he does a lot of field exercises and 10km pack runs and every time he went out on one he was taken out of them because he would be in pain! at one point he was on crutches for 6 weeks it was that bad !. well that was all until he met Mohammed Ali (hmm sound familiar?) he was the only person who could address the root of the problem, the reason why he had the pain was because he wasnt walking properly there is actually 2 parts to your foot; the walking part and the running part. he was running on the walking part and vice versa. they had to re teach him to walk from the basics !!!!!!!!!! hes fine now and he can do anything that requires running etc