Post # 1
Member
2014 posts
Buzzing bee
I’m pretty sure the only person who may be able to help me is a Chiropractor but its a lot of money if its unlikely to have a possitive effect.
I dislocated my clavical about 5 years ago by falling up a metal staircase at work. I fell directly onto my right shoulder which resulted in an injury which I have been told is only really seen in sportsmen.
It appeared to heal ok, but I now often get joint stiffness and discomfort radiating from my shoulder, up through my neck and in my head. I noticed a few years ago that my clavical now pops in and out when I either lift my arms above my head or put my arms out to the side (like a plane). Its not really painful but it aches and often feels as if I am lopsided.
I had a consultation with a chiropractor about 3 years ago but I cant really remember what the diagnosis was. I remember her saying that its as if my vertibrae in my next are compressed and that is causing some of the stiffness.
I had a few accupuncture sessions which seemed to help with the stiffness but they suggested manipulation too. At the time I couldnt afford the treatment, but being in a better position financially now its something I am thinking about re addressing.
Does this type of treatment work, and how long on average does it take to see a difference. Im not sure what else I can do but the pain is starting to get to me a bit.
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Post # 2
Member
10510 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
Have you looked into physiotherapy? The evidence for the theory behind straight chiropractors is weak at best. I saw one for a while as I was willing to try anything that was reasonably safe (no neck manipulations) and I had no out of pocket costs. It didn’t help at all.
Post # 3
Member
2014 posts
Buzzing bee
AB Bride: are neck manipulations unsafe, this is what they wanted to do the last time and i didnt really like the sound of it!
Post # 4
Member
227 posts
Helper bee
I had a slightly tilted pelvis/jammed SI joint from a fall with radiating pain down my leg and clicking and stiffness in my hip/lower back. My experience with a chiropractor made it much worse. And I went to a “good” one! What did work for my was myofacial release therapy and aqua physical therapy in a hot salt water pool. Chiropractors are ok for misc achiness but run away if you have a legit injury. Even though they sound like they know what they are doing and make all kinds of promises they often don’t do much good and can really harm you if they are even a tad off.
Post # 5
Member
227 posts
Helper bee
Good luck and feel better!
Post # 6
Member
1853 posts
Buzzing bee
I just started going to a chiropractor a friend recommended. I’ve been twice, so it’s too soon to see any long-term persistent improvements, but I’ve really liked it so far. My problem is constantly aching and tense upper back and neck, including serious muscle spasms, but there is no actual injury to correct. Just a long time of punishing my upper back without relief…
I don’t find the neck adjustments scary at all. He has adjusted my neck two different ways (lying on my back and on my stomach), and both produced satisfying cracking that sounded like tension in the joints waiting to be released. He warned me that the first few times after any adjustment, those muscles might be sore the same way as after a workout or intense stretch, but that will go away after repeated adjustments. He also knows how to pop the joints between bones in the arches of my feet, which is pretty cool. I’ve felt great both times after leaving the office.
As for cost, my insurance happens to be pretty great and covers all but a $10 copay. I’d probably pay more than that, but not by much, although again that is only because I have no actual injury to correct. It’s up to you to decide if the cost is worth the potential relief.
Post # 7
Member
2014 posts
Buzzing bee
perhaps I should pay another visit to my GP and see what they suggest. I have moved to a different town now so my GP is different. He may have different advise than my last one who was as usefull as a chocolate teapot.
Post # 8
Member
2607 posts
Sugar bee
First….a chocolate teapot sounds delicious! 
Second, I’m a massage therapist. I have seen a lot of clients who have really been helped by chiropactic care, and others that haven’t been. A lot depends on the nature of your problem, and the skill of the chiropractor.
My mom is very against them, but she’s also very against most things that aren’t traditional medicine. My MIL is very pro-chiropractor, and has been helped a lot by seeing one. I’m pregnant and had a fall a month or two ago that really messed up my pelvis, (it hurt so bad I could barely walk, and spent the first few days in bed). There wasn’t much a regular doctor could do for me besides offer me pain medication, which I wasn’t keen on taking with the pregnancy. So I gave MIL’s chiro a try, (I’d actually seen her before for acupuncture, but had never been adjusted, so my first adjustment was rather more “up-close-and-personal” than most, because of the nature of my injury! LOL!). It was painful, (because of my injury, not because of anything she did), but I started seeing improvement the next day. It did take several visits, but it really seemed to help with my pain and my mobility.
Your injury is an old one, so it may take more time to correct. I would suggest finding a chiro who does massage or has a massage therapist on staff, (or getting massage before your chiro appointment elsewhere). Your muscles will have gotten used to the position your bones are in due to the injury, and if you don’t address them as well, they will have a tendency to pull you right back out of alignment.
Good luck, and I hope you find something to help you!
Post # 9
Member
1955 posts
Buzzing bee
My FMIL in law is a chiropractor. Since I’ve been getting adjusted regularly I stopped getting sick so much (chronic bronchitis), and have much less overall pain, and have seen an improvement in my pain from nerve damage. I personally would recommend trying it.
Post # 10
Member
10510 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
ChocolateLime: I really don’t think the risk is worth any benefit that neck manipulations will give. I also spoke to my GP before seeing the chiropractor, she was pretty skeptical, but gave me the go ahead on the conditions that there would be no neck manipulations and that there was nothing forceful done to my joints.
Post # 11
Member
2769 posts
Sugar bee
Manipulation & chiropractic plus prolotherapy saved my life. I say go for it.
Post # 12
Member
2014 posts
Buzzing bee
I think I will make an appointment for a new assessment with a very good chiropractor in my area and see what they suggest. I have to go to the GP anyway for an unrelated issue so will bring this up with him and see what other therapy they can suggest.
I guess the thing that freaked me out a little was the neck manipulation.
Post # 13
Member
232 posts
Helper bee
ChocolateLime: Hi there! Firstly, I should start this off by saying that I’m a physiotherapist.. So my opinion may be a little biased, but I’d like to echo the opinions of a few PPs that have recommended PT. Whilst I haven’t done a great deal of research into it, I have heard more and more recently that chiropractic studies aren’t terribly evidence based.. many people hear the crack they get during manipulations, feel that immediate relief of stiffness, and walk out feeling fabulous.. Only to find their problem comes back, or they need to schedule in for regular treatments because the actual root cause of the issue isn’t being addressed (the manipulation might be more of a band aid type fix, if that makes sense?).
I have never been to a chiro, so I could be very wrong – but I’m not sure if many of them provide exercises for muscle strengthening / stretches? I’m also not sure sure if it’s the same in the states, but physiotherapists here in Australia CAN do neck manipulations, just like we can do back and pelvic manipulations.. But many choose not to do neck manips as there are some risks involved, and a firm mobilisation technique can achieve a similar effect.
Anyways.. if you choose to go to a chiro (or Physio, for that matter), whilst you should be able to go to anyone you like (as in, I assume in the US both are primary practitioners – no referral needed), it’s probably worth seeing your GP for a recommendation of someone good in your area, or asking people you trust if they’ve come across anyone particularly good.
good luck!
Post # 14
Member
5648 posts
Bee Keeper
I have a boatload of painful problems with my neck & spine from a history of car accidents (rear enders & a t-bone) & falling off horses. My pain management doc actually recommended chiropractic, which I’ve used for years.
Chiro helps immensely with the pain, which in my case is permanent & chronic.
Post # 15
Member
9567 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
I had a horrible experience, I dreaded every single appointment. He cracked my back every single time and it was so painful as well as not helping at all – I have minor scoliosis and wore a back brace for about 18 months in my mid-teens. I was weirded out in general by him, but especially when he asked mum to bring in zip lock bags of different foods to test if I had allergies to anything. To test this, he placed the bags on my stomach, that was it. I expressed my frustration to my parents, but nope, they thought he was great and we kept going for over a year. This was in my late childhood/early teens. It has only been when chiropractors and that guy was brought up in a conversation when other family members have had back problems that my parents said they did think he was weird too, guess hindsight is all-seeing after all.
But I am sure there are some good chiropractors out there, and physiotherapy may be even better for you, hopefully your GP can recommend someone good! Best of luck OP.
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