Sciatica Support Group

Hi ~ I'll tell you what 2 independent Neurosurgeons told me. They said that unless I wanted to become paralyzed and in a wheelchair for the rest of my life, DON'T GO TO A CHIROPRACTOR! They said that anyone with spinal problems is taking a huge risk by going to one. Any manipulation of the spine can cause huge damage, and even permanent damage such as above. They said Chiros don't have the training in the central nervous system like M.D.s have and all they can use for reference is X-rays. X-rays ONLY show bone ~ they don't show soft tissue like the disks, muscle, tendons, soft tissue in the spinal cord and around it. So they have no idea what they might be impinging while they're "manipulating."

Years ago, before I knew all this, I went to one. The chiro BROKE my STERNUM!!!! I thought I was gonna die! And as consolation, he offered me a free visit!!! Whooopee!! Needless to say, I never went back! And I never will again.

So just thought I'd pass on what the Neuro's said. Best of luck. Hugs, Lee

When I had a huge arthritic attack, sciatica and also sprained my back while away from NJ for 6 months, I took what I could get, and that was a chiropractor. The man tortured my poor body and I left in tears. I'm surprised my neck, back, legs and all of me didn't have permanent damage. So please be careful, if you do go to one, ask what he'll do first and then look it up before deciding on a course of treatment that will help not hurt.

I had a double laminectory/diskectomy in 1988 for two herniated disks at L4, L5. Up until a few years ago I was doing fairly well. I have since acquired "Drop Foot" and muscle atrophy in my left leg due to carelessness and over liftting/pushing heavy objects around.

If I dont go to the Chiropractor once a month my symptoms of pain and numbness start to return. A good Chiropractor can do wonders even with the damage I have sustained in my spine. I have regained some feeling and motion/strength back in my week leg over the last 3 years thanks to my Chiropractor

I had the best result after going to a chiropractor (http://chiropractorspot.com/providers-Mesa-AZ.html), chiropractic massage from a professional chiropractor can provide pain relief even for chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain. According to the study, people with long term diffuse musculoskeletal pain experienced self-rated improvements in muscle pain, mental energy and health after receiving several massage sessions. A chiropractic massage session given by a professional chiropractor is your best bet in achieving the same results. Extending the period of regular chiropractic massage treatment also increases the possibility of more long term results. After all, similar cases of chronic pain such as neck pain, back pain, sciatica, whiplash and arthritis pain can also be eased by a chiropractor.

I would not go to a chiropractor, because I am concerned about potentially uninformed manipulation they might do. For pain management, I would recommend acupuncture instead. Increasingly, acupuncture is recognized by the mainstream medical community as yielding very good results for sciatica. It's an ancient healing discipline, and there are no side effects. I'm doing it now for my sciatica (duration 4 weeks) and it's helping me...

i have multiple discs injuries, ddd and other conditions. at one point i was bedridden but my chiropractor whom i see 2x a week helped me tremendously! like every other field, there are good ones and ones who really suck. mine is the best and i pass probably 20 that are closer to my home to get to him. he is a life saver for me!

From my experience it is like anything - it does depend on the person, there is no definitive answer. I tried a chiro for 9 months I got some hours of slight relief after each session which was worth it when my pain was pretty bad. I couldn't have gone when pain at the highest because even walking wasn't happening. Unfortunately chiro said that I didn't have a herniated disc when I really did - it was plain to see on MRI scan done after waiting for months and months on waiting list etc. I agree with Leeall if they are not seeing what is happening inside when manipulating. However, a friend of mine has similar symptoms to mine and goes to a chiro which works wonders for her.

I have had two micro discectomy ops and feel so much better now, although not a hundred percent I couldn't go through the pain any longer than I did.