Chiropractic question

[AnonChick]

I like my tempurpedic neck pillow.
Tempur-Pedic NeckPillow - Style # 1210765, Contoured Pillows from Tempur-Pedic Offering Unmatchable Head Support & Comfort
The photograph shows the woman supporting her neck on the fatter end. I switch on and off, depending on how I'm feeling. If I'm stressed, I tend to sleep on my back, and need the thinner end under my neck or else I get severe strain. If life is ducky and I'm relaxed at bedtime, the fatter end is perfect for sleeping on my side.

I have a straight neck (most people have curved necks) so I'm prone to neck and upper shoulder strain. The pillow I got was the Ikea's version of the tempurpedic, and I think they had 3 firmness options and I picked the firmest one. The Ikea ones are MUCH less expensive and just as good. The brand name ones run around $80-100. Ikea's I think was $12.99.

Biggest drawback: they are very warm, in the summer which can be uncomfortable.
Second biggest drawback: they smell funny.

I get used to the smell, and I change pillowcases often in the summer.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

My tempurpedic pillows have no odor but they do cost.

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[Grandpa Pipes]

I've heard that tempurpedic foam was hot due to body heat retention. Not so with Buckwheat pillows.

Goose down is another type of pillow but sometimes they run to soft. Plain feather pillows run a little harder but can harbor dust mites. Natural Latex foam is made in various firmness but dig deep in your wallet for a high quality latex foam.

I've slept on goose down,feather and natural latex over the years. Natural latex is my choice of the three until I tried buckwheat.

[Kim in FL]

Originally Posted by manyroads

My regular physician had thought of that, but since I don't have any health insurance and MRIs are expensive he was trying to avoid that if possible. He also didn't want to do that so as not to have a record of a pre-existing condition if I later got health coverage and it looked like I might need neck surgery.

When I was at the chiropractor yesterday, I told her that I didn't really feel any improvement from my visits to her office, and she said that if things didn't turn around soon that she likely would want to send me for either a neck x-ray or an MRI.

.

You should get an MRI as soon as possible. I know they are expensive and you don't have insurance..but, if this person is adjusting you and you have a herniated disc you will end up with even more damage.

You need to see a Neuro, not a chiro.

[Roselvr]

Originally Posted by manyroads

Around the end of last year, I started getting an occasional tingling or pins and needles feeling in my right arm. It's not a constant thing, or painful... it's more of a minor annoyance. I went to my doctor and told him about my symptoms, and he said he thought it was due to a compressed nerve in my neck, so I started seeing a chiropractor at the end of March. I don't have any health insurance, so I'm paying out of my own pocket for these visits, and I can't afford to go more than once every 7 - 10 days. So far I've gone about 7 times, but I don't feel like I'm getting any better (not getting any worse either, though).

Do you think I should try going to a different chiropractor? Perhaps the one I'm going to now is getting to the source of my problem. For anyone who has gone to a chiropractor, how long was it before you noticed any improvement in your symptoms? Has anyone here had this specific problem that I've got?

Ok; you've been seeing her since the end of March; every 7 to 10 days; so you've seen her what; 5 or 6 times? The 1st few visits weren't much; so I don't really even count those.

I have a 17 year old that has had upper back problems for almost a year now. The issue was that she has such bad spasms they couldn't see anything past that; so even with imaging; they had no clue what was going on because the spasms were so bad. Once we started getting those under control; they could work on the other issues but it's a long process.

She sees a chiro- some how her ribs are moving; & it's also throwing her spine out of whack. She's getting tired of being in so much pain; we were sent to an osteopath who does more then a chiro- they can prescribe; so deep tissue plus adjust; so you would get more bang for your buck.

Also consider acupuncture. That will be our next step as well as injections.

Next; I'm surprised a chiro will work on you without at least an xray- the one I take her to; will not touch anyone without some type of imaging.

[manyroads]

Originally Posted by Roselvr

Ok; you've been seeing her since the end of March; every 7 to 10 days; so you've seen her what; 5 or 6 times? The 1st few visits weren't much; so I don't really even count those.

Also consider acupuncture. That will be our next step as well as injections.

Next; I'm surprised a chiro will work on you without at least an xray- the one I take her to; will not touch anyone without some type of imaging.

Last Friday was my 7th visit to the chiropractor. I don't think I had a neck adjustment until my 3rd visit.

Acupuncture, IMO, just seems like it would be treating the symptoms (i.e. the pain) and not the cause of the problem. I am not in so much pain that I need to take ibuprofen or anything like that; it's just more of a nuisance. I'd just like to get my right arm feeling like my left one does again.

I was surprised too that the chiropractor started treatment without first doing an x-ray, but another local chiropractor that I visited before starting treatment at this one also said that he could start treatment without one. He said he could tell what was wrong by using his hands. Years ago, however, when I had sciatica in my right leg, the chiropractor first did an x-ray before doing any adjustments.

I am thinking now that I really need to at least have a neck x-ray before continuing with the chiropractic treatment. I need to find out if this is something that chiro can treat, or if it is beyond that and requires a different approach such as surgery.

Thanks everyone for your replies on both the chiropractic and the pillow recommendations.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by chiroptera

I've dealt with this for over 20 years...I admit to being biased against chiropractors; I've tried several supposedly very good ones and it did absolutely squat for my numbness or neuro pain or anything else. I do very physical work and have ruptured discs in my back, as well as the pinched/compressed neck nerve thing occasionally that makes my arms and hands tingly and uncomfortable. bad enough to wake me up at night sometimes.

Massage - by good practitioners, absolutely works for me, and the effects are long-lasting. Plus it's cheaper, and feels wonderful. One massage therapist I see works out of a chiropractors office, ironically enough (quite a few massage therapists team up with chiropractors, it seems) and I also go to a health club affiliated with a hospital here that has some very good massage therapists.

I get deep tissue/pressure point work done, I really swear by it.

A doctor can't do much for this sort of thing except prescribe muscle relaxants, maybe get you into PT....you say you don't have health insurance so I suggest finding a good, reputable massage therapist, affiliated with some sort of medical office or hospital, and giving it a try.

I totally agree with this post ^^^. I have several spinal issues, and have seen various chiropractors off and on for several years (though none in recent times) and even worked for one. None of them EVER did me much, if any good.

However, I swear by massage therapists. A good regular regimen with a good thereapist can do tremendous good, and you really get your money's worth with them. A one hour massage usually costs no more than a two-minute "adjustment" from a chiropractor. I am sorry to say that I have come to the conclusion that most "chiropractic" is just a scheme to take your money. JMO

[Roselvr]

Originally Posted by manyroads

Last Friday was my 7th visit to the chiropractor. I don't think I had a neck adjustment until my 3rd visit.

...I was surprised too that the chiropractor started treatment without first doing an x-ray, but another local chiropractor that I visited before starting treatment at this one also said that he could start treatment without one. He said he could tell what was wrong by using his hands. Years ago, however, when I had sciatica in my right leg, the chiropractor first did an x-ray before doing any adjustments.

I am thinking now that I really need to at least have a neck x-ray before continuing with the chiropractic treatment. I need to find out if this is something that chiro can treat, or if it is beyond that and requires a different approach such as surgery.

Thanks everyone for your replies on both the chiropractic and the pillow recommendations.

Did you shovel snow? Possible you pulled something.

Going to give you a few links; you can print out some of the diagrams & trace your pain.-

Arm Numbness, Tingling Hands and Fingers

Spinal map (http://www.shaunhussain.com/my_notebook/topics/dermatomes.png - broken link)

Cervical Brachial Syndrome causes Neck and Arm Pain

spinal nerve distribution

causes of tingling or pins and needles in right arm (http://goo.gl/2wFR1 - broken link)

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

^^^ wht she said! great post.