Chiropractic question (MRI, x-ray, pain, surgery)

[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?

[flkingfan]

I get parts that fall asleep sometimes, but usually 1 or 2 adjustments fix it. I'm not sure how much time it normally might take up to, but if they don't help maybe try another chiropractor. And if they don't help I'd think you have more of a problem then a chiropractor fix. Good luck.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Sounds more like a neck/disc problem if it's not better by now. Go back to your doctor for a referral to a specialist.

[Grandpa Pipes]

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?

There are spinal cord issues that never really "heal" and will take long term chiropractic care.

That said, if you suspect that your current chiropractor is not doing you any good try another. However, keep your doctor in the loop so that he/she can watch for any other issues.

[infiri]

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?

In my opinion all chiropractors are quacks, this is because there is no real evidence behind their "science" or pseudoscience.

[AnonChick]

I agree with Southern Belle in Utah; if a few adjustments aren't helping, then you need to look into something -other- than chiropractic. Chiropractic is a valid medical therapy for some things, but not for all. If you truly had just a pinched nerve, you would've felt better by now.

[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.

[Kim in FL]

Have you had an MRI done to rule out a herinated disc? That chrio could be doing more harm than good if your discs are bad.

[manyroads]

Originally Posted by Kim in FL

Have you had an MRI done to rule out a herinated disc? That chrio could be doing more harm than good if your discs are bad.

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.

I should say that the chiropractor hasn't been giving me adjustments at every visit. It probably wasn't until about my third visit that she actually gave me a neck adjustment. At first, she wanted to determine my overall range of motion, not just in my neck but arms and legs too. She said I had a lot of tension in my hamstrings, so she worked on those first, in addition to using ultrasound and manual pressure on my neck and upper chest area. She says I have a lot of tightness in my pecs and the right side of my neck, which is where she has been focusing most of her efforts. She usually does some ultrasound, as well as electrostimulation and using her hands before finishing the session with 2 neck adjustments.

I don't really understand what brought this problem on in the first place. I've never been in a car accident, and haven't had any injuries from sports or any other falls. The only thing I can think of is possibly I'm not getting good support from my pillow when I sleep, and the fact that I bike (using a mtn bike on mostly paved bike trails) on weekends during the warm weather months. If anybody has any recommendations for a good pillow I'd welcome them.

[Grandpa Pipes]

Originally Posted by manyroads

. If anybody has any recommendations for a good pillow I'd welcome them.

Millions swear by the "Buckwheat Pillow" used for centuries in Asia. I can't sleep on anything else but buckwheat anymore or I get a stiff neck and roaring headache if I try.

It takes about one or two nights (maybe!!) to get used to a buckwheat pillow but once you do you're hooked for life !!

Amazon.com: Organic Buckwheat Pillow - Japanese Size (14" x 20"): Home & Garden