It’s gone!
The pain, that is. Not only the pain that was new since Friday, but also the pain in my back every morning for the last 3 months. Imagine that.
I’ve only been to chiropractors a couple of times in my life, and I tend to go with a bit of skepticism. I don’t doubt that they can help me feel better, but I don’t entirely buy the whole science behind it - esp. when they practice some of the “fringe” techniques. The doctor I visited was highly recommended by a good friend, but my skepticism surfaced when he began muttering rapidly as he poked at various areas and tested the resistance of my outstretched arms: “Let’s see…adrenals…water intake…lungs…no problems here…ah!”
His assessment was that I had some longstanding problems which contributed heavily to my injury on Friday. Basically, he saw the injury more as a symptom of my problems than a problem in itself. This seemed very reasonable, since I do tend to have a lot of tension and discomfort and my pelvis frequently make a scary-loud crack when I roll over in bed.
After well over an hour of assessment and adjustments, he was less than satisfied with his progress. He announced that I seemed to be equally locked up on both sides now, which was definite progress from the lopsided condition in which I had entered but was not a complete fix. He wanted to see how I felt after a couple of days, and do another adjustment later in the week.
I had come in with some stiffness and a little pain - nothing dramatic. I didn’t feel dramatically different as I left the room and paid up at the counter. At hubby’s request, I scheduled the follow-up appointment and left thinking that not much had changed.
Ten minutes later we stopped at a grocery store, and after walking across the parking lot and twice through the store, I suddenly realized I was feeling much better. The residual pain was gone, and my gait felt entirely different - loose and easy, rather than the careful measured steps of one who is avoiding painful triggers.
And this morning, rather than carefully rolling over and easing my legs over the edge of the bed as I have for the last 3 months, I sprang without thinking across the bed to turn off the alarm on hubby’s side (he was already up) then back to my side, up and out! I didn’t pause to rub my lower back, I didn’t take a few long breaths to loosen my rib cage, I didn’t slowly stretch each shoulder up and to the side, and I didn’t test my weight on each foot before standing up.
Those motions have become second nature to me in the mornings, and I entirely forgot them today. I was just up and out, without a twinge of pain. I had forgotten what that felt like, and had no hope or expectation of remembering. It simply didn’t occur to me; I though of this as feeling pregnant, and didn’t expect it to change for several more months.
In retrospect, I remember feeling the same way after my first adjustment ever, at 6 days past due with our 6th daughter. I went in at my midwife’s recommendation, just hoping that we might manage to trigger labor. I came away realizing that I had been in chronic pain for how long? I really had no idea - I had lived with it for so long that I no longer thought about it until it was abruptly gone. Incidentally, I went into labor just over 24 hours later and had a rather interesting labor…
So my bank account is hurting a bit more, my back is hurting far less, and I’m up for a return visit. I think I’d be crazy not to go, even if I can’t help suspecting that the doctor may be just a bit on the crazy side. What do you think?
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Filed under: pregnancy/labor
I wonder how I ever lived before my monthly adjustment. I’m an addict, headaches are almost a thing of the past. I was told I was developing carpoltunnal- nope just a bone out of line in my elbow- one good adjustment and no more numb hand. I am do think it all depends on the Dr. some are good some are not so good. Glad your feeling better.
I used to go to a chiropractor who was in our church congregation, and while he did help a bit with my joint problems, his manner just oozed quackery.
The first visit was a sort of indoctrination, teaching me how chiropractic care isn’t just for joints, but it’s for the whole body and how it can fix pretty much anything in the world. I didn’t buy it, but I was tired of my carpal-tunnel-like hand problems and was willing to try it.
It did help a bit with my hand. Nothing magical, though. One thing they’ll try hard to do is to get you back in again and again. If you find you benefit from this, go ahead. They wanted me in every week, but I did all right with every three months or so: I’d just set up an appointment whenever I felt the need. I haven’t been for years now and I’m fine.
So I’m with you: chiropractors do seem a bit crazy, but they can help our pain, too.
Mrs. Mordecai,
The never-ending return visits really set off alarms for me too, but this doctor doesn’t seem to have that in mind. He thinks we can be done within another visit or two, and I heard him talking to other patients along the same line. I actually heard him tell somebody, “I don’t think we need to see you again for this. Everything looks great!”
This certainly made me feel better about visiting just once more.
I try to see our chiropractor regularly.
Actually our whole family does.
When I go monthly, I don’t get migraines. My husband sees the chiropractor to stave off carpal tunnel surgery, and it is getting better. Both of our daughters have seen him since birth. When a six year old has migraine symptoms you start to wonder. We found out she had slept funny and was way out of whack. So when growth spurts come along they go see him. US 12 times a year, unless something like a car accident of fall occurs, the kidlets, 3-4 times a year, unless they seriously need it.
Think about this, hanging upside down, falling off a bike, crashing on your rollerblades, all thinhs that would cause adults some serious pain. Our kids feel it too, just not as bad, but over a prolonged period of time they can be way out of adjustment.
Chiropractic has helped me tremendously. However, I will say that I see a chiropractor whose philosophy is (1.) If she can’t help me in 3 to 5 visits, what she has to offer isn’t the solution for my problem and (2.) the body is marvelously designed and with a little help can regain its balance and (3.) the body only needs adjusting when something is out of balance, especially when a woman is pregnant.
It definitely sounds like your body was out of balance! Hopefully the follow up appointment will be about stabilization and you can jump back into your busy life with greater ease.
If you get the “come in 3x a week for the next 20 years” routine- I strongly encourage you to find another chiro!
I wouldn’t have survived my three pregnancies without chiro. I rarely go when I’m not pregnant, but during the last half of each pregnancy, I went once a week to be able to move without pain and sleep at night.
I don’t subscribe to the “let’s cure your adrenals, liver and allergies with chiro” perspective, but it sure makes my back feel better, which makes my life much easier!
Glad to hear you’re better.
Some are great, others are horrible. I’ve been to well over a dozen in my 24 year career of using them. I’ve never been to one who does testing like yours, although I’m familar with the different styles.
The one I have now is totally awesome. And I can say that, again. I’ve seen him like 15 times since I busted my tailbone 4 weeks ago… I wouldn’t be walking without it.
I babysat for a chiro during my first pregnancy - she adjusted me weekly duing the last 6 months of my pregnacy (FREE!!!) - she moved and i felt a HUGE diffrence in my second pregnacy - with Thing 2 I had sicatica and lots more back pain (though labor was shorter than #1 eventhough I was induced) I HIGHLY reccomend chiro during the last half of pregnacy.
I love chiropractic. It has helped me and my family so much. My daughter was born with severe food allergies, through chiropractic and the kinesiology (resistance thing) we were able to find out what her allergies were. I don’t use it for that very often and only with a chiropractor I trust. But my body does feel better when I go. I’m thankful I’ve found one close and and good.
I’m so glad you’re feeling better!
Because you know that sheet rock isn’t going to just hang itself…
After this last pregnancy where I had a midwife (who is NOT a ‘chiropractor’ and does NOT do ‘chiropractic’ adjustments… just deep tissue and joint manipulations?) who did all the kinesiology and such, and made my pregnant-life SOOO much more liveable… I’m ALL for the voo-doo. Sign me up.
Glad you are feeling better! Interesting you noticed this as you were walking about.
I would say you will need to go at least 2 or 3 times total to get the full results. Alot of insurances do cover chiro. so check yours out. If you don’t have coverage its worth it in the end and I am sure they take payments.
Go! Are you kidding? Just go. It’s working, right?
I was dizzy for five and a half YEARS, and went to every specialist you can imagine. I refused to go to a chiro, because I thought they were all quacky (though perhaps good for a sore back, or a case of whiplash).
Finally I agreed to go, swallowing my fear that they would cause me to have a stroke. It took a couple months of visits, but they fixed me! I still can’t believe it. I still go, and I love it. I’m now one of those annoying people who suggests chiropractic care for everything.
Glad you had success! Keep going, for sure. The $$ can be difficult, but there’s a high value on feeling good.
*stepping onto my soapbox*
Ahem.
Okay, I’m with the chiropractic lunatic fringe here! I LOVE my chiropractor!!! It really does depend on just who you go to though. The ones that crack the daylights out of people are s-c-a-r-y, but from what you’ve described, this one didn’t sound that way and that’s a good thing.
I saw my chiropractor almost every week of my pregnancy from 25 weeks until birth with my baby born last July. She performed the Brewster method on me which basically helps the pelvis stay aligned to ensure a shorter labor. My labor, for a posterior baby, was 8 hours. Some may say that’s long, but considering she was posterior, my midwife assured me it was not. My chiropractor (female) was also at my birth and even adjusted me in labor to try and help with the posterior position. It was, in a word…WONDERFUL!
Honestly, if it hadn’t been for her adjustments I would not have been able to walk at all by the end of the pregnancy. She later discovered through x-rays that I had and issue with my hips that was exasperated by the Relaxin in my system from the pregnancy.
As you can see, I do believe strongly in chiropractic care, especially for the pregnant woman. I’m not saying you have to “drink the kool-aid”, but it will definitely help you in the long run. Keep going!
*stepping of my soapbox*
I love my chiropractors! They are very relaxed, friendly, not quacky at all. Also, one of them is an acupuncturist, and when I was pregnant last year and couldn’t take my usual medication for seasonal allergies, she suggested I try acupuncture. I was slightly skeptical, but miserable, so I was willing to try everything. One painless treatment later, the seasonal allergies were gone. I’m starting to feel that warm-weather sniffle again, and I’ll be back ASAP!
I still approach chiropractors with hesitation!
My last pregnancy, baby number 5, I visited my chiropractor regularly (preferably every 2-4weeks).
My pyriformis syndrome was minimal, and even with gestational diabetes for the first time - I FELT THE BEST EVER with this pregnancy.
Thank you Jesus - and thank you Mr. Chiropractor
Sweet Blessings,
darci