update #5: the war on back pain

I really wish I could stop writing updates, because that would mean I no longer have back pain. But I do, so I will continue writing updates...

I went for my second round of cortisone shots last month, and they really didn't offer any more pain relief. I went for my follow-up appointment and it was decided that they will wait six weeks and then see how I feel. I go back March 3, I believe, and I'm not optimistic at this point. Chances are I'll go for one more round, though, just so I can be sure I tried my best. Also, I've met my insurance deductible (I'm in an HSA plan for the first time and the deductible is high), which means it won't cost me much to do that third round.

My next option, if these shots don't help, is something called Percutaneous Disc Decompression. If you click on the link you can see what it is. Basically, they insert a probe into the bulging disc and shoot radio waves into it, which dissolves the center of the disc. What is then supposed to happen is the disc goes back into place since there isn't as much disc material there. It's outpatient and takes 20 to 30 minutes. I'm open to doing it, but there's something else I want to try first:  chiropractic.

A local chiropractor, who specializes in upper cervical, gave a talk at work recently and offered a great deal on a consultation with full x-rays, followed by a report of findings and treatment plan at the second visit. I signed up since it was such a great price. I figured, "why not?" I've had chiropractic treatment off and on for many years, mostly when I was younger, and it always helped me. And he takes my insurance, which has really good coverage on this type of treatment.

I was a bit skeptical of upper cervical treatment, which deals with correcting a misalignment of the small bones in the neck, because it claims to be able to treat a large variety of issues that I just don't associate with chiropractic work. But I'm not a chiropractor, so I really can't say it doesn't help with other problems.

I went for the initial consultation and x-rays last week and it went well. He looked at the MRI I had done in September, asked about my back pain history, as well as tons of other stuff (he's quite thorough), did a physical exam of my back, and then took a bunch of x-rays in different positions.  He took two x-rays of my bent to each side. That will show him whether my vertebrae are moving properly. He took others:  several on each side, upper back, and lower back.

The physical exam was a little scary, mainly because he pretty much named the alphabet while calling out my problems areas. There were at least six different areas where he felt either my bulging discs (I have two) or felt something out of place or just not quite right.  He asked me if I ever get tingling in my hands or fingers (I don't), because a particular vertebrae was out of alignment. Even though I don't get those symptoms now, I could in the future. He asked if I get frequent headaches (I do). Again, a vertebrae that ties into the nerves that go up to the eye and head.

When I was done he said he would look at the x-rays, the MRI again, and my history, and then determine if he can help me or not. He was upfront that he may not be able to help me depending on what the x-rays and MRI reveal, which put me at ease a bit more; I was worried that he would just put me on a generic treatment plan that doesn't help me but makes him money. (*sigh* I never used to think like this...)

My follow-up was a few days ago, and I wasn't surprised at the findings. Basically, my back is pretty fucked up. There are several vertebrae in my neck that show little to no movement, and quite a few areas in the lower back that show no movement at all. When I lean to the right, it looks at though I have some movement of the vertebrae, but when I lean to the left, it still looks like I'm leaning to the right. Some of that is due to my scoliosis, but some of it isn't based on the location. So yeah, I think that explains why my lower back is such a mess.

The doctor prescribed a treatment plan:  I'll start off with several adjustments per week in the neck and lower back; then it will be a combination of adjustments and PT-type exercises; and then finally a combinations of adjustments and exercises that concentrate on strengthening the core and back muscles. Then he will re-examine and take x-rays to see if there has been improvement.

I've gone for two adjustments so far and don't feel any different; however, I know from experience that it won't happen right away. It takes a couple weeks to start feeling better.

Although I'm skeptical of some of the supposed benefits of upper cervical adjustments, I'm going to give it a chance. Chiropractic helped me quite a bit over the years, and I'm hopeful it can help me again. It's been at least six years since I've gone, and the doctor I used to see was kind of old fashioned, so maybe this young doctor has some tricks up his sleeve that will have me feeling more like myself. At the very least I'll be able to say I tried just about everything before opting for the procedure I mentioned above.