Brentastic Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 Long story short - I've been going to an osteo-path for the last couple months regarding severe neck dis-comfort. There's a kink so he gives me some neck stretches to do and then cracks my neck into place. After slight improvement for the first few visits, my condition has worsened tremendously. Last night I had another appointment and his 'solution' was to give me valium 3x per day and vicodin as needed. So far, it hasn't made a bit of difference. Is there a different kind of specialist I should be seeing. I thought about a chiropractor but that would not be covered by my insurance. I'm so uncomfortable now that I just want to break my freakin' neck. It's bad. Not really painful per se but extremely uncomfortable. Plus, I'm constantly twisting my neck, trying to crack it etc. Do I need to get an MRI? The osteo-path is telling me that it's tight neck muscles causing the cracking etc... but I've been stretching for weeks and it has regressed recently. The base of my skull is sore too. I'm just fed up with the discomfort and looking for any advice that may prevent me from breaking my own neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEC=UGA Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 Long story short - I've been going to an osteo-path for the last couple months regarding severe neck dis-comfort. There's a kink so he gives me some neck stretches to do and then cracks my neck into place. After slight improvement for the first few visits, my condition has worsened tremendously. Last night I had another appointment and his 'solution' was to give me valium 3x per day and vicodin as needed. So far, it hasn't made a bit of difference. Is there a different kind of specialist I should be seeing. I thought about a chiropractor but that would not be covered by my insurance. I'm so uncomfortable now that I just want to break my freakin' neck. It's bad. Not really painful per se but extremely uncomfortable. Plus, I'm constantly twisting my neck, trying to crack it etc. Do I need to get an MRI? The osteo-path is telling me that it's tight neck muscles causing the cracking etc... but I've been stretching for weeks and it has regressed recently. The base of my skull is sore too. I'm just fed up with the discomfort and looking for any advice that may prevent me from breaking my own neck. What the hell is an osteo-path? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 his 'solution' was to give me valium 3x per day and vicodin as needed. That's the last time you should go to that dumbass. I think you should go see an orthopedist. They'll take a look at it and decide what the next steps are. Maybe an X-ray first, or an MRI if necessary, then maybe physical therapy or surgery depending on what they find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Country Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 Have you looked into massage therapy? If osteo is saying it is muscular, then a good massage could do wonders to relieve the area. You mentioned chiro not being covered, but, depending on individual cost per session, may be worth having it checked if you can afford it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brentastic Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 Have you looked into massage therapy? If osteo is saying it is muscular, then a good massage could do wonders to relieve the area. You mentioned chiro not being covered, but, depending on individual cost per session, may be worth having it checked if you can afford it. Yes. I've been getting regular massages also for this condition and nothing good has resulted long-term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknrobn26 Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 That's the last time you should go to that dumbass. I think you should go see an orthopedist. They'll take a look at it and decide what the next steps are. Maybe an X-ray first, or an MRI if necessary, then maybe physical therapy or surgery depending on what they find. Good info. As a person who had 4 verts fused, the Orthopedist should be your next stop. My osteo-path wouldn't touch/manipulate me, gave me a prednisone pack and when that didn't work he sent me straight to the Orthopedist. If the OD would have messed w/ it I could have been paralyzed. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Cid Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 Yes. I've been getting regular massages also for this condition and nothing good has resulted long-term. Rather than a massage therapist can I suggest a Rolfer? They take massage to the next level where they manipulate the the muscles to realign the underlying bone structure. Helped my wife a ton when she was having issues from work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muck Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 My chiropractor has saved my back/neck/shoulders more than once. A good one is worth the price. BTW, avoid the ones that 'crack' your back/neck; that's a recipe for disaster. There are other ways to 'nudge' bones/ligaments/tendons/muscles to relax and re-align themselves. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 I'm not an expert, by any means, but I did deal with severe back issues for nearly a decade (and I was only 28 when it went away). When I say "went away," I mean that I really haven't had any issues in the past seven years. So, yeah, I've had to deal with significant pain (off and on) for a bigger part of my adult life than not, but I'm very glad that I don't have to live with that pain for the rest of my life. For one, I was taking WAY more pain-killing meds than anyone should. But, more importantly, it's just no way to live... in complete misery, most of the time. If there's one piece of advice I can give you, it would be this... The more professional opinions you can get, the better, even if they're in completely different fields of work. In fact, if they're in different fields, that's even better. In other words, chiro, osteo, ortho, or whatever... You would be amazed at how greatly the opinions will vary. After all, even though people in the medical field are widely considered to be experts, that's really all that they can offer you... their OPINION. Nobody has the 100% right or wrong answer, in most cases... especially with back/neck injuries. Some will be able to offer "solutions" that might temporarily help, and others may be able to offer more permanent solutions, but in most cases (especially with back, neck, shoulders), it's somewhat of a guessing game. So, yeah... You need to find a second opinion. For me (and I'm not going to go into too many details, as I've already shared most of my story here, a while ago), I tried a bunch of different things, before finding something that worked. Physical therapy, cortisone injections (directly into my spinal column), traction (where they strap you to a table and essentially stretch out your spine with a huge machine), and several others. What finally worked was back surgery... No fusion of vertabrae, or anything of the sort... Just a simple 2-inch incision, and removal of the broken pieces. I've felt great (relatively speaking... I still have some numbness, due to scar tissue around certain nerves, but that's nothing compared to stabbing pains) ever since. But, it took me eight years (and exhausting every other possible option) to come to that conclusion (that going under the knife was the only alternative left). Personally, I would go to an orthopedist, and get an MRI, for starters. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 (edited) So, yeah... You need to find a second opinion. For me (and I'm not going to go into too many details, as I've already shared most of my story here, a while ago), http://forums.thehuddle.com/index.php?s=&a...t&p=1284155 And your reply to Brent wanting back surgery as a last resort in that thread: http://forums.thehuddle.com/index.php?s=&a...t&p=1288105 Edited March 29, 2011 by Big John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brentastic Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 Thanks guys. I think I will go to an orthopedist next. I also have 3 slipped discs I've been dealing with for 12 years and as miserable as my back has made me feel, this neck problem is worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEC=UGA Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 Thanks guys. I think I will go to an orthopedist next. I also have 3 slipped discs I've been dealing with for 12 years and as miserable as my back has made me feel, this neck problem is worse. Did you take a nasty spill on a wave or something? I'm sorry, it was there and had to be done... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moss6 Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 Any pain in arms or hands that go along with your neck symptoms? If so, put a visit to a Neurologist on your list Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brentastic Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 Any pain in arms or hands that go along with your neck symptoms? If so, put a visit to a Neurologist on your list No, other than what feels like arthritis in my knuckles and some wrist stifness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddy Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 No, other than what feels like arthritis in my knuckles and some wrist stifness. Those are obviously the result of too many popped grilles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Agent Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Can chiropractors really realign something? I think the entire thing is a hoax. You feel great when you leave because you just got a high priced message. Keep going back getting messages and time heals the problem. Then people give credit to the chiropractor. Just not a believer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brentastic Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 Those are obviously the result of too many popped grilles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chargerz Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Thanks guys. I think I will go to an orthopedist next. I'm glad you're doing that. You will probably get an MRI. Then the orthopedist will be able to tell you what might work for you. Make sure the orthopedist has special expertise with neck injuries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brentastic Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 I'm glad you're doing that. You will probably get an MRI. Then the orthopedist will be able to tell you what might work for you. Make sure the orthopedist has special expertise with neck injuries. How can I confirm that? If I ask him, won't he just say yes to keep me as a patient? BTW, I'm going to see this guy - his ratings are good: http://www.healthgrades.com/directory_sear...ich-md-0ae10ca2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknrobn26 Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 How can I confirm that? If I ask him, won't he just say yes to keep me as a patient? BTW, I'm going to see this guy - his ratings are good:http://www.healthgrades.com/directory_sear...ich-md-0ae10ca2 Brent, you probably know this but where you live you are surrounded by great hospitals. Even here in DuPage the Ortho Docs are highly specialized. When I was having trouble w/ my elbow I wanted to go back to my Shoulder Doc. Called him up and they said he only does shoulders so they sent me to an elbow/hand Doc. If you go to a neck doc and he determines that it's your arm/wrist he'll pass you off to the arm Doc. Prepare yourself for an EMG test. Not real painful, but weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chargerz Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 How can I confirm that? If I ask him, won't he just say yes to keep me as a patient? BTW, I'm going to see this guy - his ratings are good:http://www.healthgrades.com/directory_sear...ich-md-0ae10ca2 His profile doesn't list neck injuries. I would make damn sure he is comfortable dealing with those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby's Hubby Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 Rather than a massage therapist can I suggest a Rolfer? . Are you making fun of how Scooby says 'golfer'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt770 Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Keep us posted Brent. I've been working out almost every day for the past few weeks including walking 3 miles 2-3 times a week and my right foot hurts like hell, same area I sprained two years ago. I guess I have to go to the doctor, since it only hurts when I walk. Pain sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brentastic Posted April 2, 2011 Author Share Posted April 2, 2011 His profile doesn't list neck injuries. I would make damn sure he is comfortable dealing with those. Will do, thanks chargerz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Yes. I've been getting regular massages also for this condition and nothing good has resulted long-term. I hope this thread has a happy ending Brent . Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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