Interesting challenges of the day

1. Mr S is a 76 year old man with neck pain of some 9 months duration. Luckily, most of the discomfort is upper cervical which is only rarely arthritic; his lower cervical spine is a degenerative mess that I have left alone. After seven treatments his pain and stiffness is 50 percent better, and he is happy in the circumstances. He can sleep through the night now and that makes a huge difference.

2. Mr P is 32 year old man with very severe lower back pain radiating to the big toe which is 30 percent numb. He had an episode three weeks ago, took anti-inflammatories and was soon better as is typical of the medial disc herniation. But before it healed, after a trivia it came roaring back, much worse. The characteristic crossed sign was evident; sitting in a chair, straightening the right leg provoked severe left back pain and tingling in the leg. He is doing well.

3. Severe lower back pain is scary; just ask Mrs P. Just watching her get out of the car I she was in trouble; she had a slipped disc at L4 making her lean towards the opposite side; luckily she had no pain in the leg. Despite family pressure that this was far too severe for a chiropractor, she persevered. Within five days she was standing upright, and after two weeks almost pain-free. 

Despite a hectic job, she wisely took my advice and stayed home for what I call exercising bed rest.

4. Mr S has had lower back, groin and back of thigh and calf pain for fourth months.

He has a pincer deformity in the hip causing the stabs in the groin, and a degenerative facet causing the sciatica. Both are responding well to chiropractic and he is well pleased; sixty-five percent better after three treatments.

5. Mr T is a wise man; he has taken a warning TIA seriously and has lost 15 pounds, and has at least as much again to lose. A change to a low starch diet and half hour daily stroll has made the difference; but the walking is making his foot and back miserable. The expensive orthotic is hopeless; luckily his hips and back are fine, but he needs a simple heel lift; he has a short leg.

6. I too have had serious lower back issues, luckily fixed by my own chiropractor; so I too have to do my exercises, take care when lifting supers full of honey, gardening and using the chainsaw. Regaining the function of your spine is just as important as the pain.

7. My own granddaughter, only 7 is hypermobile giving her pelvic, knee and ankle issues. X-rays show a mildly dysplastic hip. Years ago we would have called it growing pains. She too regularly needs chiropractic care and luckily responds well. Increased range of motion is more difficult than too stiff in my opinion. Our care is for kids too.

8. This 65-year old lady is a serious gardener; every day she is bending, lifting and digging for 2 to 3 hours a day. It regularly catches her in the sacroiliac joint, so she has a treatment once a month that sorts it out. She does her lower back exercises faithfully.

9. This 88-year old lady is an inspiration; every day she is busy in the community. With a nasty scoliosis she manages very well with a chiropractic adjustment every six weeks and exercises faithfully done. 

10. Mr X is a 71-year old retired man who wants to continue with maintenance care every six to eight weeks; he had suffered from two years of lower back pain when he first came a few months ago. He has no discomfort now after 8 chiropractic treatments, but is aware that danger lurks.

11. Mrs C has been having severe headaches, and taking a lot of analgesics. It is a non-complicated upper cervical facet syndrome, and she is doing well.

12. Mr D is a 38-year old year man with chronic shoulder pain after a rotator cuff tear playing cricket. It responded well to treatment, but he knows he must do his exercises every day; for two years he could not sleep on that shoulder.

13. Mr D, a 71-year old man, has a severe ache in the shoulder and midback since working above his head. Trapped nerve tests are negative but he has advanced degenerative joints of Luschka; after just two treatments he is 50 percent better. Can we reach 90?

And so the day goes; chiropractors should not be treating the elderly most medical sites state but that is so much bunkum.

CLS writes:

Greetings, Dr B.

You helped me quite some time back with a soothing and professional response which turned out to be exactly correct. I now consult a local chiropractor. You write a superb newsletter, too.

• Various numbness following Cam FAI surgery - David


• Deep pain & tingling in scapula area since neck surgery; by Karla

• Tingling and frozen fingers in right hand with pain in upper arm and shoulder after a serious MVA. by Len.

• Persistent femoral nerve pain by Alex.

• Tingling in fingers1. Is the CTS? by Shayla.

• Is this my back? by Anne.

• Tietzes syndrome costochondritis by Virginia.

• Unable to put weight on leg after prolapsed disc by Jas.

• Pain after Chiropractic adjustment by Pam

• Chronic lower back pain by PSC

Your own unresolved problem. Pose a question

Knowing that up to 70 percent of the time the correct diagnosis is made with no examination, no special tests, no xrays, but just from the history, there is a fair chance I can add some insight to your unresolved problem. But at least 30% of the time, I may be quite wrong. Give plenty of detail if you want a sensible reply.

You visited this chiropractic help site no doubt because you have a problem that is not resolving and want to know more about what a DC does.

The quickest and most interesting way is to read one of my eBooks of anecdotes. Described by a reader as gems, both funny and healthful from the life and work of a chiropractor, you will love them. Priced right at $2.99, though Kindle fiddles the amount without telling me.

Chiropractic Help Backissues ... our monthly newsletter, click here for all the old issues.

• Issue #53: No short cuts to better health / Simple balance and quad strengthening exercises
• Issue #52: Needs an adjustment / Everything must change
• Issue #51: Elective surgery in the elderly / Cooling and reheating starches
• Issue #50: Make time for breakfast / Scrambled eggs and parsley
• Issue #49: Consulting a locum / Green salad /Eggs Florentine
• Issue #48: Hips and the sacroiliac joints/ Bacon and eggs
• Issue #47: Life without medication/ Eight coloured foods
• Issue #46: Lower backs and ankles/ kaempferol and cancer prevention
• Issue #45: Tingling, weakness and malaise/ vitamin B1
• Issue #44: Applying general chiropractic principles to the hand / Omega-3
• Issue #43: Art and science of chiropractic / Kale
• Issue #42: Tum sleeping / Flaxseed
• Issue #41: Adult potty training / Beetroot constipation
• Issue #40: Ominous lumbar signs / Too much medication?
• Issue #39: Swapping chiropractors / Butter is back
• Issue #38: Making a correct diagnosis / Make your own pesto in five minutes.
• Issue #37: Have your wisdom teeth out in the chair

• Issue #06: Safety on the Stairs / Ginger
• Issue #05: Safety in the home / Red foods
• Issue #04: Whiplash and the Joints of Luschka / Parsley
• Issue #03: How to stop falling / Danger of a low fat diet
• Issue #01: Tingling in the arms and hands / Apples

(PS. If you find them irrelevant to your needs or an exercise in tedium, one click will UNsubscribe you.)