Pain in lower abdominal area after chiropractor.

by Gabby
(Avondale, AZ)

After my chiropractor appointment today, she did my lower back & my pelvic area on the drop table, my lower abdominal area feels super swollen and sore. Is this normal or should I have it checked out?

Hello Gabby,
I think your abdominal pain is most likely quite unassociated with the treatment; if it's still painful tomorrow, then yes I'd see your medical doctor.
It could easily be ovarian, or uterine or bowel related. I can't see treatment of your pelvis with drops causing this.

Dr B

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Mar 16, 2018
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starstarstarstarstar 		No issues
by: Gabby

(I’m the OP.) I went in to the ER have things checked AFTER I posted this. They said nothing was wrong, just some swelling, no bleeding, no intestine issues. All was well after a week or so. So after I healed I returned and she didn’t use the drop table on me for a longtime. We tried it again after a few months and I had no issues. Maybe just the first time I swelled up from the internal movement? We never figured it out, but I’m doing fantastic after been going for two years now. Going regularly had enabled me to go to the gym 5-6 days a week for the past year and I just started a Jiu-Jitsu class last month. When I first posted this I was in no condition for constant training. Now aside from Jiu-Jitsu I lift heavy weights with deadlifts & glute bridges, run & jog about 30 min., do abductions & addictions for thighs at 220lbs. So ladies that have had these issues, rest your body, heal up, but try again if you have no other issues. My hip still occasionally needs to be put back in proper position, but then I’m right back to training. 👍

Great news, Gabby.

Dr B 🏻
Mar 16, 2018
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starstarstarstar 		Pain in lower right front ab after drop table adjustment
by: Anonymous

Hello,

I was just reading some of the other ladies' comments about pain in the ab area after an adjustment. I am also trying to figure out what just happened. I had a chiropractic adjustment and the doctor used the drop table approach to adjusting my lower back and hips. Shortly afterwards, while on the table, suddenly developed horrible shooting pain in lower right ab area. Feels like it's shooting towards the front. It doesn't feel right. Can this approach to chiropractic move things around in a woman or aggravate an appendix issue? Very concerned.

I share your concern, but I think it's unrelated; I use the same drop technique and never had this happen.

Nevertheless because of the immediate pain, it does invite questions. I would talk to your chiropractor about it, have him examine your lower back and pelvis again; and the ribcage.

Did he also adjust your midback? Is that pain actually at the attachment of the rib to your sternum? Prod around the breastbone from top to bottom, comparing sides; is one of the rib attachments particularly tender; the treatment may have sprain a rib. Is deep breathing painful?

This has happened to every chiropractor and, for this reason, I no longer give heavy manipulations in the midback; an 'anterior thoracic' is safer.

Let me know.

Dr B
Jan 09, 2018
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starstarstarstarstar 		Lower abdominal pain after adjustment
by: Wanda

I had a hysterectomy12 years ago so my pain can't be menstrual related! Could be intestinal who knows! Any advice?

Again, Wanda, I think but obviously can't be certain that they are unrelated. We know that lower back adjustments can impact positively on various abdominal and female complaints, like infertility for example, so it's certainly not impossible that it could impact you negatively too.
Discuss it with your chiropractor; he will probably change his technique, treat you more conservatively for a while, and generally reassess your progress.
As always if your doctor dismisses your concerns, go elsewhere.

Dr B
Sep 17, 2017
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starstarstarstarstar 		Abdominal pain after pelvic drops.
by: Anonymous

This exact same thing happened to me. I was on my menstrual cycle and felt the pain in my abdomen immediately after the drop table for adjustment of my lower back. It is still hurting with a throbbing shooting pain three days later.

I hope some chiropractic researchers read this; frankly I'm skeptical that it's related to the treatment, since I haven't any such complaint in 37 years in practice, but hey, we get it wrong sometimes, and perhaps it's a rare occurrence and menstrual women need to be treated more gently.

Discuss your reaction to the treatment with your chiropractor; and perhaps stay away in the future when you're having your period.

Thank you for your contribution; I appreciate it. I hope many other women read it; chiropractors too.

Dr B

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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.

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