Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Rotating schedule and chiro talk

I'm on a rotating schedule at work. Well, sort of.

My alarm on the cell phone goes off every half hour to remind me to change my work set up. I alternate 30 minutes of sitting in my ordinary office chair with 30 minutes of standing up at my desk with 30 minutes of sitting in the BackApp (that is now mine!). I do this all through the hours I'm in my office. If I spend much time sitting down in meetings, I skip my ordinary office chair that day and alternate between standing and using my BackApp.

I went to a chiropractor on Monday and ever since he adjusted me (my second adjustment ever by a chiropractor) I've been in pain. My whole body aches. And I have tingles in my feet. He warned me this could happen as the body is reacting to the treatment, but I honestly didn't think it'd be this bad. I feel as if I've been thrown back a couple of weeks in time. This morning my body was so shifted, I lost my balance and almost tipped over when I walked from the bed to the bathroom...

I have another appointment with the chiropractor next week, but haven't decided yet if I'm going or not. I know lots of people who go to chiropractors on a regular basis and they say they get relief from the treatments. I just can't help thinking it's a brutal way to treat your body. I feel that my muscles are just as tight as before (and maybe even tighter) and they keep pulling me in different directions. To me, it just makes more sense to warm up the body before adjusting it. To massage the muscles and let them relax so they don't instantly pop back in the tight position they were in and thereby pull your joints or whatever... And to gradually ease your body into the right position so the muscles sort of "get it" and go with the movement.

If I were doubled over and clearly needed an adjustment, I could see the need of a brutal treatment. And if it was something I've only had for a short time so the pain was in the bones and joints and not in the tight muscles. But with this back issue I've been having and have? My muscles are so beat up, they need to relax and heal. Not to be pulled with force. Or at least that's what I'm thinking.

I'm trying to get an appointment with the man who treated me a couple of weeks ago but he's hard to get a hold off. And if I don't hear from him before my scheduled chiropractor appointment, I'll probably go for a second adjustment.

Any thoughts on this?

6 comments:

crrly said...

Ouch. Doesn´t sound good. But you know I strongly believe in chiropractists and chiropractic, so I think you'd better go for it anyway. But maybe not before having discussed the matter with him/her over the phone.

I haven't really gotten it (sorry to say) -- do you have a diagnosis, what has happened to your back, what is the cause of your terrible pain?

And -- the chiropractor you go to, is that the one with the clinic next door to your old apartment? Just curious!

Geek Knitter said...

It makes me sad to think of you in such pain. :(

I wish I had advice or wisdom, but how about a long-distance hug? :kram:

Carrie at Rhubarb Sky said...

Anna,
Have you considered trying a different chiropractor? After a car accident, I did the chiropractor route, but he had me going to a massage practitioner 2x a week to support his adjustments (also 2x a week). Just like physicians and other medical type people, there is a wide range of thought within the chiropractor community. Perhaps you could find one that adjusts in a more gentle, massage supported way.
And, some physical therapy to build strength in those muscles that hold your back in place might help too. I found that most of the strength building moves my physical therapists assigned me were yoga poses I was already familiar with.
I know how much back pain affects everyday life. . . I'm so sorry you're hurting so much. I hope you find some relief soon.
♥ Carrie

Stiney said...

I've never been to a chiropractor, but I have been to physical therapy for long-term problems that involve some muscles being too weak and others being too tight--they handled it with massage, exercises, and stretches. But my problem didn't involve bones moving at all--not sure if yours does--so that might not work as well? Do you know a physical therapist you can try seeing?

Dilly said...

When I lived in New Brunswick, I saw a very non-effective chiropractor. I was reluctant to try a new chiropractor here in BC, so I started off seeing a physiotherapist. She wasn't able to effectively treat my issues, so she recommended a chiropractor, and he's great - totally different approach and techniques than the first chiro I saw in NB. You may just need to check out a couple of different people and find one that works for you.

Feel better soon! :kram:

Anonymous said...

I was going to suggest what a few other people have said. The chiro I see actually does have a massage therapist in his office, and she does her work first. He also prescribes exercises for me to do to help rehabilitate the muscles when something's out-of-whack.

Anyway, I hope you find a solution that works for you! :heart: