Lower Back Muscle Issue

[Matthew Swartz]

Some background on the issue. There was no marked event where I hurt something, it has been more of a gradual process of growing discomfort. I got fed up and went to the chiro.

At the chiro, X-rays showed that my right hip is higher than my left, causing a tiny curve in my low spine. The chiro thinks that some muscle is being impinged as a result.

For the past 2-3 weeks, I've undergone electro-stim, ultrasound, as adjustment 3x a week. On top of that I've been alternating ice and heat and hitting a MWOD a day. I've cut crossfit completely and have been swimming in training for an open water 750m on mothers day for my mom in a triathlon. All of the swims have been under 600m up to today, so nothing too strenuous.

Reason why I'm posting is that I have not seen any significant, even moderate improvement. A day away from the chiro and I start feeling a pinching discomfort again. Does anyone have any advice or experience with somethin g like this?

Typed on an iPhone so mind spelling mistakes. Thanks in advance.

[Steven Low]

See a different chiro or physical therapist.

When you "adjust" or manipulate someone you need to generally give them corrective exercises to help reinforce good neural patterns.

If he's just manipulating and then doing modalities that's not going to fix the problem as you found out and it's just milking you for money. Unfortunately, this happens with all sorts of practitioners in every field.

[Matthew Swartz]

Originally Posted by Steven Low

See a different chiro or physical therapist.

When you "adjust" or manipulate someone you need to generally give them corrective exercises to help reinforce good neural patterns.

If he's just manipulating and then doing modalities that's not going to fix the problem as you found out and it's just milking you for money. Unfortunately, this happens with all sorts of practitioners in every field.

Steven,

Thanks for the response, you were the guy I was looking forward to hearing from. I was given a little booklet of stretching exercises that had 5-6 stretches which I did for the first few days, but they didn't seem to do anything. Switched over to MWODs instead. Bad choice?

Matt

[Steven Low]

Well, I mean, do you know what your diagnosis is? Do you believe it's accurate?

MWOD is good if you're healthy but if you're loosening up things that aren't supposed to be loosened and whatnot that's not a good thing

[Matthew Swartz]

Haven't been given a straight diagnosis. I'm going tomorrow, so I'll be sure to ask that. It made sense what we were trying to fix, getting more mobility in my base trunk to get my hips realigned.

As for money, I'm hardly paying anything out of pocket per visit because of my insurance. No worries there.

Tomorrow will be my last visit with his specific chiro because I'm moving back home for the summer. Will get a second look there.

[Megan Zetter]

Find a new chiro. I'd get the diagnosis from the first guy though just for the sake of knowing and to see if he can explain to you what he thinks is wrong. It's very negligent for him to treat you that frequently without even giving you a diagnosis and or any expected timeline in which you should be getting better.

[Brian Strump]

I have nothing to add....If anyone cared.

Where's home? Maybe someone can recommend a new doc.

[Matthew Swartz]

"Muscular imbalance" is the diagnosis.

[Brian Strump]

Of what?

Originally Posted by Matthew Swartz

"Muscular imbalance" is the diagnosis.

[Matthew Swartz]

Of the lower back I guess. Nice and vague huh?

5AM flight out of Wichita tomorrow morning, spent 30min in a hot tub with a jet hitting my issue spot. Feels pretty good right now.