Rebuilder's Forum (Archived)

I am so peeved. After having TMD for a few years, I decided to visit an osteopath to see if he would be able to allleviate the pain. (I have been avoiding chiros for years as they have such a bad reputation and this ostepath had a good one.) He diagnosed me with mild scoliosis and proceeded to treat me by doing what I thought resembled chiropractic work even though I have never been to one. On the third treatment (one treatment a week), he said he noted my body didn't react to the treatment as it usually did and advised me to return within a few days. That night I was in excruciating pain. There was a lot of pain surrounding my left shoulder blade that shot down the back of my arm through my tricep, through my forearm and finally to my middle finger. The next day there was pain in the back of my neck. I think I have a pinched nerve in my neck. Now, (3 weeks later) the pain is a little better though I think I made it worse the other day at the gym.
Finally I went to my family doctor and she referred me to a chiropractor. I am honestly afraid to go and my instincts are telling me not to. Help me!!! I really don't kow where to turn. Do I have to see a specialist or should I go to physiotherapy or will this go away on it's own?

Hi annavoig,

I have to confess that I don't know much about osteopaths. I do know that they have a more conventional medical education than chiropractors, but I just haven't had the time to fully research that profession.

It does sound like you're dealing with an injured nerve. These take time to heal -- up to six months even after the pain goes away -- and there are no shortcuts.

The most disturbing aspect of your post is the fact that your family doctor actually recommended you see a chiropractor. I can only assume that she had a specific one in mind. One that she knew used conventional physical therapy methods rather than the classic crack-your-neck blarney.

I hope she didn't just tell you to pick one out of the yellow pages.

Dean

Hello Dean. Thank you for your reply. My doctor did have a specific chiropractor in mind- her own. She said I should see an actual chiropractor and not one who just thinks he is one... I think I'm going to lay off the yoga for a bit or at least do really simple non threatening postures and perhaps look into physiotherapy. It's just so difficult to be able to trust a professional's opinion when there seem to be so many bad ones!!! I also intend to read the books. Thanks again.