deconversion

12 Comments

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  by Crozzy 5 months ago

  Damn, 30 years of neck pain sounds unbearable. If you can question the laws of your government enough, have you tried weed for the pain? With the right cooking knowledge you won't need to smoke it either. And before anyone shoots me down with the whole "drugs are bad" debate, I suggest that they first learn a bit about it's science. Then again there's always the option of a plethora of pharmaceutical pills that can also have side effects and addictive properties.
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  by LeoPardus 5 months ago

  That should be C2-C-5 if you're talking the neck. L2-L5 would be the lower back (lumbar region). C = cervical : L = lumbar
  
  About therapy. Get thee to a good chiropractor (DC). Muscle relaxants and PT are OK, but if you are out of alignment, you need adjustment. If not a DC, then try a doctor of osteopathy (DO) who does adjustments. The latter are MD's with additional training in the neuromuscular system. Their method of adjustment differs from that of DCs.
  
  If you want, you can tell me the general area (city) where you live, and I can do a little looking around the area to see if I spot any DCs or DOs who look promising.
  
  FYI, i've been to DCs for years for a lower back problem that I have. There are some really good ones, and yes, there are some dipwads, just as in the regular medical world.
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  by Snuggly Buffalo 5 months ago

  I would do a lot of research before deciding anything with regard to neck manipulations. There have been some cases where neck manipulations caused a brain-stem stroke. Plus, while there are some good chiropractors, the field as a whole still embraces a lot of nonsense like innate intelligence and subluxations. Osteopathy was founded on similar nutty ideas, but that field has cut all of that out in favor of science-based medicine.
  
  There are good and bad practitioners in any field, but I'd rather have a good practitioner in a science-based field than a good practitioner in a field that still embraces bullshit.
  
  But like I said, bottom line, do a lot of research first.
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  by Infidel 5 months ago

  Thanks for the feedback guys. You're right Leo, it's my C2-C5, my neck. I went for my first PT session this morning and I guess we'll see. I've been to a chiropractor before to see if he could do anything for my headaches, he couldn't.
  
  I go back to my doc in about 6 weeks, I'll have to ask him what his treatment plan is if the PT doesn't work.
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  by LeoPardus 5 months ago

  SB, Don't oversimplify. I have to grant you that the chiro field is sadly overpopulated with flat out, b***-F***ing idiots who think they can cure everything with chiropractic, and think vaccines are bad, and so on. On the flip side there are DCs who know that they are doing and know their limits.
  As for a field that embraces bullshit, have you read up on neurology lately?? I ask because that's where I'm doing a lot of reading lately. Ask any neurologist to talk about headache; what causes them, how to treat them, how to prevent them, how drugs work on them, etc. and then sit back and cinch up your shit-proof overcoat.
  Or try challenging some "science-based" medico's beliefs in his/her area. Many of them hold on with religious fervor. You'd think you just told them their god didn't exist.
  Anyway I'm trying to point out that one's approach to all this needs to be balanced. There is evidence for chiropractic efficacy *when you keep the DCs restricted to where they belong* (i.e. spine pain issues). The mechanisms may not be known clearly, but the results are there. Of course that efficacy must be tempered with the fact that different physiologies respond - or don't respond - to chiropractic manipulation differently. So just 'cause a given chiro works well for me, doesn't mean he'll be great for the next guy. ...... Kinda like drugs that way eh?
  
  Infidel,
  Stick with your program for now and see how it works for you. If it's good and you get better, leave things be. If you aren't getting good results, then it'll be time to look for alternatives. A DO or DC might be among those alternatives. Should it come to that, I'd be glad to lend the benefit of my experience to helping you find someone if you wish.
  In any case, good luck. I truly hope you've found the source of your pains and will now find relief.
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  by Snuggly Buffalo 5 months ago

  I didn't mean to oversimplify. I'm well aware that there are good chiropractors and terrible medical doctors. Yes, chiropractic works if you keep where it belongs, but at that stage why not just stick to osteopaths? It just seems like you have a better shot at avoiding the bullshit if you start with a field that isn't steeped in it to begin with. I'm not saying to reject chiropractic outright, but it wouldn't be at the top of my list.
  
  If you find a good chiropractor, by all means stick with him. I'm just advocating increased caution in dealing with a field that still embraces pseudoscience as a core component.
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  by Infidel 4 months ago

  UPDATE:
  
  I started my 3rd week of PT today and, well, I don't know. I can't tell much difference. I have to say that I've noticed some improvement, but nothing to write home about.
  
  Today was interesting. I think I slept wrong because I woke up with a screaming headache, stiff neck and sore shoulder. I went to PT and half way through my second set of exercises, all of the pain had left. I have to qualify that, I did take an Imitrex as soon as I got out of bed, so I don't really know how much credit to give what, but there was enough of a change during the PT to get my attention.
  
  Damn! Does this mean I have to start going to the gym now? I've always hated gyms! I'm the little guy, always have been. Next to all those jocks I just don't measure up (the guys, not the straps)!
  
  Another interesting item is that today they started my on a trial run on a TENS unit. The therapist said I should get 1/2 day's relief from pain. It seemed to work. Cross your fingers!!!
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  by LeoPardus 4 months ago

  Still wondering if a DO can help with getting those vertebrae in line. Have you tried looking? Might also want to ask your PT about sleeping positions, pillows, etc. He/she might be able to suggest some things to prevent you from sleeping your way into a painful situation.
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  by Infidel 4 months ago

  I did the chiropractor thing about a year ago for 3 months. When I wasn't getting any better the chiro said that he couldn't do anything for me (which I appreciated) and sent me on my way. He told me to come in 2-3 times a year to get my alignment checked, but that's it.
  
  My doc and the PT both have talked about pillows/mattresses. Problem is nobody can tell you what to buy because it's too individualistic. I've already bought a couple of new pillows and am going to get a couple more this weekend.
  
  I have figured out that the bed in our guest room makes my neck hurt and sleeping on my side really screws me up.
  
  The journey continues...
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  by LeoPardus 4 months ago

  Glad you found a DC who would be that honest. What about a DO? Just throwin' ideas out.
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  by Infidel 4 months ago

  I guess I don't understand the difference. What would a DO do that a DC wouldn't?
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  by LeoPardus 4 months ago

  DO's receive a medical school education just like MDs (they can prescribe meds, do surgery, etc.) but with additional, specialized education in the musculoskeletal system. They do their manipulations by a method like muscular massage (rather than the DC methods that manipulate the skeleton more directly). It's supposed to be a much gentler method of manipulation.