Neck And Back Pain Homepage

Question: Should i see a chiropractor for neck and back pain/stiffness?

(Posted by: Cara H on 2009-04-26 10:10:12)

I have stiffness, almost like a constant "kink " in my neck (like the one you get from sleeping on it wrong) and dull pain in my back. My instinct it to crack them or stretch them but nothing happens. More often than not, the pain seems to move to my arms, particularly elbow pain and overall numbness in my hands and arms. Is the chiropractor the person to see for this? Can it be covered by insurance (low income family so that is important.) By the way, I'm an 18 year old high school student.

Posted by: smax on 2009-04-30, 07:11:06

You can see a chiropractor if you want to try a conservative approach to treatment. If you go to a neurologist or an orthopedist, all they'll do is offer drugs or surgery... which is fine if that's what you need but they should only be utilized when all conservative options have been exhausted. Chiropractic has a really good history of successfully managing these kinds of cases if they aren't quite to the point of surgery. Try that first if you'd like to avoid surgery, if it doesn't help then get a neurologic consult. If you're getting numbness, you need to see someone about it though to make sure you won't get permanent nerve damage. I'd say start with the chiropractor. Don't let Skeeeeeetz scare you either. He posts the same answer to every question. When he doesn't know absolutely anything about your condition but claims that chiropractors can't help your condition, he really makes himself look like a moron.

Posted by: I love shoes on 2009-04-26, 13:04:39

Go to a doctor and discuss this with them. Ask the doctor to have some tests done to find out what it is or isn't. It could be anything from stress, to a pulled muscle, or arthritis. Ask the doctor if it is covered by insurance if you go to a chiropractor. A good chiropractor could make a difference and you won't know until you have been to one. Discuss this with your doctor. Additional note: If you type 'arthritis in young people' into the web search box,you will see fourteen million one hundred thousand, web pages on this topic. I would just like to point out, also, that not all chiropractors are equal,as some are better at their job than others. You have to be careful when people are working on your spine and neck. Just concerned and trying to help!

Posted by: Chris on 2009-04-26, 19:16:44

A chiropractor is the best person to see for this, as they will treat the cause instead of the symptoms. Did you have an accident that could have caused your neck pain? Also, you don't need to ask an M.D. if your insurance covers chiropractors, as the other user suggested, all you have to do is contact your insurance provider...P.S. you are too young to have arthritis(unless it's rheumatoid arthritis)...don't let someone who doesn't know what they are talking about scare you...

Posted by: GFISH on 2009-04-27, 12:30:24

Dear Cara, At age 18, you should not be experiencing neck pain. Yes, you can go to your primary care Dr- but most likely the Dr is going to recommend medications- maybe muscle relaxers to take care of the stiff neck. Maybe they will suggest physical therapy. My recommendation would be see a chiropractor or an osteopath. Why? Because they are the best Dr equipped to help you with stiffness and pain in your neck. If you have a misalignment in your neck, they can help you with that. They will do a consult, examination and maybe refer you out for x-rays to see what is going on in your Cervical spine. The fact that you mentioned that the pain travels to your arms and you have numbness in your hands is another reason you need to get this checked out. The Doctor may also send you out for an MRI which will show more specifically what is going on in the soft tissues, muscles and disc spaces. What type of treatment will the Chiropractor do? If you are a candidate for a chiropractic adjustment, there are many different techniques that the Dr can do. In addition they can do neck traction in the office and therapies such as ice and heat as well as electrical muscle stimulation. Also, the Dr may give you exercises such as stretches and strengthening exercises for the neck (arc4life.com/ site/ 615058/ page/ 993935) . Chiropractic is safe, effective and is not painful. Yes, chiropractic is covered by your insurance in most cases. If it is not, discuss that with your Dr right in the beginning. Mention that you are a student and would like a discount if possible. Many times Dr’s will work with you. I don’t want to see you taking medications at this early age- and you want to make sure that these symptoms don’t progress into something worse, so please get this checked out and get some relief. Hope this helps.

Posted by: Barbra N on 2009-04-27, 20:11:07

Oh, I remember that one! I got a free book from the guy below, then I bought his book on how to adjust myself. I got it for my lower back, but my boyfriend slept crocked one night and we were able to fix him up right away. Very easy and no cracking, we didn't think anything had happened until he moved his head around and the pain was gone.

Posted by: Skeeeeeetz on 2009-04-28, 09:37:28

There is much disagreement about both the effectiveness and risks involved with chiropractic treatment. In my opinion, it is the only thing that should needs to be said about chiropractic adjustment: A chiropractor cannot “cure� your condition or any other-- at best, they would just make your muscles feel better. It would be best to first see your doctor—a real physician—and be referred to a physical therapist or an orthopedic specialist. I would advise that your do everything you can to avoid chiropractic treatment, as it will often do more harm than good. Chiropractors have to believe that everything causes conditions that only they can fix so they can convince patients that we can't live comfortably without visits twice per week. I had a stroke last year as a result of chiropractic treatment and have since made it a priority to raise awareness of the dangers of chiropractic care. I ask that anyone going to visit a chiropractor to be aware of the risks and make an informed decision about treatment. Although the chiropractic community will argue that I don’t have a degree and I don’t know what I am talking about, I only want to make sure people considering chiropractic treatment that there are risks. I have nothing to gain from this. Can chiropractors say the same? Make sure you get both sides of the story!