Back Spasms

[Suzzie205]

In Sept of 06 I went to a chiropracter for an adjustment. Soon after I was in the worst pain I had ever had. Through 34 PT treatmants the pain is now tolerable, but what I can't get rid of is these back spasms. They are not painful, but just out of the blue I will get this odd sensation on the left side of my back, around T 4-7. I have had neck & back xrays, bone scan & MRI and all have come back normal. Because of these spasms I can no longer drive and haven't in a year and a half. Can anyone tell me what went wrong during this adjustment to have caused these and what exactly are they coming from. and are they serious. I have seen 3 rehumatiod arthirist Drs. & a neurologist that could not find the cause of these. In the last 2 months I had over 100 of these darn things.

[Suzzie205]

So are you saying you don't know what these spasms are? And yes I would like to e-mail, but could not find your e-mail address.

[Adam Tanase, D.C.]

Suzzie,

I'm sorry to hear that you've had such a poor experience. I'm not familiar with how you've described being adjusted "standing up"  -- Furthermore, I am shocked the doctor did not shoot any x-rays to see exactly what needed to be done.

I'm going to suggest you go to this website, www.UpCspine.com and find an Upper Cervical specialist in your area to consult. That would be my best advice for you at this point. If you'd like to email me, please do so and I will help you find the right doctor.

Warm wishes,
AT

[Suzzie205]

Sorry, I also forgot to mention that there were no xrays taken prior to the adjustments. I also have Scoliosis. Would any of that have caused or made a difference in the outcome of these adjustments? I don't understand that why almost 2 years later I would still be having these problems. Shouldn't I have been better by now.? Due to all this I have had to apply for SSI. I can't stand or walk for any lenght of time. I have even have these spasms just sitting in my recliner doing nothing. I also have them riding in a car. I'm telling you there is no rhyme or reason for them and no warning when I will get one. Sometimes they are so bad I feel like I am going to wet myself. If you need anymore info let me know as believe it or not I have only scratched the serface of my problems going from these adjustments.

[Suzzie205]

It was within a few hours after the first adjustment that I started having pain & the spasms. I contacted her and told her how much pain I was in and her answer what that I needed to come in for more adjustments, which I did 5 or 6 total. Each time within 3 hours the pain was unbearable. After the last one I ended up in urgent care as I could no longer stand the pain. I carried an ice pack on my neck 24/7 to ease the pain.

As far as the adjustments were, the answers is all of the above and yes she did use
some kind of instrument. The one that concerned me the most was one where I was standing in this kind of adjustment table where you are standing straight up. She then came in behind me and lifted my neck straight up from under my chin area. I left there feeling  really great, my husband I then left there and went straight to Costco. While in there I started feeling really bad and told him that we needed to leave. So that was probably within one hour of the standing adjustment.

I also within the first 2 adjustments started feeling extremely nauseus. I also contacted her about this issue. Her answer was that the adjustments were releasing toxins out of my body and to drink alot of water and it would go away. Well. here we are almost 2

years later and I still suffer with this problem.

An orthopectic Dr. said that I was severly sprained & strained from the adjustments. Before all this I was working and walked 3 miles a day and did 30 minutes of other type of exercises later that same day. Today, I can only do an activity for 10 to 15 minutes then the pain flares up. Like I states before my PT says that I was damaged between T4-7. PT has improved my pain level, it just never stopped these spasms and I went 34 times. Until these spasms stop I am not safe behind the wheel of a car, so I don't drive. I also now suffer from anxiety cuz of not knowing what these darn things are. Some of them are just a blimp on the rader screen others last up to 2 minutes. I was perfectly heathly until I went to this chiropracter.

Please! Please! Tell me if you can what these darn things are and if I should be worried about them. Thnank you so much!

After the second adjustment I was in so much pain I could no longer drive. On one occassion my daughter-in-law was taking me to her office. When we got there I was in so much pain I couldn't remember my granddaughter's names. I just stood there crying in pain. She had to wait until I stopped crying before she could adjust me.

[Adam Tanase, D.C.]

Thanks for writing.

I'd like to know some more information so I can give you the best possible answer...What time frame are we dealing with here... when you say "soon after" -- is that the next day, a week later, or longer? Also, did you receive just one chiropractic adjustment in September of 06, or did you receive several?

I'd also like to know if you can describe how the adjustment was delivered... Were you laying face down, on your side, or on your back? Did the doctor use his hands to give the manipulation, or did he use an instrument?

Warm wishes,
AT