Chiari & Chiro (without neck manipulation)

[RLastInstallment]

Hi, all! I've been doing some serious thinking about seeing a chiropractor for my lower back/hip pain. I know I'm not supposed to have any head/neck manipulation done, but I've seen that some people are against ANY adjustments of the spine. So, is it safe to adjust below the cervical spine? Shoulders? Thanks!

[selmaS]

  U will want a MRI if it has been a few yrs as a syrinx could form in that time....

x rays are only good for bone ...MRI's are for soft tissue....and with Chiari it is where the soft tissues are displaced that is important...

[chiarilmt]

The most important thing I forgot to mention is that you should discuss this with your primary physician who is treating you for chiari.  There may be other options they can suggest for your pain if they feel chiropractic care should not be done.

[RLastInstallment]

Thank you!

[chiarilmt]

One more thing.....you could also try massage therapy  as a way to  try to relief sore muscles.  I know of some who can tolerate deep tissue massage with chiari, and others who can't.  You may have to find what will work best for your body.

[chiarilmt]

Hi,

If you are concerned about getting chiropractic adjustments   you could find out if the chiropractor uses a tool called an activator.  This gives a low force adjustment.  The tool is held against the vertebrae and they "click" it and it causes the vertebrae to go into place without manually "twisting" you neck, or hips etc.  This is used for elderly people and others who may have had surgeries.  You can "google" this and it will show you a pic of it.

I work for a chiropractor and I also have chiari.  He does NOT manually adjust my neck, but I do allow the activator.   I also at times have him adjust my back and hips as long as no twisting is involved and he is gentle.   I do not have any syrinx or other issues in those areas.  But this is my personal  preference.  

You should do your research and ask many questions and be sure your chiropractor understands exactly what chiari is.  Mine did not know about it until I educated him.  Now it is something he will check on if patients  come in presenting with certain symptoms.

Any chiropractor who treats you  should look  at any MRI's  xrays or cat scans you have had done so they know what they are dealing with before treating you.

[RLastInstallment]

They also are next door to the people who do my MRIs, so if anything is suspicious I can pop over on another day!

[RLastInstallment]

Thanks for the welcome!

No syrinx, no tethered cord, and no disk problems (to my knowledge). The clinic said they may do preliminary x-rays to be safe since it's been a couple years, is that okay/trustworthy?

My job is very physical, so I get a lot of wear and tear. I ride horses for a living - hard on my hips! I've got bursitis in the right one :( Did physical therapy for a few months last year & sad to say it didn't help.

Thanks for your help

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Until u know how ur Chiari is affecting u, ie- if u have a syrinx I would not have ne manipulations done .....

Have u ruled out a syrinx in the cervical , thoracic and lumbar spine? Or tethered cord?...disk issues due to  EDS?

I know it is tempting to go, but it can cause more issues if u are not aware of all the related conditions and issues u have going on.....