Chiropractor and MS

[sarahw244]

Hi all.  I have a quick question.  Is it okay to go to the chiropractor when you have MS?  I thought I read somewhere over the last 2 years that you should avoid the chiropractor when you have MS.  Is this true?
Thanks and I hope everyone is doing well!
Sarah

[dogmum]

I've been to a few different kinds of chiropractors over the years.  The kind that 'crack' things back into place usually just left me holding my breath that they wouldn't break anything and I never got any lasting relief from them (personally).  I tried (once) a chiropractor who used the 'clicker' and thought it hurt and was ineffective in my case.

Back in Ohio, I started going to another one after my car accident who does a simple "massage" on the neck, no crack, snap, or pop, but I get quite a bit more out of it so I kept going.  This chiro is a NUCCA chiropractor and I love it.  The guy is kind of a quack, but the results are vastly different from all previous experiences and I try to get in to see him when I'm in town.  :)

[Needhelp16]

Sorry it cut me off...anyway, bottom line is it's your decision and yours alone.  You can ask your doc about their opinion, but ultimately it's yours!

Laura

[Needhelp16]

I've had 1 neuro tell me absolutely not, and another told me to try it.  If I liked it keep going.  Well my glad I did go, he was the only one to find my pelvic bone was out of line by an inch.

When I told my first neuro that I went and what he found she said, well I'll just have to eat my words then!  lol

Bottom line is

[maxthecat43]

I wondered about that too, but I still see my chiropractor fairly regularly.  I don't use the actuator either.  It has never done anything for me.  I don't know if it has done any damage, but my cervical spine "goes out" periodically, due to scoliosis.  My chiropractor knows I have I have MS, and my neurologist knows I see a chiropractor.  Neither of them has ever said I should stop.  I guess it bears further research though.

Tammy

[candy158]

I would for sure check with your Dr, but I would NOT be without my chiropractor..... he has been my saving grace a number of times, you and your Dr. have to make the call.

Good luck on this one, and keep us posted...

Candy158

[jensequitur]

I don't want to burst anybody's bubble, but they've proven that the 'actuator' just makes a clicking noise.  It doesn't actually do anything.  The patient experiences some psychosomatic relief, however.

[NormanG22]

I see my chiropractor every three weeks, I started seeing him prior to being diagnosed,  He doesn't do the snap, crackle, pop method, he uses a actuator which allows him to adjust the individual vertebra that needs adjusting.  

I believe finding the right chiropractor is the key.

[tingletingle]

Hi Sarah,

Complimentary medicine is a very individual choice and the studies from memory show the majority of us are into one thing or other.

My neuro doesn't believe in any complimenary medicine greatly impacting on MS but he said if the chiro makes you feel better then he didn't have a problem with me being manipulated and I have a spinal lesion at T5 and neck at C3-4.

My chiro says the manipulation doesn't affect the cord or lesions within it. But ask 20 people and you'll get numerous different answers.

Best of luck with your decision
Blessings
Alex

[jensequitur]

It sounds to me as if you're having some spasticity in your back.  Mainly what a chiropractor does is just 'crack' your back.   They'll give you some bushwa about subluxation, but don't believe it!  You're getting relief from stretching those muscles and popping the nitrogen bubbles.

What I would do is seek out a massage therapist, preferably one that does deep tissue massage.  It'll hurt like you-know-what, but when they're done, you'll feel much better.  

[sarahw244]

Thanks all!  Maybe where I read it was referring to chiropractor for the symptoms of MS.  I haven't gone in about 3 years but am really feeling like I need an adjustment.

My spine tends to twist and turn itself around for some reason.  I have individual vertebrae that will twist to the side...it's difficult to describe I guess.

It does feel good once my back is back in proper alignment, the muscles don't seem so tight.

Anyways, thanks again!
Sarah

[Lulu54]

The question of the chiropractor and safety with MS involves the manipulation of your cervical spine and I'll try to find that information for you.  The best thing to do is talk to your neurologist first.  

[saucygrl]

I was seeing a chiropractor every 2-4 weeks before I was diagnosed because of a car accident.  I continue going for the same issues, but it hasn't done anything to help my symptoms from MS.  He said he has several patients with MS who do find some relief.  If you have a chiropractor that you already see, I would talk to him/her.  If you are just going for relief of MS symptoms, it's been my personal experience that it hasn't helped that much.  Each person is different though so I can't say for sure.

Chris

[doublevision1]

I haven't heard this.  There seem to be really divided camps generally when it comes to the effectiveness and safety of chiropractic tretaments.  I went once for lower back pain, after I got MS but unrelated to it.  Didn't bother going back, did physio instead which helped.

I asked my neuro if he thought chiro would be helpful for my neuropathy, he said no and didn't recommend it.

Beware of practitioners who say that chiro helps slow progression of MS or lessen relapses.  To my knowledge there's no scientific evidence to support this.  I have come across these claims on the internet, based on anecdotal observation.