My mother inlaw

[jamlws]

If you all remember my mother inlaw was having alot of back pain and neck pain and leg pain, she got so bad she went to a chiropractor, well he did xrays and said she has severe Arthritis in her neck and back. He said she needed 6 weeks of theropy for 3 weeks she needs it 3 times a week and then the last 3 weeks only 2 times a week. Well thru the whole 6 weeks I never saw her getting better at all. She is still having problems walking and still always rubbing her legs and hurting. She said at the last visit the chiropractor sat down with her and told her she has a slipped disc in her back, I am not sure if he did xrays or how he came to this. now he is saying she needs 6 more weeks of treatment to avoid surgery.
This all sounds very funny to me. How did he not know about the slipped disc the first time around? And why is she getting worse instead of getting better. This is the only dr she goes to for this problem and I have asked her many times to find another dr and she won't do it. Her PCP dont believe in treating people with pain meds, won't even think about it but she is always in pain.
what do you guys think about all of this?
Thanks
Jamie

[Tuckamore]

Hi Jamie,

I am not so sure you want to know what I think about this!!! So I will try to be calm.

First let me say that Chiropractors are good in their place. I have a niece that is a chiropractor. My father also saw one, three times a week for a week who said to him "Mel, I think there is something seriously wrong with your spine. My treatment should have made you at least a bit better and it didn't. I want you to see an orthopedic surgeon." My father did and he required surgery 4 weeks later. That was a good chiropractor. So those are where I think chiropractors should be, they are wonderful in some areas and most recognize their limitations....unfortunately some don't.

There are D.O's that are doctors trained almost like MD's however their training and education also focuses on OMT (Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy.) This is very much like a "softer" adjustment from a chiropractor but the difference is they have medical degrees. They understand the big picture because of their extensive education and training. It takes the same amount of time to become a DO as it does to become a MD. They practice in the same areas, they specialize in the same fields but some of them continue to practice what they were trained to do, OMT. That's who I would encourage your mother-in-law to consult. I see an Internal Medicine DO. You all know I think she is an angle with a medical degree. She does OMT's on my SIJ which reduces my pain and allows me to function, at lest to some degree..

Unfortunately you have no control over your MIL. She may select what every practitioner she wants to consult. Apparently she has a good relationship with the Chiro and trusts him. What can you do? I assume she is mentally competent.

Goggle D.O. and print out some of the information for her. You may also look for one in your area that practices OTM, not all so. Your MIL may be more open to seeing a DO if she understands that they are the best of both worlds, at least in my opinion.

Good luck to you. Please let us know if you are able to make any progress. I know how very frustrating this must be for you. Some years ago a chiropractor treated a friend of ours for two days when he complained of left sided neck and shoulder pain. It turned out to be the signs and symptoms of a Myocardial Infarct (Heart Attack). He died in the hospital emergency room parking lot. At the very least and in my opinion the chiropractor should have considered this possibility given the man's age (50), weight and medical history. It was a needless death.

Peace,
~Tuck    

[mellie4]

I think chiropractors have their place and can help for a lot of things.  But I think of them more as treating muscle-type pain.  I've used them for a kink in my neck or a pulled muscle.  But RunningMom is right that they can also do more damage.  And some of them are all about the money and will have you coming back repeatedly for no reason.  Sounds like your MIL needs to see a doctor who can refer her to either an orthopedic or surgeon.

[jamlws]

thank you,
I really don't understand what she sees in this dr. Her son my brother inlaw goes to the same one and that is why she goes to him. I will talk more to my father inlaw today when I see him, he should be over to bring my daughters birthday money.
thanks
Jamie

[RunningMom]

Xrays do not show much of what is going on in the spine.  Your MIL must really like this chiropractor to keep going to him.  He is a crook to tell her that statement about having more PT to avoid surgery.  He knows better and that would get to me too.  I hope your FIL can talk your MIL into having a MRI done from her family doctor.  There are other many other options besides the chiropractor to help ease the pain to avoid surgery that work on a lot of people.  I wish your MIL the best of luck and I'm sorry she is suffering.

[jamlws]

I have tried to just get her to get a xray from this chiropractor just to see if anything was found and then go from there. It just gets me that the last appt he tells her she has a slipped disc and needs 6 more weeks of PT so she don't have to have surgery. She has never had a MRI only xrays. I will talk more to my father inlaw and get some more info. I know I cant ask her she gets all mad when I start to ask questions.
Thanks
Jamie

[namnam46]

Oh Jamie,

You are SOOO right she needs a 2nd Opinion immediately.

She needs to get away from that Doctor right away. He may have ALREADY done some damage to her. It sounds like he is after the money that he makes for the PT Visits!! I'm really sorry about that, I know from what you have said that she is VERY stubborn about her Doctors!!

Can you talk to your Father-in-Law about this or maybe to Glenn and have him talk to his Mom and you be there to back him up?

I'm so sorry that you have this going on with everything else that you have on your plate right now!!!

(((Hugs!!))) and Love....Sherry