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Short of surgery, is there anything you can do for degenerative disc disease? Has anyone noticed improvement through stretching or exercise? Diet, any supplements? Surgery is an absolute last resort. Thanks.
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My major concern with chiropractors are that they are willing to physically manipulate your back without having seen an x-ray or MRI. When I suggested one, my daughter's chiropractor said he would treat her back pain (which she had for over 2 months at that point) over the course of 6 sessions, and then take an x-ray if it wasn't relieved because I "seemed concerned." How is this sound medical practice? Surely one can't "feel" everything. Upon x-ray and MRI it was found that she had degenerative disc disease- wouldn't it have been nice if the chiropractor knew this before he treated her?? Surely this isn't sound medical practice, however, the office we went to was highly recommended.
May 9, 2013 - 6:29amThis Comment
There are guidelines to follow. The DC appears to have followed them. Unless your daughter exhibited RED FlAGS, x-rays are not recommended initially for back pain. Patient's with DDD can often be managed well with mobilizing manipulation and other conservative procedures. There is not a permanent cure.
September 20, 2016 - 2:53pmThis Comment
It really isn't necessary to know that she had degenerative disc disease prior to treating her. Chiropractic care has very few risks and chiropractors are well-trained on spotting red flags. Ultimately most chiropractors don't want to irradiate people if they do not feel it is necessary or if it will not change the treatment protocol (which in that case it would not). In fact it would be best for your daughter to continue to receive chiropractic care so that the degeneration in her vertebral discs decreases or altogether halts. Muscle work is another important component of the chiropractic adjustment, so if this was missing it may have been the reason why your daughter's condition has not improved in six sessions.
As for what chiropractors are feeling: chiros move the joints and get a sense of which joints are moving well and which aren't. This is a skill developed over 3 years of school and an addition year or so of an internship. When a joint is not moving, we know it is susceptible to begin degeneration if it continues to have altered motion. All types of chiropractors exist and a variety of tools are utilized, but most are locating a decrease in individual joint motion.
So rest assured, your daughter is (likely) in very capable hands. Though chiropractors often prefer to not take radiographs or MRIs, in the absence of red flags it will not change the treatment and therefore is not necessary. People who are diagnosed with degenerative disc disease are a chiropractor's best patients!
May 12, 2013 - 10:23amThis Comment