4 replies to this topic

[Motor]

I'm a T-6 incomplete para for 31/2 years now. I am wondering if anyone has tried accupuncture or chiropractors. I am thinking of attempting it but will a chiropractor touch me with rods and hardware in my back.

Thanks

[kewlcatkez]

Motor, on Jan 23 2008, 07:13 PM, said:

I'm a T-6 incomplete para for 31/2 years now. I am wondering if anyone has tried accupuncture or chiropractors. I am thinking of attempting it but will a chiropractor touch me with rods and hardware in my back.

Thanks

Hi Motor,

Later, when I have a lil more time I will go into the whole Alternative and complimentary therapy thing with you ( from Acupuncture to Mind aversion, to visualisation), for now I will just comment on the two you have mentioned. Are you wanting to pursue this for pain control/management, Spasms control and or relaxation? This will affect the answers! LOL

I have tried acupuncture a couple of times ( as in a couple of 'lots' ie 6 sessions each lot). It s interesting to note that acupuncture did seem to affect my (involuntary) spasms but didn't have an impact on my severe pain, although I did get tingling in the areas I have sensation when the needles were left in for a while which I am sure would have provoked any 'mind over matter' reaction, but which didn't really. It does make for an interesting finding...

As for Chiropractors, I paid over £400 on one a little before my paralysis when I was having increasing dislocations. I am not saying this is what happened, but I am sure that it didn't help the situation as the adjustments were done to my back and a few months later, well....

I have since been informed by a Knowledgeable doctor that I shouldn't entertain a Chiropractor or anyone messing around with my back, but not sure if thats just because of how my connective tissue disorder is ...or a general thing..

In my experience, the Chiro was like a factory...he had 3 in at once on couches/beds and the chiropractor flitted between the 3 of us and administered the adjustments. He also examined me before this and yet didn't see my missing reflexes and or be alerted to the odd symptoms ( I was having transient loss of sensation and function) even when I was having difficulty peeing. Likely he thought that I was mad! I was there for my hip which I couldn't keep in joint and the loss of function which everyone thought was me being depressed!
Of course hindsight is always 20/20 huh? but you would expect him to be aware of such things and he was a prestigious Chiropractor...

Ok enuff for now...
HTH

Take care,
K

Edited by kewlcatkez, 24 January 2008 - 11:14 AM.

[longhaul]

If you do go to a chiro find one that has experience with sci patients. I have used them with good results but I don't have rods or fused. Acupuncture is a trip I have a friend that is an acupuncturist and he has done some pain and spasm work with me and it works, the thing to remember is it's slow not like a 50mg oxy. The best way I have found is to do the acu session then go about your business without trying to notice a change and it just starts working. Ken

[Ches]

I've been seeing a Chiro for around 6 months now. I go once a week. He works in synch with my Massage Therapist and its been pretty benefical to me. At first I went just to relieve some of my pain.. I broke 11 ribs, my sternum and 8 vertabra. I healed all crooked thanks to my chair and desperately wanted to feel straight and get back some good posture. My chiro was been working on my grandparents for 15 yrs now and was delighted to work with me. He didnt have ALOT of experience with SCI's but He was willing to put in the extra work and patience required to work on me. I have rods as well.. and at first He wouldnt go near the rods or any bones I had broken in my back.. He waited until around 5 months post injury.. When my bones were good and healed and had actually started 'popping' on their own again.

Its hard to say what exactly he has done for me.. as far as returns.. there really isnt a way to differentiate my natural healing and his work.. but I have had lots of returns and more importantly.. I sit up straight, my back is def stronger, and all around I just feel better, more of the way I felt before breaking all the bones. Dont expect great gains, but if you're for minor relief a chiro isnt such a bad idea.

One more thing I noticed.. The doctors at the hospital had a way of prioritizing my injuries.. In fact I didnt even know I had a broken sternum for the first 5 weeks. I just complained and moaned about the pain.. I assumed it was my ribs.. Anyways.. My chiro has been pretty good about picking out those breaks and injuries neglected by the doctors. Including a twisted sacrum.

[carole338]

I have not tired Chiropractic sessions or Acupuncture yet, but I am considering it. I am fortunate in that my sister is a message therapist who also does Reiki. Reiki is a Japanese practice that helps promote stress reduction and healing. When I woke up from the anesthesia after my injury my first word was Reiki. My husband thought I was babbling. My sister gave me message and Reiki and I feel strongly that it made a difference in my recovery.

I know I felt strong sensations and sometimes pain when she preformed the Reiki on me in areas where I was damaged from the operation. It may or may not have helped the spinal cord injury I had but I believe message and Reiki did make a difference in my other bodily healing.

I have tried other things, both medical and spiritual, but that is for another discussion.

Carole