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January 16, 2012 - 11:49pm
Whiplash - Please help!
I originally went to an osteopath for whiplash 3 month ago and did not go back after the second appt. because he would answer no questions and hurt my neck. I returned two weeks later after having an upper back spasm. At the first appt. I had had a sharp stabbing pain in my left shoulder blade and he said nothing. I had two appointments that were okay. After that, he became more aggressive with treatment and caused severe muscle strain to my upper back. I went back again - about 4 weeks ago - and he did some sort of what he called myofascial release on both hips. I have no idea why. The next day I could not walk and went back and he did the standard "under the back finger manipulation" with intense focus on my lower back. Since then, I have had horrid pain in my lower back. None of this existed before or after the accident until he started doing things to me. Two days after the appointment, I had a very sharp stabbing pain from hip to knee. After that, what I presume to be my tailbone/SI joint became very painful and hard to even sit down. I called and got no answers. Almost two weeks later, I felt a very strange energy like pain down my entire leg and the next day was able to move my left hip outward. A week later - last weekend - as I was laying on the floor, I heard a click in the area of my tailbone and after was able to sit without discomfort until the next afternoon and then it started returning. Last night and today, extreme shooting pains up the right side of my lower back - and previously all issues had been on the left side. I am totally confused and wonder whether this osteopath has caused issues for me that never existed by what he did at the last appointment and, perhaps, permanent injury? Please help with any comments. I am afraid to go back - afraid he will cause more issues and make me worse. It has been almost four weeks and I am still having some issues with my neck and back but so far - ice works there. However, no relief as yet except for moments her eand there from SI type pain. I would appreciate any help with knowing what to do. Thank you.
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hannah
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Any info appreciated to my original post!
hannah
Hello,
My wife and I have the same event recently and it is expected to take 18 months to fully recover when we will be assessed again for any outstanding symptoms. On the basis that I have a failed spinal fusion already, this is going to take a long time, our car was written off.
Only you can decide if any physiotherapy is beneficial and although it may irritate initially the option is not to have any therapy and endure the symptoms for a longer period than might be the case, the decision is yours. The impact of the pain will radiate outwards, my wife now has problems sitting standing, bending and carrying, where sleeping is problematic also. These are classic whiplash injury and although not see are going to take appropriate time to heal dependant on many variables specific to you.
Rest as best you can do nothing to make it worse and everything possible to ease the symptoms. Try to deal with what you have rather than what it might be
Take care every day will get a better.
John
DDD.1990 Laminectomy, Failed spine fusion, hartshill rectangle RLS. 3 stents
Pain is inevitable, misery is optional. Sternbach et al
Pain is a more terrible lord of mankind than even death itself.
Albert Schweitzer 1953.
“It’s not things that trouble us but the views we take of them” Epitectus
Thank you so much for your response. I am not sure what to do at this point with the hip/lower back issue but lay on the floor and put ice on it and move around a bit. He has not suggested PT but it seems I should have gone to an orthopedist first. However, it was so difficult to get into anyone around here. I wish I had not gone to the last appointment and my hips and whatever else he has strained out or affected might be fine. Right now, I am afraid to let anyone do anything more to me. I hope you both feel much better soon. This is a horrid experience. Again, thank you so much for your recommendations.
hannah
I don't understand why the Osteopath is working on your legs and lower back if you have whiplash injury in your neck. Have you had x-rays or MRI on your neck yet.
When I had whiplash I took muscle relaxants and an anti-inflammatory and gentle Physiotherapy for my neck. Please see your GP for a referral to a Orthopedic Surgeon and let them know the Osteopath is causing more pain if your GP Dr. referred you. My whiplash went away in 9 months but have had neck injuries here and there through the years. I hope you see your GP or Family Dr. about tests or what he decides. Take care. Charry
Any answers I have is not medical advice only a Doctor can help you with that. Just sharing my personal experience as a fellow Spine Health member only. DDD of lumbar spine with sciatica to left hip,leg and foot. L4-L5 posterior disc bulge with prominent facets, L5-S1 prominent facets with a posterior osteocartilaginous bar. Mild bilateral foraminal narrowing Neck-reverse Lordosis of c-spine C6-C7 with impingement, numb hand and sore outer elbow. Keep the faith.
I asked him why he kept working on my lower back and he said that when you have whiplash it originates there. I had no pain there at all after or before the accident. I asked if he would not do this and he refused. That's when I decided I could not go back to him. I went to a GP office and they want to do x-rays which really will not show anything. My neck is a bit better but I have to ice it at night, as well as my upper back. It's the lower back issues that are scaring me at this point. I am told that people are supposed to be sore for 24-48 hours after an osteopathic treatment and the week before he hurt my back - it had been 7 days. Now, it has been almost 4 weeks since the last appointment. I am not sure if doing nothing will allow things to "settle back" or if I should go to someone else as you recommend. I am, frankly, scared at this point to let anyone touch me. Thank you so much for your recommendations. They are so appreciated.
hannah
I asked him why he kept working on my lower back and he said that when you have whiplash it originates there. I had no pain there at all after or before the accident. I asked if he would not do this and he refused. That's when I decided I could not go back to him. I went to a GP office and they want to do x-rays which really will not show anything. My neck is a bit better but I have to ice it at night, as well as my upper back. It's the lower back issues that are scaring me at this point. I am told that people are supposed to be sore for 24-48 hours after an osteopathic treatment and the week before he hurt my back - it had been 7 days. Now, it has been almost 4 weeks since the last appointment. I am not sure if doing nothing will allow things to "settle back" or if I should go to someone else as you recommend. I am, frankly, scared at this point to let anyone touch me. Thank you so much for your recommendations. They are so appreciated.
hannah
Usually the Dr. starts with x-rays to see what's going on and perhaps positional x-rays to check for instability so its a good start.
My C5-C7 nerve impingement was seen on an x-ray. Let your GP know what happened with this Osteopath treatment and working on your lower back instead of your neck. Any numbness and tingling in your leg or arms needs to be reported to your Dr. and usually they refer you to a Neurologist right away for an EMG nerve test.
I think your GP is the best Dr. to get referrals to see a Orthopedic Surgeon or Neurosurgeon unless your insurance gives you a list of these Specialist Drs to contact directly and get a treatment plan from them. Best wishes. Charry
Any answers I have is not medical advice only a Doctor can help you with that. Just sharing my personal experience as a fellow Spine Health member only. DDD of lumbar spine with sciatica to left hip,leg and foot. L4-L5 posterior disc bulge with prominent facets, L5-S1 prominent facets with a posterior osteocartilaginous bar. Mild bilateral foraminal narrowing Neck-reverse Lordosis of c-spine C6-C7 with impingement, numb hand and sore outer elbow. Keep the faith.
Thank you so much. I just called the orthopedic office I called three months ago (and where I should have gone in the first place) and I have an appt. for Friday morning with their spine specialist. I am scared to death with anxiety after what I went through with that osteopath and how my tailbone feels as if it is falling out after I sit down for a bit. And, the stabbing pains I get whenever they feel like happening. I also do have left leg weakness which is strange. I can't wait to have it over with and I am sure they will insist on x-rays - which I don't like doing but to know something would be much better than to keep sitting here wondering what is going on and why I have been stuck like this for 4 weeks.
hannah
Wow Friday that's fast to get in to see an Orthopedic Surgeon. Charry
Any answers I have is not medical advice only a Doctor can help you with that. Just sharing my personal experience as a fellow Spine Health member only. DDD of lumbar spine with sciatica to left hip,leg and foot. L4-L5 posterior disc bulge with prominent facets, L5-S1 prominent facets with a posterior osteocartilaginous bar. Mild bilateral foraminal narrowing Neck-reverse Lordosis of c-spine C6-C7 with impingement, numb hand and sore outer elbow. Keep the faith.
I think most of the population of this area is in Florida for the winter
I was surprised too but the last two days - things have been happening that have surprised me so I must need to go there and I am sorry I did not go there instead of the osteopath. I should have trusted how I felt "inside" that day. Now I get to suffer for my bad decision.
hannah
Well, the appt. did not help very much at this point. He said he felt I had a muscle strain, pull or tear near my tailbone and it is affecting my entire hip/pelvis etc. - caused by the too aggressive treatment by the osteopath. I am at my wit's end. He said to give it 3-4 more weeks and if not much better - x-ray or MRI. He told me I should go to a family doctor. I am not doing this. What's the point? Someone once told me years ago - go to the person who specializes in the area you have the issue or injury and I believe that. I tried and got injured worse than I was after the accident and now after going to the orthopedic spine doctor - I have no idea what to do but sit here and suffer it out. He told me it takes months to repair any muscle in that area. So depressing.
hannah
Go see your Family Dr. and he will help with ordering any further tests or referral to a Pain Management Dr. or Physiotherapy to help. You will get through this when you find the right Dr. to help you manage this pain. Charry
Any answers I have is not medical advice only a Doctor can help you with that. Just sharing my personal experience as a fellow Spine Health member only. DDD of lumbar spine with sciatica to left hip,leg and foot. L4-L5 posterior disc bulge with prominent facets, L5-S1 prominent facets with a posterior osteocartilaginous bar. Mild bilateral foraminal narrowing Neck-reverse Lordosis of c-spine C6-C7 with impingement, numb hand and sore outer elbow. Keep the faith.