Question
My SI joint has been bothering me for the past two years or so, but only to a distracting extent during Jan 2011 when, somehow between playing tennis and doing a (very VERY low weight) squat at the gym, I seem to have aggravated it.  I didn't know, at the time, what it was, but I figured exercise would improve it.  Oh how wrong I was.  I panicked and avoided going to see a doctor because I thought that being told my situation was utterly hopeless by a professional would be too devastating to endure.  On a scale from 1-10, I'd say my pain has peaked at a 3.5 and generally stays at around a 2.  Not terrible, but nagging.  

Finally, after getting in a car accident (very, very gentle fenderbender at less than 20 mph) which seemed to aggravate it further, and falling right on my tailbone at work, I ended up going to see a chiro (with x-rays).  One told me it was mostly the result of my flat-footedness, but the other told me that I had an SI joint dysfunction - a highly fixable affliction.  I received two adjustments from the second before leaving for college (I'm a senior) and felt 70% better.  Unfortunately, I have yet to seek treatment in the area near my school, and have gone at least 2 months without any adjustments or therapy - my pain is nowhere near its worst, but I'm beginning to obsess about it once more.  

Here's the main thrust of my concern:

A).  Although my chiro adjustments helped tremendously, is it ever the case that (as my chiro said) recovery can be complete?  Or rather, complete with continued visits/maintenance?  
B).  Should I be scared to see other chiros (in this area?) given all the horror stories I've seen?  Should I just stick with what works?  
C).  What exercises can I do?  Because I have noticed that short, high-intensity bursts on the treadmill (high incline, not high speed) are sometimes helpful, yet I read that such behaviors can in fact be harmful.  Yet at the same time, I've found both biking and stair machines to be not only uncomfortable but potentially harmful.  I NEED to exercise - it's a huge part of my life - is that something I should give up?  
D).  Why are there no SUCCESS stories online?  For anyone doing personal research on this stuff, the outcomes are generally unquestionably dour.

Answer
Hi Jordan,

First off, forget about horror stories, because chiropractic healthcare is the safest primary mode of care around.   Really!   We pay peanuts for malpractice insurance, so if what we (even my worst enemies in the profession) did was harmful, the insurance industry wouldn't cover us for such a small amount (I pay about $1500/year for coverage - compare that to my medical colleagues who pay tens of thousands per year).   Okay, enough on that topic.   As for question A):  there are some people who get chiropractic joint manipulation and never have a problem again, and some that never get any relief.  If you got some relief with two sessions, odds are you will continue to do so with some more care.  The same goes if you had PT or massage therapy.  If you had a lot of relief off the bat, odds are you might find further relief with a little more treatment.    As for C):   There is a lot of conjecture and hypothesis in the exercise world and also in the back pain world, and not a lot of research evidence on what is or is not harmful except for certain exercises that we know CAN be harmful to lower backs, e.g. sit ups or heavy squats.   Keep in mind that a treadmill is an artificial surface compared to hiking on land in the woods, for example.   If your back is in good shape, you should have no problems cycling.  Stair climbers?...well, I've never appreciated their application.   It's not like really climbing stairs (or hiking hills outside), and thus in my opinion falls under the category of "artificial" and potentially a repetitive strain device more than a healthy exercise device;   You don't see elite athletes futzing around with stair climber machines...    D) no success stories?  Check out the testimonials on my web site (www.drgillman.com);  'Lots of stories there...  

Jordan, you simply need to look more closely at the back pain research to learn that spinal joint manipulation is safe, effective, and part of the skill-set of the doctor of chiropractic, and then go find one in your area.    Go to www.acbsp.com to find a sports chiropractor.  That's a real good place to start.  See also if you can find a provider on www.FAKTR.com (but FAKTR is a new and up-coming deal, so no worries if you can't find a sports chiropractor with FAKTR training);   

'Hope this was helpful.

Dr. G