Question
Dr. Biggs,

I am a licensed massage therapist. I have seen the positive effects of chiropractic medicine and massage therapy together (especially in the management of chronic pain resulting from being rear-ended two times in four months....about 3.5 years ago)

I know a number of chiropractors in my area and know their techniques and their strengths and weaknesses.

Recently I was reintroduced to someone I had met about 4 years ago. The first time he adjusted me the results: absolutely NO pain! This was the first time in I can't remember.

I will admit I get massages lie clockwork every 3-4 weeks. I see a chiropractor either if I feel that something is out or am feeling pain that is definitely not muscular or if it is shooting. (this is about every 6 weeks).

This chiropractor that helped me feel no pain for a day wanted me to start back to the 1x a week schedule for awhile (and we exchanged services sometimes so I would receive adjustments sometimes 2 times a week). I could feel that the adjustments were not sticking and one day when I was performing a massage I started feeling pain shooting down my leg (like sciatic I imagine) & it kept shooting off and on about 5 times, my sternum popped and made it difficult to breathe and my hands became weaker.

To me it feels like I'm being adjusted too often. Last night I woke up in the beginning of the night and felt numbness in some areas and pain and others. I worked on some trigger points, had my boyfriend rub lightly along my spine and could feel inflammation. i have been icing it.I worked today and it eased up but I am still experiencing numbness in some fingers and I'm in bed trying to go to sleep, I got up to do get some water and my feet and part of my legs were completely numb and i couldn't walk.

I'm hoping I can get my coworker to massage me on Monday. I know it sounds like I need an adjustment but I'm hesitant to go because I'm afraid my vertebrae won't stick and I may have the same reaction.

I have a number of topical agents that I can use in the meantime. I'm hoping that with rest this weekend (if I'm doing ok I may go to a yoga class that is a beginners class that is specifically for the back/strengthening.

I'm obviously frustrated with the numbness especially when I'm a massage therapist.

Do you have any suggestions? My plan is not to return to that chiropractor because this is not a typical reaction. & my general plan is to reduce the frequency of getting adjustments - more toward what I was doing before. I know I should do about once month for maintenance.

I also know its about time for my body to get a massage.

I thank you for your advice. I can't sleep tonight after a long day of work. I did leave a message on a chiropractor's voicemail, but I don't know if he is working Monday or not.  It has been about 36 hours since the adjustment.

Thank you for your time.

Jess

Answer
Dear Jess,

First of all, forget the misconception of an adjustment putting bones back in place and thus either "sticking" or "not sticking".  

Chiropractic adjustments are manipulations... in that joints that are not functioning within normal limits are manipulated in order to restore joint motion.  There are physical and neurological responses to those manipulations.  

I learned this truth early on in my education 20 years ago.  Pre and Post adjustment x-rays of the spine are basically identical.  There is no study that I am aware of that shows differently.

That being said, let us consider what I truly feel is happening in a chiropractic adjustment.  Fixated joints are subjected to a high velocity, low intensity force.  The encapsulated joints (facets) suddenly gap, creating a cavitation noise, or "pop".  In the process, ligaments, muscles, and discs are subjected to tensile forces.  Typically, since these tissues are elastic, and since the force is short lived, the connective elastic and muscle tissues stretch and then return to pre-stretch status.  Of course, if the adjustment is particularly violent or if the tissues are unhealthy, tearing can occur.

Now... if you find that following manipulation you have increased symptoms, you are absolutely correct in considering the possibility of your body responding poorly to the type or frequency of manipulation.  Your doctor should be willing to re-evaluate his goals with you and alter type/frequency of manipulation.

Numbness/tingling sensations are NOT the result of an adjustment that doesn't "stick".  It is potentially a sign of neurological impingement.  MRI's are particularly beneficial in performing a true diagnostic analysis of spinal related neurological symptoms.

My suggestion is that you undergo a good ortho/neuro examination, and stop simply jumping into manipulations.  If your current doctor is unable/unwilling to perform this type of analysis, find somebody who will.  Free treatment is of no value if it is doing you more harm than good.

I hope that this helps you in making a good decision.  Good luck

Keith Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com