Question
I had an adjustment this morning and although my neck feels phenomenal, I can barely walk now.  From what I've seen online, he used the Thompson technique to adjust my SI joint.  I was not having any low back pain before I went in, but now I am afraid to move because of the pain.  I guess my question is what could have happened??  What can I do to help the pain now?  The doctor hooked me up to stim with ice and then I was on a rolling table, but none of it helped.  I am a mother of 2 and can't really care for my kids like this.  I feel helpless and confused.  Should I ice it or use heat?  Please help me!!

Answer
Jill,

I can't offer you a diagnosis or specific treatment recommendations over the Internet, as I know nothing about your clinical background.

In general, however, Thompson is a fairly non-invasive technique using low-force, low-amplitude table-assisted drop pieces.

Pain after a manipulation, particularly a low-force, low-amplitude manipulation, indicates that an individual probably has severe inflammation of that joint. Manipulation may either be contraindicated at this time, or contraindicated in general. However, there are numerous causes of S.I. joint pain; care must be taken to make sure that an underlying problem has not been overlooked.

Patients who experience significant pain after a manipulation need to communicate this to their chiropractor, so that the patient may be referred for emergency treatment elsewhere if needed, additional diagnostic imaging obtained if necessary, or a new treatment approach used.

In my experience working in a multi-disciplinary clinic, many patients with severe sacro-iliac joint pain derive significant benefit from a joint injection (with either a corticosteroid, or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent). Depending upon the condition and severity, anti-inflammatory injections are either the primary treatment modality initially, or a helpful adjunctive treatment to manipulation.

Patients with significant to severe pain may also need anti-inflammatory or pain medication. Coordination with a patient's primary care physician is needed for injections and medication prescription.

I hope that this helps to answer your question.