Question
Hi
I have been going to a DC for 11 months, 4x per week except for Feb 09 when I went 7x per week. Yes, adjusted every time including back, neck, hips and wrists.
Decided to try another DC after I had some comments that it seemed to be a lot of adjustments. DC #2---I have known him for awhile, he works out at my gym so I felt comfortable to see him. DC #1 had MRI of Cerv. Thoracic and Lumbar done in March. I have 2 protruding disks in neck, lumbar and a bulging disk lumbar. Neck is congenitally narrow. Have spondicondylosis (SP) lumbar. I am 34, have been told by both docs that this is not typical until 60+ years old......Have no low back pain for past 10 months since DC 1 but hip pain (left) off and on.  Neck always aches. It will adjust and then 4 mins later if I just lay there, he can adjust again. Every time!

DC #2 is doing MET on me only with an occasional thrust adjustment on neck as needed. He evaluates me each visit (DC1 never did that!) and says I am complicated.  He has referred me to PT 3x per week.
I guess my question is MET is going ok, I have severe pain in my l hip this week (this is 2nd week) but I am guessing it is because tissue is "mad" that it is being moved and worked in a new way. DC 2 says I spinal instability, PT says I also have disfunction. Left side is weak on testing, you can push my foot or arm or hand with 2 fingers, rt side I have more control.  
Question is MET----is this discomfort normal? What is instability and can it be reversed? I know I am probably hypermobile from overadjusted....is this reversable as well?I know my severe degeneration is here to stay however I would like to be able to get to a better place.  I am going 2x per week for now to the new Doc, his goal is 1-2x per month.  Far cry from the 16 per month I have been going to.  Thanks!

Answer
Keira,

Holy Cow!  DC-1 should be reported to the board!  DC-2 sounds more rational.  Instability is when the bones are not held tight by the ligaments, and as a result become unstable, or slide off one another.   It should be confirmed via stress x-rays where the x-ray is taken with your head or trunk bend fully forward and back (for example).   But is this really necessary?   First off, there is no proof that getting joint manipulation daily causes instability.  It's just a hunch.  Odds are you were born loose/limber.   As for the early degenerative changes, "spondylosis," (spondyl = spine, osis = a bad condition of') this is likely inherited.  It is seen beginning in early teens that have no symptoms.   It is more common than most suspect.   Ask your chiropractor to look up an article by Hicks on the "prone instability test," (Arch Phys Med Rehabil Vol 86, September 2005) and see if you test positive.  If so, then you need a strengthening program: not more adjustments and not MET!   Lastly, most people that get various forms of muscle work done are sore initially, but then get used to it after a few sessions.  If you are consistently sore, then something is wrong and you must try a different method (e.g. Active Release or Graston Technique or nothing at all).

'Hope this helps.

Dr. G