Question My son has what some call and extra vertebrae. He is 14 years old. The last three major growth spurts he's gone through causes severe pain in his lower back (they hit about 11/2 to 2 years apart). Chiropractic care works well. The doctor he was seeing on the first 2 spurts, took x rays and adjusted him twice a week and then once a week for a month with awesome results. We have since moved and this last growth spurt took us to a different Chiropractor. He is telling me my son has the worst spine he has seen in a young boy, wants him to come in 3 times a week for the first month, then twice a week after that for another month, then once a week until we can stabilize his spine then go once a month for maintenance. I've tried to explain that it only took five visits total on his last two growth spurts with his other doctor. Who is right and what procedure is correct?
AnswerHello Marie,
Sorry to hear of your son's problems and need for care. Sorry to hear of the discrepancy between the doctors.
"My son has what some call and extra vertebrae"- your son either has an extra vertebrae, or does not have an extra vertebrae. A good Xray, a good film will show the existence of an 'extra' vertebrae. If the film is blurry or poor--- if it looks like a picasso painting,,, the Doctor who took the Xray should re-take the film.
MDs (medical doctors) and DCs (doctors of chiropractic) are sometimes in a rush, sometimes do,,, 'sub- par' work. I send my patients out to a radiology facility for my Xrays. Sometimes I look at some films from some doctors and it looks like the patient was moving or something; sometimes I am surprised doctors let such poor quality films exist. Simple, standard, good Xray films will show whether or not your son has an 'extra' vertebrae.
An extra vertebra will NOT be the cause of your son's pain. Some people have an extra vertebrae, some people have transitional vertebrae, bony anomaly is actually common. These two doctors should AT LEAST agree on whether or not your son has an 'extra' vertebrae.
On to the difference in treatment regimen. Different doctors will treat the same complaint differently. For instance, if I went to one neurologist with the complaint of a headache, one neurologist may tell me to take aspirin and call him in the morning; another neurologist may want me to take an MRI of the brain to evaluate for tumors: different doctors treat the same complaint differently.
Chiropractic is no different from medicine in this respect; different doctors will treat the same complaint differently. Each doctor assigns different symptoms, different tests, different signs, a different priority.
That being said, there does seem to be quite a large disparity between the first and second chiropractic opinion. I would call my first Doctor of Chiropractic, ask him(her) to re-evaluate the films and record, and ask how serious he(she) feels your son's condition is. Do not even mention the second doctor. Ask the first doctor- 'my son is having problems again, what do you think, can you review his Xrays, what do you see to give a reason this returns, can you recommend a DC here in my new town, etc.'. ASK the first doctor, 'how bad do you think my son's spine is?'. If the DC says, well it is pretty bad - - the second doctor is not just building his(her) pocketbook. If the first DC says, - 'there were no abnormalities, just a usual kid's spine with some over-use, over-activity'; then I would look for another doctor in my new town
Which doctor told you there is an 'extra' bone? Again, an 'extra' bone, in and of itself, is not a big deal.
Your second Doctor of Chiropractic, is he(she) aware of the successful treatment your son has received in the past? How does he(she) explain the need for such a more rigorous treatment schedule?
Again, communicate, ask questions.
The first chiropractor may have been a good doctor, and not very aggressive in treatment. The second chiropractor may be a good doctor and may be very aggressive in treatment. There is no real right or wrong,,,,,, sorry I am being so 'Doctor-ish'.
I would say, trust your gut.
If your son seems to have frequent complaints, or severe pain, your son may need a regimen of care not only to get out of pain (which could take only a few visits, only a couple of weeks), but a regimen of care to make constructive, permanent corrections in an adolescent spine to prevent adult problems in the spine.
In my Staten Island Chiropractic practice I utilize information handouts, these may be helpful to you:
Why so many treatment visits ?, Why so many different therapies ??
Many people do not come to the Doctor of Chiropractic first. Many people take an over the counter medication (OTC) (covers up the pain, does not treat the cause of the pain), see a medical doctor for a prescription medication (covers up the pain, does not treat the cause of the pain, stronger then OTC drugs, increased possibility of side effects and complications), or just wait and hope the pain goes away.
Then, after the pain continues, FINALLY they go to the Doctor of Chiropractic.
Studies show that while Chiropractic is often the last Doctor people will go see, they expect immediate results- i.e.; a couple of weeks of treatments are expected to cure the problem. It is a paradox that people WAIT to go to the Doctor of Chiropractic, but expect immediate results, on conditions that have been building for months or years; yet when they go to a medical doctor- they accept invasive surgeries and/ or a long treatment protocol of physical therapy- weeks, often months.
Spinal pain, like many other conditions, often builds for years and years until the pain becomes strong enough to send someone for treatment.
It is well known that heart conditions build for years and years, yet in 40% of cases, the first pain someone feels with their heart,,,, is the last pain someone feels with their heart (a fatal heart attack in 慳symptomatic?patients). Sad that they waited for pain to be a gauge of health. Pain is the LAST thing that comes in a problem, and often the FIRST symptom to go away. If there is a problem, isn抰 it better to treat BEFORE the pain, or if pain has started, isn抰 it better to take care of the problem, prevent future pain and progression of the condition?
Why so many treatment visits to start?, Well the problem, the condition, has momentum on it抯 side. Irritation, inflammation and damage has taken place and then the pain comes. Pain is the last thing that comes in the condition, and Pain is the first thing that disappears during treatment; but the underlying irritation, inflammation and damage has to be repaired. Initial treatment schedules, depending upon the severity of the complaint could be as often as twice per day, or once per day for two- three weeks, followed by a gradual reduction in treatment visits. This is similar to surgery! When a patient has an invasive surgery, often there is followup rehab treatment of daily, then every other day, then weekly visits for a prolonged period (i.e.; shoulders- up to a year of treatment AFTER invasive surgery).
Chiropractic works with your body. Chiropractic helps your body to heal itself. Chiropractic restores Homeostasis, balance in the body. Chiropractic corrects the Vertebral Subluxation Complex. You cannot be 慼ealthy?if you have a Subluxation. You MAY feel it, with a pain, stiffness, or a 慿ink?in your neck/ back. You may NOT even feel it- just as people often do not feel the cavity growing in their tooth,,,, until it hits the nerve; or you may not feel it at all, like people do not feel high blood pressure or diabetes until AFTER damage has been done!!
The vertebral subluxation complex can be the underlying cause of many healthcare problems. A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
This (Subluxation) is a serious condition identified by its five parts: Spinal Kinesiopathology, Neuropathophysiology, Myopathology,
Histopathology, Pathophysiology. Chiropractic corrects this 憇ilent?condition, works WITH your body, and like other health approaches requires a certain treatment regimen.
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine
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Maintenance
What ? ! , I have to brush my teeth!?,,, after EVERY meal ! ? ,,, For the REST of my life ! ? ! ... I don抰 want to. period. I won抰. To heck with it ! If I get a hole (cavity), THEN I抣l take care of it. Maybe I won抰 get any cavities anyway?...
It took the American Dental Association YEARS to educate people that they should brush frequently to avoid dental disease. It has taken YEARS to educate patients that visits to the Dentist for hygiene, cleanings, flossing, coatings, etc. are necessary to PREVENT dental problems. Some people still do not floss after every meal, some do not even brush often enough (yyyuuukkkk), so some people still have severe dental problems despite all the knowledge about PREVENTION and dental health maintenance that is out there. Can you believe it ?? !!
Some people have the same problem with PREVENTATIVE Spinal Health
that used to exist with preventative dental health. Some people come to the Doctor of Chiropractic and say, ?..do not adjust me, just give me therapy...? some people say,
?..What ? ! , I have to practice SPINAL HYGIENE !?!, (practice proper postures, proper movement patterns, and see the Chiropractor periodically !?!), Naahh, ... I don抰
want to. period. I won抰. To heck with it! When I get PAIN, then I抣l take care of it.
( pain is often the LAST symptom to appear- whether a cavity or a heart attack ! )
Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a. 憇ubluxation?
The vertebral subluxation complex can be the underlying cause of many healthcare problems. A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
This (Subluxation) is a serious condition identified by its five parts:
Spinal Kinesiopathology, Neuropathophysiology, Myopathology,
Histopathology, Pathophysiology.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.
Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol, emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, massage, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment. For good health- Treat the Cause, not just the Symptoms.
Chiropractic corrects the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
You cannot be 慼ealthy?if you have a Subluxation. You MAY feel it, with a pain, stiffness, or a 慿ink?in your neck/ back. You may NOT even feel it-
just as people often do not feel the cavity growing in their tooth,,,, until it hits the nerve; or you may not feel it at all, like people do not feel high blood pressure or diabetes until AFTER damage has been done!! PREVENTION- Visit the Doctor of Chiropractic REGULARLY,,, just like your dentist! (practice spinal hygiene as you do dental hygiene -PREVENTION!-
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine
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The 'worst' spine he has ever seen in a young boy! ? ! , huh? why?
Scoliosis? Congenital defects? What ??? Get an explanation.
I hope I have given you some worthwhile information.
The human body and the practice of medicine or chiropractic is different in different hands.
Call the first chiropractor, ask, communicate. Talk to the new doctor the next time you see him(her), ask, communicate.
Finally- trust your gut.
Were you happy with the first DC just because it was quick and easy?
Are you unhappy with the second DC because it requires commitment, time and energy?
or
Are you unhappy with the second doctor because the recommendations do not 'ring true' to your gut?
If your gut doesn't feel right, see a new doctor.
To be comfortable and confident with a different doctor is worth another twenty minutes in commuting.
If you have written Xray reports, or other clinical information from the first and second doctors, if you would like me to look at it, please do not hesitate to re-contact me here at allexperts.com .
( http://allexperts.com/ep/965-100794/Chiropractors/Victor-Dolan-DC-DACBSP.htm )
Thank You,
your Staten Island Chiropractor friend signing off,
Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com (email newsletter)
