Question
Hi, I had been seeing a new chiropractor between January and March of this year.  She did a few adjustments on me that I never had done.  Since I have scoliosis, I feel that she should have taken that into consideration, but I don't even think she looked in my file!  First, she pulled on my neck really hard, straight up while I was laying on my back.  It didn't hurt at the time, it just felt shocking.  She also adjusted my neck while I was face down and usually I've only had it adjusted while on my back.  Once again, it didn't really hurt, it just was very extreme.  Well, about six weeks ago, about two weeks after I was first adjusted by her, the backs of my legs began to hurt.  The pain feels like the muscles starting at the top of my head all the way down to the backs of my legs are being stretched really tightly.  Some days are worse than others but I'm really in pain most of the time when I'm standing and walking.  It's not majorly intense pain but it really is chronic and it makes me feel awful.  I saw this chiropractor about four or five times and then  I started going back to my former chiropractor about two weeks ago.  He said that he believes that the other chiropractor caused this pain with those adjustments.  Since I didn't put two and two together, I continued seeing her even after the pain started.  My former chiropractor has used adjustments (but not those two that I mentioned above!), ultrasound, and ice to help relieve my pain and I will admit that it's not at bad as it was, it's still definitely there and hasn't improved in over a week.  Do you have any suggestions for me?  I've had back and neck pain in the past, but never this intense leg pain down both legs.  Thank you!

Answer
Nancy,

It's too bad that the offending chiropractor didn't warn you about the sudden adjustments, or prepare you in some way. Nevertheless, before DC2 points fingers at DC1, I would suggest that DC2 go through a standard neurologic survey and determine if you have nerve irritation causing the leg pain or if you have another problem.  Did DC2 determine that your pain is simply from muscle or fascial pain?  Did he rule out any neurologic problem.  Unless your scoliosis is severe, there is no concern about it in regards to joint manipulation.  If there are no neurologic problems, then I would suggest some massage and heat instead of ice.  If the leg pain persists, or if it gets worse, then you may need to seek a second opinion or get a lumbar spine MRI to rule out a disc problem.  But first ask the DC to try some hands on soft tissue massage and then some heat.

'Hope this was helpful.

Dr. G