Question
Hello,
I am 49 yrs. old., 5'4" and 137 lbs.
I have been going to a chiropractor since the last week of May 2007.  (I sneezed while in a bent over position the morning after Memorial Day.)
(Up until this point I had some lower back pain that I was tuning out, just figuring that as I age I have to deal with aches and pains.)
I was in incredible pain but managed to work that day using a heating pad I wrapped around my waist I had bought at Walmart that morning...
One of my co-workers recommended that I go to a chiropractor and I did that evening...
He told me I should use ice to heal, then later on, heat.
Anyway,
I was x-rayed and evualated and it was determined that I had a herneated disc at L5S1
My doctor says I have a condition not an injury.
My spine doesn't have osteoporsis according to the x-ray.
I go three times a week for treatment.
At first my treatment was ultrasound (for cleansing and healing?) and electrical stimulation using ice, then the Dr. presses on my back while the table bends I think putting my spine back in position,he tells me one of my legs or the other - one is shorter than the other- It isn't always the same leg...
He has me breathe in and as I'm exhaling he cracks my back or attempts to put my back in more of a curved position (He says that my back has lost some of it's natural curve due to age and compensation)
At some point the ultra sound cleansing stopped (maybe within two weeks of the beginning of treatment) and he started using heat instead of ice during the electrical stimulation (my current treatment still uses the heat with
the electrical stimulation)
and started me on a routine of exercises I do before he stretches my legs and hips.
My back feels considerably better, almost no pain at all and I am wondering how much longer I need to be going for treatment and because of cost if I should be going three times a week after almost three and a half months.
Thank you for reading this!
Virginia


Answer
A normal course of treatment in our office would have you tapering off as your condition improves.  3 or more times a week initially for an aggressive approach to stabilize you, tapering down until you were at a maintenance level.  Your eventual goal should be a monthly recheck to keep things in line.  But, judging by your description, yes, you should be going less frequently.