Question
Dr. Boss:

Thanks so much for answering my question.  I am sorry to bother you once again but I feel so confused at the moment.  I have had 6 treatments with a chiropractor.  As I told you before she thought I had some inflammation in the lower area (she said lumbar 2 and 3)/pinched never which was causes numbness.   I went for my fourth treatment (I was feeling some better) and after she worked on me I found myself in a lot of pain so much that my left leg ached from my tailbone area to my foot (backside of leg) and it kept me up all night.  I ended up going back to her the next morning and she said she made an adjustment and told me that I had an underlying problem called sacroiliac joint weakness or separation.  Since then every time she works on me I am in more pain than when I left and I am always so stiff.  I have also noticed that something is not quite right when walk -like my feet/legs are "off". Is this normal?  She lays me face down on the table and I can feel the bone on the lower left side and to touch it hurts.  I just about come off the table when she works on it.  I am again sorry to impose on you with my questions, but am not sure what is really going on.  Any advise/help would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Misty
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Hi,  I just had an appointment with a chiropractic and I will admit I have had some reservations about it.  I had severe back pain for several weeks and numbness in my left leg.  My back pain is better but the numbness is still there. I have been to a medical doctor who gave me a muscle relaxer and anti-inflammatory and told me to give it 2 weeks - 6 months to heal.  But with two small children and working a full-time time job, that is not an option (having numbness on a continual basis). I went to the chiropractor yesterday and she tells me that I will need to see her at least 3 times a weeks for awhile.  Is this normal procedure?  She says I have a pinched nerve and that my lower disc is inflamed.  I have heard so horrific things about chiropractors that I am scared of getting scammed but at the same time, I really want to feel better.
Answer -
Misty,

Thanks for the question and I hope that I can help.  

I understand your concern, but most of the "horrible" things that you hear about chiropractors come from people who have never been to one or they are imbellished stories that are not true.  With that being said, there are some chiropractors who do put money over a patient's best interest.  In the same way, there are medical doctors and dentists and other professions that do the same thing.  

The fact that your back pain is improved already is a good sign.  The leg numbness that is accompanying the back pain is obviously nerve related.  Normally, leg numbness will take a few weeks to subside.  Treatment on a 3 times per week bases is a normal regimen for the type of problem you are having.  However, you should show steady improvement and treatment really should not take more than 3-6 weeks. If you are in week 3 or 4 of treatment and seeing no change in your condition, then it is time for an MRI to evaluate the status of the disc and nerves.  

I have seen many patients with your same symptoms. The majority of them respond very well to chiropractic treatment consisting of 2-3 times per week for 2-6 weeks.  If a patient of mine is not steadily improving during that course, I will order an MRI.  If the MRI shows frank nerve compression from the intervertebral disc, then I refer the patient to a neurosurgeon.  In that case, surgery might be the only option.

However, as I said, the majority (about 90%) of patients I see with your symptoms improve and resolve with chiropractic care.

Chiropractic has been proven one of the safest treatment methods for lower back pain.  The possibility of your chiropractor hurting you are virtually non-existent.  So don't let that be a concern.  

If your chiropractor tells you now that you will need 3 treatments per week for 12 or more weeks, I would be a little concerned about being scammed.  

I would recommend having about 12 treatments regardless of what you are told and see how you feel.  If you are not at least 75% improved, then you need an MRI of the lumbar spine.  If you are improved 75% or more, continue until you are at a comfortable status.

If you have any other questions, contact me through this site.

I hope this helps.

God Bless,

Dr. Boss

Answer
Misty,

It certainly sounds like you are having sacroiliac joint involvement.  It is not uncommon sometimes to have discomfort after a manipulation; however, this should not continue every time.  As you say that you feel your legs are "off", you may require a heel wedge in your shoe to provide stabilization.  There are times that the pelvic ligaments are weakened to a point where they cause a tilt or torque in the pelvis.  This will cause one of the legs to appear shorter than the other.  This will cause a lot of pain and stiffness in the SI joints.

By placing a proper size heel lift in the correct side shoe, it will act as a support to provide balance to the weakened side.  I have seen many patients who after 4-6 visits they continue to have problems and be difficult to adjust.  After placement of the lift, they usually begin to recover nicely and the discomfort that they feel after manipulation goes away.  

Ask your doctor about using a lift.  If the pain continues on treatment, you will need to discuss with the doctor what else can be done.

I am always here for questions.

Dr. Boss