Question
Dr. Botnick,
I am a college student of theatre and dance.  I just finished a show where I was dancing with a girl who was heavier than usual.  Now my back is out of whack.  When I arch it I get a pain in my lower back that feels like a REALLY tight muscle.  When I bend at the waist it feels sore and overpulled.  I went to a chiropractor and he xrayed me and said my pelvis was out of alignment and one of my lumbar vertebrae processes was longer than usual which was irritating muscle.  This pain has not changed in 2 weeks.  I wake up with it and by the end of the day it feels like an elephant has walked on me.  Am I being impatient or should I seek other assistance?

Answer
I agree with you that this fellow is wasting your time.  Chiropractors are notorious for doing too shallow an assessment and then selling patients ineffective treatments to correct supposed misalignments they diagnose.  Chiropractic analysis of the pelvis is known to be inaccurate.  I have no confidence that this fellow diagnosed you correctly and thoroughly.  If you aren't feeling better it's time to change the treatment.

I recommend that you visit a physiatrist (MD) and a physical therapist who specializes in manipulation.  The tightness you describe may be caused by a shortened psoas muscle, a condition that responds very well to Graston Technique or Active Release physical therapy methods.

If you want to learn more about chiropractic www.chirobase.org is an excellent site.

ajb