Question
HI Jessica this is Sean again. I got back from the spine specialist today. She saw on the MRI of my back that I had one disk bulged a little and I had inflimation around the lower spine. She could not explain why I had so much inflimation their. She also did an x ray of my neck and that also showed inflimation their to. She could not tell if I had a bulged disk their or something else. So for now she is doing neck exercises that she gave me if that does not work then we will do the MRI. As for my back she said for me to get a basic yoga movie and maybe that will help to. She prescribed me mobic 15mg for the pain. I also asked her about a chiropractor she says she does not care if I go to one she said it might help me. She said their is two things she does not like about it. It is usually not covered by the insurance and they take lots of x rays and the other one is how they crack your back. She said as you get older your carrotic artery near your hart that is their usually snaps and you die from it. She may have mentioned why I have inflimation but I honestly didn't hear why. She also told me to get  bio freeze or capsasium.

Answer
Sean,

I agree with the approach your doctor is taking. Neck exercises and yoga poses can really help reduce and even eliminate pain. When it comes to bulging discs, some people may not even know they have one and for others they feel pain.

I don't know the laws of your state, but I'm surprised to hear that your doctor says it is not usually covered by insurance. A number of years that was the case  but I think the last 15 -20 years minimum things have changed (around most places I know).  Have you called your insurance company to see if they will cover seeing a chiropractor? Most that cover will cover a certain number of visits per year. The x-rays taken (I know some that don't take any but that's rare) are done for your and their precaution. If you take your own (or copies of your own) it may limit the number that they need to do if you ask if they can use them. I've heard both sides of the argument the your doctor has said about her concern. I'm not a physician or a chiropractor so I will not comment on that.

I will say there are probably more techniques than you can imagine and different approaches that chiropractors take according to their philosophies. You might also do some research for yourself on the net about the prevalence of death from chiropractic and see what you think.

Inflammation comes and goes. The inflammation can be due to irritation of the discs that you are having issues with. I know sometimes even years after automobile accidents, accupunture will reveal significant inflammation. The mobic should help reduce the inflammation and also hopefully the corresponding pain. Topical agents like biofreeze and capsasium can also help. There is a product that is a bit stronger than biofreeze called cryoderm (same basic ingredients, just colder and stronger) that you can buy either online and perhaps chiropractic offices (even if you aren't a patient). Did your doctor give you a sample of Biofreeze? Biofreeze has a sample program if not. www.biofreeze.com & there should be an area where you can fill out a form to receive a free sample. you can also apply ice compresses for 10 minutes or so at a time, that works wonders (I know you've been doing this). Some people do well with capsasium some people have a reaction to it - so if you try it, I'd suggest getting a small amount first. It can really help work wonders if you don't have a problem with it.

Looks like you're continuing to slowly make progress! & to use a corny phrase...slow and steady is the turtle (as opposed to the hare that is speedy). Sounds like things are going well!

Jessica