Hi mom's,
My husband's back has been giving him some issues lately.
He has had some problems with it on and off for years, but in the last few months he has had a few episodes. For example, about a month ago, he "threw his back out" and he could not walk for about 3 days. He even missed work...which he has NEVER missed a day of work for anything health related! He has shooting pain down his right side of his lower back and his leg. We know that it is related to his sciatic nerve.
The only thing that makes him feel better is to lay flat for a few days. Since his last episode a month ago, he has taken it really easy....no wrestling with our son, working out...etc. But then today, he feels like it is going out again. He is trying not to do too much because he doesn't want to make it worse. He is getting on a plane for work tomorrow and he wants to be able to fly, and walk of course!
I am just wondering if any of you have had back trouble like this or if you husbands have? I am not sure if he should go to a regular doctor or a chiropractor? He thinks that they will just tell him to rest. That may be true, but I still think that he should go in.
Thank you:)
Thank you all so much for your advice! Due to the urgent matter, it was easiest to get him in to a chiropractor. I took him to the advanced wellness center in long beach. The doctor did some massaging and did some stuff with electrodes. He did feel better a few days later and he has already gone back once and he will go again this week.
I am in the process of also looking for an MD that specializes in the back so he can get another opinion and get an mri if needed.
Thanks again for your wonderful advice:)
I recommend his dr who may suggest physical therapy...they can do wonders with deep tissue massage....good luck
My husband has had some back issues for a while and has been seeing a chiropractor. It has helped a lot! I would suggest seeing a chiro instead of a family dr.
I prefer a DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) over a Chiro. The DO can provide a prescription if necessary, usually manipulates, provides physical therapy, and electrical stimulation. They tend to try to find the problem and work on that as opposed to just providing medicine only.
Hi M.,
Your husband could try chiro and massage
Oh my goodness! Definitely get him into a chiro! I was in a car accident where I got rear-ended and my neck and back were a mess. Not only did the chiro get rid of the pain (it took 5 months), but he has helped with the sciatic nerve damage that my pregnancies caused. I have had pain shooting from my lower back down my left leg and just lived with it until now. It is so nice to have relief! I'm in Vegas, so I can't recommend a chiro for you in your area, so ask around. The one I go to does chiropractic kinesiology and he is amazing. I hope your husband can recover soon from this, I know back pain is awful! Oh, also sometimes resting is not good when your back hurts depending on the injury. Sometimes it is helpful to do certain exercises, which is exactly why your hubby needs to go see someone to get help and give him the appropriate info!
I would say both...or rather all three...especially if your insurance requires referrals.
1) Dr. General Practitioner
2) Osteopath or Orthopedist ... someone who specializes in the spine
3) Chiro
Your GP will be able to run tests to make sure it IS his back (most likely it will be...but referred pain frequently ends up showing up in the back. For example many cancers actually "show up" first as back pain...or kidney problems, or spinal meningitis, or etc etc etc).
You GP will also be able to give you a referral or 3 to some spine specialists. I would ask for a chiro referral at that time, too, but I would ALSO ask the specialist for referrals.
I have a lot of friends in medicine and they always have a short list of REALLY GOOD alt medicine practitioners in their field and then the notorious quacks. They LOVE it when they can actually work WITH "Suzy the chiro" "or Bob the herbalist" or "Cindy the massage therapist"...rather then having to clean up after a mess from someone who didn't understand the problem, or find out that their patient has been taking medicines that are contraindicated with the medicines that they're prescribing...they get to do a tag team on a particular patient.
FIRST of all, he has to get his back pain diagnosed.
It can be a slipped disk or bulging disk, for example. very different problems, and potentially, dangerous as it can get worse.
My hubby had back pain too... he finally went to an Orthopedic Doctor.. he had a bulging disk... and it was abrading his spinal nerves... and eventually he had to have back surgery to alleviate it...or he could have suffered from permanent numbness or paralysis in his foot. His surgery was done by a neurosurgeon.
And ALSO, he should get physical therapy for it. VERY important.
He better take care of this properly, by a proper Doctor who specializes in back injury. Don't fool around about it and just wait.. it can get worse.
All the best,
Susan
Personally, I don't really believe in Chiropractors. I always felt like they only gave me a "quick fix" that didn't last. I know some people won't agree but whatever, that's not the point here, lol. My point is that I always went to a Physical Therapist Instead. They will work with your husband and give him a massage (most likely), and then give him exercises to do that will Strengthen his back and Prevent the pain from coming back (as long as he's good about doing the exercises as often as they tell him to). I went to physical therapists for scoliosis when I was a young teen for a few years and it helped a lot (I still do my exercises now - 10 years later!). I've also gone for sciatica when I was pregnant, and for a neck injury, and every time I was a 100% satisfied. Just another option for you to look into!!
Good Luck! :)
