Saturday, February 18, 2012

PAIN IN THE BACK (+ THE NECK)

(not my x-ray, just an example)

When we were in Victoria in early January, I pulled something in my lower back while taking photos. Then I slept on an air mattress for a few nights. When I got home, it continued to hurt for over a month but was just starting to feel better when I slipped on some clothes on the wood floor in Aubrey's room. I caught myself but it did further damage and hurt more then the previous injury. 
Early this week I finally went to a Chiropractor close-by. He took x-rays and there a few things wrong with my back: 1. my neck is straight, not curved (middle photo above), this is probably causing my weekly headache; 2. my spine comes out at an angle from my tailbone instead of going straight up which is causing one leg to be shorter and throwing off my whole spine; 3. Some of the vertebrae are rotated and 4. all the muscles in my back and shoulders are tight when resting. 

I've gone 3 times this week for an adjustment and have been given stretches to do. My initial lower back pain seems to have been relieved and is going away. I have a few pinched nerves elsewhere now as a result, but that's going away too.

The medical system is confusing here but we seem to have good coverage. We have co-pays for every time we see a doctor or go to the hospital etc. The chiro is $20/visit but they are giving it to me for half that because I can't afford $20/visit for 12 visits, so that's really nice. The Chiropractic office also does massage therapy and the cost is the same price as an adjustment visit for an hour of massage - so that's a great deal and I need to start doing that once a week along with chiro 2x week.

Walking really helps my back and I try to go for a walk once a day, but today Aubrey is starting to get a cold and I don't want to take her outside as it's cold and windy. We might just go to a mall and do some walking there.

2 comments:

Shelli McCullough said...

oh, Shannon. Take care!

Allison said...

Oh man, what a nightmare! I am glad you went to the doctor though and have a plan of attack. You'll be feeling like a million bucks before you know it :)