Its actually from 5+ years ago, left untreated and has become whiplash disorder, is the cause of my back pain and headaches. I've tried osteopath with no results. The bones in my neck and spine are out of alignment from it being untreated for so long, the muscles have scar tissue also.
I've actually found the chiro really gentle, he doesn't do any manipulation with his hands, just a machine which does some clicking on my neck and spine, and he's also using acupuncture... But i know what you mean about chiros, i'd heard the same things. Its been a last resort for me though, i really hope it helps.
i waited 11 years to get treatment from a whiplash injury when i was six (so i guess my folks actually waited!) - i found i got relief within about three months of regular treatment - but nothing is perfect and i've had to go more often over several years - prolly every 6 or 8 weeks - but i now get instant relief from headache/backache when it happens
my chiro also does AP and basic physio, and has a myotherapist working with him, so gives treatment appropriate to the pain i'm in at that time...
I was actually in 4 car accidents over the past 8 years, so its impossible to know when i actually sustained it, but most likely in at least 3 of them which were rear/side impacts. I've had headaches and neck pain ever since, and when the chiro asked if my head was heavy, i realised it was and has been for so long its become normal.
How regularly were you going? i went three times last week, now going twice weekly. Still getting headaches but the neck pain has improved.
my pain was headaches (migraine level) - i didn't notice any other real pain because i was getting migraines at least every week - and they were lasting up to 4 days (great when you're doing VCE!)
i went twice weekly for a fortnight, then weekly for about 6 weeks, then fortnightly for about 6 weeks - after that, i started going once a month just for maintenance - for about six months (my call because i was doing VCE and didn't want to get the headaches back) - then onto whenever i needed it (prolly every six weeks or so). once i started uni, i had a regular appointment whenever i was on hols (so probably half dozen times a year)
it will take some time - if you've had several years of your neck muscles compensating for the back being out, it will take an amount of time for it to regain strength and stability in it's proper place. i know i have ongoing issues, but i had probs for a LONG time before it was treated. i have only been to chiro once since being pg (about three weeks ago) when i was getting headaches. i've got them again now, and need to go back, but it's so hard to get there when ms is making me ill when i go in the car - i think that will be a monday thing!
it's worth persisting if you can get relief, and at least reduce the amount of headaches and neck pain. if your chiro suggest maintenance after a while, do it - you can stretch it out as you go, but don't let it get to a "i feel good" point and let it drop back off. a good chiro will be honest and not try to get you in unneccesarily - but for a while, you will need regular treatment - and you may find it's not a quick "cure"
i saw my chiro for 2 visits p/w for 3 weeks the 1 visit p/w for 3 weeks. i havent had to go back for a yr..
(just been back to a new one and he has flaired it up again )
mine was hip and lower back which got slammed into a arm rest in a car accident. the pg and childbirth made it unbearable.
there are different types of chiropractic, bone crunchers are not generally good.
i found physio did nothing and has been a waste of money (have seen 4/5 over the last 10 yrs for the same issue)
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