Article by Dr. Dennis Spurgin – Doctor of Chiropractic
Chiropractic care may not benefit everyone, but it is generally safe for most people. However, some patients are not most people. Patients who have had multiple back surgeries and a lifetime of back and neck pain come to me because of my ability to determine the best course of treatment based on a patient’s pain level and their current situation. I can’t fix someone who comes in with a pile of hardware and screws already in their back. But what I can do is listen to what they say, listen to
what their bodies tell me and do the best I can to alleviate their suffering through gentle chiropractic.
One of my patient’s chronic back problems began in childhood. She was born with congenital scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and has had multiple back surgeries over the course of her lifetime. At 61, she is still active, still works, rides her bicycle and donates her time to caring for orphaned cats. Sometimes her back pain is unbearable, but she leads a full life with a positive outlook and a team of healthcare
professionals from multiple disciplines to keep her on track, upright and out of a wheelchair.
This patient came to me after seeing many other chiropractors who could not make a difference. She was reluctant to try again but she started coming to me a couple of years ago. We made some progress and she kept coming. She once told me, she wouldn’t trust any other chiropractor with her back. As her condition worsened, we agreed she should see a specialist to see if another surgery would make a difference.
It appeared some of the screws may have come loose or shifted. She had corrective surgery and is recovering, walking and standing tall. After treating a serious condition
with invasive treatment such as surgery, conservative treatment may be necessary to regain as much function and freedom from pain as possible. Conservative treatment may include chiropractic, physical therapy, exercise therapy, over-the-counter medications, massage, acupuncture, nutrition, counseling, and psychological treatment.
Some serious conditions may require emergency care and may include degenerative disease, fused vertebrae, spinal fractures, herniated disks or an emergency situation requiring hospitalization and/or surgery due to an accident or trauma. One initial symptom is severe back pain that gets worse with movement. Symptoms of back and neck pain emergencies that require immediate care may include:
- severe pain
- weakness in the limbs
- bladder and bowel
- control issues
- spinal fractures
- sharp pains in the arms or legs
- numbness or tingling in
- different parts of the body
- back pain emergencies may be
- rare, but when they happen, they
- must be treated quickly.
Call Dr. Spurgin at (760) 347-6822 Or for more details visit www.palmspringschiropractor.net.
