One of the sunflowers in our vegetable garden is starting to droop. We'll harvest the seeds!We're finally getting tomatoes, eggplant, and sweet corn from the garden. Another sign that we're moving into harvest time. The moon is getting full. A harvest moon, I suppose. It won't be long, just about a month, until the equinox and then it will really be fall.
I saw the doctor yesterday and he essentially agreed with the radiologist. Nothing serious. He told me that we'd hold off on cortisone injections for the time being and that he'd continue my medication (anti-inflammatory) for another two weeks. He also gave me a prescription to see a chiropractor. That's a kinésithérapeute in French. So I'll have to find one and make and appointment. I've never been to one before, so it will be a new experience.
You can be sure I'll tell you all about it.
Be wary about seeing a chiropractor. I've had neck issues for about twenty years - similar symptoms to you, but the damage is permanent, so I'll almost certainly have to have surgery at some point in the future ( my neurologist stresses to postpone it as long as possible as there is no magic wand ).
ReplyDeleteI've visited various chiropractors in different countries over the years and come to the conclusion that while they're good for releasing a trapped nerve for quick relief, the repeated grinding they have done to my spine at different points has actually aggravated the problem. They see everything as a manifestation of what they call "subluxations" and attack it the same way (in a hammer:nail fashion).
Chiropractic - like homoeopathy - is coming under intense scrutiny in other parts of the world because of the strong claims they make about healing efficacy, and without any proof. I'm surprised that they both have such a strong foothold here in France.
My personal prescription for you would be rest, gentle exercise and judicious use of anti-inflammatories. As one doctor advised me years ago, even a simple anti-inflammatory like aspirin is useful in these contexts, simply to stop more muscles locking up as they guard those next to the problem.
Anyway, hope you're painfree and mobile quickly.
I've had much luck with my chiropractor and neck issues. Best of luck
ReplyDeleteRick
I like chiropractors (good ones) for everything but my neck. Stretching and massages are words that "vont tres bien ensemble".
ReplyDeleteHi Walt!
ReplyDeleteSorry that you are in pain. I don't know a thing about Chiropracters but one time J had back and neck pain and saw someone (believe it or not, in Paris of all places) who did acupuncture. It gave him relief.
Good luck!!!
Nice sunflower pic!
What a wonderful photograph! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat photo :) I'm sure glad that the meds are helping you through this :))
ReplyDeleteJudy
mike, thanks for the advice. I'm feeling a little leery of the bone manipulation myself. I won't be rushing into anything and prefer to give time and the anti-inflammatory a chance to work it out.
ReplyDeleterick, I suppose it's different for everyone!
nadege, how do you know when you have a bad one before it's too late?
lynn, I don't think I'm ready for acupuncture just yet...
writer, thanks!
judy, me too! ;)
From my morning RSS feed, a timely article on chiropractic neck manipulation: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=6681
ReplyDeleteAmerican insurer states "Given the paucity of data related to beneficial effects of chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spine and the real potential for catastrophic adverse events, it was decided to exclude chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spine from coverage. "
In a related article on neck manipulation:
Manipulation of the upper cervical spine should be reserved for carefully selected musculoskeletal problems that do not respond to such simple measures as time, massage, exercise, mobilization, longitudinal traction, or over-the-counter medication.
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=1037
mike, thanks. I'll take a look at those. I'm not in a hurry to make any appointments. Things are much better thanks to the anti-inflammatory and the neck brace. And I have some exercises that I've used with success for prior back problems that I'll get on with after an appropriate amount of time.
ReplyDelete