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Chiropractors/Lower back injury and problem ID

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Expert: Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman - 1/13/2010


Question
Dear Dr. Leatherman,
I'm seeking advise on what course to pursue in identifying the reason for my (now more frequent) lower back pain localized to the right side of the base of my spine slightly above the buttocks. I'm a 50 yr old male, fit and ht/wt proportionate who's lived a physically hard life of sports, work and then more work. I can distinctly remember the day 12 years ago when I was lifting an extremely heavy trailer tongue and felt the "pop" in my lower back during an unexpected lateral movement in the course of lifting. The event nailed me pretty good, swelling up my waist 3/4 around from the point of injury and I walked like a cripple for 5 days. I was in a remote area and medical help was a long way off so I just made do. The injury haunts me more frequently now and is becoming a real painful reoccurrence sometimes as frequently as 7-8 times a year.
My question is should I pursue this with a chiropractor or MD? I live in Mexico and both x-rays and MRI's are relatively inexpensive and can be done on a non-referral, walk in basis. With the a snapshot of my back's problem area I'd then head for either the chiropractor or MD depending on your recommendation. What's your take on the situation, MRI or X-ray or both? Chiro or MD? Thanks in advance!

Answer
Dear Lance,

In short, a chiropractor is more likely to help with this chronic injury. Now, although an x-ray will be helpful in looking at the structure of the spine, you will likely not need an MRI for this issue....from what you have described this sounds mostly like a soft tissue injury to the myofascial structures.  

The initial amounts of swelling around the waist indicates soft tissue injury and it is likely that your originally tore a muscle, and the fact that the pain dissipated after a few really bad days also indicates muscle vs other tissue.  Muscles have good blood supply and swell appreciably with injury but heal quickly compared to tendons and ligaments.  Your ongoing issues are likely related to scar tissue formation and adhesions in the tissue at the original injury site.

Bottom line here is that you a need a good functional examination of the tissue to help determine the exact cause and this is what chiropractors do everyday in office.

Hope this helps Lance...feel free to follow-up if needed.

Respectfully,
Dr. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoastehalthcare.net  

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Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman

Expertise

I can answer questions on general chiropractic care, sports injury, whiplash and auto crash, mild traumatic brain injury, structural and functional rehabilitation of the spine, nutrition for inflammation and repair, fitness training, nutrition for sports performance and other general health and nutrition related inquiries. I currently lecture on automobile trauma, occupant kinematics, and forensic risk analysis to local EMS, Fire and Police, as well as nutrition and sports injury to community groups. Rest assured all answers are generated from my clinical experience, and scientific research.

Experience

I have accumulated over 1100 hours of post-doctoral training to include; Certifications in Spinal Trauma and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego, Certification in Chiropractic Spinal Trauma from the International Chiropractic Association, Certification in Low Speed Auto Crash Reconstruction and Certification in Forensic Risk Analysis from The Center for Research Into Automotive Safety and Health, Certified Proficiency in spinal and extremity diagnostic procedures from The Motion Palpation Institute, Certified in Sports Injury and Rehabilitation from the National University of Health Sciences and The American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, Nationally Certified Fellow of Structural Rehabilitation from The Chiropractic Biophysics Organization, and I have advanced training in manipulation under anesthesia and nutrition. Feel free to check out my website for course listings: www.suncoasthealthcare.net

Organizations
International Chiropractic Association, Florida Chiropractic Association, American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, American Academy of Pain Management, Chiropractic Biophysics, Spine Research Institute of San Diego, Center for Research Into Automotive Safety and Health, Motion Palpation Organization, American Academy of Manual and Physical Medicine, Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce

Education/Credentials
B.A. (Psychology)The University of Cincinnati B.S. (Human Biology)Cleveland Chiropractic College D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic) Cleveland Chiropractic College C.C.S.T. (Certification in Chiropractic Spinal Trauma)The International Chiropractic Association C.C.S.P. (Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician)The American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians. *CCST and CCSP 120 hour certification courses are not recognized by the Florida Chiropractic Board due to the fact that they are not 300 hour diplomate level courses*

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