[Maria]

Rudy,
I can't say that I know the type of treatment my friends are receiving other than "adjustments" however I have several friends that only go to Chiropractors and have long standing back problems that are probably a mix of DDD and discogenic types of problems. They've not had any back surgery altho as I mentioned had long standing problems/complaints with pain and needing to do some of the same things I've done for pain relief in terms of types of exercise, rest, Nsaids, muscle relaxers but they do not want to enter into the realm of lumbar ESIs, surgeries if can be avoided and so forth.

These people have seen chiropractors almost exclusively for their ongoing treatment with exception of some diagnostics ordered by Orthopedic spine surgeons and some PT ordered by OSS.

They seem to be "believers" in terms of chiropractic care/managment however I know that they have had to find a practitioner that best met their needs in terms of pain alleviation thru their form of treatment.

I hope if you're going this route that you will have success that is if you have nothing that would contraindicate treatment by a Chiropractor.

Myself personally I've never utilized one however earlier in my spine care I saw Osteopathic doctors for soft tissue work and low velocity manipulations. Finding a really good DO is probably like finding a really good chiropractor and one of the best that I've been to is actually an 87 y.o. Osteopath who last I heard still was practicing (he started the Osteopathic school in Pomona CA).

Again, good luck. Please let us know how you do with this line treatment should you pursue it. Editing to add that I just read Mark's latest reply to you and wanted to add that I've done numerous PT stints for my low back and my knees altho would have to say that after I had my 2nd spine surgery and it failed my ability to exercise on various equipment was very limited. What I found the most helpful was core exercises with use of the stability ball. What I'm most able to do on a very regular basis however are some exercises (core strengthening included) that doesn't flare my back up and walking~ esp. walking.

In fact now it seems that if I don't walk regularly my low back stiffens and aches and walking seems to work this out (arthritic changes).

I'd be interested to hear or read about what you might find should you visit this chiropractic practice and what their style of treatment offers (or if Mark speaks with his friend in this practice and writes something more about it). Good luck!