Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Question about a back injury?

My boyfriend hurt his back while he was at work, he was pulling really hard on a wire for about 5 min. and he can't hardly move. this has been going on for about 4 days and i was just wondering should he go see an orthopedic surgeon first or a chiropractor? I feel that an orthopedic surgeon will just try and push surgeory on him. also if anyone has any experience with inversion tables. we have access to one but he is afraid he will hurt his back more on that and i said no. any help would be appreciated.
Answer:
First let me say that I have chronic pain from several back surgeries so I understand how painful back pain is. Please don't try to use an inversion table or anything like that without having xrays or an MRI done first. My suggestion is that he go to his General Practioner first and get the xrays and possibly some physical therapy. Stay away from chiropractors until you know there isn't anything seriously wrong. Chiropractors can help in some instances, but can also make some injuries worse in the long run. I agree to make the Orthopaedic Surgeon your last resort, because they do usually opt for surgery. Xrays and an MRI can show if it is a disc or a muscle problem and then it will be easier to determine the best treatment from there. I wish you much luck and hope he feels better soon. Trust me, you don't want to end up like me.
i don't know what that means
Well, i think your best bet would be to go to the chiropractor. But if that does'nt work then i think you should contact his doctor and get advice on how to heal it.
Well, I think he just pulled a muscle doing a wrong movement or overstressing the back. I don't think surgery will be the first thing. Back injuries never go away quickly, so expect your boyfriend to be suffering for a couple more days...but take him to the chiropractor first. He can tell whether it is just a matter of painkiller pumping or a surgical intervention is needed. My guess is he pulled a muscle, and since the back supports almost everything...any movement is painful. Seriously, he needs to get checked in any case because the back is so important...and if in case it is something more than just a pulled muscle, you have to treat it early because over time if it isn't treated...the pain will get worse and treatment will be harder.
try the chiropractor. If they are reputable they will not do anything to him if there is something major wrong that they would hurt. Stay away afrom the inversion table . If it is nerve damage the inversion table could cause more damage.
You should have him visit a doctor first. Might just be some pulled muscles. If it's worse than I'm sure the doctor would be the one best suited to refer him to treatment.
He needs to start with reporting the injury to his supervisor and request a workman's comp doctor.
Sounds like a strained/pulled muscle that muscle relaxants and a couple of days in bed would cure it.
From there, Workman's comp will do physical therapy.
If that fails, after a given time, push for an orthopedic surgeon and most of them will take other options before surgery.
First of all I hope he filled out all the Workers Comp papers and if not get that taken care of asap and then go to the chiropractor so they can take xrays and see what is going on in there. Chiropractors are wonderful. They can really help. Both my Father and I have had back injuries on the job and they have helped us quite a bit. He has paid into Worker's Comp so let them pay for everything including time off if work and pain and suffering. Never settle on your medical with them.

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