I started developing back problems around the age of 15. I started to see a chiropractor-- I had a pinched nerve. The chiropractor did help me.

In 2001, I had a car accident in which I was rear ended by a Verizon truck when I was at a complete stop. My back was never the same again. I ended up with some bulging discs. After the car accident I recieved an MRI, testing from a neurlogist, and lots of chiropractic and acupuncture treatment.

My back hurts daily. I get pain in the one spot that I have had since I was 15-- from the pinched nerve. The pain is not limited to one area-- upper, lower, mid. It is always changing. Some days I get pain that travels down my arms into my fingers. Sometimes down my legs. My depression and anxiety makes it so much worse-- my husband can barely massage my shoulders because they are so tight that it ends up hurting his hands.

What should I do? Should I just go back to a chiropractor? Who do you think I should see?

[lenjan]

Why not start with your GP and see what he says?

[smiley1984]

For a few reasons I won't get into, I would never go to a chiropractor, but I think physios can help sometimes.

over here you don't get to choose what specialist you should see, you have to be referred by your gp who will suggest the type of dr you see.
It depends on the cause of your back pain which dr is best. I've seen people at rheumatologists, orthopaedics, neuro drs/surgeons, and some sports medicine drs are really good.

have you been to a pain clinic?

[Perna]

I'd get a consult from your regular doctor, maybe to an ortho or neuro person?

http://www.spine-health.com/find/fi01.html

[bebop]

my dr is ortho.

I have back problems as well.. ruptured discs at L4 and L5 and also degenerative disc disease. My suggestion would be to make an appointment with your family doc and go from there.

I had been seeing a pain management specialist for a few years. During that time, I had several procedures done to hopefully alleviate the pain but nothing was long-lasting for me. I also had an evaluation with a neurosurgeon who concluded I was not a candidate for any kind of surgery. In the end, I was managing okay with pain medication. The pain doctor sent me back to my family doctor to write my prescriptions because that's really all he was doing. I was at a point where the pain doc felt there wasn't much more he could offer me.

I also see a chiropractor. I have been seeing her for about a year and a half now. When I first started I would go sometimes twice a week. Now I'm down to once every 3 weeks. I have found the treatment to be very helpful for me.

[(JD)]

Try a physical therapist. Chiros aren't so bad but a PT can do some marvelous things and generally has more modalities available, plus good education on how to and not to do things! (I know you we all think we know...but they tell it to us straight.)

Feel better.

One thing for me is I REFUSE to take any type of pain medications.... so I don't want to see a doctor who is going to push meds on me-- and a chiropractor is always safe for that. Accupuncture was extremely helpful for my pain and my anxiety alike, but unfortunately, insurance won't cover that-- it was covering it after my accident, which was awesome, but no more.

[smiley1984]

has anything worked in the past? if something has worked in the past i'd be tempted to try that again. but in the meantime all you can do is all that common sense stuff that won't cure it but can sometimes relieve a small bit of pain - like heat, massage etc so when you see someone you can say you've already tried that

here we have pain clinics which have drs, physios, psychologists, nurses and a few other allied health people specialised in pain. They will prescribe meds but they are very encouraging of non-drug management if it's possible. We always seem to copy all these medical models from america so i would assume you have them over there.