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Lets say someone woke up , and couldnt turn their head to the right..It was very painful when they tried.. If they could only pick one.  Who would they be better off seeing( your opinion only ).   A Chiropractor, a Medical Doctor, or a Massage Therapist.

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based off what you have said "very" I would say a chiro. just because they can get an xray and get a physical exam with it. Most medical dr. are seeing as many people as they can and may just write a Rx for pain.

If they didn't have any other symptoms like fever, sore throat etc I would say Chiropractor and then a massage therapist immediately after. If they do have flu like symptoms they should go straight to a medical doctor.

It surprises me that so many would pick a chiropractor.  IMO the client didn't incur a spinal injury while sleeping.  Therefore, the pain must be soft tissue in origin.  Therefore, they should see an MT.  Even a whole-body relaxation Swedish massage combined with gentle stretching of neck/shoulders would probably cure the problem.   

 

How  about you, Gordon? What area of neck, upper back would you concentrate on?

I hear you Gary...it's just that in my experience with this kind of thing there is an adjustment of the cervicals needed before the client really gets relief. I have had the most success working in conjunction with a chiropractor in these cases. Originally, I would work on them and try to resolve the issue and just through trial and error have learned that if the cervicals and upper thoracics are adjusted followed by a wonderful massage the client sees the best results. Of course, it's not black and white, and there are most definately times when all they need is a massage.
Kristeen, Luciana, thanks for the information.
Massage therapist of course..Without question.. GARY YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT.  Besides that, 85% of the pain people experience  comes from knots in the muscles...Most of the time that particular problem  is caused from trigger points in the upper trap and lavator scapulae on the same side they cant turn too.. You can easily eliminate those trigger points in a few seconds, restoring complete range of motion. I had a client like that the day I started this post...Even if they did have a herniated disc.  I would know it..There is no way id hurt them. I'd send them to a medical doctor. One that I knew personally to be a good one.  Gary, if I had pain anywhere in my body.  I'd see you over a chiropractor any day. Without question. lol

Gary W Addis said:

It surprises me that so many would pick a chiropractor.  IMO the client didn't incur a spinal injury while sleeping.  Therefore, the pain must be soft tissue in origin.  Therefore, they should see an MT.  Even a whole-body relaxation Swedish massage combined with gentle stretching of neck/shoulders would probably cure the problem.   

 

How  about you, Gordon? What area of neck, upper back would you concentrate on?

I think it unlikely that you would incur further damage to spine (if that is what it was) by first working the piriformis.  But... the low back pain, the scattered erratic nature of the pain leads me to suspect that the nerve is impinged somewhere in the low lumbar spine.  So, since it is unlikely that MT would cause further problems, I would pass on my suspicion of spinal impingement to client, and ask whether they would want to proceed with the massage with the understanding that my treatment may be insufficient. 

 

Also, couldn't one of the erectors clamp down on a nerve? I certainly would want to search for trigger points in the entire low back spinal/hip region.  Based on my limited experience and research, I agree with Gordon that the majority of back pain is soft tissue in origin.  In fact, except in the case of pain referred from internal organs into, say, the shoulder, all pain felt in the skeletal body is either muscle or ligament or, rarely, bursa.

Well my goodness? I  would actually have to touch the patient.  How can I answer over the internet? I cant...But all I can tell you is that Ive done 50,000 massages over 26 years. Worked with Chiropractors for 10 of those years, and have a herniated disc in the low back myself.. I am the herniated disc...Now Im not saying I can cure or fix every one I see.. Not saying that...Id release every muscle thats tight or contracted.. Thats what I do? I work with soft tissue?  But there is no way Id hurt anybody..Also besides that I know what muscle pain feels like..I have muscles too,,,and I know herniated disc pain..I am that..I'd palpate, ask questions..Its too hard to explain by just typing over the internet here..Uhm,  Id be clearing up trigger points..and see what pain patterns are left afterwards. Trigger points have very distinct pain patters, and dermatomes that indicat  herniated discs pain have very distinct pain patterns..  Not arguing, I feel very confident with what I do..If its a muscle problem , Id be able to make it all go away(usually). If I palpated no muscle pain in the area..well then its a good chance that it might be a herniated disc..or if they didnt get better after a couple of massages..Then herniated disc or not, I cant help them. Then Id send them to somebody else. Like an MD Pain specialist.. I will upload some of my credentials..Im really serious about my work...Im excited to go to work today..I will upload a file of my credentials so please read them. Not saying I know everything..But Im honest about what I say.
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Gordon, you have gotten around! Both Hawaii and Alaska!  When I have earned my credentials, I would love to work with you.  So, please consider moving your practice to MS Gulf Coast next year.  :)
This thread got kind of funny...I love the information from ALL of you. I think, like Gordon has pointed out, it is impossible to give an accurate assessment of a client we are not standing in front of....I don't know about you but my work is combined with knowledge, experience and (most importantly) intuition. I think there are cases when you could all be right. I receive a lot of information when I touch my clients. I am happy to work with chiropractors and see the benefit in both chiro and massage. Please keep sharing you knowledge and experiences everyone - you all seem very very talented and knowledgable about my most favorite subject! Thank you thank you!!
I had a client a several years ago that came in for a massage...She was sore in her SI joint area and hip,, then also down her leg and calf area..She told me that she was diagnosed with a herniated disc and that massage makes her feel better. She said she was always sore because of her herniated disc. She told me that xrays MRI and medical tests confirmed that diagnosis.....But she was scared of surgery or seeing a chiropractor... So I massaged her...However I discoverd trigger points in her  periformis, hamstrings, soleus and calf muscles. She had been suffering for something like several years or so. After I released her trigger points..All her herniated disc symptoms were gone.She was a happy camper. All her presenting symptoms were gone. .So she may of had a herniated disc, but that wasnt causing any of her problems..So its kind of a none issue for me..And if its a fresh herniated disc,,,trust me...you dont want anybody touching you. I dont care who they are...Its a nauseating horrid fire burning pain.. I know...Took me 14 months to recover..Couldnt even lay on the massage table if I wanted. But if the herniated disc is healed. You work the soft tissue properly,if you know trigger points , you can often times help people,,Not everyone of course...So Im not sure what you want to hear as an answer?  The way I see my job, its to work the muscles..and if you cant help them you cant...A couple weeks ago I really helped a women that had chronic neck and hip pain for a couple years....She had seen doctors and chiropractors..Anyway  I took her SI joint and glute pain out.  Worked her neck muscles.  Trigger points the culprit again. She was pain free and happy after two massages....So of course she told her friend who also suffered really bad neck and hip pain for years..So she came into see me yesterday...But I found no trigger points, well I thought I did,but.. Everything I tryed, did not make her pain go away one bit.  Zero, nothing.. She liked me massaging her back though. But I did not help her at all..  So?? So your question, Im not sure what you want to hear?  I just massage people and try to help them,,and if I cant I cant.  Herniated  disc or not.

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