[net.consumers] Backs, MDs, Chiropractors

werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner) (03/13/86)

> > 
> 
> Last fall I was unfortunate to pop two ribs away from my spine.  I was in
> agony for a couple of days because I thought it was just a pulled muscle.  I
> couldn't decide who to call.  I finally decided on a Chiropractor because 
> they were open on Saturdays.  He immediately found the problem and popped the
> ribs back into place.  
> 
> What I have often wondered since is, what would a regular M.D. have done to
> help me - give me pain pills and a muscle relaxer?

	I asked around about this. "Popping two ribs", otherwise known as a
dislocation (disarticulation) of the costal-vertebral joint is both rare, has
non-specific symptoms, and is excrutiatingly painful.  The pain comes less from
the actual lesion than from the muscle spasm it sets off.
	The consensus is that if you went to the emergency room, they would
probably send you off to X-ray, and when they found nothing, would call an
Orthopedist, who, if he was experienced, would LISTEN to the history, reach
around behind you, and pop them back in. However, anyone of lesser stature
would treat the spasm (it occasionally resolves by itself with that - the spasm
both prevents further injury and perpetuates the condition, but not always)
	I'm suprised you lasted a couple of days.

	Congratulations, you managed to get the one injury that the Chiro
might arguably have an edge.  The question is, how many people were treated
the same way, who didn't have disarticulated vertebral joints, but spasm due
to other causes. 

-- 

				Craig Werner
				!philabs!aecom!werner
                        "It doesn't even have to be a Pelvis."