United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

So my lower back has been killing me for some time now and I have recently hs a knife between my shoulder blades so I made an appt with a chirpractor yesterday. Had a total eval with x-rays and then went back today to get treatment and to see my x-rays and the doctors there said my spine showed the worst rotation that either of them had ever seen. Its not scroliosis, just my spinal column is turned to the left due to the muscle imbalance. The turning of my spine has been putting unneccessary strain on my nerves in the right side. I was really disturbing seeing how bad my spine actually is! I would reccommend getting your spine checked if you are a bpi individual. I have ignored my symptoms for at least 8 years but probably closer to 10 so that was bad on my part but my shoulder hurt way more than my low back ever did. Now I dont have the shoulder pain, I thought I should deal with the other issues.
So I will be treating that for a while.

Just thought I would share my experience in hopes of some one else preventing their spine from getting as bad as mine.

Hugs,
Amy 20 years old ROBPI from MN
(with a neck of probably a 40 year old, uhg!)

That sucks Amy! Welcome to the club though.. I have scoliosis from the BPI and a very stiff lower back where the rest of me is very flexible. My back has never been flexible.
Marieke (32, LOBPI)

The chiropractors were extremely suprised that I dont have bad headaches. It was that bad. Funny thing is I am still very flexible just in pain.

The chiro just called me to ask how I am doing and to remind me to sleep differently. Thought that was nice.

Hugs,
Amy (girl in a club she could live without being in, I want a normal spine, uhg!)

Amy
I'm so sorry to hear about your spine, Frankie is checked every 6 months for signs of turning of the spine but so far is good. However my 22 yr old stepson has scoliosis and its so painful despite doing his exercises but one thing he says does help is using frankies e stim he says it help ease the pain maybe that will help.
Mare

im having trouble with my lower back at this point.. and from my numb right leg and pain.. people tell me that my sciatic nerve is pinched... which i have to get fixed soon.... if its related.. its irritating!! lol!

~Mel, 20, LOBPI

Mel, I would make an appt, some places do the eval for free. The place I went to does that. I would definitely deal with it sooner rather than later, I learned my lesson! Now its going to cost me quite a bit to fix it.

Good luck!
Amy

I know just from my experience i love Drake's chiropractor. The chiropractor actually approached us. He had heard about Drake from mutual friends and asked if i would be willing to let him look at him. I figured i have been to every other kind of doctor, why not! He took x-rays (standing up ~ he said it makes a difference if they are standing or laying) And to my surprise two of his vertebrae are clearly out of line from the others and of course they are right up there with the BP. His therapy and adjusting has helped so much. Drake has never had pain but just very little improvements. The chiropractor said obviously the spine being out of alignment was not the cause of paralysis but it could be putting enough pressure on those nerves slowing down progress. (Drake fell in a soccer game 1 week before the paralysis started.) No one ever addressed this issue because they were looking at the major problem and not the minor. i know people either love or hate chiropractors, i just thought i would share my experience with one. Drake has gone about ten times and the chiro says the muscles are loosening and the neck is trying to stabilize better, and i don't know if it is just a coincidence or not but yesterday in therapy his therapist said she felt a tiny bit of his wrist trying to extend. I cannot see it at all, i will just have to take her word for it. Up until now we have not seen any wrist extension. So i definitely recommend going and just seeing what one says.

I hope yours can help you with your pain Amy.

I was just wondering how old you should be before you see the chiro. Is there a certain age you should wait for or just wait for pain.

Maggie is five and has never said anything about pain, so I was just wondering.

I had a second adjustment today and its getting way better! I could actually lay on my back last night and it didnt kill me. I havent done that in forever!

They are making progress thats for sure. Yesterday they said when they put my heels together as I was laying on my stomach there was a half inch difference, today only a quarter inch.

For now, the knife is gone from between my shoulder blades so thats encouraging. Still a dull ache in my lower back but way better than three days ago when they took the x-rays. I was standing for all my x-rays.

Going back on Monday for another adjustment. The biggest thing they told me though was to change the way that I sleep. They said no tummy sleeping at all and if I sleep on my side to make sure that whatever shoulder is on top rests behind the one thats on the bottom so that I am closer to sleeping on my back than my stomach. So they said since its Friday, they give homework and my assignment is to work on my sleeping habits. Working on it last night was not fun but I guess its necessary.

Anyway thats my day. Its getting better slowly but surely.
Thanks for Sharing about Drake!
Hugs,
Amy

Leslie,
I would say if your insurance will cover a visit, go get an eval on Maggie. Often pain doesnt show up until after there are some changes that are not good. Since Maggie is more sever I would guess that her muscle imbalance is probably getting larger by the day and thats what took my spine out of the normal position (spinous process exactly down the middle is normal, mine are all down the left side, they are lined up but all turned to the left a lot!)

If you can catch it earier rather than later that would be better and a lot less appointments to fix it or keep it from twisting.

Just my thoughts, wish I would have dealt with this earlier instead of ignoring it for years.

Hugs,
Amy