I have a bulging disc in my back, should I see a chiropractor or neurologist?

Answer 1

Definitely a neurologist, I had the same problem. A chiropractor can not fix it.

Answer 2

Depends, have you had a MRI ? I had the same thing. I used to go to a chiro for my back, really helps. I had to go to a specialized chiro. he was trained in the "Cox" method & had Cox tables. You want to consider that. A Neurologist may consider physicial thepary, a waste of time & money for me. Injections, they are fine, find a Dr. that will put you to sleep when he does it, also uses a flouroscope (live x-ray). Finally, about the chrio. you will need to go a lot at first, eventually you can go less & less, should get to where it is only about once a month. It worked for me.

Answer 3

First, you need to see a general practitioner. He/she will refer you to where you need to go and meanwhile give you a pain medication to help in the mean time.

Answer 4

Go to a good orthopedic surgeon.

Answer 5

Chiropractic is a safe and effective way to help with many conditions. Chiropractic is different than other health care professions in that it allows the body's own natural ability to heal and regulate itself. If you have a bulging disc than you probably have nerve interference which is causing dysfunction in your body, resulting in symptoms. In this case, pain in your back. Remeber this, Discs don't "bulge" for no apparent reason. The bulge because the vertebrae above and below it are subluxated (misaligned causing nerve pressure). If you go to a neurologist, you may or may not have an MRI recommended. He/she will likely hane you a precription for Vicodin/Naproxen or some other concoction to mask the symptoms. If that doesn't work, then you get into injections/surgery later dwon the line. The whole time the idea will be to get rid of your pain and not the cause of your problem!!! Chiropractic adjustments release the interference cuased by the subluxated vertebrae and resulting disc bulge from therebey restoring the integrity of the nerve system and the ability of your body to heal itself, including the back pain.

If it is scientific proof you are looking, I have included below a few research studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of chiropractic. Unlike all other "treatments", chiropractic believes that health and healing comes from within, not from the outside. It doesn't need lotions and potions to heal. Only the body can heal, that is, if there is no interference.

Research supporting Chiropractic
Last Updated ; 1996.10.06
[ New Zealand Report ]
Report of the Commission of Inquiry, Government Printer, New Zealand, 1979
Inglis, BD, Chiropractic in New Zealand

[ Rand Report ]
The appropriateness of spinal manipulation for low-back pain. Project overview and literature review.
Shekelle PG, Adams AH, Chassin MR, et al.
RAND STUDY-CHIROPRACTIC REPORT Vol.5 No.6,
RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California, 1991

[ Low back pain of mechanical origin: randomised comparison of chiropractic and hospital outpatient treatment ]
T.W.Meade, Sandra Dyer, Wendy Browne, Joy Townsend, A.O.Frank
British Medical Journal vol.300 no.6737 pp.1431-37 Date:1990-JUN-2

Randomized comparison of chiropractic and hospital outpatient management for low back pain: results from extended follow-up.
Meade TW, et al. British Medical Journal, Vol. 311, 1995, pp. 349-351.

[ Recovery Rate on Posterior Displacement of Lumbar Vertebra ]
A Retrospective Case Analysis of Pretreatment and Comparative Static Radiological Parameters Following Chiropractic Adjustments
Gregory Plaugher,D.C., Edward E.Cremata,D.C.,and Reed B.Philips,D.C.,PH.D.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
vol.13 no.9 pp498-506 1990-NOV-DEC

[ Randomized clinical trial of manipulative therapy and physiotherapy for persistent back and neck complaints: results of one year follow up. ]
Koes, B.W., Bouter, L.M.. et al.
British Medical Journal, 7 March 1992, Volume 304, Pages 601-605.

[ 50-Year History of Chiropractic Effectiveness ]
Chiropractic Evaluation Study Task III Report of the Relevant Literature.
MacDonald, M.J., Morton, L.
MRI Project No. 8533-D, For Department of Defense, OCHAMPUS, Aurora, Colorado, 24 January 1986.

[ Spinal Manipulation for Low-Back Pain. ]
Shekelle, P., Adams, A.,et al.
Annals of Internal Medicine, 01 October 1992, Volume 117, Number 7, PP590-598.


[ Cost Effectiveness of Chiropractic ]
[ A Study to Examine the Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness of Chiropractic Management of Low Back Pain ]
Pran Manga, et al.
Pran Manga and Associates, Ontario, Canada, 1993.

[ Mechanical Low-Back Pain: A Comparison of Medical and Chiropractic Management Within the Victorian Work Care Scheme. ]
Ebrall, P.S.
Chiropractic Journal of Australia, June 1992, Volume 22, Number 2, PP47-53.

[ Cost per Case Comparison of Back Injury Claims of Chiropractic versus medical Management for Conditions with Identical Diagnostic Codes ]
Jarvis, K.B., Phillips, R.B., et al.
Journal of Occupational Medicine, August 1991, Volume 33, Number 8, Pages 847-52.

[ Mandated Health Insurance Coverage for Chiropractic Treatment: An Economic Assessment, with Implications for the Commonwealth of Virginia. ]
Schifrin,L.G.
The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, and Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, January 1992.

[ A Comparison of the Costs of Chiropractors versus Alternative Medical Practitioners ]
Dean, D.H., Schmidt, R.M.
University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia, 13 January 1992.

[ Chiropractic versus medical Care: A Cost Analysis of Disability and Treatment for Back-Related Workers' Compensation Cases. ]
Steve Wolk, Ph.D.
Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research, Arlington, Virginia, September 1988.

[ Chiropractic users tend to have substantially lower total health care costs. ]
Journal of American Health Policy, Nov/Dec 1992, Vol.2, No.6

Answer 6

you need to see an orthopedic surgeon