hi all,
just found this group and seemed pretty good.....so figured I'd join. I'm mum to a 17 yr old terror...lol aka my daughter....who has severe spastic quad cp......we've recently been offered the chance to try some chiropraction with her.....the chiropractor took x-rays which apparently show her neck to be badly out of alignment with her skull pressed hard onto the top of her spinal cord. they seem very sure that they will be able to improve her function significantly but before we start I was wondering if anyone else had tried anything like this and what were the results? she also has the beginning of a lower back scoliosis and they seem convinced they will be able to improve this too....it all just seems too simple. maybe I'm just being pessimistic? :confused:
Peppees

I used to go to the chiropractor all the time when I was about 12 (I'm 18 now). I remember feeling a lot better back then, but I don't know if I'm not doing as well now because I'm not going to the chiropractor or because of other things. He did work out some tight muscles in my hips and lower back... it really hurt, but I think it was worth it. Sorry I can't be of much help :(

Peppees,
Chiropractors manipulate bone and muscle alignment. This can help anybody feel better and more relaxed, with CP or without CP. The very nature of CP causes muscles to put uneven pull or stress on the bones and other muscles of the body. Muscles we can control, take over or compensate for those muscles we can't control... So in short, chiropraction is helpful, but temporary. The conditions that cause the need for it, will always be present. A better, more lasting treatment would include physical stretching and muscle strengthening...

Hi Peppees and welcome. Everything that's been said sounds good so far and as long as they're competent it seems like it'd at least be worth a try.

I was just referred to a chiropractor myself by the pain management doctor I'm seeing (related to a lumbar surgery, not the CP). Since my lumbar fusion in June of '02 it seems my ability to shift/compensate for the shorter left leg has been affected and it's causing severe, mostly unbearable pain now. I figure like it or not, it's time to go back to the orthopedic devices (the chiropractor does the fittings). I'm hoping he can fit me for a simple insert or modified insole and I'll not require the "platform" shoe or leg brace again but we'll see what he says tomorrow.

As much as I hate the idea of wearing those braces again, at this point I'll do whatever I can to get rid of this pain. Maybe he can do some mild adjustments while I'm there at least give me some temporary relief.

Jack

hi all,
well we went for our first real assesment last night, had x-rays taken....took them to our orthopedic doc to see what he says as well. from teh x-rays its pretty obvious that my daughters skull is kind of wedged on top of her spianl column......no gap at all like most people have. the chiropractor and the doctor both seem to agree that this could have been a dislocation at birth. her ortho doc is quite happy for us to give this a go...he knows of this chiropractor and thinks highly of them. so next Tuesday is our first appointment. 3 times a week for 15 weeks to begin! I'll be interested to see if we see much improvement!
Linda :bouncing:

hey dave,
sounds like your experience has been positive which is good! the chiropractor we are seeing sounds quite similar to yours.....they also are going for a holistic approach......the spinal cord as they pointed out to us controls everything which happens in our bodies so If its squashed right up at the top then you are going to get problems right down the body. I have no illusions that they will "cure" my daughter and in fact thats not what we are looking for. what we're after is to enable her to make the most of what she has and thats what they are saying they will do for her. has to be worth a try. our chiropractor also works on a minimum one year program. not cheap but hey shes our only child so I guess shes worth it...lol
Linda

hi all,
just found this group and seemed pretty good.....so figured I'd join. I'm mum to a 17 yr old terror...lol aka my daughter....who has severe spastic quad cp......we've recently been offered the chance to try some chiropraction with her.....the chiropractor took x-rays which apparently show her neck to be badly out of alignment with her skull pressed hard onto the top of her spinal cord. they seem very sure that they will be able to improve her function significantly but before we start I was wondering if anyone else had tried anything like this and what were the results? she also has the beginning of a lower back scoliosis and they seem convinced they will be able to improve this too....it all just seems too simple. maybe I'm just being pessimistic? :confused:
Peppees
Hi Linda! wish you the best of luck with this treatment. Pls keep in touch and let me know how it is progressing. Other techniques that you could try are the Bowen Technique and Craniosacral Treatment. Need any more info pls contact me.

Kevin.

hi Kevin,
well we've only had 6 treatments so far but aletia seems to be somewhat looser afterwards. well at least shes saying her neck feels less stiff. I think its too early yet to see any difference but shes real enthusiastic. we did try bowen some time ago....and while aletia liked it we didn't see much difference in her and it was hard to find anyone reliable that was close to home. I've never heard of craniosacral treatment though...whats involved there?
Linda P

Has anybody tried myofascial release?

Thanks

Kat

I always thought that a chiopractor would be hesitant to see my child b/c of the C.P. Have you encountered this at all? or did they even care? If not, I might check it out for my son!

My mom had a chiropractor and he actually WANTED to see me because I had CP. We hadn't thought of it before, but he thought he could help. He did a lot of lowerback/hamstring area work with me.

hey Dave,
we've been going about 8 weeks now and the exciting news for us was that we went to Sydney on Friday to see our daughters orthopedic surgeon about the scoliosis in her back and her hump.....last appointment they were very concerned and had described her scoliosis as moderate and in need of surgical intervention.....well on friday they checked her over...did x-rays.....then came in and asked us why we had made the appointment? I told them we were here because they had been concerned 6 months ago about her moderate scoliosis...the ortho doc looked at us and said oh her scoliosis is very mild.....seems to be about 5 degs better than last time!!! WOW!!!! we were very excited to say the least.......she isn't complaining about spasms at night anymore either......although it hasn't made her be more polite to her parents yet...lol
we're totally converted and are very excited about the improvements we've seen so far.....and our chiropractor is convinced there is a lot more to come.
Linda P

it is fantastic Dave, I just hope you have as good as results as we're having.....wish everyone could find a chiropractor as good as ours!
Linda