United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Frankie started seeing one at 5 due to neck and shoulder pain it started after he started kindergarten. The doctor said it was all the sitting and leaning over to write. The doctor did not use his hands to adjust Frankie but used something called the activator it was like a gun that made a popping noise as it went down his spine. Frankie said he loved the way he felt afterwards all loose and relaxed. He went 2x a week for awhile then only when he got pain mind you he was going for therapy and doing his stretches at the same time but none of that helped. If your daughter is having pain I would look for a pediatric chiropractor and get an evaul if there is no pain her PCP can check for spinal problems.
Mare

They also use the activator on me. It doesnt make sense to me that it should relieve pain or help at all but its working! But then I guess kinesio tape didnt make sense either but it worked wonders for me.

Their plan for me is to go 3x a week for 4 weeks then 2x a week for 4 weeks then 1x for 8 weeks then 2 x a month for 2 months and then 1x a month for 6 months. Thats to get me back in order and try and keep it all that way.

Seems like a lot but its at least 8 years of problem, its not going to go away over night.

Mare, did they do x-rays of Frankie? I am interested to know if anyone else who has had chiro care also has a rotated spine.
Thanks,
Amy

Amy
I am glad that you have taken this step to find another alternative form of treatment.
It has helped me a great deal over the years.
I believe in a combination of medical, pt, ot and chiropractic care has helped me a great deal of the past few years.

I have been seeing a chiropractor for the last 18 years for my back.
I was so scared to use one but just couldn't get any relief from the chronic, pain.

He told me my neck looked like an 80 year old that had been beaten with a bat.. I was 50 at the time.
After a few adjustment I was relieved of the constant pain and for some reason unknown to both of us...
I began to get my pronated hand to almost neutral without it snapping back. I am still celebrating that event and in awe of that movement.

Over the last several years I have had many MRI and Xray and major leg problems.
I also have fairly regular chiropractor adjustments with the activator ONLY.
I had a weight bearing MRI due to sciatica in both legs and the results of it were not pretty.
My lower spine is now affected. It is due to all the twisting and turning required to perform daily functions.
I have spinal stenosis in both the cervical spine and in my lower spine L1,L2,L3,L4,L5 and S1.
The PT I had at that time was also a Chiropractor. He took a small skeleton and demonstrated what happens to my spine when I function on a daily basis.
He said that this damage was due to the need to compensate and doing everything one handed.

I believe that children/adults compensatory movements should be evaluated on a regular basis.
OT/PT/Chiropractors should be looking at the way we compensate and how they can be changed to prevent the twisting of our spines.
OBPI seem to have such a high pain tolerance and can learn to work and compensate around the pain. It is often our undoing.
We (OBPI) tend to tolerate pain (the body's signal something is wrong) until we can no longer function and often do more damage then is necessary.

Chiropractic care has helped me a great deal.
Medication seems to do nothing but put me to sleep so I avoid it.

Kath robpi/adult

Yes the 1st appoint was the evaul they x rayed him and said everything was fine he was just having pain in his neck and shoulder area due to the muscle tightness and that his bpi shoulder was raising up into his ear.Since the age of 5 he has had to see the chiro off and on for treatment but since the mod quad he has been pain free. Dr Nath had told us that Frankie was tighter then any adult he had ever seen and he was only 14 at the time one year later he's still pretty loose and pain free and his shoulder has dropped back down and looks almost even with the right side. Mare

My lower back hurts sometimes too! If it hurts it is usually when I am running in cross country. I have scoliosis and I did wear a brace for it for a few months. I used to sleep with my legs and my hips down (like I was on my stomach) and my upper body and head on one side, so I was twisted. I quit doing that on my own because after awhile I realized it probably wasn't good to sleep so twisted up , now I sleep on my back or side. I'm glad I read that your doctor told you that it's best to sleep on your back because I was never sure if it mattered or not.

I'll have to try kinesio tape on my back! My dad gets it from his doctor because he pulled his hamstring (he's a runner too !) and I never thought of trying it on my back! I'll see if I can just get it from his doctor. When my back hurts I use a Bengay patch (it's like an Icy-Hot patch only I like the bengay brand better). The patches work really well for me. Last year my back hurt a lot during my crosscountry practices but the patches would help. haha I think I was addicted to them because it got to the point where i couldn't run without one!!! This year my back barely ever hurts so I don't wear them very often. I think the tape might help even more though!!!

Brittany,
You should be careful with the kinesio tape. There is a certain way that it needs to be applied affectively. Do you still see an OT or a PT? They would be able to help you with it. I absolutley loved it though for my upper back pain. Never used in on my low back because that pain was never as bas as my shoulder was. Now that my shoulder pain is all gone, I have realized that my low back was really hurting.

Britt, do you see a chiro?

Hugs,
Amy 20 years old ROBPI from MN

ps, its nice to see you posting!

Hey! haha don't worry I won't put it on myself. I read a post about it and saw that you need a professional to do it. When I first posted I didn't really think about how I was going to get it on, I just wanted to get some:). I don't see a OT, PT, or chiro. My back really hasn't hurt too bad this year but if it starts hurting more I'd like to try the tape (my arm and shoulder don't really ever hurt). I do have a scoliosis doctor though but he never mentioned the tape.

~Brittney
15, LOBPI