Montel Williams Gives Upper Cervical Chiropractic Testimonial

[venice*]

Montel Williams Gives Upper Cervical Chiropractic Testimonial
http://www.planetc1.com/cgi-bin/n/v.cgi?c=1&id=1200461686

and http://uppercervicaladvocates.com/

Interesting, as I get ready to lay down with a bag of frozen peas on the back of my neck.

Has anyone tried chiropractic? More insurances are covering it these days.
It was on my list to try...but I didn't want to waste my time. His symptoms hit home here.

Venice

[Jakaloke]

I used to be a regular customer of chiropractors, but I was never very comfortable with the "neck manipulation" maneuver. I have no opinion one way or the other, but you should be aware that there is controversy about the issue.

A few years ago a group of Canadian neurologists issued this warning (http://www.chirobase.org/15News/neurol.html) (my own neuro was one of the signers). It reinforced my fear of neck manipulation.

Scott

[cricket52]

Hi Venice:

To be perfectly honest with you I don't have a lot of faith in chiropractors - if they work then why do you keep having to go back over and over again?

It does give temporary relief perhaps and the 'laying on of hands' that they do gives the patient the impression the chiropractor cares. Doctors are often much less hands on.

If a chiropractor sticks to physio-type exercises then they may help. My physio manipulated my neck once. The pain shot through my body like an electric shock and we decided not to do that again.

I have a friend who swears by them. She has spent thousands and thousands of dollars and is no further ahead. But she is emotionally needy and has a lousy PCP and her chiro gives her the support she craves.

That is just my opinion. I know there are many who will violently disagree with me. Having worked in a hospital setting and with orthopaedic surgeons I have a strong aversion to what I consider a 'pseudo science'.

While I have never been to a massage therapist I often wonder if it would provide temporary relief from spasticity. A gentle massage might help with some of the muscle tightness as a side-effect from 'guarding' against the spastic pain.

[Cat Dancer]

I think chiro's are great for some back pain. But I saw the same studies someone else suggested about NOT getting any sort of neck manipulation. I was "talking" to someone on another forum who said her chiro suggested that her "spine was out of alignment" and so "prescribed" some lifts for her shoe -- one side only..which threw her back and shoulder COMPLETELY out of alignment for real..and she underwent ortho surgery.

Anyway..I avoid them. For that matter, I also avoid osteopathic doctors, who, while they do have MD degrees, I rank as "chiro's with a medical degree". And homeopathic "doctors". And other such...."fields of endeavor".

Testimonials are just that...stories, usually of "success" or "relief", offered by one individual. You rarely hear testimonials (or anecdotes) from those for whom the "treatment" was a failure.

[lady_express_44]

Chiropractors have always scared me, although I go to a physiotherapist (who will crack my back :D) and massage therapist. I'd be in so much pain if it wasn't for those two practices. :eek:

A friend I knew with MS had been going for chiropractor treatment for years, and he swore by it (diet and exercise) too. He had had MS for about 20 yrs and was doing exceptionally well, but who knows if that's the reason.

I'd try Montel's chiropractor, I think, but I wouldn't trust just any one of them.

Cherie

[blossom4th]

I was going to a chiropracter until I lost Medicaid. And he's good;I highly recommend him to my friends. He won't touch you until you've been x-rayed and evaluated(including medical history).Then he decides what treatments will work for you and there are frequent evaluations.There is a physical therapist and massage therapists in his office.By the way;he doesn't use any of the old methods of "popping and cracking". He's gentle,feels along the spine for misalignments,communicates with his patients and when he does the adjustments,the table 'drops'.Good nutrition and water drinking are emphasized.My water consumption increased when I started going there. As for massage therapy,they specialize in Fibro and know the importance of lymphatic drainage.

[Row Boat]

I went to a dc for many years, mom started me there when I was a teen and fell down the steps. It helped my intial back problems however I didnt realize until I switched docs for insurance reasons how many pains it was causing.

My old one had me coming in a lot and thought he was treating the pain in lower back of neck (which I developed in his care but was too young to know. I mean I did fall a lot as kid.)

My new dc (doctor / chiro) used a gentler adjustment for people w/ neuro stuff on a rack of some sort and low and behold my neck pain was no more.

However I stopped going unless I fall or hurt my spine because after adjustments my upper back shoulder blades would tingle so violently and my muscles burned and my head tremor was worse, so much so my dc was concerned. It just didnt work for me after my neuro stuff started. (Id noticed this before neuros started saying dont let them manipulate your neck too many nerves and veins to damage).

I know for some it does help. But honestly the longer I went w/ out dc, the easier my back went back in place by itself.

Id still try them before back surgery if I felt it was safe. They get my hubby thru' back
pain when his lower back goes out and he is in horrible pain when it first happens.
After a week or two of adj's he is back on track. (he does take motrin too tho' but it takes longer to heal w/ out dc we've noticed) He stops going once its better.

Anyway...be careful who you go too, dont ever leave in more pain then you went in with,
if they wont work w/ you till youre not in pain (you didnt come in with) youre at the wrong doc. Dont let them say it may flare for a few days...my new one proved that statement is wrong.

And if they claim to heal everything you ever had wrong w/ you theyre crap too.
Thats my experience and Ive been to them for years.

I def' agree the one on one touch and compassion they are known to express are part of the healing process they seem to have more time and knack for that.

[venice*]

A few years ago a group of Canadian neurologists issued this warning (http://www.chirobase.org/15News/neurol.html) (my own neuro was one of the signers). It reinforced my fear of neck manipulation.
Scott
Thanks for the info and specific warning Jakaloke. I did have chiro care yrs back from an MVA- and I was always skeptical.

Hi Venice:
To be perfectly honest with you I don't have a lot of faith in chiropractors - if they work then why do you keep having to go back over and over again?
If a chiropractor sticks to physio-type exercises then they may help. My physio manipulated my neck once. The pain shot through my body like an electric shock and we decided not to do that again.

While I have never been to a massage therapist I often wonder if it would provide temporary relief from .
Hi Cricket- I share the skepticism, it is the physio-type approach that caught my interest. I also had problems with a neck manipulation during a massage. I have since had good luck with massage and I have them avoid my neck. I will only have Swedish NOT deep tissue. I alsorub my legs often to help myself with spasticity.



I'd try Montel's chiropractor, I think, but I wouldn't trust just any one of them. Cherie

I highly recommend him to my friends. He won't touch you until you've been x-rayed and evaluated(including medical history).Then he decides what treatments will work for you and there are frequent evaluations. Good nutrition and water drinking are emphasized. As for massage therapy,they specialize in Fibro and know the importance of lymphatic drainage.

Hi Cherie and Blossom-
I'm on the wrong coast for Montel's doc, but I do know of one that seems to be very ethical. She was recommended by a chirop friend who practices too far away. I brought my daughter for a back problem due to cheering. She followed the same guidelines that Blossom outlined and also gave warm up and cool down exercises specific for my daughter and suggested she share them with her coach and team trainer. She expressed her exasperation at school sports not teaching this routinely to prevent injury. We only went a few time to get though competitions and my daughter really thought it helped.


However I stopped going unless I fall or hurt my spine because after adjustments my upper back shoulder blades would tingle so violently and my muscles burned and my head tremor was worse, so much so my dc was concerned. It just didnt work for me after my neuro stuff started. (Id noticed this before neuros started saying dont let them manipulate your neck too many nerves and veins to damage).
Hi RowBoat-
Thanks for sharing your experience. Considering Montels procedure is on the neck that is what concerns me.

Thanks to all for sharing,
Venice

[venice*]

Testimonials are just that...stories, usually of "success" or "relief", offered by one individual. You rarely hear testimonials (or anecdotes) from those for whom the "treatment" was a failure.

Hi Cat-

Thanks for sharing your view, many feel that way.

I have a different take on anecdotal info. Although I would never take it at face value (as I don't do for almost any info). It saved my son's life when he had a bad reaction to an SSRI. If not for many parents sharing anecdotal info and if I listened to the 'main stream top doctors in their field' I may not have been reported to 'protective services' for NOT giving him Paxil, but I do believe I would not have my son today.

[tiggers]

[QUOTE=Cat Dancer;2026 For that matter, I also avoid osteopathic doctors, who, while they do have MD degrees, I rank as "chiro's with a medical degree".
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have been seeing an Osteopath who is also a qualified massage therapist. She does things so gently it is amazing. Full body massage. My spine ends up strait. She claims that OD and Chiro's broke off from each other originally in training as there were different views on how to treat the spinal problems.

[Parsi]

There are chiros and chiros. Search out one carefully. The specific realignments need to be found and treated. Some try to overtreat and make matters worse.

[blossom4th]

The 'adjustment' that Montel received wasn't a manipulation.I watched the video.I've never seen anything like that piece of equipment! :confused: It looked like something that would be found in a workshop!:rolleyes: Indeed,the 'adjustment' that Montel received was referred to "screwing" his head on his cervical spine properly;thus properly aligning his entire spine.Montel claimed his pelvis was tilted making one leg shorter(coincidentally,that was the same problem that showed up on the x-ray taken at my chiro!)....and that the problem had been resolved since the 'adjustment'. I dunno....one treatment?!

[venice*]

I find it odd that I can't find anything else about Montel and this treatment besides this article and the use of this article promoting individual chiropractors.

I'd contact Montel Williams directly if I knew how. If anyone has any leads feel free to PM me.
Venice

[Agent]

My first attack followed a particularly "difficult" neck adjustment from a Chiropractor. I think my "A matter of Fact" attitude about it, spooked her. She ended up stop adjusting and started doing this Hokey version of Chiropractic. Like no adjustment, just flip your feet in the air. WIERD!

I have a new Chiroprator who is a younger Doc, and uses Gonsted technique. He gentler and does a good job.

[Gabriella7]

This is a specialty of chiropractors who have to take additional training. I know of what I speak as I have been to both types of chiropractors. The neck manipulation is not the same as an upper cervical adjustment.

When I went on and off for about a year I saw a UCC senior resident at Life Chiropractic University. I would still go back to him but he is too far away for me to drive.

Later, I went to a regular chiropractor and he did the manipulation on my neck and I will not go back to him again. The table for the UCC adjustment I got is different from the one on the video and actually required a hands on gentle push.

All chiropractors are not created equal as all physicians are not created equal. It is not a cure only another treatment. But I'll take all the help I can get in this battle with MS.

Gabriella

[venice*]

This is a specialty of chiropractors who have to take additional training. I know of what I speak as I have been to both types of chiropractors. The neck manipulation is not the same as an upper cervical adjustment.Gabriella

So in other words we need to make sure they are specifically a
upper cervical adjustment specialist or a UCC?
thanks,
V

[Dan26]

i think every chiro finds in every person one leg shorter than the other!

In my pre-ms days though i used them a lot, between golf and raquetball my back was a mess and they did help.
interesting though, my first ms symptom was i kept falling while playing basketball whenever i made a 'cut'. my knee would give out. i went to an orthopedic guy about 4 times and he couldn't find anything wrong. he finally kind of accused me of being a hypochondriac. i had an appt with my chiro, and after hearing my story he did some testing. when i failed the 'bablinski?' (toes curl up insteads of down) test he told me he didn't want to alarm me, but i should get with a nuero and test for ms! he was right!

[venice*]

i think every chiro finds in every person one leg shorter than the other!

One of my arms and legs are shorter and I remember hearing that it is a very common occurrence.
A quick google got the following. Given that most people that go to the chiro do have pain, I'm not surprised at their findings.
V
PS. Dan good call. I wish I knew about babinski a long time ago- don't know why it's such a secret. It's something we can do ourselves.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3841/is_200302/ai_n9182576
One is not like the other: Leg-length inequality
Journal of the American Chiropractic Association, Feb 2003
"Just long enough to reach the ground," Abraham Lincoln famously replied to the question, "How long should a man's legs be?" But what if the right leg reaches the ground sooner than the left one does? It happens more often than most people might think. Disparities in leg length, in fact, may be relatively common: a study published in Spine in 1983 found that 43.5 percent of people with no back pain symptoms had leg-length inequality of five millimeters or more, while a whopping 75.4 percent of study subjects with chronic low-back pain had similar leg-length discrepancies.
"Leg-length inequality is a significant factor in chronic low-back pain. But it's associated not only with lumbar spine pain but hip joint pain, as well," says Leo Bronston, DC, who practices in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and serves as vice president of the ACA's Council on Orthopedics. "It can also affect the knee, but most of the time you're going to find that a patient will have chronic lower-back pain and hip pain." …

[MS Bites]

PS. Dan good call. I wish I knew about babinski a long time ago- don't know why it's such a secret. It's something we can do ourselves.…

SOOOOOOO TRUE!

I was referred from my PCP to a Neuro for numbness and EMG testing. The neuro sent me to an bone and joint (orthopedic? specialist..MD). After having me touch toes, history, etc he had me on the table and he did the babinski (hmmmm abnormal)... then he checked me and found clonus.... so back to neuro and ultimately an MS diagnosis.

Why do doctors not routinely do this test? Is it because it is too easy and free? No wonder insurance is so expensive.

[actx]

Ok - here goes. Chiropractic "medicine" is a con. It doesn't work other than the placebo effect of having someone rub/touch you and pay attention to you.

There is a study on quackwatch where they took x-rays to a bunch of chiro's and asked for a diagnosis (remember, they are supposed to identify and "fix" sublimations). There was nothing wrong with the person in the x-rays and no anomalies. All but two (I think) found a whole range of problems and came up with care plans. . .

Montel has money and can try everything and just because he does it doesn't mean it is smart. I mean, come on, he had all the fillings in his teeth removed?! That is nutty and desperate.

He is looking bad too so I suspect his health is failing him more severely.

[KLG]

As was said by others, there are good chiros and bad chiros, just like MDs.

25 years ago, after 2 years of a painful back that had me missing work about once a month and orthapedic doctors who did NOTHING but take my money, I finally found a chiro that looked at my xrays ( from the ortho) and brought out the "thumper", my words, and "thumped" me 4 times. (4 taps around the back and butt) no cracking.

I got off the table Pain Free and he told me I wasn't cured but after a few visits I would be a new man. He was right (and only charged 25 bucks per visit)

I had seen 3 other Chiros who did not see an xray and "adjusted me" with no result but this guy I could have kissed on the lips ( I'm a guy).

Ken

p.s. This was in defense of chiros who DO know their stuff but as an MSer, I would be careful with neck and spine manipulations.

[red4now]

I was going to a chiropracter until I lost Medicaid. And he's good;I highly recommend him to my friends. He won't touch you until you've been x-rayed and evaluated(including medical history).Then he decides what treatments will work for you and there are frequent evaluations.There is a physical therapist and massage therapists in his office.By the way;he doesn't use any of the old methods of "popping and cracking". He's gentle,feels along the spine for misalignments,communicates with his patients and when he does the adjustments,the table 'drops'.Good nutrition and water drinking are emphasized.My water consumption increased when I started going there. As for massage therapy,they specialize in Fibro and know the importance of lymphatic drainage.

While I do not have MS, I have another condition that results in horrible pain, numbness, tingling, and spasms. I have gone to chiropractors for years, but the kind blossom 4th described I would go to ever again. In fact, if there was anyway I could budget it I would be doing it right now. The gentel approach had longer lasting results than traditional cracking and popping. Something about the table drop made my pain and symptoms more manageable. I have tried numerous kinds of chiropractors and been "promised" relief which never came, but hundreds to thousands of dollars wasted. The gentle chiropractor approach (does anyone know the technical name?) is much more effective and it's cheaper than traditional. My experience has been that these doctors are also more honest, positive, and encouraging of healthy behaviors- not just the quick fix. I had a holistic chiropractor that also did allergy testing with magnets. I thought, "Are you kidding me?" I was experiencing intense spasms and numbness- she told be I was calcium deficient. I don't drink milk and I had stopped taking my calcium supplements. How did she know that with a magnet? So, took the calcium and spasms got better. Now that I think of it my spasms have been worse and I haven't been taking calcium for a month. Thank you all for helping me realize that. That is what I love about these forums.

Also, my boyfriend had an attack last year where the symptoms were not relieved from treatment like the first time. The treatment just halted the symptoms but they didn't go away. He started acupuncture and an herb regimen. The symptoms went away, his pain is much better and he hasn't had an attack since. He's on Avonex but he did go off it for a month or so. When he misses acupuncture or stops taking herbs I can tell the difference even though I'm not the one in pain.

As a result of his relief from acupuncture, he has decided to go back to school and study acupuncture. I've known him for about 12 years and I've never seen him so excited and motivated about a career decision. We both think this is one of the silver linings about his diagnosis. He wants to learn about alternative and traditional treatments, so he can help people as much has his acupuncturist has helped him.

I'm sure he would post about specific symptom relief if anyone is interested.

Why not give gentle chiropractic or acupuncture a try? You may be surprised at how good you feel. If it doesn't work, it's another avenue you attempted to improve your quality of life.

Have a Great Day!!!
Nicole

[lady_express_44]

How does one know if they are getting a good and MS-experienced chiropractor though? :confused:

I visited one back in the early 80's, because I put my back out in some way and had been off work for about 6 weeks. I thought he did a good job, and my back did feel better . . . however, I have suffered with sciatica ever since that manipulation. Sciatica was something I had never experienced before, and I was only in my early 20's.

I don't know if it was because of something he did, or if the timing was just coincidental, but I am afraid of them now. I am even very nervous about massages, but go to a very reputable place that get their practicum training at a MS-free clinic. That makes me feel a little better.

Cherie

[actx]

As was said by others, there are good chiros and bad chiros, just like MDs.

25 years ago, after 2 years of a painful back that had me missing work about once a month and orthapedic doctors who did NOTHING but take my money, I finally found a chiro that looked at my xrays ( from the ortho) and brought out the "thumper", my words, and "thumped" me 4 times. (4 taps around the back and butt) no cracking.

I got off the table Pain Free and he told me I wasn't cured but after a few visits I would be a new man. He was right (and only charged 25 bucks per visit)

I had seen 3 other Chiros who did not see an xray and "adjusted me" with no result but this guy I could have kissed on the lips ( I'm a guy).

Ken

p.s. This was in defense of chiros who DO know their stuff but as an MSer, I would be careful with neck and spine manipulations.

That you say you got better does not validate chiropractic medicine. Objective studies do and none so far have demonstrated value other than the ones I mentioned.

With that said, if it works for you have at it. I find that riding my bike 30-40 miles makes me feel like a new man but that doesn't mean it is prescriptive and "works" for anyone but me.

[blossom4th]

Cherie,
I cannot say for sure what has caused your sciatica pain,but I will tell you that it's not uncommon for people with MS to have problems with their sciatic nerve.....as with any nerve. So it is a possibility that it was just coincidental.

[tnkrbell]

When I was diagnosed with MS my right hand had become numb and I was waking up at night with major pins and needls in both arms. The first Neurologist I saw said that I did not qualify for any meds (Alberta Canada) so I tried another one. This one told me that the numbness in my hand and the pins and needls were not caused by the MS. She told me to go and see a chiropractor so I did.

I was fortunate since my chiropractor is a dedicated doctor. This guy goes on conferences about chiropractics and health almost every month and is up on the MS connection too. He even offered me a reduced rate since he knew I was broke. He would not even touch me until I had x-rays. He did other tests as well as showing me the x-rays and explaining to me what was going on (cervical, mid and lower back). It took a few months of sessions but he fixed the numbness and the pins and needles. I have not been there for at least a year and I can feel that the old symptoms may be returning so will have to return again for the occasional adjustment.

I went to one chiropractor before the good one. The guy asked where it hurt and then just started cracking...scary! I never went back there again.

I think that if you are interested in going to a chiropractor you need to check her/him out and make sure he/she is not some quack. It is that kind that hurts the whole industry.

[LarryLDN]

If not for my chiros I'd probably have been in a w/c YEARS ago.

My first visit was in Dec 1989 and they kept me going through all my attacks, illnesses, anything. They've been my primary care since.

I used to get 2-3 inner ear infections a year, through 12/89, NONE since. NONE. My Med HX fact. NONE since 12/89.

They're the ones who tried to get me to go to a neuro in 1998, 2000 and 2001. In 2002 I finally listened.

My MS Bag of Tricks is my chiros, LDN, Wayne Dyer & Franklin Time Management. The 4 are my winning combo.

[Mariel]

These guys vary a lot, as has been brought out here. I have had chiropractic treatment for many years, since before MS dx. Most of my chiropractors have been helpful, a few were not, three were too violent. The ones I go to use gentle techniques, including the zapper which pushes the vertebra gently without having to twist the back. He does manipulate my neck, but it is gentle and causes no problems, even though I have some vertebra which are losing their cushioning. But with the neck manipulation, you have to go several times, to get the effect, as he is not violent and doing the whole adjustment in one treatment.

I realize that the effects are temporary. There is another thread on that, and I feel our spasticity pulls the vertebrae out of alignment. So I need it every week, which is about how long it takes to get out of alignment. Sometimes if I'm feeling well l put it off two or three weeks, in order to keep Medicare from rousing from its sleep and foaming like Fluffy the Three-headed dog. Between visits, I keep up my PT exercises, which enable me to go longer without an adjustment.

It's important, I feel, for most of us to exercise the neck and every other part. This may not apply to exercising a part which has been fused.

My present chiropractor, and the PT, really helped me after my rear-ender in October. Nothing was broken (the chiro x-rayed) but the soft tissue injuries were helped by these therapists. My pcp who is an osteopath does not manipulate, at least not me, but she strongly supports my need for the chiropractor.

Sometimes if Medicare balks, I have to give it up for a while. But I'll always be back. Without, ugh!