Back Doctor

I went to American Chiropractic Clinic once (D1). I don't have back problems, just more of an evaluation and a tune-up. But I was satisfied with the service: https://acc.vn/en/about/our-clinic/

My only experience with chiropractors is indirect.  The wife of an acquaintance was seeing a chiropractor for several years for back pain.  When she finally gave up and saw a regular physician she was diagnosed with a spinal cancer which killed her within a few months, and reputedly could have been cured or at least delayed if caught early.  I agree with the OP.  Chiropractors do not seem to accept any responsibility for their errors.

Very Sorry to hear about your wife!!!

Kooler42 wrote:

Very Sorry to hear about your wife!!!

You do understand the words "indirect" and "wife of an acquaintance" don't you?  I was definitely not trying to hide a painful experience by placing it in a fictional third person.  Both my prior and current wives are alive and kicking. 

What you need is a massage,  nothing seedy.

I was travelling with my family and my parents being in old age they always have back pain. We were in a hotel in Nha Trang, they had a conversation with the receptionist about where to find a blind masseuse and sure enough they knew of a company/charity that specialised in it. So then a blind guy and lady turns up and now my parents swear by it now.

Probably ain’t going to fix you up for good but would probably make you feel a little better. You will only really find blind masseurs operating in asia, should try it.

Kooler42 wrote:

I have had a serious cocktail of bad back conditions for over 20 years. Constant pain and have seen doctors around the world. Most have said do not have any surgery and avoid Chiropractors. I developed drop foot over a year ago due to my Spinal Stenosis. I went to Maple Health Care in D2 and hopeful a Chriopractor  could help.
The guy from Austin Texas screwed me up big time. Never had any issues with my left side but now do. He never addressed the drop foot and had no bussiness working on my left side for right side issue. Never focused on the Drop Foot. They were provided a copy of my last MRI and the report. He said 'sometimes he thinks he is God' and sorry for the "Reaction". This guy F'd me up good..impacted my life and my Families 24/7. Never even called to see how I was doing. They try to influence all with massage at the beginning without even asking if you want. All about the money and how many times you return I made a terrible decision and must now live with the results.

I need to start over again and hope I can find someone  in HCM who can undo the damage Austin has stowed on to me. No hate ......just super angry and frustrated.

Some pertinent words notably absent from your history:

Physical Therapy

Stretching

Exercise

My comments are based on my experience as a Licensed Certified Massage Therapist (Tennessee), a Certified Neuromuscular Massage Therapist (Ohio) and a Registered Nurse (California):

The comments by your care providers that you should avoid chiropractors and surgery indicate that you've been diagnosed with a soft tissue disorder, either primary or secondary to another condition such as your spinal stenosis.

If you are overweight, you have probably been told that you need to lose the weight.

You would have definitely been told that stretching should be helpful, and appropriate exercise, following an evaluation by a physical therapist.

Even your spinal stenosis is in essence a skeletal condition, which is likely aggravated by neuromuscular conditions which could improve with the proper physical therapy.

Please don't say you've never heard that.

One doctor might have overlooked that as a care plan, but since you've seen doctors "all over the world", you've certainly heard the recommendations previously.

Since I'm virtually certain you've heard those recommendations before, I personally recommend that you search for a physical therapist.

Massage is actually the best way to diagnose soft tissue problems.

MRIs and x-rays and Cat scans don't diagnose these things well.

Unfortunately, some chiropractors add massage to their mix in their treatment plan not for Diagnostic purposes, but to pump up the bill, as you've noted.

As for your comment about working on the left side for a right side problem, that's actually the norm.

Most clients who present with a chronic pain condition on one side of the body are actually suffering from a problem on the side of the body that is not in pain.

What happens is that when the body develops a weakness or injury in one area, the body begins to compensate for that weakness or injury on the opposite "side" (laterally, anterior to posterior, posterior to anterior, or oblique, or a combination of any of these)

In essence, one area of the body attempts to balance with the opposite side of the body, in an attempt at keeping the spinal column stable.

The area that is crying out in pain is usually the area that is losing the balance battle.

The exception of course is something similar to the situation that THIGV mentioned, where there is an actual illness such as a tumor causing direct pain in an area.

Except for what you describe is a relatively new spinal stenosis, it seems that you've been cleared diagnostically from any other possible underlying problems.

I'm talking about this at length because I'm hoping that when you do go and see a physical therapist and maybe you get a neuromuscular massage therapist referral, you won't resist when someone attempts to release the hypertonic tissue on the opposite side of the body from where you are feeling the pain.

Whatever you choose to do, please realize that the moments seeing a doctor or a therapist are not the main part of the therapy.

They are helping you identify areas that require your own daily work, probably a stretching regimen that starts before you even get out of bed in the morning.

If you are overweight, a good diet and some form of exercise, even non-weight-bearing will be appropriate.

If you go to your next care provider and ask to be educated as to how you can help yourself the best, I anticipate you're going to have an improvement of your symptoms.

I'm not saying that you'll be cured.

Your spinal stenosis will always be there.

But when you regain the tone in your currently hypertonic soft tissue, you'll have greater strength and flexibility and mobility which will minimize the aggravation of the area where the spinal stenosis has been diagnosed.

I hope you find a good practitioner who will guide you towards holistic health Improvement.

I believe we have an osteopath named Michael on the Forum who sometimes reads these messages.

I think he lives in the Ho Chi Minh City area.

That's the only practitioner I can think of who I'd even consider recommending, and I don't actually know him.

Good luck!