Chiropractic BioPhysics® method of rehabilitation?

[Rudy Pohl]

Hi guys:

Thanks once again for your thoughtful responses. I have decided to forgoe signing up for any kind of long-term, meg-dollar treatment program, chiro or otherwise. I have spent about 40 hours researching the scholarly literature about conservative chiro treatments of spinal issues and I feel that the evidence is simply not sufficient to merit spending $4,000 on the first year of a chiro-traction-exercise treatment program and then spend $1000-$1500 a year on maintenance after that.

I have decided to try another route. I have discovered something in the literature called the McKenzie Method developed and improved by Robin Mckenzie of New Zealand since 1956. After an initial assessment by a trained McKenzie certified clinician the patient is immediately trained in the particular set of McKenzie exercises suitable for his/her condition. The patient then does a self-directed healing and recovery program at home. For those who are good candidates for this form of conservative treatment the results have been quite impressive, with a lot of supportive evidence in credible, peer-reviewed clinical journals.

There are a number of clinics here in Ottawa who are McKenzie certified and this week I will be looking for one to get an assessment from. As well, I just had my family doctor make a referral for me to a Rheumatologist who specializes in back assessments, so he'll do a complete set of x-rays and range of motion tests and give me his prognosis and recommendations regarding when surgery might become an option and what conservative treatment(s) I should pursue until then.

Anyway, I am hoping that by taking these steps I will be making some good and cost-effective moves.

One last thing I should mention regarding the health care system up here in the "Great White North" is that while chiropractic and physiotherapy are not covered by our national or provincial health care systems, all hospitalization and all surgeries are. That's pretty awesome. Therefore, money is not an issue when it comes to surgery, but rather the big issues are what are the chances of post-operative complications and surgury "failures," and does one want to risks those. I guess that's where the importance of assessments come in as there are some folks whose pain is so high and function is so low that they really have no alternative than to get surgery done.

Anyways, that's all for now. Thanks again for you valuable input.

Take care,
Rudy in Ottawa

[Maria]

This was part of my early PT rehabilitation re my failed spine surgery back in '92. Very good. Helpful. Though at the time more helpful would have probably been right pain meds prescribed. Had to wait another 10 years for that nearly plus the lumbar ESIs.

Good luck Rudy! Please keep us posted on your progress or status~ Maria