Headache, Anxiety, and Chiropractor pain
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hello, I've had a constant headache for the past 6 weeks that was brought on after a month of severe anxiety and stress. I've had a CT and MRI that came back normal and seen a neuro who said to wait it out because likely a stress migraine. I decided to try a chiropractor last week and he did Xrays and showed me my neck was leaning to the right and did an adjustment. I felt relift for a few days then a muscle in my neck began hurting and I felt a pins and needles feeling in my neck. I went back in for another adjustment of my neck and spine. I did not experience any pain after but gradually my whole body is feeling prickly pains when I move around (arms, legs, chest). It's like my nerves are overreacting to the treatment. Is this normal to feel this way 48 hours after an adjustment or is this related to anxiety?
1 like, 13 replies
lisalisa67 TJ5555
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TJ5555 lisalisa67
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Yeah I'm planning on never going again, just wondering if this pain will subside or what could be causing it
lisalisa67 TJ5555
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dawn57104 TJ5555
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borderriever TJ5555
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You need to give several days or so for the treatment to settle and sometimes it becomes a problem where the manipulation fails and the condition remains.
You could see an Osteopath, they do something similair and get the same results so you pay your money and take that educated risk. With me they could not give me a diagnosis on the NHS and it was my final throw to go private. Eventually I was given a long awaited diagnosis and the NHS wanted me to stop private treatment that I did and have had various treatments over the years. that have been extremely thorough
Sometimes a nerve will be nipped and that will cause the pins and needles, if the joint or disk has been repositioned that may cause a problem until the area repairs, you can imagine if you twist an ankle it takes time to settle the same with other joints. I have no doubt about your neck all I will say rely on the NHS many of us have problems with necks sometimes posture and holding yourself well will sort out eventually. No-one has a perfect frame.
I cannot say what your neck problem is it sounds like there has been movement that is possibly effecting the nerves in spine and back, hopefully they will settle. If your GP has taken Xrays and Scans take his advice.
Headaches and stiff necks May BE Anxiety, in this now I would bow towards your GP
BOB
TJ5555 borderriever
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Thanks for the reply. The chiropractor's theory was stress along with neck issue was causing pressure to build in my head which is why adjustment was made. I just talked to him on the phone and he compared the prickly/stabbing nerve feeling I'm getting all over to my body being sore after exercising. I'm not sure if that's truthful but I'm hoping it subsides soon and I can treat the anxiety instead of my back/neck.
borderriever TJ5555
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If you need support you know where to come
BOB
cia42277 TJ5555
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I am not making a recommendation here, only a repor!. My son is a Tai Quan Do master. Over the years, he has sustained periodic physical injuries. He has a chiropractor that he has gone to for years now when needed. They have also become friends.
I met this man on a visit to my son. He told me that when the body gets out of whack for any reason,(including stress) he can adjust the area, but it may take time for the muscles that support the bones to stay in the new healthier position. That is the reason a few visits are needed until the body stays in its healthier position.
Some time later, I twisted something and went to a chiropractor in my area and found what he said to be true. It took three or four visits adjusting the same area until my body stayed in the healthier, pain free position.
I first went to a chiro. 40 years ago when they were thought wacky. Since then they have gained acceptance in the medical community, and are covered by insurance if you need to see one or are referred to one. Some clinics have chiropractors on staff.
My sister suffered with body pain for years. she finally tried chiropractic, sees him periodically, and remains pain free.
Like I said, I am not condemning or recommending, just reporting what I have seen in my family, and experienced myself.
Like all professionals, there are good ones, and not so good ones and downright quacks. I have fired two doctors in my life. One put my life in danger, and the other told me to something that started me down the anxiety path I am now dealing with. That doesn't mean I don't trust doctors anymore, but I do pay closer attention to what they recommend or prescribe. The doctor I have now is marvelous. I now trust him implicitly.
I keep my options and mind open to whatever might help. Sometimes it comes from unexpected sources. I never would have thought a forum like this could be as much help to me as this one has.
borderriever cia42277
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I went to Chiro for near on ten years as I have extensive problems from PsA. It effects my spine between hip and neck and I suffer Sciatica in both legs. I went private and as soon as they worked out my condition on the NHS I was informed they did not want me to go private, just NHS. My treatments since have been basic although I now am in Remission more now at sixty six.
Now I feel in the early stages of my unknown condition I would have possibly ended up in a wheelchair more often than now and I would have been unable to do the activities I have been able to do.
Now Iam retired my condition has caused short term memory problems and I suppose I need to accept that.
Chiro was there when needed, our private insurence payed most of our costs. I still wonder what my disability would have been like good or bad without CHIRO
BOB
cia42277 borderriever
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Glad to see the input, Bob. We all need to know as many possible "helps" as we can. We also need to really find out the facts before we make a claim or decision.
I am reminded how often my son would refuse to taste a food because he didn't like it. Asking how he knew he didn't like it if he didn't taste it, his answer was, "I just know."
Even as an adult, my brother would do that, until I made him taste something. Once it was beets. I boiled some beets, peeled them diced them, and sauted them in butter. I poked a forkfull at his mouth, he opened up grimacing, and chewed. I went to clean up and when I got back, he had eaten the whole pan of beets. He complained, "Why didn't you make me taste these before?" Go figure.
We often do this with doctors and meds. I know it won't work for me. How do you know if you haven't tried it, or at least learned something about the doctor, or the meds. I just know!! We are hilarious.
kimberly59704 TJ5555
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I hear ya. What you have is a tension headache,which I know about all to well. I was a anxiety sufferer,with major panic attacks.I suffer from migrains also. As I have alway's had my migrains on my right eye, right side,and one day I woke up with this pain on my left side, and sore head, painful spots,and no matter what I took, it did not go away. I even have migraine meds, and it did not touch it. Any way it hurts me to say this. I had it for 8 long and dreadful years. I know unbelievable. My head felt so full,and I was like in a foggy state. I really was at my point to where I wanted the good lord to take me. I went to two Neuro's,and had MRI,Cat scan,and oh yes surgery that they said was nothing once they went in my sinus.They put me on different meds, and I still had my headache. The second Neuro said, you have a tension headache, and they are hard to treat. I said bye,and went to my family doc who already knew about my anxiety, and I told her to take me off the antidepressant med that I was on for about a year, which was working great for me. and please try something else,or I'm going to lose it,if this headache doesn't go away. She felt so bad because she couldn't help me get rid of this headache. So she put me on Cynbalta 60mg, and 20 amitriptyline,and it went away. Honest to god I guess you have to be your own doc sometimes. There you have a GP,and 2 Neuro's and they could not fix this. I was going to the chiropractor 3 times a week, and getting a massage every week. It was great, but did not help. I think you are tense from anxiety,and headache,and yes you can be sore. Maybe they are unpinching your nerves, and waking them up. If your headache continues,and your not on a antidepressant,then that might be,you need one, to calm you down and get rid of that bad,annoying headache that will last for years.
TJ5555 kimberly59704
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Thanks for the response Kimberly, that was insightful and very similar to my story to date. I've told myself and recognized I had a horrible amount of stress and anxiety prior to the tension headache yet worried because I was in pain and nothing was taking it away that it had to be something. After my CT,MRI, and neuro I was convinced there was still some underlying cause which likely just made it worse. I ended up going to the Chiro thinking I could get relieft but ended up in more pain since I'm now having this nerve issue all over (hopefully goes away soon).
After this I'm going to really treat my anxiety/stress, quit googlng my symptoms, and trust that it will go away on its own in time ( some of my anxiety has come from it just not going away in the amount of time I would expect).
kimberly59704 TJ5555
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I had bad anxiety,and terrible panic attacks.I never had health anxiety. I did not know that most people do. I never googled any of my symptom's, and alway's knew it was a chemical imbalance,and I needed it to go away,which I called the doc and got started on meds,which I am so glad,because I felt like I was going crazy. The tension headache nearly did me in,I gota tell you. It's been 9 yrs that I've been on these meds,and would not think of ever stopping them.All I remember is how bad I felt. I am great now,thank you lord. Hope you get great too.