Dr. Rodney E. Ruge, DC

Get it checked out. Bruises from a bump... not that big a deal... BUT, if you have throbbing and it turns red, it is most likely a more serious injury, (like something got torn) or a possible infection.

The correct answer is, "that depends". Above and below the rods may tolerate (gentle) manipulation/adjustments, but in the area of fusion/rod placement, you would likely keep it to something like muscle/fascia, (aka, soft-tissue) work, or other therapies.

It all depends... 1st off: Headaches are a complex issue... MANY things can be the cause of H/As. 2nd: 90% of H/As originate in the neck and 90% of H/As are stress related. So, at least 90% of the time, a chiropractor is a good place to start. Now, IF you have an underlying issue, (old injury, degeneration/arthritis, herniated disc, etc.), there will undoubtedly be a certain amount of scar tissue/adhesions, (NOT good for normal movement, blood flow, lymphatic drainage, nerve supply, etc.)[perhaps the reason you might go to the chiro in the 1st place, right?] Well, if you do, ANY manipulation, (such as massage, stretching, chiropractic, physical therapy, exercise), can disrupt this abnormal/unhealthy scar tissue, which, in turn, can result in short term inflammation... and BINGO, there's your headache. So, did the therapeutic intervention CAUSE your H/A, or did your body's reaction to therapy cause it? MOST often you just need to keep at it until the body heals to the best of it's ability.

I get this question all the time. The correct answer is... "that depends". Does your spine have significant issues? (degeneration/arthritis, pinched nerve/disc problems, postural/muscular imbalances, etc.) If so, it is not at all uncommon to have SOME soreness after an adjustment. The more serious your condition, the more likely this will happen. The more you go to get your issue addressed/corrected, the LESS this will happen, until you just feel great afterwards. In our clinic, I explain to patients we are aiming for no more than "post-workout" soreness. Anything more than that, and they should definitely be using ice compresses, 20-30minutes EACH hour, until they achieve relief.

Generally, NO. It is better to load and unload the back with intermittent activity, even if it is only a nice easy stroll. Occasionally, (with severe back pain), a day or two of bed rest is OK. If you're asking, you should get that checked out ASAP.

In addition to chiropractic spinal manipulation, most chiropractors are trained to perform all sorts of therapies that might help you with your foot/feet. Some, (such as myself), also work with the extremities, which might include manipulation, soft-tissue work and rehabilitative exercises.

There is a procedure for this, but not all chiropractors are trained, (or willing). After suffering a broken nose at age 14, I then suffered for 14 more years with chronic sinus congestion and breathing difficulty. I assumed I had developed allergies and was desperate. I had this procedure done ONCE (when I was being trained), and experienced so much relief and normal breathing, I almost couldn't believe it. Some call it Nasal Specific Technique, some medical doctors are now doing it here in LA and call it Rhinoplasty. It involves expanding an inflatable "balloon" in order to re-align cartilage and gently compress the mucous membranes... it is NOT pleasant, but for the relief I achieved, it was WELL worth the momentary discomfort.
All the Best.

I wish I could adjust my own wrists, but I have to see one of my colleagues to have this done.

The best answer is to get checked by a qualified professional... see a chiropractor. The next best answer is to look at posture and finally, to consider past history of injury. While these next best answers are educated guesses, in the final analysis, if you're "out of alignment", you'll need to see a chiropractor to have it corrected.

I dislocated both my shoulders multiple times. The typical recovery can be weeks to months, depending on the severity of the injury. (ie, are there tears in the rotator cuff muscles? Did you injure the labrum (cartilage lip/socket) and how badly? Did you stretch or tear any ligaments? Do you require surgery?) Some dislocations will re-set themselves, while others will need help or even sedation to re-set. The most important factor is getting the right help/advisement and FOLLOWING the doctor's recommendations to the TEE!

As a chiropractor, I may be a bit biased, since I'm going to say "chiropractic", but the best answer I can give you is this: There are a LOT of things that could be the cause of your Back Pain. The best therapy depends upon what is the specific source of your pain? Is it Disc, Nerve, Ligament, Muscle, Bone? Is it an injury ? (if so, HOW did you do it?), or is it a chronic degenerative (arthritic) type of problem? Is it cancer? If it does not resolve itself within 2 or 3 weeks max... get it checked by a professional, so you can get answers to these important questions.

The simple answer is "yes," that is very common and most chiropractors do these types of corrections all the time. The correct answer is, "That depends." There are a few (specific and rare) situations/conditions that may not be "correctable," but this would require a more detailed look/examination to determine if yours is a more complicated case.

YES! I adjust them all the time. These joints, (along the spine), are among the most mobile, and hence, some of the easiest to subluxate (mis-align). The good news is that also makes them some of the easiest to correct. The real question is, "what's causing this to happen?" Most often it is "postural distortion"... this pre-stresses the joint structures, and then simple things like "sleeping in the wrong position", or sneezing/coughing, or strenuous exercise can exacerbate the problem. Get checked by a qualified doctor!

I specialize in treating these types of cases, often using a technology called "Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy". In our clinic, we most often combine chiropractic, massage, and other therapies/exercises, as appropriate, to ensure the best possible outcome. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Each patient must be carefully checked to determine the specific cause(s) of their problem, and each component is addressed with specific intervention(s). Additionally, there are often numerous contributing/complicating factors, such as underlying health conditions that could impede healing, body weight, postural "defects", work and exercise habits, and, of course, the severity of the patient's condition. (How bad is the disc? Is there any degeneration/arthritis... and how bad? Is the patient on any medications? etc.) After a thorough evaluation, and sometimes a trial of treatment to monitor response to treatment, the astute doctor will be able to give a more specific time frame for healing. To get a specific answer to your question, get a detailed examination by a qualified doctor, and one who specializes and has a proven track record of success.