A patient case from today. A 55 year old woman, sporadic patient, back after a trip to Uluru with lower back pain, neck pain and restless legs.
Presenting complaint
Back a few days from Uluru. Travel-related lower back pain, neck pain and restless legs. Also carrying a few recent headaches. She is one of our sporadic patients, not on a regular care plan. She books in when something flares.
What the assessment showed
Pelvis locked up on both sides. Mid back tight. Right upper neck and left lower neck restricted. Headaches present, no accompanying red flags.
The clinical thinking
With any headache we check for red flags before treating. Blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, weakness, sudden visual change. If any of those are present we refer. Bonnie had none of them. The pattern was consistent with mechanical neck tension referring up into the head after a week of long drives and poor sleep positions on the road. That is a very common post-travel presentation and typically responds well.
Care plan today
Manual lower back and pelvic adjustments both sides. Mid back adjustments done lying face up with the standard thoracic contact. Two neck adjustments at the upper right and lower left. We have booked her for a follow up next week and probably another the week after that to settle it down fully before she steps back out of care.
How she is now
Walking out feeling pretty good. Still a bit stiffer than her usual baseline, which is why we have brought the next couple of visits closer together.
Rebates at the counter
Her fifth and final chiropractic visit on her Medicare EPC Allied Health plan for the year. The EPC plan covers 5 allied health sessions per calendar year across any combination of chiropractic, physio, osteo, optometry and psychology when referred by a GP. The Medicare payment is $63.40 per session. We do not charge a gap, so no out-of-pocket for her today.
If you are still deciding
If you are a sporadic patient who tends to flare after long trips, that is a legitimate way to use chiropractic. We do not push monthly care if that does not suit how you live. Book an initial consultation when something is bothering you and we will work out the shortest path to settling it.
Patient name has been changed. Individual results vary. This case study is shared for educational purposes and does not constitute a clinical recommendation for anyone else.
Frequently asked questions
When should headaches be checked before chiropractic treatment?
Any headache. Red flags we specifically rule out include blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, weakness or any sudden visual change. If any are present we refer to a GP rather than treat. If none are present, mechanical neck-driven headaches typically respond well to care.
Can chiropractic help travel-related back pain?
Yes, especially the pattern of lower back and neck pain that follows long drives, long flights or sleeping in unfamiliar positions. We often see a short run of 2 to 3 adjustments is enough to settle it before patients return to their usual pattern.
Related patient cases
- Patient case: acute lower back and leg pain, Medicare EPC covered
A 69 year old man came back to us with acute lower back pain and pain running down both legs. Here is how we cleared it and what a Medicare EPC visit looked like at the counter. - Patient case: pelvic joint pain in a 66 year old traveller
A 66 year old patient came in for a pre-flight check after left pelvic joint pain the week before. Here is what we did and why pelvic joints tend to lock up on long travel. - Patient case: acute neck pain and headache in a 45 year old maintenance patient
A 45 year old regular patient hurt his neck lifting on Monday and came in with headaches by Thursday. Here is how we worked through it.
Add Comment