My back problems have always been a pain since grade school. I have extremely bad posture. Believe it or not, I crack my back and neck at least ten times a day. I’m not talking about that cute little click back-cracking often makes, I’m telling you my back-cracking is the cause of my friends’ disgust. I crack my back and it’s like I fart really loud and long HAHA! Not kidding, people mistake it for farting and I get really embarrassed but can’t help it!! It’s a really bad habit. An addiction. I crack my toe knuckles (is that what they’re called? Toe joints? Whatever) non-stop every chance I get, too. It’s hard because my toes are weird, I can keep cracking them and they never stop! Diba usually when you crack your knuckles tapos pag nag-pop okay na? My toes are crackable ALL the time. Weird. Anyway, my mom says it’s stress-induced. I think so too.
Here are random photos from my iPhoto (para lang may photos itong entry ko)
That’s how I always sit at the back seat.
Bad posture galore.
Going back to my back problems though, I know it’s probably caused by my TMJ problem (I’ve put off getting braces for so long) but I can’t take the discomfort anymore. I swear I’m going back to my TMJ specialist (Dr. Joy Garcia of Beverly Hills 6750) next week. I already got my teeth impressions molded yesterday and I have to wait until next week to pick them up. To relieve my discomfort, I decided to visit a chiropractor.
I used to always see a “chiropractor” sign at Forbes Park when I was younger, and when I googled chiropractors in the Philippines I think that one was the top result! Go go go! I called up the number (812-6903) and made an appointment that same day. The consultation and alignment cost 3,000PhP.
I went to the office of Mabuhay Chiropractic Clinics (above Rustans and Starbucks, Forbes Park) and the lady receptionist named Bernalin was so pleasant and accommodating. I filled up a form and within a few minutes I was in an office with Doc Mike Tetrault. He interviewed me a bit about my habits and lifestyle and he was so nice and seemed sincerely concerned about my health.
After learning more about me, we went to the next room and he felt my neck and spine three times – standing upright, sitting down and lying face down. No need to take off any article of clothing, for your information! He asked me to go to Patient First in Glorietta 3 to get x-rayed before he could “align” my spine.
So I did all the requirements (I think four different x-rays were taken and it cost me 3,500PhP) and went back to Mabuhay.
He scribbled a couple of lines and numbers on my x-ray and explained that my upper spine was a little flat and the bottom was very loose (because I keep cracking it) – I think he used the word hyperflexia. He also explained that my neck was not aligned properly. I wish I wasn’t alone and someone had taken photos for me haha!
Doc Mike made me lie face down on the bed and pressed down super hard and sudden on my upper back wow it made a beautiful popping sound!! Then he made me lie on my right side and he twisted my body and made my lower back pop back into place. He was so surprised at the loud sound it made, he said “it’s a good thing you came early on in life because you’re a 40-year-old lumbar disc slip waiting to happen!” He also aligned my neck and after the whole thing (it took about 10mins), I felt like a new person.
I’m going back for 9 more sessions for therapy. He said I would sooner or later stop my cracking habits because the therapy would fix my joints and I wouldn’t feel the need to do so anymore. I can’t wait!
Saabscribe!!
me too ate Saab! i keep cracking my joints. haha. and the first pic i always do that even in my room. haha! take care ate saab! have a successful therapy! <3
be strong always……
i feel your pain saab :( literally as in my back is always aching but i don’t crack it much i’ll rest and wait till the pain is gone. This entry is very informative. :D Thanks!
I should go see this guy. Been having lower back problems lately.
gah…slip disk! tsk tsk…
Nice blog Saab! I can so much relate. And with this, I know where to go. Thank you!!!
ito pala ang naipost ko sa blog ko noong April 5, 2009 na handog kay FrancisM…… http://arvin95.blogspot.com/2009/04/tunay-na-makabayan.html
Wow! I share the same habits with you! Like ALL of them. I used to do chiro but I stopped for a long time already. I’m 19 and when I crack my back, it’s non-stop! Hope that your chiropractor will cure your bad habits! :)
Thanks :)
We have the same problem… :O
Good luck with your therapy Saab :)
Oh! Take care and God Bless. Hope you’ll have a successful therapy. :D
OMG my toe knuckles are also forever crackable. I crack them when I’m bored and people around me would be puzzled like where the heck is that sound coming from. hahaha. And “chiropractor” sounds like a dinosaur. Wala lang.
YAY to better health :)
hi ms. saab, im one of your followers here in Tumblr actually I know wer not dat close or something. I just read your blog about your back, actually I’m a distributor of UNO International we distribute health and beauty products, actually Ms. Saab if you’re experiencing any Pain,.. I would like to suggest our product Bio Magnetic Bracelet here’s the link http://www.uno-corp.net/2010/product-02.html para malaman mo further yung details and you can check on youtube yung mga demos and testimonials about it. you can email me if you have anything to ask pa. I’m just a concern citizen :) I hope it can help you kase most of my family gumagamit nyan and it’s really effective. :) Thanks and be healthy – TRACY :)
Will check it out, thanks :)
what were you reading on that photo? :) looks interesting.
Zsa Zsa Zaturnah :)
Aww that sucks :|, feel sorry for you. So you’re really getting braces na? My classmate told me that when you have braces the next day that you have it on you can’t barely eat because of pain. She didn’t eat nothing. But I hope you’ll feel better soon!
I’m getting invisalign :s
Really? Invisalign? Cool. Let me go to your dentist. Coz’ my dentist is requiring me to get those metal braces =.=
Beverly Hills 6750!:)
Yay! Thank you so much! :”>
Good thing it’s just your bad habits. I have a freaking scoliosis! Haha. Back problems are just hard to handle. God bless!
Are you getting braces Ate Saab?? ((:
wow , this post kinda scared me . well , i think an eye-opener . i’m only 13 years old and i’ve been suffering from frequent back pain , and i always crack my neck , my finger knuckles and toe knuckles , too . my parents are asking me to avoid it , but i just can’t . i always get a massage and it relieves me for a short time . then after days , the pain gets back again :( well , good luck for you . i wish you’d get rid of your bad habit . oh and be healthy !
hi I’m a physical therapy intern. yes you shouldn’t crack your joints. cuz sudden cracking would damage the structures inside. :) be careful.
Hi! May I ask how much is Invisalign? So I will have an idea. I heard it is alot more expensive than the normal braces.
180-250 thousand depending on your case!
Hi Ms. Saab, I think this is too private to ask but please try to get back to me for some clarifications. Last Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011, is it true that there’s a party going in a specific condominium near in EB to celebrate the birthday of Mr. Joey? Thank you and looking forward to see your feedback.
I don’t know!
How long will you have braces? At least they’re not visible, so no problem na, right? :) I need to get braces and I’m 17 already!!!
I’m 22 :’(
ok lang yan, hindi naman kita eh! yung akin nga kita
i just wanna ask kung how much ung nagastos mo for the whole therapy/session? thanks :)
20k more or less!