I have a lot of back pain; two bulging discs in L4/L5 and one in my neck. w/e. I deal with it. However, my back pain is not getting any better, and this Chiropractor I'm seeing keeps telling me to be patient, that this is going to take years to fix.
? Since when does the military give us years to heal, right? maybe a day or two, but that's it. So, I'm wondering if he has an agenda and just wasting my time.
Do civilian doctors working on base get paid from tricare referrals, or is it salary?

Time to see an Orthopod or Neurosurgeon.

civilian doctors working on base, are government employees, or sometimes contractors. they get paid on the gs scale or sometimes the ws scale, depends on the level of education or speciality. they're not getting paid by referral.

if they are off base, they are getting paid by tricare, but again, they only get paid a set amount per treatment. i.e. the doctor or chiropractor can send a bill to tricare of say 300.00, but for that particular treatment, tricare's limit of payout may be only 200.00. that doctor will have to accpet the 200.00. and if they are providers that have been accepted in the tricare plan of providers, they will know this, and expect this.

it's the same with any other type of insurance.

if this chiropractor is working on base, at the mtf, he will give ur a treatment plan that he feels is in the best interest of u. there is nothing the military can do about that. they can however, decide u need to perform ur duties as needed regardless, of medical treatment, UNLESS u'r primary care provider is kept in the loop (which u need to discuss ur treatment with them) and they put u on a Medical Profile.

if u're that injured, that u shouldn't be performing certain activiies in the line of ur duty u need to discuss a profile with ur primary care.

if u feel the chiropractor isn't helping u, u need to contact ur primary care provider, and ask for a referral to a neurosurgeon.

also -- chriropracty is not an immediate fix. it is however many times, more beneficial in the long run, than surgeries etc, assuming the chiropractor is adept at his/her profession.

chirpractic can take several sessions to correct the problem. what u are doing, is realigning joints, and ligaments, that have been misaligned for some reason. the reason it takes time to work, is the muscles and tendons etc that hold these joints in proper alignment, need time to retrain what is 'healthy'. if something has been out of alignment for years, or months, those muscles have to be retrained -- and that's why often times, the first few visits to a chiropractor can hurt, and seem not to be better. u've moved things from a place they are used to, and u're nto used to how things feel aligned properly.

ur chiropractor isn't full of it.

with back, and neck injuries, there isn't a quick fix, and u shouldn't seek one -- permenant and irreparable damage can be done. as one who has a severe back injury, i can tell u, surgery, meds etc, don't fix the problems quickly, or even completely.

Ok, thanks on the confirmation about it taking time. I'm a bit untrusting when it comes to ppl at the base hospital after dealing with them for 15 years.

I go 3 times a week for a year and a half now, with no improvement. Most times, after an adjustment, I'm in horrible pain and have to go home sometimes. And the chiropractor says that's normal. That's why it aggrivates me and didn't seem right.
I guess it's time to go back to the PCM and recommend another option. I sure as heck do NOT want to get cut on. I hear your back is never the same afterwards.

In my case it took years for it to get the way it was--hips were twisted, not crooked. However, it took me about 2 months of going 1-2 times a week for adjustments, and now I'm also doing electro-stimulation as well(nerves are too close to the spine). I'm coming along, but the nerves...I can do nothing about except build up some muscle around my lower back to make it stronger.

Chiro does indeed take some time. I'd have to say though, that after a year at 3 times a week with no improvement.....I agree with Dave--time for someone else, like an orthopaedic specialist, would be in order.

lol...well an update on my stuff.....I don't need a chiro, I needed a physical therapist!! Got a host of issues back there, but after 7 weeks in physical therapy...I'm golden! Not fixed or anything, but I've retrained my muscles in my pelvis, hips, stomach and butt. Yeah, still kinda hurts to do stuff--but I now STOP when I feel it happening. My recovery is much better and faster.
I haven't felt this 'normal' in 3+ years now.