Chiropractor and massages?
I was diagnosed a couple months ago with 4.8 aortic aneurysm. 69 years old active and otherwise in good health. Family history of heart disease. Father had a descending aortic aneurysm.
My question is if it is advisable to continue seeing my chiropractor? Also, I go to a massage therapist for muscle spasms I have in my neck. The massages are deep tissue. I read somewhere that it is not advisable for either.
Also, my doctor advised no lifting over 60 pounds but I read it is no heavier than 30 pounds.
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Hi, I can't answer the question about massage and chiropractor, hopefully someone here would have recommendations. Regarding weights though, exercise is important at 4.8 you are not far from the critical zone (5.0 and up) and you want your body in the best shape possible in case you need surgery. Now, any exercise that makes you prone to hold your breath or grunt while exerting should be avoided, it is known in those moments BP raises significantly although momentarily, and high BP is the worst enemy of an aneurysm. That is why they set weight limits, lifting heavy weights ususally means holding breath to maintain spine stability. The amount of weight depends on what makes you exert to that level, that is why Drs ususally are conservative and recommend low weights.
You don't say if your aneurysm is ascending or descending, ascending aneurysms require more critical surgery (Open Heart) and being in good physical shape and overal health is important.
I had mine repaired 5 years ago at 5.2 cm and having been in good physical health made my recovery fairly easy, out of the hospital in 5 days, back to work in 3 weeks.
Last thing, find yourself the best surgeon in a major hospital center nearest to you, someone who has done the repair hundreds of time, if yours is ascending the best thoracic surgeon. Also there are cardiologists who specialize in aneurysms, it makes a huge difference if yours does.
All the best!!
Mine is ascending. Thank you for the information.
Everything that Houston13 says is right....but I would add this: I would NEVER see a chiro again. I saw one for about 3 years before I dissected and I genuinely believe that this compressive back adjustments on me were a precipitating factor in my dissection. I know that chiropractic can help some people in some cases. It helped me with chronic sciatica and hip pain, but the dangers are so great with the sudden compressive force of a back adjustment that it can most assuredly cause a massive spike in blood pressure that could result in exacerbating an existing aneurysm or creating an aneurysm. As much as I love my chiropractor, I think he was overly aggressive with me because he was 335 pounds and 6 foot seven. I know he meant well but I don't think he comprehended just how much damage he was doing to my vasculature. As an attorney who survived a complete type A1 ascending aortic dissection in 2015, I'm also intimately aware of a case where a chiropractor did a neck adjustment and dissected a carotid artery in his patient, resulting in a massive brain bleed and near death. I was involved in litigating certain parts of this case, and I can assure you that what I learned as a lawyer I would carry into my personal life: I would never get another adjustment from a chiropractor.
Thank you for your input. What is your take on a massage? The same?
I agree with @moonboy , no chiropractor. I had a dissection of my entire aorta, ascending was repaired when it happened. Decending is a different story.
Medically managed.
Massage of your neck should be fine.
I just would not go much further, you never know.
Good luck, God bless