Manipulated My Spine Like an Idiot (TW)

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My lack of success with dating has made me really insecure about my appearance, and a big part of that is my imperfect body and posture.

On Wednesday, I caught a glimpse of 'forward head posture' in the changeroom mirrors when I was trying on clothes at the shops. When I got home, I tried to 'correct' it by retracting my head but I ended up manipulating or stretching my spine.

The positive side is that I'm not in any physical pain over it (though it feels a bit strange). It seems like I'm going to have to live with the changed position for the rest of my life. My doctor said a physio couldn't fix it, and a chiropractor might break my back. The saddest thing is that this isn't the first, or even second or third time something like this has happened. I know that this is abnormal and perhaps in crazy territory, but I think it just goes to show how much I needed love and validation before things reached this point.

I just feel so embarrassed and sad that this is my life. I had a big cry yesterday, and I've called hotlines a lot.

I'm tired of suffering. I just want to be done with it.

I'm not sure what you mean by having a stretched or manipulated spine.
Does this mean your head is stuck in the retracted position?
Do you still have any range of movement?
It must be awful.
I'm sorry you're feeling so defeated.

I still have my range of movement. I seem to have a bit of increased range of motion when turning my head either side. It's just that I can tell that my spine sits differently now and sometimes it's uncomfortable. I'm worried about how this might affect me going forward in life, or as I age, or if I have a fall or something, and particularly about whether this is going to only make it even harder to get a girlfriend when I have to explain the crazy stuff I've done to myself because I was so lonely and insecure.


Thank you.

Yeah, it's pretty sad. This could all have been avoided if I'd been able to have a regular dating life, or if I'd just been born aromantic asexual. This is ruining my life

You...just now decided to...stand up straight...like a normal person?

And your body is taking time to adjust?

Give it time and it will adjust.

I wish that was how it happened, but no, my doctor confirmed that I did move it in a way I shouldn't have.

Chiro can fix it.

My doctor said if I saw a chiro they might break my back.

There's a chiro clinic located a few hundred metres from my place and it's been around since I was a kid, so I guess he must know what he's doing. I think I might pay him a visit and get his opinion. I'm probably almost willing to risk breaking my back if the chance is low and I'll otherwise restore my original alignment.

Getting a second opinion is a good idea.
I've found doctors don't usually approve of chiropractors so they don't tend to recommend them.
Some years ago I was in terrible pain with my back and my doctor seemed content to feed me painkillers.
A quick visit to an 'alternative' therapist for a back crack and I was instantly pain free.

Thanks for sharing.

Yeah, my doctor is pretty risk-averse, so he probably figures it's better for me to live with things the way they are than take any risk whatsoever of serious injury trying to change them

I'll make sure when I consult the chiro to relay the doctor's opinion and see what kind of response I get.

I've got a consultation booked in for Wednesday afternoon with the chiropractor, and in light of what's been shared on this thread, I've recontextualised the conversation I had with my doctor. I interpreted my doctor's comment that a chiro might break my back as being specific to my case, but I can now see that it may have had more to do with a general wariness of chiropractors.

I'm in better spirits because of the contributions on this thread, so thank you. Hopefully the consultation goes well, and I can schedule an appointment that also goes well.

After that, I can give this place a go that does relationship counselling for singles. They talk about helping people who feel undesirable with rock-bottom confidence so maybe they'll be able to help me.

Not to throw a wrench in your plan but do you have access to an Osteopath?

I like them way better than Chiro in terms of effectiveness.

Also does the Chiro do manual adjustments or do they use that little stun-gun thing?

It seems that there are a couple in my area, yes.


That makes sense. From what I'm reading, it seems like they take a more holistic approach than chiros, who more narrowly focus on the spine and joints.

I'm just wondering about this specific situation. Given that I'm not in physical pain, I just want my spine moved back where it should be, and a chiro's focus is on manipulating the spine, it intuitively seems like the chiro is the right person to see. Am I missing anything that makes the osteo a better choice in this context?


I'm not sure. I guess I'll find out at the consultation. Is one better than the other?

This has worked out better than I could have expected. Not only has the chiropractor helped me with what I did to myself. He's helping me with the very postural issues that prompted me to engage in that behaviour in the first place. When all is said and done, I expect to have better posture and be moving better than I have in a long time.

I think this will really help my confidence, especially if I can get my diet sorted out as well.

^That's great news.
I'm happy it all worked out ok for you.

That is great news!

I have a very simple way of watching my weight.
An accurate balance beam scale in the dining room!
When my weight is a little high I eat less. When it is low I can eat more!

Yay, TGI ! !

That's amazing news!

Re: Osteo - I didn't mean to suggest Chiros weren't good. I just happen to love my Osteo.

I've only had the stun gun thing from Chiro, and it's kind of helpful. My daughter has had manual and stun gun, and she prefers manual. I think I might be a bit scared of that myself but I know it works for others.