Patient Success Story 92-Year-Old Plymouth Patient Finds Back Pain Relief and Walks Without a Cane A 92-year-old man living in a Plymouth senior living community had reached the point where he could not lie down flat, sleep in his own bed, or walk more than a few minutes without significant pain. Years of wear on his back, combined with prior bilateral hip and knee replacements, had left him relying on a cane just to move around his own home. He came to Bomberg Chiropractic in Plymouth, Minnesota, after a referral from a longtime friend he met with every Thursday for breakfast at Perkins. Dr. Tom Bomberg had already helped that friend with a separate issue, and the friend confidently passed along the recommendation once he heard about the pain and spasming that had been keeping his 92-year-old companion up at night for days at a time. Key Takeaways THE CHALLENGEA 92-year-old man with a long surgical history could not lie down, sleep, or walk without a cane due to spasming back pain. THE TECHNIQUEDr. Bomberg used a seated, gentle Activator adjustment so the patient never had to lie down during care. THE RESULTThe patient returned to his second visit with no cane and no pain, and was soon sleeping through the night in his own bed again. At 92, this patient had already been through bilateral hip replacements and bilateral knee replacements, and he had grown used to doctors treating new pain as simply a function of age. He wanted to keep walking with his wife and stay active for his great-grandchildren, so he decided to try chiropractic care rather than accept the pain as permanent. Bomberg Chiropractic's approach to back pain relief is built around meeting each patient where their body allows, which made this case a good fit for his needs. Project Summary Client Profile: 92-year-old male, Plymouth-area senior living resident Project Location: Plymouth, Minnesota Primary Objective: Relieve chronic, spasming low back pain that was preventing sleep and safe walking, using chiropractic care services suited to an older patient's mobility limits. Treatment Approach: Seated Activator adjustments, part of the practice's broader chiropractic techniques, avoided the need for the patient to lie down. Key Outcome: Pain-free and cane-free by his second visit, with full nights of sleep restored within two weeks. A History Doctors Had Dismissed The patient filled out his intake paperwork online before ever stepping into the office, including the details needed to use both Medicare and his supplemental insurance. He explained that his pain had been present for years but had turned into something much worse the week before his visit. He could not lie down flat or on his side without pain, could barely walk a quarter mile, and could only find a few hours of rest in his recliner at night. Standing for more than 10 minutes had become a source of significant pain, and he had started using a cane simply because he no longer felt stable on his feet. Given his bilateral hip and knee replacement history, mobility was clearly going to be a factor in how any exam or treatment could proceed, so the visit was built around that reality from the start. A Gentle, Seated Treatment Plan Dr. Bomberg conducted a thorough but deliberately slow exam, taking care not to rush any movement given the patient's mobility limitations. Because the patient had already been treated by an orthopedic surgeon and had recent imaging on file with Reyes Radiology, new X-rays were not needed, though Bomberg Chiropractic keeps digital X-ray equipment on site for patients who do not already have films available. Orthopedic tests were performed while the patient remained seated, since lying down was not an option that day. "Doc Bomberg, I can't believe it. I'm no pain, no cane today." - (the patient, Bomberg Chiropractic) After discussing the exam findings, Dr. Bomberg used the Activator instrument, a gentle, clicker-style tool that delivers a small, specific impulse to a joint without requiring the patient to be positioned on a table. That meant the patient could remain seated throughout the adjustment, a detail that matters for older patients dealing with osteoporosis or osteopenia risk, both of which are more common in Minnesota's low-sunlight winters. Bomberg Chiropractic works with most major carriers, including Medicare insurance coverage, and confirmed his coverage before his first adjustment. No Pain, No Cane By Visit Two The patient's first appointment was on a Tuesday. He returned that same week on Thursday without his cane and reported no pain at all, a change he described by coining his own phrase, "no pain, no cane." He continued to feel that improvement through the following week, which included two more visits. He told Dr. Bomberg he no longer needed to sleep in his recliner and was sleeping through the night in his own bed for the first time in weeks. He began sharing his results with friends at his regular Thursday breakfast, noting that not everyone gets a result that fast, but that more people knowing what chiropractic care can offer might help them avoid unnecessary shots or injections. Care has since moved from twice a week down to once a week and every other week, as Dr. Bomberg and the patient work together to find the right long-term maintenance schedule for his body. Get Back Pain Relief in Plymouth We work with patients across every age and mobility level, from active young athletes to seniors managing decades of joint history. Our team tailors every adjustment, including gentle, seated techniques when lying down isn't an option, to fit what each patient's body can handle. Are you or a loved one in Plymouth dealing with back pain that other doctors have written off as just part of getting older? Call Bomberg Chiropractic to schedule an evaluation. Bomberg Chiropractic15600 35th Ave. N #101, Plymouth, MN 55447Call (763) 450-1755 or Schedule Online Frequently Asked Questions Can a 92-year-old still get chiropractic adjustments in Plymouth? Yes. Dr. Bomberg tailors every appointment to the individual's tolerance and bone health, often using gentle tools like the Activator instrument instead of manual twisting for older patients, including those with prior hip or knee replacements. What if a patient cannot lie down for an exam or adjustment? Exams and adjustments can be performed while a patient is seated. This was the approach used for a 92-year-old Plymouth patient whose mobility made lying flat too painful, and it did not slow down his results. Does Bomberg Chiropractic accept Medicare in Plymouth, MN? Yes, Bomberg Chiropractic is in network with Medicare along with Blue Cross Blue Shield, HealthPartners, UMR, Medica, and United Healthcare. Patients can also call ahead to confirm their specific plan before scheduling.