Chiropractors - Do you?

[puglogic]

I have never been to a chiropractor until tonight. I'm going to give it another try, but it just seems that the "adjustment" is a strange way to try to fix spinal problems -- jerking them suddenly and violently to one side or another?

I'm going back for a followup but it made me wonder: Have you ever tried chiropractic care? Did it/does it help you?

[pony mom]

It definitely helps, and you will need more than one or two visits. Your muscles are used to keeping your body a particular way, and they'll want to pull them back there after the adjustment. Expect some tightness, which will eventually go away.

I haven't been to one in a very long time, and my new cheapo health insurance doesn't cover it. My left shoulder is always higher and after an adjustment I get frustrated because my purse keeps sliding off that shoulder---it's low, where it should be.

[Sad Eyed Lady]

I haven't been in awhile, (thankfully haven't needed to), but yes I have been in the past and will say that they have helped me greatly. As pony mom said, it will take more than one or two adjustments, (my first time I had a series of 15), so don't expect one trip to be the end of a situation that probably has been building for quite some time.

[Maxamillion]

I've never been but I've heard it can even help with asthma. Would be great if it did. I don't know if my insurance would cover a chiropractor though.

[iris lily]

I'm not sure how far they are removed from quackery and while I grudingly admit that they may do some good with certain ailments, I don't have those ailments and won't be trying them any time soon. There are many of these chiros making claims for treating all kinds of things outside of the realm of traditional chripractic (asthma?) and I find that untrustworthy.

Maxamillion, why don't you simply visit one of these guys and write a check? I dont' have insurance for eye docs and dentist and I visit them when I need to, they are not expensive.

[Wildflower]

I worked for one. In my opinion, they are total quacks, but they fool alot of people performing their "magic" and stealing their money....

One gave my sister an adjustment for her neck pain. She wound up in the ER that night. He had actually ruptured two herniated discs in her neck and she had to have emergency surgery that evening! I wouldn't let one touch me after what I know and have seen..... YMMV

[iris lily]

I worked for one. In my opinion, they are total quacks, but they fool alot of people performing their "magic" and stealing their money....

One gave my sister an adjustment for her neck pain. She wound up in the ER that night. He had actually ruptured two herniated discs in her neck and she had to have emergency surgery that evening! I wouldn't let one touch me after what I know and have seen..... YMMV

One of my friends has serious problems with her vertebrae and discs. She went to a chiro and he, fortunately, after taking an x-ray said "I won't touch this. This is beyond me. You need a surgeon" and she did, as it turns out she had major things completely f88ked up. I can' help but think that chiro was unusual.

[Zoebird]

I've done two kinds of chiropractic care. One is regular "pop and crack" aligning. I found that this only lead to temporary changes, and that you need adjustments all the time.

The second -- which I highly, highly, and truly highly, highly, highly recommend is Network Spinal Analysis. It is very gentle touch, and it teaches your body to unwind, to heal and align itself very gently. And it opens the body-mind in *amazing* ways.

My husband had it done -- MASSIVE improvements. DS would have it done after any "trauma" (such as falling out of bed) as a baby (bed was only 4 inches off the floor, but still, he was asleep and woke up and it scared him). I would have it every month or so. It was all out-of-pocket, and it's awesome.

When we moved here, we found only two people who practice it. Luckily, one of them is quite close to us, but we haven't gone to treatments with her because she's a bit . . . flighty and not as grounded as our practitioner in the US who was *amazing* and grounded and wonderful.

Network Spinal Analysis. Look for it!

[Zoebird]

NSA, btw, only uses one or two fingers and the pressure is very, very light. It's sort of like acupressure work, that gets the body to move itself. Brilliant stuff.

[Jemima]

No chiropracters for me. I went to one when I had a back injury and he gave me exercises to do, one of which hurt me permanently. I've also heard horror stories from friends regarding acquaintances who were nearly paralyzed by a chiropractor.

There's a new technique developed by chiropractors called Active Release Therapt (ART) which heydude recommended somewhere on this forum. It sounded really good, but now that I have a script for the pain in my shoulders and upper arms, I sought out a licensed Physical Therapist who does ART. They have a lengthy education and know far more about how the body works than chiropractors.

[Mrs-M]

Chiropractic therapy, no thank you. I've spoken with one-too many people who said chiropractic treatments ruined them.

[creaker]

I went to a chiropractor for spasms in my lower back several years ago - I did the regular doctor route, was sent home with medication and not much else. By the time I made an appointment with a chiropractor, I was living lying doped up on my couch and I could no longer stand up straight. The guy I saw was great - not just for the adjustments, which he was good at, but also just do's and don'ts, how to bring down inflammation, etc.

It makes all the difference who you see. The chiropractor I was seeing had a motorcycle accident and I ended up seeing a string of substitutes. I ended up putting them in 2 classes - adjusters and knuckle crackers - the former found things that needed adjustment (the good ones you could feel what they were finding needed adjustment as they manipulated your back), the latter was more like cracking your knuckles - just go through them all and see what pops. When it was apparent my original chiropractor was not coming back (he's ok - moved his practice to NC), I stopped going. Yoga since then has worked very well (no spasms in years), although I would not mind finding another chiropractor, I know at least one spot that could use a little work.

[Float On]

I will use a DO (Dr of Osteopathic) Osteopathic physicians also receive an additional 300 – 500 hours in the study of hands-on manual medicine and the body's musculoskeletal system integrated into the medical curriculum, sometimees called Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. I think the best DOs are still trained at the origional college of osteopathy, where it all began in Kirksville, MO. I think there are now 26 colleges which offer a choice between an MD and a DO. A Dr with a DO degree should look to the body first and not immediately pull out his/her RX pad.

My personal thoughts are that all the chiropractors are interested in is building a regular return client base. We have a good friend that has become pretty 'strange' after going thru one of the chiropractic schools. He is now always trying to sell something additional - a bead pushed into the lobe of your ear, a new type of water filter, or some imported juice.
That all being said the only one that offered anything to help my son's extremely flat feet was a local chiropractor who had special inserts made for him and it's made an incredible difference. He also did help with his weightlifting injury but we were very clear that we didn't want manipulation or that silly 'thumper machine' we wanted more physical therapy type of treatment. We go to him only because his office visits are $30 instead of $125 and we don't have a good 'old school' DO in the area right now.

[freein05]

I also saw a DC for back pains. He adjusted my back and I was worse. I went to an orthopedic surgeon after doing MIR and other test he diagnosed my problem as a herniated disc. What the DC did in adjusting my back could have done major damage to me. I needed an operation to cure my problem.

I will never I repeat never see a DC again!!!!!

[iris lily]

Float On, agreed, DOs can combine the best of naturopathic and conventional western meds. I think that when I start going to a DR again, I will seek out one of them.

A few years ago I had a leg problem that was connective tissue. I hate going to the docs and I don't think that's their specialty anyway. I seriously considered going in to a physical therapist who I figured could suggest exercises that would strengthen or address whatever the problem was. I do not think that conventional dr's always are especially good at the simple physical things and I think that PT's are the best. I stayed away from a Chiro because even though I KNOW my problem was connective tissue, I am equally certain that any chiro would find a problem that required "adjustment" and I would bet $100,000 that he would also "discover" that one of my legs is longer than the other. doh.

But in the end, I worked out my leg problem with conventional exercise. I'm not sure if PT's can "diagnose" legally and so that's the main reason I worked it out on my own.

[iris lily]

No chiropracters for me. I went to one when I had a back injury and he gave me exercises to do, one of which hurt me permanently. I've also heard horror stories from friends regarding acquaintances who were nearly paralyzed by a chiropractor.

There's a new technique developed by chiropractors called Active Release Therapt (ART) which heydude recommended somewhere on this forum. It sounded really good, but now that I have a script for the pain in my shoulders and upper arms, I sought out a licensed Physical Therapist who does ART. They have a lengthy education and know far more about how the body works than chiropractors.

I just read this, and I agree, PT's are da bomb! Chiro education is rooted in quackery.

[redfox]

I have a chronic back injury, a compressed disc from my overuse/misuse farming days, and both yoga & chiropractor treatments are what helps most. I have been to many C's over the years, and I choose them carefully. Of course, I do the same with dentists, MD's, etc.

I make sure the practitioner knows about the injury, and the one I have settled on immediately ordered xrays. She reviewed them with me & explained treatment, etc.

My approach is to research the practitioner, whatever their specialty, and make sure I am getting what I need. There are incompetents in every field.

[iris lily]

I have a chronic back injury, a compressed disc from my overuse/misuse farming days, and both yoga & chiropractor treatments are what helps most. I have been to many C's over the years, and I choose them carefully. Of course, I do the same with dentists, MD's, etc.

I make sure the practitioner knows about the injury, and the one I have settled on immediately ordered xrays. She reviewed them with me & explained treatment, etc.

My approach is to research the practitioner, whatever their specialty, and make sure I am getting what I need. There are incompetents in every field.

Yes, absolutely. I think that Chiros CAN do some good but they don't have the market cornered on the type of hands-on treatment that is useful. And because their education is rooted in tenents that are highly questionable, I think there are more than a few incompetents and many whose primary goal is avarice in that field. One has to hunt harder for the reasonable practitioner who helps.

[reader99]

Some are better than others. 1980, one helped me recover from whiplash wonderfully. 1990s, one was just making work and fees for himself.

[reader99]

I've heard it's best to be sure your chiro went to the Palmer School

[chanterelle]

I was a dancer and for the 1st half of my life and chiros literally kept me on my toes. PT and chiropractic are different/complementary treatments.... both have their uses. Like redfox says you have to pick your provider as carefully as you pick any other health care practitioner. No one modality can fix everything everytime.
I have never known anyone who sustained damage from treatment, and I know a boatload of creaky dancers and acrobats.
In fact, it was a chiro who found that my best friend's alleged chronic sciatic pain was actually spinal cancer. It had been missed by PT's and MD's....stuff happens in all fields.
And yes, some asthma, which can have many root causes can be sucessfully treated with chiropractic.

[Sad Eyed Lady]

I am in the group that favors the use of chiropractors as I posted earlier in this thread, but as others have pointed out here you do need to choose the doctor wisely. He/she should always take x-rays to see what they are dealing with. And, if they are reputable they will NOT be inventing more reasons for you to keep coming. My first chiropractor was great but has since retired and now passed away, but after helping DH for a period of time with a back injury he told him when he had reached the limit in what he could do and suggested he then go on to see someone else for other needs this injury might still have.

[Jemima]

I just read this, and I agree, PT's are da bomb! Chiro education is rooted in quackery.

Is that a negative comment about Physical Therapists? Mine helped me so much when I got a back injury at work! They are very well educated and won't do a thing without a doctor's prescription and medical records. The chiropractor was the bad guy.

[Wildflower]

Is that a negative comment about Physical Therapists? Mine helped me so much when I got a back injury at work! They are very well educated and won't do a thing without a doctor's prescription and medical records. The chiropractor was the bad guy.

That's a postive comment - da bomb means she thinks PTs are awesome!! :)

[puglogic]

I believe in physical therapists too. They have helped me greatly in the past....and that's probably where I'm headed with this shoulder injury. Experiencing the chiro on Friday was painful both during and well after the visit, in places that didn't hurt before. And I'm sure they'll say "Oh, you have to do at least 15 visits before you start to feel any better." Which may be true, but I'm not up for an $800.00 experiment right now, and anyway I found I don't like the violent, invasive motions. (I also don't like cracking my knuckles) Oh well. I remember really liking PT, so it wouldn't be a bad thing to go back to.

[pony mom]

While at massage school a chiropractor who practices Network Spinal Analysis gave a talk and demo and I volunteered to be worked on. It was pretty interesting. As he lightly touched different parts of my back, I felt different things; one area felt a huge energy rush, another made me feel suddenly frightened, another very relaxed. Pretty cool.

There are a lot of quacks out there, but I think chiropractors can help with a lot of health issues. Part of my Reflexology training is learning the parts of the spine that affect parts of the body, like the 3rd lumbar vertebrae affects the bladder, cervical 2 & 3 the eyes, 1st thoracic the thyroid and esophagus. It treats the body as a whole.

Ten years ago I had a bad fall from my horse and had a really bad case of whiplash and my chiro visits made an enormous difference.

[iris lily]

That's a postive comment - da bomb means she thinks PTs are awesome!! :)

Thank you for translating, yep.