Who sees a chiropractor?

[Bene288]

I have chiropractic appointments everything 3-4 weeks.. Anyone else regularly visit? I've found chiropractic care to be infinitely more helpful than any general care doctor I've been to. It blows my mind that some people don't believe it to be a useful practice. A good adjustment before a long weekend of skiing is terrific!

 

[mriceyman]

I have chiropractic appointments everything 3-4 weeks.. Anyone else regularly visit? I've found chiropractic care to be infinitely more helpful than any general care doctor I've been to. It blows my mind that some people don't believe it to be a useful practice. A good adjustment before a long weekend of skiing is terrific!

I go usually twice a week. I tighten up terribly so usually an appointment is needed after hockey and a ski day each week. It helps out in a huge way. For some reason my neck doesnt like to move after a day or days of activity.

 

[Nick]

My wife just got what is called a "radiculopothy" in her neck 2 days ago. She was getting out of bed, heard a crack, and couldn't move her head, so she laid there and called me. I had to rush home from work. My first thought was something was broken but luckily it wasn't. Apparently she injured one of the disks in her neck somehow, sort of a fast onset of what is called Cervical Disk Disease.

No physical activity for her for 3 weeks

 

[ScottySkis]

My wife just got what is called a "radiculopothy" in her neck 2 days ago. She was getting out of bed, heard a crack, and couldn't move her head, so she laid there and called me. I had to rush home from work. My first thought was something was broken but luckily it wasn't. Apparently she injured one of the disks in her neck somehow, sort of a fast onset of what is called Cervical Disk Disease.

No physical activity for her for 3 weeks

Wow that not good. Sorry Nick.

 

[deadheadskier]

I know they help a lot of people feel better, but I don't trust them. Had a real bad experience with one. He didn't injure me and i did feel better after my visits, but the guy essentially tried to scam me into a long term "maintenance" plan that I really didn't need. My overall major issue with chiros are that they often aren't even qualified to take an xray never mind read one to determine what's really going on with someone's spine. If I have a back problem I want a radiologists opinion and if severe enough the opinion of a neuro.

 

[o3jeff]

I know they help a lot of people feel better, but I don't trust them. Had a real bad experience with one. He didn't injure me and i did feel better after my visits, but the guy essentially tried to scam me into a long term "maintenance" plan that I really didn't need. My overall major issue with chiros are that they often aren't even qualified to take an xray never mind read one to determine what's really going on with someone's spine. If I have a back problem I want a radiologists opinion and if severe enough the opinion of a neuro.

I had almost the same experience, had me coming in twice a week for a good month for the same pain and it never went away until I stopped going. On top of the problem I was there for he also claimed my back is all out of wack and he came up with a plan of weekly visits that would correct it......

 

[deadheadskier]

Yup that's how it went.

 

[AdironRider]

I know they help a lot of people feel better, but I don't trust them. Had a real bad experience with one. He didn't injure me and i did feel better after my visits, but the guy essentially tried to scam me into a long term "maintenance" plan that I really didn't need. My overall major issue with chiros are that they often aren't even qualified to take an xray never mind read one to determine what's really going on with someone's spine. If I have a back problem I want a radiologists opinion and if severe enough the opinion of a neuro.

First off my wife swears by Chiros, I tend to side a little more towards you thought process, but not as much on the unqualified aspect and more the "maintenance" aspect. I think thats their biggest downfall as Ive always felt great after the times I have seen them, but I always get the "well you should really be coming in twice a week for eternity" speech that just screams bullshit.

I have no doubts in the benefits in select situations, but regular appointments? No way thats necessary IME, but as I mentioned with my wife, there are some who really benefit.

 

[deadheadskier]

My take on the qualification part is that the office I visited which is quite reputable in my area had his receptionist snap the xray instead of a licenses tech. That's legal in new Hampshire but really shouldn't be. The neurosurgeons I study under don't have a lot of good things to say other than the chiros do a good job of creating future business for them thru making peoples back problems worse in the long run.

I'm sure there are some great chiros out there I just don't have trust in them over going the traditional medicine route. They are an attractive option for many though due to how relatively cheap their services are compared to traditional medicine

 

[ctenidae]

I went to a chiro for a while after I hurt my back. It didn't seem to help much at all. While there may be some benefits, I think they are mostly psychological (that doesn't mean they're not real, they're just not medical), and I can lie to myself just fine without paying for it.

Of course, I'm dubious as to the overall benefits of modern medice, as well. So, maybe I'm a bad example.

 

[mlctvt]

I have a continuous lower back problem. I tried Chiros but I agree with Ctenidae, I think it’s mostly psychological. When they snap your back your sacroiliac joint releases endorphins so you feel a rush and this makes you feel better for a little while, but this didn't help my back. What works for me is a deep tissue message by a physical therapist. Oh and workouts that keep your core in shape too. If I don’t do my core workouts I’ll mess up my back again within a month. I go to the physical therapist every 4-5 weeks. I’ve been going for 7 years regularly.

I just recently had another setback and tore another back muscle because I wasn’t doing my workouts and then I went out last week and shoveled heavy wet snow for a few hours. Now I’m crooked. I could only ski a few hours today.

 

[Warp Daddy]

I used to go BUT 3 yrs ago , 2 days after an Adjustment i had Triple bypass surgery for an MI " I am of the opinion the so called adjustment helped a piece of PLAQUE separate and PERHAPS cause a fatty embolism to occur . i never had any cholesterol problems at all my Cholesterol was 149 when i had a dr check up 3 weeks earlier . I have religiously worked out for years , eaten a low fat diet, andhad a very active lifestyle with lots of social outlets .

Thus my hypothesis about the potential fatty embolism triggered by the back and neck adjustment , I MAY be nuts but i can NOT digure any other triggering event .

So now i WILL NEVER go to a chiro but will seekan ORTHOPOD with a DR of PT if i need any services in the future .

I too have heard of folks who were told to go on multiple weeks of chiro for what sounded like minor issues , so COLOR me SKEPTICAL

 

[marcski]

I used to go BUT 3 yrs ago , 2 days after an Adjustment i had Triple bypass surgery for an MI " I am of the opinion the so called adjustment helped a piece of PLAQUE separate and PERHAPS cause a fatty embolism to occur . i never had any cholesterol problems at all my Cholesterol was 149 when i had a dr check up 3 weeks earlier . I have religiously worked out for years , eaten a low fat diet, andhad a very active lifestyle with lots of social outlets .

Thus my hypothesis about the potential fatty embolism triggered by the back and neck adjustment , I MAY be nuts but i can NOT digure any other triggering event .

So now i WILL NEVER go to a chiro but will seekan ORTHOPOD with a DR of PT if i need any services in the future .

I too have heard of folks who were told to go on multiple weeks of chiro for what sounded like minor issues , so COLOR me SKEPTICAL

Yep! I don't doubt it Warp. My good buddy's wife, late 40's healthy, in shape, yoga and works out consistenly...also went to a chiro and like you, started feeling dizzy with some numbess and headaches and ends up she had tears in her carotid artery and was only getting 1/2 of the normal blood supply. Her docs thought it was from her chiropractic neck adjustments.

 

[darent]

I know they help a lot of people feel better, but I don't trust them. Had a real bad experience with one. He didn't injure me and i did feel better after my visits, but the guy essentially tried to scam me into a long term "maintenance" plan that I really didn't need. My overall major issue with chiros are that they often aren't even qualified to take an xray never mind read one to determine what's really going on with someone's spine. If I have a back problem I want a radiologists opinion and if severe enough the opinion of a neuro.

this is my opinion , how could you let someone manipulate your neck that doesn't xray or mri you first, If they work, why do all the people I know who see a chiro have regular weekly appointments. I am sure that on some occasions they can help you but wouldn't it be better to know what is wrong before you let someone manipulate your body part.

 

[marcski]

this is my opinion , how could you let someone manipulate your neck that doesn't xray or mri you first, If they work, why do all the people I know who see a chiro have regular weekly appointments. I am sure that on some occasions they can help you but wouldn't it be better to know what is wrong before you let someone manipulate your body part.

Not a fan of the chiro....(see my poat above) but any good chiro will take x-rays on your first visit. One because he can bill for it and 2 because they should see the spine first.

 

[Bene288]

Forgot about this thread

A chiro doesn't manipulate a spine, they correct it to the way your spine is supposed to be. People have different shaped feet, bowed legs, work positions, sleep in ways that aren't good for the spine etc. It sounds like many of you have gone to more commercialized doctors that have given into the making money side. Real chiropractors, and stress the word 'real', don't need imaging to tell what's out of place. There's an unexplained healing power of a good chiropractor, there's a certain level of spiritual wellness that goes along with it. I believe that all conditions can be accelerated by the human psyche. People who sit around sick all day and dwell on their sickness don't get better.

Here's my story:

I work in construction, when I first started I was a lacki carrying shingles, concrete, plywood etc. I was bringing shingles up a ladder, two bundles on one shoulder. One bundle weighs about 90lbs. I got up to the roof and dropped them off. Something pulled in my lower back but I shrugged it off as a pulled muscle. The next day I couldn't sit down without being in excruciating pain. Worst pain I've ever felt, never want to go through that again. Anyway, I went to my normal doctor who prescribed me some narcotic drugs and sent me to a specialist doctor. That doctor prescribed me even more narcotics and took some X-rays. He came back and said "doesn't look like there's anything here. Just try and keep work light for awhile". After a week of "light duty" I still couldn't sit, bend or turn. The pills didn't do anything but get me high off my ass. I went back to the doc, got harder drugs and then got sent to a physical therapist. All the PT did was show me some stretches and give me an outline of what I couldn't lift. I tried to keep going but if anything the injury was getting worse. And to top it off I was developing an addiction to all of the narcotic pills I had to take to bandaid the pain.

After getting better I went to a chiropractor. I went twice a week for a month. Every session I got a little better, after a month I was back to normal. Unfortunately the preceding month of "light duty" and short days at work didn't leave a good taste in the company's mouth. I was pushed out a week later

I stopped going regularly and ended up getting hurt again a year later, not quite as bad though. I went to a new chiropractor and went once a week for a month. After a month he told me I could stop coming once a week and stretch it to two weeks. After about a month of that we went to once a month and I've been doing it ever since. People work out every week, what's so strange about correcting a crooked and inflamed spine/muscles? Maintenance is key and you have to get adjusted regularly. However it sounds many of you got caught up with greedy chiropractors that don't possess the needed spiritual connection with their patients. Humans were never meant to sit in an office for 8 hours without much activity. A computer chair will do severe damage to a spine. For me, I got incredibly sick of being given drugs to bandaid my problem. My chiropractor has been more of an an actual doctor then any GP I've ever seen. He put me on a good eating plan that has erased my arthritis and bad joints, advised me on stretches to take before skiing, hockey, work etc.

My grandfather was a chiropractor, so I grew up learning about the benefits of a good adjustment so I guess I'm a bit biased. I have stories of the things he could do. He was a spiritual man with immense healing power. An old school chiropractor who saw it as a religion more than a profession.

 

[deadheadskier]

Oh trust me, I got the hard sell on spiritual wellness I'd achieve through hiving the guy $50 twice a week to lie on a table in an aroma therapy filled room with Yanni playing in the background. :lol: pass

 

[hippiechick]

IMHO, it all depends on the person and their lifestyle. I've gone a few times, at the recommendation of friends, and not found it to be much benefit. I pay $50 for someone to crack my back and neck, which I do on my own about 10 times a day anyway. When a chiro couldn't pop my joints one time (because I had recently before I went in) he just kinda stood there like, what the hell do I do now? I'm active, I stretch a lot and do yoga, and I pay great attention to posture, etc. So for me, it's a wash. No Yanni and scented candles for this girl, haha!

My mom though, who is very heavy and sedentary - it helps her. She can't do a lot of the stretches/etc that I do, and a chiro can help her do that. To each their own.

I say try it a few times, then decide. Don't judge straight out the gate without seeing for yourself.

 

[ScottySkis]

My aunt does.

 

[ctenidae]