Chiropractic care
sportychic87
Posts: 214 Member
Curious to know what other people think on this. I’m generally a *major* skeptic on anything alternative but found myself yesterday at a first adjustment. Woke up sore and in pain and questioning the legitimacy of any ‘medicine’ that creates more pain-no intention of ever doing that again! I’ve heard great things from some people, wonderful tales about how they were all fixed up and so on and so on and lived happily ever after...
Research on the great web demonstrates how prevalent chiropractic medicine is. I’m curious to know your thoughts or experiences (negative or positive).
Research on the great web demonstrates how prevalent chiropractic medicine is. I’m curious to know your thoughts or experiences (negative or positive).
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Replies
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I would never. I'm a migraine headache patient, and my headache specialist specifically had a talk with me when I became his patient. As someone with migraines, I'm at greater risk for strokes, but at my headache center they have seen patients who have had chiropractic "adjustments" and their necks have been so damaged by it, the vessels in their necks have been so damaged by these chiropractic adjustments. I was told if I ever saw a chiropractor I couldn't be a patient there. That it would put me at a much greater risk of stroke. I knew if it was the policy of a headache center, they must have seen some really bad things in prior patients from chiropractors. I've heard my own horror stories of them myself...so there were no worries there. I would never go to one anyway.8
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I hear so many positive things and so few gripes that it seems statistically improbable that it’s that effective and safe. Sounds like your center considers it a medical liability7
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sportychic87 wrote: »I hear so many positive things and so few gripes that it seems statistically improbable that it’s that effective and safe. Sounds like your center considers it a medical liability
Well the thing is, when you become a patient there, they get ALL of our medical records. From every doctor you have. Even chiropractors. There is nothing they don't know about your previous care. They won't reject you for having one as long as you agree to stop seeing them. They also give you an MRI and CT scan. They can see any damage to your vessels. So they can see what has been done. If they didn't see a trend, I don't think that would have been a policy.5 -
Oh, but on the flip side, I was seeing an osteopath, and my headache specialist was completely Ok with me having him as a doctor, because he was medically trained.0
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That makes sense, it probably covers them too0
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A good chiropractor can be a great thing for some people and for some not. It just really depends on your issues for some people they get great relief, for others it doesn't do a thing, and for some it makes things worse. I would talk to a doctor first to see if it would be an good option for you and then if it is find a REALLY good one, I find word of mouth from friends or family is a good way to find good doctors and chiropractors. It's the same way at the spine clinic I work at (pain management doctors/surgeons not chirpractors) .....it's a process in finding out what works best for you and you start with the easiest things and work your way up. Patients get frustrated when the first thing they try doesn't work, sometimes there is no instant miracle and it takes work and dedication on the patients part to not give up.3
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In 2012 a chiropractor adjusted my neck and clipped a vertebral artery. I had a massive basilar artery stroke that left me with locked in syndrome (that's totally paralyzed and aphasic but completely conscious otherwise) Expected to die, I was sent to a neurological center in Toronto and miraculously re-gained some of my functions. 1 year or rehab later I re-learned to walk and talk and am now deficit free. It's a very small risk but I'd rather not take it.32
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sportychic87 wrote: »Curious to know what other people think on this. I’m generally a *major* skeptic on anything alternative but found myself yesterday at a first adjustment. Woke up sore and in pain and questioning the legitimacy of any ‘medicine’ that creates more pain-no intention of ever doing that again! I’ve heard great things from some people, wonderful tales about how they were all fixed up and so on and so on and lived happily ever after...
Research on the great web demonstrates how prevalent chiropractic medicine is. I’m curious to know your thoughts or experiences (negative or positive).
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mrsnattybulking wrote: »In 2012 a chiropractor adjusted my neck and clipped a vertebral artery. I had a massive basilar artery stroke that left me with locked in syndrome (that's totally paralyzed and aphasic but completely conscious otherwise) Expected to die, I was sent to a neurological center in Toronto and miraculously re-gained some of my functions. 1 year or rehab later I re-learned to walk and talk and am now deficit free. It's a very small risk but I'd rather not take it.
That’s awful! I’m sorry that happened to you!
Awesome that you’re feeling better but horrible that a ‘treatment’ caused the stroke.2 -
Years ago I had numbness in my left lower arm and into my fingers. My doctor insisted that it was carpal tunnel...it went on for months and the doctor was getting ready to send me for surgery. In a last ditch effort I went to see a chiropractor who a really good friend had recommended to me. After 3 treatments I had all of the feeling back in my arm and hand and avoided an unnecessary surgery.9
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Not a fan and I was good friends with a chrio who gave me free adjustments for awhile when I was young. I realized he was either a scam artist or seriously stupid because he showed me a "my" back X-ray that had a huge spinal curve in the thoracic spine, which was impossible since it would have been easily visible as the shoulders on the X-ray were clearly at different levels that did not show in the mirror etc.
I talked to a real doctor a couple weeks later and he said it was quite clearly not the right X-Ray since he couldn't find it.
I believe the independent research shows some benefits for certain things such as temporary relief of low back pain, but for a person who is otherwise healthy I wouldn't waste my time or money, and I wouldn't go to one without consulting a physician about my condition first.2 -
Chiropractic is non-science hokum.
Do some research on the origins of chiropractic. It's total nonsense.
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My one experience with chiropractors is through my dad. He had surgery for a ruptured disk (lower back) in his 40's. After years of flare-ups and pain pills one of his doctors recommended a chiropractor as a potential pain pill alternative. After several treatments the pain cleared up. For many years, every time he had a flare-up he saw the same doctor and got pain relief without pills (though the process itself is painful).
That said, this chiropractor limited his practice to spinal adjustment for pain management. I've heard so many stories of chiropractors diagnosing and "treating" various illnesses both real and fake with spinal adjustments, giving nutritional advice without any education in the area, and generally scamming (and potentially harming) desperate people.
Of course, there are plenty of medical doctors doing the same thing (weight loss surgery clinics, for instance, where the answer to everything is, surprise, weight loss surgery), but you seem to hear more negative things about chiropractors in general, so I suppose the answer is do your research and consult your GP first.
Edited for punctuation5 -
Chiropractic is non-science hokum.
Do some research on the origins of chiropractic. It's total nonsense.
Show us some research, I'm willing to read it. I found this, maybe it started out that way I don't know, but it's becoming more legitimate or at least legitimate enough to be looked into. I work at a spine clinic and while we don't do anything involving it, we also know it has a time,place, and use. Many of our patients have seen relief with it and some haven't. It's success is very much based on the individual and their issues and probably also the knowledge of the chiropractor. I will tell you this though, they can't xray worth a *kitten*.
My only other thought on it is if it's hokum and nonsense that doesn't work then a lot of people are lying about it working for them.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3716373/7 -
I see a chiropractor on a monthly basis and have for a little over a year. Years ago I never would have imagined seeing one but once I did, I noticed a significant difference in my migraines. The chiropractor who I see does not do much of the traditional 'cracking' or 'popping' that I think most people think of but he focuses on the muscles that are tight and are pulling areas out of alignment. I may lay on a massage table to being the visit with rollers that wave up and down my back to help loosen me up. He then uses more holds and stretches than anything to help loosen my back, neck and head up.3
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Grimmerick wrote: »Chiropractic is non-science hokum.
Do some research on the origins of chiropractic. It's total nonsense.
Show us some research, I'm willing to read it. I found this, maybe it started out that way I don't know, but it's becoming more legitimate or at least legitimate enough to be looked into. I work at a spine clinic and while we don't do anything involving it, we also know it has a time,place, and use. Many of our patients have seen relief with it and some haven't. It's success is very much based on the individual and their issues and probably also the knowledge of the chiropractor. I will tell you this though, they can't xray worth a *kitten*. My only other thought on it is if it's hokum and nonsense that doesn't work then a lot of people are lying about it working for them.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3716373/
What I always wonder about is the placebo effect. Most people (who are happy with chiropractic care) seem to have glowing reviews of it. There are very few moderate reviews of it. This makes me think that the placebo effect might play a factor in it. Of course, I’m sure some people might find relief for it (if it works for you, then why not?) but I get relief from popping my own back. From the chiropractor, I’m experiencing more pain today that I wasn’t before walking in.
I was also told that my back problems could be 100% fixed by going in 3-4 a week; false promises make me skeptical as does the price tag: $500 for the first month if I followed their recommendations (um...Nope!)
I looked for recent articles or scholarly journals but everything is *old* or drowned out by articles about how great chiropractic medicine is (of course the articles are put on the web by chiropractors). {Shrug}3 -
I go. Dh does not believe in it.
My insurance pays for it, thankfully.0 -
sportychic87 wrote: »Grimmerick wrote: »Chiropractic is non-science hokum.
Do some research on the origins of chiropractic. It's total nonsense.
Show us some research, I'm willing to read it. I found this, maybe it started out that way I don't know, but it's becoming more legitimate or at least legitimate enough to be looked into. I work at a spine clinic and while we don't do anything involving it, we also know it has a time,place, and use. Many of our patients have seen relief with it and some haven't. It's success is very much based on the individual and their issues and probably also the knowledge of the chiropractor. I will tell you this though, they can't xray worth a *kitten*. My only other thought on it is if it's hokum and nonsense that doesn't work then a lot of people are lying about it working for them.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3716373/
What I always wonder about is the placebo effect. Most people (who are happy with chiropractic care) seem to have glowing reviews of it. There are very few moderate reviews of it. This makes me think that the placebo effect might play a factor in it. Of course, I’m sure some people might find relief for it (if it works for you, then why not?) but I get relief from popping my own back. From the chiropractor, I’m experiencing more pain today that I wasn’t before walking in.
I was also told that my back problems could be 100% fixed by going in 3-4 a week; false promises make me skeptical as does the price tag.
I looked for recent articles or scholarly journals but everything is *old* or drowned out by articles about how great chiropractic medicine is (of course the articles are put on the web by chiropractors). {Shrug}
I know a woman who LOVES her chiro. She always talks about how much relief she gets from him. Then I found out that for the first 20 minutes of her sessions he massages her feet. A woman I worked with years ago loved her chiro also. For the first 10 minutes of her sessions, she laid on a heating pad. I don't know...to me that stuff just sounds like bs if you are a doctor. Sorry, that's right they are not doctors. If I needed any type of manipulation, I'd spend my time finding a good osteopath, not a chiro.7 -
sportychic87 wrote: »Grimmerick wrote: »Chiropractic is non-science hokum.
Do some research on the origins of chiropractic. It's total nonsense.
Show us some research, I'm willing to read it. I found this, maybe it started out that way I don't know, but it's becoming more legitimate or at least legitimate enough to be looked into. I work at a spine clinic and while we don't do anything involving it, we also know it has a time,place, and use. Many of our patients have seen relief with it and some haven't. It's success is very much based on the individual and their issues and probably also the knowledge of the chiropractor. I will tell you this though, they can't xray worth a *kitten*. My only other thought on it is if it's hokum and nonsense that doesn't work then a lot of people are lying about it working for them.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3716373/
What I always wonder about is the placebo effect. Most people (who are happy with chiropractic care) seem to have glowing reviews of it. There are very few moderate reviews of it. This makes me think that the placebo effect might play a factor in it. Of course, I’m sure some people might find relief for it (if it works for you, then why not?) but I get relief from popping my own back. From the chiropractor, I’m experiencing more pain today that I wasn’t before walking in.
I was also told that my back problems could be 100% fixed by going in 3-4 a week; false promises make me skeptical as does the price tag.
I looked for recent articles or scholarly journals but everything is *old* or drowned out by articles about how great chiropractic medicine is (of course the articles are put on the web by chiropractors). {Shrug}
Some of it could be the placebo effect which hey like you said if it works why not, probably not for all people though. If you don't find relief, then it's not the modality for you, doesn't mean other things won't help and def keep looking, don't give up. If it works for you do it. Everyone is different and different things work for different folks. It works the same way at our spine clinic, we start with anti inflammatory medication, PT, pain medication, surgery etc etc . All, some, or none of those work for patients, everyone is different.....and unfortunately sometimes there just isn't a good answer.3 -
Well said^1
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Never been to one. My brother used to go to one often for bad back. Either chiro or crutches. That's all I know.
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I saw a chiropractor for a shoulder injury. It took several sessions (I had let it go until I couldn't raise my arm) but she did help me to heal. She does trigger point therapy (not cracking and popping) and it hurts a lot, but I was amazed how well it worked. I was skeptical about seeing a chiropractor and I did not expect her to be able to fix me, so it definitely wasn't a placebo effect for me.
I was also sore after seeing the chiro. After a day or two, soreness always subsided for me and I felt better than before I went in.0 -
I've been to several chiropractors over the years. Several were a bit more loonie/aggressive/wooful than others. I have one now that I trust. I see him when I need too. He rarely does a neck adjustment, and my neck is the biggest issue. He uses active release techniques. As with most people (personal trainers, financial advisors, physicians), you need to trust those you are working with.1
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Like any profession, there are good and bad. My mom was in a car accident- two cracked vertebrae- and wore a brace for a long time while healing. She went weekly to get her back adjusted, and now goes occasionally if she feels it out.
It make sense to me- our bones need to be in certain places, if they aren't how else so we get them to go back in place?0 -
I'm a FIRM believer in chiropractic, BUT, that being said, there are some horrible chiropractors out there, some that are okay, and much like any medical field, some really good ones. The hard part is sorting the good from the bad.
I have my life because of chiropractic. I have DDD, and around 2010 I herniated a disk and ended up in so much pain I couldn't sit for more than 10 minutes in any position, could only stand or walk for about 30-40 minutes before needing to lay flat on my back. I was convinced my life as I knew it was over. The orthopedist was talking about fusing my lower back - I was 32 at the time.
Finally saw a chiropractic radiologist, and they immediately saw the issue that all the "normal" doctors had missed - a base posterior slippage, which was actually a pretty easy chiropractic fix, but didn't show up on their normal tests.
Long story short, while I had to go in regularly for several years, I now only go in once every few months (if even that often) unless I tweak something else. My life is pretty normal, my back is no longer an issue, and my disk space has actually improved. I imagine down the road I may need more regular care again, but I'll take that over a fused spine any day!
Other things they've helped me with:
-Ribs out of place (I'm prone to pulling ribs out in the back, do it semi regularly)
-Foot/hand/ankle issues (mostly from injuries)
My chiropractor does work with several massage therapists as well, and he works closely with his mentor and another chiropractor. Their primary adjustments are done with the activator, which is very precise compared to the manual manipulations (which they will do if that's what's best).7 -
Maybe if it was a better regulated profession. Too many get away with their ridiculous claims, and don't do their due diligence in fully checking a patient. My mom saw one, had she done a scan before treatments she probably wouldn't have put my mom in more pain than before treatments. I don't understand what they do that you couldn't get at a licensed massage therapist or physiotherapist?4
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Chiropractors have different training requirements and different scope of practice in different states in US. Other countries are even more variable. There are also many kinds of chiropractic treatments, so one size does not fit all.0
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I have, since I was very young, been aware of chiropractic care. Mom was addicted to drugs and chiros. I saw with my own eyes how chiros managed to manipulate her emotions to keep her coming back. However, I also saw with my own eyes how occasionally they managed to do some good. That's anecdotal. This next is, too. I was a 300+ lb obese fellow walking down a parking garage stairway when my spine suddenly became cockeyed. Catty-cornered. Whomperjayed. There's no real word for it, but if you can imagine seeing a person from the rear and their spine is vertical. It was as if my spine had a sharp 40 degree angle. Yes, it hurt. I climbed back up the stairs to the level of my parked car, walked in great pain to my car. In great pain I got in my car and drove home. At home, and you know this was a long time ago because I looked in the Yellow Pages for nearby chiropractors, I found a chiropractor with an office nearby and without even calling for an appointment I once again in great pain got in my car and drove to his office. In great pain I walked in his front door and in less than 30 minutes I walked out again upright. It's been so long that I don't remember if I returned to work or not that same day.
Again, that's anecdotal.
Another is with my wife, who several years ago had pain in her neck. At the time, we didn't know what was causing it. I persuaded her to see a local chiropractor and his treatment aggravated her pain and we never returned. Eventually she was diagnosed as having a degenerate disk. Even later we finally found a doctor who would do anything other than prescribe drugs. She has two vertebrae fused in her neck now and is mostly pain free and able to work a job.
Chiropractic care is a crap-shoot. One saved my life. One nearly killed my wife.3 -
JeromeBarry1 wrote: »I have, since I was very young, been aware of chiropractic care. Mom was addicted to drugs and chiros. I saw with my own eyes how chiros managed to manipulate her emotions to keep her coming back. However, I also saw with my own eyes how occasionally they managed to do some good. That's anecdotal. This next is, too. I was a 300+ lb obese fellow walking down a parking garage stairway when my spine suddenly became cockeyed. Catty-cornered. Whomperjayed. There's no real word for it, but if you can imagine seeing a person from the rear and their spine is vertical. It was as if my spine had a sharp 40 degree angle. Yes, it hurt. I climbed back up the stairs to the level of my parked car, walked in great pain to my car. In great pain I got in my car and drove home. At home, and you know this was a long time ago because I looked in the Yellow Pages for nearby chiropractors, I found a chiropractor with an office nearby and without even calling for an appointment I once again in great pain got in my car and drove to his office. In great pain I walked in his front door and in less than 30 minutes I walked out again upright. It's been so long that I don't remember if I returned to work or not that same day.
Again, that's anecdotal.
Another is with my wife, who several years ago had pain in her neck. At the time, we didn't know what was causing it. I persuaded her to see a local chiropractor and his treatment aggravated her pain and we never returned. Eventually she was diagnosed as having a degenerate disk. Even later we finally found a doctor who would do anything other than prescribe drugs. She has two vertebrae fused in her neck now and is mostly pain free and able to work a job.
Chiropractic care is a crap-shoot. One saved my life. One nearly killed my wife.
I agree. You have to do your due diligence and sometimes try a couple out. I am NOT a fan of "adjustments". I've seen 3 different chiropractors in my lifetime. Two were great, one terrible. The first I went to for terrible neck muscle pain from office life and storing all my stress in my neck. He did ultrasound and massage for several treatments and I was good to go. Second one was a friend of my husband's and he guilted me into seeing him. He only did adjustments and tried to sell all sorts of woo. I finally refused to ever go back to him. The third I'm seeing now. He markets himself as "sports rehab" and focuses on soft tissue manipulation. Pretty much a physical therapist. I've gained so much range of motion in my shoulder from him it's crazy. I just injured my leg recently, so he's moving on to helping those muscles/ligaments heal now.1 -
This is all so interesting and timely. I was referred by Ortho to a Chiro for rehab for shoulder pain and went last night.
He took X-rays and said I have scoliosis, one leg shorter than the other and adrenal issues. If that’s all true, is a chiro the best option to help?4
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