Chiropractors

I love my chiro! I see him a few times a month, especially when my SI joint gets out of alignment and I can't get it back in--it happens pretty frequently due to a old-*kitten* gymnastics injury. Mine has an acupuncturist in his office so I'll see her, then get aligned and it's amazeballs.

Like others have said, there's good ones and bad ones.

I have SI joint issues and LOVE my chiro. When it flares up (after I fall, do a lot of zumba, or just get extra lazy) I go in for 1-2 appointments and I'm good as new. I do the stretches that he prescribes to keep it at bay.
There are "quacks" in every field. You just have to find one that's actually good.

I love my chiro. The office I go to is more comprehensive: they also have a physiatrist (sp? Sports med doc) and a physical therapist, so treatment is a combination of things. I get adjusted, get my trigger points, do physical therapy, and have on one occassion needed steriod injections because m back freaked out on me big time. Doctors of any speciality are like shoes, so what fits me is not going to fit you. Mine is very thorough and excellent at explaining why I am having pain, correct body mechanics, etc.

I would strongly disagree with those who say quack though. It is a legitimate field. Same as any other, some doctors are going to be horrible. The guy who owns the practice I go to is worthless as a chiropractor, but thankfully he only adjusts when Dr. M isn't there. So when Dr. J is there, I am not.

I recently started using a chiropractor for back pain with sciatica for the last two weeks. I had the pain for almost a month before i went. Xrays showing my two upper ( neck) and two lower vertebrea are bent and pressing on the nerves and causing pain. He says he can fix it but will take a couple months of treatments. Ive gone 6 times so far and not sure i am noticing a difference at all.

Tell me what experiences you have had with them...good or bad.....i paid for 12 treatments but i dont want to pay for 12 more if i am not improving. Im not even sure when i should notice much improvement. But, i could tell on the xrays where they are bent. Some people i know love them and some hate them....

Its not cheap so i dont want to keep throwing money away.

I've been reading sciencebasedmedicine.org for a few years and read an interesting précis last week that stated their view of using a chiropractor.

The essence of their argument is to avoid a chiropractor who insists on treatment that involves "sublaxations" - the idea that improper alignment of the spine causes illness. Not only does that contravene everything we know about how the human body functions, there is also no medical evidence that spinal manipulation IN AND OF ITSELF has ever cured an illness. Yes, illness may have disappeared after a chiro used chiropractic treatment but there's no credible evidence that manipulating the spine can or has cured anything (remember - correlation is not causation).

On the other hand, there's no question that chiropractors have an understanding of human physiology and are able to help alleviate the symptoms of issues like lower back pain. In that case, have at it.

Here's a link to the article:

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/chiropractic-a-summary-of-concerns/


My personal experience (understanding that it counts of nothing in so far as determining the efficacy of chiropractic) consists of one visit. I stopped in with a friend who was trying to cure a lower back issue. The chiro offered a "free X ray and spinal exam" so I did the X ray and let him tug, twist, and push.

He held up the X ray and showed me, to his surprise, that I had a "perfect S curve" in my spine. The issue that he wanted to address, however, was to help me with the issues that could be caused by "my accident". When I asked him to what he meant by that, he told me that the X ray showed that I had broken my neck and that there was a chance that I would start feeling upper back pain. The big issue was that because there were other "structural problems" in my legs, I could start feeling pain at any time.

Having never broken my neck, I thanked him for his advice and told him that I'd check in with him if I started feeling pain.

That was about 5 years ago and I've never had upper back pain nor have I returned to his office.

They're under-trained wannabe physiotherapists.....there's a reason that chiropractic services have been de-listed by most provincial healthcare plans.......

Not sure where you got your info. Chiropractors are DOCTORS. They have to complete many years of Chiropractic College. Google Palmer College of Chiropractic.

That being said, I completely love my Chiro and EVERY one I've ever seen. I've moved from IL to MO and never had any different treatments from state to state. I have never had a Chiro try to set up 12 months of treatment , or ask for payment in advance. I'm sure there are quacks out there, just do your research and find a reputable Dr.

I wouldn't believe any chiropractor who says they can "fix" you.

However, they can do wonders for pain management. I go to one for periodic realignments due to a chronic problem that can't be fixed. It can take some time to find a good one who will be ok with you just coming in when you need it instead of insisting on frequent visits. Of course this is just my experience of chiropractors over the past 15-20 years since I was diagnosed with scoliosis.

I go to my chiro almost every week because of my bad hip. I could barely walk at one point so my chiro has been my saviour.

As the wife of a chiropractor, I can tell you that you should not get roped into pre-paying for treatment (or at least not at the start of treatment) and you should always have a treatment plan. Its common to be more sore initially (that night and maybe the next day) but you should start to see improvement soon. If you aren't feeling like your chiro is meeting your needs, try a different one. Any good, honest chiro would refund the portion of money you haven't used.

I always do chiro and massage at the same time. I have found it to help me out. I always do massage first then chiro once a week or every 2 weeks.

They're under-trained wannabe physiotherapists.....there's a reason that chiropractic services have been de-listed by most provincial healthcare plans.......

Not sure where you got your info. Chiropractors are DOCTORS. They have to complete many years of Chiropractic College. Google Palmer College of Chiropractic.

That being said, I completely love my Chiro and EVERY one I've ever seen. I've moved from IL to MO and never had any different treatments from state to state. I have never had a Chiro try to set up 12 months of treatment , or ask for payment in advance. I'm sure there are quacks out there, just do your research and find a reputable Dr.

Dr. Who may well be considered a doctor by some but most folks would, I hope, think otherwise.

The main thrust of study for a chiropractor revolves around the belief that many illnesses/maladies are caused by an improper arrangement of the spine. Our scientific understanding of the human body is limited, no question, so it's fair to say that the current state of that understanding contradicts the essential tenets of chiropractic and its belief in sub laxation.

Further, there's no soundly established study that supports that approach. Yes, there have been studies conducted that show some benefit but those studies have not stood up to rigorous analysis.

The most direct source of information I've been able to find on this topic is at sciencebasedmedicine.org.

There are good ones and bad ones. I would be leery of one who can claim to cure whatever ails you through chiropractic care and I would be leery of ones who just have you coming back with no end in site.

I personally love my chiropractor, but I treat my visits just like I would massage therapy or acupuncture therapy...I do not use it in lieu of actual medical treatment when medical treatment is necessary and/or would be far more beneficial.