I've lost 50 lbs, I need a Chiropractor?

I've dropped 53 Lbs of my original 303 Lbs since the middle of March just logging and exercising. In the last few days, I have noticed my body is carrying the remaining weight differently and my hip is starting to become sore. My back is a little strained to compensate, and I'm wondering if a visit to a Chiropractor is a good idea. Has anyone ever heard of this being a thing, or am I just over doing it?
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Replies

  • sharondjs
    sharondjs Posts: 676 Member
    Could be either or both A visit to either a chriopractor or physio sounds like a good idea before it starts to interfere with your life / exercise program & congrats on the awesome loss :smiley:
  • a_candler
    a_candler Posts: 209 Member
    Def visit a chiropractor. I love seeing mine. Maybe increase your hip flexor stretches as well. I think as we loose we walk diff and it can cause our bodies to feel out of sorts.
  • ComptonSkyhawk
    ComptonSkyhawk Posts: 14 Member
    Thank you both for your time! I will go see the crackologist as soon as I get home in 3 days. I'll look up some hip stretches online and do them during my shifts! Have a super day!
  • KiyaK
    KiyaK Posts: 519 Member
    Yes! Chiropractors are the best! Get recommendations from people you know, so you can find a good one. Make sure you talk to him/her & keep communication open. You might feel sore or tired after the first few adjustments, but adjustments should make you feel BETTER over time, not worse! If you're in pain when you leave or when you get home, call the chiro & tell them! Not all chiropractors are created equal (just like any doctor) so that's why I recommended finding one from referrals. Good luck!
  • KiyaK
    KiyaK Posts: 519 Member
    Oh, and keep in mind, just like any other treatment, chiropractic care is not a fix-all. It's supposed to be one of many things to keep you healthy. Still important to exercise, stretch, etc to keep your body healthy & functioning well.
  • Alidecker
    Alidecker Posts: 1,262 Member
    I go to an office that has a chiropractor and a physical therapist. I see them one right after the other and they have helped me with all the imbalances I have gotten over time. Feeling better than I have in a long time for the most part.
  • Mr_Stabbems
    Mr_Stabbems Posts: 4,771 Member
    I've dropped 53 Lbs of my original 303 Lbs since the middle of March just logging and exercising. In the last few days, I have noticed my body is carrying the remaining weight differently and my hip is starting to become sore. My back is a little strained to compensate, and I'm wondering if a visit to a Chiropractor is a good idea. Has anyone ever heard of this being a thing, or am I just over doing it?

    Can you elaborate on this? carrying differently, how so? hip starting to be come sore when doing? where is the pain? Why do you think you're back is "strained to compensate"?
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    Thank you both for your time! I will go see the crackologist as soon as I get home in 3 days. I'll look up some hip stretches online and do them during my shifts! Have a super day!

    Haha! Funny. What kind of exercises are you doing? Maybe a consult with a physical therapist would be a better first step. Chiropractors can help with some things but do your research first and get a couple opinions. Sometimes a deep tissue massage with help as well. Do you stretch after workouts?
  • workhardtogethard
    workhardtogethard Posts: 49 Member
    As long as you're not in some kind of awful pain, I would try gentle stretching and strengthening exercises targeted for the back and hips first. I went the chiropractic care route for years and never found much relief. I kept going for so long because loved ones swore by it and wanted the same for me (as did I!). Then I discovered yoga and that ended up being what my body needed. Stopped going to the chiropractor years ago. Back and hip pain has only come back when I skip yoga for too long. Not saying chiropractic care won't help you, just wanted you to know there are less expensive options. Any which way, hope you find relief!
  • mommazach
    mommazach Posts: 384 Member
    Chiropractors helped me immensely. I have issues with my knee and over compensate with the other, so I throw my hip out periodically. I go spend some quality time with my chiro, and then see a massage therapist to loosen things up so it doesn't pull out again quickly. My Chiropractor also gave me some great stretches to do and some PT handouts to help me.
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    As long as you're not in some kind of awful pain, I would try gentle stretching and strengthening exercises targeted for the back and hips first. I went the chiropractic care route for years and never found much relief. I kept going for so long because loved ones swore by it and wanted the same for me (as did I!). Then I discovered yoga and that ended up being what my body needed. Stopped going to the chiropractor years ago. Back and hip pain has only come back when I skip yoga for too long. Not saying chiropractic care won't help you, just wanted you to know there are less expensive options. Any which way, hope you find relief!

    This is what I found too. A gentle yoga class does wonders--mine is called "yoga flex" and it has changed my life.
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    I'd you go to a chiro they should give you home exercises to do and not schedule you for a ton of visits. You don't want to become their annuity.

    You may want to go to a physical therapist who specializes in movement patterns instead.

    Congrats on the loss so far and best of luck.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    I've dropped 53 Lbs of my original 303 Lbs since the middle of March just logging and exercising. In the last few days, I have noticed my body is carrying the remaining weight differently and my hip is starting to become sore. My back is a little strained to compensate, and I'm wondering if a visit to a Chiropractor is a good idea. Has anyone ever heard of this being a thing, or am I just over doing it?
    I don't know whether you're overdoing it, because I don't know what you're doing compared to what you're capable of at this point. However, shifts in how your body carries the weight is "a thing" and will continue to be until you get to goal weight. It can affect you more and less at different times. If you've found that chiropractic has helped you in the past, definitely try it again. Massage therapy helped me immensely. Each practitioner of chiro and massage has a different approach, so you can try a few different ones if you need to. Also make sure you are doing a reasonable amount of strength training and flexibility/stretching.
    SW 301
    CW 159
    GW 150!!


  • ComptonSkyhawk
    ComptonSkyhawk Posts: 14 Member
    Thank you everyone for your advice! I guess the first step would be to sleep in my own bed, as I have been working away from home for the last two weeks. Second step would be to see an actual professional. I have been to a Chiropractor once in my life 20 years ago. The practitioner said my hips weren't even. I imagine now they would want x-rays and such first anyway. I'm thinking a massage might be an idea, feels more muscular rather than skeletal. Never had a massage before.

    I will concentrate on stretching better after workouts, I guess its a necessary evil, I just find it boring.
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    Thank you everyone for your advice! I guess the first step would be to sleep in my own bed, as I have been working away from home for the last two weeks. Second step would be to see an actual professional. I have been to a Chiropractor once in my life 20 years ago. The practitioner said my hips weren't even. I imagine now they would want x-rays and such first anyway. I'm thinking a massage might be an idea, feels more muscular rather than skeletal. Never had a massage before.

    I will concentrate on stretching better after workouts, I guess its a necessary evil, I just find it boring.

    Nobody's hips are even. Whether in your case it's enough to cause a problem on an unethical chiropractor trying to drum up business who knows.

    Good luck.
  • marm1962
    marm1962 Posts: 950 Member
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    Thank you everyone for your advice! I guess the first step would be to sleep in my own bed, as I have been working away from home for the last two weeks. Second step would be to see an actual professional. I have been to a Chiropractor once in my life 20 years ago. The practitioner said my hips weren't even. I imagine now they would want x-rays and such first anyway. I'm thinking a massage might be an idea, feels more muscular rather than skeletal. Never had a massage before.

    I will concentrate on stretching better after workouts, I guess its a necessary evil, I just find it boring.

    Nobody's hips are even. Whether in your case it's enough to cause a problem on an unethical chiropractor trying to drum up business who knows.

    Good luck.

    ? Nobody's hips are even? Explain please
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Thank you everyone for your advice! I guess the first step would be to sleep in my own bed, as I have been working away from home for the last two weeks. Second step would be to see an actual professional. I have been to a Chiropractor once in my life 20 years ago. The practitioner said my hips weren't even. I imagine now they would want x-rays and such first anyway. I'm thinking a massage might be an idea, feels more muscular rather than skeletal. Never had a massage before.

    I will concentrate on stretching better after workouts, I guess its a necessary evil, I just find it boring.

    you shouldn't need x-rays. my husband has the same problem, he sees a physio once a month and has some exercises to do at home.

  • BABetter1
    BABetter1 Posts: 618 Member
    I see a chiropractor. He is not your old school, rack 'em, crack 'em chiro. I started going late last year because I began to have uncontrollable itching in my forearms. Earlier in the year, my regular doctor (aka proper medical professional) just told me it was dermatitis from a source undetermined, and "stop scratching or it'll never go away". Well, it got so bad that I was just miserable all the time, and no amount of days or weeks unscratched caused it to go away. Through my own research on the net, I began to suspect a pinched nerve could be the cause. Went to a good chiro, and he confirmed that I actually have compressed vertebrae (and bone spurs) in my neck causing the itching (which can be an early symptom of nerve compression). With treatment, stretching, manipulation, exercises, etc., I no longer have the itching. It also helped with some lesser hip pain that I was having. I still see my chiro once per month.
  • ew_david
    ew_david Posts: 3,473 Member
    I went to a chiro for my back pain a few months ago. He tried to get me to buy some $3700 "treatment plan" that included me coming in 4 days a week and doing stuff at home. Told me my spine was all messed up, I need extensive treatment, basically made it sound like I was dying and he was going to be my savior. I left and never went back. I went to my regular doctor after that.
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    edited June 2016
    marm1962 wrote: »
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    Thank you everyone for your advice! I guess the first step would be to sleep in my own bed, as I have been working away from home for the last two weeks. Second step would be to see an actual professional. I have been to a Chiropractor once in my life 20 years ago. The practitioner said my hips weren't even. I imagine now they would want x-rays and such first anyway. I'm thinking a massage might be an idea, feels more muscular rather than skeletal. Never had a massage before.

    I will concentrate on stretching better after workouts, I guess its a necessary evil, I just find it boring.

    Nobody's hips are even. Whether in your case it's enough to cause a problem on an unethical chiropractor trying to drum up business who knows.

    Good luck.

    ? Nobody's hips are even? Explain please

    Pretty much as stated. Nobody has a perfectly symmetrical skeletal structure. In most cases this lack of symmetry doesn't cause any problems. In some severe cases it can.

    Dishonest chiropractors will often point to uneven hips, one leg shorter than the other, etc on an xray as a reason for pain to justify a long costly treatment plan. Often some mobility/flexibility work treats the muscle strength imbalance which is the root cause of the pain.
  • dewd2
    dewd2 Posts: 2,445 Member
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    marm1962 wrote: »
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    Thank you everyone for your advice! I guess the first step would be to sleep in my own bed, as I have been working away from home for the last two weeks. Second step would be to see an actual professional. I have been to a Chiropractor once in my life 20 years ago. The practitioner said my hips weren't even. I imagine now they would want x-rays and such first anyway. I'm thinking a massage might be an idea, feels more muscular rather than skeletal. Never had a massage before.

    I will concentrate on stretching better after workouts, I guess its a necessary evil, I just find it boring.

    Nobody's hips are even. Whether in your case it's enough to cause a problem on an unethical chiropractor trying to drum up business who knows.

    Good luck.

    ? Nobody's hips are even? Explain please

    Pretty much as stated. Nobody has a perfectly symmetrical skeletal structure. In most cases this lack of symmetry doesn't cause any problems. In some severe cases it can.

    Dishonest chiropractors will often point to uneven hips, one leg shorter than the other, etc on an xray as a reason for pain to justify a long costly treatment plan. Often some mobility/flexibility work treats the muscle strength imbalance which is the root cause of the pain.

    All you ever wanted to know and more... :-)

    http://www.chirobase.org/
  • aylajane
    aylajane Posts: 979 Member
    I think chiros (good ones) have a place - good ones will focus on the underlying issues and correcting them, not just "fix you up" so you can walk that day. Home exercise is a must - and a foam roller with some youtube videos has me believing I will never need a chiro again! But they should be able to explain the pain's source (is muscle imbalance, which leads to overcompensation, etc), how to help you and most importantly what to do to keep it from happening again.

    Muscle imbalance is a big deal for me, and I suspect many who just start trying lifting or an exercise program, especially on their own without a "program" to follow or a trainer to create one. I know I tend to only do what I like - quad exercises are great for me, but I hate hamstrings. I like chest presses but never realized my back even had muscles. Over training one without training the opposite and supporting muscles is a recipe for pain.

    Basically - if you can push 50 pounds off your chest, you should be able to pull 50 pounds with your back, etc. - keep muscle pairs even as you go! Thats very simplified and I am sure I am stating wrong, but its easier to think about this way for non-professionals like me.
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    edited June 2016
    aylajane wrote: »
    I think chiros (good ones) have a place - good ones will focus on the underlying issues and correcting them, not just "fix you up" so you can walk that day. Home exercise is a must - and a foam roller with some youtube videos has me believing I will never need a chiro again! But they should be able to explain the pain's source (is muscle imbalance, which leads to overcompensation, etc), how to help you and most importantly what to do to keep it from happening again.

    Muscle imbalance is a big deal for me, and I suspect many who just start trying lifting or an exercise program, especially on their own without a "program" to follow or a trainer to create one. I know I tend to only do what I like - quad exercises are great for me, but I hate hamstrings. I like chest presses but never realized my back even had muscles. Over training one without training the opposite and supporting muscles is a recipe for pain.

    Basically - if you can push 50 pounds off your chest, you should be able to pull 50 pounds with your back, etc. - keep muscle pairs even as you go! Thats very simplified and I am sure I am stating wrong, but its easier to think about this way for non-professionals like me.

    Nice post. As mentioned improper exercise selection can cause muscle imbalance issues. However the 800 pound gorilla in the corner is the amount of sitting most people do and the other poor body mechanice the 22-23 hours a day not dedicated to formal exercise.
  • aylajane
    aylajane Posts: 979 Member
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    aylajane wrote: »
    I think chiros (good ones) have a place - good ones will focus on the underlying issues and correcting them, not just "fix you up" so you can walk that day. Home exercise is a must - and a foam roller with some youtube videos has me believing I will never need a chiro again! But they should be able to explain the pain's source (is muscle imbalance, which leads to overcompensation, etc), how to help you and most importantly what to do to keep it from happening again.

    Muscle imbalance is a big deal for me, and I suspect many who just start trying lifting or an exercise program, especially on their own without a "program" to follow or a trainer to create one. I know I tend to only do what I like - quad exercises are great for me, but I hate hamstrings. I like chest presses but never realized my back even had muscles. Over training one without training the opposite and supporting muscles is a recipe for pain.

    Basically - if you can push 50 pounds off your chest, you should be able to pull 50 pounds with your back, etc. - keep muscle pairs even as you go! Thats very simplified and I am sure I am stating wrong, but its easier to think about this way for non-professionals like me.

    Nice post. As mentioned improper exercise selection can cause muscle imbalance issues. However the 800 pound gorilla in the corner is the amount of sitting most people do and the other poor body mechanice the 22-23 hours a day not dedicated to formal exercise.

    Oh yes for sure! In fact, my first visit to the chiro ever in my life, she examined me thoroughly, then started out "Well, your sitting muscles are EXCELLENT, lets work on your standing and moving muscles..." LOL - she was pretty funny.
  • 1992fx3
    1992fx3 Posts: 35 Member
    I found that Chiro was good for low back pain, not so much the spine 'cracking part', but the deep stretches they can apply to your muscles/ligament/tendons using there special table. It could help loosen up your hips.

    Definitely try Yoga, lots of examples on YouTube, 'pigeon pose' in particular is good for stretching your IT band which has an effect on hip pain.
  • Out of nowhere I started getting hip and lower leg pain. I tried everything.. stretching, yoga, taking a break from working out, doctors.... finally I went to a chiropractor. I went for 4 months, and the pain slowly went away. It's been 2 years since and I'm still good! I vote yay for chiropractors.
  • Spliner1969
    Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
    Nobody can tell you how your body is reacting to the weight loss but a doctor. Go see one before it gets worse. Chiropractors are not at the top of my list to see when I have back pain. I have met some good ones over the years, but most are quacks. I've been to a chiropractor 6 times in my life, 3x they made it worse. 2 times it didn't help much at all, and 1 time it helped immensely. That's not a good record in my book.

    I started at 305 lbs in January of 2015. By June or July of 2015 i had lost a ton of weight and was walking every day, sometimes seven days a week. I ignored the pain, walked anyway, and ended up with a herniated disc. The pain was unbearable, and I had to get steroid shots and was down for at least a week. The shots helped so much that it was like I never had any pain. I went right back to it and two-three weeks later managed to herniate 2 more discs. It was horrible pain. My back just wasn't used to the constant impact, nor the exercise I was doing to lose the weight. I had been attempting to burn 1000 calories a day walking, lifting, and doing anything I could think of to burn calories. The moral of this story is that I should have slowed down, saw a doctor right away, and dealt with it before it became an issue. Since the last injury healed I learned some yoga moves that really help my back, neck, shoulders, and hips and I now do them religiously before and after each workout. Good luck, just don't ignore the pain, and consider seeing a doctor or orthopedic doctor before a chiropractor.