Chiropractic Experiences?

[becka]

Well I threw my back out (again) and since I am so sick of the pain I did the unthinkable (at least for me) and went to see a chiropractor this afternoon. My in-laws kept telling me to go to one if it flared up again so in my desperation I did.

I am skeptical (to put it mildly) of this actually working and I have this weird "thing" about my spine. I don't like people touching it and the thought of someone "moving" it just really freaks me out.

They took some x-rays today and I go back for the results tomorrow. He said something about a misalignment of my T-5 causing pain in my back and siatic (sp?) nerve. I really don't know much about this but if anyone can give me their experiences it would really help.

Thanks!

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

I go and have had no problems. I feel wonderful when he is finished.
He has also done wonders with migraines for me too.

 

[nativetxn]

My mother finally sought the help of a chiropractor after years of avoiding it. When she went to nursing school she was taught that chiropractors were "quacks".

I can't describe how much the chiropractor helped her back pain. She was going regularly before she became so ill and was hospitalized last July. I imagine she will go again once she is able to come home.

Good luck with this, back pain is just a terrible thing to live with.

 

[WDWAurora]

I've always thought they were quacks too...My mom was a physical therapist, and she will go to the grave saying that, as did my mom's cousin, an anesthesiological (sp?) nurse. I've worked for one for over a year, and have let him adjust my neck once, as I had something called torticollis, which caused a LOT of pain, and came on very suddenly the Thursday before I drove home from college for spring break on Friday and before we left for Disney on Saturday. I did not get any relief from the treatment, but daily at work I see people come in who can't walk, and leave upright. People love him and his work...It's not for me, but it's worth a shot for a lot of people, as it does give many a LOT of relief. If you have more questions, I'll try to answer from the office point of view.

 

[Tuffcookie]

My back went out last Monday while lifting DS's backpack into the car. In the past I would have suffered for a week but now that I'm older (and wiser ) I called the chiropractor right away. I have been going every other day for the last week and my back is much better. (No more backpacks for Tuffcookie!)

TC

 

[Michelle]

I'll be the dissenter, I had a HORRIBLE experience with a chiropractor.

I hurt my back when I was 26, the chiro misdiagnosed it and did not know it was a herniated disc, I went through about three months of treatments that made it substantially WORSE.

I then went to an orthopedist and was correctly diagnosed. After two years of physical therapy without consistent improvement I had spinal surgery that had a TOUGH recovery but once I healed I was SO much better.

I know there are people who have been helped by chiros but if you have a SERIOUS spinal condition I would most definitely see an orthopedist first.

 

[MrsPiglet]

Michelle,

Your experience sounds just like mine. My back went out, was misdiagnosed and felt worse coming out of his office than when I went in. He kept telling me this was normal. Than one day, I flat out could not walk coming out of his office, that was the last time for me, about three months of treatment.

Suffered another few months finally went to the nurologist(sp), I was diagnosed with herniated disc (three). After about a year of the physical therepy one of the herniated disc ruptured and was laying on my nerve. Had no choice but to have the surgery in my spine. Long and tough recovery, but I can walk most of the time with no pain now. It hurts now and then if I strain my back.

I would seggest a regular doctor and having a cat scan or mri before going to the chripractor.

 

[sha_lyn]

I've seen on off and on for yrs with only good results. I suffer from chronic pain in my left shoulder and neck from a car accident, and chiropractic care is the only thing that has kept me sane (because of pain) for the last 6 or so years.


WDWAurora... one adjustment is not going to help/cure most problems. Depending on the problem it could take 3-10 visits to get relief, and then monthly adjustments to keep in alignment.

I've always thought they were quacks too...My mom was a physical therapist, and she will go to the grave saying that,

I find this so funny, since a physical therapist does many of things that a chiropractor does, and the chiropractor has more training. My sister will call them quacks then talk about her therapist adjusting her back, ribs etc. OK so what the heck is the difference if it is a therapist, or a Chiropractor?

DH injured his back about 12 yrs ago. He too thought they were quacks. He went the the MD, Orthopedist, physical therapist etc. He was on pain killers and still suffering. Finally the Dr wanted to do surgery and gave him about a 40% chance of getting some relief, and a 40% chance that surgery would make it worse.
He finally took my advise and went to the Chiropractor I was seeing at the time. He went daily for a week or so, then 2-3X a week for about 2 weeks or so. I'd say by the end of the first week he had marked improvement. By then end of 6 weeks or so, he was down to monthly adjustments and was pain free.

 

[WDWAurora]

Torticollis is generally only treated in one visit, unless it is chronic. It's different than most of the normal things that get adjusted.

Also, my mom does not do any adjustments. Physical therapists (at least in NC) are CERTAINLY not licensed to do so, and work more with muscles, etc. than anything. Yes, they work with bones, but there's a reason they take about 4 seperate courses in kinesiology.

Like I said, I see plenty of people helped by chiropractic care. Keep in mind I WORK in a chiropractic office, and have done so for around a year and a half. I see people come in and out....the majority do find relief. Some are even able to avoid surgeries by receiving care. The biggest thing I would do is to only go to a chiropractor who is recommended to you by a friend, or someone you trust. We hear stories from people everyday who have come from other doctors that treated them wrong. We do report to the doctor that they've had a complaint, as that is part of an agreement here. We have had no complaints since I've worked there!

 

[Wendy]

I had always thought of chiropractors as quacks, but I broke down and tried one about a month ago. I went because my back pain has gotten to the point that I am now facing surgery, and was hoping that I might get some relief from a chiropractor as a last ditch effort to avoid the surgery. Well, after 3 visits with the "doctor," it just reinforced my opinion that chiropractors are indeed quacks and it isn't something I'll ever try again.

I have many close friends who swear by chiropractors, but they just aren't for me. I think I'll stick to "real" doctors from now on.

 

[waughzee]

I have been seeing a chiropractor since I was 13 years old and diagnosed with scoliosis. The Orthopedic Drs. wanted to do surgery and insert metal rods into my back to straighten the spine. My parents had the thought that maybe a chiropractor would help. The Orthopedic Drs. couldn't believe my curvature decreased the next time I visited them. I never did have the surgery, and I see my chiropractor religously every 3 months. I even convinced my DH that he should go, and he goes every 2 months!
Once I was having horrid back pain, and was going to see the chiropractor daily, with no relief. After 3 visits, he told me to go see my regular dr, as he could no longer help me. It was a kidney infection. If you find the right chiropractor, they will do that, and I am sure that there are some quacks out there. Ask around your community for some recommendations.

 

[Kitty 34]

I broke my neck years ago so I'm very very skeptical about having ANYone go near my neck. But after suffering from neck pain for several months last winter, I finally broke down and went to a PT (at the request of my DR).

Becka, I would definetly suggest visits to a PT first before a Chiro. IMHO PTs are a lot less agressive in their procedures than a Chiro (I did go to a Chiro one time) which at least for my neck, has been more tolerable.

Good luck to you!

 

[Tiggerkeeper]

I was skeptical too until I had a problem a few years ago and couldn't move from pain. I went to see a chiro and am now a believer. Like nativetxn's mom I went to nursing school and believed chiros to be "quacks". It took about 5 visits for the pain to ease completely. My problems was similar to what you are describing becka.

Hope you get to feeling better soon, back pain is no fun and with an infant running around it can make things VERY difficult.

 

[disneygals]

Waughzee,

My daughter, 11, was just diagnosed with scoliosis. She goes for her second x-ray in October, her curve is now 20 degrees. Could you please give some more details of your treatment? If you don't want to post it, you could pm me. Thanks SO much.

I have had great success with chiros, went after each child for some kind of issue. I would also agree to make sure you have a "good" one, usually that talks about working with regular MD's.

Vivienne

 

[PaintedStuff]

I think I'll stick to "real" doctors from now on.

Chiropractors are real doctors. Just as MDs are doctors of medicine and dentists are doctors of dentisry, DCs are doctors of chiropractic. They have extensive post-graduate education, must be licensed and are required (in most states) to take continuing education courses to stay on top of the newest methods and advances in their fields.

Anyone can have a bad experience with any doctor of any discipline. Who hasn't heard horror stories about a misdiagnosis or bad treatment by an MD or DDS at some time or another?

Chiropractic is covered by almost all insurance plans because it is a proven, effective way of treating musculoskeletal related problems.

I suggest that if someone is skeptical about the 'cracking' of traditional chiropractic manipulations they find a chiropractor who uses a "Thompson Table" You lie on your stomach or back and the doctor adjusts you by manually applying pressure while a hydraulic system simultaneously moves parts of the table.

I had more traditional chiropractic adjustments years ago and hated it, but since finding a DC who uses the Thompson table I've enjoyed a pain-free lifestyle for the past eight years. And the key is going for regular adjustments so your back stays aligned.

 

[WDWAurora]

Yeah, most insurance covers it. More plans are dropping it, however, just to save costs overall. It has nothing to do with the effectiveness of chiropractic care, but it saves the companies money in the long run...Most ins companies require that the company sponsoring the insurance (for example, if someone works for IBM) to pick up a chiropractic rider, and the majority did, until this year, just due to the downturn in the economy. Our office continues to grow, despite this setback.

 

[tc]

I was very skeptical of chiropractors for years. Last August I had a female exam, and had blood taken. I was alway tired and feeling horrible. My blood work showed that I was anemic, had low iron, had dangerously low cholesterol and many other maladie caused by malapsorbtion caused from many abdominal surgeries. I didn't now what to do, and figured I was doomed to a life of feeling horrible. The next Sunday I was singing on the worship team at church, and was telling a friend of my blood test. She told me I needed to talk to her husband, a chiropractor. I have known him for years and trust him as a person, so I figured I give it a try. I went in for xrays and found I had scoliosis with two s-curves. Also, the part of my spine that affects my digestion was all out. I have been going to him for one year, three times a week, and can't believe how great I feel. I have gained weight (that's a good thing) and had my blood taken a few weeks ago, and all levels were normal/good. I will continue to go see him twice a week, for as long as it takes. I also had another x-ray, and the upper s-curve is straight, with the lower one straighter than it was. I am now a firm believer in chiropractic care. It's important that you trust your doctor. If you have a bad experience, so to someone else. Get references, ask you friends, but go. It has really changed my life.