Chiropractor or other kind of doctor?

[KNJWDW]

I am having some major back, hip and leg pain and finally have decided that I should see someone. However, I am not sure what kind of medical provider I should see. I have never been to a chiropractor and have always heard mixed things about them. If not a chiro., what kind of doctor would I see for this kind of problem? I have a high deductible ins. plan, so I will be paying for this out of my pocket, regardless who I see. So, if anyone can shed any light on this, I would appreciate it!

Amy

 

[winkers]

My suggestion would be to see your GP and a chiropractor.

I see a chiro, who I love, but you have to do your research before you pick one. Make sure they x-ray before doing any adjustments and beware of any who claim they can fix everything.

 

[ukwildcat]

I'm a chiropractor, so a little biased, but I would start with a chiro for a series of conservative treatments. Most of my patients symptoms resolve within 6 treatments. If symptoms are not resolved by 6 treatments I refer to the appropriate specialist.

Going that route will be less expensive and generally give you better and longer lasting results. Check out activerelease.com to find a reputable chiro in your area.

On a side note, if you are experiencing changes in your bowel or bladder habits (inability to control) or numbness/tingling in your "saddle" region (the area on your body a saddle or bicycle seat would touch) get to the ER immediately. It's a sign of cauda equina syndrome. Very rare (I've never seen it in my practice), but something to be aware of.

PM with any other questions. Best of luck.

 

[ukwildcat]

My suggestion would be to see your GP and a chiropractor.

I see a chiro, who I love, but you have to do your research before you pick one. Make sure they x-ray before doing any adjustments and beware of any who claim they can fix everything.

I have to respectfully disagree with the necessity of an x-ray for everyone who walks in the door. X-rays, or any other test should only be done if a "red flag" emerges during the history and physical. Most patients do not require x-rays for simple musculoskeletal complaints.

Additionally, very few chiropractors and general practitioners are qualified to read an x-ray series. Most who do x-ray in the office should be sending those films out for a professional read by a board certified radiologist, but the reality is that this rarely happens (at least in chiro offices).

Finally, unless you are looking for some form of degenerative disc disease or osteoarthritis, x-rays are not the test to order. MRI and CT are preferred for almost every other low back complaint, and these need to be referred.

Again, best of luck.

 

[Aristomommy]

I would not see a chiropractor, unless you know it's an issue with your spine and what the problem is specifically. Even then, I would be very picky about who I trust.

I suggest you see your family dr. and have him/her give you the appropriate referral to an orthopedic dr, neurologist, spine clinic etc. That is what your GP is for. If your GP finds chiropractic care to be beneficial, then ask for a recommendation.

Many insurances cover very little chiro care, so you might pay a higher out of pocket cost than with your family dr. I am in the medical field and too many times I have patients who have been to a chiropractor 6-12+ visits over a month or more before they go to their GP and find out what is REALLY wrong with them. Chiropractic care is wonderful, but it shouldn't be the starting point, IMHO since I am not sure how well they diagnose problems.

 

[monkey68]

Personally, I would start with your primary care doctor. You want to figure out what is causing the pain before you go and start adjusting. You also want to rule out any serious causes. Then, with their green light, I would see a chiropractor, or osteopathic physician. I may be biased, but I prefer going with the osteopathic physician. If you find one that uses manipulation in their practice, I might actually go there first, because they are physicians so they can examine you and determine if it is something musculoskeletal or something requiring further workup. I've also had better treatments from osteopath's than chiropractors, but like in any field, you'll find good ones and bad ones, and that can taint your view of a place or profession. So again, I'm biased, but I would go with an osteopathic physician that uses OMT in their practice, or at the least, start with your primary care doctor.

 

[aprilgail2]

I would go to an orthopedic Dr or my GP- I would NEVER go to a Chiropractor.

 

[teacups]

I really urge you to see a physical therapist and save yourself a lot of possible "problems". NOT a sports therapist though.. there was a big difference in how my back care progressed once I got to the right kind of doctor. And not a chiropractor! Your regular doc should be able to direct you. See your doc first.

Good luck.

 

[ukwildcat]

I would not see a chiropractor, unless you know it's an issue with your spine and what the problem is specifically. Even then, I would be very picky about who I trust.

I suggest you see your family dr. and have him/her give you the appropriate referral to an orthopedic dr, neurologist, spine clinic etc. That is what your GP is for. If your GP finds chiropractic care to be beneficial, then ask for a recommendation.

Many insurances cover very little chiro care, so you might pay a higher out of pocket cost than with your family dr. I am in the medical field and too many times I have patients who have been to a chiropractor 6-12+ visits over a month or more before they go to their GP and find out what is REALLY wrong with them. Chiropractic care is wonderful, but it shouldn't be the starting point, IMHO since I am not sure how well they diagnose problems.

Nothing like lumping everyone into one category, is there? I think the Nazis did that as well.

 

[iggbees]

i started to see a chiropractor about 3 weeks ago for back and neck problems. i actually have to disagree with people who are saying don't go. i would definitely be picky about who i see, but i think that the chiropractic care that i have received has been extremely beneficial. i haven't had as many back problems since seeing him and what's utterly amazing to me is how my back actually moves now!

some people have bad experiences with their chiropractors, but so far mine has been a good one.

 

[AllyandJack]

I started seeing a chiro that specializes in pregnant women in my 3rd pregnancy. I had reached my breaking point with the pain I had.

For one thing....my insurance doesn't cover any x-rays/MRIs/etc run by a chiro. I have unlimited visits and no referral needed, no pre-auth needed, and just a $10. co-pay, so my insurance is not anti-chiro, they just will not cover any of those types of tests ordered by a chiro. Before you go, make sure you don't get suck without coverage for something like that, even with a high deductible.

I saw her 5x. She finally determined that she couldn't help me. She said there was too much inflammation and really believed something else was going on with me. I had a very high risk pregnancy, so going to my OB and saying, "Yeah, my kidneys and liver are shutting down, but I have this pain in my hip...." seemed stupid. The chiro diagnosed my SPD and contacted my OB and I needed crutches for most of my pregnancy.

After I delivered, I saw her again. Again, she said something else is going on beyond her ability. I had an x-ray and my pelvis is cracked (bless you, Michelle Duggar, because #3 nearly killed me!).

Even though she didn't heal me, it did turn out to be a good move. I never would have had the SPD diagnosis because, as a stubborn broad, I never would have brought up something like this to my OB - she had bigger things to worry about than my pain and I figured it was normal. Totally NOT normal to be have no control over your legs and heard cracking when you walk - even while pregnant!

She also knew something else was wrong and had me see an ortho who did the x-ray and CT to find cracked pelvis. She knew what she was talking about and also knew the limits of what she could do for me.

UKWildcat - my good friend suffers from CES. She's on the FB group there and posts about it often and talks to me about it. It sounds awful and she's had such trouble finding help for it because so many people have never seen or heard of it. She's had a few back surgeries, but nothing has helped. I feel awful for her when she has these flare ups and can barely walk.

 

[HsvTeacher]

I would go to your GP and get a referral to a neurosurgeon. Personally, I would not go to a chiropractor.

I had back surgery a couple of years ago after having severe back and leg pain. I tried a chiropractor first, and in my opinion, that was the worst mistake I ever made. I ended up being referred to a neurosurgeon and opted for surgery after losing feeling in my right leg. My back and leg have been great ever since!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I've run the gammut of issues and have seen the all.

I would recommend a PT for full physical assessment of what the sources of your pain are.

I would follow up with a chiropractor after PT treatment has concluded if necessary.

I prefer PT's who are experienced in manual therapy. I have had good results. In my case, I had some muscle spasms that required specific treatment that a chiropractor doesn't provide.

I see awesome chiropractors right now. Every time I go in, they do a full body assessment. Not just fix where *I* think needs adjusting.

I had a "weak core" and I have mild scoliosis--this caused a huge chain reaction in my body. PT got it under control and got me strengthened. I continue in Pilates (highly recommended!) and see a chiropractor to keep things in check. I return to physical therapy if I get too far out of whack and require more extensive treatment.

 

[Inigo]

I would go to an orthopedic Dr or my GP- I would NEVER go to a Chiropractor.

Personally, if I have health issues, I'd want a medical person dealing with those issues.

 

[wdwiala]

Personally, if I have health issues, I'd want a medical person dealing with those issues.

ooooh. There is so much I could say, so much! But I won't... In fact, I'm gonna do myself a favor and not click on this post again.

 

[ORMom2Four]

Dh went to a chiropractor when he strained his back (or so he thought) building a deck. He felt great the first hour or two after he saw the chiropractor. After that he was in worse pain than before and totally regretted the visit.

His primary care ordered an MRI, and it was discovered that his disc had ruptured. He was in surgery the next day.

It sounds like it could be a problem with your spine/discs. I would not see a chiropractor until you get an MRI. You do NOT want to have someone adjusting the bones in your spine if there is a buldge in the disc, they could rupture it.

 

[iggbees]

Personally, if I have health issues, I'd want a medical person dealing with those issues.

i do not agree with this at all. i have never once had a dr tell me why i'm having back and neck pains. in fact, all of the drs that i have seen about my pain have no idea what to do, so they send me to specialists (such as my chiropractor, who also happens to be a sports chiropractor) my chiropractor explains everything to me about what is happening with my back and neck and what i can do to help myself from feeling worse.

i think that you just have to find a good chiropractor, just like you have to find a good dr (which i have not found as of yet). so in my case, i would actually say that i trust what my chiropractor says more than what the dr's i see say.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

i do not agree with this at all. i have never once had a dr tell me why i'm having back and neck pains. in fact, all of the drs that i have seen about my pain have no idea what to do, so they send me to specialists (such as my chiropractor, who also happens to be a sports chiropractor) my chiropractor explains everything to me about what is happening with my back and neck and what i can do to help myself from feeling worse.

i think that you just have to find a good chiropractor, just like you have to find a good dr (which i have not found as of yet). so in my case, i would actually say that i trust what my chiropractor says more than what the dr's i see say.

I too have been referred for chiropractic care. Just like there are good docs and bad docs, there are bad chiropractics that make the whole field seem like quackery.

But I have been referred and my insurance pays for it--so there must be some credence to the profession as a whole.

I do agree about getting checked out first to find the source of the issue.

I have had MRI's where appropriate and X-rays when sufficient and I don't have any issues that are contraindicated for chiropractor.

I wouldn't just walk up to any chiropractor and let them adjust me. We have a known "chiro-quack-tor" in our area and we avoid them. Was chatting with present chiro today about him and he is not well respected among his peers in the field. (in fact her turned my very mild scoliosis into very major scoliosis--amazing what will happen to an x-ray with an improper stature for the actual x-ray. (My spine looked like an upside down question mark on the film. My scoliosis is much more mild than that.)

 

[iggbees]

I do agree about getting checked out first to find the source of the issue.

oh totally, i wouldn't have gone to the chiropractor had i not gone to the dr's first about my back. my insurance pays for chiropractic care as well and we have to have a referral. unfortunately for me, my dr's office never has any clue about what to do for me so they ask me if i've ever seen a specialist and hand me a referral.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

My 16 year old son started having back and shoulder pain in July. He had blood tests, two sets of back xrays and an MRI over the next month (we were on vacation for two weeks in the middle) and they couldn't find anything. I was going to discuss with my son's DR taking him to a chiropractor. (In those two weeks we were on vacation, my DD (a college Senior) and I also visited Palmer College of Chiropractic in FL, and I was pretty impressed.) But then it occurred to me to call the pediatrician's office and ask if they had done a Lyme test when they had taken blood early on, and they hadn't. So we went to the lab that day to have one done, and the results were positive and quite high.

He's been on antibiotics for 2 weeks and no longer has any pain.

Just pointing out the importance of getting a correct diagnosis. And while I'm here, I'll offer my PSA du jour...if you live in a high Lyme area, and you develop bone pain or other symptoms of Lyme, even without seeing a bullseye rash or a tick bite (my son had neither, nor did my DD who had Lyme Disease 11 years ago), insist on a Lyme test.