Has anyone taken their kids to a Chiropractor?

[mookie]

We have been seeing one recently for my youngest son...he has a variety of "issues," the main one being that it seems that his equilibrium might be a bit off because he is so clumsy. In addition to this, he is easily crabby and irritated because he is so uncoordinated (he's 2). He isn't speaking yet, but his older brother has been diagnosed with Speech Apraxia, so I'm not surprised. Our OT suggested maybe seeing a chiro for his clumsiness and demeanor, and she did preface it by "she didn't know if it was going to work, but it was worth a shot."

Fast forward a few weeks later, and it seems to be working. He is less clumsy, and less crabby. However, now I am starting to have some doubts. Of course, we are still going...2x a week after a month. I think this is excessive. In addition to that, this chiro (a "peds" chiro) is very much about health and wellness of the whole body, which I am all for doing what keeps us healthy, but something in my head is giving me a red flag. Today, my ds was sick with a fever and diareha (sp) and when I called to cancel, they protested and said that I should still bring him in. ("we see patients who are sick, an adjustment actually makes them feel better.")

This took me back a bit. I'm all for adjustments if it's for a legitiment reason, but I'm starting to think this guy is of the opinion that he can "cure all." Are my mom instincts right here? Or am I just uneducated about the practice in general?

If you are taking your kids to a chiro, I'd love to hear opinions, if you thought it worked, etc. Thanks!

 

[lovemygoofy]

I'm in no way attacking you as a parent please know this. I don't even have kids so probably shouldn't even be on this thread.

I do have to ask though. Is it even safe to take a 2 year old to a chiropractor? A two year old is still developing and growing and I would think someone messing his back would negatively impact that somehow.

I'm married to a 30 year old clumsy man. I wonder if they can help him. You'd think considering his line of work he'd be more graceful but not so much

I do hope your child feels better soon though.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I have taken my 7 year old to the chiro for bedwetting. It didn't work, but it was worth a shot. I don't want to give him medication. My 3 year old nephew also goes for two reasons. Ear infections, and he has a leg/hip problem. Anyways it is working for him. If his mom is lurking on the boards today she will probably post.

I love my chiropractor. She is so helpful. She doesn't act like she can cure anything. I have known her to tell someone they need to see a medical doctor. She really helps me with severe headaches. I used to get them 3 or 4 times a week now its like 1 per month. She was very down to earth about the bedwetting. She said it may or may not work. She is also very gentle.

If you aren't comfortable with your chiro find another one. I would not want to see one who felt they could replace your family doctor. I think they need to work together.

 

[mookie]

I'm in no way attacking you as a parent please know this. I don't even have kids so probably shouldn't even be on this thread.

I do have to ask though. Is it even safe to take a 2 year old to a chiropractor? A two year old is still developing and growing and I would think someone messing his back would negatively impact that somehow.

I'm married to a 30 year old clumsy man. I wonder if they can help him. You'd think considering his line of work he'd be more graceful but not so much

I do hope your child feels better soon though.

No harm in your post at all! Trust me, I did as much research as I could before this, and consulted our pediatrician. The manipulation he does isn't like an adult would get at all...it's very gentle. My son never cries, in fact he loves it and claps when he's done!

I think I'm just questioning the validity of the multiple appointments, and the whole "cure-all" philosophy more than anything.

 

[trayletha]

Both my daughters have seen chiros since before their first birthdays, we have moved and had to find new ones several times, but we have been very happy with everyone we have seen.

OP, I would say that if you are not comfortable with the chiro or the office policies/philosophies find someone else, just like you would for any other care. You'll find someone who "feels" right even if it takes a few tries.

 

[chasbos]

My kids have gone to the chiropractor and they love it. The started going for small sports related injuries and the results were good. Less knee pain, foot pain (they are runners).

They always felt really good when they were done with there adjustments - they do not go anymore but that was me being a tough Mom.

Along with the adjustments the girls were to be doing home exercises and some days the chiropractor would ask them to miss a soccer game or not run - they did not listen and went and played soccer anyway. I told them I was not paying all that money and wasting my time driving them around if they were not going to heed to the recommendations.

They would love to go back - but I told them they had to play for it then.

It really is a personal choice - myself, I have never been and never plan on it. Just not something for me - DH on the other hand goes all the time.

 

[hucifer]

Mookie,

I have taken my son to the chiropractor several times: the first few times when he was a newborn, the next few were when he was a year old, and I had him recently adjusted as a two-year-old. Each time my chiropractor said he was just slightly out of alignment, but nothing major. I take him in to ensure that his spine and head are in alignment. I figure, if the spine houses all of the nervous system, keeping the spine healthy should have an overall healthy effect on the rest of him.

I do believe that adjustments help keep us healthy, but I also believe that it's only one part of a very big package called Wellness.

Personally, chiropractic care has done amazing things for myself, so I do plan to keep taking my son for periodic adjustments to ensure we're doing all we can for him.

ETA: OT, but I love the quote in your sig!

 

[lorilori]

Hi and YES! I've gone over the years to a chiropractor mostly for back problems after car accidents and then it became the ONLY thing that could help with a sciatic nerve problem. That said, I took our 9 year old DS after a particularly hard hit in a football game and it worked wonders. After that for the rest of football season I'd take him every week/week and a half just to make sure everything was okay. Our chiropractor also works with our high school football team but generally doesn't feel the need to see anyone more than a once a week maintenance kind of thing. On a side note, we saw a fabulous improvement in DS allergies when he was getting adjusted on a regular basis!

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

we've been taking DD to one since she was 5 & she LOVES it!

Im all for alternative healthcare!
my DD is healthy & growing like a weed & has hardly been sick.
I think a little part of it has to do with the chiropratic

 

[mill4023]

It is truly astounding to me that a chiropractor can claim they can help with ear infections. And even more astounding that people are willing to pay them for this.

 

[bumbershoot]

I am a no longer practicing chiropractor, who went into it because of the amazing changes it made in my life. My mom dragged me in, kicking and screaming (I exaggerate), when I was about 15, and within 2 visits my allergies were GONE. Shin splints were gone, too, b/c the chiro did some extremity adjusting (not all chiros do it...I didn't).

Chiropractic is non-allopathic, meaning they don't just chase symptoms. Or at least they shouldn't. The guy who started chiro as it is today first thought it was a cure for deafness, as the first guy he worked on regained his hearing. But it doesn't work that way...that guy had gone deaf over time due to his upper cervical vertebrae being slightly out of position, which is why his deafness was healed after having what was later called adjustments...not everyone goes deaf in that way, so not everyone can be healed. Then he thought it was a cure for other things, and so on and so forth...finally he cried "uncle" and realized that helping the vertebrae get back into alignment CAN help whatever went wrong from having them OUT of alignment.

Most people who are under regular care do not get illnesses as often. Chiropractors in general do not believe in the germ theory (the concept pasteur proposed that a germ causes xyz symptoms, and when another person comes into contact with that germ they will get the same sickness...basically, that GERMS cause sickness) and believe in strengthening the body's systems so they will not get as sick, will get over their sickness quicker, and won't get sick as often. Therefore, chiros WANT to see people who aren't feeling well, because it can indeed help the body's systems, including the immune system, and it can indeed help that person fight it off.

Many appointments at the beginning is very normal. The body is used to having that vertebra(e) out of alignment, and the musculature is happy with it being in the position it has been. So it goes "out" of alignment much easier at the beginning. As the body gets used to things being in better alignment, the muscles will start helping it stay that way. So it's important to go often at the beginning; think of it as training wheels, LOL. Once the body starts "holding" the adjustments better, the visits will taper off.

I actually used to have a monthly fee for those who wanted to come in as often as I wanted them to come in; made it easier on them instead of paying $30/visit. Not all chiros do this though, especially those who deal with insurance (I would give people "superbills" but would not charge insurance directly).

So in short, it's normal. In short, chiropractic helps the body work better, so it can help any number of problems. Along with my immune system starting to function more normally, the thing that got me really into wanting to be a DC was reading some research that had been done, showing that children with Down Syndrome and other similar problems did better with chiropractic. It didn't suddenly make their chromosomes "normal", but they got sick less, they were not as sick when they did get sick, etc. It helped their systems. I realized that if it could do that for kids with chromosomal problems, it would do it for all of us, and that's what caused me to be a DC.

 

[Inigo]

It is truly astounding to me that a chiropractor can claim they can help with ear infections. And even more astounding that people are willing to pay them for this.

I had a couple of them try to convince me they could cure my Crohn's Disease. After that, I decided they are nothing but quacks.

 

[angwill]

I have seen a chiropractor who writes and researches for the AMA and some chiropractic magazines. He says if a patient is not feeling at least 75% better after 5-6 visits it is his responsibility to ask himself if he is helping you or just taking your money. He will send you to a specialist at that point. He asesses you and your issues before deciding if you need x-rays etc. I never needed them. I felt 80% better after 3 visits after having serious lower and upper back pain and migrains. I do see him about once a year and feel much better after 3 visits. My pain comes back after about a year because I don't always remember to sit up straight at the computer and to suck in my gut to help the muscles in my lower back like he tells me to.

He said there are lots of Chiropractors out there who will tell you they can cure all or if you don't see them regularly for x amount of appointments that bad things will happen etc. etc. he said those are the guys who enjoy making money not healing patients.

Personally, if a chiropractor told me to bring my child in while he had a fever and vomitting I would find a new one.

Also, adjustments can be addicting because they really do make you feel like you sit and feel better. I would gladly see my chiropractor on a regular basis just because of how good it feels afterward but mine won't let me waist my money when I don't need it.

HTH

 

[Tinkmom75]

Originally posted by MickeyPooh99:

My 3 year old nephew also goes for two reasons. Ear infections, and he has a leg/hip problem. Anyways it is working for him. If his mom is lurking on the boards today she will probably post.

Better late than never. I am her nephew's mother

Originally posted by mill4023:

It is truly astounding to me that a chiropractor can claim they can help with ear infections. And even more astounding that people are willing to pay them for this.

You may not believe this, but having my son's ears adjusted kept us from getting tubes put in his ears. He had constant ear infections from Jan. 2008 to around July. His hearing wasn't where it should be either. The ENT said tubes were the way to go, but I wanted to wait since it was summer. DS3 developed an ear infection in August and I said that's it. He was put on an antibiotic and I scheduled surgery. My DH convinced me to try a chiro (I was a huge skeptic). The ear infection went away and I cancelled surgery and just went for an appt. to the ENT. My DS's ears were clear and hearing was completely normal. I told ENT that I wanted to wait to see how it went. He told me you can't adjust ears. Well, DS had only 1 ear infection last winter. It was an amazing difference and he was hardly sick all winter. He probably wouldn't have had that ear infection if I had brought him to the chiro when he first started getting the sniffles. It worked great for us!

A couple more things. DS totally loves going to the Chiro and he feels better afterward. We only go as needed now, but it was more frequent the first month. Our chiro does not claim to be able to cure all things, but he says he may be able to help with some things. Also, I would not have believed it helped if he hadn't adjusted my ears too. I could feel the fluid drain out of my ears and I didn't even know it was there. It was kind of gross

 

[DizBelle]

Originally posted by MickeyPooh99:
Better late than never. I am her nephew's mother

Originally posted by mill4023:

You may not believe this, but having my son's ears adjusted kept us from getting tubes put in his ears. He had constant ear infections from Jan. 2008 to around July. His hearing wasn't where it should be either. The ENT said tubes were the way to go, but I wanted to wait since it was summer. DS3 developed an ear infection in August and I said that's it. He was put on an antibiotic and I scheduled surgery. My DH convinced me to try a chiro (I was a huge skeptic). The ear infection went away and I cancelled surgery and just went for an appt. to the ENT. My DS's ears were clear and hearing was completely normal. I told ENT that I wanted to wait to see how it went. He told me you can't adjust ears. Well, DS had only 1 ear infection last winter. It was an amazing difference and he was hardly sick all winter. He probably wouldn't have had that ear infection if I had brought him to the chiro when he first started getting the sniffles. It worked great for us!

A couple more things. DS totally loves going to the Chiro and he feels better afterward. We only go as needed now, but it was more frequent the first month. Our chiro does not claim to be able to cure all things, but he says he may be able to help with some things. Also, I would not have believed it helped if he hadn't adjusted my ears too. I could feel the fluid drain out of my ears and I didn't even know it was there. It was kind of gross

I think this is the idea with chiropractic treatment for ear infections. I don't think the claim is to "cure" ear infections per se.

What they claim is that the adjustments will put the body in a position and create an environment where ear infections are less likely. If that fluid can't build up and remain in the ear, it will not be an environment where bacteria can grow.

This is what the tubes do. They allow the fluid to drain so that the environment isn't ripe for bacterial grown. Chirporactic attempts to do the same thing but they encourage the body to get the fluid to drain itself rather than through surgical implatation of tubes.

In general, I don't think the philosophy of Chiropractic is a "cure all" but rather a way of getting the body to maintain itself in a better state so that illness and injury is way less likely.

 

[uncutk]

We have used a chiro for our daughter when she was having growing pains. She is also very clumsy. We had her eyes checked before she was 3 and she has been in glasses ever since. That might be something else to check.

 

[HGD24]

Have you considered having your little one see a D.O.? DO's are medical dr's who specialize in osteopathic manipulation. I feel really secure with DO's knowing that they have medical degrees.

For the first 3 months of her life, my DD had trouble turning her head to the right while laying on her back. DD's pedi suspected that the issue had to do with something that happened during birth, putting too much pressure on her neck and spine. My DO said that his office partners with pediatrician's offices to provide services for children as young as a few weeks old. I didn't end up taking her to the DO as some simple exercises at home worked, but I would not have hesitated to take her to a DO if the problem continued. Good luck!

ETA - my DO wants to figure out and fix the problem in as little appts as possible. He doesn't like having patients come back for multiple appts over a long period of time. If that happens, he starts having testing done or helps you seek out a specialist in whatever field he thinks might be the issue.

 

[PatsGirl]

I read up on chiro care for infants/toddlers with chronic ear infections and chose to take DD to the chiro starting at age 14 months (after her 8th or 9th severe ear infection). His first recommendation was to take her off all dairy products and he then adjusted her on a regular basis for about a year. While I can't be 100% sure that the chiro care was responsible for the decrease in her infections, she did clear of all infections for a few months and then they slowed down considerably to one every three or four months. In the end, DD ended up having five ear/nose/throat surgeries but nothing really stopped them all together except growing older. It has now been 18 months without an ear infection and she is 12 1/2

 

[Buckalew11]

My DD (15) has seen a chiropractor all her life because I have gone since age 15 (am 44). She has never had an ear infection!

I have too many success stories to try to type out but my chiropractor worked on both niece and nephew when they were months old. Worked too!

I think they are just like regular doctors. Some quacks, some not. I'd have a hard time picking one out and trusting him/her. I think I'd use word of mouth.

Mine doesn't even charge me so I am blessed and very fortunate. I try not to take advantage of his care but it works so it can be hard not to.

My chiropractor can tell me most anything that is wrong with me just by looking at me. Now that's scary, spooky stuff there. "When are you going to get that shoulder worked on? How about that elbow?" I haven't done anything but walk across the room and he can tell. Bulky sweater on? No problem... like I said, a bit spooky.

Anyway, I am a believer in chiropractic care because I have witnessed it helping and fixing. It is an amazing type *medicine* and I know I am blessed to get such great care for me and my family for free.

 

[Shmily1]

I started taking DD18 and DS19 right after we had an accident because DD had a lot of back pains. I had been before and it helped me so I wanted to see if it would help her. She swears it helps. When she was in school and got a headache, sick on her stomach, anything, she would go to the nurse and have them call me to "make her a DR appt." I knew the code. She wanted to go to the Chiro. It always helped.

DS didn't have as much trauma to his bakc from the wreck, but he has tremors. As long as he keeps going regularly, his tremors are lessened. They are still there, but not nearly as bad. I think I did the right thing for both of them. They think so too.