How do you feel about Chiropractors?

[lovetoscrap]

I never believed in Chiropractors-- I equated them with Quacks.

But about 5 years ago I hurt my back and after seeing my regular Doc, taking pain meds and muscle relaxers that I hated and didn't help, and an MRI he suggested I see a Chiro. I was ticked and couldn't believe he would suggest that. But I was desperate and in so much pain I agreed. I walked in very slowly, hunched over with tears streaming down my face the pain was so bad. I walked out with a normal pace, standing straight and feeling better than I had in weeks. The chiro wanted me to come back regularly but I only did a few visits until I felt completely better and then stopped. I again hurt my back when preparing to move and went back to him for a weeks with great results.


So with all the problems with my feet and the fact that I know I have been messing up my body wearing the Cam Walker and walking funny the last few years I kept thinking I should find a Chiro but never did. Then I hurt my back again 2 weeks ago. I found a chiro on Thursday when it hurt so bad I couldn't breathe. Things have apparently changed a lot from the cracking and twisting I experienced a few years ago. I feel much better and plan to keep going back for awhile. He also has somethings he is doing for my feet to help with the inflammation and healing.

But I also have a problem with how they claim they can cure my allergies, common colds, ear aches, etc with all they can do. I just am not a believer in all that. This practice has a huge emphasis on total body wellness, sells natural herbs, does earcandling etc... I just want them to help my neck and back and feet. They started on the additional sales pitch today and I said no, but I hope I don't have to deal with a hard sale approach each time.

What are your experiences with Chiros?

 

[edwardsfire]

Quack, quack.....
I have never met a REAL doctor that has any respect for them.
Modern day black magic. Kinda like the peddler that promised a miracle in a bottle.

 

[soupy11]

Quack, quack.....
I have never met a REAL doctor that has any respect for them.
Modern day black magic. Kinda like the peddler that promised a miracle in a bottle.

Yeah I kinda agree with you, but not in quite the same way. I believe that a lot of back pain is psychosomatic and the placebo effect helps people feel that the treatment is curing their aches. I do have back trouble, but it always seems to follow stressful periods in my life and if I work on the stress, the pain always goes away.

 

[phorsenuf]

I went one time and he scared the crap out of mwe with all that cracking and twisting. Never went back. I know a lot of people that love them.
The way I see it is if you are finding relief from it, than keep on going. If they continue with the sales pitch tell them you are not interested and if they continue let them know that if they don't stop then you will find a new Dr.

Glad you are felling better.

 

[stashbin]

I love my chiropractor....while I don't believe what he does for me will ever cure me, he absolutely makes me feel better when I go. I will have sharp pains in certain areas of my back or neck and after he adjusts me I feel much better.
I usually go about 2-5 times every 3 months or so. My insurance pays for it and it keeps me from having back surgery. (I mean it does alleviate my pain enough to where I can function without considering surgery).

 

[soupy11]

I also wanted to add that I had a friend study and become a chiropractor, and the extreme cult like indoctrination he went through scared me a bit. I would get these weird ranting e-mails from him, outlining the medical communities follies and abuses. It reminded me of a cult and we don't speak anymore due to the fact that I refused to feed into it and he cut me out of his life. It was a definitely odd time in my life.

 

[robinb]

I think it all depends on the chiropractor. I have been to some "high velocity" chiropractors that scared the crap out of me with all the twisting and cracking. I finally found one who uses gentle manipulation instead and she is great. I see her a couple times a year.

 

[Briarmom]

I was in a terrible car accident when I was 19 and saw a chiro for a few months after. It helped a lot.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

IBut I also have a problem with how they claim they can cure my allergies, common colds, ear aches, etc with all they can do. I just am not a believer in all that. This practice has a huge emphasis on total body wellness, sells natural herbs, does earcandling etc... I just want them to help my neck and back and feet. They started on the additional sales pitch today and I said no, but I hope I don't have to deal with a hard sale approach each time.

What are your experiences with Chiros?

We have a wonderful chiro, that did cure my sons ear infections. I am a firm believer in allignment making the body well.

 

[declansdad]

A doctor who wants to do what is best for the patient wouldn't have a problem with a chiropractor or any other qualified medical practitioner.

I found a chiropractor who cured a problem that was misdiagnosed by a doctor and therapist for years.

 

[clgwli]

Not a fan of average ones. Ones that use techniques to help fix the muscles as well as align I like better. There are some that spend 20 minutes and just snap you into place. There are others who treat the body with care.

 

[LeeLeeLuvsDisney]

I know several people who have gone to chiropractors and all of them had no positive results. I wouldn't rule chiropractors out, but I also don't have a lot of confidence in them either.

 

[lovetoscrap]

One thing that scared me about them was that everyone I knew that went to them seemed to just keep going back and back and back. Weekly visits--like it was chiro crack. They had to have their fix. That is why as soon as I was feeling better after my first back problem I refused to go back. Of course they called and sent me notes letting me know I really should be coming weekly. Why? I feel fine now. You fixed it. Thanks! None of my other Dr's want me to come in weekly to see them!

I don't really understand what they do, but darned if it doesn't fix my pain! All of my problems have been in the muscle, not any major spinal issues.

 

[Disney Doll]

A doctor who wants to do what is best for the patient wouldn't have a problem with a chiropractor or any other qualified medical practitioner.

I found a chiropractor who cured a problem that was misdiagnosed by a doctor and therapist for years.

I would agree with this.

I would also add that most medical doctors have a problem with any alternative practitioner because if the alternative works, the medical doctor loses a little bit from their bottom line, because their patient doesn't keep coming back to them because the alternative is working.

My experience with chiros (3 episodes) has been great. I'm having a problem with my right hip and am considering a chiro again.

 

[jamimb]

We have a wonderful chiro, that did cure my sons ear infections. I am a firm believer in allignment making the body well.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Chiropractor!!! I too used to think they were quacks but started having back and chest problems so I started going to one. It not only helped my back and chest but a few other ailments as well. I love him and both me and my 13 yr old daughter see him once a month. I do not, however, think that the chiro should be a replacement for a regualr MD. I am losing my faith in medical doctors anymore though. It seems all they want to do is slap you with a thousand pills and send you on your way instead having you to take a good look at your lifestyle as the cause of some of your problems. KWIM????

 

[declansdad]

One thing that scared me about them was that everyone I knew that went to them seemed to just keep going back and back and back. Weekly visits--like it was chiro crack. They had to have their fix. That is why as soon as I was feeling better after my first back problem I refused to go back. Of course they called and sent me notes letting me know I really should be coming weekly. Why? I feel fine now. You fixed it. Thanks! None of my other Dr's want me to come in weekly to see them!

I don't really understand what they do, but darned if it doesn't fix my pain! All of my problems have been in the muscle, not any major spinal issues.

Depending on the problem, you may need weekly or bi-weekly visits to fix the problem. As you get better, you should simply have maintenance visits. I go every six months or so and that helps me.

 

[S. C.]

Quack, quack.....
I have never met a REAL doctor that has any respect for them.
Modern day black magic. Kinda like the peddler that promised a miracle in a bottle.

Have you ever been to a Chiropractor? I use to be leary of them too untill I went to one.

I lifted something heavy at work the wrong way and twisted my back. I started having pain in my left leg all the way down the back side, from top to the bottom of the leg. I would have the pain everytime I tried to stand up for more than a few minutes and it got so bad I could hardly stand it, and i was use to being on my feet for 9 hrs everyday at my job. I did not have a sit down job (yes I have been thru childbirth. I have two children so yes I know what pain is. lol)

I went to a medical doctor who put me on a six week medical and gave me muscle relaxers. I was better as long as I was off my feet and sitting, but the minute I tried to stand very long to do anything the pain was back. Doctor sent me back to work and after an hour at work I was in bad pain again. I did not take the muscle relaxers at home only when i went back to work I don't like taking pills. The muscle relaxers relaxed everything except the pain. I felt like a rag doll but still had the pain scared the heck out of me too the way the muscle relaxers made me feel.

I went to a Chiropractor and could tell the difference after the 2nd adjustment. He kept me off of work for 3 weeks while I went to him 3x a week and I had to pay out of pocket as my insurance did not cover it.
After the 3 weeks I went back to work and was almost good as new, I continued to go to him for another 3 weeks and have never had any trouble since. That happen 22 years ago. So yes I now know for a fact that Chiropractors are REAL doctors.

My opinion is medical doctors don't want us to know how much Chiropractors can help. They want all the money coming their way.

 

[Rora]

A doctor who wants to do what is best for the patient wouldn't have a problem with a chiropractor or any other qualified medical practitioner.

I found a chiropractor who cured a problem that was misdiagnosed by a doctor and therapist for years.

I agree.

My father is a chiropractor and I can honestly say that in the past 22 years I have rarely gotten sick. He's adjusted me once or twice a week and I have no back pain. It's fantastic.

For the record, having your spin aligned does indeed help with ear aches, allergies, etc as almost all pain/ health issues are related in one way or another to your neck and back. No, my father didn't tell me that. I learned it in my college anatomy class.

Now there are some ridiculous Chiropractors who try to cheat you out of your money and try to fix your depression with sketchy herbal stuff but hey, I know more money scheming doctors than I do Chiropractors.

To each his own.

 

[CowboyCO]

Quack, quack.....
I have never met a REAL doctor that has any respect for them.
Modern day black magic. Kinda like the peddler that promised a miracle in a bottle.

When I was 23 years old in College, I was in the best shape of my life. I was performing daily (musical theater), dancing a lot. While on tour in Salt Lake City, I was leaning over to turn off the shower when I threw my back out. It took me to me knees and my roommate had to help me get dressed and onto the tour bus. I was in excrutiating pain for the next hour -- I mean tears running down my cheeks kind of pain. My tour manager called and made an appt at a witch doctor (chiro). I didn't care. Anything to get the pain to stop. I couldn't walk without help -- bad shape. I went to the chiro and they did some massage therapy, lots of ice and then massage again and then the Doc adjusted my spine. I was still very sore, but -- no searing pain.

I did the show that night, albeit marking at times. I never missed a show for the rest of the tour.

Fast forward 10 years and I was shoveling snow and Boom -- On my knees -- searing pain. I went to the ER and they shot me in the butt with demerol , prescribed prescription anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants and sent me home. Two days later, I'm still in pain- huge back spasms, stove up and I go to the chiropractor. Same thing - massage therapy, alignment adjustment and within 24 hours I'm back at work after not being able to go to the bathroom without my DW helping.

I have a cousin that is a D.O (like an M.D. -- Doctor of Osteopathy). He is a licensed board physician, but DO's are trained in both pharmaceutical medicine as well as manipulative medicine. Skeletal manipulation has it's place, but you have to fond a good chiro -- one that is gentle enough to not do more damage while helping. There are MDs out there that don't agree with Chiros, but they do have their place, in my experience.

 

[englishteacha]

Last year my DH threw his back out and was in agony for days. I called our doctor's office and they recommended a chiropractor. DH had done so much damage that the chiro put him on bedrest for several days, which I guess isn't done much anymore. It did help DH heal, though. DH went back every other day for adjustments, and it did wonders. I agree that taking care of your body on the outside can make your insides feel much better. Prior to having my gall bladder out, I was sick for weeks. I went for a massage and had the only relief I found before surgery. It only lasted a day, but it was so nice to feel good that one day!