Opinions...chiropractor?

[dodukes]

Ok guys I figured Id come to you for opinions. I went to a bcbs fair where they were doing the spinal checks by chiropractors. I of course did it just for kicks and discovered that my left leg actually held up a lot more of my weight than the right leg. (They had the two scales thing going).

Anyway I decided to go to the first free consultation to see what they had to say. That was on wednesday and today i went back to see my results (they did xrays and the thermal scan and then they would all discuss the findings). Well it seems he said I had some tug of war going (sorry the correct name escapes me). basically my left hip is higher than the right and you can definitely see a curve in my spine. Also mentioned that the top two bones by my neck are two close together.

It looked legit and really I know Ive had some trauma to my right leg (broken bone, surgery, etc) and when I work out I definitely feel the left leg takes more so I figured I'd give it a try.

I was recommended 3 times a week for one month where they will then gauge the progress and go down to twice a week. That sounds like ALOT!
He went ahead and did an "adjustment" to my neck (it really felt like a crack lol) and some stuff in my hip/ lower area. I have to admit the neck felt kinda good after.

Anyway the point of my story is to see what other people here think? Do others go to chiros? Do you think all this tinkering with my spine is a bad idea. I really dont know what to think, my irrational fear is that i wil be paralyzed in the process of an adjustment (yes, please note I said irrational fear..LOL). But then I of course googled some after the appt. and it seems that doing stuff in the neck area can maybe lead to stroke because they stretch some thing up there that can cause a blood clot?????

Honestly, I just want some opinions, I'm 30 and have never been to one, so this was just on a whim, I have "normal" issues like everyone else ie, i slouch sometimes, or hold the phone with my neck and shoulder, some back pain after standing sometimes, but nothing thats severe. I do seem to have some tmj that seems to have alleviated a bit after the neck cracking.

Is this something you guys would pursue or that you are doing already, do you feel a difference?

 

[SaraJayne]

I've never been to a chiropractor.

IMO, they're quacks.

 

[dodukes]

I've never been to a chiropractor.

IMO, they're quacks.

i had a feeling i was gonna hear that

yeah im not sure what to think.

 

[SaraJayne]

i had a feeling i was gonna hear that

yeah im not sure what to think.

Obviously, not everyone shares my opinion, or chiropractors would no longer be in practice.

 

[malibuconlee]

I have been going a lot this summer. I was in major pain in my lower back/si joint. I am feeling MUCH better. I was worried I would need back surgery and if you look online at statistics for those coming out rosey, it's not great.

It's been expensive and a lot of time (the one I go to is 35 miles away), but totally worth it.

My DH has long had a negative opinion of chiros. Now he sees them in more of a physical therapy light.

On the other hand I'm not sure i buy into everything they think. I still get my child vaccinated and have not had her adjusted for ear infections. She seems to be, knock on wood, not suffering from those, but I have a cousin who's a chiro and she said she's had good results with adjusting kids and lessening ear infections. DH says no way, not that I had intended to go that route with DD.

 

[Thumper_Man]

DW sees a chiropractor. I'll see if I can get her to respond. From what I can tell, seeing a chiropractor has really helped her tremendously. She can tell you more about it.

 

[Jennasis]

I've been to chiros twice in my life. The first one was completely useless when I was 17. The second almost permanently crippled me a year and a half ago. BOTH were highly regarded, highly sought after yadda yadda yadda. It will be a cold day in hell before I let another one near me.

I went to the chiro a year and a half ago with agonizing back and leg pain (sciatica). I brought him x-rays I'd just had done and he told me my spine "looked great" and that the pain was froma tight periformis muscle. He did some massage where he elbowed my right butt cheek and then cracked my back, hips and finally ended by tugging on my legs one at a time. I got home, still weeping in pain, and my right leg/foot went completely numb. Freaking out, I called the office to tell them and the receptionsit assured me that was normal and just "your nerves waking up1".

Waking up? Really? Felt like they were comatose.

I went back to him the next day for another treatment and left his office in worse pain. this was a Tuesday. On Wednesday a friend called (she's a nurse and the office manager for her husband...a pain specialist). I told her about my agony, and knowing my back pain history she insisted I let her DH book me an MRI stat. I went for the Mri a few hours later. I got home and AN HOUR LATER her DH calls me frantically to tell me "DO NOT MOVE. Find a place to lay down flat until I can get you in to see a surgeon...you are MESSED UP."

I was in so much agony that i could not walk. I literally had to crawl from the living room floor (where I spent the day) to the bathroom. My whole leg and foot were numb to the touch and in agony. I had no strength in the foot and couldn't lift my toes. So scary.

The next day my friend scored me an appointment with an Orthopedic Surgeon. Best in the area (or so they said). He listened to me describe the pain through tears, looked at my MRI's and then booked me into his surgical schedule 5 days later (the Tuesday after Easter Sunday). The surgeon...he was sent by God. The man fixed my back and I am 100% recovered and back to living a normal pain free life. When I awoke from surgery (pain free might I add) he was standing over me, smiling, and holding a jar with the piece of disc he had to remove. It was the size of a walnut and the largest herniated/bulging deisc he'd ever removed. So huge, that he called my friend's DH after surgery to brag about it! It was wrapped around my spinal cord, and he was worried that there would be permanent nerve damage...there isn't.

Anyway...he said the disc was bulging and impinging on my spinal cord and when I had the chiro manipulate me, he blew it right out.

 

[7165red]

I worked for one and went to one for my back. Everyone has to come 3 times a wk. and it never worked for me.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

About a year ago, my DH was having severe back pain. He talked to a regular doctor friend of ours who recommended a chiropractor. Our doctor friend had even used this guy.

Anyway, he went and the chiropractor knew immediately what was wrong. He told my DH he didn't need to do x-rays. He gave him an adjustment, told him to come back in a week. The next week the chiro gave my DH another adjustment AND taught him some stretches, told him to come back in two weeks and do his stretches every day. So, in two weeks, he gave him one more adjustment and told him to keep doing his stretches and start exercising. If he kept up with exercises and stretches, hopefully he would never see him again.

So, I am sold on this guy. He didn't do any sort of plan and really seemed to understand back issues. My DH could barely walk with his lower back pain.

 

[dodukes]

I've been to chiros twice in my life. The first one was completely useless when I was 17. The second almost permanently crippled me a year and a half ago. BOTH were highly regarded, highly sought after yadda yadda yadda. It will be a cold day in hell before I let another one near me.

bolding mine....see this absolutely scares the bejeezers out of me!!!! So while I think yea my neck felt good today in the back of my mind Im so tense, I dont know if its gonna work.

And to the PP, yeah I was told 3 times a week too, is that a magic number?

 

[Thumper_Man's Wife]

I go to the Chiro once every two weeks. I have been dropped down from twice a week, to once a week, to now every two weeks, with the occasional emergency visit.

I have a horrible back, and I heard over and over again how bad chiropractors were for you or how they were quacks...But I came to an impass finally one day where i was just masking the problem with the drugs the Urgent Care doctors would give me when my pain became so bad. So my PCP told me to see a Chiro, not a herb doctor or massage therapist, but a chirporactor...and so I did. The first one i went to wanted to charge me an arm and a leg to go 3 times a week for 3 months...I said Nay-Nay!

I found this one through a referral and I am loving it. I do however want to let you know that it can be addicting...Its hard to go to the chiro and not go back when your feeling bad. They can help with other ailments not just back problems. I haven't had a migrane since I started going .

Anyway...I guess i'm one that would highly recommend it. I would be happy to give you any information on my condition or treatment you would like...Good luck!

 

[Strawberry's mom&dad]

I too was very fearful of chiropracters.
I have chronic low back pain,SI jointi,hip, and upper back neck issues.
First one I went to I talked to him for awhile before i let him touch me. I was very sore the next day. he "popped" my hip.

Then i asked a coworker who is a trainer in his spare time about chiro's. He recommended the guy i currently see. Have been seeing him for about 1.5 years.
I only go rarely now. Like someone else said, do the stretches and exercises they give you and it will be fine.
I do go a few weeks before going to WDW just to be sure I will have no issues.
I also get a massage once a month. It helps with the back pain

 

[SaraJayne]

I've been to chiros twice in my life. The first one was completely useless when I was 17. The second almost permanently crippled me a year and a half ago. BOTH were highly regarded, highly sought after yadda yadda yadda. It will be a cold day in hell before I let another one near me.

I went to the chiro a year and a half ago with agonizing back and leg pain (sciatica). I brought him x-rays I'd just had done and he told me my spine "looked great" and that the pain was froma tight periformis muscle. He did some massage where he elbowed my right butt cheek and then cracked my back, hips and finally ended by tugging on my legs one at a time. I got home, still weeping in pain, and my right leg/foot went completely numb. Freaking out, I called the office to tell them and the receptionsit assured me that was normal and just "your nerves waking up1".

Waking up? Really? Felt like they were comatose.

I went back to him the next day for another treatment and left his office in worse pain. this was a Tuesday. On Wednesday a friend called (she's a nurse and the office manager for her husband...a pain specialist). I told her about my agony, and knowing my back pain history she insisted I let her DH book me an MRI stat. I went for the Mri a few hours later. I got home and AN HOUR LATER her DH calls me frantically to tell me "DO NOT MOVE. Find a place to lay down flat until I can get you in to see a surgeon...you are MESSED UP."

I was in so much agony that i could not walk. I literally had to crawl from the living room floor (where I spent the day) to the bathroom. My whole leg and foot were numb to the touch and in agony. I had no strength in the foot and couldn't lift my toes. So scary.

The next day my friend scored me an appointment with an Orthopedic Surgeon. Best in the area (or so they said). He listened to me describe the pain through tears, looked at my MRI's and then booked me into his surgical schedule 5 days later (the Tuesday after Easter Sunday). The surgeon...he was sent by God. The man fixed my back and I am 100% recovered and back to living a normal pain free life. When I awoke from surgery (pain free might I add) he was standing over me, smiling, and holding a jar with the piece of disc he had to remove. It was the size of a walnut and the largest herniated/bulging deisc he'd ever removed. So huge, that he called my friend's DH after surgery to brag about it! It was wrapped around my spinal cord, and he was worried that there would be permanent nerve damage...there isn't.

Anyway...he said the disc was bulging and impinging on my spinal cord and when I had the chiro manipulate me, he blew it right out.

OMG Jenn, that's terrible!! I hope you sued the pants off that guy!

 

[Jennasis]

OMG Jenn, that's terrible!! I hope you sued the pants off that guy!

I did not. Though it crossed my mind.

You know what though, I DID call his office after I spoke to the surgeon to let them know the ACTUAL diagnosis and to tell them I wouldn't be coming back, and the receptionist got all flustered and demanded copies of my MRI! Like I was lying or something. I brought them a print out of ONE MRI image (that showed the disc. Even I could see it with my untrained eye). Followed surgery with 8 weeks of PT and am back to riding horses and carrying on like I used to.

Then two weeks ago they had to gall to send me a birthday card.

 

[dodukes]

Jennasis: WOW! That's terrible!! I cant believe they even suggested you were lying and worse that they sent you a birthday card!!!

To a couple of PP: I have not been given stretches or exercises to do. He did do "stretches" on me tho but only told me about the sitting in chair and how to sleep at night (start on my back with pillow under my knees) (yeah that so prob wont happen lol, but i will try!!, I already do pillow in between my knees when I sleep on my side cuz it feels good...lol.

 

[grahamfam3]

I've been seeing a chiropractor for 3 1/2 years. It started out 3 times a week, then down to 2 times a week, the once a week, now I go once a month unless I've done something that I need worked out.

Personally, I've seen a large improvement in my back. Others I know have tried it and gotten no improvement at all. I think it greatly depends on what the source of the problem is, with some conditions being treatable by chiropractic and others not being something that will respond to those treatments.

 

[mpls_mm]

I had or have 3 herniated disks that laid me out after my first child, a chiro told me I would have to come several times a month, a spine specialist said I would have to have surgery. I just slowly began working out and strengthening those muscles. Now if I feel a twinge or get sore, I take it easy and increase my exercise. My dad had the same experience.

Now I have a friend that swears by her chiro , she said he could tell she had problems with her ovaries when he adjusted her and juicing would help and another friend that takes their baby. It seems to work for them.

My best chiro story is when I lived in Atlanta, there was a very popular holistic chiro there, he never touched you, he manipulated your energy field to adjust your back. How much did such a service cost? No set fee, you drop money in a box at the door, he didn't like the energy from money during the day.

 

[mackeysmom]

I've been seeing a chiropractor for 3 1/2 years. It started out 3 times a week, then down to 2 times a week, the once a week, now I go once a month unless I've done something that I need worked out.

Personally, I've seen a large improvement in my back. Others I know have tried it and gotten no improvement at all. I think it greatly depends on what the source of the problem is, with some conditions being treatable by chiropractic and others not being something that will respond to those treatments.

I could have written this exact post - except I'm down to twice a month.

For me - it was one of the best moves I've ever made. In addition to seeing huge improvement in my neck/back, my once semi-frequent migraines are almost completely gone.

- Laura

 

[Geoff_M]

I think that chiropractors can have value when it comes to treating back/neck pain, but no more so than a trained massage therapist. However, if they are from the wing of chiropractors that advocates things like "adjustments" for the treatment of a variety of diseases or advocates "adjustments" for young children.... run away fast, and don't look back!

My wife saw a chiropractor for a period of time for back pain, until he managed to throw her back out during an "adjustment". I had to drive and come pick her up because she was so incapacitated. Since then, she's switched to a massage therapist.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My honest opinion, I think there are great chiropractors. I also think there are quacks.

I'm not too trusting of chiropractors that try to gain your business by free exams and x-rays. They are way too vested in...umm...well...bending the truth a little. I had such a chiropractor once who diagnosed me with major scoliosis. I ran away from that one.

As it turns out, I Do have mild scoliosis but never had an x-ray that looked like what that original guy did. He made my spine look like an upside question mark.

I had been seeing a new chiropractor since February and tried to remedy a very similar problem that your chiropractor diagnosed you with. In my case--I have had this same problem twice before and use PT to fix it. I tried this time to go without it and finally gave up last week and went to get my prescription. After 2 treatments, I am making headway. But I am still not fully uncrooked just yet. (I loved how the PT on my first visit said HOLY CRAP! )

Anyway--I want to be athletic and my problems are inhibiting me. My chiropractic does some kind of therapeutic massages--I had them working on my problem areas. But it just wasn't enough.

So--if your issues aren't causing too much issues, don't worry about it. But keep in mind that those kind of issues can be real and sometimes, chiropractic adjustments just aren't enough. I thought I was making real progress, and some how--things began to get worse as certain muscles of mine are just stuck tight and not letting go. Chiropractic didn't cause it, but it just wasn't fixing it. My right side is still weaker than my left.


I had neck adjustments the worst. I really don't like them, but sometimes I do have an issue where it is needed. Thankfully--my neck seems to be doing well. If I can get that hip and glute to behave, I'd be golden.

Just thought I'd chime in--because when I read your post...I was excited to see that someone shared similar issues with crookedness.