Opinions/experience with Chiropractors

[qtwns]

I went to a chiropractor for the first time ever. My husband has used chiropractors in the past and has had good experience. My friends that use them all have good success. I liked the dr. I saw and he seemed very thorough and gentle, but I am more sore today than I was going in yesterday. I just wanted to hear others' experiences since I'm new to this type of treatment. TIA!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm sure there is a "technical term" for what happens to me....

I love chiropractors. There is a time and a place to use them.

However, anytime I require a back adjustment....

Hard to explain, but once they do the first two, a third spot will "wake up" and require an adjustment. I realized this a few years ago--so now I let them know. It has to be adjusted a different way.

The only thing I do know is that often once you work on certain parts, other parts can wake up in your body whether it is chiropractic care, PT, or just plain ol' exercise as your body gets into proper alignment. Usually that is due to your body compensating for an ailment or injury to preserve it, by requiring other body parts to work harder.

Anyway--are you "hurting" more--or do you have muscular pain (Sore?).

I have never hurt MORE the next day. When treatment is complimented with exercises, I might have muscle soreness. But not an increased level of pain.

There are conditions that a chiropractor should not be messing with without confirmation of an MRI. Jennasis as posted of such a problem here on the DIS. She required a significant back surgery as her ailment could not be corrected any other day. I think the chiropractor made it worse.

 

[qtwns]

I guess muscle pain/soreness is a better description. For example, one problem I was having was a stiff neck. After the adjustment I can move my neck like I haven't been able to in a good while, but it is sore--loose, but sore. Same for the spot at a certain area near my spine--sore but not increased "pain." I'm on a heating pad right now--which is kind of nice since it is getting colder.

I do wish that I could live on that "traction rolly machine bed thing." That alone was worth the co-pay!

 

[wdwiala]

Chiro's can do wonders. It is not uncommon to feel a little stiff the next day. Not sure if your doctor told you or not but you should drink water after the adjustment. It helps.

To the best of my limited knowledge:

If you are out of adjustment, chances are that your muscles are the cause or they have become irritated as a result. Once you are adjusted, these muscles are not always happy to be moved again. This can cause some soreness/stiffness. It's a reason that I try to make sure to have a chiropractor that gives attention to the muscles instead of just a quick bone crackin'

 

[Amy]

To the best of my limited knowledge:

If you are out of adjustment, chances are that your muscles are the cause or they have become irritated as a result. Once you are adjusted, these muscles are not always happy to be moved again. This can cause some soreness/stiffness. It's a reason that I try to make sure to have a chiropractor that gives attention to the muscles instead of just a quick bone crackin'

Yep - my chiropractor gave me some strengthening exercises to do in conjunction with her adjustments - I need to strengthen my muscles for extra support. I'm using one of those stretchy bands for many of the exercises.

 

[deegack]

My mother went to a chiropractor and ended up needing a metal plate put in her neck and was out of work for 4 months. So I don't have a very high regard for them.

 

[MushyMushy]

I love my chiropractor. He uses a machine to do adjustments and it works GREAT. I was very skeptical of it at first, but I'm now a believer.

Like Lisa loves Pooh says, when a part of your back gets adjusted that's been out of alignment for a while, the muscles and spine have to readjust to the new alignment. I find that I'm EXTREMELY sore after an appointment, but then once that pain is gone I'm so much better.

 

[DMRick]

My husband had a horrible experience. We had to get a sheriff to get his records, once he ended up in the hospital (chiro wouldn't give them up and it was obvious why, once we got them).

It was years ago, and I'm sure things change, but neither of us will grace their doors again.

 

[MomRN]

After a car wreck several years ago, I ended up with a very sore arm with no apparent injury. Several drs and pt later, it still wasn't better. At the suggestion of my husband I went to the chiropractor, really just willing to give anything a chance.

After that first appt I was sore like you describe. I was so mad at my husband for making things worse.

Two days later I wasn't sore and my arm was completely better. I don't remeber if it was my back or neck, but one of those was adjusted and fixed my arm. Oddest thing ever.

 

[waltsgirl]

I went several times for loser back pain. Seemed to work well, always felt better and the pain went away. Then about a year later I started to get severe neck pain after trying everything I decided to go back and see if the they could help with this too. After one appointment and one adjustment of my neck, I swore i would never go back. The neck adjustment was terrible. I thought "oh my god" I just had my neck broke and I am going to have to go to the hospital. i didn't but I would never have it done again.

 

[JessicaR]

Have you had x-rays, MRI or ct scan? If you aren't sure what if any injury/disease you suffer from I would not allow a chiropractor to touch me.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Chiropractors are like anyone else. You need to make sure to find a reputable one, preferably with a referral from someone.
Since so many go to them in crisis, you will have some soreness afterward and you will likely not be used to their techniques. Chiropractors are meant for wellness. If you don't upkeep, you will get sore. If this was your first time or it's been a while, your spine is set in a certain way and when it's "put back" to the correct place, your muscles may be sore. Not exactly the medical way to term it, LOL, but it's the best I can do. Anyway, upkeep is the key.

 

[GAGirlInVA]

I love my chiropractor. Sometimes I am a little sore after an adjustment. Your muscles have to adjust.

I started going to a chiropractor when all the docs could do for me was give me narcotics. Pain free days are much more common than they were and my migraines are rare.

 

[aprilgail2]

My mother went to a chiropractor and ended up needing a metal plate put in her neck and was out of work for 4 months. So I don't have a very high regard for them.

My husband had a horrible experience. We had to get a sheriff to get his records, once he ended up in the hospital (chiro wouldn't give them up and it was obvious why, once we got them).

It was years ago, and I'm sure things change, but neither of us will grace their doors again.

I used to have a headache for days after going- stopped going and heacaches stopped.
I once had one tell me that we should bring my godson that had cancer to him because he could adjust him so it would cure him!
Would never step foot in one again!

Have you had x-rays, MRI or ct scan? If you aren't sure what if any injury/disease you suffer from I would not allow a chiropractor to touch me.

I agree!

 

[Jennasis]

For starters, no chiro should lay his hands on your to do any adjusting (or anything else) unless he has your current x-rays and an MRI in hand.

That said, I am a bit biased....a chiro nearly crippled me permanently last April. I'd had back pain pretty bad my whole life, but it started to get unbearable. Like unable to drive, walk for more than a few feet, sit for extended periods, etc. Tried an epidural which worked geat until it wore off a week later.

Out of desperation I went to a chiro. Even had my current x-rays in hand. He said my spine "looked terrific" and said it was a messed up periformis muscle. Did some massage stuff that hurt like a you-know-what and then did some adjustments to my back and leg (specifically tugging on my legs). When he did that, I felt a sharp pain in my buttocks, and when about 1/2 and hour later, the pan became extruciating and my whole right leg went numb. I was terrified. I couldn't stand for more than a second before I had to get on my hands and knees to alleviate the pain. I couldn't walk. I had to crawl around my house....crying.

So I called his office and they assured me that "it was completely normal" and that it was just my nerves "waking up". WAKING UP?? I couldn't feel my leg!

I mentioned it to a friend (who's husban is a pain doctor) and she freaked out and had her husband order me an immediate MRI (the next day). DH took me for the MRI (I couldn't drive, and cried the whole way). I asked how long it would be for the results and the tech said 24-48 hours.

AN HOUR LATER, my friend's hubby calls me and says "DO NOT MOVE. Stay still as much as possible on the couch. I'm making you an emergency consult with a surgeon". He had spoken to the tech and read my MRI and found a massively herniated disc.

I went to the surgeon the next day who agreed with the assessment and admitted me in for surgery 5 days later (it was Easter weekend). I called the chiro's office to tell them I wouldn't be coming back and they started panicking and demanding I bring them the MRI.

Fast forward...when I woke up from surgery I was 95% pain free and the surgeon was standing there with a little jar that had my exploded disc in it, and he was laughing. It was the biggest herniation he had ever removed.

The chiro, BTW was a highly respected and recommended one that many of my friends raved about.

 

[qtwns]

For starters, no chiro should lay his hands on your to do any adjusting (or anything else) unless he has your current x-rays and an MRI in hand.

That said, I am a bit biased....a chiro nearly crippled me permanently last April. I'd had back pain pretty bad my whole life, but it started to get unbearable. Like unable to drive, walk for more than a few feet, sit for extended periods, etc. Tried an epidural which worked geat until it wore off a week later.

Out of desperation I went to a chiro. Even had my current x-rays in hand. He said my spine "looked terrific" and said it was a messed up periformis muscle. Did some massage stuff that hurt like a you-know-what and then did some adjustments to my back and leg (specifically tugging on my legs). When he did that, I felt a sharp pain in my buttocks, and when about 1/2 and hour later, the pan became extruciating and my whole right leg went numb. I was terrified. I couldn't stand for more than a second before I had to get on my hands and knees to alleviate the pain. I couldn't walk. I had to crawl around my house....crying.

So I called his office and they assured me that "it was completely normal" and that it was just my nerves "waking up". WAKING UP?? I couldn't feel my leg!

I mentioned it to a friend (who's husban is a pain doctor) and she freaked out and had her husband order me an immediate MRI (the next day). DH took me for the MRI (I couldn't drive, and cried the whole way). I asked how long it would be for the results and the tech said 24-48 hours.

AN HOUR LATER, my friend's hubby calls me and says "DO NOT MOVE. Stay still as much as possible on the couch. I'm making you an emergency consult with a surgeon". He had spoken to the tech and read my MRI and found a massively herniated disc.

I went to the surgeon the next day who agreed with the assessment and admitted me in for surgery 5 days later (it was Easter weekend). I called the chiro's office to tell them I wouldn't be coming back and they started panicking and demanding I bring them the MRI.

Fast forward...when I woke up from surgery I was 95% pain free and the surgeon was standing there with a little jar that had my exploded disc in it, and he was laughing. It was the biggest herniation he had ever removed.

The chiro, BTW was a highly respected and recommended one that many of my friends raved about.

Oh, Jennasis!! I'm so sorry! I am going to definitely be cautious and aware. So far this morning I am not muscle-sore as much as yesterday.

I'm going out today to try and buy a good, supportive chair I can use for my job--that should help, too, in the long run. I'd love to get back into yoga. I always felt WONDERFUL the 2 years I did yoga.

Thanks for all the responses! I'd love to hear more...

 

[Buckalew11]

I've been using a chiropractor for 30 years (I was 15) and I've had 2 of them in my life. One sold his practice to the 2nd.
Sometimes I am sore after a treatment. Not in pain, just sore.
I take most any hurt or pain to my chiropractor first, lol, because through experience, they've both helped me a lot.

Neither is a big fan of heating pads though.

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon. I actually need a treatment for my lower back now.

 

[coconutprincess]

I adore my chiro. She will take x-rays and review them before treatment. She's a big fan of wellness. My problem was a pinched nerve in my back that was causing me to have pains around my heart. I went to a cardiologist who said oh its just anxiety, you are the healthiest patient I have ever seen.

Luckily -DH noticed it was worse when I did laundry or certain movements, and someone I told recommended a chiro. Thankfully, they were right. After 6 months of random pain I was better. On the X-ray it showed that the nerve was pinched controlling the chest muscles

 

[JessicaR]

I adore my chiro. She will take x-rays and review them before treatment. She's a big fan of wellness. My problem was a pinched nerve in my back that was causing me to have pains around my heart. I went to a cardiologist who said oh its just anxiety, you are the healthiest patient I have ever seen.

Luckily -DH noticed it was worse when I did laundry or certain movements, and someone I told recommended a chiro. Thankfully, they were right. After 6 months of random pain I was better. On the X-ray it showed that the nerve was pinched controlling the chest muscles

Maybe you had an MRI? x rays show bones not nerves, discs or muscles such as soft tissue.

 

[wilderness01]

I also had a severly herniated disk that needed to be replaced. No way would I ever go to a chiro without a thorough exam/mri from an MD. Some MD's do recommend chiros while most recommend physical therapy. Good luck.