Pros and Cons of Chiropractic Care

[missypie]

I have never seen a chiropractor. My parents always expressed the opinion that chiropractors "weren't real doctors" and that they could really mess up your back.

My daughter is experiencing a lot of dance related strains and pains. I asked her dance company director if she knew of a doctor who was good with that kind of thing and she recommended a doctor who had once been a professional dancer.

I googled him and it turns out he's a chiropractor.

Does anyone have any personal opinions of chiropractic care? I'm not so prejudiced against them that I wouldn't take my daughter to one if I thought it would help. However, if she had torn a muscle, for example, what help would a chiropractor be? (Yes, I am ignorant on this subject; I admit it.)

 

[helenabear]

Personally I am not so hot on chiropractors. I had back issues relating to the muscles. Chiros swore that as soon as my back was in line I would be pain free. I didn't buy it. I went to my GP and got her thoughts instead. She wasn't so keen on chiro either for me and recommended physical therapy.

I went to a Physical Therapist. She not only worked on the muscles, she worked on the joints as well. It was slow going for about a month or so, but finally the pain went away. What I learned from her is stuff I can do myself. So if I feel the injury beinginning to happen again, I do exercises and I am great.

My dad has been seeing a chiro for decades... I personally can't see how his way is the best since he always has to go back. For me it's been 4 years now I think and I haven't had a relapse longer than a day or two that I couldn't fix myself.

I'm very pro PT and very anti Chiros. Now there are some chiropractors who actaully take the time to work with the muscles as well as the joints/bones, but they are few and far between. If you find someone like that, I'd go for it as well.

 

[missypie]

I guess you need a doctor's referral for PT? I went a few years ago for a repetitive stress injury in my back. I loved it...was kind of sad when I was all better because those twice a week massages paid for by workers comp were fantastic!!!

 

[helenabear]

I guess you need a doctor's referral for PT? I went a few years ago for a repetitive stress injury in my back. I loved it...was kind of sad when I was all better because those twice a week massages paid for by workers comp were fantastic!!!

I know I did need a referral. I more or less got a "prescription for PT" in a way and just went to the med center's PT group for it. I missed it too. Because I have scoliosis and one leg longer than the other (in addition to the crooked spine) I have a tendency to get stiff muscles in my leg. I'd get some awesome deep tissue massages on my left leg and it felt awesome! Personally I would just go to your GP and see what they suggest in general.

 

[daisax]

I always looked down on them, until my father had back pain for over a year, multiple visits to internists and orthopods and xrays galore -- they all kept telling him it was muscular and to "take it easy."

After his second visit to a chiropractor, the chiropractor ordered an MRI -- my father had bone cancer. He had spent a YEAR going to board certified docs at excellent hospitals looking for answers and never got one until he went to a chiropractor.

I still wouldn't go to one, probably, but it certainly made me more friendly towards the profession.

 

[NCRedding]

I always had a very negative impression about chiropractors. Then, about 10 years ago, I was having neck, upper back and arm pain. I went to my regular MD who prescribed Naproxen, which alleviated some of the pain, but killed my stomach. I finally broke down and went to a chiro who x-rayed and found that one of my vertebrae was twisted--he treated that over a period of months, and I was amazed at how great I felt. Then this past February, I was having pain in my arms-like I had been exercising--when I clearly hadn't. Went back to the chiro-, he looked at it, and treated me with mild traction, and adjustments--and I am once again feeling great. So, for me, the chiro worked great!

 

[missypie]

I looked on the High school web site and they recommended a PT who is a "leader in the field of sports physical therapy." I called them and they did say I need a prescription from a doctor.

 

[SamRoc]

I have had great experiences with Chiropractors. About 10 years ago i herniated 2 discs in my lower back. My doctor gave me muscle relaxers and anti imflammatory drugs. The orthopedic surgeon wanted to do a laminectomy, and i was scared to death of having someone do surgery on my back. So instead I went to a chiropractor a few times a week for 2 months and i was as good as new. First he did xrays, and used heat and different machines to open up my spine. It really worked for me.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I have never seen a chiropractor. My parents always expressed the opinion that chiropractors "weren't real doctors" and that they could really mess up your back.

My daughter is experiencing a lot of dance related strains and pains. I asked her dance company director if she knew of a doctor who was good with that kind of thing and she recommended a doctor who had once been a professional dancer.

I googled him and it turns out he's a chiropractor.

Does anyone have any personal opinions of chiropractic care? I'm not so prejudiced against them that I wouldn't take my daughter to one if I thought it would help. However, if she had torn a muscle, for example, what help would a chiropractor be? (Yes, I am ignorant on this subject; I admit it.)

We love our chiropractor! We've been going for many years and our son has been going since he was 9 days old. We consider regular adjustments (every 4 weeks for us; every 3 months for DS) as important as buying good quality food, healthwise We are almost never sick. We each get maybe one mild cold per year. My son has never had a sick visit to the pediatrician, which I attribute largely to breastmilk and chiropractic care! I have done tons and tons of research about it and my own experience shows me that it is a very positive thing for just about everybody! Google "kids chiropractic" and you should get some good information on why it's important for kids to see chiropractors as they are developing. If you wait for injuries to heal wrong, you are lessening the chances of complete recovery. Spines and organs (due to nerve damage) degenerate over time if there are misalignments/subluxations. Top athletes see chiropractors because they know it maximizes their health and performance. I know this is JMO, but I would not consider NOT taking my child to a chiropractor on a regular basis--especially if that child were active in a sport, and MOST especially if it were something like dance, which can be very hard on the body. It's not just for fixing back problems. It's an excellent maintenance program for keeping your body healthy! Good luck with your research and decision!

 

[Chuck S]

Most modern chiropractors use a combination of adjustments and physical therapy. I have a friend in CA who is a chiro, and it is amazing all the training she's had and the physical therapy she practices.

My local chiro, who I see once a month is an "old style" chiropractor and mainly does adjustments, but it seems to help loosen up tight muscles. Of course, some folks think chiropractors can cure the common cold, but what they do, IMO, is similar to accupuncture or shiatsu, it relaxes the nerves and helps the body heal itself...but it certainly isn't a cure all for everything.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

My dad has been seeing a chiro for decades... I personally can't see how his way is the best since he always has to go back.

Your spine is constantly under chemical, physical, and emotional stress. Of course you have to keep going back. Why is it a bad thing to follow a regular program of health maintenance?

 

[TinkerbellMama]

but what they do...helps the body heal itself.

That is EXACTLY what chiropractors do! In fact, most of them will have you sign statements as a first-time patient indicating that you know they are not doing anything except removing subluxations so the body can heal itself. It's so simple, it's genius!

 

[helenabear]

Your spine is constantly under chemical, physical, and emotional stress. Of course you have to keep going back. Why is it a bad thing to follow a regular program of health maintenance?

Because if I can get care that helps me learn how to get myself well, why on earth wouldn't I do that? I paid $60 out of pocket for my PT care that helped me four YEARS ago! If I went to a chiro I'd be paying that each visit most likely and I would still be going. They aren't doing "maintenance" there... they are "fixing" in their minds. My maintenance is done at home, in private with everything I was taught by my PT. They taught me to fix my muscles and how to "align" myself w/o the pain that popping joints can cause.

Why go to someone who won't help me w/o paying so much and wasting my time? The chiros wouldn't teach me what I was doing wrong to hurt myself in the first place. PT did

Sorry I seemed to make you upset, but I have much better feelings towards PT because of it.

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

I've been to many.

I have scoliosis and was in a holistic chiropratic care for several years during puberty to help ease the distress and lessen the degree while I was still growing.

I went for a couple of years after a serious car accident.

Went again recently due to sciatica while pregnant...practically could not walk before I started seeing him, and was fine 24 hours later.

All 3 I've seen spent a great deal of time discussing and examining me before any "adjustments".

I could stand to go again right now, been feeling out of whack recently. I have always felt AWESOME after being adjusted.

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

I'm very pro PT and very anti Chiros. Now there are some chiropractors who actaully take the time to work with the muscles as well as the joints/bones, but they are few and far between. If you find someone like that, I'd go for it as well.

I've had the opposite experience. After my car accident PT did NOTHING to ease the underlying muscular issues I was having from my accident...a few trips to the chiro and my muscle issues were gone.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Because if I can get care that helps me learn how to get myself well, why on earth wouldn't I do that? I paid $60 out of pocket for my PT care that helped me four YEARS ago! If I went to a chiro I'd be paying that each visit most likely and I would still be going. They aren't doing "maintenance" there... they are "fixing" in their minds. My maintenance is done at home, in private with everything I was taught by my PT. They taught me to fix my muscles and how to "align" myself w/o the pain that popping joints can cause.

Why go to someone who won't help me w/o paying so much and wasting my time? The chiros wouldn't teach me what I was doing wrong to hurt myself in the first place. PT did

Sorry I seemed to make you upset, but I have much better feelings towards PT because of it.

You didn't upset me at all. I just didn't understand your post, and still don't. I think it's wonderful that a PT was able to help you. I don't think it's a competition between PTs and chiropractors...is it? Yes, I see how finances could factor into it for some people. Like I said, to me it's not a luxury, so I tend not to focus on that so much, but I'm sure there are many people who find it unaffordable. And many more who find it to be a "waste of time" as you do. FWIW, chiropractors cannot teach you to do your own adjustments. They have to go to other chiropractors to get THEIR adjustments!

 

[missypie]

The word "adjustment" is freaking me out.

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

The word "adjustment" is freaking me out.

Its shouldn't...I've never ever ever had any pain or discomfort...and my first experiences at a chiro were at age 13...they basically make sure your spine is aligned correctly which of course can leads to oodles of other issues if its not...

 

[missypie]

Its shouldn't...I've never ever ever had any pain or discomfort...and my first experiences at a chiro were at age 13...they basically make sure your spine is aligned correctly which of course can leads to oodles of other issues if its not...

I'm just imagining the sound of lots of bones cracking....

 

[hiwaygal]

I've seen both chiropractors and "regular" doctors for back problems. I have two herniated discs that had caused me problems for years. I ultimately did have the laminectomy surgery and have had only minor problems since then.

For me, I think chiropractic and PT are very similar. They essentially "massage" muscles and joints back into alignment or increase the flexibility to promote healing.

The difference is that all of the chiropractors I spoke with led me to believe they could "cure" my back problem. Ummm...sorry...a little "massage and manipulation" is NOT going to "cure" herniated discs. This doesn't mean that all chiros would do this, this was just my experience.

I've noticed a few folks here have said the doc "only" prescribed medicine. I would suggest that the doc was not directed to give any other care. At first, my doc prescribed pain medication too. When it didn't work (since most problems like this are temporary strains) we went to the next step (xrays, MRI's, PT, etc.).

The key, for me, is that with PT and "regular" doctor care you have the back up of the medical profession as a whole (including medications and surgery, if necessary). With a chiro, all you have is that person and what they do with "massage" and manipulation.