Anyone get treated by a chiropractor?

[prolesunited]

I spent the past month laying around recuperating and now that I'm back in front of a computer at work, I'm feeling all out of whack.

So, have you found relief? How do I spot a qualified, reputable one? Anything I should look out for?

[skygazer]

1. I've seen one regularly for several years

A lot of people are skeptical of chiropracters but I like what they do. I like the fact that instead of just filling you up with muscle relaxers and pain killers, they work to re-adjust what's out of whack.

I've never had a problem with a chiropractor. Mine is great because she takes her time. She starts out with a massage to relax my muscles which makes adjustment easier. Then she does ultrasound on the problem areas and then a bit of snap, crackle and pop.

I always walk out of there feeling so much better. She also has provided me with a lot of advice about exercises to do to avoid more problems.

[KitchenWitch]

2. Be wary of a chiropractor who wants to sell you a lot of nutritional

supplements, and claims that you have allergies that you are not aware of.

[TlalocW]

3. Here's what I think

There are some chiropractors that think that healing the back is the end-all-be-all to perfect health. Your fingers hurt? There's a back adjustment for that. Stay away from them.

Something that happened to me recently was that I went to my regular chiropractor (I'll go maybe once a year when I injure my back), and they started hard-selling me to come in and do weekly adjustments (I was fine afterwards), and when I said I had no insurance, they tried to get me to sign up for some sort of medical credit card. I refused, and the receptionist asked, "So you want to continue suffering in pain?" I told her that I think a chiropractor is like any other family doctor - you go in for a check-up, or you go to them when something is wrong. If I have a problem a week from now, I'll come back, but your pushing a credit card on me tells me this place has gone to the dogs. And I walked out.

Talk with your regular doctor if you have one. I've had regular doctors do chiropractic stuff to me before when I jammed my back. If they can't do it, they may be able to recommend a reputable one.

TlalocW

[prolesunited]

6. That's exactly the type of scam

that I want to avoid.

If they are in my PPO plan, would they have had to pass some screening or be taken off if they are scammers?

[kikiek]

4. I see one monthly. Really helps a lot. I would watch out for anyone

who is telling you to come back several times a week for several weeks. My chiro is very honest. Doesn't claim to fix things he can't, and doesn't have you going more than you should. Use your insticts.

[havocmom]

5. Yes, and I was a skeptic. Great help to me and I need it again, alas,

no chance anytime soon.
Ask around. There are some really good ones and some who seem to have a knack for causing people to have back surgery. There are others who are more interested in your insurance benefits than in your personal well being.

Ask people you know, look up any local registary and ask questions. You want somebody who will make sure your body is ready to be moved and not just in a hurry to move you cold and get to the next customer.

Many use heat, various massage or electronic stimulation devices to relax muscles so as not to stress them too much when bones are moved.
Those are the ones you want to consider.

Did I mention to ask around? ;)

Good luck. It can be a very helpful thing.

[merh]

7. I'll share with you my first experience with a chiropractor.

I was in college and home for the weekend with a horribly stiff neck. My father had monthly adjustments at a chiropractor's office on Saturday morning and insisted I take his appointment.

So I go and the chiropractor, who had become a friend to my father over the years, starts asking all those friendly, friend of dad questions, like "what are you majoring in" "do you live on campus", etc. I was seated on a short stool, like a stool used when milking cows, and the chiropractor was standing behind me with my head in his hands, rotating it and "adjusting" my neck. He asked me if I was involved and I made the mistake of saying no. He then proceeded to ask me if I would go out with his son, who had just come home from the navy. Well, he had my head in his hands and all I could think of was how quickly he could snap my neck and make me a quadriplegic if I said "no". I was at his mercy, so I said yes to going out with his son. I was sure when I got home I could dodge the date, but the man had called my father all excited that I had agreed to go out with his son and had told my dad to let me know to expect to be picked up at 7:00 p.m. that night.

It was a double date. We went to see the play "Annie" with the chiropractor and his wife. I learned the reason son was home from the Navy was he had been discharged for his drug abuse. He had his hand wrapped in gauze and when I asked him why, he said he punched out a window of a car that pissed him off while waiting in traffic after a "Who" concert.

Needless to say, I never when on another date with the son and I never went back to that chiropractor.

The chiropractor I use now used to me a physical therapist and an athletic trainer. He is very familiar with muscles and bones and I trust him immensely, especially since his children are all in elementary school.

[Lars39]

8. There should be a Board of Chiropractic Examiners for your state.

These folks are usually who the other chiros use.:)
Also try to find out if any surgeons work with a particular chiro.
A good chiro will recommend exercises to strengthen.
When in doubt or if things go on more than a week or two, get an MRI.

[steely]

9. They work for me.

find them by word of mouth.

It's all minor stuff to me, nothing wrenching, and I always feel terrific afterward.

[KitchenWitch]

10. Oh, and an alternative to a chiropractor would be an Osteopath

Your regular doctor would be more likely to refer and recommend an osteopath rather than a chiropractor...Osteopaths have as much schooling and internships as MDs

[prolesunited]

12. Would those be the doctors

with DO after their names rather than MD?

[greatauntoftriplets]

19. Yes.

:hi:

[KitchenWitch]

23. Yes

They are trained in manipulating the bones, and are also allowed to write prescriptions. Best of both worlds.

[barb162]

25. Have you ever been to one? What do they really do

not a dictionary definition, but how are they different from MDs.

[NMMNG]

11. I see a chiropractor weekly (or more often if needed)

It's primarily for my intractable migraines, but it also helps with my intermittent back pain and monthly cramps. I get electrical stimulation or lie on the roller/massage table each visit, then get an adjustment of my neck and back. If needed he has an instrument he can use to stimulate nerves in my foot to help with my arthritis.

Avoid a chiropractor that won't have an open conversation with you, or is unwilling to accept any way of doing things other than their own. Mine is very easy to talk to and open to the idea of multi-method approaches to treatment. A friend of mine goes to a different chiropractor (for insurance reasons) and he is very anti-medication and quite authoritarian.

Chiropractic will sometimes present itself as a "cure-all" but a realistic Chiropractor will admit that it is not. Beware of one that tries to claim you can be treated solely by chiropractic for any and all disorders.

[Catchawave]

13. My husband does.....

for several years now, and amazingly, he doesn't need back surgery afterall :bounce:

To find a good one, you need to network with your friends, that's how he fell into this wonderful alternative to invasive surgery! From a friend who's a gymnastics coach!

[OldLeftieLawyer]

14. I got more personal injury clients from chiropractors .............

People never hear about the harm they do.

As one expert witness explained to me - and the concept never failed to change minds, because it is so inexorably true - "The only way to manipulate bones is to break them."

Chiropractors do some good when people need to be touched, much as a good masseuse might help people. But, when they start digging deep and "manipulating," they're very often making things worse.

I'd never go near one, nor would I ever let anyone I loved go.

Get yourself a book called "Stretching." It's a classic. And get moving, stretching, walking, away from the computer as much as you possibly can. That's all that will help you. Certainly not a chiropractor.

Good luck.

[LynzM]

15. Yes, and also a massage therapist

Depending on what you have going on, seeing someone to work specifically on your muscles (a licensed massage therapist) may do as much or more for you as seeing a chiropractor. I had chronic back pain and saw a chiro for months, and two visits to a massage therapist made a bigger difference than all the chiro visits. Not that having my back aligned doesn't feel good, and my neck is happier, too. Try both, and see what works for you? Just my two cents, of course, as I don't know what's going on with you, nor am I any sort of medical professional :)

[prolesunited]

17. Chiro is covered by my insurance

massage isn't. :-(

[LynzM]

22. That sucks, same here

I was lucky to find a chiro who would treat me for $10/session, even after my insurance benefits ran out (10 visits?). Massage therapy is $50/hour for the guy I go to. But I'll trade a month of chiro for a good massage, if it makes the bigger difference. I guess you might keep in in mind as something to try after a few months, in case the chiro doesn't improve the pain for you. Good luck to you with finding someone who helps you tremendously, and I hope you feel better soon! :hug:

[gpandas]

16. i'm suspicious of...

anyone that's selling what amounts to a lifetime of revenue for himself at my expense

[NV Whino]

18. Just like anything--there are good ones and bad ones

I go to a good one. He uses an activator--a little hand-held thumper--to adjust very specific areas after "measuring" how your legs and feet line up. This is difficult to explain, but it's painless and fast--about 15 minutes. Definitely NOT the whack 'em and crack 'em approach, which I hate. Usually one session will fix whatever weirdness I have perpetrated on my body. If I delay in getting in to see him, it might take two or three sessions.

And he softly sings opera or Italian songs while adjusting.

[prolesunited]

20. Well, I'll ask around

including a call to my doctor tomorrow to see if they have a referral. Yours sounds like quite an interesting character.

[Deja Q]

21. Used to. The needed surgery also helped me realize the value of life...

needed because he was a quack larger than the gaggle of canada geese roaming around the street corner last week...

[Rhiannon12866]

24. Yup! I recommend it highly! Actually, I could use one right now!

My neck and back are killing me! Too much sitting and hunching, too, I suspect! OW!:-(

And I agree with KitchenWitch. Beware of those who try to push lots of supplements and vitamins. I just turn them down. My great-aunt was OD'd on vitamins, no joke, by a really non-reputable chiropractor!:-(

The best way I've found to find a good one, as well as doctor, dentist, veterinarian, etc., is by personal recommendation. I'd ask around. Mine is great, if you feel like traveling to Upstate NY!:hi: