Do You Go To A Chiropractor Or Think That They Are Quacks

[CarolKing]

It took me a while to find the right chiropractor to help my arthritic spine problems. Yes there are quackery types out there and that's what gives the chiropractor a bad reputation. But remember there are plenty of medical doctors out there that fall in the quackery category.

For many years regular medical doctors really put down chiropractors and didn't refer patients. Now days doctors seem to have a different attitude toward some forms of alternative care, such as massage and chiropractic care. That has been my experience anyway.

I have arthritis in the joints of my feet, chiropractic care didn't help that in fact after a treatment I couldn't hardly walk for a couple of days.

Acupuncture did help my feet but I needed to go to a doctor for surgery. They don't have joint replacement that's successful for your feet but they do sand down the sharp bone spurs and calcium build up. It takes a couple of months to get back to normal after that but 3 out of 4 surgeries were successful. You never know with surgery whether or not the the pain issue will be solved. That's why surgery needs to be the last result. Some doctors are too quick to operate and there are no guarantees.

You don't have to decide natural medicine or the standard form. It can be a mixture of the two.

Cannabis in vaporizers and creams have been a lifesaver for me. Just recently I was successful with some cannabis coconut oil that I can take a tablespoon of it mixed with food, drink or by itself. I don't mind the taste at all. It gives a more sedating deep pain relief.

 

[mitchgo61]

Your 'issues' sound very similar to mine so this is of great interest to me. I've toyed with the idea of going to a chiropractor, but have always been a bit fearful that they might make things worse. We had a member here that was disabled by one and that really scared me off.

I think it probably has to do with the chiropractor themselves. Getting a good referral is always a good start.

The other thing I've considered is acupuncture. Have you tried that @CarolKing?

Acupuncture saved my life. 30 years of disc pain, multiple physical therapy stints....finally went to acupuncture in 2010. I go every month. You'd be amazed at the kind of pain they can eliminate. (My wife's rotator cuff injury, which no dr could help....gone in one treatment.) Plus it significantly lowers stress.

I won't go near a chiropractor....three disc herniations means no one is attempting to push around my lower spine.

I can't stress it enough.....acupuncture took me from decades of chronic pain to mostly pain free. I wouldn't live without it.

 

[flotntoke]

Thanks for the tip. Have been thinking about it and seems your testimonial has made the final nudge.

I'm kind of in the same boat with chiros. I used to go to one years ago who was pretty magical and new agey. Think he was a damn good chiropractor as well, and found the spiritual part after he was in the business. Was end of college and a few years after for me, so the glowing aura placebo effect was nice too. Ignorance is bliss and all that... Now with a couple fusions and lower back arthritis I doubt most would want to treat me even if I wanted to go, and would be kind of worried about the ethics of any who would.

Acupuncture sounds like a great alternative.

 

[CarolKing]

A chiropractor will require you to bring in X-rays. If a chiropractor is worth his salt he will refuse to treat you if your issues are beyond his expertise.

I have a brother that won't go to a chiropractor but I have another that I convinced to go. His issues were too bad off and my chrooracter refered him to go to an orthopedic surgeon.

I just went in last week and my back is way better. I had been using ice.

EDIT
It probably depends on your condition but it took me at least 5 or 6 treatments before I noticed a lot of difference in my condition when I went in for acupuncture. I went in for arthritis pain in my feet. That is one treatment a week for 45 to 60 min.

 

[mitchgo61]

Thanks for the tip. Have been thinking about it and seems your testimonial has made the final nudge.

I'm kind of in the same boat with chiros. I used to go to one years ago who was pretty magical and new agey. Think he was a damn good chiropractor as well, and found the spiritual part after he was in the business. Was end of college and a few years after for me, so the glowing aura placebo effect was nice too. Ignorance is bliss and all that... Now with a couple fusions and lower back arthritis I doubt most would want to treat me even if I wanted to go, and would be kind of worried about the ethics of any who would.

Acupuncture sounds like a great alternative.

For long-term, chronic conditions, it can take a while to start having a lasting effect...I was at the end of my rope when I started acupuncture, and it had an immediate effect, but it took a few months to really make a dent. It's almost like it re-sets your body in some weird way, as if some balance is restored by the process and you just feel better overall. (Plus I pass right out...it's the best 30 minutes of sleep I get all month, and I have a bunch of needles in me.) I have no idea how or why it works, and I'm pretty skeptical so I was far from sure I'd get any relief. Now I love it so much, I would do it once a week if it didn't cost me money.

See if you can get a rec from someone you trust...the right acupuncturist is key.

 

[MinnBobber]

Went to the physical therapist today and jogged back to my car to enjoy the movement.
He knows his stuff!
Had a slightly rotated/ out of position pelvis that caused my lower left back tightness and pain. Worked that over and feels like the knot and pain are 95% gone

He gave me new exercise and noticed my left arm did not reach as high as my right arm. He's working my left arm and shoulder and I'm thinking---but it's my RIGHT shoulder with rotator cuff tendon and bicep tendon issues. We do the exercise again and voila, my left arm now reaches the same as my right.

I felt like a new man. The chiropractor runs the clinic so left a note that I am supremely thankful to have found their clinic.
PT and chiro cannot cure everything BUT they really help to tune me up when I get out of alignment !!!!!!!!

 

[Likes2vape]

I find "the right chiropractor" to help with my lower back pain tremendously. I have herniated l3-l4 discs and sometimes I can barely get out of bed. I went through 3 chiropractors before finding one that works for me. I'm a big guy so it takes quite a bit of strength to adjust me. Once I found one could adjust me it was great!! I also think I was finally able to relax when getting adjusted so that probably helped to.

 

[grokit]

A chiropractor can't adjust him/herself. So find the chiropractor's chiropractor

 

[Ricardo]

I went to a physiotherapist yesterday who did quite a lot of manipulation, climbed on top of me and got his knee into my spine/ribs/shoulders! Good, I thought but then he told me what I already know - I have very poor muscle mass, especially in the back & shoulders... solution - swimming, which I hate or running, (the guy's a running fanatic,) . But I read a lot of negative stuff about running, especially for over 50s. I've recently returned to reformer Pilates after a 9 month break and think I'll stick to that and brisk walking, indoor bike for cardio.

 

[CarolKing]

July I needed to go back to the chiropractor. My sciatica started flairing up. I don't even go into the doctor anymore in regards to my back unless the pain doesn't go away. I haven't had to go into the doctor for sbout 3 years and that was to get a steroid epidural shot. The doctors only want to give out pills and physical therapy. The chiropractor gives me excercises to do, many the same that physical therapy uses.
I am having very little pain now, in fact it's almost gone.

It might be a frieghtening thing to some of you to decide on chiropractic. If looking for a good chiro talk to other people. If you go into a chiro and he or she doesn't do X-rays or require them, I would turn around a leave. I have been going to the same doctor of chiropractic for about 12 years.

 

[Havelock Vetenari]

 

[Joel W.]

I think my Chiropractor, with 10 years of education and "Dr." in front of his name would argue with your meme. I personally believe medical doctors intentionally try to discredit chiropractic doctors because they do not want to share the money and they do this at the cost of their patients health.

 

[vapirtoo]

Many of my college athletes have benefited from this form of treatment.
Most had uneven hips and other misalignments.
All showed a marked improvement
( track athletes) in times and recovery.
I ME it seems to work more than just a placebo.
That new stretchy colored tape now the rage among athletes , that's a placebo and a powerful one.

 

[Vicki]

I love the decompression rack at my Chiropractor!

 

[Derrrpp]

I saw my chiropractor a couple hours ago. He works wonders on my neck!

 

[WeedyGirl1979]

My dad was a big believer in chiropractors and we had ours- Dr Palombi. My sister and I were in a car accident as kids- nothing earth shattering, but still- and afterwards I remember the rolling table feeling great. Now that I work standing all day, with odd posture (my knees can flex backwards, we call it "standing back in our legs") my back, along with several other parts, isn't always happy. I tried a series of chiro visits a couple of years ago, but I was really turned off by the cookie cutter treatments- circuit exercise, roller table, massage (always rushed and this side of painful) and adjustment. And KT tape, lots of KT tape. I'd sometimes walk out with so much tape on that I was sure I crinkled as I walked. Once my contract was up with them I never went back. I am open to the idea, however. I wish Dr Palombi was still around, I'd go back to him in a heartbeat.

 

[ginolicious]

I have never been. I do apologize if I do not articulate myself properly as I have one more hour until I vape.

I don't like the thought of them as in they will hurt me. Do I think I need one? Yes.

When I sit at work semi slouched with one leg cross with the ankle over one knee and I slightly twist my back to grab something I can feel my lower back crack and pop at least 5 times in the center lower back.

I believe they offer short term relief but do not fix the problem.

 

[CarolKing]

The chiropractor that I go to also gives yoga exercises to do that help prevent back problems. I haven't had good luck with doctors with my degenerative disc disease but the chiropractor is a god send. I did have luck with steroid epidurals, so a doctor helped me with that.

There may come a time that I need surgery. My chiropractor will let me know if and when that time comes. He requires X-rays and has looked at my MRIs. He's not hesitant to tell someone if they need to go to the doctor.

Not much a doctor can do for you unless you require surgery or want drugs. You may want physical therapy, that would require a doctor's authorization. It just depends on what you are comfortable with.

I had a series of chiro appts a month ago - 5 appts. I'm good to go now. I may not need to go back for 6 or 8 months. My problem isn't going away, I'm just glad I have someone that helps me and is competent.

Sometimes even after surgery patients still have problems. Having surgery will be the last resort for me.

 

[HD Springer]

I agree with you @ginolicious about being short term relief but when you are in unbearable pain then even only for a day or 2 the relief is welcomed. It's not a great way to address the underlying problems however it can lead to long term relief. Every one is different and their body's respond different. It's totally mind boggling how a "little" tweak of the back can render you practically useless for weeks or even months.
And I've known a few people who felt way worse after the adjustment. For weeks. So for myself it's all about my body and what it's telling me instead of what a chiropractor telling me what exactly I should feel.

 

[hibeam]

I got this whale back bend bench in 2002. Over the years it reduced scoliosis and really strengthened abdominals to support lower back.I use it about 20 minutes a day. http://www.beanproducts.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/whale.jpg This can be done over the side of a bed, but the bench firmness helps in self massage of upper back.

 

[MinnBobber]

I got this whale back bend bench in 2002. Over the years it reduced scoliosis and really strengthened abdominals to support lower back.I use it about 20 minutes a day. http://www.beanproducts.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/whale.jpg This can be done over the side of a bed, but the bench firmness helps in self massage of upper back.

............................
I do that over the top of my stability ball.

I'd never gone to a chiro or PT until a few years ago. My mom was a nurse and preached that chiro's were all quacks. Great mom, but biased on that call.
I have lower back bulging disc and degen arthritis plus two bad shoulder tendons. The chiro (always a short 15 minute time) could oftentimes "adjust" me where I'd be 90% better on the spot IF it was a lower back tweak that I suffered. It would be a big instantaneous release. He's put me in a half Nelson, crank on it, and wow. For some other pains---not so helpful.

My physical therapist for lower back and shoulder issues appts are an hour. Some pain during her working me over, but it feels like good --that's it's releasing something slowing, stretching something that needed it. Even the next day I might feel some soreness but it helped correct things. A BIG issue with her is me doing my PT exercises at home!!! To build up the shoulder muscles and core muscles and lower back area. This is for long term prevention. She loves me cuz I get results by doing these exercises almost every day where she says 95% of the patients don't do their exercises and just want to be "fixed" during the appt, but that's the smaller step. She helps me know how to fix myself and guides me with that.

My wife hates that our TV room has stability ball, hand weights, foam roller, stretchy bands , ballet barre (the railing) but if it's in my face I'm going to use it.

I think a great chiro and physical therapist can really help one, but you have to do the homework and they cannot fix everything

 

[Vicki]

Ever since my car accident, I have fallen in love with my chiropractor. I especially love "The Rack." LOL, or technically as it is called, spinal decompression.

 

[Joel W.]

I believe they offer short term relief but do not fix the problem.

I think that depends on the problem. My daughter is 2 now and she has not needed to go back to the chiro for the last 15 months. She is cured of torticollis according to her medical doctors anyway. They were even amazed at her overnight progress.

I have been to the chiro maybe 10 times in my life and they have helped me with a visit or two with no need to keep going back.

Due to 9 months of muscle memory ( strong left, weak right neck muscles), my daughter needed to go back a total of 7 times after the first visit.

You would never know anything was ever wrong with her, looking at her today.

 

[CarolKing]

Sometimes if you are hurting so bad, like the worst pain that you have ever had, you try anything for relief. The Sciatica with the pain going down the back of the leg from the hip is horrible. My chiropractor gave me relief where docs weren't able.

I have flair ups every so often but I go into the Chiro right away when i feel a twinge. I don't need to go in all the time either. Years ago I went in more often than I do now.

Massage helps also.

My chiro doc also takes the time to explain what's going on too with the spine.

 

[killick]

My dad had a bad back (wiped out hillclimbing motorcycles back in the old days) and saw chiropractors religiously until he passed away. When he was still working he had to take 2 weeks off work when his back went out due to reaching across his desk 'funny' to pick up a ruler...

I didn't see one until one day I moved a box from a desk in front of me to a desk beside me. As I twisted it felt exactly like someone had just punched me hard in the small of the back. Not a soul in the room, so wtf? So now I see chiropractors, especially ones that specialize in ART, or Active Release Therapy, which is pretty special. Also one of the PTs at a pain clinic I attended a couple of years ago introduced me to acupuncture. For a couple of years an acupuncture session could give me 24 to 36 hours with absolutely no pain in my lumbar spine. There was nothing else that could come even close.

Don't confuse acupuncture with needling - similar needles is about it. Needling is used to release muscle knots and tension, and also works great, but it's a whole different modality...