Have you ever used a chiropractor or do you use one now?

[Blue_Roses]

I have a pinched nerve in my neck and even though I have been to an MD, someone told me try a chiropractor too. So, I've been three times and after the initial "alignment" I feel better, but the next day I'm still in the same pain.

Just wondering about anyone else's experience with this. It sucks.x(

[fla nocount]

1. I've crawled in and walked out.

Literally. Keep up the treatment and it will pay off. I went for alignments for about a year which tapered down to twice monthly, then monthly. I haven't seen a chiropractor in five years now nor felt the need to. A good one will make you aware of the stupid things we ask of our bodies and you will learn to self adjust, which the practitioner will discourage.

[Archae]

2. Chiropractors are total quacks.

The *ONLY* reason they got any "legitimacy" is due to political pressure.

They never have, and never will show even the slightest real scientific evidence to back up their crackpot theories.

Oh, and to those who want to flame me about this, show me something OTHER than just anecdotes, that backs up their wild-ass claims.

http://skepdic.com/chiro.html

[mzteris]

18. bullsh*t

There are bad chiropractors just like there are bad doctors.

But the proof is in the pudding so to speak. If you've never experienced the true relief that a chiropractor can give, you have no room to speak on the subject, imo.

What's wrong with "anecdotes"? I won't bother you with mine or my husband's or my daughter's or my oldest son - how about my 8 yo? - who had no experience nor expectation of a 'miracle', etc.....

We went to the chiro for my son's feet (he had tendinitis in his feet/ankles). During the course of the follow upvisit about his feet (two visits - prompt relief) - he casually mentioned that his 'chest hurt'. The chiro said 'hmmmmmmm - looked at his chest, did some arm strength tests, flipped him over, adjusted his back '. The 8 yo old turned over said - wow that feels much better, I bet I can do pushups now. Rolled off the table and popped off ten pushups with almost no effort. He'd been unable to do pushups very well - if at all - for the past several months. We figured it was because he'd put on weight...

Unscientific? Maybe. Whatever works, baby.

[Shakespeare]

25. I love how the link he posted....

....even admits that respected medical schools and hospitals now have departments of complementary medicine, but tries to write that off as some sort of corporate conspiracy.

:rofl:

[conscious evolution]

26. If I could post before and after x-rays I would

A chiropractor did more for my back then any of the 'real' doctors.All they did was get me addicted to pain killers.
True chiropractors cant fix every ailment but they can do wonders for back problems.

[Shine]

29. I completely disagree.

I'm not gonna flame you, that's not my style....but my "anectodal" experience has shown me what works for my body.

What else is life, if not experienced subjectively? :shrug:

[Shakespeare]

3. Used to use one, would love to find another good one.

Actually, I've had one recommended by a couple of people I trust, so I may give it a shot the next time my neck bothers me (I have a similar situation to yours).

Contrary to the "quack" comment above--and in the interest of full disclosure, I'll admit that I used to feel the same way--what they do is very legitimate. Much of chiropractics is based on eastern medicine, which westerners seem to feel a knee-jerk snobbery about. Fortunately, top-tier medical schools are now doing research (and offering programs on) complementary medicine (combination of eastern and western), and finding that, gee whiz, there's something to this after all.

Hope your neck continues to get better!

[Blue_Roses]

4. thanks so much

I have an appointment this am and I'm trying to decide is it worth it go.

[Rhiannon12866]

14. Some are better than others.

The chiropractor who I saw was very compassionate and did make a difference, but I regret taking the supplements that he prescribed. I don't think that they helped. However, my aunt saw a chiropractor who gave her way too many vitamins and she had a reaction. I would always choose one who had been recommended by someone with experience with the doctor... As with my veterinarian...:-) That's what I did and it worked out for me.:-)

[raccoon]

5. I see one monthly. She's really helped me out with my back.

Four years ago, my back was causing me a lot of pain. Causes me some now, but nothing like what it used to.

[Blue Diadem]

6. Have you tried a Dr. of Osteopathy?

I used a chiropractor years ago when I couldn't get any regular MD to do anything about my back except offer pills. He helped tremendously but I had something like 20 visits. My BIL told my about DO's and so I checked them out. I've had a DO every since. They can do the same as chiropractors but they're also an MD.

edited to add link:
http://www.osteohome.com/

[wildhorses]

7. yes. sometimes it takes several visits

but, i have always gotten good results.

[GirlinContempt]

8. Some are wacky, some are normal.

I don't know about the U.S., but here in Canada, Chiropractors must have 7 years education and a 12 month internship. they are legally entitled to use the title Doctor.

Some are very very normal. You go in, they want to know about your problems, and your doctor, etc, and they will do the xrays and try to help you. Everyone I know has had amazing success with it. But, it often isn't a CURE. It makes you feel better, sometimes for a long time, but it wont always fix the problem.

Some are quite wacky. They claim chiropractic can cure everything, you don't need a doctor, you should bring in your new born baby to be adjusted. Avoid Chiropractors like this.

[BuddhaGirl]

9. I love my chiropractor

I tend to get headaches from upper back and neck pain, and he fixes me right up!

[Orrex]

10. If he or she mentions "subluxations," run away

One clear line between "helpful practitioner" and "total quack" is whether or not the chiropractor buys into that nonsense about "energy healing" and the like.

Until there is empirical documentation of such energy healing (and to date there is NONE), it is irresponsible for a medical professional to make claims based upon it.

[Oeditpus Rex]

23. 'Subluxation' is just the clinical term

for a disc that's shifted out of place.

[Orrex]

27. That's one of the many definitions, yes.

From The Skeptic's Dictionary entry on Chiropractic:

According to chiropractic, a "subluxation" is a misalignment of the spine that allegedly interferes with nerve signals from the brain. However, there is no scientific evidence for spinal subluxations and none have ever been observed by medical practitioners such as orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, or radiologists. Chiropractors think that by adjusting the misalignments they can thereby restore the nerve signals and cure health problems. This idea was first propounded in 1895 by D.D. Palmer, a grocer from Davenport, Iowa, and a vitalist who considered intelligent energy to be conveying information among various body parts. There is no scientific evidence to support these ideas. Despite the fact that chiropractors claim there are thousands of studies that prove the effectiveness of spinal manipulation, most support for chiropractic comes from testimonials of people who claim to have been helped by manipulation. Whether they were helped because nerves were "unblocked" has not been established.

But if you don't care for a Skeptic's assessment, here's what The Association of Chiropractic Colleges has to say on the matter:

A subluxation is a complex of functional and/or structural and/or pathological articular changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health.

Really clears it up, doesn't it? Could apply to pretty much anything that the practitioner wants it to!

Heck, while I've got your attention, here's a note from Chirobase:

"Straight" chiropractors tend to believe that they cause nerve interference, are readily visible, and that virtually everyone gets them. Most other chiropractors (commonly referred to as "mixers") define subluxations loosely and see them when it suits their convenience. Chiropractors who reject subluxation theory consider them invisible but have been forced to acknowledge them to get paid by Medicare. When a respected chiropractic researcher was asked whether he had ever seen a subluxation on an x-ray film, he smiled and jokingly replied, "With my eyes closed."

(emphasis mine, but that's the money-quote.)

A quick bit of Googling among various seemingly respectable sources reveals that there's little consensus as to what "subluxations" actually means, and a more elastic (and therefore more widely applicable and much less easily refutable) definition seems greatly preferred. A misaligned disc may represent a subluxation, but it's certainly not the only definition in use by chiropractors honest and otherwise.

[Oeditpus Rex]

31. Wow, you're really obsessed with this, aren't you?

Chiropractor kill your dog or somethin'? :shrug:

[Orrex]

33. No, but it turned my camel into a horse

I don't know if I'd use the word "obsessed," but it's a subject of considerable interest to me.

[Oeditpus Rex]

42. Dude, I apologize

I lumped you in with others in this thread before I fully understood your stance. Now that I've read more of your posts, I realize I fucked up, and I'm sorry I snarked on you. :blush:

[Orrex]

43. No harm. You're probably just mad that our names are so similar

But thanks for the apology in any case!

:hi:

[conscious evolution]

49. Here is a result of subluxations

Recognized by many in the medical profession.
http://www.back.com/symptoms-sciatica.html
Pressure on the nerves from herniated disc can also cause bowel or urinary tract problems.Several sites I have googled all say if this is a problem seek medical help immediately.
Here's an example.See #3 in the flow chart.
http://familydoctor.org/x2563.xml

When I hurt my back a few years ago I was between jobs and had no insurance.Doctors at the free clinic said they really could do much unless I had the bowel or urinary problems.If I had they said they would have admitted me for emergency surgery.

So yes, sublaxations are real and the regular medical pro's recognize them.They just call them by differant names.

[Midlodemocrat]

11. The guy by me worked wonders on my back when I fell down

the stairs a few years ago.

He gave me some exercises to do, and my back has stayed fine since then.

Now, my neck, well, ever since the whiplash 25 years ago, it will never be pain free. I've learned to live with it.

[Deep13]

12. Nope, haven't used faith healers or witch doctors either.

:eyes:

[Rhiannon12866]

13. I have and I found it helped.

I'd stick with it. I subsequently saw a doctor for acupuncture and had the same experience that you did. I felt much better just after the treatment, but was back to square one in a couple of days. I think that these things take time. I eventually ended up having surgery, with advice from this doctor, but the treatments kept me going, until then.:-)

[patricia92243]

15. My sister is a Registered Nurse and she says chiropractors are a no, no. I've read an article (no

link) that warned about when chiropractors jerk your head or neck around it could cause a stroke. I have already had one brain bleed - I want ANYBODY jerking my head around like I want a hole in the head. :(

[GirlinContempt]

21. Uhm, it's ONE type of neck adjustment that

can possibly maybe cause strokes in an immeasurably small number of people.
Sort of like there are treatments or tests done in hospitals that carry the same risk.
I don't care if people go to a chiropractor or not, I don't even go myself. But it's hardly a common thing.

[LeftyMom]

16. They're quacks.

I went in for a free initial visit at one near me once.

Found out the following:

-My spine is horribly wrong. There are measurements and mine just doesn't match up. Sounded a bit hinky to me, considering that there's plenty of normal human variation that's not detrimental. (FWIW, no conventional doctor has ever said any such thing, so it's not as if I have an issue there.

-Regular chiro care could supposedly keep me from getting degenerative disk disease, which my mother has, and torticollis, which my grandmother has. Nobody knows what causes either, but both saw chiros for years with no lasting improvement.

-I need vitamins. Lots of expensive vitamins. Nothing was asked about my current diet or supplement regimen to determine this.

-I needed to bring LeftyKid in right away so he'd grow properly. No questions were asked about his health to determine this.

-I should not see my regular doctor or physical therapists for my neck problem, they would only give me drugs and make the problem worse. (I really want to know where these doctors who are so free with the drugs are, because I've never been treated by one who'd give me a bottle of muscle relaxers without treating me like I asked for ride to the methodone clinic.)

I didn't go back. A few trips to the physical therapist and some improvements to my desk at work fixed the problem.

[mzteris]

19. ONE quack does not an entire profession

make.

There are quack MD's, too.

There are quacks like "Dr. Mercola" and some people think Dr. Sears or Dr. Weil are quacks.

Some people think vegetarians/vegans believe a whole lot of "quackery". (Like Sally Fallon and her ilk. . .)


Please don't denigrate all chiropractors because you went to ONE nut job.

[Orrex]

38. Quick way to weed out the nuts

If the chiropractor speaks of energy-based healing or of non-neurological diseases "caused" by misaligned vertebrae, you're dealing with a nut. If the chiropractor offers to fix your spine because one leg is longer than the other, you're dealing with a nut. If the chiropractor refers, even obliquely, to some kind of anti-chiropractic conspiracy within and/or organized by the AMA, you're dealing with a nut.

Chiropractors have a reasonably well established success rate at treating neck, back, and joint pain, but such treatments have seldom been shown to be superior to conventional medical treatments in duration or recovery time.

[Shakespeare]

30. The chiropractor I went to never did anything like that.

-Said my spine was just fine, but did note from the x-rays (before I'd revealed any info) that my cervical discs were slightly calcified/arthritic from an injury. I was in a near-fatal car wreck a few years earlier, and the neck injury was from that.

-Never suggested I buy any products at all from him (though I have had medical doctors try to prescribe meds that were very questionable).

-Never, EVER told me not to see my other doctors

As others have noted, there are good chiros and bad chiros. If you find a good one, they can make a remarkable positive difference in your health. Sounds like you got a rotten one, but I certainly wouldn't write off the whole profession.

[Shine]

32. Ditto on what mzteris said.

"Quacks" exist in all professions, but to make a blanket judgment about the chiropractic profession based on one or two experiences is not sound, imo.

[emmajane67]

17. I've been.

I went daily for a while to try and cure recurring migraines.

I think an osteopath is better.

[mzteris]

20. regular adjustments . . .

it takes time to re-train the the muscles/ligaments to hold the spine in proper alignment. The longer you've been walking around with the problem, the longer it takes to retrain.

Think of an orthodontist. They don't just "realign" the tooth and boom you're done. No, it takes time and 'nudging' to get your teeth straight.


(Oh - you might want to take a look at what you're sleeping on - mattress and/or pillow. Are they old? Are you getting enough support? What do you do for a living? How's your posture? etc. . .)

[AirmensMom]

22. I had a great one

before we moved. My husband and I both had lower back injuries that kept bothering us and he made the pain go away. He also cured my daughter's migraines. And he never tried to get me to buy vitamins. It took a while before my back would stay in alignment, so I'm guessing the same about your neck. I hope it gets beter. :hug:

For everyone who thinks they're quacks, there are plenty of bad doctors around, including chiropractors and MDs. That doesn't mean they're all quacks.

[Javaman]

24. Yes I do and he saved my back!

I was a skeptic for a very long time. I did everything I could to avoid one. I had heard so many horror stories.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore, nothing else worked. I should have started with the chiropractor.

A simple thing like finding out that one of my legs was longer than the other, he fitted me with a heel lift on my left leg. In several weeks and a few good cracks later, my back was like brand new.

I must tell you as well, that I have had back issues since I was 12! I'm 43 now and no more problems. :) I only started seeing this guy last year.

[Shine]

28. I am a big believer in chiropractic. It's worked wonders for me!

I've got neck issues, from a car accident I had when I was 17...so it's kind of my "weak link", so to speak.

I think the key is finding the RIGHT chiropractor for you...because they can be different in terms of how they make adjustments. And yes, when you're dealing with an acute injury, then you do need to go back a few times to make it worthwhile. I've been through that routine.

Another thing I appreciate about chiropractic is its basic philosophy that the body knows how to heal itself, provided it is in alignment. It's a much more holistic way of looking at the body, which is what I am drawn to.

The bottom line is: find the right one and you'll be in good hands. Pun intended. :D

Hope you're feeling better soon! :hi:

[huskerlaw]

34. I used to go to one

for a sports-related knee injury. It helped immensely.

And yes, some chiropractors are quacks. But visiting one and then writing off the whole profession is like going to a bad psychiatrist and then joining the Church of Scientology because obviously that Xenu fella knew what he was talking about.

[Shakespeare]

35. OMG

I. LOVE. Your analogy!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[ChiciB1]

36. Over The Years I've Been To Several... I Have Scoliosis & Degenerative

disk problems. My experience with them is this.... Sure you feel better at first, but for me, generally by the time I have to see them for my next appointment everything is out of whack again. The alignment gets done, but it doesn't stick. At least not for me and I won't go to another one.

They usually start you off with 3 times a week, which is problematic to begin with. Too time consuming and expensive. I WAS lucky enough to have insurance when I went, but still the cost seems very inflated to me. And now they have this new contraption that they use to stretch you but hooking you up to some sort of machine type thing.

I would say that if it's just for a one time injury they might be helpful, but for chronic problems, I'll pass.

[mcar]

37. I use one now

and have in the past. My cervical spine is straight instead of curved (computer-related injury; I've been working on PCs since the mid 80s). It causes intense muscle spasms in my back, severe headaches and the like. I've been to physical therapy, had epidural injections in my neck, muscle relaxers.

Nothing helped like the chiropractor. Between the adjustments, massage and ultrasound, I can function reasonably well.

Then, I developed two pinched nerves in my elbow. After similar "traditional" therapies didn't work, I had surgery to move the nerve. A year later, I started having the same symptoms (numbness in fingers, pain at elbow, severe nerve pain running down forearm). The surgeon said he'd just have to go back in and see what was going on. I don't think so, I said. If you didn't get it right the first time, you don't get a second chance.

I went back to the chiropractor. Cold laser therapy, ultrasound, massage and adjustments broke up the scar tissue that had formed and have given me much relief.

[conscious evolution]

39. It can take a few trearments to get it right

Your connecting muscles are sorta frozen in place and might be pulling the vertabrate back out of alignment.He should be using massage therapy on it to get the muscles loosened up.If not ask him about it.
Another thing I have experienced is muscle or tendon pain the next day in a differant location.This is due to the muscle being stretched from the realignment.The general consensus I have noticed in speaking with other chiro users is that if something else doesn't hurt the next day the chiro isn't doing it right.
The main reason they want you to come in three or four times a week at first is because the muscle will retain 'memory' and will pull the vertabrate back out of alignment.Multiple treatments over a short period help overcome the memory.

Something to keep in mind also:If your problem is the result of an accident or something that actually fractured or broke the vertabrae their is a good chance chiropractors can do nothing for it.My father,impressed with what my chiro had done for me,had him do x-rays for his neck problem.The chiro saw he had a small frcture that had not healed properly and as a result told my father that there was nothing he could do for it and that he needed to see an orthopedic surgeon to fix it.

[u4ic]

44. I'll take a bit of issue with your last paragraph

in regards to an accident. (unless you mean that they can't help with an actual fracture. That is correct, but depending on what the issue is, can help later on)

I had two car accidents with whiplash, and many (horse) riding falls. Chiropractic helped me greatly (after the initial healing of the whiplash), and spared me a lot of pain.

I also have a friend who was a pedestrian hit by a car, and all but 2 of her ribs were fractured. A couple of months after the accident, she was at the chiropractor's in much pain, and found a tremendous amount of relief by visiting one. The accident had put her ribs and spine severely out of alignment.

Years later, she is still visiting one, and has progressed much beyond how the doctors thought she would end up.

[conscious evolution]

47. Being cautious there.

Chiropractic can help after accidents.However,there are times when they are unable to help.As I have no info on the op's root cause of his problem or what brought it about I did not want him to get hopes up in the chance chiropractic care may be inappriate for his problem.
Chiropractic care can do wonders but it's not always the best care.What might work for one person may not work for another.Just like in any other form of medicine.

[skygazer]

40. I always love the chiropractor threads

There's always so much emotional misinformation on them. Very entertaining.

I wonder if any of the people on here who have never been to a chiropractor but insist that they're all quacks and weirdos has ever been to a regular MD who sucked. Because I know I have. Several of them, as a matter of fact but I don't judge the entire medical community on that basis.

I've been to doctors who insisted that I needed some sort of expensive therapy that I didn't need.

I've been to doctors who wanted to put me on various prescription meds that I didn't need (mostly painkillers or anti-depressants - there are pharmaceutical companies that actually pay doctors to prescribe their drugs).

I've been to doctors who've made serious errors, lost lab reports, mis-diagnosed fairly simple things.

I've also been to doctors who were caring, efficient and seemingly honest. Most of them, as a matter of fact.

I love my chiropractor. I had my back go out of whack several years ago and went to the emergency room. They told me I had a "pulled muscle" and gave me muscle relaxers and painkillers and told me not to go to work for a week. By the end of the week, I was stoned out of my gourd and still in pain. I went to my chiropractor (in fear because I was already in pain and expected nothing good to come out of it). She performed an adjustment that didn't hurt at all and I walked out of there upright and with no pain.

[crispini]

41. I have had some luck with chiro, but I personally think acupuncture is better.

There is a lot of good advice in this thread about telling "quacks" from the legit ones, and the same thing goes for acupuncturists. I have had such incredible pain relief from my acupuncturist, you would NOT believe. Also, the things that he have fixed almost always tend to STAY fixed -- specifically, tendonitis in my arms, hands, and knees. At the moment, it's my lower back, haha.

[u4ic]

45. I find they're good for different things

I have used both with much success. :hi:

[Jimbo S]

46. If it weren't for my chiropractor, I would be in constant pain.

Helps keep my hips in alignment, otherwise the kinks in my lower back trigger painful muscle spasms.

[ceile]

48. I miss mine.

After my car accident, I was able to go 2x a week for several months and insurance paid for it. It was heaven!

[flamingyouth]

50. I did not have much luck or good experiences.

I have three herniated discs in my neck and two in my lower back. I've gotten relief elsewhere (physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, biofeedback, yoga).

[Beausoir]

51. I would NEVER give money to a snake-oil salesman.

One quack-o-practor got his hands on my elderly father. Dad, at the time, had undiagnosed Multiple Myeloma. Anyone familiar with that disease will know that a back-cracker is about the last thing you would do in this situation.

The quack starting wracking on my dad's spine and ended up breaking three of his vertebrae.

These guys are not real doctors. They aren't medically trained. They have NO medical training.

But the placebo effect works for alot of folks.

[GirlinContempt]

52. That's bullshit.

Dislike chiropractors all you want, but they are medically trained. And, at least in Canada, LEGALLY they are Doctors.

[Beausoir]

53. They don't go to medical school. They are not M.D. Case closed.

I appreciate the fact that they work for some people.

I don't appreciate the quack who broke my father's back.

[GirlinContempt]

54. Don't like the guy who broke your dad

but that isn't what you said.
Required courses for chiropractic include:
anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, neurology, embryology, principles of chiropractic, radiology, immunology, microbiology, pathology, nutrition, and clinical sciences specifically relating to diagnosis.

And a number of people who don't go to medical school are doctors. You don't have to go to med school to become a dentist either.