who has gone to a chriopractor?

[TicklingIsLife]

has anyone else been scared to death that they are going to make one wrong move and paralyze you forever?? i have to go in a week, and im hoping i can still walk afterwards....

 

[maniactickler]

Just relax and enjoy it. youll be fine.

 

[mrfrench58]

I wouldn't worry about being hurt. I would advise to keep one thing in mind about chiropracters: There are a number of these people who will tell you that you need dozens of treatments to correct whatever problems you have. Beware of these types. An honest chiropracter will tell you that if he/she can't fix the problem after a couple of visits that they probably can't help you. At least, that has been my experience.

Good luck.

 

[Capnmad]

Dunno what to think about chiropractors, really. Gone to a few, what they did, if anything, was minimal, though the cracking sound to your back will make you think they're doing a lot.

I gave up when one I saw who seemed very competent insisted I come back three times a week for the next month. Realizing how much money that would cost me, I decided it wasn't anywhere near worth it, and I'd work on it to heal my own way.

And I did. 🙂

 

[Marquis De Sade]

Nothing to be afraid of, assuming of course that you've checked their credentials.

As for duration of treatment, I have a vastly different opinion to mrfrench's (please note though that he, as I, speak from our own personal experiences) and despite you being nervous about going, I sincerely hope you take my opinion into account as well and make up your own mind.

It largely, largely depends on what the issue is. If it's something that's taken a long time for something to surface, usually several years (subluxation of the spine for example), due to poor posture, work, habits, sports or whatever, then obviously it'll take equal, if not more time for the issue to be reversed and corrected. "A couple of visits" and you're done is, and again I speak from personal experience, a lazy, poorly educated chiropractor who may be more concerned about your quick buck than your long-term health.

You go in, they crack your neck, back, whatever and you feel good for a few days, maybe even months, but you're nowhere near long-term better and healthy. The issue will come back tenfold because it'll just worsen with time without it being taken care of properly.

A couple of visits and you're taken care of would be the equivalent of eating McDonalds everyday for 5 years and then going to the gym twice and looking like Ryan Reynolds in Blade Trinity.

A good chiropractor will take x-rays of you, compare your results to normal, healthy alignment, explain to you what's wrong, make an educated guess at how it happened and have you fill in the gaps. Then tell you what needs to be done to reverse your condition and ultimately leave it up to you if you want to commit to it.

Once you commit to it, you'll come in for whatever procedures are necessary and he'll also give you suggestions on what you can do at home or on your own time to help your situation. Every 6 months or so a good chiropractor will take more x-rays to review your progress and as you get better you'll have to go in less and less.

One thing to be careful of though - if your chiropractor suggests that you use heat instead of an ice pack, run for the hills.

This of course depends on what's wrong with you.

 

[CurtWild]

i went once many years ago.

i floated out of there.

 

[Bizkit]

I have seen several chiropractors over the past year and a half.If you can find one that practices active release therapy that would be your best bet imo.It hurts but is very effective.That is more of a deep tissue therapy as opposed to cracking your back,neck,etc.What are you being treated for?

 

[kingp]

They have helped me...

Many years ago I pulled a ligament in my neck area while doing inverted situps at a gym. I had my hands behind my head, which is a no no. As soon as it happened I knew something was wrong, but the pain went away quickly, so I cautiously continued with my workout. Soon after I had a pain under my shoulder blade that I thought was a pulled muscle as it was away from where I felt the neck twinge.

Long story short, 3 weeks later, things got steadily worse and I awoke one morning with my head tilted and everytime I went to straighten it I started to pass out. I was scared. I never have passed out in my life and this was weird.

Luckily my Mother knew of a very respected chiro in my town and took me there immediately. After some tests and almost fading to black on his table, he began the treatment. What happened was I pulled the ligament in the spinal area, it swelled, choking a nerve which ran to my shoulder blade. It swelled further to the point that when I tried to straighten my head the muscle would spasm cutting off the blood supply to my brain, causing the passing out feeling.

After 3 weeks, I was right as rain again....it was remarkable. Everynow and again I aggrevate it (such as scraping ice off a windshield) and have to return for a couple of weeks, but he never fails to help.

You have to cut them off when you get to monthly visits as they will never tell you not to come back. But if you are in trouble, I think they are actually better than doctors.

PS- Keep in mind that Chiro's can not be sued for malpractice because they are not actually doctors, so if they goof up, you may be stuck. Be sure to do a little word of mouth research....

 

[minerva]

As others recommended already, check their reputation and method of work thoroughly. They can help you a lot, but if they dont really take the time to get a full picture of your problem, they can do more harm then good.

Also something important, that needs to be mentioned.
If your scared, you'll probably tensen up as soon as they start touching you.
Its VERY important, that you'll be able to fully relax.
If they are working against your tense muscles, chances are, they are going to hurt you.
A good chiropractor will always stop as soon as he realizes you're not able to relax.

 

[locker669]

Look one up near you in network with your insurance company. I went to a practice where only 1 doctor took my health insurance. If for some reason he wasn't there for my appointment I get my adjustment for free.

 

[Icycle]

If you are concerned about chiropractic care, why are you going to see a chiropractor?

 

[panerai]

chiropractors rock! i try to visit one at least once a month.

 

[DimpleToes]

I go to them all the time... they keep me walking... for those who know my story... I was in a horrible car accident at age 16.. shattered front teeth to dust and shattered sinuses. another car accident age 20.. went half way thru front window. there was a perfect mask of my face in window. I was totally paralized onleft side of body untill at hospital they were able to realign cervical spine and relieve pressure on spinal cord. I now have perminate spinal nerve damage that causes alot of pain and spasms. But I can walk normally. I have now have a bone disease in spine.. advanced degenerative disc disease with several herneated disc and stenosis in cervical area.. I am looking at massive reconstrutive spinal surgery later this year. My Chiropractor has allowed me to be able to live a normal life.. without them I would be bed bound and that would suck.. I say go for it.. Dont fear it.

Hugsssss/Lisa

 

[Icycle]

I don't wish to discount the anecdotal experiences of those who have posted here, but you should be aware that much of chiropractic is based on theories with no scientific evidence. You should also be aware that temporary or permanent adverse effects, up to and including death, are possible with chiropractic treatment.

I'm not sure what condition has caused you to go to a chiropractor, nor why you feel you have to go, but I would urge you to seek out care from traditional medical professionals before seeking treatment from scientifically unproven alternative therapies.

 

[TicklingIsLife]

If you are concerned about chiropractic care, why are you going to see a chiropractor?

i have a stiff neck that comes and goes quite frequently, making it hard to turn to one side of my neck, odd thing is it feels just like every other stiff neck i have woken up to, but they have all gone away in a day or two. so i guess it cant hurt to see what the problem is.

i just have this recurring thought that the doc will make one wrong move and paralyze me for life...

 

[Icycle]

i have a stiff neck that comes and goes quite frequently, making it hard to turn to one side of my neck, odd thing is it feels just like every other stiff neck i have woken up to, but they have all gone away in a day or two. so i guess it cant hurt to see what the problem is.

I guess my follow up question is why are you going to see a chiropractor instead of a normal doctor? A chiropractor is not a subspecialty of medicine that focuses on the neck an spine, like a podiatrist deals with feet or a dermatologist deals with skin. It is an entirely different theory of health, like acupuncture or reflexology. And like acupuncture and reflexology, there is no scientific proof of the efficacy of chiropractic.

Go see your normal doctor and he'll be able to help you with your neck stiffness.

In the meantime, have you tried any self care, like Advil, heat pads, ice packs,stretching or massage?

i just have this recurring thought that the doc will make one wrong move and paralyze me for life...

It's a very rare possibility that chriropactic manipulation can result in paralysis or death. If you are concerned about it, don't go!

 

[LeeAllure]

I, too, have muscle spasm in my neck

which make is very painful to turn my head, at times. I went to my
regular doctor who prescribed muscle relaxers and then valium.
Shortly after that visit, I fell down some stairs, tailbone first, which
laid me flat on my back for a week. Ok. I could stand, too, but going
from standing to sitting or vice versa was very painful. At any rate,
fast forward a year. I do a 10k walk, and near the end of it, one
heel was very sore, felt like one leg was longer than the other, and
the massage therapist who worked me over after that said that it
seemed like my neck was out of alignment (and it was sore, and still
is). I had a visit with my regular Dr. today for my annual checkup.

She said that a chiropractor who uses gentle manipulations, as opposed
to the more athletic cracking and popping can be good, she recommended
that I keep doing the neck exercises I do (mostly turning smoothly and
holding, then going chin to chest and at different angles until the muscles
are a little more stretched) and also to possibly invest in in an inversion
table. She re-upped my valium prescription to allow the muscles to
relax,as well.

There are large "Did you know that chiropractic can cause strokes?"
billboards on the Massachusetts turnpike, so I was a little nervous about
that sort of thing, but my Dr. also said that word of mouth is probably
one of the best ways to find a good local one. I would recommend
visiting your GP first, however.

Lee

 

[TicklingIsLife]

I must have worded what I have wrong. It's not really stiffness I have, it just when I turn my neck to one side, I feel a little pinch stopping me after turning about 90 degrees (if that makes sense). I could take advil, pills, whatever, but that pinch feeling would still be there when the medicine wore off. And I am going to the same recommended chiropractor my mom goes to, so no scrub doctor for me.