Does anyone here go to a chiropractor and what is your opinion? When I fell down the stairs, the doctor strongly recommended that I go to one. I went today, now he wants me to come back on Thursday also. He said It looked like I had some arthritis setting up in my neck and back from a really old injury but that it was treatable. My fil said he knew this particular guy, that he wants you to come all the time and he couldn't see that it was doing any good. Other people raved about it and said he helped a lot. we do have insurance, but its a twenty dollar co-pay-this could get expensive! I will say that right now everything aches-he said it would, but my neck does feel a little looser. I had never been to one before-generally, I only go to the doctor kicking and screaming. I was just wondering what you all thought......

-- Kelly(KY) (homearts2002@yahoo.com), January 22, 2002

Answers

People I know go to them and like them, but I am like you, not fond of going to doctors, and I don't care for total strangers putting their hands on me (so massages in the Wine Country are out as well, lol).

My other reservation about them is that you never seem to get "fixed" or "cured", it seems that once you see them you see them forever on a once a month basis, which as you pointed out is not cheap. I think that is one reason why insurance (like car insurance) companies are rather wary of them.

I am not saying they are unqualified, I just don't care for them for the above reasons.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 22, 2002.

My husband went to one. We didn't know it at the time but he has a bulging disk(c5 or c6). He was in so much pain in his neck,arms and upper back. The chiropractor helped to a point as far as getting him lined back up but you can't cure a bulging disk so he quit going and his regular doctor sent him to physical therapy. The exercises strengthened his back and neck which helps but he has to manage his pain and do exercises on a daily basis. I guess my point is that if you just got knocked out of whack then the chiropractor should be able to get you lined back out, but if you have disk damage then I wouldn't think there is much he can do. Whichever type of doctor you chose, I hope you get a good one. It makes all the difference in the world. Get better soon, spring is coming and you have lot's of work to do:)

-- LaDena,Tx9 (littledena77458@yahoo.com), January 22, 2002.

Kelly, I go to one occasionally, and I know why they wany you to come back so often at first; it is because your muscles are used to being in a certain alignment, even if it is the wrong one, and they tend to pull your spine out of alignment again. If you go more often at first, your muscles will loosen up and adjust to the proper alignment better.

If I were you, I would go at least for two or three weeks. As he starts dropping you back to "once every two weeks, once every three weeks", etc., I would just tell him that I would return when I felt that it was necessary. I personally only go every few months.

I know people who swear by them and go all the time, but I agree that while there are things they can do, sometimes depending on the injury, a chiropractor just can't help anymore!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), January 22, 2002.

I agree with Christine. I go to one occasionally--not as often as they would like me to go, but only when I need it. Your muscles do get used to being in one configuration (if that word works) and then when you are "lined up" again, it is hard to get those muscles to change with your spine. I have been helped tremendously by chiropractic care, but also know that every chiropractor is different. Some have a soft touch, others are hard *ouch* and then some use electric therapy on the muscles and others do massage to help relax the muscles. It may take looking around if you aren't satisfied. It's a shame more insurance companies don't pay for chiropractic care--ours doesn't at all--another reason not to go too often 8-).

Hope you feel better soon!

-- Dena (ddew1962@earthlink.net), January 22, 2002.

My father had injured his back badly working for the postal service, and even had surgery, but couldn't enjoy any quality of life. He went to a chiropractor on a whim (nothing else worked, why not?) for about a year and that got him to a point where he could at least stand up straight and work on his furniture again. He hasn't needed to go back since, and that was over 13 years ago. I think if your doctor recommended it, he's probably right. There's also physical therapists, and insurance companies seem to prefer paying for them...

-- Dawn (olsoncln@ecenet.com), January 22, 2002.

I "threw my back out" one time about 10 years ago, and went to one and she was great. Only needed to go a few times, then I felt fine. Then, last spring, I worked so hard in our gardens, that I really hurt myself. So, I went and could not believe how sore my muscles were (all of them!) - she would just barely touch me to massage first, that I almost came off the table. Slowly I started to notice a difference, then Wham a huge difference, then I felt better and when I hit what I came to call my plateau period I stopped going, that being the time where you don't seem to feel all that much better for the going. I do recommend them and will go back again if I ever feel out of whack.

-- Katie (homesteader@accessnevada.com), January 22, 2002.

Hi Kelly,

People talk about 'throwing your back out' and being 'out of wack'. That can slowly happen everyday, to certain degrees. Even sleeping wrong can misalign your spine. Sitting all day at your computer in a chair that is not specifically designed for you or your work can do it. Certain shoes that you wear can do it. Muscle tension and stress can hurt your alignment also. I'm sure you can think of others.

What a chiropractor does is manipulate your body back into correct position. If tomorrow, we go right back to doing what we were doing, it goes right back 'out' again. The body has to SLOWLY get used to being in the correct positions. We need to adjust our movements accordingly, so this doesn't continue to happen.

Sometimes I feel like a truck ran over me when I leave the Chiroprators office. The next day too. But it is an overall healthy system that we need to deal with. Not just a bone or a muscle. All internal pieces are connected to each other, so if one needs help, all the others will over compensate for it and become sore also. After regular visits, I am no longer constipated, my sinus problems cleared up, and I no longer get headaches.

Yes there are quack chiroprators. I went to a few before I found the one that I like. I don't think it's unusual for yours to want follow- up visits. If you start to feel better, don't over do it and try to do too much. I hope you're feeling better soon.

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhill@eznet.net), January 22, 2002.

We have used Chiropractors for years now for various problems at different times. Each time we move we have to search again for one we like. Our experience has been that it is just a matter of finding one we trust, just like Medical doctors, dentists, etc.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), January 22, 2002.

I totally agree with Terry----!!!

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), January 23, 2002.

We think they're great, if you get a good one. We go regularly. Been a great help. The reasoning is behind their practice is sensible too/ opening up nerve channels so everything runs smoothly. There are different methods, shop around do see which one works for you

-- Cindy (SE. IN) (atilrthehony@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.

I agree with all of the above! Most of the time once just isn't enough, but usually after 2-3 treatments you can really see the difference. also I have found with any type of injury it is best to go sooner rather than later. Waiting just makes it worse, and it takes longer to get back to normal.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 23, 2002.

chiropractors are probably good for what they are trained to do i.e. realign the spine. However when they claim they can cure sinus problems and all other matter of health problems I get leary. They do keep you coming back frequently and there may be a reason for this as stated above. I saw a chiropractor over 30 visits for my back and it did not help one iota. I'm really skeptical of chiropractors myself. I think some of them try to take the place of your regular medical dr. and that can be dangerous. Sorry Cindy.

-- Barb in Ky. (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), January 23, 2002.

Kelly, My husband, Tom, was a Grocery Dept. Manager for years. This involves lifting thousands of boxes of food just in one week. It really added up over the years. Well, his back was hurting constantly and the doctors kept sending him to Physical Therapy to strengthen his back muscles. Finally, a P.T. told him that his muscles were in great shape. So, on his own he went to a chiropracter. It worked wonders for him.

-- vicki in NW OH (thga76@aol.com), January 23, 2002.

I guess one thing that puzzles me is that a lot of people (myself included, for years), put so much trust in medical doctors and are so leary of Chiropractors. I'm not sure why - I don't even know why I was that way. There are the good and not so good and genuine "quacks" in all the professions I mentioned in my earlier post.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.

I once worked for a chiropractor & saw many people that seemed almost miraculously healed. I also love to get my neck manipulated once in a while - it helps to drain my sinuses. ANYWAY...I know what you mean about the regular visits - they may seem unnecessary & expensive. I will say that the spine really does need regular maintenance - we use it 24 hours a day - even in our sleep. I just hope you get an honest, well-trained chiropractor that won't take advantage of you or your insurance company.

-- hmm (h.m.metheny@att.net), January 23, 2002.

I was wondering if there is any such thing as a statistical report on chiroprators (how many benefited vs. how many didn't and what the problems were etc.). I've been going to a chiroprator for 3 years now. The main reason why I went to him is because I was unable to use my arm after carrying a almost 10lb baby all over the place. He told me it was my rotator cuff. Also I was born with a cracked collar bone. After weining myself off, and getting cured, I didn't come for a year. Now since January of this year it has come back and is harder than ever to fix. I go once a week for a "quick fix". My Primary doctor said that she has had some patients become Parapaligics (excuse the spelling) from chiroprators manipulating either the neck or spine. I would like to know with how many cases if at all has this happened. Also my mother who has had 6 surgeries on her neck and spine, and has several diseases of the spine told me that same thing my primary doctor has. She used to go to a chiroprator. I trust this doctor completely. I even took my 4 year old daughter to him. I just don't know who to believe. I have an appointment with a orthopedic surgeon. I am real hesatant with surgery. If anyone has an answer, please write me at my e-mail address.

Terri (MD)

-- Terri Qualey (tereenaq@yahoo.com), June 22, 2002.