Does anyone here have a chiropractor?

[punch]

I have been wondering if a chiropractor is as beneficial as most say.

My dad for one has a job where his back is sore after a days work. He often complains about sore back and neck pains, I tell him to try a chiropractor but he says they won't do anything.

Myself, I have of late been having some weird neck pains and sometimes my back starts to get a little stiff.

Anyone go to a chiroprac. on a regular basis and can give me a run down of what happens in the process and what is corrected?

 

[maverick66]

i have. they do work. i had severe pain in my shoulder and my hamstrings. he aligned my body and the pained relieved from my shoulder. he also did some electro therapy on my hammys annd around my shoulder muscles and that helped alot. just make sure u find a good one because there are chiropractors out there who dont take proper time to do a good job.

 

[Waimea_Boy]

Most chiropractors are scam artists. Find a good one and only go to them a couple of times. Don't get suckered into going for more than a week. From what you describe, working out and stretching are probably your best bets.

 

[FuriousYellow]

I used to get excruciating pain in my neck from a fall I took a long time ago. Nothing gave me much relief until I saw a chiropractor. The guy who treated me was very experienced and had been practicing for decades.

At first I was so relieved to be free from the pain, I just kept coming back whenever he told me to for "adjustments" as he referred to them. After awhile I realized he wasn't really doing much so I had to tell him, if I need you I'll make an appointment.

I don't use that guy anymore as I moved away, but I have a DC I use whenever I have back/neck tightness that won't go away on its' own.

 

[Craig Sheppard]

I used to get excruciating pain in my neck from a fall I took a long time ago. Nothing gave me much relief until I saw a chiropractor. The guy who treated me was very experienced and had been practicing for decades.

At first I was so relieved to be free from the pain, I just kept coming back whenever he told me to for "adjustments" as he referred to them. After awhile I realized he wasn't really doing much so I had to tell him, if I need you I'll make an appointment.

I don't use that guy anymore as I moved away, but I have a DC I use whenever I have back/neck tightness that won't go away on its' own.

What did he actually do? And what are "adjustements"?

 

[punch]

And what are "adjustements"?

they make adjustments on where to move and play with your individual vertebrae so they can line them up accordingly, each vertebrae have names and such, someone who goes there could explain that.

 

[Roy]

If you find a decent one, they can do WONDERS to your injuries.

 

[Waimea_Boy]

Just remember that chiropractors weren't smart enough to get into medical school and medical school isn't that hard to get into. Something to think about.

 

[ramseszerg]

Just remember that chiropractors weren't smart enough to get into medical school and medical school isn't that hard to get into. Something to think about.

um, medical school isnt hard to get into? says who? maybe it's easier in the states cuz of the money but still..

personally i love my chiro. one time i couldnt even walk properly, two sessions later i was comfortable and didnt feel like dying anymore.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

punch

your father might need to lose weight, start Yoga and Pilates

he needs to be fully diagnosed by a good doctor

swimming is quite good for the back, I am told by other sufferers

he should go to a good physio for several sessions, to get a model and patterns of exercise, then he should execute similar stuff by himself

 

[Supernatural_Serve]

I used to see one. They can help, but their methods are very violent and uncontrolled.

I haven't seen a chiropractor in 10 years since the last one herniated a disk in my neck. He snapped my neck.

I said, "ouch, that hurt" and by evening I couldn't pick up a glass of water. My entire arm was useless for weeks.

Odd sensations, shooting pain, and absolutely no strength in my left hand. It took 6 months to recover, and about 9 months until I was symptom free. Yet to this day, I still occasionally have a pain that feels like sunburn in an area of my shoulder about the size of a half dollar. When it starts to burn, I know my neck is acting up.

 

[pmata814]

I had a back problem and it was a chiropractor who cured me, however; I have heard stories like the one "supernatural serve" has described. I guess it depends on how good(professional) the doctor is.

 

[ramseszerg]

You've got to be a moron not to be able to get into medical school. There are plenty of them out there. The MD wannabes go into osteopathy, chiropractic, dentistry and optometry. Anyone who can't get above a 30 on their MCAT shouldn't be working on people.

Although I don't believe what I'm hearing, I'll still make a couple of points. First of all, getting into medical school is not just about your GPA or your MCAT score. In fact, the majority of applicants have competent GPAs and MCAT scores. Now. Everyone knows extracurriculars and volunteer service affects the process. But most importantly for me, you need to have perfect English. No sign of an accent whatsoever. I know someone who was a born genius and a hard worker, and he got mid 90 averages. That's a perfect GPA. He got plenty of interviews, but he didn't get into a single medical school. Do you think he jeopardized what he had worked so hard for by doing a bad prep for his interviews? If you think so, you're wrong, because he got interviews again the second time he applied (those of you who don't know, you apply, generally, 3rd year and 4th year but few get in in 3rd year) he still didn't make it. It's an established fact that 99.9% of medical school students in Canada have English as their most proficient language. Now, I believe my chiropractor, who is nowhere close to speaking perfect English, might have had med school interviews too, but I never asked.

Secondly, getting a good score on MCAT, contrary to your belief, is irrelevant to being a good chiropractor. Being a chiropractor is about two things: experience and human interaction. (and no, im not a chiropractor.) Not your MCAT score. Do we have that straight?

Also, dentists, at least in Canada, make more money than the average doctors. This is because the state does not intervene with insurance and there is more room for playing around with taxes, legit or not. Some people choose their occupations based on things like money, work hour flexibility, nature of work and respect and not on HOW HARD IT IS TO HAVE THAT PROFESSION. Just something to think about.

 

[Bolt]

The MD wannabes go into osteopathy, chiropractic, dentistry and optometry.

Ignorance is bliss.

 

[Waimea_Boy]

Although I don't believe what I'm hearing, I'll still make a couple of points. First of all, getting into medical school is not just about your GPA or your MCAT score. In fact, the majority of applicants have competent GPAs and MCAT scores. Now. Everyone knows extracurriculars and volunteer service affects the process. But most importantly for me, you need to have perfect English. No sign of an accent whatsoever. I know someone who was a born genius and a hard worker, and he got mid 90 averages. That's a perfect GPA. He got plenty of interviews, but he didn't get into a single medical school. Do you think he jeopardized what he had worked so hard for by doing a bad prep for his interviews? If you think so, you're wrong, because he got interviews again the second time he applied (those of you who don't know, you apply, generally, 3rd year and 4th year but few get in in 3rd year) he still didn't make it. It's an established fact that 99.9% of medical school students in Canada have English as their most proficient language. Now, I believe my chiropractor, who is nowhere close to speaking perfect English, might have had med school interviews too, but I never asked.

Secondly, getting a good score on MCAT, contrary to your belief, is irrelevant to being a good chiropractor. Being a chiropractor is about two things: experience and human interaction. (and no, im not a chiropractor.) Not your MCAT score. Do we have that straight?

Also, dentists, at least in Canada, make more money than the average doctors. This is because the state does not intervene with insurance and there is more room for playing around with taxes, legit or not. Some people choose their occupations based on things like money, work hour flexibility, nature of work and respect and not on HOW HARD IT IS TO HAVE THAT PROFESSION. Just something to think about.

I was speaking about medical schools in the US. I'm also not interested in what "average" doctors make. If all you strive for is average, you're doomed to mediocrity.

 

[ramseszerg]

I was speaking about medical schools in the US. I'm also not interested in what "average" doctors make. If all you strive for is average, you're doomed to mediocrity.

I actually agree with your last line. Always set your goals high. I've found that even if you achieve that, you'll be looking at someplace higher.

It's true that medical schools in the States are easier to get into, mainly because of the higher tuition. The pool is only open for students with money to fall back on. Still, I really don't think it was right for you to bash on all chiropractors just because they could not become doctors. They have pride and I very much have respect in what they do, and even if you don't, not a good idea to say it out loud.

 

[andyroddick's mojo]

i go to a chiropractor once a week and they can do wonders. there have been countless complaints from people with sore backs and after seeing a chiropractor maybe twice a week for a month or two, the pain goes away and stays away. chiropractors fix a problem called subluxation which is the misalignment of your spinal column. when your body has a crooked spin it can't transmit signals as fast and therefore lowers your overall health. when your spine is straight, your overall health becomes much better. you gain more energy, your immunity is stronger, and other stuff like that.

 

[Kaptain Karl]

The poster who claims his DC herniated his disc should have "hit the lottery" with a malpractice suit. (Since he didn't do so, I'm guessing he's fabricating the claim.)

(I managed a multi-doctor Chiropractic clinic for three years. Then I was a business consultant to DCs for another year.) As with *any* healthcare profession, you've got your good ones and your bad ones. I have a personal bias toward DCs who studied at Palmer (in Iowa) or Logan (Missouri) but there are still fine docs from the other schools.

I first went to a DC for excruciating low back pain. But I've had the doc adjust my knee, my wrists, my ribs and even my shoulder blade (which *fixed* the shoulder problems my Osteo insisted needed surgery). I've also learned an adjustment can *stop* my debilitating migraine headaches as if someone simply "flipped the switch" and turned-off the headache. (Yahoo!!! Those things used to incapacitate me for three days.)

After big injuries, I've gone in three times a week. Now I'm on a "maintenance" schedule. I go once a month.
___________

Here's my suggested questions to get answered when you are shopping for a good Doctor of Chiropractic. Usually the Office Manager can answer these questions. Sometimes the "CA" (Chiropractic Assistant) can. If they cannot, they'll have the doc call you back him/herself:
1 - Where'd the doc study?
2 - How long has the doc been in private practice? Any time as an "Associate"? (Associates are new grads who sign on with an experienced DC or Clinic for (about) two years to learn from docs who are already succeeeding. Then they go independent....) If the doc graduated in the past year, the chances of them being efficient (quick) to properly diagnose and treat is (obviously) less.... (I like to hear they've been practicing at least five years.)
3 - What adjusting "techniques" do they employ? What's the doc's preferred technique? (There are dozens of different techniques. You'll hear ... Diversified, Activator, Nimmo, H-I-O, Gonstead, S-O-C, Pettibone, etc.) If you want to know more about the different techniques, e-mail me....
4 - Is the doc a "Mixer" or a "Straight"? (Sometimes the CA won't know these terms.) A Straight only adjusts their patients. A Mixer also employs other "modalities" (like) Electric Muscle Stimulation, Neuro-muscular Massage, Ultrasound, Accupuncture, etc. (My preference is for a Mixer.)
5 - Once the Exam and X-rays are completed, what's the typical charge for an adjustment? Is an Office Visit charge added? (Don't go there, if so.) Depending on your region, the adustment will range between $45 and $75. If it's over $90 ... keep looking.
6 - What's the process for a New Patient? (If it seems too complicated, look elsewhere.)
7 - Will the doc treat you on the first visit? Some docs will not treat you on the same day they examine you ... many will. If you are in crazy pain, find out if you may get some relief right away. (It helps to know in advance. Neither method is "bad"....)

First Appointment: If the doc -- or the Office Manager -- tries to "sell you" a Treatment Package (20 visits for the price of 12 ... or something like that) leave and find another DC to go to.
_____________

The poster who is elevating MDs over DCs is typical of people who don't know much about Chiropractic. Don't let it get to you. DCs get *way* more training in anatomy than MDs; MDs get lots of training in pharmacology that DCs don't get. The are both valuable helpful professions....

Lastly ... I've been adjusted by around 60 different DCs. Of those docs I recommend about 15. This ratio seems to jive with my opinions of Dentists, MDs, etc....

- KK