slo’s WEDNESDAY poll - Chiropractors

[Jennasis]

It's so weird really; this is what everybody "knows" about chiropractors. Do they really do it that much? The one I've seen never ever suggested snapping my neck and DH says he never has that done either.

The chiropractor who nearly permanently crippled me never "cracked" me.

 

[MIGrandma]

One good and one bad experience with one. I used to have migraines and my chiropractor fixed that for me. I occasionally still get the aura but haven’t had the headache in maybe 40 years. But then several years ago I had a herniated disc in my lower back. Had chiropractic treatment by the same doctor 3x weekly for 6 weeks and it just kept getting worse. I stopped going and it healed on its own.

 

[mrodgers]

I love a good crack, but I've never been to a chiropractor. I just get someone to walk on my back on rare occasions.
I do crack basically any joint I can myself, kind of compulsively.

The greatest time of a father's life is when his children are small enough to walk on his back, LOL.

I miss those days, though I don't miss the feeling of her leaving as I then knew she was up on the couch and I needed to roll out of there before she launched and landed, LOL.

I answered "other" because I'd love to know what a chiropractor can do, but I'm afraid to go. I work in manufacturing and I've abused my body quite a bit. I've never been flexible, I read someone above talk about stretching, I don't think it's possible for me. Even as a very young kid I could not sit with my legs straight out and reach a 90° angle which would nearly get me in trouble as the gym teacher of elementary school would say "STRETCH!" and try to push me up putting me in pain.) I've always had terrible posture, and that seems hereditary as everyone on my mother's side has the same horrid posture. I can't even drive a lot of new cars as they all continue to change for an office chair seating position rather than a car operating driving position.

 

[Karin1984]

You mean seen in the wild? I think I know what they look like, but I should look on wikipedia to be sure if I would recognize them

 

[starvenger]

I have a friend who is a chiropractor. All she does is crack backs and she has some weird homeopathic ideas so I wouldn't recommend seeing her.

My chiro does a PT/chiro combination so he works the muscles around the injured area before doing any adjustments. I've found this to work for me but of course it might not be for everyone.

 

[DLgal]

Never been to one. Will never go to one. The entire philosophy of Chiropractic care is quackery. Plus, I don't want to die of a stroke.

 

[ronandannette]

The chiropractor who nearly permanently crippled me never "cracked" me.

What happened?

 

[Jennasis]

He did some adjustment where he grabbed my leg by the ankle and pulled on it while shaking it . Both legs one at a time. Then he dug his elbow into my lower back/buttocks. His claim was that my excruciating pain was from an overly tight periformis muscle. The reality was a blown disc, which his manipulations caused to rupture further and enmesh in my spinal cord. A few minutes after the adjustment I lost the use of my right foot (foot drop) and the pain was unbearable to the point of not being able to walk. I had to crawl on hands and knees.

His receptionist insisted that was normal and just the result of my "nerves waking. Up". 6 days later I was having an emergency surgery to fix it.

 

[ronandannette]

I have a friend who is a chiropractor. All she does is crack backs and she has some weird homeopathic ideas so I wouldn't recommend seeing her.

My chiro does a PT/chiro combination so he works the muscles around the injured area before doing any adjustments. I've found this to work for me but of course it might not be for everyone.

That must be what our guy does too. It was something he called "active release" that involved specific pressure on certain spots. He's also recommended certain exercises.

 

[Kellykins1218]

I was in a car accident and could barely breathe due to a dislocated rib that you could actually see poking out on my back. My family doctor took one look at it & called HER chiropractor from the exam room phone. I had to go 5 days a week for several weeks and then gradually went down to twice a week until he was able to get my rib to stay in place. That's the only time I've ever needed one.

 

[EMom]

I voted OTHER because there was no option for "Hell no, I wouldn't see one at gunpoint."

 

[easyas123]

He did some adjustment where he grabbed my leg by the ankle and pulled on it while shaking it . Both legs one at a time. Then he dug his elbow into my lower back/buttocks. His claim was that my excruciating pain was from an overly tight periformis muscle. The reality was a blown disc, which his manipulations caused to rupture further and enmesh in my spinal cord. A few minutes after the adjustment I lost the use of my right foot (foot drop) and the pain was unbearable to the point of not being able to walk. I had to crawl on hands and knees.

His receptionist insisted that was normal and just the result of my "nerves waking. Up". 6 days later I was having an emergency surgery to fix it.

Wow, that sounds horrific. I hope your surgery went well...I can't imagine!

 

[Jennasis]

And before anyone tries the "you just had a bad practitioner" route, the chiro I saw is/was touted highly by everyone I asked and didn't seem to have bad reviews I could find. I should have sued him.

 

[Jennasis]

Wow, that sounds horrific. I hope your surgery went well...I can't imagine!

It was a horror show...but the surgery was a total success. Afterwards my surgeon showed me the piece of disc he removed...the size of a walnut. He still brags to his friends about it. Had to call in a nuerosurgeon midway through because of how enmeshed it was in my spinal cord. Im blessed to be fully functional.

 

[Dan Murphy]

He did some adjustment where he grabbed my leg by the ankle and pulled on it while shaking it . Both legs one at a time. Then he dug his elbow into my lower back/buttocks. His claim was that my excruciating pain was from an overly tight periformis muscle. The reality was a blown disc, which his manipulations caused to rupture further and enmesh in my spinal cord. A few minutes after the adjustment I lost the use of my right foot (foot drop) and the pain was unbearable to the point of not being able to walk. I had to crawl on hands and knees.

His receptionist insisted that was normal and just the result of my "nerves waking. Up". 6 days later I was having an emergency surgery to fix it.

I voted yes, a long time ago. One time, did nothing to help me.

I recall that, Jennasis, some years back, when you had that surgery.

 

[BrianL]

I have a herniated disc in my back - I've lived with it for many years now. A long while back I did see a chiropractor and he promised that he could fix it. I did a stint of treatments, however they never affected teh disc in my lower back or any numbness associated with it. I will say that the rest of my back felt like a million bucks, but honestly I didn't think it was worth it. It may be good for certain things, but I don't liek the over-promising and high-pressure style that chriopractors thend to have.

 

[slo]

Holy Moly.....there's a lot of negative reviews about Chiropractors.
Unfortunately, the bad ones ruin it for the good ones.
Luckily I've been blessed with the 2 different Chiropractors I've seen in my life (one when I was younger and then he retired and my current one).
They both have made an incredible difference in my life.

 

[MainMom]

So my husband is a Chiropractor. He is not a quack. He adjusted our kids when they were minutes old. We regularly get adjusted and are not dead yet nor have we had strokes or other injuries.

My husband works with everyone from infants to 90+ year olds. He has both referred patients to MD’s and had MD’s refer to him and the massage therapists that work for him. He works with a large number of VA patients.

I did not see a Chiropractor before my husband. But my belief has always been that I would rather try non-invasive treatments before surgery or drugs (I’m allergic to lots of meds.) I think this belief goes against our western medicine way of thinking. However, that thinking of MD’s vs DC’s is changing as DH has seen more and more MD’s wanting to work with him and chiropractors in general. The younger MD’s seem to take more of a whole body approach incorporating or recommending massage therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, etc.

As for why things are not fixed right away...you live life don’t you? I myself have a bad habit of sleeping on my stomach. It’s terrible for my neck, but I do it in sleep so I can’t help it. However I sure do feel it in the morning. I also have hip instability. One leg likes to go longer than the other just from every day life. And the number one new thing, forward head posture from electronic devices. So many people have this issue now. I’m guilty. A chiropractor can put you back in alignment and recommend specific muscle strengthening exercises, but you have to do them and, if possible, try to correct what you are doing that causes the issues otherwise you’ll be back in to see them.

Like MD’s or anyone you see for a service, finding one that fits you may take some time. There are different techniques, different adjusting force (for lack of a better word), different philosophies. DH has patients where one spouse sees him and the other sees someone else just like DH and I have different MD’s.

Anyway, I just wanted to give a different take. I don’t take quack comments personally. DH has been in practice for over 20 years and his loyal patient base, patient referrals, & MD referrals speak for themself.

 

[slo]

So my husband is a Chiropractor. He is not a quack. He adjusted our kids when they were minutes old. We regularly get adjusted and are not dead yet nor have we had strokes or other injuries.

My husband works with everyone from infants to 90+ year olds. He has both referred patients to MD’s and had MD’s refer to him and themassage therapists that work for him. He works with a large number of VA patients.

I did not see a Chiropractor before my husband. But my belief has always been that I would rather try non-invasive treatments before surgery or drugs (I’m allergic to lots of meds.) I think this belief goes against our western medicine way of thinking. However, that thinking of MD’s vs DC’s is changing as DH has seen more and more MD’s wanting to work with him and chiropractors in general. The younger MD’s seem to take more of a whole body approach incorporating or recommending massage therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, etc.

As for why things are not fixed right away...you live life don’t you? I myself have a bad habit of sleeping on my stomach. It’s terrible for my neck, but I do it in sleep so I can’t help it. However I sure do feel it in the morning. I also have hip instability. One leg likes to go longer than the other just from every day life. And the number one new thing, forward head posture from electronic devices. So many people have this issue now. I’m guilty. A chiropractor can put you back in alignment and recommend specific muscle strengthening exercises, but you have to do them and, if possible, try to correct what you are doing that causes the issues otherwise you’ll be back in to see them.

Like MD’s or anyone you see for a service, finding one that fits you may take some time. There are different techniques, different adjusting force (for lack of a better word), different philosophies. DH has patients where one spouse sees him and the other sees someone else just like DH and I have different MD’s.

Anyway, I just wanted to give a different take. I don’t take quack comments personally. DH has been in practice for over 20 years and his loyal patient base, patient referrals, & MD referrals speak for themself.

Very well said - sounds like your DH is pretty awesome.
I honestly can't say enough about my doctor - he's pretty awesome too.
You mentioned your DH adjusting your kids, and my doctor adjusts my kids as well.
I tell people all the time that my doctor has put Humpty Dumpty (meaning my 17 year old for the last 8 years) back together over and over (she's an athlete).

 

[PollyannaMom]

I voted “never had the need” since I’ve luckily never had to really decide, but the whole idea also makes me nervous, so I would have voted twice if I could.