Learn me on chiropractors

[Baboontyme 2809]

I imagine there will be some very fine opinions on both sides.

I fucked my neck up BAD. As in I've been mostly immobile, on the couch, staring at the ceiling or the TV for about a week and a half. No real injury, just a simple movement trying to get into my car. Pinched nerve causing severe pain in upper arm, as well. I went to urgent care the next day only because there was no way I could sit in a waiting room at ER because of the pain I was in. Muscle relaxers, x rays, NSAIDs, exercises, exactly what you would expect. 

I went to the chiro yesterday and I don't know what the fuck they did. Some adjustments. Some kind of popping thing in my back. It felt pretty good initially and definitely expanded my range of motion. However last night I was in agony and couldn't sleep at all. I called them and went back today. She said that was pretty normal after adjustments after a major trauma like I had, and did some more shit and I feel like I'm much better. For now. But I'm nervous. I don't trust the process but I was desperate and it seems to be helping.

What say you... Chiropractors. Yay or nay?

[Gil Bang 25907]

quackery.  Head for the fucking hills. 

if you're desperate, try an Osteopath.  

Edited August 3, 2018 by Gil Bang

[RexWilson 1345]

I think most of them believe they can cure cancer....that is if you follow their treatment plan of 2-3 visits a week for 6-12 months.

[RowdyVic 106]

If you find a good one...then yea. She is right though. You will be sore initially but it will go away after about 3-4 visits.

I knocked my t6 out of alignment and dealt with it for about 1.5 years. Chiro took care of it but i still deal with muscle issues. Mostly because i waited so long before getting it taken cared of. The muscles adjusted to the new position of t6 and started making scar tissue.

Plz dont brush it off. Keep going.

Sent from my SM-J727T using Tapatalk

[Spartan52 151]

I'm a big fan of Chiro, there will be a fair bit of inflammation you're body is dealing with as well as other shit you weren't even aware of that they will be adjusting, drink plenty of water, give it 3-4 sessions/weeks and I will be amazed if you don't come back on here as a convert.

[woohorn 1131]

My aromatherapist always says that chiros are quacks.

[Al_4_ISU 12447]

I always thought they were quacks, but I fucked my back up sleeping on a couch and didn't want to just lay around taking pain pills for 2 weeks, so I went to one.  I should preface that I know the guy outside of this setting, and am a member of various community organizations with him, so he has incentive not to be quacky, but it worked.  I went in for 2 visits, and I was completely fine.

A couple years later, I fucked my back up wrestling around a trailer ramp that was stuck in the mud.  I tried waiting for the pain to go away, but after a couple weeks it got so bad that I fell over walking across a parking lot.  I went back in, and it was the same deal.  2 visits, and I felt fine.

So I've had a total of 4 visits for 2 separate injuries about 3 years apart and it worked each time.  If I fuck my back over again, I'm going straight in.

Edited August 3, 2018 by Al_4_ISU

[52-80 19142]

Try a few, and then go with your gut feeling.

 

At best, they try something your therapists or docs couldn't help.

At worst, they schedule you for repeat visits for absolute bullshit.  I had a guy in Houston like this 

Most of the time, since my insurance pays for most it, its a free massage from their therapists.

[Murfdogg21 4412]

They are not real doctors and they are more insecure about that and insist on being called Dr. So-and-So more than MDs, DDSs, or PhDs. 

 

They think they can cure or help conditions unrelated to spine or joints, including auto immune diseases. They advertise to give spine “corrections” to infants, for Pete’s sake! Many offer fake stem cell injections that are ground up and freeze dried placenta with little regenerative value. 

Snake oil. Go see a real doctor or physical therapist. 

[mapplewhite132 309]

I saw one for a while after a car accident...it helped but definitely got the vibe that they just wanted me to pay for as many sessions as possible

[Nice Guy Eddie 13507]

did the urgent care refer you to a specialist?   Follow that advice first before giving up.

One major problem with chiropractors is that there are zero studies that have proven their adjustments help.  There isn't one study in 100+ years of their existence.  you would think their industry would spend the time/money to show some level of proof. But no.

And MDs sometimes have similar issues.  There are studies that show that long term rest can help heal some knee injuries can as effectively as surgery.   

One more note on chiros.  I've heard/read chiros warn against their colleagues that convince patients to use chiro adjustments for long term treatment.   Going 3x per week for a year is nothing but a waste of money.

[Murfdogg21 4412]

One time my former medical device employer sent me to a national chiropractic meeting. 50% of the presentations were about marketing to bring in more customers/patients and making the business more successful. 

[conVINCEd 21469]

I was in New Orleans for a basketball tournament when I was in high school.  Not many parents went on this trip, so we pretty much took care of ourselves.  Sprained my ankle in one of the games.  Get back to the motel, friend takes the trash can down the hall to the ice machine, makes me an ice bath, and I insert ankle.  

One of the only parents in attendance was a chiropractor.  He was at the game and watched it happen.  He knocked on the door and asked if he could help.  Yold him I was fine, just going to ice it and hopefully will be good to go by tomorrow morning.  He then offered his expert opinion that my issue was not with my ankle, but with my sciatic nerve.  

So I’ve never held a real high opinion of that profession, but last year my back was fucked up and I gave it a shot, and it seemed to help.  I think an ordinary massage would have helped about the same.

[B00M 6413]

46 minutes ago, Al_4_ISU said:

I always thought they were quacks, but I fucked my back up sleeping on a couch and didn't want to just lay around taking pain pills for 2 weeks, so I went to one.  I should preface that I know the guy outside of this setting, and am a member of various community organizations with him, so he has incentive not to be quacky, but it worked.  I went in for 2 visits, and I was completely fine.

A couple years later, I fucked my back up wrestling around a trailer ramp that was stuck in the mud.  I tried waiting for the pain to go away, but after a couple weeks it got so bad that I fell over walking across a parking lot.  I went back in, and it was the same deal.  2 visits, and I felt fine.

So I've had a total of 4 visits for 2 separate injuries about 3 years apart and it worked each time.  If I fuck my back over again, I'm going straight in.

This is exactly how i approach chiropractic care, for acute injuries, and i don't understand folks that think it's snake oil. Do you never hurt yourselves? Do you just wait for pain to go away? I've had a few sports related or other impact/twisting injuries where I immediately knew something in my back moved. It's stabby AF and you can't pop it yourself by stretching. Every time, a single chiro adjustment within a day or 2 popped it back into order and provided immediate relief. As i get older, i've found sometimes the surrounding muscles can be so locked up that a massage prior to the chiro adjustment helps guarantee the chiro is successful. I do turn down their recommendations of weekly-chiro-forever because that's a waste of time and money IMO. 

[Al_4_ISU 12447]

19 minutes ago, B00M said:

This is exactly how i approach chiropractic care, for acute injuries, and i don't understand folks that think it's snake oil. Do you never hurt yourselves? Do you just wait for pain to go away? I've had a few sports related or other impact/twisting injuries where I immediately knew something in my back moved. It's stabby AF and you can't pop it yourself by stretching. Every time, a single chiro adjustment within a day or 2 popped it back into order and provided immediate relief. As i get older, i've found sometimes the surrounding muscles can be so locked up that a massage prior to the chiro adjustment helps guarantee the chiro is successful. I do turn down their recommendations of weekly-chiro-forever because that's a waste of time and money IMO. 

I'm grateful that the guy I go through doesn't even bother throwing the weekly-chiro-forever shit at me.  I'd turn it down, but just the fact that he doesn't play that card makes me respect him more.

His theory is let the work speak for itself.  In my experience, it has.

[Chewbacca 7766]

Boon,

 

In my experience, there are 2 kinds of chiropractors.  The first is the snake oil salesman who wants you to buy his supplements/essential oils and come back every week for adjustments.  Stay far, far away from this one.  The second kind is there to help fix what is hurting you.  Once you're fixed, they will say to come back if you start hurting again.  This is the one you want.

 

I've been going to chiros on and off for probably 25 years.  Fucked up something in my back helping a neighbor move in high school.  The pain didn't go away for 2-3 months so I finally went to a chiro.  After a couple visits, it was fixed.  And now, I have issues probably 1-2 times per year where I need to go see him.  When I have an issue, I go in and in 1-2 visits I am good to go.  Usually I sleep wrong and my neck gets all fucked up, but sometimes it's down between my shoulder blades as well.

 

Whoever mentioned a massage prior to going to the chiro, that is a good one as well.  My back muscles get so tight that I can't be adjusted without some kind of relaxation/massage.  My chiro has one of those muscle stimulation machines that he puts electrodes on your back for 15 min to loosen you up.  But if he didn't have that, I would need a massage prior to going.

 

Find a good one.  It's 100% not snake oil.

[Chewbacca 7766]

1 hour ago, Al_4_ISU said:

I'm grateful that the guy I go through doesn't even bother throwing the weekly-chiro-forever shit at me.  I'd turn it down, but just the fact that he doesn't play that card makes me respect him more.

His theory is let the work speak for itself.  In my experience, it has.

This is how the good ones will operate.  It's the shitty ones that push the bullshit on you.

[Reagan1k 3024]

Been to one who was a quack - Everything was due to trauma I suffered even though I couldn't recall it. 

He sold all kinds of supplements and referred people to who wife who did some weird  ennema/colonic shit (pun intended)

Went so far as to try and put his hand in my mouth and fuck with my jaw.

I got up, paid him and left. 

Found another guy who is as plane-jane as they come - What hurts?  Lets work on that.

He does a lot of acupressure and some targeted massage to loosen up muscles and then works on my neck/back - Usually after I've been driving a bunch or sleep wrong and get a stiff neck.  It helps and is quick.  Go a couple times over a week and then don't go back until I need to.

Nothing wrong with going to one for that - If they have signage talking about allergies, auto-immune, etc. then run.

[RPM 26315]

There are good chiros and bad chiros. There are certain injuries they can treat and some they can't.

I never believed in them until one day in the late 80's. I was loading my 21" Zenith into the seat of my pickup and bent my head down to put it in the door. I dropped like a rock. Thought I had a heart attack after I landed on my back with that heavy TV pressing on my chest. Soon as I figured out I wasn't dying, I stopped by my Dad's house to drop off the TV but it felt like I had a knife stuck in my back. Dad recommended I go see an old chiro up in Bowie. That old man got me on a funky looking exam table and put several hot sandbags on my back then deep massage for about 5 minutes before he hit a switch and the table suddenly collapsed except for my chin and feet. It was like some twisted version of the rack. Felt like I must have grown at least an inch in less than a second, but the pain was instantly gone. Moved me over to another table with a mechanical massage for about 15 min and I was good as new.

I go to one every now and then if my neck or back hurts bad enough.

[Cheeseweasel 26438]

If you think of them as a form of PT, they are fine. As someone pointed out earlier, it's a free massage if insurance covers it.

They don't "Cure" shit.

[Knoxtnhorn 5971]

I hurt my back pretty badly about a month ago.  Several visits to the doc and a referral to PT had me try out a chiro just in case.  Apparently, it was of the quack ilk.  I had to watch some video about all these people that had had things like constipation, colds, etc... cured by....popping one's back.  I went ahead with the adjustment which consisted of laying on a table and having some guy press down causing a section of the table drop.  That was enough for me.  The only thing I felt "pop" was my neck at one point.  Oh, and the $50 a visit was kind of off-putting as well.   They brought in some kind of contract that I was to sign to visit 2-3 times a week for a few months at around $1k.  No thanks.  I ended up lying and telling them I had to have back surgery to get the calls to stop.

I did go to a chiro in Knoxville that was the team chiro for the minor league hockey team.  He did do some stuff that really helped - especially in my SI joint.  

I just don't understand how the FDA allows supposed "doctors" to claim they can cure things that have nothing to do with someone's spine cracking.

[B00M 6413]

Got dammit. Sorry knox. An unfortunate aspect of massage and chiro is you almost have to experience the mediocre ones to know when you find the good ones. I've seen at least 5 chiros around Austin over the years: 3 men, 2 women. 1 woman was pretty good and didn't push bullshit (Structural Health), the other just wasn't strong/heavy/skilled enough (VanDeWalle). All 3 men were solid, but 1 of them was all about the weekly appointment (VanDeWalle, lol). 

Anyone in Austin looking for a sure bet:  oak haven massage austin at 620 & 183. Unlike a lot of places, same day service always available, with on site chiro so you don't have to go multiple places or juggle appointments. Really competitive pricing, and a great website. I know it seems weird, but don't be shy of male massage therapists. Man strenf only helps with massage or chiro... 

[bernorange 8359]

Like some mentioned above, I see a chiro for acute issues/pain.  The current chiro that I rely upon I see maybe once every 3-4 years if I mess something up.  He's been really awesome.  Saw him when I messed up my back (see sciatica thread on TOS) and he referred me to a local specialist (Dr., not chiro) because he realized my issue was beyond his skills.

I've also met the stereotypical chiro quacks that delve deep into supplements, applied kinesiology and such.  No thanks.

[Cheeseweasel 26438]

No happy ending? 

[Ollie Slatt 289]

Never tried one and probably never will.  A friend's mom was permanently paralyzed by a chiro.  I have heard multiple real doctors say that think chiros should be illegal because they cause more injuries than they fix (especially for women and children).   

[Spur08 382]

On 8/3/2018 at 9:50 AM, 52-80 said:

Try a few, and then go with your gut feeling.

 

At best, they try something your therapists or docs couldn't help.

At worst, they schedule you for repeat visits for absolute bullshit.  I had a guy in Houston like this 

Most of the time, since my insurance pays for most it, its a free massage from their therapists.

L-O-L.  Educate yourself. Check out my man Kevin Sorbo.  http://tools.aan.com/elibrary/neurologynow/?event=home.showArticle&id=ovid.com:/bib/ovftdb/01222928-201107050-00015

On 8/3/2018 at 9:51 AM, Murfdogg21 said:

They are not real doctors and they are more insecure about that and insist on being called Dr. So-and-So more than MDs, DDSs, or PhDs. 

 

They think they can cure or help conditions unrelated to spine or joints, including auto immune diseases. They advertise to give spine “corrections” to infants, for Pete’s sake! Many offer fake stem cell injections that are ground up and freeze dried placenta with little regenerative value. 

Snake oil. Go see a real doctor or physical therapist. 

So much this.  I work in the spine surgery realm.  You'd be surprised on the number of patients we've seen who had chiros RXing them months of "treatment" for an instability problem.  

[JBJ 3654]

Chiros - even the non-quackery type - aren't equipped to know what they can and cannot treat.

If you are injured, go to an orthopaedist.

If you need something similar to a good massage, go to a chiro.

[PXTX 1]

I have been to two, the first helped a lot but lied to me about what was causing the problem he told me I had a compressed disk.

I went to one at Peoples Pharmacy about 25 years later he told me right away the problem was actually having one leg shorter than the other. I was told to loose weight and was given some exercises to stretch the leg, a year later problem was solved after I dropped 50 pounds.

[ShaggyBevo RIP 3868]

On 8/3/2018 at 2:38 PM, Reagan1k said:

Been to one who was a quack - Everything was due to trauma I suffered even though I couldn't recall it. 

He sold all kinds of supplements and referred people to who wife who did some weird  ennema/colonic shit (pun intended)

Went so far as to try and put his hand in my mouth and fuck with my jaw.

I got up, paid him and left. 

Found another guy who is as plane-jane as they come - What hurts?  Lets work on that.

He does a lot of acupressure and some targeted massage to loosen up muscles and then works on my neck/back - Usually after I've been driving a bunch or sleep wrong and get a stiff neck.  It helps and is quick.  Go a couple times over a week and then don't go back until I need to.

Nothing wrong with going to one for that - If they have signage talking about allergies, auto-immune, etc. then run.

This. If they believe they can cure all; run.  If they give a bunch of PT exercises and admit that adjustments are temporary relief while you address the underlying cause(s); stick with that one.

[Mez2 4023]

On 8/3/2018 at 9:51 AM, Murfdogg21 said:

They are not real doctors and they are more insecure about that and insist on being called Dr. So-and-So more than MDs, DDSs, or PhDs. 

 

They think they can cure or help conditions unrelated to spine or joints, including auto immune diseases. They advertise to give spine “corrections” to infants, for Pete’s sake! Many offer fake stem cell injections that are ground up and freeze dried placenta with little regenerative value. 

Snake oil. Go see a real doctor or physical therapist. 

so much this., i about lost it when the UIL allowed chiropractors can clear HS athletes for concussions. 

[Cheeseweasel 26438]

Chiropractors work on the same premise that carrying a banana around with you saves you from Dinosaur attacks.

[luke duke 6412]

One time my former medical device employer sent me to a national chiropractic meeting. 50% of the presentations were about marketing to bring in more customers/patients and making the business more successful. 

What would you expect at a convention full of small business owners?

[Red Six 131]

On 8/3/2018 at 10:50 AM, B00M said:

This is exactly how i approach chiropractic care, for acute injuries, and i don't understand folks that think it's snake oil. Do you never hurt yourselves? Do you just wait for pain to go away? I've had a few sports related or other impact/twisting injuries where I immediately knew something in my back moved. It's stabby AF and you can't pop it yourself by stretching. Every time, a single chiro adjustment within a day or 2 popped it back into order and provided immediate relief. As i get older, i've found sometimes the surrounding muscles can be so locked up that a massage prior to the chiro adjustment helps guarantee the chiro is successful. I do turn down their recommendations of weekly-chiro-forever because that's a waste of time and money IMO. 

Actually, this is what most studies say occurs. The best treatment for a muscle injury is rest.

If/when a chiropractor fixes something, it's by accident, not design.

[Chewbacca 7766]

20 minutes ago, Red Six said:

Actually, this is what most studies say occurs. The best treatment for a muscle injury is rest.

If/when a chiropractor fixes something, it's by accident, not design.

I can tell you from personal experience that this is not true.  My first visit to a chiro years ago was because the pain persisted for months.  Chiro made it go away.

 

But you keep on keeping on.

[52-80 19142]

17 hours ago, Spur08 said:

L-O-L.  Educate yourself. Check out my man Kevin Sorbo.  http://tools.aan.com/elibrary/neurologynow/?event=home.showArticle&id=ovid.com:/bib/ovftdb/01222928-201107050-00015

 

motherfucker none of us are battling minotaurs and shit

[Knoxtnhorn 5971]

Now that I think about it... The Knoxville Ice Bears (minor league hockey) guy that was somewhat effective did his own thing.

The other three places had the same basic procedure... 1) Stretches/exercise.  2) Some sort of relaxation, massage, water table, etc... process. 3) Pop the back and neck.

Though, the places were chock full of folks of different sizes, ages, and, probably, different issues, they were all following the same process.

"Doc.  Why am I stretching my pinkie toe when the pain is in my lower back?"

"Well, it's all interrelated and we're trying to cure your spine AIDS."

Edited August 11, 2018 by Knoxtnhorn

[wild_turkey 3159]

I can tell you from personal experience that this is not true.  My first visit to a chiro years ago was because the pain persisted for months.  Chiro made it go away.

How do you know it wasn’t on the verge of clearing up anyways? Good to hear your pain is gone but it’s poor anecdotal evidence at best.

[Chewbacca 7766]

On 8/10/2018 at 9:49 PM, wild_turkey said:

 

How do you know it wasn’t on the verge of clearing up anyways? Good to hear your pain is gone but it’s poor anecdotal evidence at best.

 

When I go to the chiro, my symptoms are always the same - I have pain on one side of my neck or back.  Think of it like the muscles on one side of your back are under more tension than normal.  When I get adjusted, I can feel the tension release.  It's a sensation that shoots through the affected area and I have instant relief.

 

I'm not talking for anyone else, but for me, the pain relief a chiro can give me is very real.

[Spartan52 151]

Team Chewbacca, I have had the same experience.

[Spartan52 151]

Any update here?

[crash_davis 23096]

from my experience, chiros treat the symptom and not the problem.  or rather on it's own, i don't think chiros will cure the source problem. 

i had chronic lower back pain.  religiously i went to chiro for six weeks.  always felt better day for a few days after but pain would always come back.  then i started paying attention to what and how i worked out with emphasis on strengthening lower back, hip, glutes, and hamstrings..  also focused on stretching those parts before every work out.  did that for about 6 weeks and pain went away forever.  i've been pain free for 5 years.

[Armybrat 40815]

12 hours ago, Spartan52 said:

Any update here?

I’ve used chiros 3 times in my life for bad lower back pain. All three were successful in getting rid of the problem without any snake oil.