Chiropractors

Real science or snake oil? What say yeee?

I've been going to one on and off for years. My issue is primarily neck pain, usually first thing in the morning when I get up. With regular visits, say twice a month, I notice a definite improvement with less to no pain, with the additional benefits of improved overall feeling of well-being and improved balance.

I vote real science. That said, there are plenty of quacks out there, just as there are plenty of quack M.D.'s. I put a good chiropractor a rung above a good M.D., simply because a chiropractor can actually treat the underlying problem, not just throw drugs at it.

Real science.

My beef with them lies with the shady billing practices and benefit quotes i deal with with them, but they do generate results.

In reply to poopshovel:

I have a long history with the type of problems that a chiro would work on. Here's the bottom line - They can't do anything a Physical Therapist can't do, but a PT can do a lot more than a Chiro, so why go to a Chiro instead of a PT?

Depends on the practitioner. Many people swear by them - there is some benefit to good spinal alignment (mostly from good posture, good body mass index/muscle tone and decent genes) - and there is a discipline of manual medicine - usually done by osteopaths that can work to unwind injured soft tissue (myofascial release) or pain from internal scar tissue. Most that I have run across exaggerate their benefits - a lot, no shortage of flat out quacks - then again - sometime it just feels good to get a good back crackin'. (my disclaimer - 25 years in hospitals/insurance including recruiting/managing a provider network with chiros, MDs, DOs...)

1988RedT2 wrote: I put a good chiropractor a rung above a good M.D., simply because a chiropractor can actually treat the underlying problem, not just throw drugs at it.

This logic has always been suspect to me. A good real doctor can do a lot more than a chiropractor can, up to and including surgery to fix, not just treat the problem.

But if they make you feel better and you can afford a system that keeps you coming back, then that's the bottom line.

If you need your back popped, they rock.

If you need cancer cured, they don't.

Some people say they can fix anything. Some chiros say that too. I think that's BS. But I do love a good adjustment that makes me 1" taller and not hurt.

Real science.

I have a bad case of cold feet, as soon as I hit up a real chiro, not the see me three times a week so I can "overbill" your insurance, my feet are what they should be, nice and warm. So I know I have a pinched off blood vessel somewhere.

Back when I had a car accident in 99, I think, the next day I couldn't stand the pain any more and went to the chiro. He adjusted me and it wasn't a cure-all, by any stretch, but the pain level went from a 12 to about a 4 in my lower back, by the next day. Still took 6mo of PT to get back to work, but it made it manageable.

Brian

I would go to an osteopath. You get an MD who will do adjustments like a Chiropractor. A good one will combine both adjustments and conventional medicine.

I've been a caddy for 8 years. I've played hockey for 14 years. My right arm will start to hurt at random times and I have to hold it like its in a sling. My lower back will go numb after an hour of caddying really heavy bags, which is nice because then I can't feel the aching pain. Its never been Xrayed or diagnosed because its not debilitating and I'm afraid they'll tell me I can't play or race, but I can just tell you... My back ain't right.

One time I was caddying for a chiropractor. We had a long wait on a hole, and he saw me stretching my back (BTW, if you aren't stretching everything everyday, start. Sounds stupid, but it helps) and did two "adjustments" in 30 seconds time. No pain for a week. If I had the time and motivation, I'd be making weekly appointments. That might come along later in my life.

Its not a permanent fix, but it sure as hell makes stuff feel better.

DILYSI Dave wrote: If you need your back popped, they rock. If you need cancer cured, they don't. Some people say they can fix anything. Some chiros say that too. I think that's BS. But I do love a good adjustment that makes me 1" taller and not hurt.

I agree with Dave.

I'm married to a chiropractor. She would agree with Dave too.

Low back and necks are the places I'd have them stay away from. Many, many instances of them causing damage rather than fixing anything. Paralyzed from the neck down isn't on my list of priorities.

I used to sell a lot of xray film processors to these folks. they used to develop A LOT of xrays back before digital.

Some of them believe that right when a baby is born is when you should start them at the chiro......do you think a newborn needs to go?

I think it would be hard to throw a blanket statement over the industry as a whole, as there are plenty of people who swear they get benefits from them. There's probably room for debate about what medical benefit there actually is...or medical harm.

Working in the insurance industry, you can guess my take on them. I can't tell you how many I see that take a person who's been in a 3mph impact and "treat" them for 6 months. And during that time, they never once alter the treatment being given based on the patients subjective complaints, have medical records that are nothing but template letters (I've seen many where they forget to change the previous patients' name), etc... Or they'll treat a 3 year old child without any recommendation that they see their pediatrician.

Again, not throwing that blanket on all chiros, that wouldn't be right. But the chiro world is crawling with far too many shady ones....

Klayfish wrote: Working in the insurance industry, you can guess my take on them.

FWIW, I've gone to two different chiropractors who didn't take insurance. They set the price of a visit lower than most copays and said that they made more money doing that than dealing with insurance BS. I wish I could find a GP with the same mentality.

My take on chiros is this: I know very few (if any) people who go to the chiro once. It's like crack or heroin - the first one's free...

I even know two people who got so addicted to the chiro that they both quit reasonable careers so they could become pushers... I mean, chiropractors themselves. I guess the profit margin was higher.

Klayfish wrote: But the chiro world is crawling with far too many shady ones....

and the industrial hose business isn't? LOL

I had a horse fall at top speed, back in the 80s. Didn't land on me, but I hit the pavement really hard. Couldn't move my head from side to side, horrible muscle spasms between the shoulder blades.
Really didn't believe that chiropractors were legit, but finally went as a last resort. Of course, I was immediately put on a 3x weekly schedule, and within the month had quite a reduction in pain. The chiro was a good guy, but he definitely practiced their doctrine of getting everybody on a weekly schedule. I don't even want to think about what I've spent over the years on regular chiro visits. With an ongoing sacroiliac problem that's exacerbated by long periods of sitting at the computer, behind the wheel, on a plane... I had accepted that chiro fees were the price to pay for a pain-free life. But a couple of years ago, I attacked the gym with a vengeance, particularly yoga for stretching out cramped muscles. I cannot believe what a difference it's made. The classes I attend use a "yoga roller" which you can use to either work out kinked muscles in calves, thighs, neck... or you can roll on to adjust your back. Haven't visited a chiro in at least 2 years. Did a search for yoga roller on you tube, funny enough, it's a chiro demonstrating it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFOuY38vu5I

Duke wrote: My take on chiros is this: I know very few (if any) people who go to the chiro once.

Have you ever had sex? Have you had it more than once? We tend to repeat things that satisfy a need or result in pleasure.

With an ongoing sacroiliac problem

That's what our massage therapist friend suggested I might have going on. She's the one who recommended going to see a chiropractor. She works for one who seems to be of the non-shady variety. Apparently he's got a gazillion unpaid claims with the insurance companies. Too much of a "nice guy" according to her, which is why he hired someone to do the "where's my money, b*tch" job for him.

In related news, I got a killer massage at no charge last night. The bad news is, my back hurts worse today. feck.

Take care of your backs, kiddos. Jumping off bridges & E36 M3, working at a carwash for a couple years, etc., can berkeley you up for life.

Duke wrote: My take on chiros is this: I know very few (if any) people who go to the chiro once. It's like crack or heroin - the first one's free... I even know two people who got so addicted to the chiro that they both quit reasonable careers so they could become pushers... I mean, chiropractors themselves. I guess the profit margin was higher.

I got an uncle who is a chiropractor, he often fixes any of my problems in one treatment. the treatment hurts like hell, but after the numbness goes away about an hour later, i feel better. Is it worth the intense pain? I don't know. maybe. but atleast this guy doesn't crack my spine for every possible ailment. I've even heard him say "go see a doctor, i can't fix that."

on the other hand, my mom was pretty screwed up by another chiropractor. I think it depends if they want to help/are smart, or are hacks who just want your money.

OMG. I agree with Hess on something.

Chiros are real science if you use them for real science stuff. My wife has a leg length discrepancy as a result of a hip replacement (well, actually she had the discrepancy before the hip, but the hip replacement made her "long" leg switch sides). Anyhoo, she goes once or twice a month to get corner weighted and it helps her tremendously.

Sore back? Yes, it can work for some people quite well. Be wary of any chiros that also offer holistic healing or resonance therapies or other such bullcrap. however.

jg

Corner weighted.

Hip displatia, you'll have to put her down....

Dr. Hess wrote:

DILYSI Dave wrote: If you need your back popped, they rock. If you need cancer cured, they don't. Some people say they can fix anything. Some chiros say that too. I think that's BS. But I do love a good adjustment that makes me 1" taller and not hurt.

I agree with Dave. I'm married to a chiropractor. She would agree with Dave too.

Ditto.

I also string tennis rackets for a chiro in MA who is the "chiro to the stars" when they pass through town. Dude is legit--he fixed a shoulder I tweaked skateboarding and I was impressed.