Chiropractor?

OurWildKingdom · February 2017

I need to check if my insurance will cover chiropractic care, but in the meantime, I thought I'd ask if anyone has experience using a chiropractor and would or wouldn't recommend it.

GBCK · February 2017

I do occasionally.
(I didn't this week and should have. Because I put my back out)

I've had meh results and great results. I go when my back goes out--and I've been having my back go out for 20+ years now (whee, genetics).
When it works well, it doesn't make it all better, but it makes it mess with me for a few days instead of a few weeks.

ANd it's uncomfortable soetimes when they're doing it--kinda (but not exactly) how a good massage is--but not as fun/slightly worse.
And it still freaks me out to do it "lay here while I bend your arm toward your hip, even though your shoulder hasn't moved right in 3 days"--but I've never had a bad experience.

Was any of that helpful?

OurWildKingdom · February 2017

@GBCK -- very helpful! Thank you!

GBCK · February 2017

get a good reccomendation

climbingsingle · February 2017

I first saw a chiropractor when I had a pinched nerve in my back a few years ago. He helped a lot. Also gave me a lot of a great stretches and exercises to do to relieve the pain. My insurance did not cover it, but the office visits were very reasonable.

My husband has a close friend that is a chiro and I get adjusted at least once a month. I love it. I feel it helps a lot with back and neck pain.

6fsn · February 2017

I went when I was working- lots of walking on cement in steel toes, climbing into weird spots, and just tons of physical demands. I also went through my first two pregnancies. It really was a lifesaver and helped with pain so I didn't need meds.

Make sure you go to someone good. Make sure they take x-rays. I have two vertebrae in my neck that are fused. If someone didn't know that they could do damage. Also know that they can't fix everything.

MissKittyDanger · February 2017

My boss use to see a chiropractor and he was also an RMT so it made things better when he worked on her.

My mum saw a chiropractor for years before having me {sway back} and swore by it. She's now going to be seeing an RMT before deciding to go back.

Like others said, get a recommendation.

PrettyGirlLost · February 2017

It's better to go to a PT for manipulations because then they give you exercises to strengthen up the muscles and ligaments that were weakened from whatever was out of alignment and causing you pain, and by strengthening everything up it will keep you in the correct alignment longer.

Chiropractors just typically realign you and that's it. So you're more prone to fall out of alignment and have to go back in to be adjusted, and it becomes a never ending cycle.

Chiropractors are a quick fix for the symptom, not the underlying issue. So again I'd recommend getting a referal to a PT. Or at the very least go to a Chiropractor who will also hie to strengthen exercises as a PP mentioned.

drid · February 2017

I'd probably start with trying some physio, I think its just a little less intense for a new injury. I work in a physio office and we've also seen more than a few people come in after their Chiro aggravated their injury more (it's also possible it could go the other way too, but I only have experience from one side). They should do some hands on therapy and stretching, and then also teach you some pain management stretching and stability and either start or end with an anti-inflammatory/pain management machine. I know it worked wonders for FI when he injured his back good just before Christmas. I would also say that wherever you good, if they give you exercises to do, make sure that you do them and follow their suggestions for that, they really do help and usually once people think they're okay they stop doing their exercises and it flares right back up.

WinstonsGirl · February 2017

Depends on what your chiro does. Mine rarely adjusts me (and it creeps me out, so when he does, it's usually with an activator). He does a lot of active release on me, which is more muscle manipulation and massage. I wouldn't be doing what I do without him

One example, I was tumbling too much last year in preparation for a competition. I knew it was too much, but still had to do my job for the team. I could barely walk the next day at work, as my lower back and hips were so messed up. 30 min with him using heat, a tens machine, and then ART and an adjustment. He also K-Taped my back up. I felt a million times better, I could walk pain free and tumbled at the competition that weekend. He's a large part of the reason that I can still compete at this high of a level at my advanced age. But I'd look for someone who does a lot more than just adjustments.

ernursej · February 2017

I would also avoid neck manipulations. I've seen some horrible injuries from neck manipulations gone wrong. I think there is a place and time for chiro, but neck is not one of them.

My Mom loves the adjustments that her chiro does for her, but he also has her on a routine of stretches and strengthening. I think it turns it from constant adjustments to only once in a while.

ILoveBeachMusic · February 2017

Definitely agree with getting recommendations. My chiro adjusts me and gave me strengthening/flexbility exercises to do daily. I go once a month for an adjustment since my pelvis tends to rotate easily (even with exercises).

kvruns · February 2017

ernursej said:

I would also avoid neck manipulations. I've seen some horrible injuries from neck manipulations gone wrong. I think there is a place and time for chiro, but neck is not one of them.
My Mom loves the adjustments that her chiro does for her, but he also has her on a routine of stretches and strengthening. I think it turns it from constant adjustments to only once in a while.

Neck manipulations by hand always freaked me out. The chiro I used to go to used a tool instead although every once in a while she'd have to do it by hand and would be like I know you don't like this but I need to. I was always afraid of somehow breaking my neck when she did it, and I'm sure I would tense up which isn't good

SP29 · February 2017

Depends on the reason why you are going as to whether a chiro will be effective or not.

I am biased towards physiotherapy (because I am one

), and most private practice physiotherapists do manipulations as well. But any therapist should be confident enough to tell you their limitations and what is best for you. For example, you may go see your physio or chiro, and while they may do some soft tissue work with you, they recommend that you would benefit from a thorough massage with a massage therapist. Or if there is a treatment they think you would benefit from but they cannot provide, they will recommend someone who can.

The biggest thing with seeing any therapist, is that in addition to whatever hands on or machine treatment they do, they should be giving you an active rehab program of exercises (strength and possibly stretching) to address your issue. Treatments like soft tissue work, manipulations, TENS/ultrasound/e-stim, taping, acupuncture, etc, etc do work to decrease pain and help you feel better sooner, but they are all passive modalities and adjuncts to a full treatment plan. The focus of your treatment should be on addressing why you have pain and injury in the first place and how YOU can manage it going forward. With any treatment provided, the therapist should be able to explain to you their rationale for choosing that modality and why it will benefit you.

It's fine to choose to see a therapist for something just because you like to, or it feels good (i.e. you go for regular massages), but you really shouldn't need to keep seeing a therapist repeatedly for the same issue. You go in with an issue, you get a treatment plan- which should have a general timeline to it, you work through that plan, and then you get better. If you have to go back over and over for the same issue- THAT's an issue.

ernursej · February 2017

kvruns said:

ernursej said:

I would also avoid neck manipulations. I've seen some horrible injuries from neck manipulations gone wrong. I think there is a place and time for chiro, but neck is not one of them.
My Mom loves the adjustments that her chiro does for her, but he also has her on a routine of stretches and strengthening. I think it turns it from constant adjustments to only once in a while.

Neck manipulations by hand always freaked me out. The chiro I used to go to used a tool instead although every once in a while she'd have to do it by hand and would be like I know you don't like this but I need to. I was always afraid of somehow breaking my neck when she did it, and I'm sure I would tense up which isn't good

I've seen strokes, broken necks and torn arteries from neck manipulations. I know that there are good chiros that would be able to do this without injury but I get the heebie jeebies just thinking about it. It would never be something I would allow to be done on me.

MesmrEwe · February 2017

The key is going to a GREAT Chiropractor! A great Chiro is worth their weight in gold. Great Chiro's are far cheaper and more effective than PT's from my experience as a lifter. Yes, you can go through insurance, however most Chiros offer an OOP rate and sometimes negotiate. Mine has a package of X number of visits for $$ but I often am one and done when I go to her so I have no problem paying her per-session OOP because it's efficient.

Chiropractor?

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