chiropractic services...anyone been "cured" from it?

[Seks]

I was starting to have trouble sleeping back in Oct time frame. I've tried 3 diff mattresses, a couple of couches...and even sleeping on the floor too. I'd wake up in the wee hours of the morning with a bit of a back ache...sometimes in the lower back, sometimes in the middle to upper back...sometimes the whole back. I'd take Advil just to try to lessen the pain and get myself back to sleep.

Initially I started going to a Chiro 2-3 times a week (as recommended by the Chiro). Then after a month or two or so, I started going once a week. Every single time I went there, it's always the same cracking procedure. For the past few months, since spring, I've pretty much gave up on the treatment and avoided going because I still have back aches from time to time when I wake up.

The dumb thing is that the office still calls me and try to schedule me in. Their reason is that I should still do "maintenance visits". I think it's more like them wanting a short 15 min of my time so they can bill Alberta Health or my benefits provider and get their $.

Keep in mind that I do go to the gym...and yes I do my work outs properly with proper forms. And I went back to school FT back in Sept and I thought it may have been my back pack being too heavy.

I am starting to think that chiro is just an unjustifiable health treatment...and from what I've read, it's not a proven practice that can cure back problems.

What do you guys think?

[D. Dub]

I am utterly sceptical about their practices and their ethics.

http://www.chirobase.org/

All of the info you could possibly need.

If I had back problems I'd see a REAL doctor first, and then likely a physiotherapist for rehab and treatment.

[Weapon_R]

lol you have the same chance of being cured by a Chiropractor as you do visiting a voodoo doctor

[ExtraSlow]

I have heard that there are chiropractors that are interested in "curing" the patient and making it so they don't have to keep going back, however I've never seen one.

I put much more faith in Physio and Massage for back-ache.

[Kona9]

It DEFINITELY DID NOT help my good friends mother!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-7dY...F8E50C&index=0

http://albertachiroclassaction.ca/do...ckgrounder.pdf

[Kloubek]

You're visiting the wrong people. Chiro works specifically on your bones, and their alignment. Don't think this isn't important - it is. However, the reason a back gets out of alignment and you get aches is usually due to muscles pulling it in directions it shouldn't be. So while the back adjustment *should* help a bit, it is only helping the symptom - not the reason.

What you want is therapy for your muscles. Some call it "muscle release", and I'm sure the process goes by other names.

Bascially, what they do is focus on the muscles that are causing your back to get out of alignment. The process entails that the muscles are focused on, and stretched out. This, combined with deep massage therapy should help you a lot more than Chiro alone.

I have gone to a place called "adjust your health" on Macleod, and it really helped. They did a combination of all three therapies, and as they work closely in hand with each other, you get a full treatment rather than just one course of medicine.

PS: Massage therapy isn't to be confused with a simple, nice-feeling massage. It actually hurts quite a bit at first, but that's necessary to get the muscles back where they belong.

[ExtraSlow]

Originally posted by Kloubek
Massage therapy isn't to be confused with a simple, nice-feeling massage. It actually hurts quite a bit at first, but that's necessary to get the muscles back where they belong.

Agreed, a good massage can hurt like hell.

[Weapon_R]

Originally posted by ExtraSlow
I have heard that there are chiropractors that are interested in "curing" the patient and making it so they don't have to keep going back, however I've never seen one.

I put much more faith in Physio and Massage for back-ache.

No Chiropractor is interested in curing a patient. They keep you coming, sometimes for years and years for your monthly adjustment. Those who claim they can actually 'cure' you are lying because Chiropractic is not based on any true science. They use heat pads and bed rollers that feel great, but the whole Chiropractic industry is shunned by most real medical professionals.

[kutt3r]

LOL
They do not cure you, they never will, they are a quick fix.

What have you done to prevent the problem?
What causes your problems?

The reason you are out of alignment is due to a muscular imbalance, that means you need to fix the imbalance or it will happen over and over again.

I had cronic headaches that were releaved by chiro/massage, they also advised me how to stregthen the muscles and avoid the things that I was doing to stress/shorten/weaked the muscles (mainly sitting hunched at a desk for 10-16 hours a day)

Most chiros want to help, but it is lazy people that expect a miricle cure that are always disapointed. Follow what they tell you and you go from 3 visits a week to 1 visit, I now go once every 2-3 months if that and it is usually because I did something silly to get out of alignment. If your chiro is not giving you the tools to get better then I would agree that they are in it for the money and not your health, but that has not been my experience.

That being said there are risks, that is why you sign a waiver, know and understand the risks before you submit yourself for treatment. Chiros will (should) ask very specific health questions and answer honestly and you will be fine.

On another side note, they are shunned by 'doctors' as they are much more homeopathic and do not believe in perscribed fixes, you want to talk about cash grab then discuss doctors and pharmaceutical companies...

For my chronic headaches - doctors reccomendation, pain killers, that got me a heart murmer and rapid heartbeat due to the severity of the pain and the amount of medication I was taking (I admit I was taking more than reccomended, but there was no relief with reccomended).
Chiro - fixed the issue along with the muscle imbalance causing the issue, now it is up to me. Zero pain killers now. Heart is back to normal after stopping with the pain killers. I will side with good Chiro's personally. (as with anything there are good and bad profesionals, so your experience may vary)

[kutt3r]

Originally posted by D. Dub
I am utterly sceptical about their practices and their ethics.

http://www.chirobase.org/

All of the info you could possibly need.

If I had back problems I'd see a REAL doctor first, and then likely a physiotherapist for rehab and treatment.

If you are skepitical about Chiro then Physio is always a good choice too

If the first thing the doctor does is perscribe pain killers look else where... that is not a fix that just hides the real issue.

[Daan]

I was thinking those do only penis enlargements

Originally posted by Weapon_R
...as you do visiting a voodoo doctor

[dannie]

While I would have agreed with you guys before the last couple months, I am inclined to disagree.

I went to two different chiropractors for years. One did the back cracking and the other used this pen thing. It would create temporary relief, but I always had to go back.

I then started seeing a kick-ass massage therapist who really knows his stuff and he suggested a specific chiropractor because of the fact that he was super thorough.

So I went to this guy out of curiosity and was blown away. I had a massive in depth analysis. My analysis vist was an hour hong and was numerous tests. He also sent me for xrays of my spine to see where the issues are arising.

I went back the next day for the results of the tests and he frikkin nailed the issues. Looking at the spine, you could tell there was obvious displacement which then puts pressure on your nervous system causing all sorts of discomfort. He was VERY thorough and explained every question I asked.

He also uses a machine instead of cracking your back. Its a pulse that he uses over the spinal cord to correct it.

I have gone 3x a week for the last 3 weeks and I can tell you that I feel WAY better after 3 weeks with him than years with the others.

Plus due to the testing, I do feel confident that he is more than capable in his field. He also gives suggestions on things you should do to improve your quality of life depending on what the outcome of the testing was.

[Daan]

ah, the Chinese chiropractors call that pen the One Eyed Snake. Didn't know it provides temporary relief though.

Originally posted by dannie
[..]One did the back cracking and the other used this pen thing. It would create temporary relief, but I always had to go back.

[GREENBOY]

Nothing wrong with my back but I see a chiro once a month for a quick tune-up to keep everything in proper allignment etc. I had a numb left hand for years, which he fixed in one adjustment and I've never had it since. There are good and bad people in every profession.

[xrayvsn]

Originally posted by dannie
xrays of my spine to see where the issues are arising.

I went back the next day for the results of the tests and he frikkin nailed the issues. Looking at the spine, you could tell there was obvious displacement which then puts pressure on your nervous system causing all sorts of discomfort.

Obvious displacement, huh? So how many of these spine x-rays have you looked at to know what "obvious" displacement looks like?

[Idratherbsidewayz]

When I had whiplash I went to chiro and 2 massage sessions (no physio). Helped me immensely!

[Pacman]

Originally posted by Daan
ah, the Chinese chiropractors call that pen the One Eyed Snake. Didn't know it provides temporary relief though.

It provides temporary relief for the owner of the penis or "pen" as the previous poster calls it.

[TaiChino]

They are a quick fix IMO, I had sciatic problems, pain running from the small of my back down my left leg. Chiro said some nerves were getting pinched. I spent a years worth of appointments only to have temporary relief for about an hour after my visit. One day someone mentioned getting orthotics ($400 custom moulded insoles). Just to experiment I bought a $20 pair of Dr. Scholls and within 2 days I had no pain in my back at all and it has not changed. Fuck the Chiro, I'm saving money, time and best of all, I'm gellin' now.

[frozenrice]

Speaking from personal experience, I've concluded the same thing as the OP. I injured my back playing volleyball a number of years ago. Part of my treatment included regular visits to the chiroscammer. I'd go get my back adjusted and be in pain a few weeks later and basically repeat the process all over. I did this for nearly two years before I finally got tired of the repeated pain episodes. I got my regular doctor to refer me to a physio therapist and after three sessions, regular back exercises and proper posteur, I haven't had any problems for over 5 years.
An interesting fact I learned a few years ago, was that chiros are not recognized by almost all medical associations. Essentially they aren't real doctors according the the real ones.

[GTS Jeff]

Originally posted by xrayvsn


Obvious displacement, huh? So how many of these spine x-rays have you looked at to know what "obvious" displacement looks like?

She's got a 4 year residency in radiology DUHHH!!