chiropractor or not?

I see mine about every 3 or 4 weeks and love it. I feel soooooo good afterwards!

I see mine about every 3 or 4 weeks and love it. I feel soooooo good afterwards!

The verdict is still out. My chiropractor is luring back with a wonderful massage therapist. He only "adjusts" me for about 5 minutes.

I do feel better the next morning.

Just remember to drink a lot of water after a massage, lactic acid removal. :-) :-)

I would be leary of ones that say they can cure all kinds of diseases. Just like all other professions, there are good and bad ones. I believe the good ones are great for keeping the back in good shape and I go see one every other month just to get a tune up.

For back injuries I have seen both chiropractors and physical therapists. Both have been good.

I still see a chiropractor about once a month...I really notice it if I skip too long.

I only go to a chiropractor when I need it, not for regular "tune-ups". Sometimes I sleep on my neck wrong or something and I can feel I need an adjustment. Then I'll go back a few times until things are in alignment and are going to stay that way. A good number of times, after the first adjustment, I'm worse than I was before I went in. Then after the next 1 or 2 visits, I'm a lot better off. But that's normal -- it may get worse before it gets better. Knowing this reinforces my "if it ain't broke don't fix it" approach to chiropractic care.

I had a mysterious backache a couple of years ago, went to one and it got much better, but I've never gone just for general purposes.Mine moved across the state, and I wish she hadn't or I'd have already gone again

Just like any profession they have good ones and bad ones. I spent 10 years as a fraud investigator for a major insurance company. The majority of what I dealt with was automobile accidents. It always was amazing to me that the people being treated by the chiro always were cured at the point where their monetary benefits ran out. Things that make you go HHHHMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!

Of course this is my opinion and I might be wrong.

I go, whenever I feel like I need it. Most of the problem, have to do with my hips getting out of alignment from running on the left side of the road all the time. My pelvis gets a little tipped.

I guess it wouldn't hurt to get eh once over. Maybe talk to a few friends to see if they know someone they can recommend. I would be kind of leary from just walking into a place and telling them you want the once over.

Chris

I'm also in the "go once a month for an alignment" club, and I always feel really good afterward. I know this isn't the case for everyone though. I've heard many people say chiro does nothing for them and that the whole concept is crap. IMO, it's like a lot of other treatments--some bodies respond better than others. I use the analagous example of allergy medicine--Allegra works well for some people, but doesn't do squat for me; I'm a Claritin girl. That doesn't mean Allegra is useless, it just doesn't help me.

So, I'd recommend the once over and see how you feel. The other poster is correct though, that if you haven't been adjusted in a while, you feel better after the second or third visit.

Kelly

As an athletic trainer I am torn with this subject. Chiropractors are very valuable for some "problems" with alignment, but for injuries I would recommend Orthopedic or sports medicine docs. Also when it comes to the neck, I would not go to a chiro, because of the very delicate nerve and vascular tissue leading to your brain.

I HIGHLY recomend OSTEOPATHS!

the reason for this is that osteopaths treat misalighnment at the cause....the muscular system. Chrio's only treat the symptom.

I used to go to Chiro's all the time but I would only feel better for one or two days....with the Osteo' I generally feel better for a MUCH longer time....usually three to six weeks depending on what i am doing and how nice I treat my body.

Chrios are also very manipulative ( in terms of pushing the joints around) and can sometimes need to really force a joint back into place....hence the BIG cracks/pops that you hear as the joint POPS "back into place"......where as a Osteopath will really masage your body till it is really reaxed...usually 30 min or more....and then genlty push the joints etc ....if they dont go back with minimal preasure then back to the masssage.....

for a first time visit it can sometimes take three of four visits but in the long run the expense is less than a Chrio.

My 2cents is that I agree totally with Spanner & Gator Girl......

about 10years ago, I started having serious back problem, to the point of not being able to get out of bed. So off to the Chiro I would trot. 1-2-or3 visits later, I could move, but problem still lingered, till the next time I slept or moved wrong, starting the cyle all over again. this could happen in as little time as 3-5weeks......Not a good cycle for the body or the pocket!!

Then about 8 years ago, I needed to change chiropractors (moved towns), and this chiro insisted that a pre-massage appointment be made for 30min, then he would manipulate me.......I found a huge improvement in the results of my manipulation. I would only need to have 1 maybe 2 appointments, and it would last me for upto 3 months.......big improvement on both mobility & expenses.....

Then I came to a realisation, after about 2 years, that my back's bad alignment was due to muscles contracting to a piont that the surronding bones had no other option than to contract, hence pain.

So I now have complete body, remedial massages, every 2-3 month at minimum. If I am stressed out from work, or have a little tention, this is also great for relief.

I have not been to a chiro for about 6-7 years, and don't need to.

I have just had an 1.5hour massage on Saturday, which I can now today feel in places like my glutes & hamstrings, but feel 'loosy goosy' and always compete great after a good massage!!

So my verdict is Chiro not nessesary, if maintenance of muscles continued, either Remedial or sports massage, or Osteo good too.....

in the end, whatever feels good!

Hey Tizzy,

I recommend a massage therapist over a chiropractor because they are a lot more gentle with the body. Good massage therapists also do alignments.... don't look for them though at a spa. The chiropractor scared me with all the cracking of my bones I heard, but they say it all depends on the person.

I really do swear by my massage therapist!

lots of luck with the decision... I would just tell you to try both... I know it would be an expensive test... but that's the best way you're going to be able to tell what you can handle.

-Milly

had a bad back due to feet/ankle problems and leg alignment etc..
went to osteopaths but the best thing for it in the end was a good physio, get massage and manipulation and after a couple physio sessions it was so much better!

and im only 16! reading what i just wrote i sound crippled

I absolutely think it is the best.  Not only to regular visits keep you feeling good they can really help you prevent and recover from injuries. 

FYI, Depending on their training, chiropractors and DOs may do similar manipulative methods. Also, many DOs never pursue manipulative therapy once they leave medical school, so just because you see DO after a name, does not mean that they will manipulate.

Ask before you visit.

T - The question I have is, "why"? Is there pain? Discomfort? Something compelling that needs treatment? If not, I'd recommend not going to anyone, for anything, period.I had a back issue (real, physiological) in 2001. Through the miracle of our current healthcare system, I had the opportunity to visit, in order, 1) physical therapists, 2) chiropractors, 3) acupuncturists, and 4) surgeons. Each of the specialists (except the surgeon) showed up assuming that whatever they knew (theapy, manipulation, needles) was the solution, now tell me, what's the problem? Complete turn off, and completely ineffective.My 2 cents...if you have an issue (nagging pain, acute pain, lack of stability) be tenacious in digging to find out what's under it...look for the root cause. If you don't have issues, do what's comfortable...since it works for you.And as an aside, after all the jillions fo specialists I saw, the best experience I had, was the surgeon - he cured the issues I was having. The SECOND best experience, surprisingly enought, was the acupuncturist...that's amazing stuff, not necessarily for injury, but for relaxation...OHMIGOD it's like going to another planet. Ciao.Rick