Chiropractors

[chris954]

I have been suffering with back pain now for quite a few years on and off. The problem is a stabbing pain in the middle of my back that seems to pass right through to my sternum and is aggravated when I jar it or misjudge a step. A few weeks ago I spotted a groupon offer of diagnosis and two treatments at a chiropractor so decided to give it a go. When I arrived at the clinic I was examined and told this is a very common and easy to fix problem, its the joint between the spine and ribs, also there are plenty of people in cardiac wards with the same problem because they call an ambulance and because they describe it as chest pain they have to be taken to hospital. Anyway I layed down on the treatment bed and he put pressure on my dpine which gave out a blood curdling crack, sat me up and twisted me allover and the relief was instant. I went back today for a follow up and he said it might take a few treatments to get it fully fit but to be honest I really dont care how many times I have to go if it improves it that quickly.

 

[LeeRatters]

Most of my "treatments" are for my upper back, shoulders and neck. I have both sports massage and chiropractor when needed.

I don't know what I've spent over the years, but it works. Investigating stretches, posture changes, exercises etc that will work for you will also help out a lot.

 

[Donnie]

Now, I have use a chiropracter after a back injury last year and it really helped, but i would also say there's actually very little evidence base for their work so it's a bit of a weird one. My thought is, if it works it works!

 

[Box Brownie]

Purely FWIW

I have never (yet?) had to use a Chiropractor but someone I know has tried the 'conventional' type and found it wanting but then was recommended to a Timoney (not 100% sure of the spelling?) Chiropractor and by all accounts it worked wonders!

I gather it is a method without the bone crunching manipulations i.e. much more gentle...............plus it is apparently also used successfully on animals, so no bias in regard to "if it works, it works" so to speak

HTH maybe???

 

[woof woof]

I went to one once and it scared the hell out of me and I never went back.

I had a serious injury when I was 21 and had years of problems until a physio at a private hospital (I got nowhere with the people I saw through the NHS) showed me some exercises to do which I included in my daily fitness routine and now I very rarely have any problems at all. The physio went on to work with a pro footie team.

 

[JohnC6]

I went to one once and it scared the hell out of me and I never went back.

I had a serious injury when I was 21 and had years of problems until a physio at a private hospital (I got nowhere with the people I saw through the NHS) showed me some exercises to do which I included in my daily fitness routine and now I very rarely have any problems at all. The physio went on to work with a pro footie team.

Ahh....So you can’t sleep either..lol. Listened to that lovely ‘Sailing by’ music after the shipping forecast. Could be windy tomorrow.

Re the thread. I’m just about ok after almost 3 months of sciatic nerve problem and about 6 weeks ago, as a result of a friend’s recommendation , went to a chiro and, as you were, I was a bit alarmed. Cost £130. And £35 thereafter ..thereafter didn’t happen. I got the impression that I would have been in for the long haul,infact he said that it was important for me to continue so he could get it sorted to protect his reputation. That caused my antennae to twitch. I had an X-Ray carried out through my doctor and the disc shows normal wear and tear so it looks like when I did the DIY that I think caused it..reaching up and twisting putting up a hanging basket bracket would you believe it..I was unable to get a step ladder in that spot the muscle sort of squashed/compressed it. The waiting list for NHS physio must be long as I haven’t heard back for 3 weeks..too late now..lol.

Have a read of this . It’s not the only appraisal I’ve read, a few more more were as equally critical. Having said that I see some of the above contributors have had a positive experience. My friend visits the chiro every 3 months re his hand and tells me he,the chiro, sorts it..

https://edzardernst.com/2013/10/twenty-things-most-chiropractors-wont-tell-you/

 

[Nod]

#18 in that list certainly seems a bit (a VERY big bit!) iffy...

I went to a chiropractor a few years back. He was a fully qualified doctor before going into chiropratice (or whatever it's called). Worked for me but the problem kept reoccurring. Turned out to be a posture problem related to a brain tumour so when Mr Meningioma went, so did the problem.

 

[PatrickO]

I worked as a Physiotherapist for many years and came across a lot of people who had seen chiropractors either recently or in the past.
I'd say that results are very variable. Many patients get a lot of benefit, some get none and a few are made worse. Rarely patients have suffered severe injuries e.g. spinal cord damage.
It's also important to remember that very often conditions people go to chiropractors for are self limiting i.e. they will get better on their own.

 

[Donnie]

Yep, I'd say that Chiropractic practice is one of those basically unregulated areas that seems to have grown a "medical" reputation somehow. As I said before when I'd googled about evidence based practice in the field theres almost nothing, and yet it worked for me.

However, I would say too that I was desperate at the time after doing my back last year, physio services were of no help and I didn't get my first phone referral (not even a face to face) for 3 weeks by which time Id already seen the chiropractor 4 times and signed up to a further 6 sessions. By the time I'd done 8 of these over 4 or 5 weeks I finally got my physio appointment who did a similar assessment and suggested some excercises only one of which was a different one than the chiropracter had given me already.

So, for me chiropracty worked, but by the time Id actually seen a physio, time itself will have helped with the back getting better :-(

What I did discover was that apparantly I could have gone private physio (with same physios :-( ) for the same money as the Chiropracters