I went to the chiropractor and he recommended going 3 times a week for a year- is this necessary or a scam?

Question

it's minor discomfort, but almost constant...he showed me an x-ray of my spine compared to a healthy one and it looks off...but i'm still unsure. It's expensive and I'm worried about what is necessary and what is excessive for profit.

Answer 1

When I first started going to a chiropractor, she recommended that I come in for adjustments 3 times a week. HOWEVER, she said this was only necessary for three to four WEEKS, not a year. I actually agreed with her assessment, because I had some really messed-up problems such as chronic lower and upper back pain, lost range-of-motion in my neck, and various other things.

She kept me very informed about what my problems were, what she was going to do to help, and how long she estimated it would take. I didn't have to follow any of her advice, but I chose to, because everything made sense to me, and I really wanted to get my longtime pain and problems resolved. :)

Despite all the problems I came to her office with, I made a LOT of progress in that first month, just as she predicted. After that, I started going less often, perhaps 3 times a month. And then, I "graduated" to only 1 or 2 times a month. (She was OK with seeing me less often or more often; it was always up to me).

So, my point in all this rambling is that if your chiro says you should come 3X a week for a FULL YEAR... well... that chiro is most likely being dishonest and trying to squeeze extra money out of you. :( I can't be 100% sure, however, because I don't know WHY you chose to visit the chiro. If you have some serious problems with pain, movement, or disability, it might be necessary to see the chiro very frequently. But I STILL can't imagine any situation that would require seeing the chiro 3X a week for a year.

As the saying goes: "Something ain't right!"

Answer 2

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RE:
I went to the chiropractor and he recommended going 3 times a week for a year- is this necessary or a scam?

Answer 3

I'm a firm believer in the value of chiropractics. Three times a week for a year does sound like a lot, though. Obviously, no one here can make an educated recommendation about whether it is needed. Your best bet is to get a second opinion from another chiropractor. Don't tell him/her what the first one said. That way he won't be influenced in how he responds.

After the chiropractor makes his recommendations, if there is a lot of deviation between the recommendations, THEN is when you tell him about what the first chiropractor recommended. Ask why his approach would be better than the other's. Then go back to the other and ask the same question. That will force them to defend their positions.

If possible try to find a chiropractor that your friends are using. Word-of-mouth testimonials from people you trust are invaluable.

Answer 4

Chiropractors generally like to see you come back repeatedly and they are definitely into making money....that is why they got into the business. That is not to say that some do work wonders.
I would see a Chiropractor for a couple of weeks at 2-3X per week and then see how it goes and have him monitor your improvements. If there are no improvements or if they are very slight then find another chiropractor. I would also get him to recommend a good registered massage therapist that you could see a couple of times to augment his treatments. In Canada it is considered "Professional Misconduct" if a Registered Massage Therapist continues to treat a client if the client is not making any significant improvements with a treatment plan, which depending on the condition usually run from about 2 weeks to 1 month, more or less. Health care professionals are there to improve your health and if they don't they must refer you to someone who is. Good Luck and be in control of your own body!

Answer 5

The majority of Chiropractors are upstanding professional with a desire to help people. From my experience, the good ones will tell you the problem and do just what it takes to get you to %100. It usually takes from two to 4 visits a week, for 2-3 weeks, and then tapers off to as little as one a month. It really depends on the severity of your condition. To carry this regime on for a year, is probably related to the amount of insurance coverage you have. If you tell the Chiropractor that your insurance will not pay for these visits, you will be miraculously healed quicker. Invest $25.-$40.00 and see a second chiropractor. There really are a lot of good honest ones.

Answer 6

Sounds like a scam, 3 times a week is excessive. You could try an osteopath instead. They treat you and your back with your individual needs and body structure in mind. Chiroprators seem to try to get the spine in 'perfect' alignment, which for many of is just not how we are built.

A good practitioner will ask you to call as and when you need. I would always be wary of someone who says you need X number of treatments at first consultation as everybody reacts/heals differently and at different rates, so how can they possibly know how many you will need before they have seen how you react to at least a couple of treatments first.

But if this guy's not improved your pain/discomfort after a year - move on!

Answer 7

I had to go to a chiropractor 3 times a week when I first went in for treatment. One of my vertebrae had gotten stuck in one spot. Doctor told me it had been stuck for a long time and my disc as a result got compacted. The bone was hitting my sciatica nerve. The backbone has a memory. You have to go several times a week to get it pushed back to where its supposed to be. The muscles surrounding the bone also have a memory. If you don't go 3 times a week the muscle will just pull the bone back to where its not supposed to be. I went 3 times a week for about 3 months. My pain is gone and I still go to the chiropractor once a week by choice now. I don't want that pain to come back. If I were you I would at least go 3 times a week for a few months. After that you will be able to decide for your self if a full year is necessary or not.

Answer 8

This person could cause you more harm than good - there is such a thing as over-treatment and this sounds like it.
Chiropractic is excellent - I've benefited enormously and so have hundreds of others I've known personally - but this may not be the whole answer for you. To help you more I would need to know more detail, but I suggest you at least have another opinion from a another (try McTimoney) chiropractor. In addition you should try another therapy which may have something vital to offer Chiropractic cannot.

Answer 9

You will experience all the benefit from Chiropractic, in their office", within 12 visits. After that, your symptoms will not improve any more with them or without them. I usually release patients back to their family MD within 3-6. So, no, if you go to a good Chiro as recommended by your family doc, you will not become dependent. Also, just remember, no insurance plan covers "maintenance" or "wellness". If you don't have any symptoms and get spinal manipulation billed to your ins, that is fraud. P.S. to YA junkie, all the treatment you mention is a part of regular chiropractic care from a qualified and limited provider. The only thing a PT can do that I cant is Iontophorsis. Unfortunately, and anyone who followes my comments on here knows this, the pecking order in Ohio is MD>DO>DC>PT. I say unfortunatly because there are a TON of quack Chiros out there.

Answer 10

If you cannot afford 3 times a week, do not go 3 times, go at least 1 a week though. If he's a good chiropractor, it will help.
I have bronchial asthma. I hate conventional medicine. ( I had too much of it when I was a child). So, I used to see an Acupuncturist back in my home-country. In the States it happened so that I met a Chinese Qui-gong practitioner. I had bee seeing him for about a year ( once a week) . I think it greatly helped me.