Who thinks Chiropractors really help? And if you have been how long did you go before you saw results?

Question

And were the results long lasting or did you get "convinced" that you needed to go 3 or 4 times a week for weeks and weeks and weeks! Feel like I'm being scamed and robbed of hard earned money!!!!

Answer 1

I used to work in a chiropractic office, and saw how it helped so many suffering people not only "feel" better but stay better with regular care. You see, chiropractic is founded in the belief that our Central Nervous System (brain, spinal cord, and nerves) controls EVERY function of our bodies, and when the vertebrae are misaligned, they can pinch/damage the nerves that run out between them, causing pain, numbness/tingling, or any type of general malfunction in that nerve's corresponding body part.

Chiropractic works to remove spinal misalignment and restore NERVE FUNCTION, but this takes time (more than just a few visits). How long do we wear dental braces to straighten out our teeth? Would someone wear them for a few days and expect their teeth to be perfect? Would they go to a gym only once or twice and complain if they weren't immediately thinner? Making relatively drastic changes to the body takes time.

If your bones, ligaments, and muscles are trained in a "bad" position, it will probably take 3 visits a week for a month or two to get you back to where you should be. You will probably start FEELING better after a few adjustments (which is why most people say chiropractic "works" in only a few visits), and that's when you decide if you continue with care or just stop. Do you want to correct the problem (correct the spine's position) or do you want to get rid of the symptom (pain)? Most people (from my experience in the office, anyway) who complain of the pain coming back never followed through with the original care plan, and stopped coming after their pain was gone. So please don't feel scammed, because your chiropractor only wants you to be healthy. (One of the leading techniques in the chiropractic field now is CBP, which is supported by a ton of research and has tremendous success in helping people get the proper curves back into their spines)

And yes, there ARE some bad chiropractors out there who don't know what they are doing, aren't helping their patients, but still want them to keep coming for money, but they're not all like that. You should be able to tell if your DC is sincere, and if you're not feeling any better AT ALL after a while, then you can try going somewhere else. But please give it a chance, because the spinal cord is so absolutely vital to the health of the body.

Anyway, I really hope things work out for you. If you've gotten a few recommendations, did some research, or have seen some happy/healthy patients in the office, then you're probably in the right place. I know a lot of people won't agree with my answer, but after seeing it time and time again I just have to put my two cents in.

Answer 2

I don't recommend the type of chiropractor who uses a hand held device to apply pressure at various points on your body; I think they called it an activator or something like that. It showed no results at all for my painful lower back; swimming regularly helped a lot more. Some chiropractors will adjust you by popping certain areas using massage techniques. Those might work as well as a massage therapist but I haven't tried that variety. My chiropractor experience lasted about 3-4 months, 3 times a week before I decided that I was better off with a pool membership. After swimming about an hour 3-4 times a week, the back felt a lot better. Hope that helps!

Answer 3

Hi there. I am a Chiropractor in the UK. First of all I would start by saying that both Chiropractic and Physiotherapy are both excellent choices for helping you achieve your health goals and can very often be used successfully in conjunction with one another. Regularly my patients see a Physiotherapist at the same time and see fantastic results. As with any form of physical intervention often it is about retraining your bodies bad habits to help restore normal movement and function so helping the body recover, and this is no different with Chiropractic, hence the need for repetition at the beginning of care. Think of it as starting a gym regime, you don't go a few times and come back looking like an athlete! In addition, Chiropractors and Physiotherapists tend to work on two different aspects of your health. Many Chiropractors, including myself, focus on the function of the nervous system and its potential for becoming irritated and interupted by the lack of motion within the spine. Restoring this motion can help restore neurological function which in turn can often help alleviate symptoms and help the body function at a better level. In conjunction Physiotherapists often look at the relationship between the muscles, ligaments and joints helping to restore balance of these structures often producing excellent results as well. Combined you get the best of both worlds. With regard your concerns of 'forcing the spine back into a certain shape'... I would highlight that spinal adjustments do not force anything. A Chiropractic adjustment simply helps restore normal movement within a joint. Think of it not as moving a joint from position A to position B but taking a joint which is no longer moving efficiently and helping restore that normal movement. This process is incredibly safe and more often than not quite comfortable. For perspective my youngest patient was only 3 1/2 hours old and my oldest patient is 97! Of course if you've never had care before it can seem very daunting, but raise these concerns with your Chiropractor. They should happily talk through all your concerns and answer your questions thoroughly. If you're not happy with their approach seek out someone else. Sadly as is the case in every profession there are great Chiropractors and not so great ones! However Chiropractic itself works. I would have to concur about the statement regarding your water intake and your degenerating disc. It was probably a little bit of a sweeping statement to say that the disc would be completely degenerated in a year tops! However it is a common situation that a lot of people live day to day in a dehydrated state and that drinking more water really isn't a bad thing and can have huge beneficial effects on all facets of your health. From my own experience I would say that Chiropractic does have the potential to offer you both hope and results and at my practice I get referrals regularly from both our local G.Ps and the Consultants from our local Hospital both Orthopaedic and Neurological. I also provide care for a number of GP's, nurses and other Health Care Professionals. Nevertheless as I said earlier regardless of the approach you take you should always feel comfortable with the Practitioner, if you don't, find someone else. I hope this helps and good luck Dr Jon @saltashchiro

Answer 4

it does help to a point, but dont get to hooked on it, although it does feel good & seems to help, they tell you that the humanbody can take just so much , thats why they have you keep comeing back, thats why you feel you are being scamed & you are proably right. maybe once or twice, but certainely not what they want you to have. good luck! a hot bath will do you wonders with some epson salt added!

Answer 5

I have never been to one but I have a preconcieved ideas they do not help. My husband on the other hand thinks they do help.

I have heard both throughout my life (47 years) some people swear yes they help while others say no they just take your money.

I guess only you can really decide if it's helping. If not go to a regular doc see what they have to say about your pain.

Answer 6

I messed up my neck and couldn't move it. I went about 4 times and I felt better. He wanted me to go back about 100 times like your doctor is doing to you. I would just go until you feel better. I can honestly say that my doctor did help me. I'm not sure what is wrong with your back, but he is probably doing something.

Answer 7

I used to think they sucked. Then my friend Charlie became one, and he is very ethical. I go only when I'm hurt, and it gets better in about a week or two.