How often to go to a chiropractor?

Question

I was recently diagnosed (by an MD) with sciatica. While it has been getting better, I decided to seek the treatment of a chiropractor. I had my first consultation and adjustment this week. He took x-rays and determined my spine is not vertically straight (I lean to the left slightly). However, he wants me to come back 3 times a week for 8 weeks, then go on a maintenance schedule. I was sort of skeptical of chiropractors to begin with, but to me this seems excessive. He said my muscle memory needs to be changed and that is the reason for the frequent visits up front. Does this seem reasonable? Are there more questions I should ask of him before committing to this schedule (and expense since not covered by insurance)?

Answer 1

I get adjusted every week, I work for a chiropractor though so it's free for me. 3 times a week to start, the muscles do need to be
"retrained". Your muscles are used to being in the wrong position, you'll get adjusted and the muscles will pull the vertebrae back to where they were.
I get adjusted every week because the way I sleep, lay on the couch and watch tv, sit while I'm on the computer, etc. put strain on some of my neck and back muscles and pull the vertebrae out of alignment.
I also had a herniated disc, bulging disc and have degenerative disc disease. I was given 3 options, surgery, pain killers or physical therapy. I chose physical therapy, along with chiropractic. I have chronic pain but the adjustments and the exercises help me manage the pain.
I believe any alternative to surgery or meds is the best way to go.
After a while, you'll be more intune with the way your body feels, you'll know when you need an adjustment.
I am also a massage therapist.

Answer 2

Okay....let me tell you a story...about my experience. I have a friend who has a brother who is a chiropractor. He was checking my neck and spine just for kicks. He told me it was "garbage movement", and he told me I should go for regular adjustments. Now this was only when i was visisiting my friend for a week. There was nothing in it for him. So when i went home, i contacted a chiropractor and he said the same thing. He said, "well if you only come in when it bothers you, then it's like just putting a bandage on it" and he suggested that i come in twice a week for probably the same amount of time you were recommended to. So i did. And it really helped, and he actually weened my schedule down, saying that i didn't need to come as often (he had scruples)...so i mean you have to be careful. Do you know this guy? Do you have friends who go to him?
I don't think you have to "committ" to anything. Its your perogrative to go. He shouldn't make you sign a contract or anything, so where does this committment come in? If you don't want to go, then don't book an appt. There may be a cancellation fee, so i'd be careful about booking too many in one shot. You should only book one at a time, and ask what their cancellation policy is.
Also, i would suggest DO NOT let him do high rotational adjustment on your neck!!!! This is the only known risk associated with going to a chiropractor, as it can tear an artery going to the brain and induce a stroke. Its a small chance, but you don't want to be the person that it happens too (saw that on W5 a Canadian Magazine Program).
Anyways, give it a shot for a week or so. Remember he's also in the business of making money, so its kind of hard to completely trust him about "how much you need". I'd say, tops make a "3 week committment"...and no NECK adjustments!!!!!

Answer 3

That is a fairly typical schedule. One maintenance you can expect to go once over 4 to 6 weeks. Chiropractic works great for sciatica. Despite the cost, the pain is far worse. I decided the same thing with my TMD - the cost is $14,000 - and insurance won't pay. But I got tired of the pain and couldn't deal with taking pain pills for ever and ever. I have gone to a Chiropractor for years and have felt the benefits far outweigh the costs. The more important question is if that particular Chiropractor produces results. I have been dissatisfied with some. Ask if you can speak to any satisfied patients.

Answer 4

That is a reasonable schedule. When I was going to the chiropractor, she told me I should go in 2 to 3 times a week if possible.

I wasn't covered by insurance either, it cost me $32 per visit. So a lot of the time I would only make it in once a week.

Don't forget though, you can claim all your visits when you do your taxes at the end of the year.

Answer 5

Most chiropractors are not muscle specialists. Not being covered by insurance do yourself a $20.00 favor and purchase a book called The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. There is a 75% success rate for using this book that will teach you how to fix the pain that is ailing you.
My personal preference on chiropractors are those who know how to use the 'activator' and do so almost exclusively, they are less likely to cause more problems than they fix.
I see mine as often as once a week, but sometimes not for months. I have scoliosis.

Answer 6

this seems reasonable..one would have to question the poster above talking about them causing more problems than they fix and ask what is in it for him recommending this book, triiger point,seeing how they say the exact same thing in every single question they answer..is this the author??a telemarketer?? just wondering. I would stick with the consensus on this that this is a reasonable schedule and that chiropractors really help people. I know mine helped me.

Answer 7

I go to the chiropracter twice a month and it benifits me a lot. I used to have chronic lower back pain and migraines and now both are so much better. I do understand you being skeptical though, just make sure you have a good chiro that you can trust and ask others who have used him or her to get there input. Just like dr.s there are good and bad ones out there. Tell the chiro your concerns and that way he knows you will not be screwed over.

Answer 8

if you just got x-rays in 11/08 (i'm assuming it was 08), i dont see the need to get another set of x-rays unless something new occured, such as did you fall or got hit? if there was an accident or incident then maybe more x-rays.... but depends on the situation a full spine x-ray might still not be called for..... r u going to a new doctor? sometimes doctors like to take their own x-rays because u never know if the other doctor performed it correctly previously.....

Answer 9

this is a good schedule. I had a herniated disc in my back 4 times..was in over 20 car wrecks and the last time was run over a car while walking. It took me 20 minutes to walk to the next room to go to bathroom with intense pain. Had to use wheelchair a year for anything over a very short distance. If I moved an inch in bed, I would scream with pain as it shot down to my ankle down the nreve.

A neurologist told me I needed immediate surgery---was told it was a huge herniation by both neuologist and chiropracter (later chiropracter told me it was the biggest herniation he'd seen. I told thr neurologist I didn't want surgry and was going to try comnservative tratment with my chiropractor. Neurologist became angry. "I guarantee you will be back within a week as you will not be able to stand the pain' he yelled after me. I knew the chiropracter had fixed me once before so I trusted him.

Chriopracter explained that each wreck weakened my back more making me more prone to injury each time I was rehit and that my back would never be normal but he could get me near the [lace I was before. I went in 3 times a week for one year before I was able to stop tens unit I used for pain. It took some months before thre adjustment would stay but each time it stayed longer until I was having less and less pain..after that I cut visit to 2 then one...because my insurance covered it, I maintained on one visit a week.

Two years ago, insuance stopped covering any visit..due to poverty, I could not return..I used 10,000 guass magnets (magnelyfe mini magnets) when my back hurt and although my back does hurt if I stand very long, I have walked up to an hour and my back is so much better than if I would have undergone surgery as I had 4 of 5 negative risk factors that would have given my arthritus after sutrgery,

I have finally decided to go back after over 2 years of not going and pay cash for a checkup as I feel chiropractic helped other parts of my health in addition to my back. If I had the money I would go but live far below povertry so can't.

I would definitely go if I were you unless you want to decline in health and increase in pain..when one has sciatica, it blocks the nerve force off to the area that nerve supllies with resultant decline. Well worth it. It is hard to not be sceptical if one is not used to chiropracters. Rarely dio I run into people who aren't helped or who don't love their chiropractors. I rarely go to allopathetc doctors as I feel many of their treatments are dangerous or unnessary but consider the chiropracter to be a good part of a health buiolding program and so helpful when in pain.

I would supplement with magnets and ask him what exercises to do. Big study by the government showed chiropractic and exercise were the most effective treatment for back pain.

Also take tumeric and yucca and calcium/magnesium (twice as much clacium as magnesium). Use organix/wild crafted herbs and tinctures for best apsortion. Also try chongrotin sulfate and glucamin sulfate. I found it I used an ice pack in the csr before going, my back adjusted better and easier. Go for it..plus chiropracters are chealper than allopathetic treatment.

You might ask him if you can not do heat packs/electric stim, etc and just have spinal adjustment done to save money. My chiropracter agreed to do this when I was in wrecks and di not know if insurance would try to cheat me as he knew if I was liable, I was on fixed income so the bill was grealy reduced over his normal patients. Now he is taking the same payment as my medicaid pays which is a huge savings for me.

Answer 10

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