I was refered by a doctor to see a Chiropractor for a stiff neck. Advice on finding a good one? Experiences?

Question

This doctor at an urgent care clinic didn't have anyone specific to refer me to, just said it would keep happening. He suggested the stiff neck was due to untreated whiplash in 2001. I am taking Flexeril and Vicoden that he prescribed, but don't really feel better yet. I have been led to believe that Chiropractors are kind of a joke, but am willing to try it. I'm not sure how to go about finding one and would like to hear experiences from the Answers community. I am in Tampa, FL if by chance you are local but would love to hear stories from anywhere.

Answer 1

Well I work for the Best chiropractor in Staten Island, and I first want to tell you that there are many different types of chiropractors out there. The one I work for is the only one trained and certified in CBP which is biophysics. What that means is an adjustment by hand. In order to get corrected you must put the spine back into alignment, so make sure that the person you go to actually does an adjustment. A lot of Chiro's use therapies instead of actual adjustments, and therefore is not moving your spine back into alignment.

When we have some patients move out of state we try to locate a doctor who does techniques similar to Dr. Steve. I look on the web site www.idealspine.com.

Feel free to e-mail me, and I can send you some information if you need it. I'd be glad to help you in anyway possible.

Answer 2

Can't help find you one but can tell you that if it wasn't for a chiropractor I would be living in severe pain & probably living on pain medication.

The best way to find one is to talk to the people you know, your friends, family etc. Find one that treats one patient at a time not one that has 4 treatment rooms and just runs from one to the other. Also find one that doesn't insist on seeing
you an unreasonable amount of time (like every day for a week or so - then 3 times a week then etc etc). You may have to go a couple of times a week for the first couple of visits & then may once every 2 weeks for awhile until your neck learns what position it's supposed to be in. The guy I see treated me once a week for maybe 3 weeks for my (3rd)whiplash & then whenever I feel I need it after that. I always know when my neck is bad - headaches, stiff shoulders & the feeling that I can't bend it a certain way.

Good luck & I bet you'll wonder why you didn't go alot sooner.

Answer 3

Chiropractics can be very effective at treating many back/neck issues as evidenced by the fact an MD referred you and is now recommended by many MDs to treat a variety of issues. Alot of chiropractors just give you a quick adjustment and send you on your way. You want to call around to different ones and ask if they offer a massage with each adjustment. It's more effective to have the muscles massaged before an adjustment. It also gives you the ability to schedule some separate longer deep tissue massages with the therapist on staff. Alot of insurance companies don't cover chiropractics so if you are self paying you also want to ask if they have a "monthly fee" to cover a certain number visits each month. Typically it is much cheaper that way. Make sure you request at home strengthening exercises to help the process. A good chiropractor will give them to you as they want you to get healthy, not go see them forever. Also ask what the typical treatment time is for your condition. Consults are usually free so make appointments to talk to a few. It's important to like the person who will be treating you. It will probably take a few months to get your neck back to normal and be able to wean yourself off the flexeril and vicoden. Good luck.

Answer 4

I have seen people have problems reversed with chiropractic treatment. I think you are going to be happy with chiropractic care. I've enclosed a link where you can find a qualified Chiropractor in your area.