Are chiropractors legit?

[Bernadine]

I always kind of thought they weren’t, but the PA I just saw referred me to one for a pinched nerve. She mentioned that her husband is a chiropractor (she did not refer me to him).

[flygirl]

I have been to a chiropractor and they have benefits, but if your Dr told you that you had a pinched nerve and didn’t do any sort of test to determine this, I would go to a different Dr. If you have herniated discs you could end up worse.

[bee20]

They certainly can be. I had long-term joint issues that a half dozen PTs all couldn't solve. I was waking up at night in pain and they were just giving me more clamshells (which I did with ever increasing colored bands, but it didn't help).

I went to a chiropractor recommended by a friend and it was reduced by 75% in the span of 1 month. It has stayed better since for a couple of years, although about 6 months later I put together a set of exercises with a personal trainer that probably also helped.

That being said, my hip was much improved but the Chiropractor went on long rants about covid being cured with vitamin C infusions so I would only trust him for joint issues.

[bex1973]

Yes

[Saudade]

No

Especially after having taken care of too many patients in ICU with vertebral artery dissection following the chiro.

[jamie.1022]

I have had luck with chiropractors. My PCP hates that I see one but sometimes he is the only one who helps.

I would definitely see one for a pinched nerve.

[glw]

I've had very different experiences between offices/doctors. Some have been great, and have really helped me and other members of my family when PT wasn't affective. Others have been weirdly pushy about setting up a "treatment plan" with a high number of visits, lots of supplements and woo on top of adjustments, etc. and it just didn't feel "right" to me, so I switched practices.

[jane6672]

Some are.

But I would see a physio/P.T. before a chiropractor, especially for nerve entrapment.

[waverly]

It depends on the Chiro. I've been to 6 different ones. The first one weirded me out and I never went back. The second and third one were good. I went to one in town, and they played anti vax videos. The last one I went to was also good.

I went to so many trying to find the right fit, and also because we had moved several times.  I agree that PT might be my first stop though. 

[Deleted]

I think they can be helpful but there's a strong overlap of anti-vaxxers and the chiropractic profession. I went to one several years ago when I herniated a disc and didn't know what to do until I got in with a PT and ortho. I could barely stand up. He spent an hour lecturing me on vaccines and how bad they were and if I'd been able to stand up and walk, I would have left. I sat there in tears instead. He also wanted me to come in twice a day and didn't take insurance. The plan he proposed was $700 a month out of pocket.

ETA I see now that waverly also mentioned that.

[Bernadine]

Mar 9, 2022 15:41:19 GMT -5 Saudade said:

No

Especially after having taken care of too many patients in ICU with vertebral artery dissection following the chiro.

This is what I’m scared of!

[wanderingback]

Well it depends on your definition of legit.
Yes they go through school and whatnot but they’re not all the same.
There can be some benefits though. I love options outside of "traditional western medicine" that can benefit people.

I would definitely not go to one right away for a pinched nerve, especially if it’s in the neck.

I would rest and then consider physical therapy and imaging if it’s not getting better.
And if I ever went to a chiropractor I would never let them touch my neck. No way!

[stemmie]

It depends.

My mom saw one for a time after a back injury with fractured vertebrae which worsened her scoliosis. Her neurologist referred her to a specific person who helped her do super gentle movements with ice and heat during the acute pain phase before sending her on to PT and pain specialist for epidural injections.

[Deleted]

I saw a chiro growing up. it was ok. the best one did acupuncture and that worked much better than anything else she did. I spent 1k on a chiro because I told my dr my hip hurt and it happened during a skiing accident and she thought it was sciatica. I finally did all my sessions with the chiro and was in worse pain and got an mri finally. It was a labrum tear. Years later I saw a PT who specialized in Pelvic Floor because I couldn't take it anymore and was peeing when I sneezed along with hip pain. I don't have pain. Like all my nerve pain is GONE. It used to run down my leg and keep me up at night. my low back pain I've been plagued with for life is GONE. Turned out the injury really messed with my pelvic floor because I was trying to stabilize my busted hip for so long. I don't think chiro helped me at all and I don't think I'd ever go back to one again. I'd see a PT.

[rooster222]

I went to one for my migraines and I had such bad vibes that I wouldn't let him touch me. He wanted to sell me a treatment package and told me to bring my husband with me next time so we could discuss. There was no next time.

My college roommate is a physical therapist and says not to see a chiro.

[meowmaps]

I haven’t seen a chiropractor but I have a pinched nerve right now which gave me excruciating pain for 4-5 days and has now switched over to numbness. My doctor prescribed me a pain medication, a muscle relaxant, and physical therapy. From the time I called to the time I can get into physical therapy is two weeks. I’m so annoyed. Anyway, I’m hoping it helps. My next thought was going to be a chiropractor but based on some of these responses maybe not!

[mcmel]

I wouldn't go to one. I had really bad back pain for a few months and did PT every few weeks and stretches every day, sometimes twice a day and was happy with my results.

[basilosaurus]

[mysteriouswife]

My dad has a broken sternum from one. That’s my only input

[DotAndBuzz]

Some people say yes and swear by them.

A family member who is in imaging medicine says absolutely not. And an even more emphatic no to any sort of neck (cervical) manipulation. They aren't against all complimentary medicine (massage therapy, acupuncture, etc), but Chiropracters are a very hard pass for them. That's also where I land.

mysteriouswife , - liked for solidarity, not that your dad had that happen.

[winecat]

I’d get some images done so that you know what’s going on for certain before getting additional treatment.

[omglol]

I mean. Some people are very fond.

For me, it’s a very hard no.

[pinkdutchtulips]

Yes but they have their quirks

I’ve used a chiro in the past w fantastic results. It’s infrequent.

I have a family member whose a DC who is staunchly anti-vax, chemo kills, etc …imo that’s borderline quackery. This family member graduated from college and graduated from chiropractic school and attends seminars and conventions yearly to keep current.

[pinkly]

I am always so entertained my these discussions. My boyfriend the last year and a half of college and the first year after is now a chiropractor. That was his sole focus the entire time we were together, and that last year together was spent living where he was going to chiropractic school.

He was just as anti-traditional medicine as traditional doctors are anti-chiro. Medicine was bad, including birth control, except when it came to ME taking it.

That aside, I saw many chiropractors over the years, and I do believe that initially did help relieve chronic back pain that I had. But I’ve gotten to a point where I don’t feel comfortable any longer seeing one. Especially after an acquaintance ended up in the ER after suffering that issue mentioned up-thread. That’s just terrifying.

What about an osteopathic doctor? Have you looked into that? I haven’t had experience with one in a couple decades, but as I recall, they’d be kind of “between” traditional medicine and chiro.

[mofongo]

Mar 9, 2022 17:43:05 GMT -5 pinkly said:

I am always so entertained my these discussions. My boyfriend the last year and a half of college and the first year after is now a chiropractor. That was his sole focus the entire time we were together, and that last year together was spent living where he was going to chiropractic school.

He was just as anti-traditional medicine as traditional doctors are anti-chiro. Medicine was bad, including birth control, except when it came to ME taking it.

That aside, I saw many chiropractors over the years, and I do believe that initially did help relieve chronic back pain that I had. But I’ve gotten to a point where I don’t feel comfortable any longer seeing one. Especially after an acquaintance ended up in the ER after suffering that issue mentioned up-thread. That’s just terrifying.

What about an osteopathic doctor? Have you looked into that? I haven’t had experience with one in a couple decades, but as I recall, they’d be kind of “between” traditional medicine and chiro.

This is odd, considering the million things medicine doctors treat that chirps can’t. I have an OD for my PCP and he’s kind of a pita and wants me on meds I don’t want to take, so I’m looking into finding a new one. I found home be extreme in his ‘traditional medicine’ beliefs.

[krystee]

I went to ChiroOne and it was the worst. They took an X-ray and literally told me I was in danger of dying because of the curvature of my neck, so of course 26 year old me signed up for a $$$ package and let them crack my neck. Then I read about the stroke risk and went to my doctor for a second opinion. He took his own x-rays and said they were 100% normal, I was fine, and to never go back there again.

A chiropractor also convinced my friend to not vaccinate any of her children because they’d get autism. Her unvaccinated son was diagnosed with autism, so I guess the cause isn’t vaccines. Shocking.

Basically, I think 90% of them are charlatans and 10% are helpful.

[yaga]

I always had an iffy opinion on them and really disliked the "treatment plan" one of them put my exH on (at least 2 days a week for months with no relief and the only imaging was an xray).

But I've since learned a lot more about many of them being anti-vaccine, pushing dietary supplements, and the actual creation of chiropractic, so I'm 100% in the not legit camp. UnbiasedScience did a great job explaining it. Google Daniel David Palmer if you want to learn about how he received the practice from a dead guy in his dream.

[court26]

I have been seeing a chiropractor for my migraines and for a long time I felt the adjustments were really helping but now I actually think they are making things worse. I have a mixed feelings but do really like and trust my chiropractor!

[DotAndBuzz]

I also have a DO as my PCP, and he recommended massage therapy (and also prescribed medication) for my migraines and neck spasm. that actually worked, but there's no way in hell I'd let a chiro manipulate my neck. nope nope nope.

If HE, a board certified primary care doctor trained doctor of osteopathic medicine, wanted to try acupressure or complimentary medicine (because I know some of them are trained in various techniques), I think I'd let him, but that's because I trust a board certified physician who went to actual medical school infinitely more than I trust a chiro. For anything.

[loira]

No. I used to be compete in a sport that caused a lot of back pain/injuries. I saw friends and coaches go to chiropractors and their pain was only ever temporarily made better. In the long run it seemed to make things worse and they kept needing to go more and more often. I'm team doctors/physiotherapy, especially after learning that chiropractors are nowhere near as heavily regulated (in Canada at least).