Talk to me about going to a chiropractor

OK, I'm jaded because I was in the insurance industry.

Couple things-I had a friend that back in the 80's was not admitted to med school.  She got into chiro school and they emphasized that they were "real" doctors--she said it was like brainwashing.  She quit school and got into another medical program.

Most orthos, neuros, do not think highly of chiropractors.  If you need to be "adjusted, etc" have the doctor refer you to physical therapy.  They have a lot of overlap and are generally more highly regarded by specialists.

If you are in a lawsuit, attorneys will often refer you to a chiro because they are considered a "doctor" (not an MD).  They will say whatever the attorney wants them to say (either side of the lawsuit).

I would ask your PCP to refer you to physical therapy--especially since you had prior surgery. 

Oh and this that I will never forget--this was about 20 years ago--I had to call a chiro's office for something as part of my job.  Some guy answered the phone.  I asked for the chiro and he said he was just a patient and the chiro asked him to answer his phone because he was busy.  Always thought that was kind of unusual.  Can you imagine a dr's office doing that? 

This is a great recommendation.

I do go to a chiro regularly, but mine is for jaw massage for tmj relief. He has had me pain free for years. He also occasionally adjusts my neck. However, in your case, I would start with a physical therapist. They can help you untwist and show you ways to maintain it at home.

I haven't been to one in a long time, but when I have back issues, I tend to go and get re-adjusted. Honestly, I probably need to go now, but with everything going on, just isn't happening.

I would be concerned about the surgeries you had. But, be up front about it with the chiro so they know. Also, try and find one that isn't a "bone cracker". They can adjust you without doing the jarring movements. I personally prefer the bone cracking, it's very satisfying to me for some reason.

I’ve had success with chiropractic care and have gone off and on throughout my life. However, since Covid I have been a little Leary of some of them due to their response to the virus and how they act like they are more knowledgeable than epidemiologists or other medical doctors. I think if they stick to chiropractic care, that is fine. But I’m not sure how some of them have gotten to where they think they are experts in other areas of health as well.

The chiro that my dd and I see combines PT with adjustments. On a typical visit, they'll use the TENS unit, apply some sort of heating pad thing, do adjustments, stretch you out, and then do a round of exercises with the PT. They've also been known to tape us up with that KT tape stuff for added back support.

I feel like it's a good balance of both philosophies. He also gave me a better explanation of my dd's MRI results than the PA did at the orthopedist's office.

If he weren't partnered with PTs, I don't know how I'd feel about it.

The father of one of my son's teammates is a chiropractor.  I had gone to him once prior to Covid.  He does a good job and I liked his chiropractic approach.  However, during the shutdown he started posting some things on FB that made me question his judgement.  One being the Plandemic video.  I unfollowed him and his wife because of the things they were posting.  My son needed a chiro recently so we went to this guy, despite my questioning.  DS was nervous to go to a chiropractor and liked the idea of going to someone he knew.  None of the people in his office were wearing masks, even though we have a mask mandate in our state.  Also no attempts to socially distance in their small office.  

I have also seen some videos and other things on FB that portray "doctors" that are ranting about the virus and telling us to go buy things like Tonic water and zinc and other random advice.  When you search these doctors, they are chiropractors.  Many chiros around here are big into essential oils and things like that (which many advocates of oils say can heal pretty much everything), which I guess maybe goes along with their thoughts about the virus?  I'm not sure.  Of course it isn't all chiropractors that believe this, but it seems to be more than just the one we know.  At this point I will be looking for someone else.  

A positive story is that in college I had what I thought was a digestive issue.  It was very painful in my chest when I swallowed, and after a few days it got to where it was radiating down my arm.  I couldn't eat or drink anything without pain.  I went to the university health system as well as another doctor with no relief or idea of what was wrong.  Someone suggested a chiropractor so I went because nothing else was helping.  The chiropractor had a poster that showed what types of symptoms people would have if different vertebra were out of place.  Mine corresponded with the symptoms I had.  I felt better right after the first appt.  

I originally thought they were all quacks. After I had my DD I gradually had so much pain in my neck, shoulders and all down my back that only got worse and worse. Finally DH told me to go to this guy in his business networking group that everybody who had seen him raved about. I was in such chronic pain that I figured what the heck, it couldn’t hurt. Within several weeks, the pain slowly started to go away. I kept going, and kept feeling better. We moved further away but I kept going for probably another year because my chronic pain was about 80% resolved.

After that I switched to a different one closer to my house who also came pretty highly recommended. He was able to keep the pain at bay, and after I learned I have some arthritis in my lower back he changed the way he adjusts that and now that is almost completely resolved too. I still have issues sometimes when I overdo things but overall it has improved so much that I can’t be a skeptic anymore. I pretty much go once a week and call it maintenance, because whenever I skip a week I can definitely feel it.

ETA: Mine also takes the Covid threat seriously. Everyone is masked, they have hand sanitizer in multiple locations and all the areas are sprayed with sanitizer between clients, plus they alternate which rooms they send people to so the sanitizer can air dry on the beds and benches in each room.

I’m a chiro user. I know when my back is out when I get spasms in the muscles in my back. An adjustment fixes that, and within a day the spasms go away. Usually they’re gone within an hour. I only go when I need to, I’m not on a regular schedule. I fully trust my chiro when I need him. Not sure why people don’t believe in them honestly.

Due to my first moving, I've been to 4 chiropractors over the years. The first and current ones I love/d. Go in like a 90 year old wincing in pain every step, I come out practically skipping. I've tried two in between that I wasn't too impressed with. I want to be talked through what they are going to do before they do it and the middle two didn't communicate with me in the way I liked even though they clunked the problem out of my back.

I'm a believer. I would totally go to someone that comes recommended. But I would be very transparent about your surgeries and that you are nervous.

I am firmly in the "you couldn't pay me to go to a chiro" camp. I have friends who are doctors, and there is no way on god's green earth they would ever refer anyone to a chiro. 

I can't believe anyone who has had "back issues, degenerative disc disease and four surgeries" would even consider for a second going to a chiro. Please think very carefully about this. 

I have degenerative disk disease, and also severe SI joint problems. I'm sorry you are in pain, I know what it feels like. It does get better, although I find there are always good days and bad - and I still usually have a bad day every couple of weeks.

I have done both chiro and PT, and although I think I had a great chiro, it really didn't help my specific problem. I got to physical therapy, and it's really really good. In an hour-ish appt we warm up with a review of my home exercises, I receive manual PT (which is a nice deep massage, and some body manipulation/stretching), then we go to some new exercises. Pre-pandemic I'd also do about 10-20 mins with their tens machine, but now we skip it because it's busy and they shuffle patients through in spurts. Usually when I come home I feel really good for an hour or so, then I need to ice it a bit. By the next day I'm feeling good.

The best part (IMO) about PT is that as much as it's pain relief, it's also an introduction to a new way of life. New ways to move, to sit, to strengthen. It's a workout! But I notice my recovery time is much faster on the bad days when I can use what I've learned. Chiro was definitely more of a quick fix, but not maintaining.

I have to agree with this, despite the fact that I do use an osteopath. In the OP's case, with serious back issues I would be very wary.

RedSquirrelUK -  I didn't know that osteopaths aren't a thing in the US, interesting 

I have always been leary (I have had back surgery also), and I used to teach childbirth where some doulas highly recommended chiropractors (even for infants)!!!! Then my daughter was accepted to medical school (she is now a 3rd year on her medical rotations). Now I know a lot more, and we have had many discussion on this issue. I absolutely would never go to a chiropractor, and I also am very careful in using that word "never." I would highly, highly recommend that you find a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (NOT a chiropractor) that practices OMM. They are all trained in it but some do not practice it once they are in their medical specialty. There may be a family practitioner D.O. that practices it or sports medicine D.O. Start there. Ask your doctor if he knows of any or do a google search. That's where I would go or back to my neurosurgeon but never a chiropractor. Hope you feel better.