Question of the Day, July 25th

My question today is about back and leg pain which I have been having for quite a while. The question is:

Have you ever been to a chiropractor or do you not believe in them.

I have been to two different ones in the past but so far did not get much relief from my back and leg pain. What has your experience been.

I have a friend who swears by them. But I just can't get the story of the lady that went to one and ended up dying. He did something to her neck or some tender place and that caused her death.

I have sciatic pain and have had it for a while. But I just can't bring myself to go to one.

Took pt for a while, but I am a very impatient person sometimes. Didn't see instant relief. Stupid I know, but stopped going.

Guess I will just live with it.

Over the years, I have seen several different chiropractors. I have also seen several different osteopaths. I think that I have gotten better relief of my back pain from osteopathic manipulations than from the chiropractic manipulations. I may be a bit prejudiced toward osteopathy, because I worked in a D.O. teaching hospital for several years, and I currently work with many D.Os (including one who does the best osteopathic manipulations ever....even though his specialty is anesthesiology.)

I used to go sometimes if I was staying with my grandma, because she goes twice a week to her chiropractor. I used to be so scared when they'd do the neck adjustment, thinking one miscalculation could snap my neck!

I went back to the chiropractor a couple years ago, the one Rob's family has gone to, and he said my neck didn't have the natural curvature, it was straight, probably causing neck pain, and Rob's back had a curve in it causing his back pain. We think it was caused by sleeping on a 30 year old dilapidated box spring mattress for awhile that had a huge dip in the center from only 1 person sleeping in it til I came along (before we moved out of his parent's house that was our bed). He adjusted Rob's back and told us we both had to come back 2-3x a week for months, except his schedule was crazy (random hours during the day, sometimes only half days), and we both worked 25mi away. After the adjustment, Rob felt better, my neck wasn't as cricked, and now our SleepNumber bed has made us both sleep and feel better without spending an arm and a leg at the chiropractor!

No, seems I get referred to physiotherapists. I believe in them, though, and I also believe in ferries.

Originally Posted by farleyv

I have a friend who swears by them. But I just can't get the story of the lady that went to one and ended up dying. He did something to her neck or some tender place and that caused her death.

I have sciatic pain and have had it for a while. But I just can't bring myself to go to one.

Took pt for a while, but I am a very impatient person sometimes. Didn't see instant relief. Stupid I know, but stopped going.

Guess I will just live with it.

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I only let the CP do my neck once and that was it, it caused me to have horrible headaches so he doesn't touch my neck anymore. He always does tell me to ice my back which I do but not every day and he gave me some leg stretches to do also. It just seems nothing is helping me much.

Originally Posted by Pookie-poo

Over the years, I have seen several different chiropractors. I have also seen several different osteopaths. I think that I have gotten better relief of my back pain from osteopathic manipulations than from the chiropractic manipulations. I may be a bit prejudiced toward osteopathy, because I worked in a D.O. teaching hospital for several years, and I currently work with many D.Os (including one who does the best osteopathic manipulations ever....even though his specialty is anesthesiology.)

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What is the difference between chiropractors and osteopaths, I just looked up osteopaths and it seems to be about the same thing, what difference did you find.

I haven't been to chiropractors, but I believe there are good ones and there are also ones who are out to get your $. Some chiropractors will tell you there is stuff wrong with you to keep you coming back. My dad went to one that was just like that, he told him one of his legs was longer than the other, which turned out to be complete BS.

Originally Posted by LaRussa

What is the difference between chiropractors and osteopaths, I just looked up osteopaths and it seems to be about the same thing, what difference did you find.

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Here in Michigan, both Doctors of Osteopathy (DO) and Doctors of Medicine, also known as allopathic medicine (MD) begin training by getting a four-year undergraduate degree, (usually pre-med, or a related science field.) Each type of doctor will then complete four years of focused medical training before taking the same examination that will result in licensure (either DO, or MD.) A chiropractor is a medical professional trained in chiropractic medicine, typically in a three to four year program, although most US programs are requiring a bachelor's degree.

These Wiki descriptions help highlight the difference between Chiropractic and Ostopathic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiropractic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteopath

Oddly enough, I find that a DO is really the best of both worlds. A doctor who can not only do surgery, prescribe medications and make medical diagnoses, but also do manipulations. The regular MD can do the first three, but a chiropractor can only do the manipulations.

Originally Posted by Pookie-poo

Here in Michigan, both Doctors of Osteopathy (DO) and Doctors of Medicine, also known as allopathic medicine (MD) begin training by getting a four-year undergraduate degree, (usually pre-med, or a related science field.) Each type of doctor will then complete four years of focused medical training before taking the same examination that will result in licensure (either DO, or MD.) A chiropractor is a medical professional trained in chiropractic medicine, typically in a three to four year program, although most US programs are requiring a bachelor's degree.

These Wiki descriptions help highlight the difference between Chiropractic and Ostopathic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiropractic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteopath

Oddly enough, I find that a DO is really the best of both worlds. A doctor who can not only do surgery, prescribe medications and make medical diagnoses, but also do manipulations. The regular MD can do the first three, but a chiropractor can only do the manipulations.

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Thanks for that info, it helps.

Originally Posted by SwampWitch

I also believe in ferries.

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I do, too. It's fairies I have trouble with!

I've never been to a chiropractor, but the only one I ever knew personally I knew was a quack. In fact, I always called him the quacktropractor to his face. My personal doctor has been a DO many times, and I've never had a complaint with them...but I've never had any manipulations, either.

Having a history of visiting a chiropractor is reason for non-hire at many trucking companies.

I went to a chiropractor a few times. But he told me I was going to have to keep going back to him for the rest of my life. Not really digging that $140 a week for the rest of my life. I have arthritis in my neck and between my shoulder blades on the back from a bad skiing accident when I was 12. I really didn't get that much relief from the chiropractor. Maybe I was going to the wrong one? So I'm not convinced either way about them yet.

I went once to a chiropractor because my DH dragged me along. He adjusted my neck and I had a bad headache for two days afterward. I do not like chiros and the adjustments they do, and will never go to one again. Too many bad stories.

Been to one and after going, no I do not believe in them.

I've been to two different ones. I liked them both. The first time was really bad. I was unable to move from the pain. My sister had to lift me off the floor and help me into the car. They xrayed me and my hip was out of place. I got adjustments and trigger point therapy and I was alot better. My second experiance is with a woman who also works with sports injuries. She does awesome stuff with lasers and all sorts of high tech doohickeys. I see her maybe twice and I am better. I have been giving stretches that keep me out of the danger zone and as long as I do them I don't have to go back. I see her maybe once a year for those few visits.

You have to find someone you are comfortable with and is good at what they do. Like all professions there is good and bad...

I have for my back and neck pain but I did not have any luck with them.

I have been to a few when I was younger. I am either here nor there on my opinion of them.

I went to one a few years ago after I hurt my back falling off a letter, I guesss he helped, but I don't believe in them enough to go back to one.

GREAT Question!...

I never been with this kind of Dr... I think should I to programated a visit!...