To have an irrational fear and dislike of chiropractors

[Sadie789]

Even though I think I might need one...

I have a clicking sensation at the base of my spine. It’s not sore but there’s a definite click when I move in a certain way or turn over in bed. It’s since pregnancy during which I did have a bout of sciatica which went away and hasn’t returned.

I’m not going to bother my GP with this any time soon, but I think I should have it checked. However chiropractors, which I think would be the obvious route for this kind of back problem, scare the living daylights out of me.

Possibly because I’ve had a couple of bad experiences with chiropractors (more related to them being creepy weirdos rather than the physical act of manipulation) it has made me feel there’s a charlatan-esque vibe to it all.

But I believe and osteopath deals with muscular problems? And I don’t think what I have would warrant a referral to a medical consultant given there is no pain.

[Valkadin]

See an osteopath, I have a scoliosis of the spine and seeing a chiropractor was the worst mistake I ever made. Osteopath treatment and advice reduced my pain by about 70%.

[Bread999]

It's not irrational

[LakieLady]

My chiropractor is fabulous. I was getting really depressed because of constant lower back and sciatic pain, and intermittment, but exruciating, neck and shoulder pain. My quality of life was shite and I had to change jobs because I could no longer sit through meetings that sometimes went on all day. I often struggled to dress myself and I was only in my early 40s

My GP referred me for x-rays for both and they came back "normal".

When I had yet another flare-up with my neck/shoulder, I went to a chiropractor favoured by a lot of fellow sufferers locally. She was just amazing, and one treatment from her made more difference than any amount of painkillers. (She also x-rayed my spine, and showed me where there were signs of 3 herniated discs and arthritis in the facet joints in my neck!). And I was an inch taller afterwards too!

I go twice a year now, just to keep things in shape, and on an ad hoc basis if I do something stupid and hurt my back or neck. She has changed my life and I'm dreading her retiring.

I've been going to her for nearly 20 years, and it's testament to her skill that I was able to spend 5 hours ripping up ivy and digging yesterday and only feel a bit stiff and achey today.

You've obviously had a bad experience, OP. Ask around locally and see who's highly thought of in your area. Make an appointment and when you go, explain that you're very nervous and ask them to go gently with you. My chiropractor will sometimes say that a problem can be treated slowly and gently, or quickly but a bit more painfully, and I always go for quick as the pain only lasts a second or two.

If you're in Sussex, pm me and I'll give you details of the lady I go to.

[LabiaMinoraPissusFlapus]

I have a mctimoney chiropractor who is amazing. I was very sceptical at first and only went when I ran out of all other options for the pain. It works, but I would try to get a recommendation first.

[BobbinThreadbare123]

Chiropractic is generally accepted to be quackery; you don't need any training, although there is a regualtoty body. NHS define it as a non-medical complementary or alternative therapy. Osteopaths can help you with bone and muscle issues and it requires a fair number of quals to be a practitioner, plus renewing your licence each year.

[Sadie789]

@LakieLady I hadn’t thought of this but maybe a female chiropractor is the way forward.

There is something about the strength in a man’s hands that has me on edge (I am a naturally tense person anyway) and I fear my instinctive resistance to being manipulated could result in an injury because I’m not just going along With the movement. I also again because of the two different creepy ones feel on edge having a man’s hands on me like that. I will check to see if there are female chiropractors nearby.

I will also look into an osteopath but I feel what I need is a manipulation/realignment as that is what feels like is wrong, that something has been pushed out of line by a big baby.

[Sadie789]

@LakieLady meant to add also the idea of slow and gentle appeals as the sudden movement is what I resist against.

[HeyBlaby]

Visit a physiotherapist, chiropractors and osteopaths are not always working using evidence based practice and are generally classed as alternative medicine.

[dramalamma]

@Bobbinthreadbare123 the chiropractor I went to did a 4 year degree in chiropractics. In fact I've been to several before her and they were all highly qualified. Seeing a Chiro regularly suits my body and the problems I have with it - I saw
An osteo for ages and it made no difference - there is a lot of overlap and I'm sure there are not so good ones but it's not quackery.
Op mine is female and I agree that it feels less scary.

[Puddlesplasher]

Yes, I can relate to creepy chiropractors. Especially the one that I saw when I was 19 and as he leant over me to do a manipulation I could feel his erect penis I did not go back to him!

However, a couple of years later I saw a brilliant chiropractor and he really did change my life as I was virtually housebound and unable to move a lot of the time due to my back.

I would definitely go back to a chiropractor again if I needed to although I would refuse to let them do any neck manipulations. My good chiropractor manipulated my neck and it was like how you see people having their necks broken in movies It terrified me and since then my neck has crackled when I move it.

[BittersweetMemories]

I like my osteopath - he's honestly the least creepy/non threatening man I've ever met, which is important when you have to stand in front of them half naked.

I don't know how it works elsewhere, but when I have an appointment (usually a couple of times a year) the osteopath examines me and identifies any problem areas, someone else comes in and does a deep tissue massage and then the osteopath comes back in and checks everything over again and then does the manipulations. I always leave feeling like a new person. I do always get a fright when he does my neck though bevause it's so loud.

On the other hand, the chiropractor I went to - he was also nice and non creepy but just jumped straight into the manipulations. It costs the same as the osteopath so I didn't feel like it was value for money really.

[Sadie789]

@Puddlesplasher same experience

[ECBC]

See an osteopath, they don’t just deal with muscular. If you don’t like a particular chiropractor, see another. They’re not all the same.

[tamsintamsout]

I was coming here to say the same as @Valkadin. Skip the chiro (wish I hadn’t wasted money on one) and see an osteopath. You seem to have used the terms interchangeably going on your last para but they are NOT the same.

[Sadie789]

@BittersweetMemories do osteopaths crack necks too??

[Puddlesplasher]

@Sadie789 The crackly neck or the erect penis?

[SpuriouserAndSpuriouser]

The chiropractor I went to did a 4 year degree in chiropractics

If you do a four year degree in quackery, you’re still a quack.

[Sadie789]

@Puddlesplasher penis :/

[Sparklfairy]

I love cracking my own back and shoulders, but I don't think I would ever see a chiropractor. I sit at a desk all day and when I take a break, I can twist my body round whilst sitting and my spine clicks all the way down, really loudly

I've heard a lot of horror stories about chiros which put me off. Don't mess with your back! Have you thought about a deep tissue massage? I've had a couple and was only disappointed that my back didnt crack for weeks afterwards

[Stillfunny]

If you do decide to go , could a friend or relative go with you ?

[Likethebattle]

A physiotherapist would be better.

[1066vegan]

Avoid going to a chiropractor.


The theory behind it isn't just quackery; it's dangerous quackery. If a chiropractors carries out actual chiropractic manipulations then they can cause a lot of damage. If they give you a strong massage that provides relief for your symptoms, then they aren't really acting as chiropractors.



The Behind the Bastards podcast has a good episode (August 2019) called "How Chiropractic Started as a Ghost Religion".


Science podcasts such as Stuff You Should Know clearly explain what a nonsense it is whenever the subject is raised.



Go on YouTube and you can find videos of drs (including spinal surgeons) explaining the dangers of chiropractic manipulations. If you've got a strong stomach, you can watch heartbreaking videos of babies and young children being manipulated.




Other firms of quackery such as homeopathy are essentially benign (unless they are used instead of real medicine) because they do nothing; chiropractic manipulation is actively harmful.

[Allergictoironing]

I see a McTimony chiropractor now, having previously been treated by physiotherapists, Osteopaths and other (BCA) chiropractors. I found the physios useless, the Osteopaths OK but varied, the BCA chiros were very mixed (one brilliant, others not so), and my McTimony chiro the best for me.

Very gentle (no neck cracking!), very holistic and recognising that pain in one place is often related to another area due to the interconnectedness if the musculoskeletal system. This means she checks and where necessary treats the entire body, not just the area that is painful that day.

I would say however that whoever you go to see ensure that they are fully qualified, a member of a professional body, and insured. I used to do (qualified, ensured) sports injury massage therapy and had a couple of clients whose conditions had been made much worse by "dabblers"

[Sadie789]

Will look into mctimony, have never heard of it

[SpuriouserAndSpuriouser]

Just going to leave this here: