To ask your opinions on Chiropractors

[chellochello]

I have been suffering with pretty bad lower back pain for over a year now - I have contacted my GP on a few occasions but have been pretty much told there is nothing they can / will do to help (although no one has ever actually looked at my back!) So I decided to see if a chiropractor could help. I've started seeing one twice a week for the last couple of weeks and can feel no noticeable difference to the pain

A couple of people have told me they are basically quacks and I am paying them for nothing so was wondering if anyone had any positive outcomes of seeing one?

The basis of chiropractor is pseudo-scientific bunk. Chiropractors may study a long time, they may study a lot of actual medicine, but still I wouldn't trust the profession.

First Chiropractor I saw was great and was able to solve my ongoing neck pain of 6 years plus in the space of four visits over two weeks.

Sadly, I moved away.

I have since seen three other chiropractors who have been useless.

1/4 success rate. Not sure if the first one was a fluke. Now I find a sports massage helps more.

Oh - the first (good) Chiro was a ‘cracker’. The others all seem to prefer ‘gentle manipulation’ which hasn’t worked for me.

I had treatment alternate weeks from a chiropractor and an osteopath and much preferred the osteopath.

2 different issues over time

2 different chiropractors

Both issues were fixed

D. Palmer, a 'magnetic healer', founded chiropractic in the 1890s, after saying he received it from "the other world"; Palmer maintained that the tenets of chiropractic were passed along to him by a doctor who had died 50 years previously. Chiropractic's origins lie in the folk medicine of bonesetting and as it evolved it incorporated vitalism, spiritual inspiration and rationalism.

None of this suggests it is anything other than quackery. It may well be true that back and neck pain can be eased by manipulation of the spine, it does not then follow on that Chiropractors are able to heal conditions. We all know stretching and releasing joints can result in relief but this is not a medial science nor is it the basis for any sort of evangelical belief that clicking spines can heal.

Chiropractor 1 used a gun olt thing up and down the spine. Worra waste of time and money.
Chiropractor 2 crunched and cracked - problem solved.
Osteopath - cracked and cracked - problem solved.

I’ve seen two chiropractors. One was very keen on making sure my spine was completely straight and cracked ‘into place’ and made me lie with wedges under my hips to correct my wonky pelvis. I only went twice.

My second one was amazing. He sorted out the areas I had pain, mainly with adjustments and then deep tissue massage to free up the tense muscles. He left the other bits alone as they weren’t causing a problem. He was good at sorting lower back pain I got whilst running and gave me good exercises and stretches to prevent it coming back.

Like with a lot of things I guess it depends on why you go to see them, and the quality of the individual you see.

Quacks IMO. And making lots of money out of it. Someone I know pays £80 a session for theirs.
I haven't seen one myself, but did try an osteopath years ago. Expensive and ineffectual. Obsessed with being able to 'crack' my spine (she never managed to). I was terrified that she'd do real damage so stopped going.

They're not medical professionals and it is extremely dangerous to visit one.

Another vote for a qualified physiotherapist. Costs the same I would think and isn’t performed my a fucking mountebank.

YABU to go and see a chiropractor as they don't work or YANBU to go as it will help

Whether or not medicine works can't be determined by an internet poll. 15 minutes on Google would establish that it's a con.

Physio all the way. They'll assess if it's something more than just a back pain.

If it's down to an injury tell them. If its because you sit or stand for most of the day then there's exercises they'll give you.
Do the exercises you are given, there's loads on line and move more.

I was in absolute agony just before Christmas and I'm pretty much OK now after 4 sessions of physio and doing the exercises and walking for an hour a day.

She did deep tissue massage, strapped me up, acupunture and some of it hurt.

Also...chiropractors just no.

Another vote for a qualified physiotherapist. Costs the same I would think and isn’t performed my a fucking mountebank.

Physiotherapy on the NHS is free (although I know you can wait quite a long time).
Can I congratulate you too on your use of the word 'mountebank'

I see a chiropractor every three months or so. I have back issues from an injury many, many years ago and a job that makes it worse.

I have had every kind of therapy you can think of to try and help my back issues including ultra sound, physio therapy, acupuncture, steroid injections and botox(!) via doctor referral. None of them helped. I found the Physio to be the least helpful, they would spend very little time actually doing anything and then give you a badly photocopied sheet of some exercises and leave you to it.

I stumbled on to my chiropractor by accident and she is genuinely the only person who has given me relief with my pain. She is not a crack and crunch person but uses McTimmoney methods. I was a massive cynic especially during the first session but the subsequent relief was amazing. I am naturally a cynic and not a woo, alternative medicine anti vax person at all.

Like others have said, I think there are good ones and bad ones out there same as any industry.

If you've ever seen a equine chiropractor rip off an entire stable yard with their magical patting technique you wouldn't let one touch you! If you have a medical problem then see a professional such as a physio not a quack charging reassuringly high prices.

Pilates (or yoga) and a physio over a Chiropractor any day.

Organ health does not depend on spinal nerves and the main idea of Chriopractic treatment is spinal manipulation. The evidence I've seen on its effectiveness is lukewarm at best.

Quacks. And dangerous.

I’ve also been pretty anti-chiropractor. Then my neck started hurting in a way that absolutely could not be ignored. I was crying in my sleep the pain was so bad. I went the traditional medical route and got no real relief. Out of desperation I saw a chiropractor. It is amazing the difference it makes. I am now a convert. For certain problems, chiropractors really are the beat equipped to address the issue.

When I had bulging discs in my spine, the Doctor just prescribed pain killers and anti-inflammatory medication. The Chiropractor realigned everything but then encouraged exercises to strengthen the pelvic core. I go every 3 months as maintenance but never feel pushed into appointments. My friend goes to a different Chiropractor and they want her to block book appointments which screams money making scheme to me. They've never given her exercises and she seems to be in worse pain than when she started. I think, as with all things, there are good and bad chiropractors and you need to do your research before choosing one.

I took dh to one I almost had to carry him j as he was I that much pain with his back. They did an adjustment and he cried out and then he laughed. Pain instantly better and he was able to walk out of the house on his own. We have since learned that he has 2 fused bones in his back and this will happen at times. His gp said to give pain killers. So no I dont think they are quacks. However like w anything there are good and bad

I had really bad sciatica for months, could barely walk, couldn't sleep and nothing would touch the pain. I went to a chiropractor on recommendation from a friend- for about 6 months in all, going every week. She was fantastic, I was completely pain free by the end of it. She also gave me exercises to do at home (though I can l confess to not being very good at keeping that up!) It's been 3 years since my last appointment, I get the very occasional twinge, but usually an ice pack sorts it out before it can get too much worse.

They vary enormously. Good ones can be fantastic, DH went this am, could hardly walk before he went, now all loosened up. Choose one by personal recommendtaion only

My chiropractor is fantastic. He told me that he could only help me so much but that really, I needed to start doing Pilates to strengthen my core muscles. He was spot on. I’d try another Chiropractor if you’re not happy.

Not great. You’d be far better to go to a Physio who is certified to manipulate joints. They’ll massage/manipulate/crack a joint back into alignment if it needs it, then give you exercises and stretches to prevent or lessen the problem.