Any chiropractors / physios / osteopaths out there? AIBU to think you should 'work' for the duration of the appointment?

[bbcessex]

Wondering if I'm being unreasonable or not.

My teenage DS is seeing a chiropractor for a back problem. The initial consultation was 60 mins, to enable history, examination etc. prior to treatment. Completely normal. The following weekly appointments are 40 mins long.

I went into the exam room for the first session, fully expecting to sit outside for next sessions (DS is 15), but it turns out that the chiropractor talks ALL THE TIME, incessantly, and DS has now asked me to be in the room every time, so he's not held captive to the constant one way conversation with the occasional question to DS thrown in without really wanting an answer. DS wants to just switch off and 'enjoy' the treatment (it's not exactly as relaxing as a massage but it does help his pain and he doesn't want to be talking through it).

The talking isn't symptom or treatment related; it's along the lines of "what subjects are you taking at school, DS'... then "oh yes, my niece, godchild, uncle took that, now he/she is going to uni, he / she is staying in halls, it took ages to decide halls or house so we weighed up absolutely every pro and con, now there's no kitchen utensils, so he/she has to buy their own and keep them in their room, which is really difficult because they try to eat healthily - do you eat healthily, DS, i eat healthily but I don't like fennel, do you like fennel?'...... and on and on and on about almost any subject under the sun.

This is really, really, really wearing, in particular because he often stops what he's doing and takes his hands off DS whilst in a particularly deep monologue. Now I'm aware of it, it's very obvious, and I would say it happens 4 or 5 times during each 40 minute session.

Obviously the easy answer would be to find a different chiropractor, but this guy is very good. It's just exhausting - I now stay in the room to divert any questions to DS so he can switch off, and I let the conversation wash over me, with an occasional 'hmmmm, really, you don't say'. I can do that, even though it drives me bananas, and DS and I come out of the clinic and exhale in the car, but the 'hands-off' part irritates me too and I don't know how or if to address it.

So - AIBU to expect the chiropractor to keep his hands on / keep doing the therapy throughout the session (obviously with an exception of if he is consulting or directly explaining something treatment related)

And if I'm no unreasonable - how do I address it nicely, without changing to another practice?

Advice gratefully received!

40 mins for a chiropractic appt?? That seems way to long. I wouldn’t expect more than 20 mins for an appt. Hope he’s not ripping you off!

I have to say, the chiropractor I go to witters on all the time, but he keeps doing the treatment. I think it’s intended to take your mind off the treatment, although it isn’t painful.

My sessions are only twenty minutes though, so I can put up with the monologue. I don’t say much, mostly because I’m fa e down.

My osteo takes notes in my progress/any symptoms/issues for a few minutes at the start; then she does some into ap analysis of posture etc; before moving onto the treatment.

We generally chat throughout but I have been going to her for about a decade so we have a "history". But it is generally led by me and there have been times she has worked in complete silence apart from asking me to move etc.

Your guy sounds exhausting, even if it's coming from a good place. He may well be good, but how much of that chatterbox act detracts from the treatment? As in, you may well need to bite the bullet and ask him outright to be quiet.

I went to sessions that were only 15 minutes. She was a chatterbox too.

Hmmm.. we are on there for about 40 mins so assume that's the appointment time.

The treatment is good, seems relevant and is helping... . I just wonder how you tell a nice person to be quiet!!

@beelzeboob - no, it's £40 for each (child) session which I think is quite ok?

I really wouldn't advise taking a 15 year old with a back problem to a chiropractor. It's unusual for someone of that age to have back pain and I would urge you to see the GP and get it checked out properly.

40 mins is a normal season with every chiro/oesteo/sports massage I’ve ever had. Lots of talking also, it is meant to distract but if it bothers you, you should say.

Hi Dusty, it's an ongoing chronic bone & ligament condition which does benefit well from this treatment... DS's consultant has approved it so I'll happy with that aspect. Just the talking !

Yes I think they should, but my experience of a chiropractor was being charged a lot for a 20 min appointment, and they would spend 5 mins only re-aligning my pelvis then that was it.

I have a number of issues that are helped by chiropractic adjustments, and my appointments take as long as it takes her to do what needs to be done. There's always a head to toe check as part of the treatment and a certain amount of "set" work done, then more depending on what's needed on that visit.

I've known her since we were at the same school & we have various things in common so we do chat a lot, but I gather it's standard for distraction. She told me it was hard when she did her massage training, as for that they are supposed to keep quiet; even more difficult for her as she does a combined therapy with the chiropractic and massage working together for an area for some things.

I saw a rehab therapist for massage and Pilates and over a long time we got to know each other well. We’d have a chat during massage etc but gradually it became absurd. I’d go in and she’d start a wall of words and sometimes I’d have to interrupt and say, ‘sorry, can I just let you know about this symptom I’ve been having, can we work on that?’ And she’d say yes fine and then go back to her monologue.

I got fed up and felt it was time for a change. It’s easier to find someone new and state from the start that you prefer a quiet session in order to relax.

I get the notion that this person is too good to give up, which is why I put up with this so long, but of course there are other equally good practitioners. Ask around and try someone new and set boundaries from the start.

So I’m not qualified, but work along side physios and carry out a balance rehab clinic. I very much gauge the conversation on my patients. Some people like a good old chat, and some would rather just get on with it without too much conversation. I very much go with what seems right for that particular patient.

Some people really are talkers and I’ve had to usher a few of patients out of the room whilst still chatting down the corridor! But if I could tell my talking was making someone uncomfortable I’d recognise that and adjust accordingly.

I'm a physio and Bowen technique practitioner.
If you want a quiet treatment, go for Bowen, as we are meant to keep quiet during the hands on part so that the patient relaxes well.
No therapist is going to be hands on for the entire treatment time. Firstly, they need to write up their notes, and secondly, more is not necessarily needed or better.
If he gives you long appointments then it is probably because he chats for too long!
A good therapist will adjust their conversation style and quantity in response to their patient.
If it's helping, carry on. The chat is an added extra and is not meaning your DS gets incomplete treatment.

Meant to add - there are a couple of different schools of Chiropractic, and one definitely has a longer treatment time typically 40-45 mins and treat the entire body, the other shorter concentrating on one particular area and usually 15-20 mins max

My osteopath sees me for 45 minute treatments - there is a lot of chatter, we are both dog people and both on some of the same doggy facebook groups so lot to chatter about.

But the point of the chatter is to distract, without it, it would be WAY more painful!

My physio and I talk throughout, partly because we've known each other a long time, but also because it helps him to monitor how uncomfortable I am and how hard he can push it. It is a conversation though, never a monologue

Mine is pretty much silent through the treatment part and chats while she’s doing the bit at the beginning and on the way out when she takes me back to reception, which suits me perfectly. I couldn’t be doing with being talked at, I’d find it very draining.

I’d just find another therapist, I’m sure they’re all good at what they do and a 15 year old shouldn’t really feel he has to take his mum in with him.

I confess , my position is chiros and osteos are one or two rings above a snake oil salesman.
That declared , may I ask what your DS sons condition is and who diagnosed it?

My osteo is a Chatty Cathy too. 45 min appointments and talks the whole time, and sometimes takes her hands off to gesticulate. I’d never been previous to this month but she completely cured my pregnancy related hip/back issues. I hobbled in, in loads of pain, and left feeling right as rain. I was always skeptic all before but I’m so glad I didn’t bother waiting for the NHS to see to me!

YANBU though, it’s tiring. If I wasn’t off work I wouldn’t be able to tolerate it. It’s the reason I won’t go to the hairdressers. Incessant chat with a stranger is not relaxing.

I confess , my position is chiros and osteos are one or two rings above a snake oil salesman.

I went to mine (osteo) having suffered bear-daily debilitating tension headaches for years. A few sessions later they were resolved and have not come back. I now go quarterly as preventative, as I hunch over a computer all day and she pulls me back up straight again!

Just need to say, I absolutely think that the treatment
Is working and worthwhile - nothing like the PP who thinks osteos and chiropractors are conmen.