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.

@SpuriouserAndSpuriouser Thanks for the Link. I hadn't heard of Myles Power before but have just subscribed to his channel.

Its straight out quackery and dangerous at that. I've had numerous back problems and surgery. There was always at least one person on the wards that had been damaged or even paralyzed by chiros.
Quite often you need an mri to get a proper diagnosis and medics are reluctant to order them on cost and availability grounds.

Chiropractors are not real doctors.

My chiropractor is one of my favourite people. He reminds me of a very large puppy. All enthusiasm, dad jokes and bear hugs. Have never once felt unsafe with him and he has never crossed a line. They're not all creepy. That said, I did see another one while he was on holiday and the guy was just weird. Far too gentle, didn't get a single click, it was like he was afraid to use any force and it didn't help in the slightest. Kept stroking my back and trying to rock me on the table. Usual guy practically body slams me sometimes to do upper back as it doesn't go easily but I always come out feeling better and far less icked out than weird guy. Gentle isnt any help for me.

Go see a physio.

I have relatives and friends that obsessed with their chirps. Always off for ‘maintenance sessions’ when there was nothing wrong them them. It’s like they’ve joined some kind of cult and been brainwashed. Sounds like a great way to make money from the worried well to me.

My best friend's ex husband is a chiropractor. Calls himself 'Dr' even though he isn't one (nor has the academic credentials to back it up). He is a total ego maniac, and is controlling, narcissistic, abusive and manipulative. Now I KNOW that he is in the minority, and that this is no reason to judge all chiropractors. And I fully understand that every profession under the sun has its fair share of good and bad eggs. But knowing him as I do, it puts me off. He's not a perv, but a strange individual nevertheless.

Osteo = from the Greek word meaning bone. Osteopaths deal with your skeleton.

I'd go to see a female osteopath OP.

I’ve seen both osteos and chiros. The chiro didn’t really seem to do anything, the osteo genuinely sorted out my back pain and postural problems. I’d definitely see an osteo over a chiro.

I'd never see a chiropractor again.
He did the neck crack on me which felt fine at the time, but the next day I was in absolute agony!
I ended up on strong cocodamol for 2 weeks afterwards. One of the most painful experiences of my life.
It must have been muscular because my shoulder and neck were rock hard. I couldn't move my head without crying.

An osteopath can do neck manipulations as well.

But, as with all things, you can say 'I don't want it'.

The trouble with NHS physiotherapy is, as I've found out on multiple occasions, they can be working for a trust that has a policy of 'no touching', which, when you've got a problem that needs your muscles to relax, means you don't get any actual help other than a photocopied exercise sheet.

I had experience of this when in agony from a muscle in spasm - I was slowly twisting off the chair and trying not to cry as she was saying 'I'm sorry, I can't do anything because we're told not to touch anyone here'. In the end, she looked around and said 'please don't tell anybody', helped me into position and applied pressure to the trigger point/insertion point for a minute. The pain and spasm stopped instantly. Seeing as I'd had to wait nine months from referral to appointment, to have it stopped in 60 seconds, I wish I'd bitten the bullet and spent sixty quid on a session with an Osteopath when it first happened.

Definitely look for a female osteopath, take recommendations, and 'audition' them - do you feel comfortable? Do they seem dismissive or pushing woo on the side (Reiki, for example)? Alexander Technique isn't woo, so don't let that put you off, though - that's all about posture.

When it comes down to it, you can consent or not consent to anything, including when you're on the table. Ignoring your spidey sense (around men in this case) isn't going to help you get appropriate treatment - you need to know your boundaries and be confident that you can make them clear.