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Original poster

Can’t afford chiropractor

133 replies

21butterflies · 03/03/2022 10:45

Posted before, long story short am suffering from burnout and also a bad neck/shoulder due to a severely out of place first rib.

Hoping to take sick leave for 2 weeks due to both stress and my back.
Went to the chiropractor today and they showed me very bad x rays and said how often I would need treatment. The total came to £950.

I burst into tears in the middle of the office.

I feel like I’m desperate for this time off but I need good reasoning for my boss and I also feel like if I can’t get my back fixed in time then it’s pointless. I feel if I go down the GP route I’d have to wait a long time.
I can’t afford the chiropractor on normal terms; let alone if I take sick leave so now I’m even questioning that.

If I’m honest my life feels like a mess and I have no idea what direction to turn to. I’m currently in bed in tears and I’ve been taking it out on my poor DP too who even offered to help but no chance am I letting him!

What on Earth do I do ☹️

OP posts:
MissMaple82 · 03/03/2022 14:16

I posted on your previous post. I was quoted 750, 2 sessions per week fir 6 months. I couldn't afford it. I decided to do one session per week and pay per session. I managed 3/ 4 months worth of treatment, I had to cut back elsewhere, but it made the world of difference. They want you in regular but something is better than nothing. You really really do need to forget about work and take some time off

MrsDeadpool · 03/03/2022 14:16

@parietal

Chiroprac does not involve medical training and can be dangerous. There is no science behind it and you should not waste your money on it.

get a proper NHS physio, or a private physio. I paid £50 per session for private physio & it was worth every penny.

Agree with this 100%. Do not let someone without medical training diagnose and ‘treat’ a musculoskeletal-skeletal problem.
MissMaple82 · 03/03/2022 14:18

No, don't run for a mile. I have suffered back pain since early 00's and chiropractic treatment is the only thing that worked for me. I had a few, my suggestion is go with a man, I know it sounds sexist, but the women I went to just didn't have the strength. Pay per session amd see how you get on

incognitoforthisone · 03/03/2022 14:20

I would definitely go to a proper physio rather than a chiropractor.

Cocomarine · 03/03/2022 14:23

You’re in constant severe pain so bad that you can’t work, and you haven’t seen your GP yet? Why not?
Totally understand waiting lists and limited treatment would send you to a chiropractor privately too - but surely you also start the NHS process?

MissMaple82 · 03/03/2022 14:23

Please don't listen to half the crap on here! Go by the advice of people who have suffered years amd tried every pill and injection known to man, and experienced it. Doctors don't recommend it because it keeps them in business!. I cant recommend chiro enough and what you've been recommend is perfectly normal. You don't just get rid of back pain in a couple of sessions it takes time amd consistency.

Cocomarine · 03/03/2022 14:26

@MissMaple82

Please don't listen to half the crap on here! Go by the advice of people who have suffered years amd tried every pill and injection known to man, and experienced it. Doctors don't recommend it because it keeps them in business!. I cant recommend chiro enough and what you've been recommend is perfectly normal. You don't just get rid of back pain in a couple of sessions it takes time amd consistency.
What doctors are these who don’t want their patients cured, to “stay in business”? 🤣 You think our NHS doctors don’t have enough work on? Don’t be silly.

Chiropractors work for some, others physio, still others osteopaths. I’d seen multiple physios over the years about a pelvic issue that an osteo fixed in 6 sessions. I’m not against any of these professions. But it’s complete nonsense to say doctors think they steal their business Confused

Cocomarine · 03/03/2022 14:28

@MissMaple82 actually, I might owe you an apology BlushFlowers

Did you mean doctors do recommend it, because it works? And not because they (doctors) want to keep them (chiropractors) in business for nefarious reasons?!

My initial response might have been due to an ambiguous pronoun!

earsup · 03/03/2022 14:33

tried once...no good.....just did some tapping....osteopath much better....could you attend the school in london...very cheap sessions....since i got back to yoga no back issues since so aim for that when mobile again...not plilates...waste of time.

HitsAndMrs · 03/03/2022 15:03

This thread is mad.. I'm an NHS physio and reading about people who have paid to have their bones adjusted and electric shock treatment is crazy! Bones can not be adjusted, they don't come out of place on their own either- you would need significant trauma and if this was the case, you need an orthapedic surgeon, not a chiro who doesn't have any medical training.
Please don't waste your money on this shit. See an NHS physio who has the tools to refer you to consultants and can request scans.

Also do your research into evidence based treatments, look at NICE guidelines - electric shocks and chiropractors will not be on there.

countbackfromten · 03/03/2022 15:17

I am a doctor and @HitsAndMrs is absolutely right. Please see your GP and make a plan for evidence based treatment with a healthcare professional who isn’t charging you a lot of money for all those “treatment” sessions.

Toddlerteaplease · 03/03/2022 15:21

I'm puzzled as to how you can have an 'out of place rib' They are fixed in place!

GalaPie · 03/03/2022 15:35

I too have been scammed. £300 a month for a good few months until I came across pilates at a tenner a week, with some new friends thrown in.

steff13 · 03/03/2022 15:44

@Toddlerteaplease

I'm puzzled as to how you can have an 'out of place rib' They are fixed in place!
I thought that, too, but apparently there is something called "Slipping Rib Syndrome" where the ligaments that hold the ribs allow them to move a little more than is normal.

www.ucsfhealth.org/medical-tests/slipping-rib-syndrome

ChrissyPlummer · 03/03/2022 15:48

Trouble with NHS physio is that you’re only allowed 4 sessions. I have a bad shoulder injury, it was so painful I couldn’t hold a cup of tea. The NHS physio couldn’t do anything with me the first session as I was in too much pain. Still counted as 1 of my 4 though.

I then saw a chiropractor and the difference was incredible! I’ve also seen a private physio but it was more like a PT session. I’m now back with a chiro and getting there.

Rowgtfc72 · 03/03/2022 16:04

Dh sees a chiropractor every 6 weeks. It keeps him upright and mobile. Think he pays £39 a session. He's had a course of 4 nhs physio sessions and the chiropractor has told dh to get them when he can. There's a long waiting list. Even when dhs back was at its worst and he was practically immobile he only saw the chiropractor twice in one week, the second more to check the 1st session was still working. He's never had to pay upfront.

sashh · 04/03/2022 06:57

I thought that, too, but apparently there is something called "Slipping Rib Syndrome" where the ligaments that hold the ribs allow them to move a little more than is normal.

www.ucsfhealth.org/medical-tests/slipping-rib-syndrome

But that's the bottom 'false' ribs, they are not connected tot he sternum like the upper ribs.

And I'm not sure if this '4 sessions' with a physio is but it isn't everywhere, I see the physio who plans a treatment regime and I then go through that once a week with a physio assistant and then back to the physio.

Libertybear80 · 04/03/2022 06:59

Go to an osteopath and also sign up to simply health as you get 50% of fees back.

Secretname123 · 04/03/2022 07:50

This is my first Mumsnet post- I joined to reply to this thread as I had the same issue as you OP. Severe anxiety caused a displaced first rib, was told it was thoracic outlet syndrome. I had severe pain in my upper back and arms (at one point couldn’t even work my arms to feed myself). I wanted to share what I was told.
If you’re severely anxious you tend to breathe using your neck and this tightens the muscles and can pull on your first rib which then traps nerves or blood vessels in severe cases. Deep breathing with your diaphragm and dealing with anxiety with hypnotherapy and cbt actually helped the pain most. I did pay a fortune for regular massage with a physio too but in my experience a chiropractor moving the rib won’t help if you still have the tight neck muscles due to anxiety. In fact it was an osteopath which caused my issues in the first place. They apparently over manipulated my upper back which made everything loose (I’m probably hyper mobile) and this caused lots of issues for me.

ChrissyPlummer · 04/03/2022 08:38

@sashh At the time I was under NE Kent, 4 was all that was offered. I got given a few exercises to try in between appointments but I basically just got 3 massages. No mention of a plan or further treatment, just had my 4 and that was that!

ChristmasFluff · 04/03/2022 09:23

Please don't go to a chiropractor. Osteopath fine, physio fine, but please, at the very least watch this before you do. Not all chiropractors practice the adjustments he shows, but all chiropractic is based on pure fantasy and charlatanry and can be dangerous - just google 'death by spinal manipulation' - it's all chiropractors.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK91735/
"Numerous deaths have occurred after chiropractic manipulations. The risks of this treatment by far outweigh its benefit."

Chiropractic adjustments were also 'discovered' by a man who channelled the information from a dead doctor...

purplesequins · 04/03/2022 09:30

see a physio.
they are properly acredited and qualified.

even a private physio to get you started whilst you wait for nhs physio will be worth it.

good luck, I hope you feel better soon.

chiropractors are quacks.

OneTC · 04/03/2022 10:34

Everyone who's saying to go to an osteo cos it's sooo much better than a chiro need to read up on osteopathy. Many osteo practitioners will use elements of chiro and osteo in their treatment of patients, there's a big crossover in my experience. People think that cos you have to go to school to learn it that it's more legit but scientology is something you can spend years learning about too

jimmyhill · 04/03/2022 22:56

@zafferana

Chiropractors are charlatans - I wouldn't pay one a penny. Talk to your GP surgery and explain how desperate you are and ask them to recommend someone. If you're going to pay good money you want to be sure that you're getting proper treatment.
This!!!
Arghhconfused · 04/03/2022 23:22

Im not sure if it will be available but my local chiropractor offers cheaper deals on Groupon. £30 for assessment and 2 sessions, then deals after that