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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Chiropractor taking me for a ride...

92 replies

Lalaland01 · 29/03/2022 17:51

I've never been to one so I don't know what to expect. I've been having a relatively mild but annoying pain on my right side of my lower back. I decided to go see a chiropractor (good reviews on Google) to sort it out before it gets worse.

First appointment he said my pelvis was a bit "lopsided", he stretched my legs and said one was longer than the other one. He made me lie facing down on this table, he raised the table a bit and then dropped it down. He did this twice and said that had fixed it (?). He then did like 5 min with this ultrasound. That was it.

Went again yesterday and he just placed two wooden blocks behind my pelvis (this time me facing up), pulled my arms up and then again the ultrasound bit for 5 min but he did it on the other side of where my pain is (!). The appointment lasted 15 min tops.

Has anyone else been to the chiropractor??? Is this normal? I feel like he is taking me for a ride but maybe this is normal?

OP posts:

londonrach · 30/03/2022 20:23

I didn't think they were registered so if calling themselves as such yes they are ..have you tried a physiotherapist x

AnastasiaRomanov · 30/03/2022 20:32

I’m amazed that people think a chiropractor is little more than a quack with no proper training. This is rubbish.

Nocaloriesinchocolate · 30/03/2022 20:37

Mine is wonderful and really helps my back. I go every 8 weeks but had to cancel the last one as I tested positive for Covid. IT will have been 10 weeks by the time I next go and my goodness vey back knows it

Dessicator · 30/03/2022 20:45

I went to a private physio with pains in my foot. They treated it with ultrasound over a few sessions, I asked if she inserts would help and was told no, ultrasound and kinesiology tape was the answer. After seeing an orthopaedic surgeon for something else and mentioning my issues it turned out their treatment was useless.
Inserts and posture physio was the answer.

SockQueen · 30/03/2022 20:45

I knew before opening this thread that OP would have been told that had a twisted pelvis and one leg longer than the other. Seems to be the default chiropractor diagnosis.

Laiste · 30/03/2022 21:20

OP your description of your experience is enough to tell anyone that you've been to see a rip off merchant.

We had to sort out a chiro or osteo for DHs awful 'back' injury last month. He was virtually crippled and we no idea where to start. (GP didn't even examine him, just prescribed codeine and waved him off).

When we googled it the difference between osteos and chiros was said to be to do with x-ray training

Anyway - so you can compare to your own experience - DH found an osteo with good reviews. First appt. - after 55 mins (we only paid for 40) of intense and careful manipulation and hundreds of questions it turns out DH has a grade 2 hamstring injury (in 3 places) not a slipped disc at all. Completely different with regards to treatment.

DH has seen him twice more and although is still not completely healed he is improving greatly due to the correct diagnosis and correct exercises. The osteo himself suggested that 3 appts. with him was enough unless DH really felt the need for more.

Rantypanties · 30/03/2022 21:23

You should follow Adam Meakins the sports physio on insta/Twitter- he’s very blunt but if it helps people stop seeing quacks like you have then I’m all for it!!!

WiddlinDiddlin · 31/03/2022 03:22

@Duchess379 Yeah, I did say that...

I would expect any of them to have a decent understanding of where all the nerves are and how to attempt releasing trapped nerves - if you have a bad one, releasing it can feel like total magic!

But there's a degree of luck there too, presumably you'd done something unusual for it to happen, so it hasn't reoccurred - I could have mine released and they'd be trapped again within days, because chiros do nothing to address the why, just treat the symptom!

The one I saw took next to no history and didn't know I have a connective tissue disorder, which does mean I trap nerves, subluxate joints etc, pretty frequently.

He was more than happy to untrap things once a fortnight.. and never told me how to avoid them being trapped in the first place. My osteopath has, as has my physio (and they work together, private and NHS actually working together. NHS won't work with chiro's by the way.. which should speak volumes!).

Obiwankenobe · 31/03/2022 03:44

Chiropractors and osteopaths are complete charlatans. They are in the category of, some people find relief from them, but there isn’t a medical explanation and to why hanging your feet off the bed or whatever ridiculous thing they ask you to do should give you any relief at all. I’m of the opinion, if it works for you great for you, and great for the chiropractors pocket, but if it was me or my family I’d want them to be seen by a chartered physio

sashh · 31/03/2022 03:57

[quote Blueroses99]@jimmyhill It works for me. How is that a placebo effect? I’ve had less back pain in the last 10 years since seeing a chiro than I have since adolescence. I have scoliosis and have had to live with pain for decades. I’ve had a lot of useless treatments over the years and I’m finally relieved to have something that actually makes the pain stop.[/quote]
That's exactly how the placebo effect works.

The more time taken to 'treat' you the better the effect.

Injections of saline work better than pills.

Everyone has one leg shorter than the other. The difference in my legs makes physios think I have a mild curvature of the spine until they lie me down.

Ask your GP to refer you to a physio or find one privately.

Oh and acupuncture, my GP does mine.

lighterskies · 31/03/2022 04:07

DS had a few sessions with one for curvature of the spine, until I researched and realized it was total nonsense.
He now sees a physical therapist, he is working on building core muscles to help support his body.
Much more sensible even if it is more work for him.

ThinWomansBrain · 31/03/2022 04:08

I have an amazing chiropracter, who also does accupuncture.
I've been seeing him for around 30 years - typically have a problem, he solves it in a single visit, then I don't need to see him for 3 years or so, so I'm not exactly his best client.
yours sounds a bit shit.
DM me if your in the London/Bucks area -can give you his details

Weewillywinkle · 31/03/2022 09:01

Self refer to an NHS physiotherapist or find a private physiotherapist.

Nhs and private have the same training at degree level. Training post graduate varies widely on the individual therapist. Many NHS physios are limited to a certain amount of sessions (usually a max of 6) and therefore will give you the skills to self manage.

Private physiotherapists are not limited by sessions ( if you are self funding) so you may be more likely to have hands on treatment like mobilisation, eelectrotherapy etc rather than purely exercises to self manage.

I personally wouldn't use a chiropractor or osteopath.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 31/03/2022 09:05

I'm pushing into the quack category as she uses acupuncture as part of the treatment
Acupuncture is used in the NHS.

I’ve spent a fortune on chiros and oesteopaths. None of them worked. I stick with physio.

MrOllivander · 31/03/2022 09:08

I saw a private physio. She did a couple of sessions, watched me walk in and then refused to take any more money or treat me until I had an MRI because she felt something was very wrong
That was the March, I had 5hrs of spinal surgery in May. I sent her flowers for spotting my back was really not right!

Okbutnotgreat · 31/03/2022 09:22

I think like everything some are amazing and some are a waste of time but I feel the same about GP’s and physio’s having seen many over the years. My chiropractor has fixed issues that I’ve had for 20+ years in one or two appts that several GP’s and physio’s have told me were inexplicable or just something I’d have to put up with.

Motherdare · 31/03/2022 09:59

There are some incredibly narrow-minded posters on this thread. I’ve never heard anyone insinuate chiropractors are swindlers and quacks - that’s outrageous. Twice I’ve been under the care of one and both times they sorted out ongoing back issues within a few appointments and improved my quality of life. They were both well-educated and qualified. One of them travels with Team GB to the Olympics.

You may have found a poor one OP, but I think inciting posters to slag off an entire profession based on your experience is very unfair.

darlingdodo · 31/03/2022 10:10

Was completely floored by lower back pain several years ago to the extent that I could sit or stand, nothing else. And getting from sitting to standing was excruciating. Osteopath and sports physio were useless. Chiropractor fixed the problem in one visit. Maybe it depends on the chiropractor?

Evenstar · 31/03/2022 10:24

I have a wonderful chiropractor, I have an adjustment 3 times a year normally but if I have any bad pain an appointment gets me back on my feet straight away. I have been seeing her for 12 years and she helped me enormously with whiplash after an accident.

My GP’s during that time have approved of me getting treatment and encouraged me to continue. I used to get extremely bad episodes of back pain which would go on for several weeks and that doesn’t happen now.

sashh · 31/03/2022 11:18

There are some incredibly narrow-minded posters on this thread. I’ve never heard anyone insinuate chiropractors are swindlers and quacks - that’s outrageous.

No it isn't.

Claiming a dead Dr told you how to move joints to cure deafness - that's outrageous.

Allergictoironing · 31/03/2022 11:21

As others have said, very much depends on the individual chiro/osteo/physio.

I DO definitely have one leg shorter than the other, due to a bad accident when I was 20 - this has been measured by more than one healthcare professional e.g. doctors, physios, orthotics guys. However due to NHS ignoring any problems for years, I'd adjusted to it so well that many flatly refused to believe me until they measured it for themselves.

Over the years I have seen good Osteopaths and some very bad ones. I had a brilliant Chiro and luckily found another (with some trial and error) when she retired. The good ones have all taken the time to do a very detailed medical history, and have shown me exercises etc to do at home. There are 2 main schools of chiropractic, and I have seen good and bad from both schools.

I've also seen a few physios through the NHS over the years, some of whom have been OK but a few have been dreadful. I think the worst was the one who asked me "well what do you expect at your age?" when I was just tuned 50! My concern at the time was that I'd gone from a keen hill walker (typically 10-15 miles a day) and a professional (well trained) sports massage therapist to someone who was in constant pain in the space of 2-3 years.

I have had acupuncture from two (as well as from a previous GP), and others tell me they don't do that on the NHS as it's woo. Apparently massage isn't part of the physio's remit on the NHS either, despite it being an essential part of the private physios armoury. I've had one who told me my back pain was "all in the mind", despite MRI scans showing the arthritis in my spine, the 2 prolapsed discs and the vertebra out of place.

So to reiterate - very much down to the individual practitioner!

ArmWrestlingWithChasNDave · 31/03/2022 11:28

As others have said, very much depends on the individual chiro/osteo/physio.

I DO definitely have one leg shorter than the other, due to a bad accident when I was 20

Almost everybody has one leg shorter than the other. It isn't a problem.

Every single chiropractor is a quack. It is not medicine.

JesusSufferingFuck22 · 31/03/2022 11:41

I don't see a chiropractor anymore because I had a recurring csf leak caused by a lumbar puncture. Any spinal manipulation was NOT recommended!
I had gone for years. They sorted out a neck and shoulder thingy that flared up regularly. I was practically immobilised by it. I had deep tissue massage, massage, ultrasound(which I don't think works,) some sort of tens type thing, some suction type thing, western acupuncture and manipulation of joints...not all at the one appointment. Appointments were 30-45 mins. I went every 6-8 weeks as I did a physical job and this kept me moving.

Since then I do stretches (shown to me by chiropractor) plus exercise from physio and from nhs website (eConsult.)
I don't physically feel much different though could maybe benefit from a massage every now and then. It's too expensive nowadays though!

So yes, some chiropractors are really good but I think some of what they do is unnecessary and in my case dangerous. They couldn't tell me if it was ok to get an adjustment after my csf leak had sealed. I went back a couple of times and they modified my treatment. They used a clicky ball thingy. I've not been back for years.

Allergictoironing · 31/03/2022 12:41

Almost everybody has one leg shorter than the other. It isn't a problem.

Whether it's a problem or not is a matter of degree, look up LLD on the internet. Mine is just over the 2cm mark, which is recognised as causing the pelvis to compensate, leading to pain in the back, knee, hip and ankle, & tiredness. Almost 30 years of living with this without any treatment, like shoe lifts, has caused permanent damage to my lower back - as diagnosed by my GP and consultant.

So don't tell me it isn't a problem!

Blueroses99 · 31/03/2022 13:29

That's exactly how the placebo effect works. The more time taken to 'treat' you the better the effect. Injections of saline work better than pills.

I can’t believe how rude you are being, like I can’t tell the difference between pain and no pain or between being able to move any neck 30 degrees or 60 degrees. If I was so gullible, why didn’t physio have the same effect? Or any of the other treatments that I’ve had for over 30 years? Why it is only chiropractic treatment that makes me feel better if it’s a placebo effect?

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