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Original poster

Do you believe in chiropractors?

23 replies

AWimbaWay · 26/09/2015 14:38

Do you think visiting a chiropractor helps with back problems? I don't personally believe in homoeopathy and am now wondering if this is of the same ilk?

I've just been to an appointment and can't help but feel the only way may back pain has been eased is by making my purse lighter to carry.

The chiropractor was recommended to me by two separate friends both of whom gushed about how amazing he was, so after being in a lot of pain for a week due to pulling a muscle in my lower back I decided anything was worth a try.

I was there for no more than 10 minutes tops, he asked what the problem was, asked me to lie face down on the examination couch, lightly prodded and rotated various parts of my back for a couple of minutes then after I'd handed over £40 sent me on my way.

I feel no different from before I went in and really can't see how anything he did could have had any effect. I feel duped.

So I was just wondering what other people's experiences are?

OP posts:

Pandora978 · 26/09/2015 17:16

I haven't used one myself but my dad has and it definitely helped him. His appointments never take long either - he was in agony with his back but couldn't work out what he'd done to it. The chiropractor took about 5 seconds to see he'd twisted or done something to one of the discs in his spine, thumped his back a bit to put it back in the place it should be and sent him on his way. He had a couple of follow-up appointments as well to make sure it was all okay.

It wasn't an instant cure, it took a good few weeks for my dad's back to go back to normal but he wasn't in constant pain all the time and now his back is fine.

NoArmaniNoPunani · 26/09/2015 17:19

A chiropractor did nothing for me but my osteopath is amazing. I'm definitely not a believer in woo.

DriverSurpriseMe · 26/09/2015 17:19

It's woo and proven not to work, just like homeopathy.

Bunbaker · 26/09/2015 17:22

I know chiropractors are a complementary health service, but I wouldn't class it in the same vein as homeopaths.

They use manual manipulation to resolve health issues rather than "fairy dust" and I found it helped with my shoulder pain.

juneau · 26/09/2015 17:24

I saw a chiropractor once when I was absolutely desperate with sciatica during my second pregnancy - he sent my back into spasm and I was in so much pain I actually fainted! Complete charlatan IMO.

Went to an osteopath after that and she was amazing - her manipulations and taping meant I could walk, sit, sleep and function reasonably normally. Before seeing her I'd been weeping in pain.

I am the least 'woo' person I know.

noblegiraffe · 26/09/2015 17:26

The evidence suggests no more effective than a good massage, and could be actively dangerous-spinal manipulation has caused serious injuries and even death so on the whole chiropractic is best avoided in favour of physiotherapy.

CiderwithBuda · 26/09/2015 17:31

I think like most things you can get good and bad.

I have had good experiences. With three different chiropractors.

So yes I believe.

SecretSquirrels · 26/09/2015 17:32

I tend to think you have to believe in it for it to work. Woo in other words. Made my tenosynovitis 10 times worse.

cashewnutty · 26/09/2015 17:34

I went to one wonderful chiropractor when i was in weeping agony with back pain and was about to go on a long haul flight. He sorted the problem within a week. I have been to a second chiropractor for a similar issue and he was terrible. The manipulations were nothing like those my first one did.

LisbethSalandersLaptop · 26/09/2015 17:40

I think that an awful lot of them are charlatans who will happily take your money and fill your mind with a lot of utter nonsense about boney throwouts and how you have to visit them once a week for the rest of your life! I know of one woman who was busy parting with her cash on a chiropractor's say so when actually she had cancer of the spine.
They are just after your money.
If you have backpain, visit an osteopath.

lighteningirl · 26/09/2015 17:45

My ex swears by them but like Lisbeth my friends bone cancer was undetected for months whilst they wrung every penny they could out of her

wankerchief · 26/09/2015 17:47

No they are peddlers of woo.

verystressedmum · 26/09/2015 17:51

I've been seeing a chiropractor and he's great. I've been to so many people who did nothing for my back problems and sciatica and charged a fortune.
My first appointment was one hour and he did lots of tests and then deep tissue massage and uses some kind of needles to release the muscle (or something like that) and it was £36. Now my appointments are about half hour or slightly longer and cost £28 which sounds expensive but I was in total agony and he has eased the pain so much. He doesn't do manipulation on me as he says my problems aren't caused by something that needs it and it could make it worse. It really depends on who you see. I went to see a 'back specialist' who just gave me a massage and charged me £50.

exLtEveDallas · 26/09/2015 17:52

Hmm, I'm in two minds. I saw one after a fall put my back out a couple of days before a skiing holiday. He did something that made my whole body jerk and there was a huge CLICK that scared the pants off me...no change after the first appt, but two more in the following days and I was OK to ski.

A few years later I had a series of appts with one after an accident and childbirth left me in almost constant agony with my back and there was no change at all - I mainline painkillers to this day.

So maybe an obvious and correctable injury can be fixed by one, but not something more ongoing.

LisbethSalandersLaptop · 26/09/2015 17:52

EveDallas - did you try an osteopath?

exLtEveDallas · 26/09/2015 18:06

No, TBH I didn't realise there was a difference . I wasted a lot of money on the chiro so didn't look any further...I have a glass back now and that means I cannot sleep for longer than 6 hours a night (I get up at 5am), have an ulcer courtesy of the painkillers (and I'm not allowed to have ibuprofen any more) and the only exercise I can do is swimming. It's pants.

LisbethSalandersLaptop · 26/09/2015 18:08

that sounds horrible.
I wonder if it is too late for an osteopath for you?
I have found them really useful over the years, while as I said, IMO chiropractors are mostly charlatans.

barkingfly · 26/09/2015 19:18

A physical therapist can do anything a chiro does and here they have actually had more years of training.

TheExMotherInLaw · 26/09/2015 19:39

It's important to go to someone who is properly qualified. I go to an excellent chiropracter, who is also a fully trained nurse. It's a matter of who you go to - like who you trust to work on your car. The person I see is part of a large team with varied specialities, and will refer to another member of the team if they think it more appropriate - physios, ostepath, chiro, sports massage. She quickly spotted the severity of my spinal injury and insisted I push for an MRI, saying my lower spine is too fragile for her to manipulate. If it hadn't been for her advice, I'd probably be paraplegic by now. She is very good at releasing 'stuck' bits in my neck, and at western acupuncture.
It is far less woo than swallowing a few tablets and hoping that'll make you better.

Original poster

AWimbaWay · 26/09/2015 21:16

Ooh replies, seems opinion is split fairly evenly. exLtEveDallas poor you, the thought of this being a long term issue isn't nice.

The man I saw is trained and seems well respected locally. When researching his name came up in local newspaper articles as a sports and remedial practitioner and Chiropractor having helped local sporting heroes. Also the two friends that recommended him couldn't sing his praises enough.

Personally I just don't think it works, I think I'd reached the point where I was so fed up with not sleeping due to the pain I was willing to try it, but if things do improve over the next few days I'm going to put it down to the fact it was probably about the time things would have eased anyway.

I wouldn't go again, but might look in to osteopaths.

OP posts:

trinity0097 · 28/09/2015 20:41

My chiropractor is amazing. About 40min spent on deep tissue massage first before correction. If my back goes I can barely walk and have to take diazepam to barely move, yet just one session gets me walking and another sorts me! I now go every school holidays to keep me straight and sorted.

Original poster

AWimbaWay · 29/09/2015 09:18

About 40min spent on deep tissue massage first before correction

Now that sounds fantastic trinity, unfortunately my experience was nothing like that, 5 minutes of light correction, no massage at all. I feel even more duped now. Good to hear there might be some better ones out there though.

OP posts:

Doje · 29/09/2015 09:28

I'm still in two minds. Used a chiropractor both times I've been pregnant. First time I had issues with my upper back and it definitely made a difference. This time, the problem is with my pelvis and whilst I'm definitely better than I was a month ago, I'm not sure if it's entirely due to the chiropractor. I've had chance to put my feet up (thanks to DH and my parents!) and I think that's made the bigger difference. No proof though.

Having read this thread I'd definitely look for an osteopath next time I have a problem though!

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