chiropractor - anyone used one ?

[throckenholt]

DH has had on/off back pain for months now - sometimes he can't move at all. I am trying to persuade him to go and see a chiropractor - he did ring up but balked a bit at the cost ! Problem is we don't actually know any one who has used one, so no-one has told him it is really worth doing.

Anyone out there think it is worth trying ?

it depends on what sort of back problem he has... he may be suited going to an osteopath.
an ongoing discussion at a forum i go to. the poster of this message seems very knowledgeable on the subject of backs... have a read and see what you think.

regards
rosie

thanks rosie - will have a wander over there.

I've used an osteopath on many occasions and it's been worth every penny. Admittedly, we have private health insurance so it didn't actually cost anything but I would gladly have forked out the cash.

I went to one when my neck locked, totally, I couldn't move my head at all and it was really painful. The chiropractor was FANTASTIC, explained to me what he would do, made sure I was happy and then 'cracked' my neck - instant movement and relief! He suggested that I went for an further two treatments but TBH I was completly cured and only went to one just in case.

It is lower back pain - seems to be agravated by sitting in one position for a while (particularly at work). He is very active in DIY but that never seems to bother it - it not like a muscle pull. At one point we thought it was from changing too many nappies on the floor, but have built a changing table now and still gets the problem. A few months ago he could hardly move for days (I had to take the mattress down stairs to the living room), now it seems to be a semi-constant background problem with flares up now and again.

We have three busy toddlers who don't understand why daddy won't pick them up sometimes. Also I find it hard to be sympathetic because it has been going on for months on and off, and it means I get to do all the childcare (mean I know ).

I am seeing one - £30 a fortnight, have been going for 5 months so has worked out very expensive.

They expected my problem to be corrected in 2 months - I am still having a lot of trouble. I am going to give it one more month. If it's sorted then it will be worth the hundreds I have spent, if not, I will just have to try something else...

Some people swear by them, but for me the jury's still out...

Not much help to you probably!

Go, go, go to the chiropractor -- at mine the usual fee for an intial apt is about £40, less for subsequent ones. It is likely to be the best-spent £40 for a long while.

A chiropractor will diagnose and correct very small misalignments that can have knock-on effects all over your body. I have used one for exactly the kind of lower back pain you describe, and it has made a real difference, both to the initial flare-up, and then to keeping it in line (I now go once a month for a check-up, usually just minor adjustments).

In combination with Pilates, which I also cannot recommend too highly, it has transformed my life. And this was after a very high-powered orthopaedic surgeon told me there was nothing to be done and I'd just have to live with it.

I used one some years ago as lower back problem was causing a lot of pain. Used a private chiro in Harley St called Antoni Jacubowski who was fab and sorted out the problem - can look up his details for you later. Saw him for about 3 months while at the same time I became aware of what would trigger it off. Realised that slumping in bed at night while reading meant it would flare up and also lying on my front.
I have now learnt to control the situation which means sitting properly and picking up things while supporting my back, bending knees, pulling in stomach, etc. I also have a massage every time the pain starts up which is about 3 to 4 times a year, maybe less.
Also, I did find with the chiro that I got to the stage where a click didn't help anymore. What did help was seeing the masseuse he recommended to loosen the tight muscles. He also recommended to put on an ice pack to reduce the inflammation.
Don't worry, by seeing a specialist and being educated on back health and posture, the pain can be sorted out and you can take steps to avoid putting pressure on lower back which aggrivates the problem.
Let me know if you want this chiro's tel number.

it is really useful to hear other peoples experiences - good and bad.

Regarding pilates - we have a video which I have tried to persuade DH to work through (with me if necessary !) - but being a man it is not his kind of thing . Will try suggesting it again though - it seemed that the whole idea of building up those central muscles would help.

Both myself and DH see a local Chiropractor (Scotland so probably not much use to you). I have found it very helpful and would recommend that your DH attends. He has more or less sorted a problem I was having with my lower back (according to him what I am now left with is a bit of athritis around about some scar tissue left by my pelvis being twisted after the birth of DS2 and me doing nothing about it for 15 months). Roughly about the same time I started to see him I suffered an injury to my neck and he is sorting both of these problems out, presently I am still seeing him every six weeks which is proving expensive but hopefully that will drop to every six months soon. One thing he did say was even if you are visiting a Chiroptractor for maintenance every six months if you don't do the stretches he/she recommends then you would be as well not to bother. Unfortunately everytime I try to do the recommended stretches either DS1 or 2 jumps on me.

All the best!

Yes I would recommend he tries it. My dh had lower back pain for years, but once he started to see the chiropractor it eased very soon. he had weekly appointments for a couple of months, then monthly, now 2 or 3 vists a year, unless he gets any prob (like when he built a wall in our garden, lugged all the materials about, needed 2 extra visits after)

Our chiro also helps me when I get stress pains in my neck/shoulders.

We have recommended our to lots of people, who always seem very satisfied, in fact we joke that George should have a sign that says "Chiropractor, miracles performed"

I visited one after I had DS1 because I was in quite a lot of pain. Tbh I wasn't overly convinced by it but I did see a different one once and she was excellent. I actually had more joy from a physio that my GP referred me to (and it was free!)but I guess my experience is different from everyone else who has posted here!

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thanks everyone. DH is seeing the doctor on Monday - keeping the pain under control at the moment with ibuprofen. He had seen the doctor once before but it was when it was an acute problem - was just prescribed the normal pain killers etc. Now it has become a chronic problem that looks like it needs help.

I will pass all your comments on to him.

Also recommend chiropractor - I had to have probably 8-10 treatments to cure an imbalanced pelvis (caused by pregnancy). Although costly, it has really worked (touching wood!) and haven't had a recurrence for nearly a year now. Tell your dh to be prepared for it to get worse before it gets better (ime) and also to expect bruises!!