Chiropractor taking advantage?

[AmyW9]

A few weeks ago, DH had mild neck pain. Nothing major - he could still carry on mostly as normal.

He visited a chiropractor he's seen before, (£75), who immediately recommended a full body x-ray (£250).

DH diligently paid, to be told by chiropractor that he had various 'misalignments' and needed a (very specific) 18 sessions to fix it. He suggested DH set up a direct debit, which he did, and DH is now visiting said chiropractor twice a week.

Ultimately, it's DH's decision and his money to spend. But I can't help but feel the chiropractor is being an absolute CF?! I've never seen one - is this normal!?

For context, DH is of perfect health aside from the mildly stiff neck (which resolved itself after 48 hours).

Presuming your dh is a grown assed adult with full capacity… trust that your dh knows what’s good for him

Oh, absolutely. His body, his money. This is just to satisfy my curiosity.

I suppose the answer to your question ,is whether your DH is getting any benefit from these sessions @AmyW9

Same happened with my adult DS, he had neck pain so went to local chiropractor for an initial X-ray and consultation for £90. All good so far, nothing serious was found, but they recommended various treatments acupuncture, massage etc two visits per week, totalling over £1,000 (this was a couple of years ago), DS was totally taken in, but made sure he got every treatment going, he now knows they took him in, but when questioned they told him many people don’t realise the issue is ongoing, so they charge that to make sure you complete the course. He still goes there from time to time as it does benefit him, but he shoots them down straight away when they start their selling lectures. My DH has had back pain for many years, he gets by with a £60 back massage every 2 weeks, where he goes they’ve never recommended anything further.

Some chiropractors operate like this and it is totally taking advantage of people. A good chiropractor will address the issue you bring and stop treatment when you feel better, even an ongoing maintenance treatment would be maybe monthly.

Treatment regimes like you describe above are just a way for the chiropractor to make money!

Yeah, I’ve seen a chiropractor quite recently with an excellent rep, and he recommended an immediate course of six? And I thought that was excessive.

18 sounds like he’s either not good at his job or knows something that he’s not sharing - does your dh walk with a hump and neither of you noticed 😂

if he’s fine maybe suggest cancelling and maybe have a check in session every three months?

Sorry I should have added my own experience! My DS was suffering migraines, he was a child, and a chiropractor was recommended. The first one we went to said we had to agree to a programme of treatment like you describe and frankly we couldn’t afford it. Telling a friend she recommended a different chiropractor who said she would do the minimum treatments needed to see an improvement then it was up to us what level of maintenance we wanted. World of difference!

your curiosity about whether the specific chiropractor treating your husband is a CF?

Chiropractic is complete quackery. They charge for snake oil, of course they take advantage.

I'm gobsmacked at these people! I've been seeing my chiropractor for nearly 30 years - after the first 90 min long appointment during which I had lots of gentle manipulation to straighten up various parts of my skeleton, she recommended returning in 6 weeks for a follow up before saying let your body settle and come back if you have any problems. Since then I've seen her twice a year at most and haven't had back ache or other problems since.
She does have some clients who go every month or two for maintenance (My mother!) but its very much down to patient choice rather than being recommended by her.

I've been seeing mine for 3 years. Never ever been asked to do a course of treatments, xrays or direct debit.
CF for sure.

Of course it's your husband's choice, OP.
Having said that, ask any orthopaedic surgeon or physiotherapist and they will tell you to avoid chiropractors at all costs - as mentioned earlier in the thread, it is complete quackery, and can cause a lot of damage.

Look up Johnathan Buckelow. An extreme example but chiropractors can cause serious damage.

Can a chiropractor even read x-rays? Surely you need to be a radiologist for that.

Thank you all so much for the replies, I'm relieved my instinct isn't wrong on this one. Never having seen one, I had no idea if this is standard...

DH says he feels like his posture is better. That's about it... I'd personally have expected more for the best part of £2k...

He's "done a course", aparently.... 🙄

Chiropractors are 100% swindlers in my experience. Osteopaths are the way forward. They will actually treat the issue and not just charge you ££££ each week for fuck all.

There is very little evidence that osteopathy works, though it's not as clear cut as with chiropractic, which is proven beyond any doubt to be ineffective.

WORST chiropractors and osteopaths are the ones who want to set you up for multiple sessions!!! They do far more harm and you’ll end up with other things wrong that then need weekly or twice a week treatment!

go to an osteopath who only wants to treat the actual problem and this is usually 1-3 times in total MAX!!

Agree

This should be reported to GMC for illegal practice of medicine

He previously treated your DH… and your dh presumably thought highly of him?

I have vitality health insurance and I get chiropractor treatment included In the basic cover option ie not an extra. Not that I have used but point is… my health insurer prepared to pay for up to ten sessions

Chiropractors are all scammers. It's quackery and dangerous quackery in some cases.

No Dr would order a whole body xray. I lost faith in them when babysitting for a lady during medical school and the chiropractor was explaining the ct scan to her, but incorrectly identified the bones and the discs of the spine

They can read their own patients x-rays but not anyone else’s.