Chiropractor experience ….

[cymraes12]

Hi all, would be really grateful for some thoughts from those who have seen a chiropractor in the past, or indeed are chiropractors!

I have what I think may be a frozen shoulder, so started seeing a chiropractor just over a month ago. Her initial assessment was that my spine isn’t straight and neither is my pelvis, so booked me in for a course of 12 adjustments which have focused mostly on cracking my neck and making adjustments to my lower back. The appointments are only ever a few minutes long and there is never any discussion about how I’m feeling as there is always another patient with an appointment time within 10 minutes of mine who needs to be seen. After the first few sessions, I’ve seen no improvement in my shoulder, only worsening symptoms - the movement is now more restricted and the pain is radiating down my arm into my hand - and when I’ve mentioned this, the chiropractor just says I can’t expect to see progress at this stage and I am likely going to need 24+ appointments.

I had an appointment on Friday and went away with a new neck pain I didn’t have before, bad enough that I cancelled plans over the weekend as I couldn’t sleep comfortably and couldn’t move my head at all. I went back yesterday and explained to my chiropractor that I’d been in a lot of pain and this was new - she said that her assessment shows there has always been a problem with my neck but ‘your body just hasn’t communicated it to you until now.’ Yesterday evening, the pain was so bad that my DH wanted to take me to A&E and I’ve had to call in sick to work today. Bear in mind that the reason for my seeing a chiropractor in the first place was my shoulder, and not my neck, but I now have agonising neck pain. Last night, the chiropractor sent me a list of new exercises she wants me to start doing at home, but these are mostly things I cannot get my shoulder into the right position to do (I have no backwards/overhead movement but they are things like extending my arms up a wall) so I feel there is no acknowledgment of what my actual symptoms are.

I am next supposed to see the chiropractor on Friday and have just cancelled that appointment, using work as the excuse, as I can’t bear the thought of another weekend of agony. DH is saying he thinks I should cancel the rest of the course of treatment and I’m really not sure what’s best to do - would really welcome some views from those with more experience of whether having a new, very severe pain is normal at this stage of chiropractic treatment or whether this is a red flag? Thanks so much in advance.

Please Google what can go wrong with having this done.
They are not doctors.

I would never go to a chiropractor. They are unregulated quacks, and often do more damage than you went in with.

No more neck adjustments and I would get it imaged as it could be a disc problem.

This doesn’t sound good and I wouldn’t return as they’ve caused more pain and aren’t interested in hearing feedback and working with you.

ESPECIALLY do not let her touch your neck again.

I have worked in health care, come from a long line of health care professionals, from carers to surgeons - not a single one will allow a chiropractor within touching distance, and my kids have been warned to never let anyone ‘adjust’ them. I’m so sorry OP, I think she has caused you more harm, and you should be escalating this to see an orthopaedic specialist asap

So from a different opinion- I have seen a chiropractor (on the advice of my GP at the time who said he could not help) re a back issue, Sounds similar to you - I had managed to realigned my hips, twisted something higher up, and later I discovered, inflamed my L5 nerve. I could barely walk, drive and was in a lot of pain.

The chiro could tell in a instant what was wrong - expressed surprise I could even get up a short set of stairs (was not easy) but had me fixed in 2 sessions. After the first session the lower pain was more focused rather than spread but eased after a couple of days. The ice packs on the lower back helped The next one fixed everything completely. Each appointment was only 20 mins long but were enough to make a big positive difference. I still managed to go on a cycle holiday the next week. I was asked each time how I was and what was wrong.

So if you do go back to a chiropractor choose a different one. That one is just messing about, seems to be talking utter rubbish, and bleeding you dry. Otherwise maybe try an osteopath.

Osteopaths aren't doctors either.

I have frozen shoulder. I went to my GP. They referred me for physio. I then had a steroid injection and on Monday am having hydrodilation. I wouldn't use a chiropractor solely for FS.

Ps...the exercises shes given you ..arm up the wall etc are very typical for frozen shoulder.

Please don’t go back. Having your neck cracked is so bloody dangerous.

I started physio a few years ago. I finally started seeing physical results last year! But a big mental lift came after a pain management programme and yoga / tai chi via my NHS GP.

The chiropractor sounds dangerous tbh, OP. You may need urgent care.

For God's sake don't go back.

Use the money to see an orthopaedic consultant privately.

This is what I did the physio didn’t really help, the exercises did help a little I was in total agony had virtually no movement in my left arm the first steroid injection relieved some of the pain & regained some movement the second steroid injection three months later made a huge improvement see your GP & I really wouldn’t see the chiropractor again.

Thanks everyone, really appreciate all the replies and the reassurance that this level of pain isn’t a normal part of chiropractic treatment! Think I will see the GP next and go from there - my plan was always to see the GP if the chiropractic treatment didn’t help, but wanted to try and do something to help myself without the need for a GP appointment given how difficult it is to get one!

Thanks, I do realise this from some googling, problem is that I told the chiropractor just yesterday that my shoulder movement is now restricted to the point where I can’t get my arm above elbow height and her email including the exercises says ‘there is nothing here that you can’t start doing now with your current level of mobility’ so it just reinforces that I feel I’m not really being listened to.

Never let a chiropractor crack your neck!
Google what can happen.
They are quacks.
See a qualified physiotherapist.

Apart from everything else, she doesn’t sound remotely interested in how you are doing. Don’t answer if you’d prefer not to, but I was wondering how much each 10 mins session costs?

Frozen shoulder is really serious, and can be permanent if you’re not careful. Have you been seen at all? Because it absolutely warrants being seen by your GP with a view to getting in to see your nearest orthopaedic team. If you have private insurance/can afford it, I’d go private. So sorry, I can imagine the pain is awful and debilitating. Good luck!

A chiropractor fixed my back and I would always recommend them to anyone for sciatic pain. The sessions themselves weren't comfy but I never had increased pain afterwards.

I see a chiropractor regularly who uses a variety of techniques including massage and acupuncture. It has helped me enormously and made my body stronger and more able to exercise

Having said all that, i would not go back to that chiropractor. She doesn't sound like she knows what she is doing or is poorly trained. All professionals can be good or bad at their job, she sounds terrible.

I’m a physio OP. Please do not use a chiropractor. I don’t know of a singular physio/doctor/nurse/surgeon etc who would go near one. It is an unregulated profession and their practise is not evidence based - it is mostly made up of quackery and dangerous manoeuvres. I once saw a patient who had been paralysed after a cervical spine (neck) manipulation from a chiropractor and I will never forget it.

This doesn t sound good
Why don t you see a private physio for appropriate shoulder movement/ exercise.

Yes, the lack of interest is as worrying to me as the neck pain … I don’t mind sharing the cost at all, I paid £60 for an initial consultation and assessment (that was a longer appointment lasting about 30 minutes) and have since paid £34 for each adjustment.

I have a bone disease and I wouldnt touch an osteopath or a chiropractor with a ten foot pole!

I have had a few different issues fixed in one or two sessions by a good chiropractor. A proper session to analyse the problem and provide treatment should be between 30-60 minutes.

Any chiropractor booking you in for 12 sessions of a few minutes a time is only trying to maximise their profit.

Osteopathy is generally much more gentle. I have a connective tissue disorder and have had great relief from the associated muscle pain from the right osteopaths who know about hypermobility and are mostly just working on the muscles to rid them of the tension. None of the osteopaths I've seen have ever tried adjustments and the one I see now is more like a physio, she's fantastic. But no, I wouldn't touch a chiroparactor with someone else's bargepole.

Please, especially don't go to a chriopractor if you're hypermobile. One misplaced neck adjustment with cervical hypermobility could dislocate your neck and that's it, game over.