Who goes to a chiropractor and do you go on a regular basis ??
Im having Back and shoulder problems

What do you have done. Do you let them crack your neck ?
Did u need xrays first or just make a appointment and they treat you ?

 

There's good ones and there's bad ones. I went through some issues about 5 years ago. Found a few bad ones, then finally found a good one who relieved the pain and restored my mobility without excessive wrenching or 'three times a week' suck-your-money-away scheduling.

In hindsight I can see that stress and mental attitude were much bigger factors than I was able to admit at the time.

 

When I went it started with an x-ray to see how your back is aligned. When I started the treatments, they were like 2x a week for 2 or 3 weeks, then once a week for a few weeks, then twice a month.
They began by having me lie on this cool bed that had a roller inside it. It would roll up and down your back, kinda getting you tenderized while waiting for the doctor. Then they added these electrodes to my lower back which is where I was having trouble and introduced a low level electrical current. Strange feeling to say the least. After about 20 minutes of tenderizing and electrocution (not to mention the scented candles, low lights, and soothing music ) they poured me onto the work table and worked me over.
This doctor would crack everything from my tailbone up to my neck. I always found letting him crack my neck difficult. He always began with "Now just relax...", then whamo.
I stood straighter when I left, though.

 

I've been seeing DR. Mario once a month for as long as i can remember

first time i ever went('89) he along with mrs zap had to carry me in there
i could not move
3 hrs later i was playing hockey against doctors orders


he x-rayed my back once
never uses any electronic stimulation
he has this "dial indicator" he runs up your spine and it tells him what is out and where..
just the standard crack here and there on a hard couch
and then to the thing you stand on that tilts to a horizontal
thingamajig and then the streaching begins
couple of neck cracks here and there and you as good as new "just take it easy tonite" he says

when i was playing hockey all the time..mondays at 5:30 p.m. was my time
and for 25$ a whack its not a bad deal compared with some of the prices i hear from friends

sometimes the "old fashioned" way is still the BEST way

take it from a "old fart"

...zap!

 

Went to one for a while, then went to a real doctor and had surgery. The real doctor worked, the back cracker didnt. The chiro took x-rays and everything, said "All you need are a few adjustments". In truth, I had completely blown out a disk. But hey, I guess you dont get to be the biggest chiro in Western New York but turning away clients.

Id say give it a shot, but if you arent feeling any relief after 3 trips, see a real doctor.

 

I agree that it depends on what's wrong with your back. I've been a regular chiropractic patient for nearly 20 yrs. They were the only thing that kept me working. I'd do ok for several months, then POWIE! I'd throw it out again, and be back on the table. Finally, I really did it, and blew 3 disks, so while the chiro still helps with some problems, those he avoids, becausee he knows he can't help them, and COULD hurt them. A GOOD cracker will x-ray you before he begins any treatments, then use a combination of adjustments, muscle-stim, (mild electro-shock) and ultrasound to help get ya better. Most MD's will tell you to avoid them, and just give you drugs (why not?) and maybe some physical therapy. Those will help too, but, I prefer not having to take the stupid pills. I get stupid enough on my own, no chemical help needed...

 

I'd strongly advise you to go see your regular doctor, get x-rays and then go see an orthopedic surgeon who may then have you get an MRI. Nothing against chiropractors, but they can do MORE damage than good sometimes. I know the one I was seeing last summer would still be scheduling me to come in 3x a week if he had his wishes (I had a severe herniated disc in my neck). I lasted 2 weeks at the chiropractor with no lasting results whatsoever - what finally took care of it was 8 weeks of PT 3 times a week for an hour each time. NO problems since.... Good luck!

 

My parents took me to a chiropractor when I was a kid for relief of my asthma. He took the credit, but I think I just outgrew the asthma. He had me going twice a week forever, once a week forever and a day, and every other week after that. The guy took x-rays and everything but he was a quack. Then when I was 16 I was in a car wreck and had really bad neck pain. I went to a different Chiropractor, an old timer. He cracked my neck and it felt better - I went back one more time and that was it.

Just a few months ago I woke up with a pinched nerve in my shoulder. I was in so much pain I couldn't take a deep breath. I went to the emergency room where the doctor gave me a shot of pain medication. She then whispered to me "You need to go to a chiropractor". I guess she wasn't allowed to refer me to one. I went to a no-frills, no non-sense chiropractor - you pay cash, no insurance accepted. He cracked my back and relieved the pain from the pinched nerve AND fixed an aggravating lower back problem that I had for a couple of years after a fall on some ice. I went back in a couple of days for a follow up and that was it.

For me, I have found that the chiropractors that have the big fancy offices and advertise a lot are the ones that keep you coming back over and over again for nothing.

 

I never knew there were so many methods. Our family physician will adjust unless it's to bad then he says go to a chiro. I go straight to my chiro when I hurt. He only has to do one adjustment and I'm good ussually for a year or more. Went about a month ago after a knee boarding accident and that was the first time that I'd been in 3 years. My chiro (I call him Doc) he does not want you to come back, he tries to fix you the first time. "ussually does".

I went to several quacks before I found him. Some I felt like a lab rat or like they were using sci fi looking equipment that I felt was probably just a box with wires wadded up in it and some lights' ***** and gauges. (ALA Stage props or Quack equipment) Like they were trying to pshyce me out. It's not all in my head, even if it were then it takes more than gadgets to make me "think" that your actually doing anything constuctive to help.

 

www.chirobase.org

-Fatz