dent       03-12-2008, 10:59 am

My lower two vertabrea are out of alignment do to a nasty car accident. I went to a chiropractor for about 2 years straight and I felt like a million bucks. I guess as the muscles tighten around the bones, they can't straighten out, so the doctor would massage the muscles, then move the bones, which would last for a week, until the doc reset them.

I stopped going due to laziness and shitty insurance. Now my back is pretty bad and has been the cause of a few buckling leg incidents, once when I was holding my 1 year old. I absolutely believe the Chiro is good for certain cases.

SexNinja       03-12-2008, 01:01 pm

dent> so the doctor would massage my muscled boner,

dent       03-12-2008, 02:11 pm

Sexninja> so I totally want to be your chiropractor, dent!

truenative       03-12-2008, 06:48 pm

I have had on and off lower back trouble since I was 18. I was on a ladder WITH a Chainsaw trimming a tree and with my knees braced on the ladder I leaned out and to the side with the saw to reach some branches and all of a sudden my back sez Fah-Q! I had to drop the running chainsaw, (luckily not hitting myself or my Father below) and slide down to the ground in a painful ball of suck. The incident had me confined to the living room floor and crawling in great pain to the bathroom. I couldnt' get into my bed by myself or even put on a pair of shorts without help. I went to the doctor who gave me pain meds but then went to a Chiro who was a friend of the family and he really saved my ass. One adjustment got me from crawling to at least moving on my feet using a wheeled chair as sort of a walker. The Same guy also put my shoulder back into socket after a fall from a sabotaged Zip Line between a couple of trees when the hospital gave me some anti-inflammatory pills and said they would be able to put it in the next morning. To provide some instant relief like this I think Chiros are great. As for an ongoing treatment program - Bupkis!!

I've also had the opportunity to go to a Chiro for an ongoing treatment program through two different accidents. This is where there is a real divergence from helpful relief to a burden on your personal life and exploitation of the Insurance system. Perhaps you have a good honest chiro and this won't apply to you but in my general experience with 3 or more Offices you better watch the bills and don't consent or sign off to anything that doesn't quite make sense to you. Granted the actual hands on adjustment at least feels good and often gives some if temporary relief but Pretty much everything else in that office is a way to rook money out of you or your insurance. Take the 'Electric Stimulation Therapy' for instance, didn't we all laugh off these infomercial ads in the 90s? Why the Hell can a Chiro Charge like $220 to slap these things on your back for 20 min. Not to mention the $100 for the Roller Table or Neck Stretcher Etc Etc Etc. Then to Top it off Most I've Seen then Have some sort of Multi-Level Marketing Nutritional Supplements to pitch to you on your way out. I'd also be wary of any actual medical diagnosis they may make. I've gone in for Full MRIs to debunk of some flim flam a Chiro and his 1970's X-Ray machine gave me. Also a different "highly recommended" Chiro Doc told my GF she had had a Stroke!! It took me two weeks and two different competent doctors to put that fire out. (She didn't really have a stroke - Duh!).

Basically for Short term relief to get you out of a Jam an adjustment may be the ticket but I would be really cautious about spending the time and money to commute to a reoccurring appointment. If you do decide to go once a week or two see if they have a massage service, many insurance companies cover this sort of 'Soft Tissue Therapy' and an hour massage and an adjustment for a $35 co-pay is a bargain. If you are actually worried about your spine I would really have a full MRI done and looked at by a spinal specialist. I've not mainly figured out how to stretch my back to get the crack I need to take the pressure off my back when I can tell its getting bad.

Also note: Never Ever Go to a Chiropractor for a diagnosis that will be involved in Legal Action!!!111 If you are in an accident (I was hit by a drunk drive while in a Cab!) and think you may need to pursue legal action do NOT go the a Chiro first. Go to a Real Dr, best you can find in fact. Have them do all your x-rays, MRI, Etc. Then Have them do your final disability rating if applicable. The simple fact of the matter is that Chiropractors opinions do not stand up in court. All they are really in it for is to get enough of a settlement to pay their bogus bills. If you need Relief thats one thing but be careful who you trust your spine to, its the only one You've got.

Best of Luck man, there is little worse than serious back pain. Be careful of the meds. They are just too easy to become dependent on for many people. Just because a DR gives them to you doesn't mean they aren't hard on your body.

wrecker       03-12-2008, 07:03 pm

I hear you about the meds. People rave about Vicodin, but I hate that shit. All it does is put me to sleep and (like NyQyl) makes me have fucked up dreams.

Funny you mention the 'electrical stimulation' because I received that this morning. But the chiro also said that it's not something he uses all the time. I inherited a TENS unit from someplace and it does the same thing.

They also used an ultrasound machine which I couldn't if it was actually doing anything or not.

The whole time I was there I was trying to figure out a way to take pictures of all the stuff because some of it looked like Dr. Frankenstein machines.

I do admit that the adjustment actually made my back feel better for about 4-5 hours. I didn't expect one adjutment to fix me all better though but it was nice to not feel that constant throb for a little while.

I am willing to give this guy the benefit of the doubt for a while, but thanks for the heads up on stuff to look out for.

Dumbskull       03-12-2008, 08:44 pm

If your insurance covers it, ask your primary care physician for a consult to see an orthopedic surgeon. You can continue to pay for drugs and/or temporary relief from the Chiropractor or you can opt for full on relief. A second opinion is always in order.

InfectionConnection       03-13-2008, 03:21 pm

I go about once every few months. I recommend it. Sometimes no amount of twisting or leaning backwards over the back of a chair will get that one misaligned spot. It occasionally takes an additional day or two before i feel better, but it has definitely worked every time.

shitbox       04-01-2008, 12:48 am

I've seen lots of doctors and had 2 surgeries related to chronic pain, which resulted from the surgeries themselves. Drugs(illicit and 'approved'), booze, and even botox injections from my neurologist(in an attempt to paralyze the ever-spasaming back/shoulder muscles), NONE have worked.

What did/does work?

I see a chiropractor once a month, sometimes more often if things get gnarly.


I was fucking skeptical but after talking to him and receiving treatments for over a year, I don't get 4 day 'halo' headaches 4 times a month and back pain has reduced significantly.

It ain't for everybody but it has been the only thing that has worked for me.

Btw: all the drugs do is just mask the pain, not address its cause, after a few adjustments(and occasionally INSTANTLY), I feel tons better than I ever have.

Good luck.

Acidburn       04-01-2008, 01:16 pm

I need to go as I to have constant back pains. I'm nervous I'll get a boner though