chiropractors..... godsends or charlatans?

[Chromatic]

Didn't work for me. It just cost me money for no discernible benefit.

 

[summerdays]

I make rare visits to an osteopath but it is usually traded in favours as its my sister, and it's normally on the floor or whatever she can manage as her temporary couch. She has certainly brought me relief and shown me specific exercises to carry on doing after I've seen her.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Here is Bournemouth there is a school for people to study the subject. Once I had a conversation with one the lecturers there, an American gentleman , and he said their students in a 3 year course learn more about our bone structure than doctors learn while studying medicine.
I found the treatment I had on my back a couple of years ago was very good.
In my experience, Physios have been the charlatans I can honestly say that never, not even once a physio has helped me with any of the problems I have been referred to see them. Interestingly, physios seem to have a lot more work than chiropractic.... but I think that has to be because people have more muscle problems than bone problem.

 

[Ganymede]

+1 for osteopathy. Properly regulated and well-taught in this country. We seem to have a lot round here but the national school is up the road in Maidstone!

 

[MontyVeda]

Mine was a bit of a charlatan I reckon. He charged £25 for 30 mins. Then the 2nd time was £25 for 25 mins, then £25 for 20 mins, then i stopped going because i felt i was being fleeced.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

+1 for osteopathy. Properly regulated and well-taught in this country. We seem to have a lot round here but the national school is up the road in Maidstone!

Will give another thumbs up for Osteo (probably not hurt in my case by using a lecturer from said school). I've never had much joy with Physio although some of the exercises they gave me for back problems (again, kind of basic pilates stuff) have proved handy for keeping movement up. I ended up at a Chiro once and it did little and all of the weird stuff didn't sit well with me (on that note did the foot thing a month ago and while a massage was nice the whole pressure point thing left me cold). Having had back problems from an RTA on the motorbike including sciatica I tend to keep things running with regular massage sessions and maybe one Osteo appointment every 18 months.

I agree, make sure you try and find out what's happening, but don't be surprised if you get nothing definite at all (most telling comment from my specialist was after the MRI scan where he said 'looks like some compressed disks here and here (L4 & L5 from memory) which might be causing the sciatica, but seeing as nobody takes MRI scans of you when you are healthy we can't really say what's moving around and what's always been like this'.)

Personally I'd take Physio if offered, it's the lowest intrusion and the exercises will help whatever. Consider Osteo but try for a recommendation if you can. I'd only be trying Chiro as a last resort and if you need to lose some weight, it's unlikely to do your back any harm to stop putting it off, it'll probably do you more good than any of the first three in the list.

 

[jefmcg]

Mine was definitely not placebo. I had private Chiropractor and Physio sessions each end of the week and the benefit was significant after the chiropractor. I never had my neck cracked. The physio even remarked on how fast my recovery went and was amazed I was back on my bike in 5 weeks. I have had zero problems since although this might have been due to how traumatic the original dislocation was

There is absolutely no way to tell, that's the point. Placebo is a real effect, you actually get better, but it's something other than the actual treatment that causes it. Apparently it's even a huge factor some surgeries. Even in a treatment that is well studied and very effective, some of those helped by it will be getting a placebo effect, rather than from the treatment.

Nocebo is fascinating, too. Asthmatics who are told a substance is an irritant can suffer measurable bronchoconstriction; that is, they don't just think they are having an asthma attack, they are having one.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

A chiropractor sorted me out for years until I left the area (where I used to live). But there are different style of chiropractic techniques and getting the right one for you is what counts. My friend was a Swedish trained chiropractor and that style suits me. I don't know that an English trained on would. I also found great benefit from a good sports massage once a month - she was a French Canadian and took no prisoners. Strangely I never got on with the osteopath I tried and after 4-6 months of treatment and getting nowhere with my wrist I quit with his treatment plan.

 

[Soltydog]

Whether you go for physio, chiro or Osteopath make sure it's a good one I've not had Osteopathic treatment, but I've had Chiro & Physio. 3 chiropracters over the years, 2 good (both female) & 1 not so good & 2 physios (both male) 1 good & 1 rather poor. I'm constantly suffering with my back, docs not interested but a monthly visit to the chiropracter keeps the pain levels low & managable

 

[davdandy]

Since my last post i have been laid up with back pain and sciatica since Thursday.I can walk but feel the pain after a short while.And sitting is actually worse.

I am taking all kinds of pills,the usual,paracetemol,co-codeine,naproxen,tramadol.I cant say they work or not but take then because i have them here.I will soldier on,i hate paying huge wads of money to someone i dont know ot whether they can help me or not.Time will surely cure me.

I have seen physios before and did nothing,i also have had acupuncture which didnt work neither.

 

[davdandy]

Has anyone had any experience in using either the Kyrobak,seems to get good reviews but i am a sceptic on these things.And also on the Vibrapower plates.

http://www.kyrobak.co.uk/FREEMAT/?u...edium=PaidSearch&utm_campaign=Brand&SID=GS_BR


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3ohzvZ6T90


http://www.amazon.co.uk/450/dp/B00C...id=1439033526&sr=8-1&keywords=vibrapower+disc


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPKtP04oc5U

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Since my last post i have been laid up with back pain and sciatica since Thursday.I can walk but feel the pain after a short while.And sitting is actually worse...

[QUOTE 3843478, member: 9609"]I believe this is quite often a sign that it is a disc bulging or prolapsing, i have been told there is about 40% more pressure on the discs sitting than standing - Having problems sitting was one of my first signs something was wrong. You really do need to get some advice from a spinal specialist before embarking on any alternative medicine. Good Luck[/QUOTE]

I agree with @User9609 see a spinal specialist. At the very least see your GP again before it is too late. I have spent the last 10 months learning to sit again, walk again, etc. I spent 8 months in bed literally only able to 'sit up' at an angle of roughly 45 degrees. I have ended up having 2 major back ops including my spine fused and I still can not sit up for anything longer than 30-45 minutes and that is only with the aid of a lot of morphine (both time release and liquid immediate action stuff).

I am currently wheelchair bound for anything more than a few steps from the car, and can't walk without crutches. Don't risk it please. Your body is giving you warning signs, something I did not get.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Has anyone had any experience in using either the Kyrobak,seems to get good reviews but i am a sceptic on these things.And also on the Vibrapower plates.

I have a vibrapad thing, bought primary in the hope that just standing on it watching TV would help my wife a bit but it proved too hard a sell.

I do 10 min warm up and down on it either side of cross training and it's not done me any apparent harm but I can only presume any good. You know you've been on it after a 10 min session. When I bought it they were rare enough that my GP / Osteo / Physio who I was seeing couldn't give me solid advice either way and swung from overly cautious to try but watch for signs. It didn't seem to slow healing or harm anything and I'm happy to believe it should be strengthening my Core which was the point of most of the other stuff I was doing.

Oh, go see a doctor. Back injuries are a bastard.

 

[Dave the Smeghead]

I will put in my tuppence worth. I saw a chiropractor after a car accident (I got rear ended (ooer missus) and copped a whiplash injury) and it helped ease the injury and enabled me to start moving my head again after the first session. He wanted to do weekly sessions which got expensive very quickly.
A few years later my back just went out whilst at work, and having health insurance at the time went to see an osteopath within a few hours. Basically crawled in and walked out. Saw him twice more before I felt fully back to normal. Then put my shoulder out after an argument with a pothole, got into the osteopath within a couple of days and he again sorted it out in a couple of sessions including an acupuncture session.

My opinion is that it works but don't fall for the long term visit options.

 

[Paulus]

I have been using a chrio. for about ten years now. I started with one after I was unable to get on my bike one morning when I should of been going to the Alps on a cycling holiday. He got me walking again after one session. After a few more follow up sessions my back was back in line. It's all to do with the alignment of the spine, hips and neck/shoulders apparently. I go every few months now for a tweek as my back stiffens up. It makes some strange cracking noises from the neck down as he works his magic.