Anyone ever go to a Chiroquacktor

As Emily Latella would say..."Nevermind"

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When we tire of well-worn ways, we seek for new. This restless craving in the souls of men spurs them to climb, and to seek the mountain view.
-- Ella Wheeler Wilcox

[This message has been edited by BobFinn* (edited December 12, 2000).]

 

heyp: Funny you should ask. My story is a long one but I'll try to be as brief as possible:

When I was 18, I began experiencing severe lower back pain (probably the result of lifting heavy music equipment). I was having trouble walking and sleeping. I went to a chiropractor and was diagnosed with scoliosis - curvature of the spine - as the result of x-rays.

I spent probably 4 years going off and on to him. Slowly, over time, my back began to degrade severely until, by the age of 23, I was unable to walk without being completely bent in half (almost a total 90 degree angle) and I had to sleep sitting up on a sofa. I was in constant pain and was growing weaker by the day.

I had visited a couple of back doctors early on when I was 22 with varying degrees of success. When an MRI was done, they found that I had severed nerves, torn tendons and muscles and that most of the sheath of ligaments that covered my lower back was gone. You could see it when you looked at my lower back because my spine protruded out with concave areas on either side.

One doctor suggested that I had a degenerative back condition and that I should consider getting a wheelchair to get around!

Finally, I had taken about enough and took the advice of family and went to a massage therapist. Within about 9 months of treatment, I was back to nearly 100%. It turns out that my original problem was a pulled muscle in my back that's primary responsibility was holding the spine in place and erect.

All of the twisting and pullling done by the chiropractor served only to worsen the situation and tear muscles, ligaments and nerves. I went to the therapist with sciatica as the result of a severely damaged sciatic nerve, several torn muscles and ligaments as well as other spinal problems. I left in MUCH better shape though I will admit I was HIGHLY skeptical of massage therapy going in. I was hardly the open-minded lefty that I am today.

I still visit a massage therapist every once in a while as well as an accupuncturist - now, that is a cool experience. In fact, a good accupuncturist can give you a chiropractic adjustment in addition to the accupuncture! I've also been Rolfed (a body work that works primarily with the ligaments and tendons) and I've had Zen Shiatsu performed on me - the MOST painful experience but with some of the best results.

Whatever you do, don't perceive all chiro's from my experience. Frankly, I don't blame him. He essentially did an x-ray and diagnosed based on limited data. I can give you plenty of recommendations if you are interested, however. Just let me know!

By the way, I was so sold on massage therapy, that my wife and I actually went to school and got our licences in the state of Texas. Though we don't practice any longer, we keep up our memberships and licences.

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Mmmmmmm. Sacrelicious.

 

Go up to Canada and see a real "Physiotherapist". There is no comparison.

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Maybe all the rulers are wrong.
Current Rocket's Salary & Contract Info

 

Really, most of it depends on the type of massage or bodywork you get. Traditional massage therapy in America is based on Sweedish massage (where we get the term masseuse) and is what you might consider a rubdown of sorts. Very relaxing and good for you but not heavily specific.

Then, there are other forms of bodywork as well:

Shiatsu (more directed than standard massage)
Accupressure (accupuncture without the needles)
Reflexology (outstanding stuff where they focus on the nerve endings in the feet and hands - very helpful)
Rolfing (mentioned in my other post - probably a little too odd for what you need)

I can give you a couple of recommendations in terms of specific people. That is usually easier than just saying "Check the phone book." Drop me an email and I'll give you whatever info you need.

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Mmmmmmm. Sacrelicious.

 

HP,


I see a Chiro all the time, he is great and this in part is because he is not only a chiro but also has physiotherapist skills and knowledge of muscles. I find him great and it seems to be great for my back and other assorted injuries.


However i have been to some that did nothing for me. I find normal physios a complete waste of time, they just treat the injury and not the cause of the injury, for example I saw one for months for a swollen achilles tendon and it did nothing, i went to my chiro and he said my heel was jammed up into my ankle, he pulled it out and swelling went away.


Massage can be great, especially to alleviate muscle spasm which generally accompanies back problems, so generally speaking the chiro won't be ablt to do anything (ie crack your back and put your spine back to the normal place) until the spasms go away and generally it will take a couple of visits.


so try massage but if it still isn't right see a chiro and the best way to choose one is get one reccommended to you by someone else.


So there's my view


Smegster


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In 1993-94 Mugsy Bogues averaged more boards for the season than Mo is this season!!

[This message has been edited by SmeggySmeg (edited December 12, 2000).]

 

Smegg & Davo: Physiotherapists don't really exist in America and chiropractors don't practice the same way in America as they do in Europe, Canada and Austrailia.

In America, there are physical therapists but they aren't the same as physiotherapists. To be honest, the use of non-traditional healthcare in America is pretty piss poor. Chiropractors, in order to get certification with the American Medical Association, had to change some of their practices. They are more reliant on machines and adjustments than on various forms of treatment you might find outside of the states.

In fact, there is a growing movement in the US by chiro's going to traditional chiropractic care like what you might find outside the country. There are some that practice it here but most do not.

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Mmmmmmm. Sacrelicious.

 

A few years back, my dad was diagnosed with a disease (I can't remember it at the moment but it's the one that starts with M, the one where you feel dizzy all the time and start losing memory) it was supposedly life threatning and the doctor told him to go have surgery immediately. Well my dad went to his friend who was a chiropractor and he did something to my dad's back and he was all of a sudden better. Just like that. Another time was when my dad got those things called gallbladder stones or whatever and they told him to have surgery but he went to his chiropractor friend and all the chiropractor told him was to drink lots of prune juice. 3 weeks later, bang my dad's fine. I dunno if it's was just this chiropractor or if all chiropractors know this much about stuff other than just back pains but he helped much more than wasting thousands of bucks on surgery.

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Francis out top, 9 seconds on the clock, he gives a no look pass to Cuttino Mobley, 4 seconds left, Mobley passes to an open Langhi in the corner with 1 second left! Langhi at the buzzer.......YES!!! How Sweet It Is!!

 

I wouldn't blame you for wanting to go the massage therapy route. Think of it this way, if it doesn't work, you can always choose to do something more "drastic." You can't always go the other direction. Thankfully, Jeff could.

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Rockets R' Us: That isn't really to surprising. The chiropractors that practice the original form of it are much more similar to massage therapists or practitioners of alternative medicine than they are doctors.

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Mmmmmmm. Sacrelicious.

 

I used to call them Chiroquaktors too...until...I threw my back out lifting a dog. I was in severe pain.

At this time, I worked for UTHSC and because of that, I could go to any specialist for free. I went to some of the "best". To keep the story short, I would come home with pain pills and muscle relaxers. After a month of no improvement and all my pills gone. I went back, they sent me home with more pills. Not wanting to live like that, I tried a guy (Dr. John Weed - blatant advertisement, but I owe him that). I was very skeptical. But after the first visit, I felt normal - for 1-2 hours. Then the pain returned. After the second visit, I felt normal for 3 days. After the 3rd visit, I didn't need to come back. And I didn't get any hard pressure sell to comeback (though I did get a postcard 1 year later as a reminder for an adjustment that I ignored).

Bottom line, find someone who comes recommended, as there are some "bad" ones out there. But this one made a believer out of me.


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Jeff - I found out the hard way about the lack of Physiotherapists in the USA - thats why I suggested hp go to Canada

I arrived in Houston with a fairly serious knee injury (from snowboarding in Canada) and the treatment I received from a "Physical Therapist" was terrible. Maybe I was just unlucky. My experience is just the opposite to Smegs - I've always been really happy with Physiotherapy, but have never been to a Chiropractor but have heard plenty of horror stories. Of course, none of this is any help to you hp, sorry

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Maybe all the rulers are wrong.
Current Rocket's Salary & Contract Info

 

heyP, if this is something serious, then don't waste time with a chiroquaker. Go to a real doctor, you never know what could be wrong.

My mom had a crick in her neck a few months back, she went to a chiroquack and recieved temporary relief sometimes and soreness and pain the rest of the time. Then she went to a real doctor and found our she had two bulging(or is it herniated, I don't know the terminology that well) discs in her neck and she had surgery in SA. Good thing someone persuaded her to go to a real doctor, or else she could've been paralyzed.

And even if it wasn't something serious, I would suggest massage as well.

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snap crackle pop

 

Good to see you're living, Crisco. Coming to Houston soon?

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EZLN

[This message has been edited by rimbaud (edited December 14, 2000).]

 

I saw a chiropractor for 8 months after an auto accident. I also viewed them as bone-crushing quacks, until a lovely lady I work with told me the secret to having successful chiropractic treatment. This is not necessarily cost effective, mind you.

Jeff commented on massage therapy, and if you use a massage therapist in conjunction with your chiropractic care, you will have much more success. Of course, individual results may vary. All the moving and adjusting of your spine can indeed help, but the muscles, tendons, etc. around them, that are supposed to be holding these adjustments in place, must be conditioned as well. Otherwise, you get what Jeff described, muscle pain, tendon strain, etc.

Luckily, in my case, this was all paid for, by the lady that ran the red light and hit me (or rather her insurance company).



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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

 

I looked in on this thread a couple of days ago and am just now getting around to replying. I, too, have had a fair amount of experienc with "Crackpractors", massage therapists, Rolffers, and a Doctor of Osteopathy and his associate. I was also diagnosed as a teen with scoliosis and kyphosis (sp.) One is curvature from front to back and one is curvature from side to side. I can't remember which is which. The condition has never caused me severe pain or problems, but rather chronic discomfort. I was never as bad off as Jeff, nor had such a good recovery. I've been told that if my spine were ever to get straightened, I would be about 4 inches taller. No, I still wouldn't be able to dunk.

Anyway, I have always felt better after a visit to any of the above, but nothing ever lasting. I was receiving some treatments from a Rolffer that had treated Charles Barkley, among other well-known athletes. I was hopeful of her, but unfortunately, she fell ill and has not been in this part of the country in over a year.

I have been regularly using a device called the "Back Machine 2000" that seems to help me more than anything I have ever tried. It looks kind of like a weight bench with a series of rollers on it and handles to pull yourself back and forth across the rollers that you lay on. It stretches and straightens your spine as you to this. I think I have definate improvement, but no 4 inches yet.

HeyPee, you might want to try a Doctor of Osteopathy. They have the training of a chiro, but also have a medical certification and can prescribe drugs, although they rarely do. If there is something seriously wrong, they are far less likely to do something that would make it worse.

I was very surprised to see a thread like this and would be interested in comparing notes with others.

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Moe, if you are in Houston, I know of an AMAZING Rolfer near Rice U. He is fantastic and was a pupil of Ida Rolf, the woman who developed the practice, in Boulder in the early 70's. Drop me an email if you are interested.

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Mmmmmmm. Sacrelicious.

 

Just to throw in my two cents here. I don't consider myself anti-doctor, but after 30 years spent watching my mother suffer with unrelenting back pain (much of it surgically induced), I don't readily accept much of what the medical community says at face value.

Like some others on this board, my mother had scoliosis as a child. It became more pronounced as she got older and this lead to regular back pain. Instead of trying a less invasive method first, my mother immediately accepted a surgeon's recommendation and, at the age of 32, had very radical surgery performed on her back. The doctors inserted something called a Harrington Rod along her spine. This piece of metal was bolted to her spine from her neck to her pelvis in an attempt to straighten it out.

Long story short, the surgery was a failure from the word go. In fact, from what I understand, these surgeries are rarely performed anymore because of their dismal track record. She has had several subsequent surgeries, all very painful, but to no avail. Now at the age of 52, she is virtually unable to walk, addicted to painkillers and often nearly suicidal over the state of her life.

I don't want to seem overly dramatic here, I just want to point out that doctors are just doctors, not gods. They don't always know best. And anyone looking into something as radical as surgery (especially on their back) is always well-advised to try a less invasive route first.

As far as chiropractors go, I have no personal experience with them (fortunately I did not inherit my mother's scoliosis). However, I am aware of a longstanding campaign waged by the American Medical Association to discredit them as health care practitioners. If someone (like the AMA) is violently opposed to something, it is often very eye-opening to dig a little deeper and find the facts behind the hype.



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