Chiropractors - Opinions

[SpiderDan]

Hi guys

Went to see a Chiro about my lower back today and basically......im not convinced.

He glazed over my lower back issue and just told everything needed sorting. Told me I'd dramatically boost my performance going through a course

He's suggested about 20 weeks (at a cost of about £1200) of adjustment to completely realign my spine.

He did a fairly ropey test of grip trying to prove a cervical spine adjustment boosted its strength (I swear he just didnt try as hard second time round)

He also said Id have to lay off weight training (for an unspecified amount of time) but I could walk on the treadmill or stair stepper and do some light dumbell curls (30 reps plus only).....this kinda told me he didnt have much experience with weight trainees.

He was nice enough (and Im probably not painting him in the best light) but like I said im not convinced.

Has anyone successfully used a chiropractor? Anyone got thoughts on my situation?

Dont just agree with me and tell me if im off but this is how I felt.

Cheers

Dan

[Barrington]

I have never been to see one myself purely because of what i have heard about them. Some people swear by them but quite often you will find that the Chiro reccommends that they come back regularly for work, from what i have heard about them only rarely do they fix the situation with out needing to spend thousands on going back indefinetly. There is obviously something in it because as i say some people swear by them but i have been put off by the price and the fact they seem to want to keep you as a client and bleed you dry.
Althougth the same can be said about other private practioners such as physios.

I have seen lots of people for back problems and none of them could agree as to what the problem was, i would also be wary of anyone who does not give your back a thorough examination, and tries to find out exactly where you are getting problems.
To be honest it doesn't surprise me that he glazed over your back issue and has said your whole body has issues as this is what i have heard off other people who have seen Chiros.
Thing is you damaged your back lifting weights(?) so there is a specific issue which needs to be addressed.

[Zeigler]

I love my chiro - always gives me great peace of mind and has corrected 2 problems completely.

He once recommended that I did crunches everyday to strengthen by abdominals....to which I replied 'im not doing crunches' and told him why. I dont think many of them have an understanding of weight training - but I did learn the turkish get up from him and its helped with shoulder stability.

I fail to see how doing dumbbell curls would help a lower back issue?!

[Odevans]

My chiro is excellent! He has real experience with advanced trainees, which is always good. He didn't recommend a course or anything, he just said, "we'll see how it goes - the sooner the better". Turns out, it only took two sessions, and he corrected a lot things. He always went over the allotted time, so that he could explain everything to me in full, so that I could understand the issues, and told me that I could phone up whenever, just to chat about any niggles. Top stuff.

I am very suspicious of your chiro. Go elsewhere. If your could acutally not move, due to issues with your spine, then fair enough, but that is far from the case.

[SpiderDan]

Quote

I have never been to see one myself purely because of what i have heard about them. Some people swear by them but quite often you will find that the Chiro reccommends that they come back regularly for work, from what i have heard about them only rarely do they fix the situation with out needing to spend thousands on going back indefinetly. There is obviously something in it because as i say some people swear by them but i have been put off by the price and the fact they seem to want to keep you as a client and bleed you dry.
Althougth the same can be said about other private practioners such as physios.

I have seen lots of people for back problems and none of them could agree as to what the problem was, i would also be wary of anyone who does not give your back a thorough examination, and tries to find out exactly where you are getting problems.
To be honest it doesn't surprise me that he glazed over your back issue and has said your whole body has issues as this is what i have heard off other people who have seen Chiros.
Thing is you damaged your back lifting weights(?) so there is a specific issue which needs to be addressed.

Oh there is definitely an issue to address with my back but its a case of finding the therapist who gives me the confidence in their suggestions andnhas the experience in the weightlifting field.

I probably should have asked for references in all honesty.

Thats the thing as well, after this 20 week treatment period he suggested coming back every week or every other week for continued therapy....but with so many of these alternative therapies available why should I pick a chiropractor over anything else? Why not a reflexologist, Bowen Technique therapists, iridologists etc.

I did feel like I was being talked at alot and was told how my strength and performance would increase massively but I would have thought a good therapist would have had me do most of the talking.

[dope540]

i saw a chinese acupuncturist and a physio when my back pinged a few years back. acupunture and the cupping worked wonders on my back.

aobut 18months ago when i torn my hamstring, my physio had a quick look at my lower back and there was no problems. both practitioners were from recommendations from friends (the physio from jag) and they both took a thorough history before undertaking their initial assessment. then proceeded to the actual treatment when they had all the info they needed.

[SpiderDan]

Quote

I love my chiro - always gives me great peace of mind and has corrected 2 problems completely.

He once recommended that I did crunches everyday to strengthen by abdominals....to which I replied 'im not doing crunches' and told him why. I dont think many of them have an understanding of weight training - but I did learn the turkish get up from him and its helped with shoulder stability.

I fail to see how doing dumbbell curls would help a lower back issue?!

I think, he thought, that doing that stuff would keep my mind occupied and satisfy my weight lifting urges. He didnt really ask much about my lifting. When I mentioned squatting initially he thought I did it with just body weight....he looked semi-surprised when I mentioned it was weighted with a barbell.

Maybe I shouldnt lump chiros together and probably with the right one I'd be happier.

[SpiderDan]

Quote

My chiro is excellent! He has real experience with advanced trainees, which is always good. He didn't recommend a course or anything, he just said, "we'll see how it goes - the sooner the better". Turns out, it only took two sessions, and he corrected a lot things. He always went over the allotted time, so that he could explain everything to me in full, so that I could understand the issues, and told me that I could phone up whenever, just to chat about any niggles. Top stuff.

I am very suspicious of your chiro. Go elsewhere. If your could acutally not move, due to issues with your spine, then fair enough, but that is far from the case.

Thats the thing I dont know whether he had any experience with advanced trainees (not to say im one of those at all) he didnt jump to tell me about any weightlifting clients he had or what his histroy was......although I should have probably enquired about it more.

Oh and yeah I thought 20 odd weeks was a long time, I could probably do nothing but stretching exercise or yoga for that time and get the same results. Im not saying it should be one or two sessions and competely sorted but it seemed excessive.

[Odevans]

Well, I think that its worth spending another £60 with another Chiro would be worth it, seeing as it could save you £1200!

[SpiderDan]

I think the only cause of action (although probably not the wisest) is to ignore him, hit the gym tonight and see if I notice any grip strength increases. If by some miracle its improved then i'll tell him what I did and give him a chance.

Further that, odevans, yeah you're possibly right seeing someone else may give me a different opinion. In all honesty I probably should have done a little more research first rather than pick the one closest to me.