First visit to a chiropractor... kinda nervous.

Well I seen one once before, but he was one of those fruity type.. Who knows the secret technique that no others in the area knows. All he did was pat my ass and tickle my feet.

The one I’m going to tomorrow morning (well this morning I guess) was setup by one of the neurologists I’ve seen (the duh who convinced me to go off the oxy cold turkey). Anyways, I’m a bit nervous… Not sure what to expect, hope he doesn’t break my neck! So anyway… I know he will harass me about the pain meds! Every doctor other than my PCP does. I hate it when they do that, they make me so embarrassed! Well, wish me luck… Maybe I can get some relief!

Hi 03Mach!

Ditto, in response! I can't stop laughing, "pat your bum and tickle your feet"!! That cracks me up, thank you for the giggles, I needed that!!

Shortcake

Mach,

I saw a chiro for six weeks, 3 times a week. The chiro took the time to show me on my xrays and ct what he was hoping to correct.

I'll admit that it sucked, a lot, I also had to pay the copay up front each time. HE did help with a headache I'd had for awhile, but other than that, that was it.

Sounds like he knows some traction techniques...hopefully that are longer lasting than actual traction. My neuro had me buy this traction device that you hang over the door...basically a huge bag that you fill with water and a face/head strap that is hooked up to the other side, you hang it over the door, sit in a chair and the contraption pulls your head and neck up. Have to admit, it felt great while I was in it, trouble was ya can't live in it, you have to get out some time! Towards the end before I went for surgery I was sitting in it for 1/2 hour and would have 1/2 hour relief, just a huge cycle.

well to me something throws up a red flag . A medical Dr. referring you to a Chiropractor ??????

He should have referred you to PT .

label this posting "in defence of chiropracters"

i liven in davenport, iowa for a while, which is the home of the oldest school of chiropractic in the world.  several of my friends were chiropractic students, so i guess that i just became less sceptical than most of you seem to be. 

afteer i hurt my back when i fell down a flight of stairs.  i immediatly thought of my friends who were chiropractic students and sought out a chiropracter rather than go to the er. (stupid mistake re:  insurance companies!).  the chiropracter helped a LOT with the immediate pain and referred me to several neurologists for evaluation.  the neurologists were a mixed bag.  they were all ofer the range.  one said that i was faking the pain to get narcotics (i wasn't taking any at the time) and another wanted to do a laminectomy on me immediately.  money motivated as gramps has said?  i don't really know.  i DO know, however, that this chiropracter did me a lot of good and kept me mobile.  i have seen several chiropracters after we moved from that area, with varriying degrees of success.  could it be the individual rather than the dicipline?  makes one think. . . .

best of luck.

warren

I just got back.. All we did today was use the traction table for about 20 min. It gave me a little help, but it didn't last long at all. I can't wait for the manipulation to start.

I've had a few chiropractors in my life. None have resulted in lasting relief, and one actually made things much worse. I read an overview of chiropractic care from Harvard, and the research seems to indicate chiropractic manipulation and treatments may help more with lower back problems, but can actually be dangerous for the neck (cervical spine). The chiropractor I went to many years ago for my neck made it worse (ended up with numb hands!), so when I tried it again for my lower back I refused to let them touch my neck. I'm in the middle re: chiropractic care. Like Gramps says, it's certainly better than surgery, if it helps. I think you have a good point about the individual versus the profession as a whole. I went to one guy who spent two hours telling me all the schooling he'd been to, and hardly ever focused on me; needless to say I never went back. And the ones who try to get you to take tons of supplements (they make money there) be wary of. Granted some supplements are excellent, but you need to do your research and find out if it's something that will help YOU and your condition, and whether it truly has any evidence to back it up. Same with devices. Yet there are some good things if one sorts through. My bedroom is now starting to look like a PT's office - I have a stimulator, SI joint belt, back brace, home ultrasound unit and blood pressure monitor! Yet these only help with management. I suspect whether you get relief will on what's causing your problem, and how serious it is. I think the best PT's and chiropractors are the ones with training that overlaps; a friend of mine had a great experience with a chiro, but he also did ultrasound and massage. My PT has had 30 years of experience, and know how to gently put my SI joint back into place, but then ALSO gives me the exercises to help strengthen the ligaments. If PT and/or chiro. did the trick for me, I'd certainly have preferred it to surgery - which to date hasn't helped anyway. So I along with everyone wish you good luck. Don't expect an immediate cure, but just like you did with the first chiro, if something doesn't seem quite right (like come back 5 days a week! most day 3 and for a limited amount of time), then do research and/or head for the hills!

Mach, if you are interested, I can send you the home traction thing I got from my doctor/PT office. I don't use it any more and it just sits in my office closet. I didn't pay much for it and it is useless to me since I have had the operation. You can email me through the little envelope icon at the side.

I've had many trips to the chiropractor and while I would usually feel good after heat packs, es, and manipulation, it would rarely last very long and I would be right back as I was in no time.

I've recently discovered accupressure (followed by accupuncture), which I have found to be dramatically more productive and long-lasting, but also much more painful during the process. Every muscle in the area, and in my case also my top rib, were manipulated...the result was the complete loosening of the muscular area and relief that lasted for weeks. He explained each muscle, associated nerves, etc. while he worked. He physically pushed my top rib down to relieve pressure on several nerves and arteries to improve blood flow to my arm, which I felt immediately in the form of a "whoosh" down my arm. When he first started and said, "OK, ready?, don't hit me," I was instantly worried and found out why, but he held the pressure in each area until the pain subsided and then it was just gone. It really was amazing. I don't think I've ever been more relaxed. The accupressure worked so well that I'm really not sure what the accupuncture that followed accomplished, but it didn't do any harm. I don't know if this type of work is prevalent in the rest of the country, but it really works for me and I'm going back on Tuesday to see if he can do anything for the mess that is resulting from my recent auto accident that I started another thread about.

I have several ruptlured, which cause a pain similar to a pinched nerve. I've been to Dr.s and they do see the problem but no solution except surgery. (50-50) chance I may never walk. Also have lower back pain because of my degenerative and ostoperosis. Well a while back I decided to see a Chir. and he was realy good No gadgets in his office just large heating pad . Well I would feel pretty good for a few hours then it would come back. I continued to go to him every week for a year. Things did'nt change dramatically. Now I wish I had spent all that money on a massage. Good Luck to you, maybe you will get luckey and your pain will improve. june

The doctor keeps canceling my appointments due to the dts table being down. Today I had to cancel because of snow!! I really dislike snow sometimes!!! I'm excited about getting more treatments, but things just keep preventing it.

This doc isn't a creepy lunatic who tickles feet and touches peoples bum!

Thanks for all the input! I'm still going to hold out hope and stay positive about it working.

Lol.... I forgot about it Mochiah. Cool, just let me know what I need to do.