My Hubby Doesn't Believe My Chiropractor

The whole treatment would cost $450.? That is very reasonable. If you go into a pregnancy in this condition you will be a high risk pregancy. He'd be lucky not to pay $450 a day to keep you in the hospital daily while in late pregnancy.

Perhaps to alleviate his concerns you could see a DO for a workup and see what they say. Physical therapy for the spinal issues may be a better approach. My bff had physical therapy for her bulging disc and it helped a lot, but she also had to have injections into her spine for the inflammation, and those were over $1000 a pop. So he probably shouldn't be complaining much about the cost... either way, you need relief, so money shouldn't be the issue.

I'm always a little leary of chiropractor because they always seem to want you to come 2-3 times a week for 6 weeks. When I feel like I need an adjustment I go to a DO. They do adjustments as well and don't have you keep coming back. My DO will refer you to physical therapy if you think you need more adjustments. You may want to get copies of the tests and get a second opinion.

My husband is a Chiro and yes they have to board certified. They have their own Chiropractic board. This includes many hours of continuing education to keep their licenses. No they don't teach, how to keep them coming, classes. Anyway.

If you really do have that many issues then 3X a week isn't that uncommon. However, you should start seeing SOME improvement with in about four - five visits. Your chiro should give you some exercises to help keep your back and neck strong. If you don't do the exercises and follow them, then you aren't going to get better.

My husbands rule of thumb is after six visits, you have no improvement he recommend going somewhere else. He didn't believe in just keep trying, obviously what he was doing wasn't working. Just like when some docs put you on medication that does squat for you.

There are good chiros and bad ones. Just like there are good docs and bad ones. I actually went to see the head of a Endocrinology department. This woman couldn't even tell me if my birth control affected my thyroid! Hello! That is what you specialize in! Then she just automatically wanted to give me medication for nodules on my thyroid, effectively shutting it off possibly permanently, even though my thyroid levels were completely normal.

This lady was supposed to be the best in the business. I refused to take the medication. I have since seen two other Endocrinologists and both of them said it was crazy for her to try and medicate me, especially since I was so young (25 at the time) and my thyroid was functioning properly.

Ask your husband if he would rather shell out thousands of dollars in pain meds, back and neck surgeries. They would cost way more than $450 even if your insurance covers it.

I have known people who were skeptic at first and have experienced the benefits of Chiropractic Care. My older sister wishes she had gone for adjustments when her back was first hurting. She has since had two back surgeries that have caused permanent nerve damage and she was addicted to the pain meds after (she is clean now, but it took a long time). She is in more pain after the surgeries and will forever have problems. If the chiropractor can help with adjustments then I would say do it before it is too late and there is no other alternative.

I love my chiropractor!

Tell hubby that he can take care of the kid(s) anytime your back hurts if he doesn't like spending $450 on your back.

BTW - wonder what back SURGERY costs? How long is THAT recovery?

With one back injury, I was seeing the chiropractor 3 times per week (M, W, F) and going to a physical therapist on Tuesdays and Thursdays. That's what I NEEDED to get better. The chiropractor would put me back into place, then I'd go to PT to strengthen muscles which caused my body to tense up and pull me back out, so the next day the chiropractor put me back together then the PT would......

But it was the ONLY way. And it worked. Which is more than I can say was done for me by any MD.

As time went on, the visits can be spread farther apart.

Then, the last time I was having some major issues, the spine doc (MD) said I MUST have surgery or I would lose control of my legs, bowels and bladder. I told him if and when that happened he'd be the first person I contacted. I left his office and started up chiropractic again. It has been about 7 years and that MD's dire predictions have not yet come to pass, and I feel pretty good. Admittedly, I must go to the chiropractor now every 2-3 weeks, but my back and neck is a mess, and I have had osteoarthritis since I was a teenager. But without chiropractic, I'd be crippled.

Other people I know only go now once every few months, and one lady, only goes for a few adjustments every couple years when something goes wrong.

Chiropractic is the only thing that helps my back. Your spine houses your nervous system which controls all bodily function. If a vertebra is out of alignment and stays that way it causes nerve damage and overall body dysfunction, depending on which nerves are affected. It's like braces for teeth, which is why you have to do it a lot at first, then maintenance to keep it straight. People just don't get it as much because they can't "see" the results with their eyes. To go once or just a few times then give up is like quitting the gym after four workouts because you haven't lost weight, or only changing the oil in your car once a year. We take better care of our cars than we do our nervous system, which is our lifeline!

Pain meds are not only expensive, but they can cause you to feel zombie like, fatigued, not fully alert and cause you to be limited in functioning - would he rather you be like that? I say definitely give the Chiro 3 visits a week and if by the end of week 2 or 3 you aren't feeling relief or better - get a second opinion.

I love going to the chiropractor... I wish I had learned about them when I was younger since my whole life I've had chronic joint pain due to an ankle bone deformity. I didn't start going until I was 26 y/o and it was sporadic due to insurance being sporadic. It's definitely helped me.

I take my 6 y/o to be adjusted 1-2 a month as well as my 5 month old son who's been going for colick since 5 weeks old. It did WONDERS with him! He went from inconsolable crying for hours on end to only crying when he's hungry or wants to be held - otherwise very happy. This amazing change took only 3 visits. My 6 y/o always tells me how great she feels after a visit.

I'd definitely tell your husband you want to try it - since it IS your health and body that is in pain. Pregnancy during this sort of pain will make the pregnancy unbearable for BOTH of you.

OH MY GOODNESS!! Please have your husband call mine. My husband is an MD and he does treat back pain on a daily basis, but he also refers patients to chiropractors every single day. There are many conditions that are best treated by a chiropractor (especially if you don't want to be dependent upon phramaceutical remedies for the rest of your life.)

I have slight scoliosis and disc derangement. I have been treated by my MD, who did what MDs do best--take a pt history, get x-rays, and give me a prescription for pain relievers and muscle relaxants, and a scrip for some PT sessions. Guess what, I followed the care regiment to a T and within 1 month my symptoms returned and WORSENED. MDs do not always get to the root of back problems, which is a MECHANICAL problem. Chiropractors (and DOs (Doctors of Osteopathy) DO.

2 weeks ago I resumed seeing a chiropractor that my husband sends most of his patients to. I had been in severe pain for a few weeks, could barely move without crying, which was, obviously, imparing my ability to care for my 3 kids. After 1 treatment I was once again standing upright, and was on the path to recovery.

Look at it this way...if your husband wants to persist in the MD route to treat your symptoms, he can look at a lifelong cost to fill your prescriptions, go for MRIs, and even possible surgery, which is rarely beneficial to Low Back Pain. If he shells out the $450 for the chiropractor, you will begin to actually HEAL and your will be taught how to maintain your health and save thousands of dollars.

Furthermore, if you are having back problems and you want to get pregnant, realize that pregnancy is VERY h*** o* your back. You need to remedy your back problems before you try to get pregnant again.

ETA: Ditto to Pamela's remarks about the pain meds! The muscle relaxants I had to use made me INCREDIBLY lethargic. So, even though I wasn't in pain at the time, I still couldn't get off the sofa because I was far too tired. I could barely keep my eyes open, which was worse, because I can't be nodding off when I have a baby and a 2 yr old on the loose :)

The proof is in the pudding so to speak. My husband wouldn't be able to function without seeing his Chiropractor 2-3X a week. He has severed neck and back problems from a car accident years ago. He's been seeing a Chiro for almost 20 years. I've had back surgery. Even my orthopedic surgeon recommended a chiropractor.

You'll know pretty quickly if you can be helped by this kind of doctor. In my case, it really doesn't help now that I've had surgery. Tell you husband that you'll try it for a few weeks and see if you feel better. It's better than having another doctor talk you into surgery (mine was absolutely necessary) if it's not needed right now. Exhaust all treatments before agreeing to surgery.

I would see an orthopedic doctor and get their opinion ... sorry to say but a "quack" chiropractor caused me to haveback surgery when a steroid shot and a few weeks of physical therepy could have fixed my issues in the first place. I had pretty simmilar stuff you are talking about, after 3 "intense" weeks - 3 visits a week to the chiropractor I was in a walker with no knowledge or security that I was going to walk independantly again w/out surgery and not need pain pills daily. Now my back hurts for a few days here and there every few months (mostly around a heavier cycle or stressful time) but NOTHING like what I had. Basically, I carry stress in my back, like some do in their shoulders or head. I had the surgery just prior to concieving and we did go ahead with a planned C-Section just to be safe but you DO NOT want to be preggers with back issues I promise you this.

MY story but I thought I would let you know my experience - I had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital from an acupuncturist (for my back, tried it too) so TAKE CARE with whom you choose - he told me that my weight caused him to trigger the wrong spots and that it was my own fault for being so fat. In the time that my back went out I went from 170 (6'2) to over 250 because I could not walk and was on steroids daily for months - you do that and not gain weight.

It really doesn't sound "overboard" to go 3 times a week, and if you are trying to get pregnant you really don't want to go into a pregnancy and beyond with a back problem. I realize that a lot of people are either for or against chiropractors, but if it helps you it's going to be worth it in the long run, and hopefully help prevent further damage.

My thought is to give it a try for 2 weeks. If you notice a big difference, then keep going. If you aren't feeling any better, stop. Seems to me that if you're having a lot of pain and headaches that traditional medicine have not helped, then why not try chiropractic? What does your husband want, for you to be on Vicodin indefinitely, or to simply get your spine aligned and be done with it? I mean, really! $450 is not a huge price to pay if it works (but you should know within $200 if it's working or not).

My other thought is, if you have a lot of inflammation, you may want to look into acupuncture. My husband (who plays rugby and works in construction) has had a lot of back pain due to inflammation, as you might imagine. He has had incredible luck with acupuncture (the treatment works by calming nerve inflammation, which reduces pain and allows the surrounding tissue to heal).

Best of luck to you! I hope you feel better soon!

Maybe the doc can show your husband the x-rays. Like already mentioned, paying more now to save a lot later is better. And if you are trying to get pregnant, think about how that affects your body. Maybe hubby can go with you next time and get good answers.

It is normal to go 2-3 times a week in the beginning. You may find that after going 3 times the first 2 weeks, you may be able to reduce to twice a week for the next few.

The reason is, you may not be able to get everything adjusted all at once and even if you do, it tends to revert back until you get your back (including the muscles) to retrain because it has "gotten use" to the positions (misalignment) of everything right now.

My mom has had several pinched nerves in her neck and the only thing that has helped her is going to a good chiropractor. When she was in a lot of pain, I believe she went at least 3-4 times a week in the beginning and then was able to go less and less. Now, she only goes in if she feels it coming on...she can go in for an adjustment and it prevents her from being in further pain. I would definitely give it a try, if after 3-4 weeks it doesn't seem to be helping you could go see an orthopedic doctor OR if your insurance will cover it, just go see him in conjunction with the chiropractor. It would be good to get things straightened out before getting pregnant. Goodluck!

Here's what I would suggest. Tell the chiro the problem you are having with your husband. Ask him to send copies of your films to an orthopedic who specializes in backs. Get in there and get THAT guy's opinion. If he agrees with the diagnosis, work with the chiro. All the ortho guy can do for you is give you medication and refer you to a PT.

Chiropractors have a lot to say about backs - they work on them all day long. What you want is to have clarity about your disks.

Good luck!

I've always kind of shied away from chiropractic care because of the reasons your husband is giving -but I've never had a major issue I was trying to correct or find relief from! I have friends who swear by their chiropractors and who have had some really major issues. I think it really depends on what you have wrong with you as to how much they can help, but I do think they can help a number of things.

If I was in pain, as you are, I would give it a try. In the scheme of things -particularly when it comes to medical care -$450 really isn't very much.

You may also want to investigate if this chiropractor or maybe another one in your area offers their services in conjunction with acupuncture. I've hear a lot of great things about combining the two.

I agree - see an orthopedist for an evaluation of the findings
Physical therapy might be recommended, helpful (and covered by insurance).

Don't know how your husband feels about acupuncture -- but it can be great for pain relief so might be something to explore. Chiropractors may or may not be helpful, depending on what they do -- and there are instances where they can exacerbate things (I knew a neurosurgeon who said that knowing what he does about the spine, and it's fragility -- he would never let it be manipulated with the aggresiveness that some chiropractors use).

I have had two back surgeries. I am very pleased with the results. I had a monster bulge at the L5-S1. I cannot even begin to tell you about the pain. I woke up one morning and couldn't walk! My first surgery was to "clip" the bulge. Most people respond well to that and don't need additional surgery, Apparently, I'm super special because a year later I needed a fusion. Best decision I ever made.

Several years ago, I went to a chiro. Worst decision of my life. I had such a hard time afterwards. I think that is why it took me so long to go to the ortho.

My point, get a second opinion. If you didn't get an MRI I would suggest doing so. Those tests can show everything that is going on in the lower back and spine. Good luck!

I have a couple friends who are chiropractors so I'm pretty well versed in the treatments they offer. In addition I also work in the health insurance field so I'm familiar with the treatment plans and the process. From what I've seen the good chiropractors will give you exercises to do at home; just like a physical therapist would. The treatment plan is always 4-6 weeks just like a physical therapist however my big issue with chiropractors is that there is no check and balance to insure that your treatment is correct for your condition and they can talk you into needing adjustment until you are cured which usually happens right around the time your insurance benefits run out.

They take and read xrays which is interesting since most medical providers have x rays taken by certified radiology techs and read by radiologists (medical doctors who have specific training to read xrays). My primary dr relies on other professionals to take and read xrays before he sets treatment.

I can't begin to tell you the number of times that consumers went for treatment and if their insurance covered 20 visits they were cured on the 20th visit. If it was 25 then it took 25. 30 visit max? Well those took all 30 visits. It's like the treatment plan was dependent on the benefits available. I've never seen that by other providers of service like a gastro specialist or gyn.

If your unsure, get a second oppinion. Also, I would find out if pregnacy will cause you back to go back out of allinment & cause you to go back the way you are now. If it might, maybe it would be better to wait till after the baby so that you don't have to pay out the funds twice, since you say it just annoying issues and not extreme pain. But also remember, that if you have issues now - more weight and the movement of you bones during pregnancy might cause more pain.

Good luck with both your back & trying to get pregnant.

Sorry to say,but a highly recommended chiropractor, who did x-rays and a very thorough exam on my back, has caused me to have chronic neck pain. Because of him, I have had years of pain and medical bills. I got best relief from physical therapy. If I just went to an ortho and physical therapy in the beginning I would have avoided a whole lot of pain and suffering.

Like Catherine C. said, try it for a while. If it doesn't help, making it worse, then stop and find a second opinion from another doctor. If it works, it will be worthwhile to continue. I understand that it's not extreme pain, but annoying issues, if left untreated, can worsen into something more serious.
Best of luck! :)