Chiropractors

It's a cult!

And I love my chiropractor. But you asked what happens - not my opinion.

You get totally naked. Just kidding.

My normal visit takes 5 minutes. I go 4 times per year for a "tune-up". This is 11 years post disk-slippage, when I first discovered chiropractic.

I sit on a special chair that makes you sit up straight. The doc does that magic move from high school that looks like the person standing behind is going to twist the sitting person's head off? But instead cracks their neck and the sitting person says "awesome, that feels so good!". Well the doc does that thing.

To each side of my head, left and right.

Then I lay on my front on a table that twists and loosens my spine. He then pops one of the vertebrae around mid-back.

Then I lay on my side in a semi-fetal position, he twists my shoulder back to pop my back again - and does the other side.

Boom! Best money I ever spent!

I see my chiropractor once a week but I have chronic muscle problems which pull it out of alignment. My daughter goes twice a month for well visits.

I love my chiropractor. The adjustments can help with allergies, runny noses, ear infections, drainage and so many other health concerns. To explain it in a simple way is that the adjustments keep the signals from your brain going to where they are supposed to end up in your body. If a disk is out of alignment then that signal gets blocked and other problems can start.

A good chiropractor will go over this better and with more detail. My daughter has been going since birth and has never taken antibiotics, she also gets over most colds in three to four days. If she gets a runny nose I take her for an adjustment and it helps it drain so that she doesn't end up with a sinus or ear infection.

This is one of those cases where "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" If you do not have back problems, there's really no reason to go to a chiropractor. I have gone to a chiropractor for years due to an old sports injury that left me with issues in my upper back. It really does help. However, a lot of people think chiropractors can help get rid of allergies, get rid of headaches, clear up your skin, cure cancer (okay, I'm exaggerating, but you get the idea) - personally, I haven't found that to be the case. Chiropractors solve alignment issues. If you don't have alignment issues, you don't need to go to one, in my opinion.

This is where you need to educate yourself on the health benefits of chiropractic care.

First I must tell you that I am a traditionally trained registered nurse with over 30 years experience. We were taught that chiropractors are evil! ;) It's just been the last 5-6 years that I've become a believer. Yes, I did initially go to my chiropractor because of a tailbone injury. But I now understand that it's not just about back or bone issues but it is about overall wellness.

I remember seeing a chart in anatomy that showed the nerve pathways throughout our body. Just finally after my chiropractor truly explained it, did I realize and understand that something out of whack in my neck, could have an effect on something else in my body.

I can't articulate it, but do a little research and go with an open mind. I now will go to my chiropractor about 1-2 times a month and rarely see my MD.

I have to refute what Catherine posted. There are many reasons other than back pain to see a chiropractor. Many chiropractors, in addition to being able to do skeletal adjustments, can and do treat things like allergies, ear infections, skin problems and other health issues through not only traditional adjustments but also nutrition counseling and supplements, general wellness counseling, and treatments that are akin to acupressure/acupuncture.

There is a movement in the chiropractic world to get people to think of chiro as they do dentistry. Instead of only going to the dentist when you have a toothache, which was the standard several decades ago, you probably go every six months for a check up and cleaning, right? There are some who argue that by seeing a chiro on a regular basis (a couple of times a year), one can catch things before they become problematic. For example, I had a back injury in early April while doing something totally ordinary. I went to a chiro and learned that I have really terrible posture and a curve in my spine. After a few treatments, not only was my injury healed, but I have fewer headaches and chronic aches that I had just accepted over the past few years, like a shoulder that gets a little tight or my right hip getting sore, are gone. There was no need for me to wait until I was injured to make these changes that have improved my health.

The "nutritionist" that some of my kids see is technically a chiropractor. She doesn't do adjustments on them, but she works with us to figure out which foods are best for them and which supplements benefit them.

All that said...chiropractic is a business just like any other and of course they're always seeking new clients. If you feel that you and your family are in a state of relative wellness with no chronic health issues, then perhaps it would not be worth the expense. But if there are areas of your family's health where you could use some help or guidance, a chiropractor can be a great resource.

I go to one regularly. I do have back problems but I also take my kids when I go or when they are having issues with their allergys or asthma. They adjust your spine and neck. Some will take xrays. Mine does not. But the adjustment releases endorphines that promote healing so my kids see ours more than their primary care dr. Mine helps with migrains, my TMJ,, my allergys and asthma. With kids just being kids they get out of alinement.

ive been to several different chiros,,never did me any good...but my motto is..IF ITS NOT BROKE_WHY TRY TO FIX IT...if you and your family are in no pain-why waste money on something you dont need?..you can do your own stretches etc.at home-zero cost..of course he claims that-hes looking for cash flow...

Answering as the chiropractor wife...Chiropractors receive all the training and education that medical doctors receive up to pharmacology. They specialize in the neurology of your body and how to align your neuro system so it will perform effectively.

That being said, if it isn't broke....only go if you see benefit. Like all professions, there are good chiros and "not so" good chiros. Frankly, I don't get my teeth cleaned often enough, that doesn't mean I don't believe Dentists can treat oral issues, I just go when it is emergent..(probably not the smartest plan :)

Hope that helps!

My opinion is just that: an opinion. Please don't go if you or no one in your family has a back issue. I have many more opinions about chiropractors that I'll keep to myself, but the bottom line is that people with back and neck issues *may* want to see a chiropractor. Other people don't need it. Please do your research and remember that chiros want money, just like everyone else.

I am a Chiropractor and have been for 22 years. My father and uncle are chiropractors and what I think is interesting is that you are asking people who are not educated to give you their opinion. Would you ask them if you should go to a dentist or a general practitioner. If someone has a bad experience with a dentist, do they tell you to never go to a dentist.....no, but probably not that dentist. The same with chiropractors. If you want to be educated on what chiropractors do and why he thinks you should have your back aligned to be healthy.....you should ask him or her....not people who have no education or training in that field. If you go to a neurologist you as a lay person are going to hear words and phrases that you have never heard before.....does that make them a quack,...no that is called medical terminology! It is their job to talk to you in lay terms that you can understand. It is unbelievable to me the comments that people wrote and about something that they truly know nothing about. Chiropractors have more hours than MD's until they reach their residency and it has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that what we do is scientific and effective.
In my practice, I absolutely think children should be seen, but only if I see a problem on their x-rays. I will not treat anyone without x-rays, because that is what gives me the information that I need to know if they have a problem or not. Most spinal problems start at a young age (think about how many times little ones fall and that jolts the spine tremendously), but spines are resilient and most of the time they won't feel any pain at that time. The vertebrae start to twist and over time, that twisting can cause the holes where the nerves come through to get smaller and also is the cause of scoliosis. I once found a 2 1/2 year old with a scoliosis forming....his mother was my office manager......within 4 months it was straight. Had we never had him checked we would not have found it until later in life when it is a much harder and longer process to fix.
I think that your initial question is a very good one, but ask those questions to someone that is educated and trained in that field, so you get an educated answer. Somewhat like asking someone about whether or not you should eat meat and whether your children should eat meat. You will get all kinds of answers depending on their beliefs and likes and dislikes. If you really want to know why it is good or not, you would talk to a nutritionist or dietician to find out the specifics.

If you have a spine, you have a nervous system, which controls every bodily function. If a vertebrae is out of alignment, which is very easily done and often present from birth, it doesn't self-correct or get better on its own, like braces for teeth or a cast for a broken bone, it constantly grows and shifts and needs to be "adjusted". The nervous system controls all bodily function, so if left out of place, can cause pain, numbness, incontinence, headaches, infertility, many other things since all the nerves send all the brain's messages to the body as to how to function properly.

A good chiropractor will take a comprehensive history from you regarding injuries, accidents, posture, lifestyle, activities, etc. Sometimes x-rays if necessary to rule out any degeneration, scoliosis, spinal curvature, etc. The ones I've gone to forever (and my kids too since birth!) don't "make" you come back, but recommend it of course. Most insurances cover enough to go in and correct then to maintain. Mine also adjusts kids for free with the parents. An adjustment can be done manually or with the activator, doesn't hurt, and is very gentle and safe.

I've seen it firsthand improve headaches, arm and hand numbness, hip pain, ear infections, colic, colds, asthma, and many other things. The healthiest people I know go to chiropractors. It's about taking care of problems before they happen, as opposed to just popping a pill to mask symptoms but never alleviate the causes. Not going is like never working out but expecting to stay in shape, or never going to the dentist and just hoping the brushing your own teeth will keep them healthy. Just because you can't see the spine, many people ignore it!

That said, there are quacks of all kinds..MDs included! Prescription drug and surgical errors are in the top causes of death in America, but no one questions those doctors knowledge or judgement? If we would all just take care of our bodies and keep them functional, our nations health would be much better to start with.

There are good chiropractors and bad chiropractors. I would be suspicious of any chiropractor who claims that EVERYONE needs anything. If I wasn't suffering from anything, I wouldn't go.

Don't do it!! I went to one to see if they could help me with some shoulder pain. They convinced me that I should have adjustments so I did. My back went out for the first time ever! They told me it had to get worse before it got better. The only thing is my back was not bad in the first place!
Now a couple months ago I had some really bad lower back pain and went to one. A couple of adjustments really helped.

The moral of the story is don't go if you dont need to.

I agree Chiropractors are the best I see my Chiropractor as often as I can and my daughter who is 9 years old has seen the Chiropractor since birth. Yes everyone should get there spine adjusted at least weekly

Do you see a regular doctor? Get their take, esp if you think your doc is open minded. When I was pregnant, my doula suggested I see a cranio-sacral therapist for some pain I was having. Liking my doula, but having a longer relationship with my family physician (who would deliver baby), I consulted with my doc to see whether she advised AGAINST it for some reason. She said she had a chiropractor she did refer to, for things like chronic ear infections and things like that. So, there is a chiro in their healthcare system. Whether that person is particularly good or not, I don't know, but it was interesting to me to see chiro as part of a traditional health care system, rather than seeing them as opposites, or sparring over who's right. We live in a small northern town where wholistic medical care is not the norm; I would think docs in big cities might be a little more willing to deal with other ideas. Anyway--for me it was a relief to have the blessing of the doc I trusted, as well as a name for future potential care.