Opinions on Chiropractors

Updated on April 25, 2007
A.H. asks from Dalton, GA
17 answers

My 4 month old son has acid reflux and spits up a lot. The doctor put him on Zantac and it has helped some, but he hates to take it. The chiropractor that I go to is trying to talk me into bringing my son in for adjustments to help with the acid reflux. My son also has a ear infection right now and he has trouble with constipation. The chiropractor also says the adjustmenst will help with these other problems that he has. My question is does anyone know if taking an infant to the chiropractor is safe. I have heard people say that they can help ,but I have also heard people say that if I take him now that he will have to go his whole life. Does anyone have any opinions on this?

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B.

answers from Augusta on

I have heard a lot of good things about babies and chiopractors
I do know they can help with ear infections a friend of mine has a son that had lots of ear infections took hiim to a chiropractor and they cleared up no more infections. I think she still takes him and hes 5 now.

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A.B.

answers from Savannah on

At only 4 months old I wouldn't do it. My son also had reflux and would not take the zantac. Try previcad. Or keep him up right for 30 min after feeding. I put a wedge in my sons crib. He stopped having the problems as soon as he started to pull himself up to stand. I would try alternatives before a chiropractic adjustment. Good luck!

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D.

answers from Atlanta on

I don't know about the chiropractor, but I do know there is a product from Herbalife call Herbal Aloe that has helped many people with acid reflux and the first thing to look at is what kind of formula he is on. It may be that he needs a special one, but to put him on that strong a medication at 4 months needs to have many Dr's opinion first. The aloe has helped many and is all natural.......my son is a distributor and I can tell you it has helped me and even a Dr I know. Just get is somewhere and get many Dr's to tell you what to do, not just one. The natural way to go is best...talk about a life long habit...he is too young to start him on medicine without finding out what is causing the problem. research, research and research some more to give your son a fighting chance through life. Most of the time it is a nutritional problem.
D.

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E.C.

answers from Atlanta on

Yes it is safe. I have taken my daughter and it helped. I prefer the homeopathic route for common illness's instead of just pumping my children full of antibiotics. I use Hylands Earache drops for her ear infections and they work wonders. But it is your choice. If you live near or around Winder, my chiroprator is very sweet and does very well with children. Plus he has great prices too! Let me know if you need anything else. Good Luck.

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R.K.

answers from Atlanta on

My son just turned 1..he had reflux so bad from the time he was born. My doctor put him on zantac 2x a day. it seemed to work, but he still was fussy. she then changed his formula and that didn't seem to help. i changed it lactose free..that helped 100%. He is not lactose intolerant now, but at the time we thought he might be. I would be careful taking him to a chiropractor..have you asked your pediatrician

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J.C.

answers from Chattanooga on

I've been having my 3 year old Daughter adjusted since birth. I would definately recommend trying adjustments to see if they help. Children get out of alignment really easy due to the way they play, fall down, etc.
Last fall she put her hip out and couldn't walk. The pediatrician diagnosed it as a sprain, I took her to my Chiropractor he measured her legs and one leg was 2 inches longer than the other. He adjusted her and she could walk fine right away.
Make sure you use a chiropractor you trust and go for it!

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L.C.

answers from Atlanta on

A girl I grew up with (church family) - became a chiropractor and married one! She "adjusted" her baby the first week of her life!! I don't see her much but from a mom/chiro viewpoint - she believes in it!! Hope it works. My hubbie loves the chiro. :-)

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M.P.

answers from Savannah on

A., I know exactly what you are going through. My 5 month old had terrible reflux from birth to about 3 months. Our pediatrician put him on Zantac also and we really struggled with the decision of whether to give it to him or not. There are no studies that have proven its effectiveness in children so young. I feel that the chiropractic adjustments he has been getting since he was 3 weeks old helped tremendously though. We go to Crossroads Chiropractic and they are great. He only gets adjusted about once a week or once every other week. Watching your child struggle with acid reflux is very hard, but it should get better once their little body grows. Good luck.

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C.W.

answers from Athens on

Hi A.,

First of all, going to the chiropractor should be perfectly safe, but ask before you make the appointment if the doctor has experience in treating infants. Chiropractic care can help a multitude of problems, but our medical doctors and insurance companies want us to view them with suspicion because they take a natural, drug free way of treatment, and that just doesn't cater to the medical community who want us to stay on prescription drugs and have expensive tests so that they will not lose money. And I am a nursing student, so I am one of the medical community.

Secondly, chiropractic care does not have to be ongoing. Sometimes an adjustment can be made and it will solve the problem. But in other cases, like mine, the back gets out of alignment just through the process of living, and further visits are needed. I know that when I was under the care of a Chiropractor last year it really helped me, but now I have been suffering for several months because our insurance company only pays for 12 visits a year, and when the spine is really messed up, like mine, those visits are used up quickly. But chiropractic care is not a necessity, it only makes me feel much better. So I continue not to go because of my schedule and because we have a super tight budget.

I recommend that you take your son to the chiropractor if you can find one that has experience with infants. At least give it a try. And although he may have a return of symptoms when he is older, you can decide then whether you want to take him back or not.

Chiropractic care should be an on-going option, just like regular medical visits are. It's just that for some reason, chiropractors have been stigmatized. If you yourself were considering chiropractic care you would seriously consider before you went. But if you made an appointment for a yearly physical with your gynecologist, you wouldn't think twice about it.

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M.F.

answers from Atlanta on

I don't think he'll have to go his whole life however they say it's helpful to stay adjusted properly. I can tell you this my son has erb's palsy is considered 20% at this point on his right side. My husband had him in his car seat had to stop fast while he was asleep it jerked his head. He had like a whiplash I guess we left the ER with him having no relief. The next day he was still crying I took him to see a chiro one I had never met I'm still kinda new to my area he was great with him we followed 4 adjustments he was fine his arm was starting to droop well it made a difference after the first adjustment he was able to use it as before. Every few months or so he goes gets adjusted I can't say anything negative about it we are having a good experience. Myself as an adult have went when I feel I need to get adjusted. I know it's scary I was worried my son would get worse it would be a mistake and of course the "what if's" but honestly had my parents had a little more faith and taken me maybe my back wouldn't of be so bad off before I went to a chiro. I wish I would of taken my son sooner. Erb's palsy is scary and well, now I have someone that can help him 2 years at a neuro surg doctor and they did nothing just said bring him back in 6 months will see how he is then. There is something to this chiro practice it helps lots of people were regular medicine fails. As far as safe well, nothing is safe there are risk at everything taking medications take a look at the possible side effects for even tylenol. You have to weigh it out take to other parents then deceide what is best for your family.

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M.E.

answers from Orlando on

my son had acid reflux, nothing helped him. I had to put rice cereal in his bottles for the milk to stay down, the consipation, use Kayo surup. it works good. I don't know anything about a chiropractor but I'm sure if you take him once he'll have to go for the rest of his life.

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S.P.

answers from Baton Rouge on

my chiropractor takes care of infants as well. He is wonderful!!! One of the first times I was in his office a couple had their ONE month old there. It is worth a try as it is a natural remedy. My kids both go to my chiro....they are 4 and 2. Good luck!!

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N.L.

answers from Atlanta on

yes! chiropractors are wonderful for newborns! My chiropractor I used speacialized in Newborns and Prenatal, so I heard all about it. There was also a lot of information I read about ear infections in children and chiropractic help stopping them.
What I would be worried about to be honest with you, is what is the Zantac doing to your child's body?

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C.M.

answers from Atlanta on

Hello A.,

I can understand that chiropractic care on an infant can be a little freaky. My son is 2 1/2 months and a premie also. I started take him to the chiropractor when he was a month old. He does not go all the time, he goes once every other week. He had some of the same problems your son had with the start to reflux but had diahrea. Only after the month + of office visits, he very rarely spits up and the bowel movements are normal. Just make sure you trust the doctor. I have been seeing mine for over 5 years (that is by choice). Your son may need some adjustments as he continues to grow but it will not be every other day. Plus, it helps more so in wellness and fighting such things as ear infections - I can atest to that one myself!! It truly is amazing but a good chiropractor does not fear medicine either and will tell you that it is the combination of both along with education.

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J.L.

answers from Athens on

Both of my boys have been going to a chiro since the day they came home from the hospital. My youngest has issues with spitting up, the doc was hesitant to call his acid reflux, having him adjusted really helped him keep his formula down. My children are 4 and 5 years old and they have each only had 1 ear infection and are very healthy, I give much of that credit to routinely getting them adjusted.

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T.D.

answers from Atlanta on

I would highly recomend taking your infant to a chiropractor. I received chiropractic care throughout my pregnancy and after as well. My daughter also received care from the time she was born. She had acid reflux, colitis, and suffered from a sleeping disorder. The chiropractor helped with all of the above. After an adjustment she would actually sleep for a few hours which meant that I could sleep for a few hours. It was a true blessing. Now if I can just get through her being 3 everything will be just fine.

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H.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Just be careful I would really consult your sons PED.

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