Put as much detail into your answers as you wish, but I'll keep the Q and A portion simple:

Question:
Is chiropractic treatment legit?

Choices:
Yes it is beneficial
No it is a scam

 

I don’t think it’s a scam but I believe the benefits are limited and very temporary. A massage from qualified therapist is almost always better and longer lasting.

I voted "Yes", but with this qualifier: it depends on the treatment.

I have seen a chiropractor many times for back pain. It is good for spinal manipulation and loosening tight, seized muscles. I do not buy into many of the other claims for chiropractic treatment.

I consider it like physical therapy or massage therapy

There's definitely a benefit to it.

Some people start making claims that it cures cancer and other things. I think that's where some mistrust comes into play.

While I know people who have had good results with a chiropractor, my experience is that a good licensed massage therapist will be able to tell whether a problem is muscular or structural and refer a client/patient to a chiropractor or MD/DO if appropriate.

However, chiropractors generally see every problem as a nail (solvable through skeletal manipulation) and therefore only have a hammer on their tool belt.

quote:

Originally posted by GaryBF:
I voted "Yes", but with this qualifier: it depends on the treatment.

I have seen a chiropractor many times for back pain. It is good for spinal manipulation and loosening tight, seized muscles. I do not buy into many of the other claims for chiropractic treatment.

^^ THIS ^^

It brings my neck/back around much quicker than taking anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxers.

The first time I lived in Houston, a friend referred me to a chiropractor and before the adjustment an assistant gave a brief pressure point massage (ie. jamming an elbow in a location that relaxes the muscles). The combo of massage and an adjustment has been the more effective for me than a chiropractic adjustment only.

I first saw one for a persistant back issue I was having after my doctor basically told me to take some advil and work on my core. I went to a couple that seemed like total charlatans, they told me that I needed 3-4 adjustments a week, that it would fix my back, my allergies would disappear, headaches would be a thing of the past, etc, etc. I couldn't wait to get out of there.

A friend recommended one that seemed honest and didn't try sell me it as cure all. He did recommend adjustments, but mainly it was physical therapy and use of a massage table that he recommended. The pain went away and after about 2 months of PT I felt back to 100%. I started working out regularly and other than normal soreness, I haven's had any issues since.

I'm a retired chiropractor.

Yes it's legit.

No it doesn't cure cancer.
Those making that claim are what isn't legit.-

I have used it for about 3 years now. I'm 52, and active, but heavier than I should be.

I divide the benefits into two categories: First are those benefits that are obvious, and that I can effectively measure. In the first category are eliminated back pain, greater flexibility both bending and rotating, elimination of tension headaches, and much better sleep.

In practical terms, I don't hurt when I pick things up, I don't hurt when I put on my socks, I can turn around and look out the back window of my truck when backing up without pain, and I sleep like a rock.

Second are the benefits that I can't measure. In general, I "feel" better, but that's kind of hard to explain. I haven't had any kind of cold, flu, 'bug', or other illness since I started going. As my medical doctor said of that, "correlation isn't causation, but you shouldn't ignore it, either." In addition, stress is down, and my blood pressure is lower.

I recommend it to anyone who has pain or stiffness.

My girlfriend has had results even better than mine. She had daily headaches starting at about 2:00 pm from computer work and they are gone completely, and she had lost feeling in the big toes of both feet, and has regained that feeling. She saw an MD for both conditions for more than a year before trying chiropractic, and had no positive results. Chiropractic gave her positive results within two weeks, and the benefits have lasted. Her results are the reason I tried the treatment.

Two weeks into the worse pain a bone guy popped my acromioclavicular joint back how it should be. His underling and another doc missed it.

I've since had a few dislocated ribs and AC separations helped back into place by an aggressive bone guy. Of more benefit is horizontal stretching with arm weights, regular stretching, sit-ups, and swimming/treading water.

not a scam .

there great chro's, there are good ones and there are scheister's
just like any other business

I go three times
MAX

luckily , when my back gets out of joint , he can put it back in.

sometimes it takes two visits

quote:

Originally posted by signewt:
I'm a retired chiropractor.

Yes it's legit.

No it doesn't cure cancer.
Those making that claim are what isn't legit.-

Sounds right to me.

The guys that limit their treatments to the musculoskeletal system are doing a service. The ones that claim to cure systemic diseases with manipulation seem to be out of bounds.

Yeah - I didn't vote. My answer would be in the middle. Not always a scam and not the cure for everything either.

The right person can help you out and it makes sense that a properly aligned spine will help with many things - but it is not a cure all by any means.

Just like regular MDs - some of them aren't good at certain things either. I had a torn rotator cuff for longer than I needed, because a regular primary care dr didn't properly diagnose the problem. Went to a specialist and he figured it out quickly and operated on it as well.

Good and bad in every profession and no single one has all the answers.

I'm very against it, I do not believe there is any legit science behind it.

Wife and I were offered a free chiropractic treatment for our newborn baby from a friend. I thought that was disgusting.

Upper cervical chiropractic pretty much saved my life. I had sciatic pain that was at a level that equaled all my major injuries combined. Those included breaking L1 into 53 pieces in a mtn. bike accident, being hit by a car while standing on a major bridge, etc. Total 35 days in the hospital, inc. several in IC.

I ended up quitting my previous mechanical/electrical professions and becoming a NUCCA chiropractor.

I have saved many persons from extreme neck or lumbar pain. Also I have had excellent success with balance problems, hip pain, Meniere's Disease, and various cranial nerve problems including eye issues.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: c1steve,

There is definitely a benefit from it. Years ago, it was less professionally administered, and obtained a stima of hokiness.

I had a recurring pinched nerve issue in my shoulder which radiated into my neck and caused awful headaches that were cyclic in nature. Occurred about twice a month. Two months of adjustments combined with deep tissue massage and it is gone. Two months later, still gone.

In limited circumstances like these:

quote:

Originally posted by GaryBF:
I voted "Yes", but with this qualifier: it depends on the treatment.

I have seen a chiropractor many times for back pain. It is good for spinal manipulation and loosening tight, seized muscles. I do not buy into many of the other claims for chiropractic treatment.

I can't put it any better than that. And the relief is temporary (but welcome, I'm sure), not a cure. Those who make extravagant claims that it will cure any other ailment(s) are the ones to steer clear of.

I used to think it was all hokey until I threw my back out years ago. Desperation set in following my primary Dr visit when they told me it would be 8-9 weeks before I could see a specialist (1st world medical problems). I walked across the parking lot (hobbled really) and after two visits (same day) I was able to walk upright with limit pain. Another visit the following day and I cancelled my back Dr. Continued use did nothing, my hair didn't regrow, I didn't feel like I was 21, and I wasn't taller. Oh well, at least my back was better.

There is no middle ground answer in the poll (something along the lines of "yes, but only in some circumstances"), so I didn't vote.