[writerchick]

I've always been afraid of chiropractors. For some reason, I don't know why, I formed the opinion that chiropractics wasn't "real" medicine. But after hearing so many good success stories, I took my daughter who has had unexplained hip problems to one. He told me she was completely misaligned and wanted to fit her with expensive orthotics to correct an "obvious" pronation that could easily be causing her problems. Shortly after I took her to a sports medicine doctor and also a podiatrist who both told me the guy was a quack, because she was only slightly misaligned and had no pronation at all. Now I'm all soured on chiropractors again. Does someone want to talk me into taking her back?

[LisaDK]

Honestly, I don't have a great opinion about Chiropractors. I actually worked for one for a while (who really wasn't that great of a person, so that didn't help the situation). It always seemed he could fix any and everything (which he couldn't) and everything needed ten adjustments (appointments) to be fixed. I'm sure that there are some good chiropractors out there who do practice legitimate medicine, but I would definately be wary, especially of those whose claims are a little "too good to be true."

[writerchick]

I was a little surprised, too, that he wanted to take more X-rays at his office, even though my daughter had already had extensive X-rays, a sonogram and an MRI. They were expensive, too, so I opted out.

[mcmama]

There are a lot of chiropractors who are hucksters. I swear, even among the best of them, marketing seems to be a major area of study and practice.
But, I was regularly treated by one for a year and find that things are much better over time. I noticed a lot of differences.
Usually the x rays they don't charge you for they work that into the initial package or they offer it as a freebie to get you to come in. Sounds like you had a huckster, x rays are x rays and a skilled chiropractor could show you what is going on by looking at what you had.

[luckyme]

I am currently seeing one and I'm happy about it.
I have bone promblems which include, Osteoarthritis & osteoporosis.
Those have resulted in my spine bending 15% and that in turn caused painful hip bursitis.

Over the years I've had a PCP, a Neurologist, And an Orthopedic surgern, as well as plenty of Physical Therapy for a couple winters.
So I think we can say I've already run the gauntlet of medical personnal.
They have X-rayed MRI'd, and CT scanned every inch of this poor spine and neck.
Yes I did get a steriod (SP) shot for the bursitis but you can only it in one spot and I had the Bursitis very drastically in multiple spots.

So in May I decided to try a Chiro.
He did take X-rays but did not charge me for them.
Told me what he could attempt to do and what he could not fix.
I think he is honest.

For the first 2 months I went 3 times a week.
Then for a little while twice a week.
Now I go only once a week for basically just maintance.
(My ins pays fully as far as I know)
I intend to continue forever cuz this guy got rid of the pain the other Dr's couldn't.
Hey, getting rid of 24/7 pain is a good thing!

My back feels 3 years younger.
(I moved wooden cupboard by myself last week and 2 years ago I could not get a roast out of the oven myself)
My hip bursitis is gone. I had that horrid pain reoccuring and never actually gone for about 2 years and the Dr's didn't help enough to get rid of it!
(I LOVE not having that horrid hip pain anymore)

He has never tried to sell me a thing.
Today I asked him about calcium recomendations.
I've taken calcium for like 30 years but there are so many kinds and formulas that what is really best gets confusing.
I have learned to respect this Chiro and wanted his recommendation.
He said..well some are not abosorbed as well as others etc etc (we have all heard all this before.. ) but did not actually tell me a brand.
He said he is highly considering getting a line he likes into his office in a month or so.

So he is going to get into pushing stuff.
When he does I will listen to and consider his sales pitch.

But I am overjoyed at what he has done for my back.
I'm sticking with him.

TRUE my PCP is having me do a new bone density scan (it's been 2 years) so I do do what the medical Dr's want to a certain degree
(She is already pushing Bonivia and I am not going to take it cuz I reacted nasty to Fosamax)

[yahyah]

Originally Posted by luckyme

I am currently seeing one and I'm happy about it.
I have bone promblems which include, Osteoarthritis & osteoporosis.
Those have resulted in my spine bending 15% and that in turn caused painful hip bursitis.

Over the years I've had a PCP, a Neurologist, And an Orthopedic surgern, as well as plenty of Physical Therapy for a couple winters.
So I think we can say I've already run the gauntlet of medical personnal.
They have X-rayed MRI'd, and CT scanned every inch of this poor spine and neck.
Yes I did get a steriod (SP) shot for the bursitis but you can only it in one spot and I had the Bursitis very drastically in multiple spots.

So in May I decided to try a Chiro.
He did take X-rays but did not charge me for them.
Told me what he could attempt to do and what he could not fix.
I think he is honest.

For the first 2 months I went 3 times a week.
Then for a little while twice a week.
Now I go only once a week for basically just maintance.
(My ins pays fully as far as I know)
I intend to continue forever cuz this guy got rid of the pain the other Dr's couldn't.
Hey, getting rid of 24/7 pain is a good thing!

My back feels 3 years younger.
(I moved wooden cupboard by myself last week and 2 years ago I could not get a roast out of the oven myself)
My hip bursitis is gone. I had that horrid pain reoccuring and never actually gone for about 2 years and the Dr's didn't help enough to get rid of it!
(I LOVE not having that horrid hip pain anymore)

He has never tried to sell me a thing.
Today I asked him about calcium recomendations.
I've taken calcium for like 30 years but there are so many kinds and formulas that what is really best gets confusing.
I have learned to respect this Chiro and wanted his recommendation.
He said..well some are not abosorbed as well as others etc etc (we have all heard all this before.. ) but did not actually tell me a brand.
He said he is highly considering getting a line he likes into his office in a month or so.

So he is going to get into pushing stuff.
When he does I will listen to and consider his sales pitch.

But I am overjoyed at what he has done for my back.
I'm sticking with him.

TRUE my PCP is having me do a new bone density scan (it's been 2 years) so I do do what the medical Dr's want to a certain degree
(She is already pushing Bonivia and I am not going to take it cuz I reacted nasty to Fosamax)

Um, sounds like you may have some metabolic imbalance that doesn't allow your body to absorb calcium. Have you check with a nutritionist about hair mineral testing? They offer it many places. Good luck. I enjoy my chiro too.

[luckyme]

Oh no, I'm 60.
Arthritis and osteoporosis are very common at my age for those who are suseptable to them.

[yahyah]

I am glad you found a good chiro. Our family chiro passed away a few years ago and it took me 4 tries and hundreds of dollars (including useless xrays) to find a good one. I am still fielding the calls from those bad chiropractors who are calling me to return.
I am a firm believer in the chirpractic medicine, however as stated on this post earlier, they are extremely difficult to find, at least in my area. I can totally understand anyone who is afraid of them. I have some slight curvature issues as well as some sports injuries that keep me returning for "tuneups". My rules for a good chiro:
1. A good chiro won't tell you when you need to come in. It is your money right? Thats like CVS calling to say, ummm.. "Mam I see its about time you need to come in to buy toothpaste and deoderant, etc..."
2. A good chiro won't xray you unless you have had a broken bone or have a bone problems like the osteo arthritis, etc, They can feel the need for adjustments by a technique called palpation.
3. A really good chiro doesn't mess with insurance, at least not in my demographic area. My "copay" was about the same as the entire bill.
blablabla. I could go on forever.

About the calcium...kind did he say was good?

[luckyme]

He did not recommend any specific type or brand of calcium specifically.
He just said some are better than others.

About insurance coverage.
Mine is covered 100% through Medicare and Medicaid.
I pay nothing out of my pocket.
In order for Medicare/Medicaid to cover it it has to be a specific thing and mine is exactly that.
I believe its referred to as "Subjugation".

He certainly did take Xrays of his own and we looked at those during the first consultaions so he could show me and point out exactly what we would be doing or at least trying to do. I highly agreed with what he was saying. It was logical and sensible and that way we were on the same page. I have seen my spine Xraqys many many times over the years but I appreciated having that picture there and visable while we discussed it.

He did tell me he cannot do anything about my knee arthritis.

We are seriously trying to keep my spine as normal shaped as possible and slow down the developement of that horrid "S" curve so many people with the combination of Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis get.

NO ONE can cure Osteoarthritis.
NO ONE can unbend a spine once it's truely bent, but we can slow down the progression of the bend.

That bend in my lower spine is the problem that causes my hip bursitis... taking care of the spine by my chiro has made that pain go away.

[MangoFlamingo]

I've been going to one for nearly 9 months with no improvement. I REALLY like her though, so I'm giving it another few months.