Are all Chiropractors like this?

I hurt my back at the gym over a month ago, although I still don't know how. I honestly don't even know how long it has been, now. The pain made it difficult to stand up or sit down at first, and over time it got worse. I went to the ER and was there for about 7 or 8 hours, got some x-rays and some blood work (I had neuroblastoma as a child, so I get blood work every year). But they told me absolutely nothing. They just gave me some Motrin and a weak muscle relaxer, and told me to not lift anything heavy for a week. Well, after that week and things did not improve, I went to a chiropractor, for the first time in my life.

He assured me that it was not a herniated disc, or I would not be able to walk around. The problem is this: When I stand up now, things are fine at first, and I feel normal. Over time, my right leg begins to fall asleep, all the way down to my foot. Pins and needles. There is searing, throbbing pain in my right knee and hip. Not so bad at first, but it gets worse the longer I stand or walk. It begins to feel like my hip is being torn out of the socket, and my right knee feels like someone took a crowbar and whacked it. The pain only gets worse until I am dragging my leg behind me, which I am sure looks quite pathetic. Only sitting down or laying down (which is way better than sitting, but not something you do while shopping) will make the pain go away, then it starts back from square one. Basically, I cannot stand or walk for more than 15 minutes. I still cannot work out at the gym or do much of anything, and I'm sick of it.

So it's been about 3 weeks now (plus the 2 since the injury, and I'm sure my muscles are fading), and he has assured me (promised me, in fact) that everything will be fine when my treatment plan is done. "We'll get you fixed up, I promise you." When I go there, I lay on a table face-down, and he presses down on my back until some popping and cracking noises come out, then sends me home. Lately he barely does anything at all. It only takes him 3 minutes at the most to do whatever he does. Today, it was even less than that, and he changed his story completely. "You may have a herniated disc. Now, we may be able to help you, but you should probably get an MRI." I just sort of stood there, confused.

I have pretty much lost faith in this man today. And I feel that I have wasted my money and my time. I do not feel any better since I started going to him.

Now, here comes the weird part. I have noticed that this man has two televisions in his building, one in the treatment room, and one in the waiting room. They show a lot of strange imagery and slogans, about how to heal yourself with your mind, positive thinking and the like... and just last week, the lady at the desk handed out 3 pages of some "research" explaining why television and computers make teenagers have more unprotected sex, lowers your lifespan, and causes violent thoughts, and thoughts about rape. All I could think was... what does this have to do with my spine? :-/

Well anyway, I'm beginning to think that chiropractors are a joke. And I'm also thinking this guy and his staff are in some kind of cult. Maybe I should run... but I'm not very good at running in my condition, whatever it actually is (still don't know).

I've only been to a chiropractor a couple times, and my experiences were never anything like what you've just described... He should have had you go and get an MRI done on the first or second visit, instead of milking you of your money and possibly doing more damage to whatever you have going on down there. I'd say you should go and get an MRI done so you know for sure what is going on instead of playing the guessing game. If nothing is wrong then you're out a bit of money, but if something IS wrong, then you need to have it taken care of. Chiropractors aren't "real doctors", and while they do make you feel a lot better (most times) they're pretty much looked upon the same way acupuncturists are.

I too agree that there appears some bizarre brainwashing going on in these so called 'medical' facilities. Like all of them have these TVs now that play propaganda and act real innocent.

But there is always some sort of agenda going on it seems, typically with money and making more of it.

Plus I agree that there are many instances of a particular type of doctor giving out strange information about totally unrelated issues that seem exceptionally hard to justify.

I really like the way you say "what are they in some kind of cult". That's pretty much summing it up.
It does look very cult-like.

A lot of times people in these places deal with dangerous equipment often, and it's quite sad how after being questioned about the specifics, many of them don't know any of the science behind that dangerous equipment they are using. The big industries behind these places just teach workers how to operate and maintain the equipment (although maintenance is often out-sourced).

Modern medicine could hold promise for civilization, but it seems that the $$$ thing is becoming much more of a priority.

The first thing you do when you get a spinal injury is to get an MRI.

You don't guess at what it is... you get a picture of what it is so you know.

reply to post by D4nny


Well, it's hard to argue with actual physical surgeons because you can look at what they are doing and see what kind of work they have performed with your own eyes.

But with pharmacology it's a real mixed bag and many times it's difficult or impossible to determine what effects may have occurred. A lot of traditional remedies have worked and many others have not. Same with modern medicine except I would argue the ratio of failure is much higher in modern times. Problems like over medication, mis-prescriptions, introducing formulas on the market before adequate testing, all combine to make for quite a poor situation.

Sounds like sciatic nerve pressure. The good dr shoulda suggested a MRI. Xrays wont discover herniated disks. Go get an MRI. You could be hurting yourself a little each day. Spine issues are really nothing to get lazy about.

My experience with a chiropractor was alot like yours , I would drive there 3 times a week ( 15 minute drive ) wait in the waiting room for 15 minutes and finally be treated for no more than 5 minutes for 6 months with no noticeable results !!! I now see a physiotherapist who is amazing and has done wonders after only 4 appointments !!! That is my experience , but I do suggest you get an MRI or whatever a specialist advises ? Best of luck too You !!!

Well, I have been seeing a chiropractor for about 25 years on and off. Usually when I need to get "cracked".
My chiropractor is nothing like you described, he is more into holistic medicine and healthy eating and helping
you keep your back in line with exorcise. I wrecked my lower back from heavy weight training and farm work as a kid and so now I will forever have a disk issue, so an occasional adjustment helps me keep things straight.
I had a guy like the one you described,.once I figured out he was full of crap and wasnt helping me at all i found a better one. and have been much better since.
Chiropractors are not a docter, however I dont really have much faith in doctors anyway as they tend to just push
drugs in the end. Spinal alignment is important, many common health issues can be caused by your back being out.
However, if the pain is not getting better,. get another opinion and consult a specialist or find a physical therapist.
Kinda sounds like your guy might be scamming ya. Good luck

If i were you id make an appointment with a neurosurgeon and get a MRI I've had back problems for years ...I wouldn't mess around with a chiropractor when it comes to your back if you have a herniated disc it needs to be taken care of..Peace,sugarcookie1

Every chiropractor I've ever known is a total snake oil quack that will do everything they can to keep you coming back for those 'adjustments', and I know quite a few, which I can't name since they are clients.

Your ancestors 100 years ago didn't need 'adjustments', nor their ancestors, and they did well and fine enough to keep your line going long enough for you to come about.

Sure, chiropractors know some great feel-good tricks, and they can talk a smart game, but, you can feel just as good going down to Madam Orchid's house of 'massage', with a happy ending tossed in to boot.

Go to a real doctor, please.

First off, I am so sorry to hear about your back pain. I have suffered from back pain for a good 5 years. But it's my upper back. I'll get to that.

I went to a chiropractor about 4 years ago due to the pain. Plus, they were doing free "anxiety exams" at my work and I was able to get a full "session" for $15 or something. So I made the appointment. They did an x-ray and did a general back pop. The chiropractor showed me my x-ray and pointed to the area between my shoulder blades. He said something inflamed (???) nerves and that they could get me all fixed up! Much like yours. They wanted me to sign up for an 8 week long deal where I would meet with them 3 times a week. Who has time for that? And it was going to cost me $4500.

So I went to my regular MD. They did an x-ray and the "inflamed nerves" are actually little lip looking things coming off of my vertebrae which means arthritis. I'm doing my best to describe the x-ray! lol bear with me. But my dr said that doing any sort of chiropractic work on that area will only make the arthritis worse. I'm only 27! So I'm just careful and stretch A LOT!

My friend was doing a combo of massage therapy and seeing a chiropractor for 6 months due to symptoms you are describing. She ended up having a pinched nerve that required surgery.
Best to go to a medical doctor. I hope you get to feeling better.

Originally posted by BlastedCaddy
Sounds like sciatic nerve pressure. The good dr shoulda suggested a MRI. Xrays wont discover herniated disks. Go get an MRI. You could be hurting yourself a little each day. Spine issues are really nothing to get lazy about.

A STAR for you sir...

You just gave the man a free $50,000 dollar diagnosis.

It's like what he is describing is my back.

Oh Yeah.....Remember L5

ADD: Run from that witch doctor before he cripples you...

Do not play with your back. do not let anyone manipulate your back unless you already have an exact diagnosis.
It could be a disc, and or pressure from it. As well as swelling and inflammation around the area.
No doubt, an xray is not a defining factor in problems with discs in the back. Get the MRI.
Sciatica is pretty frequent. could be, but this happened right after a specific time frame of injury. so it could be more than that. Get yourself to a neurosurgeon or neurologist and get the MRI. If the disc is damaged and you further herniate it you could be in for a real treat of pain among other serious things.
You need the MRI and it should probably have been done before anyone made your back pop and crack.
never watch TV in a medical facility of any kind. Don't pick up the magazines and read them because they probably have been hacked over for a month, and don't walk out of there without knowing exactly what the Dr thinks and exactly what he is going to do and why. it is your body. Ask..you pay them they don't pay you

I've had some great experience with chiropractors, but I have had many more in which they were proven to be "quacks" or crackers. My mom was in her '80's and was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis. A "chiropractor" at her church convinced her that he could heal her with "manilpulation," vitamins and prayer. She spent about $1,200 a month on this guy.

When I protested and tried to reason with her, she complained about me to her church and doctor. Well, they rocommened that she stay away from me, and I was banned from visitng her, from spending Thanksgiving and Christmas with her, because the doctor wrote down a "prescription" for her to stay away from me.

Eventually she got so bad that she couldn't live by herself, her spinal vertabre kept fracturing, and moved into an independant care facility, who's doctors immediatley banner her chiropractor. The facility doctors and I wanted to charge him with elder abuse, but it was her religious belief and she begged us not to.

I would still like to sue that guy!

Sounds like he made his money for the time being and finally decides with an MRI when the problem hasn't gone away , which should of been the first course of action . That would cost him in services charged I suspect . Been there done that , they can pop as many discs as possible but if you have an inflamed area , popping the discs in the same area may just have made it worse and not better .

Windword, you should sue that guy anyway. He sounds like a real sick individual.

I think I forgot to mention that last week this idiot chiropractor said my L5 was fine now, but my L4 was still out of whack. Today he tells me my L5 is the cause of all my pain. I guess he couldn't keep his story straight.

Physiothearpist... I will see if there is one around here, and I will see about getting an MRI. If I end up having a messed up back (hernitated), I'm probably going to hurt this man for lying to me.