Chiropractors

[Davey Do]

Asa child, I remember my maternal Uncle telling stories to my Mom about his visits to his Chiropractor. I asked my Mom what a Chiropractor was and, basically, she replied, "They're quacks".

As a young LPN at Weed Rover Township Hospital, working as a OR scrub nurse back in the mid '80's, I worked with some medical student externs. One extern had his DC and I remember him saying, "Yeah- I'm going to be a real doctor!"

So, my belief system was built upon opinions that Chiropractors aren't real Doctors, and are basically useless.

I supervised a Methadone Clinic in the early aughts, and a Cracker Jack LPN in his early 50's, Chuck, basically ran it. Chuck and I were chatting one day when the subject came around to back pain. Chuck told me of an episode in his life where he experienced some severe back pain and had set up surgical treatment as a remedy.

Chuck said that two days before he was to have surgery, someone asked if he had consulted with a Chiropractor. Chuck told me, "I thought- what the heck? A Chiropractor can't make my back any worse".

Chuck relayed to me the good results for which he did not need surgery as the result of a Chiropractor's intervention. I thought, "Hmmmm..."

In 2011, I was doing some pretty heavy duty landscaping around my place. I suffered from sharp, chronic left shoulder pain. My medical nurse wife Belinda and I were discussing which Orthopedic Surgeon, that she worked with, should do the surgery when I thought of seeking services from a Chiropractor.

When Dr. Jeff adjusted my neck, it was a total relief! I was out of pain and was giddy! It was better than drugs!

Recently, my left shoulder has again been bothering me. I attempt to work out the numerous aches and pains that I experience here and there, and many are transient. Once it gets to two weeks, I gotta visit Dr. Jeff, and did so yesterday.

Once again with the adjustments, my shoulder significantly improved, and I gave Dr. Jeff a hug.

What are your thoughts, feelings, or experiences with chiropractic interventions? Are they quacks, not real doctors, or healers?

[TheMoonisMyLantern, ADN, LPN, RN]

Well I think their a little bit quackie and a little bit awesome. I was struggling to control my lower back pain with analgesic creams and massage therapy but still wasn't getting satisfying relief. Out of desperation I finally turned to chiropractor he said he could help my back and even cure me my diabetes, that was impressive. Well, he worked on me and made a dramatic improvement with my pain control. I go every so often for a tune up. Still have diabetes though ?

[Davey Do]

1 hour ago, TheMoonisMyLantern said:

 he worked on me and made a dramatic improvement with my pain control. I go every so often for a tune up. 

Same here, Moon. I have physically abused my body for years through trauma from accidents, manual labor, and pursuits of thrill.

I work out and exercise every day and have a tendency to push my body to a point of tolerable pain, like the moron who repeatedly hit himself in the head with a hammer.

It feels SO good when we stop.

[GrumpyRN, NP]

I at one time thought about using them - my wife went to one for an initial consultation. I noticed he had an X-Ray machine (UK has very different regulations, I had to do a course and get audited yearly to be able to request X-Rays as part of my job) and they were talking about "subluxation" I could not see it and did a bit of research. Apparently they talk a lot about radiologicaly invisible subluxation.  

I believe that a few years ago chiropracters were talking about curing asthma, infant colic and now TMIML's diabetes.

Osteopaths are different.

 

[MelEpiRN]

I'm under the impression there are different types. Ones that stick with back/ neck issues, and ones that believe they can cure any ailment with readjustments.

In the stroke world, we generally stay away from chiropracters ?

[Davey Do]

28 minutes ago, GrumpyRN said:

I at one time thought about using them - my wife went to one for an initial consultation. I noticed he had an X-Ray machine (UK has very different regulations

Yeah, Grumpy. Dr. Jeff took initial X-rays of me. Once a year, he does a basic assessment with VS and such.

I leave the general stuff, like a routine physical with labs, to my PCP.

For physical aches and pains, I go see Dr. Jeff every few months or so.

[Davey Do]

10 minutes ago, MelEpiRN said:

I'm under the impression there are different types. Ones that stick with back/ neck issues, and ones that believe they can cure any ailment with readjustments.

In the stroke world, we generally stay away from chiropractors 

Yeah, MelEpiRN, I consider chiropractors to be relatively a specialty.

For example, I see a Dentist for my teeth.

[amoLucia]

Years ago, I worked with an RN whom I trusted & respected immensely.  Her dtr was a chiro, but knowing my colleague, I knew she would NEVER have allowed her dtr to pursue a 'quack or pseudo' medical career. I gave her dtr a chance as I was in such dire straits from pain & immobility r/t a sublax shldr..

Dtr could barely even touch me that first visit, I felt like Quasimodo. But within a few tx, I was signif improved. She worked her 'magical' hands on me. Later, I followed with another DC more local.

I'm a believer!!  Just as long as you get a good practitioner. Only thing is that they need to repeat txs so often. But it beat surgery.

Funny thing is that I believe my orig injury was from a work incident at the cottages where I worked. I used to teach ARC CPR and while I walking into a bldg, I ricocheted off the doorframe with the big old Resusci-Annie suitcase. Didn't feel anything at the time, but later, it was the only cause for my shoulder pain I could think of. Today, years later, my left shldr has a partially-torn rotator cuff. Who knew!?

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

There are good and bad. I occasionally go to one for the various aches and pains of getting older. She's never claimed to have the cure to stop my aging process or my T1D...

[Davey Do]

On 2/4/2021 at 6:27 PM, Hoosier_RN said:

 I occasionally go to one for the various aches and pains 

We don't necessarily have to pay a chiropractor for the various aches and pains, Hoosier.

Just be Zen about it, and the various aches and pains will freely come to you!

 

 

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

2 hours ago, Davey Do said:

We don't necessarily have to pay a chiropractor for the various aches and pains, Hoosier.

Just be Zen about it, and the various aches and pains will freely come to you!

 

 

Smarty pants ?

[Davey Do]

3 minutes ago, Hoosier_RN said:

Smarty pants ?