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Post by 10point on Feb 25, 2008 8:08:46 GMT -5
I have been having lower back pain off and on since early November and I am thinking about going to a Chiropractor. Has anyone on here been to one and what have your experiences been? Any suggestions for one in the Lafayette area?
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Post by tenring on Feb 25, 2008 9:54:26 GMT -5
Been going to one since I was sixteen years old, wouldn't be walking today if it weren't for those guys. A lot of people call them quacks and associate their profession with something along the lines of an old wives tale. Nothing wrong with going to a regular physician and having them tell you take some pills and take it easy for a while and then come back for more office visits, and more, and more, and more [treating the symptoms rather than the cause]. If it has been bothering you since November don't expect that one trip will turn you into a teenager again, first trip will most likely put things back the way they are supposed to be, but your body will need some time to heal from what ever has caused the problem in the first place. Depending on what's wrong, a couple of more trips to keep the bones in place allowing more healing and life returns to normal. A lot of times a harder mattress and different pillow will help in the long run, each person is different just like fingerprints, know more than one person who actually cut a piece of plywood and slipped it on their side of the bed [along with some type of padding] and it kept things in order. Or you could have your back operated on, spend months in rehabilitation, and tens of thousands of dollars out of your own pocket, but from personal experience I whole heartedly recommend going to a chiropractor and giving it a chance. YMMV
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Post by danf on Feb 25, 2008 9:54:27 GMT -5
Check with dadfsr, I think he's got one on speed dial.  I had one straighten me out several years ago when I was having constant tension headaches. My upper spine was so far out of alignment I couldn't believe that the x-ray he showed me was from me.... |
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Post by Mark T on Feb 25, 2008 10:03:54 GMT -5
10, they have helped me many tims in the past!! The one here I go to is Dr. Wagner and I would recomend him highly!! Mark T
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Post by DEERTRACKS on Feb 25, 2008 10:04:25 GMT -5
Used them for years. Much better option for me than the doctor recommended back & shoulder surgerys.
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Post by hornharvester on Feb 25, 2008 10:24:53 GMT -5
i used them off and on for several years and it worked for a while. it got to where every three months i was back at the chiropractors. finally i had back surgery and then another and another. A week ago I found out I need another back fusion surgery. I said no way, not until i can't walk, so tomorrow Ive got to go see a pain management specialists. The narcotic pain drugs Ive been on are getting to me and I need to do something different. h.h.
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Post by chicobrownbear on Feb 25, 2008 10:28:21 GMT -5
I was among those who are skeptical. Wife finally talked me into going for my neck/shoulder. Two visits and I haven't had any trouble out of it since.
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Post by 10point on Feb 25, 2008 10:51:58 GMT -5
Thanks for the info guys. It's kind of funny how this "hunting" site has become my source of info. Many times I will come here first when needing advice on something.
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Post by drgreyhound on Feb 25, 2008 12:05:03 GMT -5
To play devil's advocate, I'm not sure how the effects of what they are doing are not attributable to the placebo effect, but this is coming from someone with 2.5 years of pre-med study who chose not to utilize chiropractors and has no experience with them...
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Post by Adam Brown (BGGoosekiller) on Feb 25, 2008 12:13:57 GMT -5
I went phesant hunting in South Dakota with Doc Wagner many years ago. Haven't talked to him in a while but he was always nice back then.
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Post by indianahick on Feb 25, 2008 12:19:04 GMT -5
I have a birth defect, fused spine, lower back, as it did not grow fused in a strait line, crooked, to both sides, causing pressure on spinal cord. When I found out about it I went to a surgeon, he took one look at the x-rays and told me to go to a chiropractor, all that they could do for me is give me pills for the pain and muscle relaxers. First time I tried that method, pills, and therapy, missed 3 months of work, next time I called got my meds and went to a Chiropractor, was back at work in 3 weeks. Some say that they can cure most anything, Those are the ones that I would stay away from, The good ones just realign your spine which takes pressure off of the various nerve routes that go off of it.
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Post by chicobrownbear on Feb 25, 2008 12:35:49 GMT -5
To play devil's advocate, I'm not sure how the effects of what they are doing are not attributable to the placebo effect, but this is coming from someone with 2.5 years of pre-med study who chose not to utilize chiropractors and has no experience with them... This was my argument as well doc, but firsthand experience put that to rest. |
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Post by firstwd on Feb 25, 2008 12:50:10 GMT -5
I too, thought they were just quacks taking peoples money. I actually tried one out winter and was shocked at the X-rays he took of me. I knew I had problems, but not that bad. He set me up on a payment plan, and cut his normal fees in half to get enough visits in to fix the issues I had. I bought a 'firm" mattress set this weekend because I was really starting to feel the pain and pressure again. I can already feel a difference in my back and have felt my spine move back to where he put it. The pain and pressure is going away again, but will probably go see him again in a couple weeks to make sure everything is where it is supposed to be.
If you talk to one that says they can fix your problems in a visit or two, walk away. A good one will tell you an estimated amout of visits it should take to put things back in place and give you a recommended amount of time to ensure they stay that way.
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Post by danf on Feb 25, 2008 12:55:06 GMT -5
Changing the *way* you sleep can help at times too. I figured out a while back that sleeping on my stomach gets rid of the tension headaches if they start coming back. Not sure what to tell you on lower back pain. |
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Post by Woody Williams on Feb 25, 2008 13:00:40 GMT -5
Changing the *way* you sleep can help at times too. I figured out a while back that sleeping on my stomach gets rid of the tension headaches if they start coming back. Not sure what to tell you on lower back pain. True. When I have lower back pain I sleep on my side and have a pillow between my legs. That eases the pain. I also sleep on my left side as that eases my acid reflux. Man, it's heck to get old.. |
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Post by RiverJim on Feb 25, 2008 15:04:20 GMT -5
Changing the *way* you sleep can help at times too. I figured out a while back that sleeping on my stomach gets rid of the tension headaches if they start coming back. Not sure what to tell you on lower back pain. yeah me too. if i keep the wife from throwin her ham up on me the pain goes away.  one thing about chiros.....they're usually not crooked! ;D I've been to a few and they DO help! |
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Post by drgreyhound on Feb 25, 2008 15:20:38 GMT -5
Forget getting old...my orthopedic problems started when I was 15...  |
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Post by tenring on Feb 25, 2008 20:34:19 GMT -5
To play devil's advocate, I'm not sure how the effects of what they are doing are not attributable to the placebo effect, but this is coming from someone with 2.5 years of pre-med study who chose not to utilize chiropractors and has no experience with them... Went to my "bones" guy around noon today, the "placebo" effect sounded like 3-4 gunshots, and you wouldn't believe how better I feel. |
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Post by tenring on Feb 25, 2008 20:41:06 GMT -5
Forget getting old...my orthopedic problems started when I was 15... Well doc, next time it hurts, hide the pills and head on out to the"bone popper." |
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Post by duff on Feb 25, 2008 21:07:33 GMT -5
I am the opposite of the others here. I went to one for a back problem after going to the regular doc and getting pain pills, it didn't help any after I quit taking the pill, went through several weeks of PT no change. So I went to a back cracker, man it was great felt taller better all that jazz. Every time it was the same, untill he started to "heal" me of my back problems. His efforts nearly paralyzed me, no joke. I rolled off the bed and never came back, would have run if possible. Next week went to the REAL doctor and scheduled myself for pain blocker injection into the spine. Had 2 of those and little to no back pain in the 10 years since it happened, and I got the belly to cause back pain. Basically if your sciatic (sp?) nerve has been inflamed it creates a chemical cycle that even when healed the inflamation won't go away, so maybe the cracker healed me, maybe the PT did, but the pain blockers did end the chemical cycle that was the final cure FOR ME.
To help aleviate lower back pain stretch your hamstrings and make sure you are practicing good posture sitting standing walking. It will help. But if you want to throw your hard earned $$ out for some sugar pill go for it. I have an astrologist that might help you if that doesn't work!!!!
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