Chiropractic Treatment length

[Merryprankster]

Yeah, that's gonna be how it is for me too. Except that my schedule is wierd, so I'll be able to train more frequently, not less.

Well, I'm off to the gym... I can use the isolation machines (I learned how at www.isolationisforpussies.com) and the hand bike.

Just for the record folks if you ever want to do something evil to your upper body and also get a pretty good interval workout, try a tough hand bike.

I'm interested in hearing anybody else's experiences so please keep em coming!

[old jong]

Ok,A chiro spotted something regular doctors missed.This can happen but the opposite is true also! I knew somebody who went to her chiro for diffuse back pains for months.The chiro was preaching against "traditionnal" medecine and was very reassuring until she was hospitalised with generalised cancer!...She died shortly after.
This is why I say "Always consult a doctor beside your favorite shaman!"

Les paroles s'envolent.
Les écrits restent!...

[SevenStar]

what kind of gym is open this late? Or is it a fitness center in your aparment complex or something?

-ShortySeven©
Step right up and get it -- whoever wants [defeat]

Come not between the dragon and his wrath...

[old jong]

Hey guys!...You have the right to completely ignore me and what I have to say,you know!...Feel free not to respond if you like! ;)Don't worry about it. I leave you to your little private chit-chat. ;)

Les paroles s'envolent.
Les écrits restent!...

[Watchman]

I'm not ignoring ya OJ!

I agree with your call to caution. It all comes down to the idividual practitioner.

[Merryprankster]

Nah! I work nights this week and the place I work has a gym.

Sorry Old Jong :) I wasn't meaning to ignore you, it's just that your advice is already noted: Don't go to a chiro, go to a specialist MD.

I agree that you need to be careful. So far, so good. Nobody has dropped dead in his office... yet :)

I was able to do some smith machine squats. Better than nothing

[omegapoint]

Merryprankster: A D.O. can be a Family Practice doc like the ones at local Primary Care Clinics. They are real PHYSICIANS,like M.D.s, that can specialize in General Medicine or Surgery.

The difference between them and a Pseudo-Profession like Chiropractic is that they know HOW to read an X-Ray and what to look for. Just because you claim to be able to identify radiologic abnormalities doesn't mean you can. I mean how would the average Joe know any better? Most non-Orthopedic or Radiology Physicians have a tough time when it comes to identifying legitimate skeletal trauma on film, and they see innumerable X-Rays from day 1 of Clinicals!

Anyways, Seven Star, what exactly can you diagnose from a traditional X-Ray? What exactly are they looking for and why? How does it specifically relate to the spine in proven medical terms and principles? How is it possible for incorrect alignment of the spine to effect numerous body systems? What biochemical, physiologic and anatomic variables account for the claims Chiropractic makes? They couldn't tell you because most of them don't have a clue as to the workings of medical physiology, modern biochemistry, neuroanatomy, pharmacology, simple/factual diagnostic principles and technique, or countless other skills acquired with years and years of medical school, internship, residency, and fellowship. After college that can be up to 10-12 years! It takes that sort of time to be called a D.O. or M.D.. 3 years of grad school after 60 hrs. of college just ain't gonna cut it. Even for the hardest working academic elite becoming a proficient clinician and diagnostician takes a decade (after college).

So waste your money to have some fool release endorphins due to the micro-trauma (and sometimes macro) he's causing. The temporary palliative effect from this is enough to milk your insurance company of their money. In the end it is your money though. But you do pay for their rarely utilized services. Now you see the rub! The best in Snake Oil!

Stretching your entire body properly and having someone crack your back every once-in-a-while is probably more effective, safer in the long run, and a whole helluva' lot cheaper. Just my 2 Centavos....

[Merryprankster]

point taken. I personally don't believe that spinal adjustment will cure cancer, alleviate abdominal cramping, etc. That's just hokey. But my back and neck? Yeah, it seems to work.

However, on the other hand, an awful lot of people on this board believe in the mystical healing power of chi and dit da jow.

I guess my point is that some people swear by them, some people don't. That's just the way it is.

Hey cool! My neck no longer makes funny cracking sounds when I turn it, and I can actually look all the way over my right shoulder. Neat!

[SLC]

omegapoint, I don't know what axe you have to grind, but there are just as many worthless MD's as there are worthless chiropractors, and lots, I mean thousands more people are killed by MD's and "traditional" western medicine that chiropractors ever come close to. This has recently been publically accepted as an industry-wide problem for western medicine. To assume that MD means risk free is mortally foolish.

The other side of that coin is that there are good on each side too.

I have done both and have had good results from chiropractors for back problems... where MD's just gave me pills and said go to bed or just sharpened their knife.

Prankster, as far as the treatment goes, yes, it seems standard to begin with 3/week for a period of weeks. Then it tapers off as improvement occurs. It may require maintenance visits forever. But the alternative is what you should think about... which is probably some level of surgery if you have a severe problem.

As to your doctor, why go to the one you don't care for?

Can eat with either hand. (But becomes moody when not fed regularly.)

[SevenStar]

You took the words right outta my mouth SLC.

-ShortySeven©
Step right up and get it -- whoever wants [defeat]

Come not between the dragon and his wrath...

[Merryprankster]

Oh, they are partners. I'll be requesting the one I favor from now on. The one I don't have a rapport with is skilled, just kind of not the best schmoozer in the world... kind of more interested in your pathology than you. I don't feel quite as comfortable.

Oh yes, I definitely plan on continuing care. This stuff is magic.

[Shaolin Temple]

:confused:

I agree with SLC. I am medical doctor and even then, I will disagree with you and agree with SLC.

Recent studies in the British Medical Journal and Journal of Orthopaedic Medicine show that Chiropractic is as quoted "...the Only proven and effective therapy for the treatment of chronic whiplash" (so much for your so called research on cervical/neck manipulations causing strokes.
Referring to this pseudo research paper you have, it is indicated that so called Chiropractic manipulations were performed by MD and physios who when it stuffs up call it Chiropractic manipulation.

It is like an MD extracting a wisdom tooth and discover that they accidentally caused neuralgia and claim that Dental techniques are dangerous and unsafe.

Omegapoint, your claims are unfounded and show your biased ignorance and lack of research.

As a matter of fact, in 1999 the Blood Journal (the most reputable medical research journal world-wide) and of course the famous British Medical Journal of 1991,indicated that Chiropractic is 400 times safer than aspirin and the later journal quoted that Chiropractic treatment of spinal injuries were two times more effective than medical management of spinal injuries.

So omegapoint, are you some uninformed hermit who knows absolutely nothing about medical sciences are you a medical or DO student who has been brainwashed by your lecturers that your profession is the only proven modality? Do your research before you open your mouth or do what an ostrich does...stick your head in the sand.

:cool:

[Kram1]

Let me preface this by saying that what follows is only MY opinion, and experience. This is one of those areas that "Whatever works for you, works!

I too had scoliosis (curveture of the spine) and disk/muscle injury of the back and neck, due to an auto accident. Was in chiropractic for a year and a half. Started at 5x/week, and bty the end, wsa down to 1-2x/week. Did it help? Heck yes!
Initially, it was pretty much the only was I could make it through the workday ( I would go at lunch ). But. It was, for me, only a quick fix that allowed me to keep going. It didn't really aid in any healing. It was only after I started some fairly intensive Physical Therapy w/ a strong program of excercise, that I saw a marked improvment in long term function and lowered pain levels. It is important to note that this not something I could have started right away, but after the initial healing had happened I am pretty sure that the Chiro was only a pallative (ie, go in feeling crappy, exit feeling wonderful, get up the next morning, feeeling crappy again.)
Only the correct excersises were of long term benefit. And only when kept up with. If I stop the workouts for more than 2 months, the lower back, neck and knee pains return nearly full force. It is only the constant workouts that protect the damaged parts.

So, do the chiro, but find a good PT guy/girl to help strengthen the damaged areas. If you are in DC, the Russian guy I used is in Baltimore.

MArk

My 2 cents


Mar

And So It Goes...

[fa_jing]

As for the original question - I received Chiro treatment for nearly four months. It was good, In that it loosened my vertebrae and made them "adjustable." However, they usually try to get you to come in too often and for too long. This is bad because it erodes the disks and makes your vertebrae too loose. He would adjust me, I'd walk out the door, and my back would pop right back into the wrong position! Since I quit, my back is better, and I have retained enough looseness of the spine to adjust myself, using Yoga and other streching. For instance, torso twists with the pole a la Bruce Lee cracks my upper back. Lower back can be adjusted with lotus pose. Any kind of backbend, forward bend, twist, etc. The only thing I miss the Chiropractor for is neck adjustments, this is a little more difficult to do on your own. Shoulderstand works sometimes. So the original loosening was very beneficial, but once you hit a certain point of looseness it's time to put your body in your own hands. One more warning: I am about 6 foot 1 and 175 pounds. My chiropractor was about 5'6 but he was able to make the adjustments. One day he was on vacation, and his partner came to do the adjustments. She was about 5'1 and 120 pounds, maybe. Needless to say, she could not perform the adjustments, and messed up my neck for a week. Don't be fooled like I was! They knew she couldn't do it, and just wanted to get me in the office so they could make their dough. -FJ

[prana]

I had treatment done by a chriporactor, and tried to go back as advised. The pain was soon gone.

Also, a close relative of mine, who finds sleeping many a tear in the eye, visits the chiropractor very often :) She now sleeps soundly, in fact, snoring muchly :)

ShaoLin Temple, sound advice :) Take it easy !