# Advice sought re chiropractor visit **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 25, 2020, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219 "2020-03-25T00:41:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/1 "2020-03-25T00:41:55Z")
Should I keep my chiropractor appointments? She’s treating my painful shoulders: the pain does make life hard, but not impossible. The office has told me they’ve upgraded their sterilization procedures at this time. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/2 "2020-03-25T02:02:03Z")
No you shouldn’t. Chiropractic services are totally optional. ---
**Author:** ![Calavera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calavera/32/70_2.png) [@Calavera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calavera)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/3 "2020-03-25T02:32:15Z")
Chiropractors are all quacks. You should never see a chiropractor ever, virus or no virus. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/4 "2020-03-25T03:09:14Z")
I wouldn’t go to any medical appointment that wasn’t absolutely necessary at this time. Only you can judge how necessary your appointment is. My dentist office has closed for the foreseeable future. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/5 "2020-03-25T04:11:01Z")
> [@Calavera](#): > > Chiropractors are all quacks. You should never see a chiropractor ever, virus or no virus. Yes, this. It is Bullshit, Complete and Total. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/6 "2020-03-25T04:15:27Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Yes, this. It is Bullshit, Complete and Total. I was trying to be polite, but yes, this. ---
**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/7 "2020-03-25T06:48:29Z")
Thanks, everyone, for your advice…Tell me how you _really_ feel about chiropractors! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/8 "2020-03-25T07:01:45Z")
> [@calavera](#): > > chiropractors are all quacks. You should never see a chiropractor ever, virus or no virus. > [@gatopescado](#): > > yes, this. It is bullshit, complete and total. > [@tatterdemalion](#): > > i was trying to be polite, but yes, this. +1, +2, +3 ---
**Author:** ![Orr\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ee59a6/32.png) [@Orr\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orr_G)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/9 "2020-03-25T12:05:38Z")
I’d recommend a physical therapist over a chiropractor. We’re fortunate enough that our insurance allows us to self-refer to an orthopedic center, and have been successfully treated there for ganglion cyst removal, plantar fasciitis, and hip, back, and shoulder pain. Very professional, evidence-based medicine physical therapy. Not sure about the timing, though. If you are in a position to see a physical therapist at a place like that (or get your doctor to refer you), I’m sure they would be able to advise on whether or not to wait before going in for treatment. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/10 "2020-03-25T12:21:24Z")
Heck, for minor things you might even try a massage instead of a chiropractor. I just cringe when well-educated acquaintances mention how their back still isn’t better after 2 years of seeing a chiropractor and blow off suggestions of seeing an actual doctor instead. ---
**Author:** ![Kovitlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kovitlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kovitlac)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/11 "2020-03-25T15:27:24Z")
I saw a chiropractor during my college years for grating back pain. I saw her 3x a week for 3 weeks, then once a week, for a while. After that I stopped going, and the pain has never returned. I get they aren’t DOCTORS, but that doesn’t mean they don’t help a lot of people. My dad loves going to his. Even during this time, if going really does help you, I’d still go. If you’re going super often, maybe cut back. But if it’s once every few months? Unless I was high risk (I’m not), I’d go. I’m getting a blood draw April 1st after having it scheduled for 3 months. It isn’t life or death, but I’m still going. ---
**Author:** ![road\_lobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d78d45/32.png) [@road\_lobo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/road_lobo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/12 "2020-03-26T08:59:32Z")
Wanna buy a bridge? ---
**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/13 "2020-03-26T09:09:46Z")
I’m skeptical of all alternative medicine, but a chiropractor did fix a problem in one visit that my MD couldn’t do anything for in several visits. Physical therapy hasn’t helped my shoulder, and my co-pay for the chiropractor is only $5.00…so why not. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/14 "2020-03-26T13:57:43Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I wouldn’t go to any medical appointment that wasn’t absolutely necessary at this time. > Only you can judge how necessary your appointment is. > My dentist office has closed for the foreseeable future. I had scheduled several sessions of post-concussion cognitive therapy, and they cancelled on me. Most medical professionals are taking this really seriously. Heck, my mother-in-law just had shoulder surgery right before all this insanity, and even she was told that her physical therapy was cancelled. ---
**Author:** ![Dobbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Dobbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dobbs)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/15 "2020-03-26T14:32:40Z")
> [@Calavera](#): > > Chiropractors are all quacks. You should never see a chiropractor ever, virus or no virus. In earlier days, I would have agreed. But I now feel that, while it’s true that somewhere around 95% of the chiropractors give the rest a bad name, the remaining 5% are those that call themselves ‘chiropractor’, but are really physical therapists with delusions of grandeur. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/16 "2020-03-26T14:38:46Z")
> [@Calavera](#): > > Chiropractors are all quacks. You should never see a chiropractor ever, virus or no virus. This. Go to a physical therapist, not a quack. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/17 "2020-03-26T15:09:36Z")
> [@Newtosite](#): > > my co-pay for the chiropractor is only $5.00…so why not. 🙂 [Yeah, what’s the harm?](http://whatstheharm.net/chiropractic.html) From their site, a few: > [@](#): > > She visited a chiropractor to relieve some neck pain. On her second visit, “my world went into a dizzy spin” with nausea and loss of speech. The neck manipulation had caused a brain stem stroke. She now runs a web site for victims > [@](#): > > Linda was scheduled for surgery to remove a tumor, when her parents met a chiropractor who said he could cure her. He had her swallowing up to 124 pills a day for months. He was convicted of second-degree murder in 1967. > [@](#): > > A chiropractic manipulation permanently paralyzed one of her vocal cords and left her unable to swallow food. She received $900,000 in a settlement. Later the chiropractor was given probation for harassing her by phone > [@](#): > > A chiropractic manipulation permanently paralyzed one of her vocal cords and left her unable to swallow food. She received $900,000 in a settlement. Later the chiropractor was given probation for harassing her by phone ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/18 "2020-03-26T15:09:38Z")
I stand by some chiro’s. I have scoliosis and sciatica. The doctors kept trying to treat the symptoms and telling me that my case was minor or that I should have major surgery. The surgery that put my cousin in a wheelchair by the time she was 50. I walked into this chiro’s office, and he asked immediately, “Do you have scoliosis?” He gave me the first real relief in my life. Did he offer quackery things, yes. Did I take him up on them? No. But the adjustments he gave me added over 2 inches to my height and relieved my pain. Years later, it’s back (hey, I’m 20+ years older and fatter too). Sadly, he’s retired now. Massage therapy is wonderful but doesn’t give me the same relief so I’m looking around for a chiro who isn’t just after my money (c’mon peeps, I can tell the difference). Right now, my alternative is a new hip. I’ve seen enough bungled jobs on that to search for a chiro. If I must, I’ll bow to the new hip, but that is my last resort. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-re-chiropractor-visit/850219/19 "2020-03-26T15:12:07Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > I had scheduled several sessions of post-concussion cognitive therapy, and they cancelled on me. Most medical professionals are taking this really seriously. Heck, my mother-in-law just had shoulder surgery right before all this insanity, and even she was told that her physical therapy was cancelled. I would definitely think twice before going in for PT, massage therapy or chiropractic “adjustments” these days, if you could find practitioners accepting patients currently. It’s doubtfully worth taking chances of exposure to the virus. Chiropractic lacks proven efficacy against acute pain syndromes.\* And compared to other hands-on modalities, a visit to a chiro’s office carries the risk of exposure to risky/useless woo of other kinds. \*and it’s also useless in fighting/preventing coronavirus, except that some chiros claim otherwise. > **[Health professional finds messaging from Lawrence chiropractor ‘reckless’ in...](http://www2.ljworld.com/news/general-news/2020/mar/22/health-professional-finds-messaging-from-lawrence-chiropractor-disturbing-reckless-in-light-of-current-pandemic/)** > > A Lawrence chiropractor’s recent messaging in response to the coronavirus is “disturbing,” an area physician says, labeling the chiropractor’s advertising as “reckless” and a danger to the community. Amelia Rodrock, of Rodrock Chiropractic, has...