I have my first appointment with a chiropractor this afternoon. I’ve been in a walking “aircast” on my left leg for 5 weeks now, and my back is so jacked up and I’m in constant pain from the changes to my alignment and from my left leg being heavier to drag around than my right.
What happens in the first appt, though? I do realize that that depends on the nature of the injury and the reason for visit, but I’d like a general idea. I figure that I will have some sort of exam, and this may seem like a ridiculous question, but—will I have to disrobe? I’d just like to know.
Tell me about your visits to the chiropractor, please.
Well, some chiropractors use a little tool that applies a precise force to a certain spot, called an activator. Others use manipulation. No disrobing.
I haven’t gone in a few years, but my first appt started with a video that explained the ideas, and then I laid face down on the table, and the chiropractor adjusted my spine from the bottom up.
I’ve been seeing chiropractors for years for a bad back. Just as is the case with MDs, there are good ones and bad ones. Some are very considerate and gentle, others a bit more brusk.
For the first visit, most will discuss with you what they do, and here is where you ask whatever questions you want. Many will take X-rays, and if you have to disrobe, they give you a gown. They will then examine you, and of course, this is a hands-on procedure.
For the adjustments, most do not require you to disrobe, but may lift your top to put heating pads and/or electronic muscle stimulators on your back before doing the adjustments. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes.
Some of the adjustments will probably feel like they are going to break something, but they usually are very effective, although it may take a few treatments to correct a condition that has lasted for a long time.
They will keep telling you to relax before they snap your body, which obviously is difficult to do.
Do not be afraid to ask as many questions as you wish. If the doctor is not willing to explain in detail, find another one.
Good luck, hope it helps. If you have any specific questions, ask here or you can email me.
I am actively visiting a chiropractor for my neck, shoulders and lower back. My experience is thus:
I have only disrobed once, and that for my first set of x-rays. I was given an ample gown in which to wear instead.
My first appointment was getting to know the doctor, him getting to know me, and receiving a tour of the facility. There were NO sales or scare tactics used on me like there were with other doctors. After chatting with the doctor and having my x-rays, I got dressed, and he did a hands-on examination of my neck, shoulders, back and hips. He always pardoned himself and told me that he needed to pull up the back of my shirt a bit to feel along my spine in a little more detail.
After the x-rays and initial exam, rather than adjust me, he put me on a therapy machine that sent very mild electric pulses to the muscles in my shoulder. It was a very enjoyable experience. My adjustment would come after he read my x-rays - which was the very next day.
99% of my adjustments are manual manipulation - every once in a while he uses an actuator. Relaxation is the key here, really. I know that it is hard to do, but just try to become a rag doll, and it becomes so much easier. Becoming said rag doll when you’re in pain is hard, but it does become easier with each adjustment. Also - do NOT hold your breath! :: Instead, work with your doctor to time your breathing with the adjustment. My doctor watches me breath and adjusts me as I’m breathing out, which works wonderfully.
Lastly, I was in need of traction for my neck. I had had traction before at a previous chiro’s office, and their traction program was completely different from the traction program of my current doctor. The old office had me sit in a chair with a foam sling around the back of my neck (that was attached to the wall in front of me),my head tipped back and headgear in the form of a strap that went around the circumference of my head and rested on my forehead. Attached to this was a weight in the form of a ball - I don’t recall how many pounds it was. That was hard to do, because when your head is tipped back like that, it’s hard to swallow! My current chiro has a little device that is much easier to handle. If you search for a product called the Posture Pump, it looks something that that. Even though traction is not necessarily uber comfortable, it shouldn’t be extremely uncomfortable, either. I found that I could fall asleep after only a few minutes, and my neck started feeling tremendously better!
I opted to engage in a therapy plan that has involved many visits - first I visited 3 times a week for 4 weeks, then visited 2 times a week, and I am now down to once a week. Pretty soon, I’ll be down to every other week for 4 weeks. I’ve had my follow-up exam with x-rays, and my neck and back are showing marked improvement. The adjustments are working well for me. Oh, and I am no longer needing traction - I am now doing exercises to help my neck and back. I will eventually go on a maintenance plan that will keep my neck and back in good adjustment - something like once a month.
I realize this is a lot of information. I hope it makes sense, and I hope it helps. People have good and bad experiences with chiropractors and chiropractic in general. I’ve had good experiences, by and large, and I’m thankful. Chiropractic isn’t necessarily for everyone, but it’s been good for me.
There is a small subset out there that practices “scientific chiropracty”. They use manipulation of joints and the back to provide relief for back and joint complaints. (Classical chiros hate these folks)
Studies have shown that this approach does give short-term relief greater on occasion than placebo or even certain medications, but thus far the evidence indicates that manipulation does NOT change long-term outcomes for conditions.
Evidently some people mistook this for a “Tell me why I shouldn’t go to the chiropractor” thread.
Really, I get that not everyone buys into this, but this is what I would like to try for now. IMO, it will serve me better than trying to mask the pain with drugs, and my insurance actually covers it, while it does not cover massage. I’m in pain, traditional medicine is not offering me a way to resolve that pain, so I’m trying this. If it doesn’t actually help, I **can ** stop going, I know that. He;s a chiropractor, not a kidnapper.
And again, thanks to those who are giving accounts of their own experiences.
Right, it can be helpful for treating mild-moderate back pain. Nothing else.
Yes, lorene, I know you really asked about “what can I expect” but there are two types of Chiros: those that are quacks that think that their “science of subluxations” can cure anything, and those who practice “scientific chiropracty”, who will only treat mild-moderate back pain.
So from the 1st group, you can expect a bunch of psuedoscientific gobbylygook, including Homeopathy. I won’t go to one of those.
From the other, you will see a Dude will might or might not X-ray you- likely not. He might ask you to remove your shoes and loosen your shirt. He’ll examine how you walk, stand and stretch. Then he’ll loosen tight muscles by stretching and manipulation, then “crack” your spine, etc. I was seeing one for stress and “working too hard at the computed” related neck and shoulder pain. He worked wonders, drug free- he showed me better ways to sit and work, and how to stretch. He’d relax my muscles then “pop” my shoulders and neck. Think of this kind of Chiro as a super physical therapist.
I went to a chiropractor for 6-7 visits. First visit there was some talk about why I was there, what hurt, etc. Pretty straight forward. He had me get on the table face down and he poked, pulled and moved me around. He cracked my neck - which hurt like a mo-fo.
After each visit my pain level went up a little until I finally stopped going. Now, a few months later, I’m back to my regular back/neck pain. It was really bad there for a while. I think if I continued to visit him it would have made matter far worse.
I would be very careful and mindful of the pain. Mine kept saying the pain will get better but it never did. It just got worse everytime he touched me.
If you are looking for “realignment”, go to a good massage therapist. The massage therapist I see works each vertebrae slowly and carefully without all that violent, painful snapping and twisting. If it hurts too much she can ease back. I get far more relief from massage than I ever got from Chiro.
Just be careful (and do a google seach on “chiropractic injury”).
I realized after posting that that I did title my thread “Tell me about chiropractor appts” not “Tell me about good experiences with chiropractic”, so I apologize for my snarky tone and admit that I did leave myself open to dissenting opinions. Sorry.
Anyhow, this guy, so far, does seem to be in the camp of what **DrDeth **referred to as ‘super physical therapist’. He told me, basically, that there’s not a lot he can do for the issues that my cast are causing, because I’ll still have to wear the cast and therefore the issues will continue to present. He did do a few things that were familiar to me from previous stints in PT—ultrasonic massage, cold packs, etc, and he showed me better ways of sitting and sleeping. Told me to ice my back every day, because really that’s the only thing that’s going to get rid of the inflammation. No cracking of anything.
Again, despite my initial crabbiness, I do appreciate the entire range of answers here.
You got one of the good ones. Reminds me of my chiropractor.
I’ve been seeing the man that works on my back and neck for over 20 years. I only go when the pain in my lower back or neck is unbearable. And after the adjustment he will unfailingly tell me that “this is going to hurt like hell for 3 days. If you still hurt in three days, come back and see me. Otherwise, see you whenever.”
In 20 years there has only been once that I’ve had to return within the three days. And that was taken care of by the second visit.
Oh yes, he also told me about the new payment plan that a lot of chiros around here are using. Seems like they get authorization from you to withdraw a certain amount of money from your bank account every month, and you get so many visits per month. No rollover, if you don’t use them, you lose them. He told me that in his opinion that was extremely unethical, that he would never suggest a plan like that to his clients.
If a chiro hits you with a plan like that, walk out and don’t look back. Get as far away as possible. Find a good one that realizes that he or she is not the be-all, do-all of medicine - and that chiropractic will NOT cure any disease.
Well, that’s a weird way of paying for any service that is generally paid by the visit. I have to wonder who is falling for that. I mean, my hairdresser could offer me a similar deal and I’d still be the fool if I didn’t do the math and figure out whether I would see her enough in a given month to justify it.
You’re fortunate it was just painful. Neck cracking can cause a stroke or other serious neurologic damage in otherwise healthy people, through trauma to major arteries in the neck. This was initially thought to be a rare complication (due in part to underreporting) but incidence estimates keep going up as more studies are done. More on the risks here.
The bottom line is that chiropractic manipulation can work about as well as other forms of physical therapy for chronic back pain (if the back problem has been competently diagnosed in the first place), but neck cracking has not been shown useful for any condition and is dangerous. Don’t let them near your neck!
This also holds the potential for neurologic complications due to compromise of blood flow to the brain when the neck is tipped back markedly for extended periods. Problems have occurred in this way during surgical anesthesia (when the patient’s neck is maintained in extension during intubation and not returned to a normal position promptly) and even in beauty salons when people’s heads were kept tilted backwards during shampooing.
: Instead, work with your doctor to time your breathing with the adjustment. My doctor watches me breath and adjusts me as I’m breathing out, which works wonderfully.