Chiropractics and Physiotherapy

Find a new...

by donr - 2019-02-24 01:13:24

...Chiro!  That one is a loser.  I go to one who is very careful about my PM & I only told him once.    There are several schools of chiropractic in the US & they teach different methods.  I know of three - Palmer in Davenport, Iowa. Life in Marietta, Georgia & another in Dallas, Texas.  The latter two seem to teach the gentler methods - at least my sample of one from each uses them.  The LIfe man uses a device he calls an "Activator."  It cocvks like an industrial staple gun, then releases a plunger that sends a "Shock wave" thrugh the joint. muscle or whatever.  Woirks nicely & pleasantly.  The man from Texas relies more on massage & his tables for joint manipulation.    He also haS A small "Jack hammer" that he uses to loosen joints It is adjustable for the impact it has.  He also knowws how to "Cack necks" & align verterbrae, but very rarely does it.  I see him at least weekly to reduce trigger points near my S-I joints & in my shoulders.

Donr 

find another

by Tracey_E - 2019-02-24 10:02:33

They shouldn't need to be told twice! What else in your medical record are they forgetting about? I wouldn't trust that one.

I'm going differ from Don (rare!) on this one. I've had the best  luck with ones trained at Palmer. I was in one car accident head on at highway speed in my early 20's  then rear ended 3 times since so my neck is a mess. My problems are upper cervical and I prefer how they adjust the neck. I don't feel like the activator gets it, at least not for me.

Chiropractors vs cardiac and ep

by Mad heart - 2019-02-24 15:17:40

I made the mistake of asking the cardiologist and the ep if a Chiropractor would help minimize the pain in my shoulder and back. Both said “NO!” without justification. Well I went to see one anyway. The Chiropractor did an x-ray and his mouth dropped to the floor. My shoulder was almost completely dislocated. Makes me wonder if this is why the cardio and ep kept tell me to get over it and seek mental help. The Chiropractor has done more to help me with a few adjustments than the two others. I suffered for 8 months with my shoulder and back because of their greed.

PS... I have different cardio and ep with another hospital now. The first two yahoos are still denying the x-ray was really mine.

Mad Heart?

by AgentX86 - 2019-02-24 21:19:28

If your shoulder was that bad, why didn't you go to an orthopedist?  I sure would have!  I'm with you on your decsion to fire your cardiodilogists, though.  You don't need morons like that.

MD's and chiropractic care

by Tracey_E - 2019-02-25 00:09:36

Many, many MD's do not agree with chiropractic care and will  tell us not to go without knowing anything about it. Chiropractors will say it's because when our body heals itself we no longer need a lot of visits and expensive meds but I think it's simply lack of education. The reality is much of what they do is complementary rather than conflicting but neither one sees it that way very often. I know I get relief from chiropractic so I just don't say anything most of the time. 

Cooperation between professions

by donr - 2019-02-25 01:41:17

My daughter, a primary care MD, works very closley w/ a very good chiro here in Southern MS. He refers patients to her frequently for treatment protocols beyond his capability and what he is permitted by law to do.  It is also not unusual that she sends him patients for treatment that she cannot perform - like deep massage of trigger points.   There are boundaries between the two modalities that are painted w/ a very wide brush - one of them is injections of steroids in close proximity to joint - especially the Sacro- Iliac joint.   Medicare recognizes this broad spectrum with its codes.  To inject directly into the joint space requires ultra-sound or fluoroscopic guidance to hit the space.  often a trained MD can inject in close proximity to the joint to give significant relief without the cost of the guidance procedure.  Then you have the problem of how often you want to inject strong steroids - a GOOD Chiro can give significant relief w/o that issue.  This all has the spectre of pain management using narcotics - now there's a nasty bit of treatment, with its dependence/addition problems.  An entire monograph could be written on this area of pain treatment. 

In essence, there is a place for both MD's & DC's in the world of pain/discomfort management.   There are a significant number of practitionors on both fields who recognize this and do cooperate.  

Donr

Please Be Very Careful with Chiropractors

by KonaLawrence - 2019-02-25 02:48:51

I do not wish to offend anyone, but it seems many are equating Naturopaths, Homeopaths and Chiropractors with medical professionals.  None of these professions are taught by any accredited medical school.  Their degrees are not from accredited universities.  Most medical doctors will not refer patients to any non-medical practitioners.  Many people do get great results from alternative medicine practitioners.  Many alternative practitioners do call themselves "Doctor", but they are not medical professionals.

This is why most states do not allow non-medical professionals to write prescriptions for prescription medicines and most insurance companies will not pay for their services.  If you are hurt by one of these people, most lawyers will ask if your medical doctor referred you to them.   When you say "No", the lawyer will say "Sorry, I can't help you".  Please be very careful when using alternative practitioners.
Cheers, Lawrence
 

Be very careful....

by donr - 2019-02-25 09:35:37

....anyone you go to for any treatment.  All treatment prfessions have their share of crooks, incompetents and scammers.  F'rinstance Dr. Gosling, the abortion doctor in Philly.  BTW:  Medicare pays for certain chiropractic treatments, as do other major insurance companies.  A lot of the quality you get from any practitionor depends on the character of that person and their skill, judgement and knowledge. 

Donr

Lawrence

by Tracey_E - 2019-02-25 16:43:15

Chiropractors don't go to an accredited medical school because they aren't MD's, they go to chiropractic school and earn their Doctor of Chiropractic. It's a different degree, but still an advanced degree. DO, PhD, and JD can all legitimately call themselves Dr also.

As Don said, every profession has its good, mediocre and scary. My current internist goes to the same chiropractor I do so it's safe to assume he's comfortable with the care. 

Personal injury attorneys work with chiropractors all the time. I was rear ended last year. State Farm paid for me to do PT and be adjusted at my chiropractor. My health insurance (Blue Cross) pays chiropractic. 

You don't have to be a fan, you don't have to go to one, but perhaps your assessment is a bit unfair. An MD isn't required to be a legitimate medical  professional, ask any Nurse Practitioner, Regstered Nurse, or Physicians Assistant. Btw most of those have fewer years of education than a chiropractor. 

Tracey: We both forgot...

by donr - 2019-02-25 22:44:49

...Workman's Comp pays chiro's.  That profession has come a long way since the 1940's, when it was prety crude.  I lived in Davenport, Iowa for over three years - not too far from Palmer College of Chiropradctic.  The town was crawling w/ their students.   It's quite an institution.  One of the students worked for me as a clerk-typist.  Sge studied her butt off - the program was pretty tough.   Their concentration on anatomy - especially on the bones, muscles, ligaments & tendons and their interactions - was fierce.  Microbiology & chemistry was rather weak.  My current chiro told me of his school's coures, & they had a heavier dose of the chemicalI biology courses.  

Robin was correct about the chincy amount they get paid.  I know two chiro's that went broke.  Not pretty.  My curret chiro reports & my EOB's confirm that he gets about $40 per treatment reimbursement.  That means a tight schedule to get in enough patients per day to stay profitable.  

Donr 

AgentX8

by Mad heart - 2019-02-26 09:51:44

The orthopedics in my area are, how shall I say...knife happy. I was not into more cutting, especially for a dislocation. Insurance has paid for all my visits with the Chiropractor. I am getting to the point where it does not pain me to do simple things.

I do have to say, my husband had a hip replacement and was fascinated by the surgeon (retired 5 years ago) who was maticulous with making sure ALL the nerves were not in any way hindered to make sure there were no nerves trapped. Maybe eps need to learn how to minimize nerve damage when they cram a device in instead of just saying, “Good luck!” and “Not my fault”.

I am a former athlete, high school and college and now, a retired High School Head Coach of Boys and Girls Track and Field and Cross Country. I miss the freedom, excitement and fun of coaching.  My husband and our two daughters (both in college, set to graduate this year and next year) have never been interested in doing sports so they really don’t understand why I get so frustrated when I complain about not being able to do simple things like climb a flight of stairs at their pace. I’m 50yrs old for crying out loud! I should be running up the stairs! (Ok, sorry, rant is over)

I do appreciate everyone’s comments and life stories here at The Club. I don’t feel so alone anymore. All the information and conversations are helping me to better understand what is happening. 

Thank You Everyone!