Are chiropractors worth it?

Mrs_P_Pincher

I had 4 sessions of Bowen two years ago for severe joint pain and lack of mobility. After the sessions I peed for England for 24 hours and lost up to 5lbs in weight almost overnight, presumably because it shifted water retention, but it was back on before the next session. However, it did nothing whatsoever for the pain and lack of mobility, which turned out to be caused by an untreated underactive thyroid. Now that's being treated, I'm fine.

There are many claims made for Bowen, but I for one am sceptical.

Mrs P P

Becles

boots_babe wrote: »

If you don't mind me asking, how much is it per session? When I lived in London I think it was around £40 per session so relatively steep. But everywhere else I've lived, it has only ever been around £30 max.

My current place is £26 per session - and this is no matter how long. Sometimes you might be in there 15 mins, sometimes an hour, and they still charge the same.

It's £35 a session on PAYG, or it drops down to £27 a session if you pre-book a block.

He works in blocks of 12, and he suggested booking the first 12, and then I'd probably need another set of 12 sessions afterwards. He wants me to go twice a week, so I'd have to pay again in six weeks time.

The appointment doesn't seem to last long from what I observed when I was there. He has two rooms and will work on the patient in room 1 while someone is getting settled in room 2. Then while he works on the patient in room 2, the room 1 person leaves and the next one goes in. People were only in there for a few minutes at a time.

Not noticed any difference in my body after yesterdays adjustment and the pain in my neck and shoulders seems a bit worse

Thanks for all the other comments everyone. It's interesting reading everyone else's experiences.

Spendless

I've never seen a chiropracter but I have seen a physio (work perk) who sorted out a problem, that though I knew I had I didn't know why and was blaming the wrong thing.

I would agree with JoJO go down your GP route and ask for a referral first.

boots_babe

Becles wrote: »

Not noticed any difference in my body after yesterdays adjustment and the pain in my neck and shoulders seems a bit worse .

With chiropractic treatment it is very common to actually feel a lot worse for a day or two after, depending on what you have had done - but then you should hopefully start to see improvement of some sort.

So I wouldn't give up just yet as it's a little early. However if after maybe another session you still don't feel any improvement, at all, then maybe it isn't working for you.

I have an ongoing issue which more recently has become a lot worse, recurring more frequently. And chiropractic has actually helped a bit less with it. So as much as I believe in the benefits of it, I do realise it doesn't always suit. I'm actually vaguely considering trying an alternative, maybe physiotherapy? But have never tried anything else and don't know where to start, or what treatments to try.

I think perhaps I should start a thread like yours but for non-chiropractic treatments

mapcr77

I had a wonderful chiro in the past and she was ever so helpful. So, in the hands of a good chiropractor, I think you are safe. But this one doesn't sound right. One of the things my one wholeheartedly adhered to as good chiropractic practice was to see you only for however many sessions would help you, and then just for re-adjustments and follow up. After a very long and comprehensive initial assessment, she would give you in writing an estimate of how many sessions you would need, and in my case, which was rather severe, it was only 8 sessions (once a week for four weeks, every 2 weeks for the rest), after that, she would re-assess and see how it went. Actually, after the first session, the treatment made wonders, I could move for the first time in months! And the pain decreased significantly. In the end, I only needed 6 sessions. She wasn't in it for the money, but she was the sort of people who enjoyed her work and saw it as means to improve people's lives (which is why in the end I had less and not more sessions than initially stated). Sadly I moved, and have been trying to find another good chiropractor ever since...
In short, looks like this one is only looking for excuses to keep you as a long term customer. This 12 sessions in block booking does not sound like good chiropractic practice.
By the way, I also ordered a chiropractic offer in groupon. I wonder if it was the same one? I got an e-mail saying there was loads of demand, and my voucher would not be honoured, and now Groupon does not want to refund.

lostinrates

boots_babe wrote: »

With chiropractic treatment it is very common to actually feel a lot worse for a day or two after, depending on what you have had done - but then you should hopefully start to see improvement of some sort.

I've had chiro and osteo and lots of physio and always been warned of this but never experienced it. Increased stiffness, yes, increased pain...never.

boots_babe

I guess it depends on what you have done and how bad a state you're in. I would say that for me, when I have my most acute pain, and am in a worse state, then that is when I am more likely to suffer slightly worse pain in the 24 hours following treatment.

Whereas for small adjustments I don't tend to have any bad effects at all (on the whole). My mum is the same, often worse immediately after treatment. I don't mind as I know it's just a sign I've had the work done and that I will hopefully shortly be seeing an improvement.

I'm also always advised to go for a short walk after treatment, rather than just going home and sitting down or whatever. Not sure if this helps but I do try to do it just in case!

boots_babe

lostinrates wrote: »

I've had chiro and osteo and lots of physio and always been warned of this but never experienced it. Increased stiffness, yes, increased pain...never.

Actually out of interest, how have you found the osteopathy? That is something I have wondered about but have little knowledge.

How do you find it compares to chiropractic and what sorts of things would you see one for, in preference to your chiropractor?

Many thanks.

lostinrates

boots_babe wrote: »

Actually out of interest, how have you found the osteopathy? That is something I have wondered about but have little knowledge.

How do you find it compares to chiropractic and what sorts of things would you see one for, in preference to your chiropractor?

Many thanks.

I like osteopathy, but have been advise not to have any more by some. TBH, many treatments feel much the same, but osteo tends to be ''quicker''. I have a neurological disorder and have problems associated with that like sciatica and easily trapped nerves etc etc This leads me to moving awkwardly and making myself uncomfortable often.

Totally, honestly, I find soft tissue manipulation MUCH better for than either, even for ''boney'' issues like my back/neck/pelvis being ''out of place'', really good, quite ''hard going'' physio over a year or so brought back most of the feeling in limbs and he tackled things I'd normally see an osteo/physio for but was FAR more holistic than either of them....but he is too expensive and too far away now, and he wants to see one at least monthly for ever to maintain.

I'm currently looking for an osteo and a masseuse locally, which I'm guessing will be the best approximation of that treatment...but have to consider the manipulation thing seriously and minimise.

nappentass

Mrs_P_Pincher wrote: »

There are many claims made for Bowen, but I for one am sceptical.
Mrs P P

And so you should be mrs pp, that's the point - Clients usually know if Bowen will make a difference after having 2-3 sessions - not 12!
I apologise if my post came across as a 'claim' it was merely my experience
I'm so glad you got sorted out - it reinforces that these are complementary therapies and should never be used as a substitute for proper medical diagnosis.

FWIW there are increasing no of physiotherapists (esp in sports) adding Bowen to their 'toolbox', and fascia research is giving very good indications as to what is happening in the body with many soft-tissue therapies (including Bowen)