patrick.net

I don't know, it works wonders for hypochondria.

My neighbor swears by her bi-weekly "adjustments." I'll admit, I've considered trying it out just for fun - but I just don't see how cracking/popping bones in your spine is healthy.

joshuatrio says

My neighbor swears by her bi-weekly "adjustments." I'll admit, I've considered trying it out just for fun - but I just don't see how cracking/popping bones in your spine is healthy.

I tried it because the insurance was paying for it. Waste of time.

Pure bunk.

If your back is fucked up, it's great. But it aint going to cure diseases.

The initial adjustment is all you should do. Hit a deep tissue masseuse after that.

Chiropractors have better DC lobbyists than other more reputable professionals like Registered Dieticians. "Muscle testing" will allow them to have you hold an herbal supplement and have them pry the fingers apart of your opposite hand to tell if you "need it." Then they'll sell you that supplement at a mere 200% markup! It's a racket, but it's legal! And it's profitable!
I haven't been to a chiropractor since I read this one little book by the (recently deceased) orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Sarno, "Healing Back Pain." He has other more comprehensive books like "The Mind Body Solution" as well, but that was his breakout book and has helped more people overcome back pain than a million chiropractors could ever do. I learned that my back pain was muscular in nature, not skeletal. And that I could control, manage, and even eliminate the pain with mind/body techniques. Even herniated discs can be managed this way.
PSA over...

Thanks to AMA we have successfully gone back to the dark ages of medicine judging by the comments in this post.

Chiropractic care is for aligning your bones in the natural positions you moved them out of by moshing at that rock concert, falling down the stairs, or ramming into someone with your pickup. Your vertebrae being aligned promotes better blood flow, and as blood carries the nutrients to the parts of your body where they're needed, having that flow unimpeded can certainly promote better health.

The first time I used a chiropractor was when someone flipped my car on the freeway over 10 years ago. Since then I go back every month or so to make sure things are staying lined up, or whenever I've fucked myself up and need things reset.

I've been going to the chiropractor almost weekly for the last 10+ years. I just pay cash (about $12/visit and I am in and out in about 5 minutes on my way home from work). I don't have much of a curve in my lower spine so it puts much more pressure on my disks causing them to bulge and irritate the nerves. The adjustments help keep things in line, but the biggest thing for me is learning how to move my body and prevent injuries in the future.

Sitting is the worst thing for your lower back. I am at a desk all day or flying/driving for work - so I have to make a point to get up and walk around every 45 minutes. I also have to be very careful getting out of bed of getting up from a sitting position. Lots of stretches and squats have been keeping my lower back in good shape.

I went from terrible agony barely able to get out of bed in the morning to where I am now still able to surf, run and workout every week without having to take any drugs or have any surgery.

About 4 years ago I started having excruciating sciatic/lower back pain. Went in to the ortho, eventually got an MRI. L4/L5/L5s slipped disks. It was rough. Started taking Norco and getting physical therapy for a few months. Didn't do a goddamn thing. Eventually got steriod injections to shrink the disks- nothing. The painkillers didn't do anything either, and they made me feel like a zombie. It was pathetic: me doddering around, hunched over like an old man, constantly wincing in pain.

Meanwhile, my rental unit lost its tenants, and my realtor told me I needed to get new floors installed or it would a lot harder to rent it for a decent rate. So of course, me being the cheap bastard that I am, said 'GAH, I CAN DO THAT ALL MYSELF.' Bought 1300lbs of flooring, loaded into my minivan, schlepped it up a flight of stairs, 80 lb at a time, and installed it myself over the course of 3 days. On my hands and knees, lifting with my back, doing it all fucking wrong. I was in total agony, and deserved it.

A few days later, after the muscle soreness faded, I realized my back felt fine. Not fine, but perfect. The trauma of installing floors had realigned it. My ortho laughed his ass off at me, called me a lucky moron, and told me to GTFO out of his office. Haven't been back since.