The Chiropractor- Source of healing or money drain?

[GhostPoet]

So, I screwed up my Sciatic nerve and now I need to get it fixed...with as little money spent as possible. I've been to the chiropractor many times for bones that have gone out...but this is different. Should I go? What do people think of Chiropractors? In the past they've helped my neck.

 

[Erzengel]

I know someone who was so reliant on chiropractors that they went almost every other day. They aren't doctors, and I know there's always different ways to heel. But I feel that a lot of chiropractors make you dependent on them.

Have you ever considered going to a massage therapist?

 

[SuperFerret]

The Sciatic nerve is in the thigh, and how exactly did you "screw it up"? Nerve tissue doesn't heal, so if you legitimately damaged it, there's not much that can be done.

 

[GhostPoet]

I believe it's pinched.

 

[moviedoors]

http://hw.libsyn.com/p/8/b/c/8bc1ec...f832f2dea864&l_sid=17974&l_eid=&l_mid=1406382

 

[SuperFerret]

I believe it's pinched.

So, possibly something like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sciatica ?

You're probably better off just going to a doctor.

 

[GhostPoet]

I'm hesitant to go to the doctor because I know how it'll go down.

first I have to go into the doctor. (co-pay) He looks at me and then he has me make an appointment to get an x-ray (co-pay) and then I go back to doctor (co-pay again) and then he sends me to physical therapy (co-pay and big deductable) for like 10 or 12 visits.... seems a bit of a rip off to me.

 

[moviedoors]

first I have to go into the doctor. (co-pay) He looks at me and then he has me make an appointment to get an x-ray (co-pay) and then I go back to doctor (co-pay again) and then he sends me to physical therapy (co-pay and big deductable) for like 10 or 12 visits.... seems a bit of a rip off to me.

Unfortunately, these complaints have no bearing on whether or not seeing a chiropractor for nerve injuries is a good, sound idea. See a doctor, a physical therapist, a message therapist, not a chiropractor.

I'll let you in on a little secret as well: chiropractors like making money too.

 

[SuperFerret]

I'm hesitant to go to the doctor because I know how it'll go down.

first I have to go into the doctor. (co-pay) He looks at me and then he has me make an appointment to get an x-ray (co-pay) and then I go back to doctor (co-pay again) and then he sends me to physical therapy (co-pay and big deductable) for like 10 or 12 visits.... seems a bit of a rip off to me.

And?

I need dental stuff done, and I have no insurance, and I'm going to have to pay way too much for simple things. That's how things are.

If you don't want to go to a doctor, don't, but I can tell you that if you do actually have serious issues with your nerves, you don't want to risk it. I wouldn't personally. But only you can make the decision.

And I'd imagine that a chiropractor would charge quite a bit as well, and if the problem is outside of their scope, they'd probably send you to a doctor anyway.

 

[StorminNorman]

It depends on the chiropractor.

If you have used this chiropractor several times before, and if you trust him/her, then I would suggest going back and get their advice.

 

[POWdER-man]

I know someone who was so reliant on chiropractors that they went almost every other day. They aren't doctors, and I know there's always different ways to heel. But I feel that a lot of chiropractors make you dependent on them.

Have you ever considered going to a massage therapist?

This

I did a little research to verify what I thought but chiropractic manipulation is not recommended for the treatment of sciatica.

Chiropractor use spinal manipulation (for the most part) and it may help and provide temporary relief from some symptoms of sciatica. However, the relief is often short-lived simply because spinal manipulation does not correct the underlying cause of the nerve impingement.

While massage therapists manipulate the muscles, tissue, fascia, tendons, ligaments and joints.

Sciatic nerve pain is known as sciatica. Sciatica presents as what I would describe as a nervy pain that occurs in the lower back, buttocks and/or down the back of the leg. The pain associated with sciatica is changeable. It can be sharp or dull, constant or intermittent, isolated in just the buttocks or lower back or cause leg pain that stops at the knee or runs all the way down to the feet.

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It starts in the low back and runs all the way down the back of the leg to the foot. We have a sciatic nerve on each side of our body, but sciatica commonly occurs in only one side.

Sciatic nerve pain can result from sitting in one position too long, muscle spasms, wearing high heels, obesity, slipped discs, osteoarthritis, or pregnancy. The pain is caused by the nerve being compressed or pinched by tight muscles, slipped discs or bone spurs.

The piriformis is a muscle in the buttocks that lays beneath the gluteal muscles. It is a thin muscle that runs from the sacrum diagonally across the buttock to the top of the outer thigh. The sciatic nerve runs just under this muscle. When it becomes tight it compresses the sciatic nerve and causes pain. Tightness in the piriformis is a common cause of sciatica.

If your pain is caused by muscular compression, massage can help it quite a bit. Positional release and trigger point therapy are two methods that work well to loosen the piriformis. I'd suggest seeing a neuromuscular therapist or a deep tissue therapist.

http://www.massage-therapy-benefits.net/sciatic-nerve-pain.html#ixzz1W3fvyoEC

If you live in Canada you can contact an Association or College (ie CMTO) in your province. If you live in the states unfortunately training is not as extensive as it is Canada however your best bet is to contact the AMTA and find out if they have a directory of licenses massage therapists in your area. The most important thing is going to a therapist who has the training and experience to help you.

Saying that, I would recommend in speaking to a doctor about it first to see their thoughts of treatment. You must have seen a doctor to be diagnosed in the first place so further testing shouldn't be needed, unless you just diagnosed yourself.

 

[Teelie]

Chiropractors are sort of like doctors but a lot of people still don't recognize them as legitimate. I don't know how the medical field views them now but it used to be they were looked at as no better than quacks and dismissed. That view has softened from what I've seen but it doesn't make them legitimate either.

A doctor's visit should be your first stop. A reliable doctor anyways. I've known plenty of doctors who are as dismissive and incompetent as the worst quacktitioners. There are plenty of real doctors (MD variety) are just in it for money or the chance to perform surgery or diagnose illnesses to prescribe medicine for things that don't exist or go away on their own.

Find someone you can trust to be reliable and open and not just out for a buck or their own ends.

 

[Ultra Lantern]

Use who you feel comfortable with.

 

[moviedoors]

Use who you feel comfortable with.

I know this is the makes-you-feel-nice answer, and I hate to be the turd in the punch bowl, but no. Being comfortable won't a make a chiropractic treatment for nerve damage anymore effective. See a real doctor.

 

[Immortalfire]

Chiropractors get an undeserved rep as not being a "real" doctor, whatever that means. Last I checked, they go to school, have a license and know a ton of biology.

I've never had a bad experience, and the doc I saw was very knowledgeable.

 

[Lily Adler]