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[Vigilant Walrus]

I've gotten one of these foam rollers and I have been really happy with the result. I use it almost every day. cracks my back like crazy:

I feel very good afterwards.



I hope I can soon afford a sit-stand desk like the one they sell in Ikea. As soon as I get the dough!

When I was in China I saw 95 year old ladies carrying heavy shit. I think in the west we fuck ourselves when we sit down for so long. It's not some paleo fad. Sitting really is terrible for us.

 

[SalvaPot]

 

[1.21Gigawatts]

how about osteopaths?

You might as well hire a magician.

 

[The Lamp]

Been thinking of going to one lately. Back has been hurting somewhat.

Go to a neurologist or orthopedic surgeon (doesn't mean you need surgery, just means they're qualified to perform it) specializing in spine. They can really help you.

I have basically had awful back pain for years after sleeping on a couch to tend to a ill family member for 5 years. I finally was convinced by my buddy to see a chiropractor.

Long story short. My back hurts way less, and I can touch my toes (which I've never been able to do in my life).

God Bless back specialists.

A chiropractor helped me as well, but it was always temporary and they always wanted me to come in to get my fix like some sort of drug addict.

I went to a real doctor (spine surgeon) and he prescribed me physical therapy. I went to the therapy sessions and my back pain was cured for good.

So there's that.

The way they crack necks is frightening.

It feels amazing though. As soon as I got my neck cracked my head would feel relieved, lightweight and free to move. Showed how much pressure and stress my neck likes to keep.

But I don't do it anymore for the reasons I stated.

 

[justjustin]

Glad you feel better, but like others have suggested go see a physical therapist in the future. They can give you a regimen of stretches and exercises to manage your pain yourself. I had sciatica so bad that, lying completely still in bed, my heart beating caused shooting pain down my left leg. It's been gone for over a year now with no sign of it coming back because they taught me how to take care of my muscles before and after lifting heavy at the gym.

 

[Skellig Gra]

Less yakkin' more crackin'

 

[Rodney McKay]

I always think about that episode when I hear about Chiropractors.

Homer gets his back cracked:
"Wow, my back feels slightly better!"
"We'll see you once a month for... the rest of your life." (or something like that)

 

[ActuallyHulk]

I've gone to chiropractors when needed since I was a child and never had any kind of problem. I'm going back tomorrow for some back pain and I don't anticipate my spine being snapped in two then either. I don't buy into the whole energy healing thing or whatever but they don't say that to me. They just crack whatever is hurting and leave it at that.

 

[cheststrongwell]

I've gone to chiropractors when needed since I was a child and never had any kind of problem. I'm going back tomorrow for some back pain and I don't anticipate my spine being snapped in two then either. I don't buy into the whole energy healing thing or whatever but they don't say that to me. They just crack whatever is hurting and leave it at that.

They got you hooked man.

 

[BronzeWolf]

They really made my life better on two occasions. So i don't think it's just bullcrap.

I've been seeing one for the past two months and my back is much better. I agree that their projected regiment of 5 months of seeing them twice is ludicrous since I consider myself 90% and I'm not even half way through.

Everyone says they're con artists, but I will vouch for them.

Acupuncture is another thing that gets a lot of flak, but a few years I sprained my ankle and couldnt run on it for several months. After 2 months at an acupuncturist, the swelling had subsided and I could run just fine.

That's why I went. My posture was horrible and caused a ton of pain in my lower back that made it hard to bend over. I go in twice a week and have exercises/stretches I do every day.

I've gone to chiropractors when needed since I was a child and never had any kind of problem. I'm going back tomorrow for some back pain and I don't anticipate my spine being snapped in two then either. I don't buy into the whole energy healing thing or whatever but they don't say that to me. They just crack whatever is hurting and leave it at that.

Anecdote unquantifiable evidence and Placebo effect, how do they work?

Hint: They don't

 

[CitizenCope]

I've seen many in my 44 years if that says anything.
In the last 3 years or so the $100 purchase of an inversion table has been the best money I've spent on my back.

 

[demon]

Why not just go to a real doctor who specializes in whatever's ailing you? No one's ever said "Damn I got a tooth ache, I'm gonna go see that guy who works inbetween the payday loan store and the chinese buffet and have him realign my jaw for 50 bucks".

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

 

[BPoole]

Anecdote unquantifiable evidence and Placebo effect, how do they work?

Hint: They don't

So me not even being able to bend over to out my socks on and tie my shoes to being able to go back to doing deadlifts and playing full games of basketball in the span of two months holds no weight? It was just magic?

 

[CrossTrigger]

Went to one for years.... band aid solution for my lower back wear and tear. Started yoga a year ago after recommendations from my physician. Worked wonders. Will never go back to a chiropractor unless my spine is completely out.

 

[David Incorporated Esq.]

Anyone that's claiming that a chiropractor helped you, heads up:

A physical therapist would have helped you more.

The worst chiropractors can hurt you and feed you dangerous false information. The best of them are half-assed physical therapists.

There you go. Chiropractors explained.

 

[Deleted member 752119]

You just have to find a good one. I had a problem with stuck facet joints in my neck. Did months of physical therapy after going to my doctor. Kept getting referred to different therapists who were experts on neck issues, and the last one finally told me to try a chiropractor as he was out of ideas.

It took a few months and a lot of adjustments, but it finally got better. The chiropractor was much more aggressive with getting those stuck joints to move, giving me different exercises and stretches between visits to keep them looser. Getting massages focusing on my shoulders and neck helped a ton too.

 

[majik13]

This is usually what happens. People feel better for a few days or more often until they wake up the next day. They never fix the problem.

I was waking up in pain every morning for several months. Ribs and back hurting. Always just blamed it in the harder than normal bed.
Finally went to a chiropractor once and Ive been better for years, and still am. Adjusted back and pelvis. And gave me recommendations for improving my problem. Like don't sit so much at work. Which I was already trying to do but wasn't helping.

 

[LookAtMeGo]

So me not even being able to bend over to out my socks on and tie my shoes to being able to go back to doing deadlifts and playing full games of basketball in the span of two months holds no weight? It was just magic?

I couldn't walk after a snowmobile accident, I worked with doctors who helped me with my legs and they fixed me up good, I also went to physio for my back but it wasn't getting much better, then my family DOCTOR suggested I go see a chiropractor that works with a lot of athletes and I saw results almost immediately. I was back to normal after a few months after having trouble for over a year and have not had to go back since and that was almost 10 years ago. I'll take a dose of that quack magic any day. Or placebo or whatever bullshit things people say about my anecdotal experience.

 

[Trojita]

I've gotten one of these foam rollers and I have been really happy with the result. I use it almost every day. cracks my back like crazy:

I feel very good afterwards.



I hope I can soon afford a sit-stand desk like the one they sell in Ikea. As soon as I get the dough!

When I was in China I saw 95 year old ladies carrying heavy shit. I think in the west we fuck ourselves when we sit down for so long. It's not some paleo fad. Sitting really is terrible for us.

That last part is unveriable psuedo nonsense. The women could be not as old as you are thinking and the things they were carrying might have looked heavy but really weren't.

It's like the old guy in the prestige. He makes it look like he is old and weak in public so no one would realize he actually has a very trained core able to carry that bowl under his clothes.

 

[dluu13]

I noticed that GAF has a lot of hostility towards chiropractors/chinese medicine and other "holistic" type treatment, calling them straight up scam artists. That being said, I am going to share my piece of anecdotal evidence. I'm a bit reluctant to share because I feel like I'll get some backlash too, but here goes:

I used to have lower back pain until I saw a chiropractor. I had trouble sleeping some nights because there was that much pain. I went in 2-3 times a week for a month, and he gave me a poster on proper posture and assigned me some stretches to do every night. After a month, I was feeling a lot better, and I've never been back, nor has he told me that I have to go in "for regular adjustments". Afterwards, I went skiing and had a particularly bumpy day. My back would often hurt for days after skiing like that, but not after the treatment. I'm with OP on this one because I don't think I got scammed.

The message is that there are good ones and bad ones. Regulation on holistic medicine seems to be a bit lax. Do your research and use common sense. If the chiropractor recommends stretches and posture correction for back pain, then that's reasonable. If he recommends weekly adjustments for autism and makes you pray with him, then he's probably a weirdo and you should look for another one.

 

[Omegasquash]

Nice one.

Like I said of detoxing in the thread earlier today, chiro is horse shit. My mother in law goes once a week and it's to the point where her back hurts very shortly after. I feel bad for her sinking all that money into it.

 

[David Incorporated Esq.]

I noticed that GAF has a lot of hostility towards chiropractors/chinese medicine and other "holistic" type treatment, calling them straight up scam artists. That being said, I am going to share my piece of anecdotal evidence. I'm a bit reluctant to share because I feel like I'll get some backlash too, but here goes:

I used to have lower back pain until I saw a chiropractor. I had trouble sleeping some nights because there was that much pain. I went in 2-3 times a week for a month, and he gave me a poster on proper posture and assigned me some stretches to do every night. After a month, I was feeling a lot better, and I've never been back, nor has he told me that I have to go in "for regular adjustments". Afterwards, I went skiing and had a particularly bumpy day. My back would often hurt for days after skiing like that, but not after the treatment. I'm with OP on this one because I don't think I got scammed.

The message is that there are good ones and bad ones. Regulation on holistic medicine seems to be a bit lax. Do your research and use common sense. If the chiropractor recommends stretches and posture correction for back pain, then that's reasonable. If he recommends weekly adjustments for autism and makes you pray with him, then he's probably a weirdo and you should look for another one.

You know why his services helped you so much? Because he was injecting physical therapy into his practice. Chiropractic is not what he is doing.

To be fair, there are lots of chiropractors nowadays that are getting away from the old "subluxations give you stomach aches!@!!!" and moving towards massage and physical therapy in addition to adjustments.

 

[BronzeWolf]

So me not even being able to bend over to out my socks on and tie my shoes to being able to go back to doing deadlifts and playing full games of basketball in the span of two months holds no weight? It was just magic?

It's almost like magic huh? I wonder if there might be some kind of method in order to know what was what actually helped you, and discard what didn't, so it could benefit others

 

[dluu13]

You know why his services helped you so much? Because he was injecting physical therapy into his practice. Chiropractic is not what he is doing.

To be fair, there are lots of chiropractors nowadays that are getting away from the old "subluxations give you stomach aches!@!!!" and moving towards massage and physical therapy in addition to adjustments.

Thanks for that. He calls himself a chiropractor but I got no weird vibes from him. The regulation in US and Canada might be different too. I'm not sure if it's just GAF or if it's a common perception in the States that all chiropractors are quacks, but I don't see that very much in Canada.

 

[demon]

So me not even being able to bend over to out my socks on and tie my shoes to being able to go back to doing deadlifts and playing full games of basketball in the span of two months holds no weight? It was just magic?

They may be implementing legitimate physical therapy techniques, although probably not as well as an actual specialized doctor or physical therapist would. And because it's a chiropractor and not a real doctor you have no idea how much they actually know what they're doing and if they're going to use unproven and risky techniques.

 

[Reishiki]

From reading Reasonable Hank, I believe the issue is that Chiropractic Boards seem rather OK with dangerous quacks running around

This is the same guy who reported on this

 

[BPoole]

It's almost like magic huh? I wonder if there might be some kind of method in order to know what was what actually helped you, and discard what didn't, so it could benefit others

I don't think it was one specific thing, it's a combination of the alignments, the stretches, and the back strengthening exercises I was advised to do at that gym (as well as which ones not to do). He also told me to take Zinc supplements since they act as a anti inflammatory and reduce pressure.

There may very well we some quacks out there, but I have had great results thus far. I think their long term plan for me is nonsense considering I'm not even halfway through yet, but I can stop going whenever I want since I didn't prepay for the entire thing.

 

[MattKeil]

When your back gets worse, I'd recommend going to physical therapy. I spent thousands of dollars on chiropractors, and while I felt better after a visit, the pains always came back. After a month of physical therapy, I felt better than I had in years.

This. Chiropractic is about two frames off of homeopathy.

 

[BronzeWolf]

I don't think it was one specific thing, it's a combination of the alignments, the stretches, and the back strengthening exercises I was advised to do at that gym (as well as which ones not to do). He also told me to take Zinc supplements since they act as a anti inflammatory and reduce pressure.

It might have been the sky or the moon. No way to know for sure. That's the whole point. If Chiros would subject themselves to the scientific method in order to discover what the fuck is actually happening in their cures, everyone would benefit. But they don't

 

[Nivash]

Thanks for that. He calls himself a chiropractor but I got no weird vibes from him. The regulation in US and Canada might be different too. I'm not sure if it's just GAF or if it's a common perception in the States that all chiropractors are quacks, but I don't see that very much in Canada.

There are "good" chiropractors who recognise that the foundation of chiropracy (the whole subluxation business and the absurd idea that spinal manipulation can cure any illness) is quackery of the highest degree and who are trying to carve out a niche based on decent evidence. As it stands, that basically relegates them to dealing with chronic back pain, for which there actually is some evidence - mainly because it's basically on par in efficiency with physical therapy and because neither treatment is actually all that effective.

The reason I stil put good in quotation marks is because they're somewhat redundant. They charge more and are still connected to the ludicrous and dangerous basis of chiropracy. The way I see it, if they were actually truly good they would simply become physiotherapists.

 

[spootime]

In highschool, my classmates father was paralyzed from the waist down by a chiropractor. Really unfortunate.

 

[injurai]

they are great for pinched nerves and relieving general tension from tightened muscle groups or stiff joints

but that's where their abilities end

 

[mrkgoo]

Yes, they are dangerous, untrained quaks. Their whole therapy is based on magic, not science. They are pulling and cracking bones on your back and neck.

I knew a guy who has a doctorate in biochemistry, a good scientist through and through. He quit and studied chiropractic - took him several years.

I mean I have no idea about legitimacy of the practice, but doesn't seem like into totally unregulated.

Then again, I also knew this other guy studying for his PhD and he had a "genius" plan of getting doctorate qualification just to get the letters before and after his name to sound legitimate so he could make big bucks of endorsing random products. Lol. He was probably joking. Probably.

 

[BPoole]

It might have been the sky or the moon. No way to know for sure. That's the whole point. If Chiros would subject themselves to the scientific method in order to discover what the fuck is actually happening in their cures, everyone would benefit. But they don't

So even though it benefitted me greatly and I am fully back into my normal workout routines and playing basketball, I am not allowed to give the chiro any credit because the field doesn't subject itself to the scientific method?

Strangely enough, back when I was in my late teens I had a rotator cuff injury and went to an actual physical therapist 3 times a week for 3 months, and I did not see any improvements. I have rotator cuff pain to this day despite their specialty.

 

[Always-honest]

Anecdote unquantifiable evidence and Placebo effect, how do they work?

Hint: They don't

Blah blah. He corrected something. Don't be an arrogant prick.
Hint: what do you really know?
Maybe it can be good in certain occasions. I'm also sceptic and i HATE the neck crack thingy. I won't allow it.

Edit: i can't really blame you.. I would think the same if it wasn't for the fact that these guys actually helped me with a problem nobody could help me with for two decades. And i tried everything. Even stuff i laugh at.

So maybe it was a physical problem that COULD be resolved with chiropracty, by coincidence.. I dunno. I don't care. It helped.

 

[Nivash]

In highschool, my classmates father was paralyzed from the waist down by a chiropractor. Really unfortunate.

And that is precisely why chiropracy can be very dangerous. The spinal column is not designed to manipulated that way. If the patient has a pre-existing spinal condition or the chiropractor is too violent it is perfectly possible to damage a nerve root or the spinal circulatory system, causing everything from nerve damage to paralysis to stroke and even death.

Events like that may be rare but they're not worth the risk, especially when the gains are so small and can be a achieved by safer treatments in almost every case.

 

[KrellRell]

So even though it benefitted me greatly and I am fully back into my normal workout routines and playing basketball, I am not allowed to give the chiro any credit because the field doesn't subject itself to the scientific method?

Strangely enough, back when I was in my late teens I had a rotator cuff injury and went to an actual physical therapist 3 times a week for 3 months, and I did not see any improvements. I have rotator cuff pain to this day despite their specialty.

You can give that person credit, but not chiropractors. It's a pseudo science.

 

[IAmtheFMan]

The way they crack necks is frightening.

I've had to manage 3 patients that have developed strokes (and not subtle strokes, but severely debilitating, life-altering strokes) due to artery dissections from chiropractic manipulations of the neck. Young people too. I had one guy who was 25 and now he has substantial difficulty with his language and moving his right side.

If patients want to see a chiropractor for low back stuff or what have you, I don't really care. I just tell them not to let them touch their neck at all though.

 

[Mariah Carey]

I've gone to chiropractors when needed since I was a child and never had any kind of problem. I'm going back tomorrow for some back pain and I don't anticipate my spine being snapped in two then either. I don't buy into the whole energy healing thing or whatever but they don't say that to me. They just crack whatever is hurting and leave it at that.

Except that you've been having to continually return to these chiropractors since childhood...

 

[iamverificationimage]

Did you go to this guy?

That guy reached OT 3 good for him.

But Penn and Teller did a really good show on chiropractic.

 

[ActuallyHulk]

Except that you've been having to continually return to these chiropractors since childhood...

Tomorrow is my first appointment in 6 years. When I said I've gone since childhood I didn't mean I have literally gone over and over and over every week since childhood.

 

[The Hermit]

https://youtu.be/BnJA76PMztk

Goro xray shows he can be a great chiropractor.

I've had to manage 3 patients that have developed strokes (and not subtle strokes, but severely debilitating, life-altering strokes) due to artery dissections from chiropractic manipulations of the neck. Young people too. I had one guy who was 25 and now he has substantial difficulty with his language and moving his right side.

If patients want to see a chiropractor for low back stuff or what have you, I don't really care. I just tell them not to let them touch their neck at all though.

Ive see one dude with dissection due to yoga. I like to stretch my neck, but after I saw that I am way more careful.

 

[lunchtoast]

This guy has it made

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhxd9AKxDOg

He'll also adjust your kids!

 

[Simon Belmont]

How were your sublimations OP? Did he examine your chakras as well? Did you ask him to read your tea leaves or chicken bones?

 

[BronzeWolf]

Blah blah. He corrected something. Don't be an arrogant prick.
Hint: what do you really know?
Maybe it can be good in certain occasions. I'm also sceptic and i HATE the neck crack thingy. I won't allow it.

Anecdotal, unquantifiable evidence and placebo effects have no place in a serious healthcare discussion. You can take that as arrogant, although I find NOT disclosing and discussing such things to be even more arrogant. Accepting that one's point of view might be wrong is more humble that disqualifying criticisms outright

 

[Pimplitosaurio]

The chiropractor I went was very good. He wasn't doing much chacking my spine or things like that, he took xrays, gave me excersises for like 6 months and told me to keep them doing forever(stretchings and things like that, like 15 minutes daily, tops) so yeah, he was a good one*





*I probably shouldn't tell gaf that I was to a good homeopatic doctor I guess**


**He called himself homeopathic, but seriously, I saw him work and he was just giving regular advice that his patients ate it up("Doc, why do I feel tired everyday?" "Well, stop smoking two packs a day, eat more healthly and workout" "thanks doc, I feel great!"

 

[Always-honest]

Anecdotal, unquantifiable evidence and placebo effects have no place in a serious healthcare discussion. You can take that as arrogant, although I find NOT disclosing and discussing such things to be even more arrogant. Accepting that one's point of view might be wrong is more humble that disqualifying criticisms outright

I edited. Read again please.
But the way you reacted was like i don't know what a placebo is and like people don't know the controverse when it comes to chiropracters.
It's especially a very popular subject on the web. And on GAF.

I had a problem with my upper back and lower back that normal healthcare couldn't resolve. I tried all kind of other stuff, even when i thought it was bogus. None of it helped. In the end, this helped me in this particular case.

That's enough for me. And i'm not saying it will help in most or all cases. In fact, i don't think it helps at all in most cases.

If serious healthcare has no solution, people look elsewhere.

A question for you: did you ever have physical problems that normal healthcare had no solution for?
And when you do, will you try other stuff? Cause honestly, you probably will. If the problem is affecting your life enough.

Anyway, yes. Still anecdotal ;p.

 

[Bigfoot]

It seems like chiropractors are temporary fixes. Everyone I know that goes to one has to go back every two weeks because their pain returns.

Going to a physiotherapist makes a lot more sense. At least they fix you properly so you don't have to keep going back.

 

[M3d10n]

Why not just go to a real doctor who specializes in whatever's ailing you? No one's ever said "Damn I got a tooth ache, I'm gonna go see that guy who works inbetween the payday loan store and the chinese buffet and have him realign my jaw for 50 bucks".

Because most of the posters are in America, where most people are always looking for alternatives to going to actual doctors in fear of massive bills.

So me not even being able to bend over to out my socks on and tie my shoes to being able to go back to doing deadlifts and playing full games of basketball in the span of two months holds no weight? It was just magic?

No, it was physiotherapy techniques that particular chiro happened to use. People can learn a lot of that stuff without on their own, just like there are "self taught" personal trainers who never graduated in PE and self taught electricians.