Chiropractors..What's up with that?

So DH threw out his back, which means I spent the weekend nursing him back to health...Think him saying weakly...'DW, DW I'm hungry!' Me: 'what do you want?' 'I don't know what I FEEL like, but I think I'll know in 5 minutes...'

Anyway, DH goes to the chiropractor, who says yes, his back is all messed up, but chiropractor doesn't want to touch it without xrays and can't give prescriptions, so sends DH to regular Dr. for meds and xrays.

So are chiropractors any better than regular Drs? I am kind of pis sed because now that means 2 copays to see the regular dr. and chiro. since he couldn't do anything since he's not a real dr.

I thougth they could do x-rays.

My paretns both were helped a lot by a chiropractor. A regualr dr will perscribe pain killers & surgery, if neccessary, but a chirporacter, can push things back into place.

Chiros and PTs run the same way - they need a DIAGNOSIS from a doctor, then they can treat the patient.

Think about how unsafe it would be to begin treating some guy who comes into the office with back pain....you don't know if he has a severely herniated disc or something - if the chiro touches him the wrong way, he could further injure him!

Definitely need xrays and an MRI when it comes to the spine.

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Posted by Shorty McBride

Chiros and PTs run the same way - they need a DIAGNOSIS from a doctor, then they can treat the patient.

Think about how unsafe it would be to begin treating some guy who comes into the office with back pain....you don't know if he has a severely herniated disc or something - if the chiro touches him the wrong way, he could further injure him!

Definitely need xrays and an MRI when it comes to the spine.

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I hear you. When I was hurt a few years ago, I went to see a orthopedic surgeon, who really helped. For the same copay I think I'd rather see a legitimate dr. who can prescribe meds. Not that chiropractic drs. aren't real doctors, they are, but in the same sense that I'll be a dr. but not writing prescriptions..

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Posted by nov04LIbride

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Posted by Shorty McBride

Chiros and PTs run the same way - they need a DIAGNOSIS from a doctor, then they can treat the patient.

Think about how unsafe it would be to begin treating some guy who comes into the office with back pain....you don't know if he has a severely herniated disc or something - if the chiro touches him the wrong way, he could further injure him!

Definitely need xrays and an MRI when it comes to the spine.

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I hear you. When I was hurt a few years ago, I went to see a orthopedic surgeon, who really helped. For the same copay I think I'd rather see a legitimate dr. who can prescribe meds. Not that chiropractic drs. aren't real doctors, they are, but in the same sense that I'll be a dr. but not writing prescriptions..

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He may need both though. Meds will just ease the pain, they won't alleviate the cause. Unless, it is jsut a muscle thign, than an anti-inflammatory, might help.
Shorty is right, a chiropracter is more like a PT. If there are vertabrae out of alignment, a chirprocator can help, but a Dr needs to diagnose it first.

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Posted by nov04LIbride

Yeah, I guess it's just the surgeon actually did my rehab with me so I never went to a PT. I went to him once a week and he did exercises with me to get my arm working again (I fell on ice).

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Really? I didn't think they did that. Interesting. Maybe he just liked you.

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Posted by tourist

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Posted by nov04LIbride

Yeah, I guess it's just the surgeon actually did my rehab with me so I never went to a PT. I went to him once a week and he did exercises with me to get my arm working again (I fell on ice).

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Really? I didn't think they did that. Interesting. Maybe he just liked you.

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We did date before DH so that could be true. I thought all ortho. surgeons were as attentive.

I am a patient of Chiropractic for years. It helped me immensely.

I never needed pain pills but I had x-rays done right there in the office.

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Posted by Shorty McBride

Chiros and PTs run the same way - they need a DIAGNOSIS from a doctor, then they can treat the patient.

Think about how unsafe it would be to begin treating some guy who comes into the office with back pain....you don't know if he has a severely herniated disc or something - if the chiro touches him the wrong way, he could further injure him!

Definitely need xrays and an MRI when it comes to the spine.

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I don't know about Chiros, but I know for sure that PT's need a diagnosis from a treating physician to get authorization (and payment) from insurance companies.
I think it's probably a good idea that the chiro was thorough in asking your DH to get x-rays and MRI's because he might need to see a PT instead of a chiro, or the cause of the pain might be something that can only be fixed with surgery. I just wish that doctors would do consultations at the 1st visit and not charge a copay, I had to go to 5 different doctors to check out a bump on my head. They kept referring me around, it was terrible.

A chiro can work indepedently of a doctor, as in for a PT you need a script from a doctor to go, but for a chiro, you vcan just walk in. If I'm not mistaken if the office where your chro is does x rays then they have a staff MD or DO who is there just as a legal thing who is the actual person prescribing on paper.

A chiropractor is different from a regular doctor. it's one treatment. For example, i have a bad back and I go to a regular doctor and a neurologist, chiroprator, PT, accupuncture, massage, occasional injections, tc

Most Chiros aren't doctors.

Remember that. See an ortho first. I always advise it.

Chiros can be very useful, but always have a real doctor who specializes in your issues recommend one if possible. Some doctors dont like chiros.. others do. *shrug*