Snap! Crackle! Pop!

Some people swear by them.  Others loathe their very existence.  Often described as a "pseudo-science", it's difficult for these practitioners to garner and retain respect, unless one has personal experience with their capabilities.  Who am I describing?  Chiropractors, of course!

Manipulation of the spine for pain relief, energy revitalization and as a "cure" for a variety of ills has been noted throughout history.  One of the earliest documented descriptions is attributed to Hippocrates in 400 A.D.

Modern-day chiropractics trace their roots to Daniel David Palmer, who performed his first adjustment in 1895 and formally opened the Palmer School of Chiropractic in 1897.  Historically, medicine at that time was a growing, expanding field, rich in research and practice.  It was also a time of "cures and tonics", most of which were complete bunk.

Nonetheless, current data indicates that over 80% of all adults will suffer from some type of back pain during their life.  Depending on the degree of acuteness, a substantial portion of the public will consider chiropractic as a viable alternative.  This has been especially true since the early 90's, when states started mandating that chiropractic services must be covered by health insurance providers along with several other "alternative approaches", such as massage and accupuncture.

My story?  I hurt myself on the uneven parallell bars when I was thirteen, snapping myself backwards over the lower bar.  It hurt like hell, but there was no "visible" damage so I just toughed it out.  Add a car accident or two along the way, and I was ripe for some major back pain.  My Beefy Boy Husband wanted to transfer all the weights out to the new garage-based workout room.  I helped (dopey me!).  The next day I could barely move, and was completely rotated to the left.

It hurt like hell to do anything, and I do mean ANYTHING.  Standing, sitting, lying; all were painful.  And transitioning between states was enough to make me scream.  I put up with it for almost a month, crying each time I needed to get in and out of a car or roll over in bed.  I couldn't even put dishes in the dishwasher, let alone garden, exercise or even knit!

Enter Dr. Arthur Chandless, my hero.  One of our employees has frequented Island Crest Chiropractic on and off for years for various soccer injuries.  He took one look at my twisted, uncomprimising stance and suggested in strong language that I give him a try.  It certainly couldn't have gotten much worse, and this was after muscle relaxers, anti-inflamatory drugs, and massive doses of Tylenol to help manage the pain.

ONE VISIT LATER, I could stand up again.  I could get in and out of the car.  I didn't cry when entering and leaving my oh so comfy bed.  My Truly Sensitive (and Sick of my Whining) Husband was delighted.  I'm on a course of treatment that allows me to walk Greenlake (3 miles), use the elliptical at home and do floor exercises designed to strengthen the back.  I'm seeing Dr. Chandless for a finite amount of time for a finite course of treament based on what was wrong "in there" that I would have never seen without a full spine x-ray.  Needless to say, I'm thrilled.  If there is a chiropractic Hall of Fame, I think Dr. Chandless deserves entry.

So if you're in pain, and traditional methods haven't worked, I do suggest giving chiropractic services a try.  Do your homework - as there are a variety of people doing a variety of different types of practice.  Don't sign anything, and be cognizant of the treatment protocol, expectations, and "real life" types of interactions you'll be engaging in (like when you'll be able to start exercising), what other environmental elements might need to change (like chairs, computer monitor height, etc.).  Do also engage proactively on how you'll be addressing your issues from a preventative as well as a curative standpoint. 

One additional caveat: it's not a regulated industry the way the "traditional" medical profession is regulated, so check into your practitioner's training, additional certifications, and references.  You've only got one spine, but boy is it a pleasure when it works correctly.  I am a convert to the powers of chiropractic, especially when professionally handled by someone who genuinely wants to keep people healthy, not as a permanent customer. 

Comments

[Kick Shoe]

Yes, chiropractic has helped me many times. Something I've also discovered is that I get lower back pain from eating certain foods I'm allergic too. The pain goes away when I stop eating them. Interesting.

[scott]

I met a chiropractor yesterday. Well, I think he was a chiropractor. His card said "Insurance Adjuster".

Between you're back pain posts and Cathy's back story posts, I feel like I'm spiraling backwards through the blogosphere.

[bob]

I've heard wonders of chiropractory...I've suffered with lumbar spasming since I injured myself skiing at the age of 20.

I've come very close to going into seeing one when the mexican black tar heroin is hard to score off the street and the pain is too much. It's that back cracking that freaks me out! I should get over it huh?

[scott]

When you were 20? You should get over it, Bob. 40 years is long enough to suffer.

[Kimberley]

Well, I waited till I was 45 and am wondering what was wrong with me. I too was very scared about it - but I have to say that the relief is IMMEASURABLE compared to the pain and disfunction.

Yes, Bob. Time to get over it. Call Dr. Chandless at 206 232-2000 and get the Spokane equivalent! A personal or professional recommendation is worth its weight in gold.

[Margaret]

OUCH!! Did you have to bring up the scary(to a gym mom) UB accident? I think I would try any avenue to relieve pain, just to find whatever worked. That could be chiropractic, acupuncture, or anything! I am a wimp.

[Tonya]

Well, I'm thinking you were lucky. I've given chiropractic two tries (with many years in between), and in one case it made things worse, and in the second case I was so unnerved by the borderline-pervert that I reported him. Also, in both cases, there was a LOT of pressure to come in twice a week for life and sign up the whole family and every friend or acquaintance I'd ever known. I was not impressed.

[Kimberley]

Yup. Health is such a critical (and personal) topic to us all - and you want to trust the people who's hands you are literally putting your life in. And the pervert aspect -- ewwww.

I am so sorry Tonya that you had such a horrid experience. I've been doing additional research because I am fascinated that my experience was so quick to relieve the pain and my pracitioner seems to be way above board in terms of ethics and a "minimalist" perspective on treatment. He uses what's called the "Gonstead Method", which treats only those vertebrae that are out of alignment - and seems to be pin-point specific on getting things back into whack, as it were. If you were willing to try it again and in need - I again suggest contacting Dr. Chandless' office for a referral.

[rob]

Chiropractors can do so much more for an individuals overall health than most people are aware. As more of these articles are written, the notion that chiropractors are limited to only head, neck, and back pain will be dispelled.

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