Chiropractor or Acupuncture?!

Chiropractor or Acupuncture?

My doctor, after requesting a second MRI and finding changes in the results, has ordered me to either a chiropractor or acupuncturist. I have heard both good and bad stories about chiropractors, but I am inclined to go to one because my boyfriend goes to one for his neck pain and it works great for him. I know next to nothing about acupuncture except that it involves needles, which I HATE. I'd love some feedback voting on which practice you recommend. Thanks. :)

3 weeks ago
I just found out I have spinal compression and a minor case of arthritis. I turn 19 next week. :( I know there's no cure for arthritis, and it will only get worse as I get older, but I'm sure the spinal compression can be dealt with. I see a back specialist next week and we will go from there. Hes going to have the final say on who I go to next. Thank you for the opinions and information!

Hi Angie,

I'm actually very uncomfortable with chiropractic care, but love, love, love acupuncture. I don't fall into the 'typical' alternative medicine person category either - scientist all the way.

I'm not familiar with your situation, but I can tell you what my care involves. My acupuncturist is a doctor trained in China, and has been very involved in the TCM associations here, seems to be very well recognized. Incidentally, she specializes in fertility issues. Interesting to note that I got pregnant right after a series of treatments despite being on the pill ... so be aware!

First visit includes a thorough interview and physical exam to determine what exactly the problem is (let him/her, even if a western doc has already done this). This may include some rather odd questions about your bowels, and observations about cold/hot spots. My neck, back, and hips are the problem for me.

I dress in a typical hospital gown and lie face-down on a massage table. She starts by checking over my muscles to see how they are, then gives a thorough massage.

I have let her know I'm nervous about the needles, so she doesn't show them to me! When they go in there is a prick like a mosquito bite, with a ... thump. Then she 'tweaks' them. Sometimes this hurts for a moment - but I know from experience that means it's doing something. Sometimes it's five needles, sometimes more - a lot more, I'm sure I look like a porcupine. She lets me rest for twenty-ish minutes, coming in every five or so to rub the needles - they've got little spring-like things on their heads, so it vibrates. Feels good! Odd, but good. Sometimes she puts a heat lamp over my back, sometimes she puts little incense-like things smoking on the needles - warms them up, feels wooooonderful! I usually fall asleep. Some practitioners also use electricity, like you get at physio. I'm not a fan of that.

Oh, and the needles are sterile, pre-packaged. They're seriously thin, too. I normally am tense for the first couple, then I remember "Ohyeah, this doesn't really hurt," and can relax.

Okay, so then the needles come out - sometimes this too feels like a mosquito bite. She does 'cupping' - a glass dome-like cup is heated with a flame, then smuck, onto my back. It's not hot, but it does suction-cup on! It's like a reverse massage as she drags it. Then more massage.

Then I roll over, and she puts another set of needles in - today it was one near each elbow, one on either side of my stomach, and one midway down each leg. Then a head massage, foot massage (while she taught me a few more words in mandarin), then the needles came out and a gentle stomach massage.

Lie there and relax a few, stretch a bit, get dressed, and I go back next week!

Something to know ... depending on your case, you might feel okay when leaving, but feel WORSE, like, HORRID that night and the next day. Feverish, uncomfortable, have to move but that doesn't help type horrid. The second treatment in a series I feel better, not great, but better. Third better! Fourth all better! Fifth - my treat to myself because it's so great.

Oh, you might get sent home with an herbal patch type thing - if you're latex sensitive or allergic, let them know, as these are full of latex. You might also be prescribed herbs to take.

I really hope that helps! Best of luck! And fabulous that your doctor is open minded enough to use a combination of high-tech and alternative medicine!

Edit #1 - Oh, about the believe thing? Nah. I was a total skeptic when I went first. Total! I only went because a friend of mine insisted, gave me the phone number, dialed the phone, all but dragged me there. I thought it was all hoooey. Man, was I ever wrong!

Edit #2 - in response to the placebo statement. You're kidding, right? I'm not comfortable with chiro, but at least can see some benefit to it (well, okay, the chiros who claim they can cure the common cold, asthma, HIV, whatever, that I disagree with). Acupuncture - well, so what if it is endorphins? That pretty much means it's not placebo then, right? Getcher stories straight, eh? :-) Frankly, I don't care about the method by which it works, acupuncture works very well for certain ailments. I'd ordinarily say muscle pain mostly ... but I find it very difficult to believe that I just happened to be one of the one in a thousand women who gets pregnant while taking the pill properly, while I was getting treatment by someone who specializes in fertility issues.