Couldn't agree more Diana and I'm quite suprised at the anti-Chiro sentiment around here. The ration of good and bad in the chiropractic profession is likely no different than the number of shysters and quack MDs.
When I started experiencing problems I knew nothing about chiropractors and the connection of the spine to good health. Like most people I believed they were not legitimate.
My problems started with minor pain and grinding in the neck and mid back and ignored it. Within a year I started having very serious paninc attacks. I went to at least five differnt MDs and every one of them wanted to prescribe pain medication and anti depressants, because they believed my symptoms were the result of depression. I kept trying to explaim my physical symptoms, and that I was certainly depressed because I did not feel well and was in pain everyday. I had read quite a bit about anti-depresants and never would fill the prescritions.
After a year of suffering a friend of mine recommended a chiro. I blew him off, but the friend then pre-paid a visit for me, which I still ignored for another two months. Finally, I was feeling so bad one day I was ready to try anything. I made the appointment and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life.
The first visit was like a religious experience; like someone breaking a pain of glass with a hammer; everything, tension, back pain, neck pain, chest pain, just left my body. It took a couple months of frequent visits, but I now only see him when I need too, as I have learned to pay attention to what my body is telling me. I have not had a panic attack since the first visit ten years ago.
If it were not for my Chiro, I would be on pain kilers and antidepressants, or maybe dead. My entire life I always considered myself well grounded and never one to think about suicide, but after a year of misery I was starting to understand how one could consider it.
The only answer the MDs could provide was anit-depresants and pain killers. They never wanted to consider the source of my problems and ignored what I was trying to tell them.
sui
"The only answer the MDs could provide was anit-depresants and pain killers. They never wanted to consider the source of my problems and ignored what I was trying to tell them."
Exactly. The first few times I had spasms, I ended up in Emergency Rooms because I had no idea what was going on, either. I was always, always hale and hardy; no sickness or injury other than a common cold and one bout of flu in my entire adult life.
I remember walking out of Emergency (after being carried in by my DH, as I could not walk on my own) after being pumped full of Demerol, and thinking, "This feels nice, but I really shouldn't be walking, and shouldn't I be able to feel my legs?"
I finally listened to my Mother and got myself to a Chiropractor. I now have bad episodes maybe once a year, tops, and it's usually my own fault (as you said) because I didn't listen to my body!