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Home Pain Management


28 SECRETS CHIROPRACTORS WON’T TELL YOU FOR FREE


Charlotte Hilton AndersenUpdated: Apr. 15, 2021
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FOR STARTERS, STOP LOOKING DOWN AT YOUR PHONE TO READ THIS!

ⓘ







The Most Common Types of Back Pain
Back pain affects 80% of the population, but not in the same way.

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SHOULD I SEE A CHIROPRACTOR?

Chiropractors treat everything from low back pain to headaches. Read on for the
things that chiropractors want you to know and expect before you make your first
appointment.

leezsnow/Getty Images


YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR PRICEY NEW X-RAYS EVERY TIME

“Bring in any prior X-rays, notes, blood tests, MRI reports, or other testing
you’ve had done to your first appointment with a new practitioner. That can save
you a lot of time and money.” —Robert Silverman, DC, 2015 ACASC Sports
Chiropractor of the Year and author of Inside-Out Health

ADVERTISEMENT



Panuwat Dangsungnoen / EyeEm/Getty Images


JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE FEELING BETTER DOESN’T MEAN YOU ARE BETTER

“When patients feel that they are ‘over the hump’ due to substantially decreased
pain or no more pain, they discontinue treatment themselves. This puts them at
serious risk of re-injury.” —Robert Silverman


gilaxia/Getty Images


YOUR BACK PAIN MAY NOT BE ABOUT YOUR BACK

“I care far more about your system than your symptoms. Chiropractors are
whole-body doctors treating not just the musculoskeletal system but also things
like metabolic syndrome or diabetes—without the use of drugs that traditional
doctors use. You may come in because of back pain but we’re looking for the
sources of your back pain that go beyond just your back.” —Robert Silverman

Shestock/Getty Images


REFERRALS ARE OUR BREAD AND BUTTER

“Most of my patients come to me as referrals from other patients or
practitioners. This makes me extra motivated to give you the best care so that
you’ll feel comfortable sending your family and friends to me.” —Pamela
Abramson-Levine, DC, family practice non-force chiropractor in Santa Monica,
California




LeoPatrizi/Getty Images


IF YOU DON’T FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS WELL, THE TREATMENT WON’T WORK WELL

“When patients do not follow all my at-home care prescriptions, it hinders my
ability to help them. I can adjust you and get your body aligned properly, but
if you are not doing the therapeutic exercises I prescribe, or if you are
continuing to eat a highly inflammatory diet, you are not going to see the best
results. Optimal results occur when the entire program prescribed is followed
properly.” —Pamela Abramson-Levine

Nicola Katie/Getty Images


YOU DON’T HAVE TO SNAP, CRACKLE, POP TO GET RESULTS

“There are many different techniques within the chiropractic profession. Some of
them are low force, like Directional Non-Force Technique (DNFT). With this
technique, there are no forceful manipulations, so you won’t hear the usual
cracking or popping. It’s a very gentle and effective approach to getting the
body back into proper alignment.” —Pamela Abramson-Levine

PhotoAlto/Frederic Cirou/Getty Images


DO YOU LOVE TO CRACK OR POP YOUR NECK? STOP IT

“Self-adjusting by turning or cranking your own neck to make it ‘pop’ may give
temporary relief, but in most cases it is exacerbating a problem. Without proper
touch and contact on the stuck joint, you’re likely doing damage to surrounding
joints.” —Kris Birkeland, DC, president of Joint Ventures, LLC, operator of 28
The Joint Chiropractic Clinics



JGI/Tom Grill/Getty Images


YOUR PHONE ADDICTION IS KEEPING ME IN BUSINESS

“One of the worst things a patient can do is have bad posture, and a lot of that
stems from our bad habit of sitting down all day with smartphones, iPads, and
laptops. Maintaining good posture helps keep our bones and joints in correct
alignment so that the muscles are used correctly. This helps prevent abnormal
wearing of joint surfaces that otherwise result in pain and degenerative
arthritis.” —Nathan Leavitt, D.C., owner of West Knoxville Chiropractic


Trevor Williams/Getty Images


WANT TO RUN A MARATHON? YOU NEED ME

“Chiropractic treatment enhances athletic and personal performance. Athletes
like Michael Phelps, Jerry Rice, and Joe Montana are under regular chiropractic
care. Chiropractors are used by NFL team to help with the conditioning,
functionality, and endurance of professional football players.” —Nathan Leavitt

Westend61/Getty Images


YOUR HOUSE IS YOUR WORST ENEMY

“Too many people live in an environment that doesn’t support good posture. For
example, your desk chair needs to be at a good height for your legs to touch the
floor; your computer monitor should be high enough so you don’t have to look
down to see it; and you should have supportive pillows on the couch you use to
watch TV.” —Jane Leavell, DC



ADAM GAULT/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images


I’M BETTER AT HELPING SOME TYPES OF PEOPLE THAN OTHERS

“Chiropractors can specialize, just like medical doctors can. So when you’re
looking for a chiropractor, be conscious of what their area of expertise is, and
find one that specializes in what you have going on. Some of the specialties
include pediatric, pregnancy, nutrition, acupuncture, sports, and scoliosis.”
—Jane Leavell

DAM GAULT/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images


WE’RE NOT “BONE DOCTORS”

“Most people think chiropractors work primarily with bones, when in actuality we
work more with the circuitry of the nervous system to restore and maintain
normal function as much as possible. Chiropractic treatments are designed to
stimulate the nervous system and activate brain function.” —Robert Blaich, DC,
general practitioner in natural health care

adamkaz/Getty Images


“POPPING” YOUR BACK ISN’T THE SAME AS GETTING AN ADJUSTMENT

“You may be able to twist in such a way to feel a ‘pop,’ but this isn’t
adjusting anything. Rather, the noise is just air bubbles moving in the joint
space. You can even cause damage to your spine and nervous system trying to pop
your own back.” —Heather Van Wyhe, DC, F.A.S.A. of the Oklahoma Chiropractors’
Association



JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images


DON’T BLAME ME IF YOU’RE NOT SEEING THE RESULTS YOU WANT

“Chiropractic can help with many things, but if you leave our offices and eat
fast food, drink soda, smoke, and fill your bodies with processed and sugar
foods, it’s going to hinder your ability to heal and you won’t get the best
results. Patients who eat high amounts of processed foods, sugary treats, and
fast foods do not hold their adjustments.” —Heather Van Wyhe


BanksPhotos/Getty Images


NEWBORNS ESPECIALLY NEED TO BE ADJUSTED

“Being born is a very natural event but also a very traumatic event in each of
our lives. We want babies to be adjusted so that the brain and nervous systems
develop to their fullest potential, so that children are never sick and can
sleep throughout the entire night. (And mom and dad do as well!). Babies who are
adjusted don’t tend to have to deal with high fevers and ear infections.”
—Heather Van Wyhe

Inti St Clair/Getty Images


STOP HIDING STUFF FROM ME

“To help you, we need a clear history of health concerns. Try not to leave
anything out. While some information may not seem relevant to a current health
complaint, there may in fact be some other factors from a past health concern
that can help resolve what may seem to be a new complaint. Our job is to connect
the dots, and sometimes things that seem irrelevant are in fact important.”
—Shannon Patterson, DC



PhotoAlto/Odilon Dimier/Getty Images


HOW YOU GET HOME FROM THE APPOINTMENT IS IMPORTANT TOO

“Too many patients race out of the office to sit in a car in rush hour traffic.
Instead, take a few minutes after your appointment with your chiropractor to go
for a short mindful walk. Let the adjustment settle in before moving back into
the busy pace of your life.” —Shannon Patterson


Thomas Barwick/Getty Images


IGNORE YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW AND THAT GUY ON THE INTERNET

“Friends, family, and Internet posters suggest many methods to help you feel
better, and you may be tempted to do them in addition to or instead of my
advice. For instance, you may be told to do yoga or Pilates or that
strengthening your core will cure your back pain. The problem is that there are
many reasons why someone has back pain, and you need individualized advice.
There is no cookie-cutter fix for low back pain.” —Matthew Cooper, DC

bymuratdeniz/Getty Images


DON’T MAKE ME NAG YOU ABOUT DOING YOUR HOMEWORK, I’M NOT YOUR MOM

“Patients need to have an active role in their health—I cannot be a miracle
cure. To get the best results you have to do your home exercises, correct your
posture, eat healthfully, and follow my directions when you’re not in my
office.” —Scott Schreiber, DC, board certified in rehabilitation and clinical
nutrition



solidcolours/Getty Images


ALWAYS ICE, NEVER HEAT

“Patients always prefer heat on a sore spot after a treatment because it feels
better at the time. The problem is that when you have acute injuries to the
joints, putting heat on the back can cause more swelling and prolong healing
time. So putting ice on the initial injury will help my job be a little easier
and help injuries recover faster.” —Joseph McNamara, DACNB, FACFN, DC, BS and
owner of McNamara Chiropractic in Cumming, Georgia. (Here’s when to use ice and
when to use heat for your pain.)


Morsa Images/Getty Images


I CAN’T FIX BAD SURGERY

“The worst thing patients can do is go out and have surgery first.
Musculoskeletal surgery is permanent and is not always successful. Then they
come to us and want us to try to make it better. Sometimes we can help but
really it would be better if they saw a chiropractor first, before going under
the knife.” —Jeff Williams, DC, Creek Stone Integrated Care in Amarillo, Texas

PeopleImages/Getty Images


YOUR BOSS DOESN’T CARE ABOUT YOUR BAD BACK

“Work responsibilities tend to cause people to take on more than they can or
should. Many times I’ll see some great early progress only to see the patient go
and aggravate their complaint because they didn’t want to get in trouble at work
or in school athletics.” —Jeff Williams



undefined undefined/Getty Images


CHIROPRACTIC ISN’T A RELIGION, IT’S A SCIENCE

“Often I hear people say that they ‘don’t believe’ in chiropractic care, but
there is decades of research backing our profession, much done by governments,
academics, and even the medical profession. This isn’t something you believe in
or not, like magic, it’s rooted in science and can be quite powerful.” —Jeff
Williams

Carlina Teteris/Getty Images


MEN, LOOK INTO GETTING A MURSE (A MAN PURSE)

“I see men all the time keeping their wallet in their back pocket. The problem
is that every time they sit they are creating a postural distortion to the
lumbar spine which then affects the entire spine and nervous system. This bad
habit over time can create weakness and instability, especially in the lumbar
spine and lower back.” —Gena Bofshever, DC

Luis Alvarez/Getty Images


I KNOW WHEN YOU’RE LYING ABOUT EXERCISING

“Most people know they should be exercising, or at least stretching, each day.
But many feel like they don’t have the time so they skip it. However, I can tell
if you’re not taking at least five to 10 minutes a day to exercise as you
improve after treatment but regress in between sessions because you aren’t doing
enough to help yourself.” —Mark El-Hayek, D.C., owner of Spine and Posture Care
in Sydney, Australia



Poh Kim Yeoh / EyeEm/Getty Images


STOP WAITING SO LONG TO COME IN

“Too many people wait to seek help until their pain is severe. But pain is the
last signal in the body to turn on to let us know that something is not right.
Addressing symptoms early on can change the duration of a treatment plan.
Patients often want a quick fix, and that is more likely to happen by paying
attention to what your body is telling you, and seeking care in a timely
fashion.” —Rubina Tahir, DC, host and producer of The Rx on mynewphilly.com.


FotoDuets/Getty Images


IT MIGHT FEEL WORSE BEFORE IT FEELS BETTER

“As I create movement through the spine or extremities, the muscles will try to
guard and protect the body. That means that a patient will most likely get
muscle spasms and tightness or soreness from the adjustments. I recommend ice to
help calm down the muscle spasms and helps with soreness throughout the
process.” —Matt Tanneberg, DC, CSCS, sports Chiropractor at Arcadia Health and
Wellness Chiropractic in Phoenix, Arizona

SDI Productions/Getty Images


MY MALPRACTICE INSURANCE IS JUST $2,000 A YEAR

“There is this misconception that chiropractic care is dangerous. But if you
look at a surgeon’s malpractice insurance, it will be anywhere from $80,000 to
$150,000 per year; a medical doctor has malpractice anywhere from $50,000 to
$100,000 per year; and yet my malpractice is just $2,000 per year. If what I did
was dangerous, my malpractice would be comparable to, or more than, that of a
medical doctor or a surgeon.” —Matt Tanneberg


 
Sources
 * Robert Silverman, DC, 2015 ACASC Sports Chiropractor of the Year and author
   of Inside-Out Health
 * Pamela Abramson-Levine, DC, family practice non-force chiropractor in Santa
   Monica, California
 * Kris Birkeland, DC, president of Joint Ventures, LLC, operator of 28 The
   Joint Chiropractic Clinics
 * Nathan Leavitt, D.C., owner of West Knoxville Chiropractic
 * Jane Leavell, DC
 * Robert Blaich, DC, general practitioner in natural health care
 * Heather Van Wyhe, DC, F.A.S.A. of the Oklahoma Chiropractors' Association
 * Shannon Patterson, DC
 * Matthew Cooper, DC
 * Scott Schreiber, DC, board certified in rehabilitation and clinical nutrition
 * Joseph McNamara, DACNB, FACFN, DC, BS and owner of McNamara Chiropractic in
   Cumming, Georgia
 * Gena Bofshever, DC
 * Mark El-Hayek, D.C., owner of Spine and Posture Care in Sydney, Australia
 * Rubina Tahir, DC, host and producer of The Rx on mynewphilly.com
 * Matt Tanneberg, DC, CSCS, sports Chiropractor at Arcadia Health and Wellness
   Chiropractic in Phoenix, Arizona

Originally Published: April 19, 2018




Charlotte Hilton Andersen
Charlotte Hilton Andersen has been covering health and fitness for many major
outlets, both in print and online, for 13 years. She's the author of two books,
co-host of the Self Help Obsession podcast, and does freelance editing and
ghostwriting. She teaches fitness classes in her spare time. She lives in Denver
with her husband, four children, and three pets.


 


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