Celayne
Well known member
As someone who has bounced around to different health care providers (both standard medical and alternative) in search of feeling better, I have at times over-used them.
I was used to going to a chiropractor pretty regularly; I moved to another state so couldn't see him any more. He was great and made gentle adjustments (which probably were unnecessary, but he also used a massager on me which felt great). After I moved, I went to a local chiro because I really hurt my back while moving. The first treatment helped, the second was so-so. He wanted me to keep coming back, and I was getting worse and worse. He said I shouldn't be in pain anymore. Found a different one who advertised that their adjustments were 'gentle'. No, they weren't. They also wanted me there twice a week. Hate to sound sour about the profession but it seems most just want you to come and charge you $65 for a 15 minute visit. Ka-ching. So stopped chiropractors all together. I did find another one who offers laser therapy, which my old chiro. used and it was effective in relaxing trigger points temporarily.
I concluded that what I liked about the old chiro's laser was that I felt like I was getting cared for, because at the new place they stick you in a room, point the laser to your trouble spot and leave you there for 10 minutes. This experience actually made my pain much worse. I had bought a package of 5 treatments and only did three before I decided to just let the rest go.
Also the laser therapy place had me talk to a chiropractor before I could have the laser treatments. He tried really really hard to convince me that my chronic pain was a chiropractic problem. Of course. I was proud of myself for fending him off.
I self-diagnosed my TMS after stopping chiropractic but before the latest laser therapies. Although I've read in Dr. Sarno's book (MindBody Prescription) and The Great Pain Deception that TMSers should give up their treatments, I signed up for the laser just because I thought it would help with pain relief, not to essentially change anything.
Since the lasers made my pain worse, I think it was probably because I wasn't happy with their methods and/or part of me knew it wasn't helpful to be getting them anyway and should be concentrating on TMS recovery.
Thoughts?
I was used to going to a chiropractor pretty regularly; I moved to another state so couldn't see him any more. He was great and made gentle adjustments (which probably were unnecessary, but he also used a massager on me which felt great). After I moved, I went to a local chiro because I really hurt my back while moving. The first treatment helped, the second was so-so. He wanted me to keep coming back, and I was getting worse and worse. He said I shouldn't be in pain anymore. Found a different one who advertised that their adjustments were 'gentle'. No, they weren't. They also wanted me there twice a week. Hate to sound sour about the profession but it seems most just want you to come and charge you $65 for a 15 minute visit. Ka-ching. So stopped chiropractors all together. I did find another one who offers laser therapy, which my old chiro. used and it was effective in relaxing trigger points temporarily.
I concluded that what I liked about the old chiro's laser was that I felt like I was getting cared for, because at the new place they stick you in a room, point the laser to your trouble spot and leave you there for 10 minutes. This experience actually made my pain much worse. I had bought a package of 5 treatments and only did three before I decided to just let the rest go.
Also the laser therapy place had me talk to a chiropractor before I could have the laser treatments. He tried really really hard to convince me that my chronic pain was a chiropractic problem. Of course. I was proud of myself for fending him off.
I self-diagnosed my TMS after stopping chiropractic but before the latest laser therapies. Although I've read in Dr. Sarno's book (MindBody Prescription) and The Great Pain Deception that TMSers should give up their treatments, I signed up for the laser just because I thought it would help with pain relief, not to essentially change anything.
Since the lasers made my pain worse, I think it was probably because I wasn't happy with their methods and/or part of me knew it wasn't helpful to be getting them anyway and should be concentrating on TMS recovery.
Thoughts?
Conversely if you had a negative experience with a treatment it could increase your pain.