Have you ever been to see a Chiropractor?
I’ve sought out chiropractic treatment twice, and both times found that they were able to help me in a way that a GP couldn’t.
Beware Sneezing During Pregnancy!
The first time was nearly 25 years ago – I was pregnant with our son, and sneezed so hard that I managed to put my jaw out!
Apart from being quite painful, afterwards I found it difficult to chew and speak. Something was definitely wrong, but all my doctor could recommend was the cautious use of pain killers.
Although this helped with the pain temporarily, it didn’t solve the problem – my jaw was out. So I booked in for my first ever visit to a chiropractor.
Not only was the chiropractor able to explain to me what had happened, she was also able to fix it.
During pregnancy the ligaments in the body relax in preparation for childbirth, which allowed my temporomandibular joint (or TMJ – hubby calls it my Ted Mulry Joint – and you must be middle aged if you recognise this as the name of a band!) to pop out of alignment.
However instead of popping back in, the surrounding muscles had spasmed and locked. Treatment involved the chiropractor donning a pair of latex gloves, and gently manipulating my jaw – I gained some relief from the first session, and after the second felt much better. I haven’t had a problem since.
As a result, I highly recommend chiropractic care for TMJ complaints.
I Blame My Electric Blanket!
The second time was when the kids were small. Our electric blanket had a switch on each side of the bed, so we could each set the temperature to what we wanted. Except one night, during the wee hours, I managed to turn my side up to maximum when I’d actually meant to turn it off.
In my sleep I kicked off the blankets to compensate, but lying on my side meant that one shoulder got chilled and stiff, so when I woke up in the morning I was in immense pain and could barely move. Even after using heat rubs and taking strong painkillers.
Once again I headed to my trusty chiropractor, and with some gentle massage, applying heat, and whatever else it is that chiropractors do, my neck and shoulder pain was reduced to a bearable level and I soon recovered completely.
Falling Down the Stairs
I’ve also been to see an Osteopath (which in my non-expert opinion is like a combination of a chiropractor and a physiotherapist), after I fell down the back stairs at our last house. It wasn’t me being clumsy – the overhanging flame tree had dripped clear sap all over the stairs, causing me to slip down on my tushie. Ouch!
Even after the bruises and scrapes healed, my tail bone and lower back just didn’t feel right, so a friend recommended I see an osteopath. Again, I was back to my usual self within only a few weeks.
Are Chiropractors Safe?
A lot of people are cautious about seeking treatment from chiropractors, as they’ve received some bad press over the years. Doctors also seem to regard them as inferior – but to be honest I’ve noticed many have the same attitude towards podiatrists and other allied health professionals – which is a shame because in an ideal world, they should be working together.
If you are seeing a registered chiropractor in Australia, you can rest assured:
- Australian doctors of chiropractic study at university for a minimum of five years; in countries like the USA or Canada, it’s even longer.
- Registration requires chiropractors to follow strict guidelines, including undertaking regular professional development.
Have you ever had reason to visit a chiropractor for treatment?