Chiro(quack)tic?

It's no secret that chiropractic care has often been the subject of controversy and criticism. Perhaps it's due to the fact that according to the founder of chiropractic, vertebral subluxation was the sole cause of all diseases of the human race. I'm thinking people probably weren't keen on the idea of going to the chiro when they had the flu or cancer.

That being said, I'm totally open to alternative medicine (I hear acupuncture can pretty much cure anything). So when, for the first time in my life, I started suffering from pretty severe back pain, I decided (with the blessing of my doctor), to check out a local chiropractor.

 

My back pain started a couple months after my knee injury, so I figured one had to be related to the other. After all, I was forced to sleep in an incredibly awkward position, and obviously since one leg wasn't functioning property, I was favoring one side. So it wouldn't be shocking if my spine was out of alignment, causing some pain. Right? And I thought perhaps an adjustment would fix me right up.

 

At my first appointment I filled out a lot of paperwork and watched a video about subluxation, and then chatted with the doctor, who took some photos of my posture and then did an exam. He didn't look at any of the paperwork, and he didn't want to hear much about my knee injury, which he insisted was not related to my back pain, and instead "confirmed" that I had a subluxation in my neck, which would need an adjustment to correct. Sweet. The adjustment wasn't bad, and then he moved me to a massage chair with ice on my neck and proceeded to start working on another patient. Eventually the receptionist said I needed to set up a follow up appointment.

My next visit seemed to be scheduled simultaneously with someone else's. I arrived right on time... but so did another woman, and the doc proceeded to start working on her while he had me do some weird neck stretches in the lobby. Then I had another exam and a few more quick spine adjustments, and he said he'd like to see me in another few days. It was at this point I started asking questions.

 

"Um, so what exactly is the course of treatment? Will I need to come back for multiple visits? Why isn't my back feeling better yet? What can I expect from these appointments?" etc.

 

I was told to wait; that these types of inquiries are covered at the THIRD appointment.

 

Say whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

 

Um, okay.

 

So I show up for the third appointment. Again, a quick exam and adjustment shoved in between multiple other patients. Then the receptionist dropped the bomb on me.

 

"So, he wants to see you three times a week for three weeks, two times a week for four weeks, once a week for six weeks and then twice a month for the rest of your life. Oh, also your co-pays are $20, we need $60 right meow, and please sign this treatment plan agreeing to our recommendations."

 

Dude. No.

 

First of all, if you had told me at the first visit that I would need to come three times a week, I would have chosen a chiropractor downtown near my office. I cannot leave work early three times a week to come up to Snoqualmie for appointments. And had you told me this at the first visit, we would not have wasted each other's time. But no, you were too busy checking my insurance benefits and then masterminding a treatment plan that would max them out for the year. Well played.

 

But no.

 

I freaking cancelled every single one of those follow up appointments and walked away.

 

So now I'm uber discouraged. I feel like I got totally taken advantage of, and that every stereotype I've ever heard about chiropractic care is true. I'm so frustrated that I don't even want to deal with the situation anymore, but frankly my back still effing hurts.
 

 

Opinions? Advice? Anyone??