Chiropractor for headaches...

[g8rbeckie]

So I'm one of those people who always thought that touchy-feely stuff like Chiropractic is quackery...

But I've had headaches for several years now, getting them several times a week for quite a while. I've been taking Treximet - a prescription migraine medication that works VERY well, but I know I'm taking too much of it.

So I decided to try seeing a chiropractor. I had a 3-day headache right after my first appt, then I haven't had one for 12 days since!!I haven't gone that long without a headache in 2 years! Oh - and I'm trying to drink more water, so maybe that's helping too...

I'm not saying that they're gone forever, and I'm going in every 4 days or so. But after my next appt tomorrow I'm going to try to go a full week before going in again.

Just thought I'd share!! in case there's anyone else going through what I am...:unsure:

[jessica31876]

Chiros are defenitely a thing to look into for all kinds of pains. I wish they had helped my headaches. The one I was seeing defenitely helped my pain in my lower back after my accident that is for sure. My headaches were a different story. At this point I think I have tried a combination of about 12 meds (all at different times) and gotten relief for the headaches for the most part with the last two and I have had headaches last for almost a week at one point. Glad you are having relief with yours though. I defenitely know how you feel and when you finally find something that helps it feels great to have some relief from the pain!!

[kristijoy]

I go to a chiropractor regularily. He really helped me during and after my pregnancy. I would highly recommend chiropractic treatments. There are lots of kinds of chiropractors out there, though. One size does not fit all. So make sure you feel good about who you have chosen and don't be afraid to shop around!

[eranslow]

I miss my chiro :( I went pretty regularly before we moved here to IA. It was great!

[lovely1m]

I have had chronic back pain since a car accident when I was 17. When I can afford to go to a chiropractor regularly, it helps so, so much. I honestly think that most back surgery could have been helped by a chiropractor. Glad it has helped you so much!

[Coila]

I feel your pain Beckie! I've had migraines since I was a teenager and they are so horrible! I tried taking medication but had a reaction to one of them and am too scared to try others. I usually have to sleep it off... I'm talking a whole day. Then usually I'll have a migraine hangover for a day or two after. Thank goodness ever since my first pregnancy they have been much much less frequent.

I'm glad the chiropractor is working for you! What a relief! I may have to give this a try :)

[MamaBee]

I'm another person that has suffered from migraines for close to 15 years... getting migraines 1-2 times a week. I found out that my cause is that I'm sensitive to gluten... you might want to ask to be tested. I've been gluten free now for a few months and I haven't had a migraine in 6 weeks. Just throwing that out there...

[LenaGardner]

I also take and love Treximet...however I only take one or two a month, so I'm ok there. I wanted to say though, that I had daily headaches years ago. I went to a chiro for about 3 months (3x a week for 3 weeks, 2x a week for 3 weeks, and then 1x a week for 3 weeks) and haven't had daily headaches since. I do still have the occasional headache or migraine, but my daily headaches went away. That was 6 years ago :)

[sprauncey1]

I don't get the headaches but I've had chronic back pain since my early 20s. I finally made time to go to the chiropractor here in town that everyone suggested and it has been great. And I love that his philosophy is not to have you have to keep coming back all the time, but to adjust you and teach you how to help yourself (water, stretch, ice (for injuries and sore muscles) and exercise).

I'm glad you are getting some good results already and hope that it continues for you!

[Sharon Kay]

I use chiropractic care ... and yes I agree with Kristi ... the care the chiropractors give you vary just like each general physician differs in their care from doctor to doctor. The way they were trained can be different ... whether they manipulate your spine by hand or use a tool (don't know the name of it) and the type of table they use for adjustment.

I really like my chiropractor that I go to ... but my insurance copay is $40 ... and if I take my sons in at the same time that is $120 ... we do feel better but it's more expensive for us. Thankfully my sons don't need to go very often.

When I got back from Arizona I went to the jewelers (my wedding ring needed fixing) and I saw this advertisement for "The Joint" for a $20 chiropractor appointment...my chiropractor was on vacation for like 10 days and I needed to get an adjustment. I went home and checked out the website and called the home office ... as it is a franchise. I went in and sure enough it was $20 ... they don't file insurance claims (so they don't have to pay a person to work with insurance & paperwork) ... and I have gone a few times now. The chiropractor there uses a totally different type of adjustment bed than my regular one does.

...but I just went to their website and they changed it ... making it sound like you might not get that price any more ... I do know they were offering a family rate if you wanted to pay a monthly fee and everyone in your family could go once a week...but I'm still pretty new at trying them out and didn't want to commit like $100 a month (even though it's a lot cheaper than what I am currently doing with my other doctor).

http://www.thejoint.com/

I need to go to the chiropractor today ... I knew I needed to yesterday but didn't go ... so will be going today. I get headaches and they get quite intense (but not like my friend's that get so bad she is in bed for days or throws up) ... and chiropractic has helped me. I can feel my upper back is out of alignment and will be getting a headache ... so will get there before it gets ahold of me.

[Sharon Kay]

oh I forgot to say I have been going to chiropractors (as needed) for over (oh wow!) 30 years ... at age 19 I fell off my high heels onto my knees (slick waxed floor) ... and my knees started collapsing on me ... went to a family doctor and he took xrays, wrapped my knees up and told me to get crutches to rent with option to buy ... he'd see me in 6 weeks and schedule surgery!!

I was in a lot of pain and he had subscribed some pain killers. I couldn't drive because I had a manual stick car ... couldn't push in on the clutch. ...so I called a co-worker and asked for a ride to work. She said she had a "doctor" visit so we would be a bit late to work. Turns out the "doctor" was a chiropractor ... she told him about me ... he came out of his office and talked to me. I was skeptical and he said "okay ... if I can't help you ... I won't charge you ... that is how confident I am that I can help you". I hobbled in on the crutches ... he put me on the table ... adjusted me ... put the table up and said "walk".... I said I can't ... he said "you can". I did ... and my knees didn't collapse! Well then he had me lay back down and he put the ace bandages back on my knees. He said the family doctor when he put the bandages on ... put them on with my ligament out of place! ...therefore it was NOT going to get any better. He just put them back in place ... so therefore I could then again stand!!!

I had them pop out of place a few times ... but that was because I had gone a couple of weeks with them out of place ... but he got them to stay in place and they healed. Now I do have arthritis on them now ... but you know what ... 30 years later and I still haven't had surgery on them! I can walk, climb stairs, etc. ... and they do bother me when we have a great barometric change ... but no surgery. I can't kneel on them because it hurts...but I was happy to avoid double knee surgery at age 19!

I can feel when my back gets out of place ... and the chiropractor will get it back in place in just a few minutes. ...if I go in when I first feel it ... I generally can avoid a headache ... I have my upper and lower back get out of alignment frequently...much better than having to take pain pills ... just put it back in the right place.

my 2 cents....it's been a happy place for me ...

[schock77]

You'll have to tell me where you went since you're in my neck of the woods. I found a great neurologist in Bee Caves if you need a rec too. :)

[Milmomma]

I'm still iffy on my chiro. I started going a year ago and haven't went since we moved. I've messed up my hips and have a degenerative spine problem in my neck. So the migraines make me pass out/see spots/throw up and such. The chiro sometimes helps though. If I wait to long to go it seems as though its worse the first couple days/times before it gets better. And I'm still iffy on it all. Just my iffiness on everything I think.

[g8rbeckie]

Brittney - I know there are some Chiropractors who specialize in upper cervical care. My niece has had to see one. They'll all say the do it, but there are some who take xays to check alignment, do very detailed adjustments to the upper cervical area, then take more xays to check again. Perhaps you can find someone in your area who does that?

Rebecca - I believe you on the allergy thing...my chiro asked if I drink lots of water and I proudly said "no, but I do drink lots of milk!". he said milk could be causing my headaches (I thought he was CRAZY)...but you know what? he might be right...I've cut down on milk drastically (oh how I miss that cold creamy deliciousness). Now that I don't have headaches I'm afraid to drink it again, LOL!

everyone else - thank you so much for sharing your experiences!! Who knew how many of us lived with so much pain?? kind of sad really. I hope everyone else can find some relief. I can't tell you how much my life has changed in just two weeks!

[kendallt]

I seriously *heart* my chiropractor! I too was a chronic headache sufferer until I started seeing him about three of so years ago. Now, I only go to him when I need to, but I honestly consider him a miracle worker. He's also a licensed massage therapist with magic hands! :thumbup: In fact, I have a massage appointment in a few hours, and I am counting down the minutes!