How to Choose a Good Chiropractor

Suffer from back pain on a regular basis? A chiropractor might be the right choice for you. Chiropractors offer immediate relief and natural options as opposed to pills. But there are a lot of different kinds of chiropractors out there, and it can be hard to find the right one for you.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• The phone book
• Insurance that allows you to switch practices if you choose
• Money for co-pays

1. Don't be fooled or pulled in by the biggest, shiniest advertisement in the phone book. The larger practices that promise all kinds of new technology are not necessarily the best. In my personal experience, I've found these offices treat patients like doctors in a busy hospital treat patients - just another person that they have to treat.

2. Try out some of the smaller chiropractic offices. Look for an office run by just one chiropractor. While the office might not have all the bells and whistles, true chiropractic care doesn't need anything but a hurting back and a doctor's healing hands. Another plus to smaller offices is that the chiropractor usually develops relationships with his patients and has a little more time to discuss pain management and really listen to the patient.

3. All chiropractors are not created equal. You may need to try out several before you find the right chiropractor for you. My first chiropractic experience was so awful that I didn't go to another one for years - instead living with intense pain. I never knew that all chiropractors were not like the one I went to. The chiropractor I saw that first time was very "spiritual." She spent a good twenty minutes studying my body energy and other things that made me feel extremely uncomfortable. She even spent time "speaking" with my five week old daughter through her body energy. It truly creeped me out and I almost never returned to chiropractic care. I finally tried again and found chiropractor who says hello, asks where the pain is, fixes the pain, and tells me to call him if I need a "touch up". No weird ceremonies or practices. He just does the chiropractic work and sends me on my way. The moral of the story is don't give up if you don't like the first one you try!

[TheSwingKid]

on 1/30/2009 I go to a chiropractor office that is run by a father/son team and they seem to have a happy and loyal clientele--I like them. I think family run practices tend to be good choices, but always do your research of course.

[Geargirl113]

on 1/15/2009 This is helpful information. I need to see a chiropractor.

[Glencap]

on 1/14/2009 This is good information. You're right-the moral of the story is to never give up. Keep searching until one find the one that you like.