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This is the story of my recent experience (January, 2002) with a chiropractor, whom I shall refer to as "Dr. Chiro". It is long, but it is well worth your time if you are looking for a chiropractor and don't know what to look for and what to avoid. Looking back, I realize now that he fit the description of "what to avoid" I read about in so many of the on-line articles I read -- some of which were written BY other chiropractors!
First visit: Evaluation of my back pain and additional physical problems such as any GI distress, etc. History of previous injuries to my back. Full set of spinal x-rays including 10x36" full spine plus neck. I was told to come back the following Monday to receive a report of the findings on the x-ray and was told that my "husband needs to come too".
The following Monday morning: Arrived with my husband for the report of my x-rays. First we had to watch a video of Dr. Chiro talking about chiropractic in general. It also stressed how important it is to continue the treatment as recommended by him. After the video ended, Dr. Chiro came into the room with my x-rays and his findings. He pointed out my scoliosis (which I already knew about) and the compressed cervical disk and bone spurs in my cervical spine (which I did not know about). He then quickly pointed to my right hip (which was clearly lower than the left) and said "and your right leg is shorter" but made no mention of any problems in my very low back which was the reason I went to him in the first place.
He then sat us down and talked about the "subluxation" theory, using a model of a vertebra and nerve roots to demonstrate what happens to them when the vertebrae are out of alignment. He reviewed my complaints with me, emphasizing my history of 2 severe accidents (his interpretation, not exactly my words) and then gave me his recommended treatment plan: every day for 2 weeks, then every other day for 4 weeks, then tapering off to about 1 day a week after that for a total of 52 treatments. He said my treatment plan would be for at least several months. He then said "If we accept you here, you will need agree to follow this treatment plan." [Huh? If YOU accept ME?] He continued: "In addition to this, if we accept you here you will need to come to the health class tomorrow night and your husband will need to come too."
He then asked for my insurance card and took it out to the receptionist to check it for coverage. He returned and said "Your insurance won't cover your treatment." I was very surprised (I know for a fact that my insurance covers chiropractic care) and I asked him to re-check. He left the room and returned and again said that my insurance (Blue Cross Prudent Buyer) doesn't cover the treatment. [THE TRUTH: My insurance does cover chiropractic, but only with participating providers. Dr. Chiro is not a participating provider and did not honestly state that; instead, he simply said that my insurance won't cover. This was deceptive. When I later sought treatment with a physical therapist, she made sure I understood she is not a participating provider and therefore I would have to pay 50% out-of-pocket, and even offered to give me referrals to other PTs if I preferred a participating provider -- this was very honest and ethical. It was then I realized that Dr. Chiro didn't tell me the whole story.]
He told us that the treatment would cost a total of $2500.00 which we could pay for in full up front (!!!), or, he offered us an "affordable" plan whereby if we paid in 2 payments, we would get a 20% discount. By this point, I was leary (because of his above comments) and wasn't sure whether to proceed with treatment, so I decided to pay for each treatment one at a time.
At the end of this session, he told me I will get my first treatment. The receptionist led me to the treatment room and gave me the instructions I was to follow for each visit: Put my card on the holder outside the door, and "lie face down on the table and wait for the doctor to come in". I thought that last instruction was rather strange, but I didn't question it. I received my first "adjustment", then went into another treatment room for a heat treatment on my upper back and electrical stimulation of my neck. Then, I purchased my cervical pillow, heal lift, and left with my husband. On my way out the door, Dr. Chiro passed by and I asked him if he could give me some exercises to strengthen and stretch my back to make it feel better (I knew he had them because I saw them in a 3-ring binder on a table in the waiting room). He said "That will come later on".
As we left, the feeling we both had about him was "fast-talking car salesman".
That night, Dr. Chiro called me at home to ask how I felt after my first visit. I said I felt good and he enthusiastically said "Alright!" in his usual cheerful, charismatic tone.
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