Legitimate all the way i have been coming to the Neck & Back Pain Center in Diamond Bar , CA for the last yr. I have never felt more healthier than i do today!I was involved in a bad car accident & was suffering with extremely bad back pain to the point i wouldnt want to get out of bed. I was taken vicodin in order to function daily. Ever since i started my care with Dr. Paul i no longer need vicodine in order to sleep nor do i get back pain. I strongly recommend a chiropractor to every body. At first i was scared because you hear these horrible stories of how bad chiropractors are but thats just a lie. they save lives just like md. but with out all the bad chemical medicines going into your body. Im thankful every day for the care i got & get. I believe everyone should keep there spine in a leginment & stay health with out PILLS..

A chiropractor saved my life, just about. I'm 40 yrs old, last year I was already needing a cane and was thinking about soon having to find a wheelchair. I got lucky and found a great chiropractor, and it took 6 months of frequent treatment, but she fixed fixed fixed me... in fact, I signed up with this site just because I saw she wasn't listed on it and have been trying to post good reviews for her wherever I can. Even long-term aches and pains that I thought were just a part of being human are getting better now.

Meanwhile, my roommate, who just went to the emergency room to see a "real" doctor for a problem similar to one of the six or seven that my chiro fixed in me, was given painkillers and a shrug, and sent on his way. Great.

I'm sure, from reading some of the things on here, that there are unscrupulous chiropractors, just like every industry has unscrupulous people. But I myself need no further convincing: I know first hand that if you find a good one, they're not only legitimate, but practically miracle workers.

I have been a chiropractic patient for the last 4 years. As a college student, I can attest to the benefits of a healthy spine and nervous system. Keeping late hours, eating less than the ideal diet, playing intermural sports and lugging my backpack around with 30 pounds of books has certainly put stress on my body. Yet I rarely get sick or have headaches ( which seem to be two common complaints on my campus). My Chiropractor, Dr. Jody Serra of Lebanon NJ, eductated me as to how intereference in the nervous system can affect the rest of the body. And Chiropractors can relieve that interference. I can feel the stress relief after every adjustment. I know for a fact that it works for me.

I believe that there is merit to some of this (acupuncture, for instance), but my very own chiropractor, basically, talked me out of it! I was in an accident which perforated an upper disc and I entered the revolving door of the legal system. Shots, pills, X-rays...the entire gamut...including Chiropractics. I chose a close friend for this. After having been twisted and cracked...five days a week for around a month...I told him that the "cracking" of my neck and spine hurt as much as the injury and that there was no relief, so I asked the Million Dollar Question: "Does all of that 'cracking' actually help me?"

His answer was, "Not necessarily."

I spent the next year on his table, 4-5 days each week getting hand, feet and head massages and wouldn't let him touch my back.

I saw Mark Jones with Precision Health & Rehabilitation on Campus Drive in Newport Beach, California. He exclusively does "atlas orthogonal", adjusting the vertebra at the top of the neck that supports the skull. Mark Jones claims it is the only adjustment needed for most people - BUT he does it very poorly. He took only one straight-on Xray of my neck (you don't even have a clear view of the atlas vertebra from that perspective) then gave me what had to be a randomly positioned hit with the atlas orthogonal instrument ... and took my $60. He said I got a "really good deal." Ummm... no. The procedure itself when done correctly (with minimum three "before" Xrays, a mathematically calculated adjustment with the instrument, then "after" Xrays) makes sense, but this guy is a lazy rip-off artist and should be called out. I've had some great experiences with two previous chiropractors, especially Candace McCowan in Costa Mesa - she is great - but this Mark Jones guy needs to stop.

Dr. Rambod Derakhshani at The Healing Joint in Scottsdale is a fantastic chiropractor! I've been a patient of his for almost 2 years now and he has helped me tremendously with my shoulder pain. I went to see him specifically because he practices ART which is a soft tissue technique that has helped me in the past. I live in Phoenix and work in Mesa and his office is really in a good location. He really takes his time with patients and has a very personable "bedside manner", as my old school father would say. I would (and do) highly recommend Dr. D as a chiropractic doctor!

Dr. Warkentin at Verve Chiropractic is really a cut above the rest. he took his time to properly look at me and perform an extensive exam and had his tech take digital x-rays. Unlike the review below. I had been taking migraine medication for nearly 3 years. After seeing him only 5 times I no lomger take migraine meds and no longer suffer from migraines. I for one do use Dr. Warkentin as prevention. My nerves are working better, I have less aches and [ains and haven't had my bi-annual colds for 2 years. I do believe that a stronger unobstructed nervous system leads naturally to a stronger immune system. Thanks, Dr. Warkentin

If your back is bothering you, then by all means go see one. However, the idea of using chiropractic as some sort of preventative medicine to ward off disease? "QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!"

I came to Dr. Serra suffering from horrible headaches and of course back pain. On my first visit he educated me on the spine and how chiropractic works. From that visit on he was always kind and interested in what i had to say. On my second visit he gave me my first adjustment and instantly my headache disappeared. I go see Dr. Serra a couple times a week instead of taking advil every day, which is horrible for you stomach by the way. Im not say that chiropractic is great for everyone... that's like saying one medicine will help every single person that takes it. What i am saying is that no matter what treatments our going through, whatever they maybe, a positive additude is going to be a major factor on your health.  I still believe going to my regular doctor as well as Dr. Serra. I still take my regular medicine for seasonal allergies but haven't taken alieve, advil, or tylenol since starting my healing with Dr. Serra. His office and his staff are great and i will continue seeing them for a very long time.

Dr. Jody is an excellent chiropractor. My son and I are patients there. I am confident that Dr. Jody's adjustments are gentle enough for my seven year old. We both really enjoy going to The Centre For Natural Health. Dr. Jody genuinely cares about my son's special needs and takes the time to really listen. We have already seen positive changes in reguards to my son's disability since we started seeing Dr. Jody. His staff there are also so good with him and make us feel so welcome.

I read the review of Dr Jody Serra with interest. It surprised me that someone had such a negative experience in his office. This lady sounds like a kook. My entire family is under Dr. Serra's care and we have found him to be the most caring and gentle Chiropractor we have ever been to. We have been to other Chiropractors whose adjusting techniques were way too forceful and rough. This has not been the case with Jody Serra. His use of Applied Kinesiology has proven effective in locating and fixing the problem, regardless of  advice from my MD to just "live with it". His office staff are always smiling, enthusiastic and very helpful. They make the visits fun for my kids. Anyone looking for an alternative to medication and surgey for their health issuses should  seek out this type of Chiropractor. I know that there many things we can do to improve our health with a natural approach ( vitamins, diet, exercise..) but a well balanced spine and nervous system seem to be a vital part of the equation. I know it has worked for us.

Like Osteopathy, Chiropractics original theory was simply formed to prevent jail time by practicing medicine without a license. Since the anti-trust "Wilks vs. Booth case in the mid 70's, these dogmatic theories have largely been abandoned, simply because they were only manufactured by both DO's and DC's to distinguish themselves from allopaths (MD's). Most present day DC's practice knowing the subluxation theory is a tool used in the past to give the profession traction. Since, it has been shown in several studies to be superior to any other form of treatment for NMS problems. The entire professions problems lie with the few remaining "straights" that have been brainwashed by diploma mills such as Sherman and Life College. You have a better than a 90% chance of getting a superiorally educated DC from National College and competent evidence based treatment. NCC (now known as National University of Health Sciences) is the only school with a BS degree as a requirement and the research arm of the profession. This doesn't guarantee all graduates have the innate skill and devotion to be a great Chiropractor, but the first filter used when finding a good DC is one that graduated from National.

I have been to a very good chiropractor and a nut case in the last ten years.  A good chiropractor has a place in the field of wellness, just like a physiotherapist or a message therapist.  Most of the doctors I've been to in the last ten years are so busy and rushed, that I'm not surprised when I hear story after story of ailments that are misdiagnosed or missed all together.  There are quack chiropractors just like there are hack pill pushing doctors.  The average person should be able to smell  a bad healthcare provider of any type and avoid them like the plague.

I'm a skeptic. I question everything, including religion, what the government is telling me, and Chiropractic. Although I disagree with the 'subluxation' theory, I do believe in the concept of spinal manipulation; Bone-setters have been around for thousands of years.

I know there are a lot of quacks out there, but the Chiropractor I go to is as legit as they come. He doesn't believe he can cure everything, infact he has a firm belief in treating disease through modern medical science.

I have had so many injuries that he has taken care of that I would have been getting MRIs left and right and painkillers if I were to go to an MD. For example, I had a stabbing pain in my chest which made it hard for me to breathe. After waiting it out for over two weeks, I went to my Chiropractor, and he did his procedure of checking my alignment. He told me I had a rib 'out', and rolled me on my back. He pressed his one hand on my arm and told me to resist while he pressed between each of my ribs. About three ribs down, my arm was unable to resist. He used his activator on the rib, and told me to resist again, which I was able to.

I'm sure there are a handful of good ones- but c'mon. . .chiro-apologists seem to be (in the main) a bunch of women paying for foreplay. . .

I think it depends on the chiropractor.  But you do have to be careful; one wrong move, and they can actually cripple you for life.

Obviously, opinions vary here. Though we do not see eye to eye, good reviews by Genghis and Ridge. Long story short- eight years ago I developed a severe case of Shingles (something you would not wish on your worst enemy- if you have had it, you know what I mean). Several hundred dollars worth of prescriptions from MD's only made it worse. After my first visit to a chiropractor I was finally able to sleep. The next day the condidtion had virtually disappeared. I personally know several other people with similar stories. As Genghis said, testimonials are their best ads. Personally, I will take healing proof in the pudding over scientific studies any day. 

MD's, pyschiatrists, psychoterapists, and psychologists do harm as well (if they didn't, we'd have a lot of lawyers seeking other professions). But that does not mean that responsible people write them all off as "quacks". Call it anecdotal, call it scientific, all I know is the truth from personal experience. 

Below is a complaint submitted to the chiropratic board. Serra has never acknowledged or been accountable for the damage he has done to my shoulder. www.lesspainbetterhealth.com should read morepainworsehealth.com Originally, my statement regarding Jodi Serra was quite lengthy and with a lot of detail. Then I thought what is the point, the “good ol’ boys club” will protect him rightly or wrongly whatever the case. Jodi Serra on a Friday morning in late April of 2006 applied excessive pressure to the front and back of my shoulder with my arm extended tearing a tendon in my shoulder. [MRI reports enclosed] The legal community says I need another chiropractor i.e., “an expert” to testify that he did something inappropriate and not in keeping with chiropractor practice. I’m the expert! I stood and watched him do this “manipulation” on a Friday and then again on that Monday. Finally I had two MRIs done, one in June and then again in September. Naturally, the first MRI was discounted by two orthopedists because the quality was so bad. The second MRI was done by a group used by Robert Wood Johnson Orthopedic group. The point of all this being that Serra caused severe damage to my left shoulder, cost me thousands of dollars in income, not to mention all the medical bills and physical therapy. As a consequence of this man’s treatment and my resulting physical problems I’m in overwhelming debt not to be resolved anytime soon. My physician at Robert Wood Johnson now believes that an injection of steroid into the joint capsule of my left shoulder will help free up my shoulder to gain mobility once again. Needless to say, this injection will be followed by months of aggressive physical therapy putting me even further in debt. Serra is an unimaginable bastard who has had a detrimental effect on my life. He caused severe damage and walked away. I realize nothing will be done to him, as nothing is ever done to those whom maim and injure patients in New Jersey. “The good ol’ boys” are there to protect them. Jodi Serra has many autographed pictures on his wall of all the steroid using ball players that he has been “fortunate” enough to “adjust”. This doesn’t make him a good doctor. A good doctor has ethics and honor, something he knows nothing about. In summary, I witnessed his “treatment”, I live with the pain and financial loss. I have proof of the damage by the MRI reports and I have eyewitnesses that know I went into his office that Friday morning not in pain and with full range of motion in my left shoulder. These same people saw me the same afternoon in excruciating pain unable to use or lift my left arm. What more proof do I need? But the truth is not what medical, dental and chiropractic boards are about. The fact is that all of these “Boards” are about protecting their own at the expense of the individual. I will be expecting the usual form letter stating that no evidence was found to indicate that Jodi Serra did anything not in keeping with chiropractic practice. Witnesses: William E. Schultze Frank Bock Ed Nichauck Enclosures: MRI Pictures Physical Therapy Evaluations

There are a few studies that show early intervention for back pain (either chiropractic or Osteopathic) can improve outcomes. Of course, getting good study results is difficult when you can't 'blind' an arm of the study. I do have some concerns with the idea that chiropracters need to see their patients with high frequency, for often indefinate terms.

I hate to attack chiropractic since it has so many devotees, but here goes. The basic theory of chiropractic is that subluxations are the cause of most medical problems. A subluxation is a misalignment of the spine that allegedly interferes with nerve signals from the brain. Chiropractors think that by adjusting the misalignments they can thereby restore the nerve signals and cure health problems. This theory was first propounded in 1895 by D.D. Palmer, a grocer from Davenport, Iowa. There is little scientific evidence to support the theory. Most support for the theory comes from testimonials of people who claim to have been helped by chiropractic. Whether they were helped because nerves were unblocked is not always that clear. Most of these have been people with back pain that has been alleviated by spinal manipulation. This is not to say that chiropractors don't help people with aching backs, including people with chronic back problems. It is the theory of subluxations that has not been supported by scientific studies. A good massage often gives short term relief. Chiropractic does not solve problems.

Can be the greatest treatment in the world...IF you have a competent and skilled doctor. At least 10 years ago I had that great doc. But when his office burned and he returned home (out of state) I went to a new guy ... who proceeded to screw up everything worse than before. So it is legit, but only in the hands of a competent practitioner.

I've had a few things knocked back into place...