How much is a session with a chiropractor?

Question

hi. does anyone know how much a session is with a chiropractor? I'm 28 and have lumbosacral scoliosis. I had undergone physical therapy 3 months ago, but i noticed my curve is getting worse though I've been doing the exercise they taught me. I'm considering having chiropractic therapies. i really want to correct it. please help. thanks.

Answer 1

I don't know prices, but I'm going to talk off-topic for a minute.  I'm sorry if this doesn't interest you.

There isn't a lot that you can do to keep your spine from curving. You have only a few choices, assuming that you have structural scoliosis. (Keep reading...)

o You can exercise - that strengthens your core muscles which may reduce pain or help keep pain away, but it won't treat your curve.

o You can wear a brace - Many people, myself included, have worn them. They are supposed to keep your curve from getting worse, or at least slow down the speed at which your curve is increasing. They usually don't fix your curve.  Bracing is only effective if your curve is around 25-40 degrees and you are still growing.

o pain management - pain pills or injections bring many of us with major pain to the point where most people are without the meds. There are many meds that are either taken by themselves or in combination with other meds. The key is to keep your pain doc informed when something isn't working (after giving it a reasonable chance to work). This should be done only if surgery isn't possible or you still have problems even after surgery.

o Surgery - This is done usually if your curve is greater than 50 degrees or it is increasing fast enough that there's little doubt that the curve will soon be greater than 50 degrees. This is the treatment you get when all else fails.

I've posted the following a few times for other people with questions. I hope I'll answer the things that have you concerned.

Scoliosis comes mainly in two flavors - functional (the curve is caused by another issue (uneven leg length for example) and structural.  There are two main kinds of structural scoliosis - congenital (present at birth) and idiopathic (unknown cause).  It is important for you to know what kind you have.

If you have functional scoliosis, a chiropractor may be able to help.  Shoe lifts may help with uneven legs, but there can be many causes of functional scoliosis.  I don't have much experience with functional scoliosis.

If you have structural scoliosis, there's not a lot you can do.  The main treatments depend on how bad the curve is and how much more growth you have to go.  Its not possible to predict how much or how fast a curve may increase.

You need to see a scoliosis specialist if you're not doing that already. A doctor that is not trained as a scoliosis specialist doesn't have the expertise to treat it.

Any curve under 10 degrees is considered normal and probably isn't monitored.

Curves from 10-25 degrees are mild but should be monitored, especially if you're still growing.

Curves from 25-40 degrees are moderate with bracing possible. You will need monitoring, especially if you're still growing.

Surgery may be recommended if your curve doesn't respond to bracing. Bracing will do no good if you're through growing. The purpose of a brace isn't to make your curve better, but rather to keep the curve from becoming worse.

Curves greater than 45 degrees is major. Surgery may be recommended. This depends on many things, but whether you're done growing, whether your curve is increasing, whether your heart and lungs are in danger of being squeezed by your curve, whether you're in pain, quality of life, etc.

If your curve is over 30 degrees, there is a good chance that it will increase even when you're through growing.  (Mine did.)

Unfortunately, nothing can *fix* idiopathic scoliosis. Surgery can keep the curve from getting worse, and in most cases, will reduce the curve but most likely your spine won't be straight (unless you are very flexible in the area to be fused, then you might be lucky).

Chiropractors, message therapists, acupuncturists, etc., can't fix idiopathic scoliosis. These people adjust the soft, connective tissues and that may (or may not, you can't tell ahead of time) make you feel better, but remember, idiopathic scoliosis is not a connective tissue disease. Your spine is growing curved.

Answer 2

My price is $ 100 for one hour of punctilious work. You need  between 10-12 sessions. Pause 3 months. In the meantime, special exercises at home, daily one hour..Eventually come back to the chiropractor.  Nevertheless at your age is a bit hard to correct your scoliosis. I say "hard" but not impossible. When a man really  wants something, all is possible.

The price depends of the place where you are living

Good luck

Answer 3

It depends on what needs to be done and the area you are in.  Just to give you an idea though, if they have to take x-rays (which they probably will due to your scoliosis) then the xray set will cost around 70 or 80 dollars.  Some sets cost more because if you decide to go to a Pettibon practitioner (best technique for scoliosis) then there might be additional vews.  The adjustments usually can run about 30 - 50 dollars.  

In short...about 100 dollars for the first visit and 30 - 50 for subsequent visits.  Find a Chiropractor that practices Pettibon technique if you can.  If you can't, then just go to whichever one you choose.  You will love the results!

And yes scoliosis curves CAN be reduced with conservative care contrary to what the person below me says.  There is research to prove it.  I'm not sure Frank has his facts straight.  Evidently he knows nothing about Chiropractic and neurology behind it.  But it's ok as most people are quick to put us down as quacks before knowing the truth.

Answer 4

It all depends on where you go.  If you have insurance you should call and find out what can be done about that.

Answer 5

Here is the truth about what chiropractors do. A chiropractor can do spinal manipulations to relieve stress on spinal nerves caused by things like muscle tension or a slight misalignment of the discs. The manipulation is not a permanent change of anything though, and no - they can't permanently change the natural shape or curvature of a spine. An orthopedist can evaluate the situation and determine if a scoliosis is actually present, and if a brace would be of help. A brace has to be individually fitted though- it's not a one size fits all proposition. A chiropractor can be helpful in musculo-skeletal aches and pains, through manipulation and massage- but aside from that it's all smoke and mirrors. If you have back pain from the misalignment, they can help relieve that. But nothing they do is going to be a permanent fix. Spines don't work that way. To change a spine takes surgery and braces. Most want to drag out the process for as long as possible. There plan is to take a full body X-ray and have you going to them for a long time, by nit picking every little thing. No ones spine is perfect. In my opinion they are just as good a back rub. But to each his or her own. Chiropractors do not have a medical degree nor are they FDA approved. Chiropractors work on your back to eliminate your "subluxations", which they can't prove exist, and in some studies where they show a back x-ray to multiple chiropractors, they all diagnose subluxations, but of course no two ever seem to diagnose them in the same place on the x-ray. Fixing subluxations is supposed to "help the body keep itself healthy". It's also preventative, once a month, to rub a rabbits foot or knock on wood for good luck. I challenge anyone to prove anything above wrong.