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I've gone for a number of sessions to address two different issues - shoulder and back pain, and trigeminal neuralgia. I eventually quit going because I didn't find the treatment particularly helpful for either. Plus the second time they started putting the hard sell on me to buy these big treatment packages and claimed my spine was degenerating (it's not!). My neurologist *strongly* recommended against seeing a chiropractor in the future, so I doubt I'll ever go back again.

I’ve seen chiropractors on and off for many years for several different things (my pelvis/hips and lower spine are funky and especially during pregnancy I needed them worked on by both PT and a chiro), and I’ve also gone to a chiro for headaches (they specialized in neuro-chiro, something like that). That one also helped significantly with allergies as well, oddly enough.

All times have been successful; but I’m sure like anything else, there are both good and bad chiropractors. Most of the chiropractors I've gone to don't really do a lot of cracking.

I had to see one as an infant due to the position I was in the womb, so the first 16 weeks of my life I visited a peds one to straighten out my spine. I've visited one occasional in my adult life, but not regularly only when I've had a pinched nerve or after a car accident.

I went to the chiropractor for the better part of three years. I only stopped going because I couldn't afford to take time off for weekly visits anymore . I originally started seeing my chiropractor after my car accident in 2012. We were rear-ended by a semi-truck and I suffered from whiplash. It really helped me and my husband with our pain and discomfort. I switched chiropractors during pregnancy to an office that was more family friendly and was highly recommended by my midwife. I dealt with some bad hip pain during the second trimester, but after a few visits to the chiropractor, my hip pain was resolved and I continued going for a year after I gave birth. I can't wait to go back again, but I need to wait until the end of the plan year (October) and get reevaluated for monthly visits.

ETA: My chiropractor also had me doing stretching and strengthening exercises during and after pregnancy. I still do them now when I feel myself getting tight and it helps.

I saw one when I injured my back after sitting on the floor painting my toe nails....yea that was pretty funny. I was hobbling around like a little old lady. Immediately after I saw him I felt slight relief and even more so the next day. Since then I will go every so often and now that Im pregnant Ive been going 1-2x a month. Though I rarely let him adjust my neck because it really freaks me out!

I think they are good for certain things, but definitely not for everyone. If your MD is recommending it, Id definitely try it out.

I was a chiropractic assistant for 3 years! We had several patients who swore by their chiropractic care and referred anyone and everyone but we also had some who didn't seem to get much relief from their care. Wouldn't hurt to try it out!

I've gone off and on since middle school. I've basically set up shop there lately, though. I think they do a lot for me when I'm having pain, and I try to keep up a little maintenance here and there, as well. I had a rib out a couple of weeks ago that they fixed, and then an ankle that was killing me that he got back in to place. I think they definitely have their place in most people's healthcare. I am planning on bringing my son in to try and work on his reflux. I've talked to several doctors in the practice I go to and they're confident it could help. But I'm a pretty big believer in chiropractic care to begin with.

i saw one after a car accident. i loooove getting adjusted. it feels so good!

This is going to be a little long (and maybe a little preachy???), sorry in advance! I've gone to a chiropractor since I was 16. When I was that age I was hobbling around like an old lady (I literally could not stand up straight) because I have two herniated disks from doing gymnastics for 10+ years. He totally changed my life. I could not even walk a city block at 16 because of searing sciatic pain.

There are a few things I like to tell people when they ask about chiropractic care: one, find someone you like (not all chiropractors are equal). Two, see if they have a long-term plan for you. When I was 16 I went to a chiropractor three times a week for six months. After six months I was remarkably improved, but still suffering from pretty serious pain, so he sent me to an orthopedist, who gave me epidural steroid injections. That, combined with pilates/yoga (recommended by my chiropractor), and chiropractic care all came together to make me a functional adult not crippled by intense pain and on zero pain meds (I've always hated taking prescription pain meds because my family has a very long history of addiction and I'm very paranoid about it). So here, my chiropractor wasn't against using traditional medicine to heal my pain (some can be), and I really appreciated his honesty. If I had only seen a medical doctor I would probably have had surgery at around age 18-20 and had my pain managed mostly with pills and maybe some physical therapy (my insurance at the time covered like 9 physical therapy visits per year).

Also, some chiropractors do more than just adjustments - they do stretches, heat-therapy, massage, and electrodes (like a tens machine, but I'm not sure what to call it). I received all of these treatments at each appointment, unless I had just thrown out my back, in which case he'd skip the heat.

And the one thing I really like to emphasize - chiropractic care is not a one-time thing. It's not something you do for a month and it'll be fine for the rest of your life. It needs to be integrated into your health and wellness routine in the same way that exercise and diet is. I find that a lot of people I know in the medical profession really hate chiropractic care, but it honestly changed my life. When I was 16 I was positive I would never be able to go away to college, carry a child, or even take a long walk, because my back pain was so severe.

Sorry if this is super preachy, I just know chiropractic care absolutely changed my life. And I know not all chiropractors are created equal and a lot of it sounds like quack medicine.

Also two crazy stories I love to tell about my chiropractor: the first time he saw my xrays he looked at them and then said, "Do you get headaches? I see you have some fused vertebra in your neck that probably is causing some headaches". I have suffered from headaches basically since I hit puberty.

And the other one is that he saw my sister helping me in to my appointment, watched her walk, and then took a look at the bottoms of her shoes and said, "Does your right ankle hurt?" Which it totally did, and she had just had to sit out a cross country tournament because it didn't hurt to walk, but running over a long distance made it click and ache. Then, he gave her an adjustment, and adjusted her ankle! And she hasn't had a problem with it since then.

So again, sorry this is super long but I'm all for chiropractic care!

I'm currently living several hours away from my childhood chiropractor and wishing I could have seen him during my pregnancy and for postpartum care.

@Meridian: find a family friendly one! ours was super understanding, there was always moms, kids, pregnant ladies, etc. i brought my daughter weekly while i got adjusted. so worth it after the trauma of pregnancy and delivery!