Are my chiropractor’s fees and suggested treatment reasonable?

Forums › Health and fitness › Are my chiropractor’s fees and suggested treatment reasonable?

AaylaSecura

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#279542 21-Oct-2020 19:11

I’ve been suffering from worsening stiffness and pain in my lower back and neck. After doctors and physio didn’t help, and a friend of mine strongly suggested a chiropractor, I decided to try it. I went with the highest rated one (100 Google reviews, all 5 stars) in my area. After an initial consultation he said I have lots of scar tissue all over my body and a pronating left ankle, which has caused hip misalignment. He said that to start with he needs to use the ArthroStim device for about 8 weeks to break down the scar tissue.

I just had my first appointment (which didn’t feel like it did anything), and that was $155 for 12 minutes! It sounds excessive. He said their normal consultation is $75 but because this equipment is very expensive they charge double when using it.

My questions are:
- do other chiropractors also charge double to use the ArthroStim?
- is it reasonable that he said he needs to use that rather than manual treatment because I have “too much” scar tissue?

P.S. I know that many people are against chiropractors and I’m not looking for more options on that. I’m willing to give a chiropractor a shot, but I’d like to hear from someone who has had a positive experience and can tell me if these prices and the need for an instrument sound reasonable.

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#2590014 21-Oct-2020 20:04

The value decision is entirely up to you since you're paying for a placebo?

martyyn

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#2590016 21-Oct-2020 20:17

If your physio isn't helping, you're at the wrong physio.

AaylaSecura

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#2590017 21-Oct-2020 20:19

Batwing:
The value decision is entirely up to you since you're paying for a placebo?

As I said, I do not require opinions on whether it’s a placebo, a scam or not. I’ve read plenty of these. My question was very specific: in New Zealand, do other chiropractors charge double for ArthroStim.

martyyn: If your physio isn't helping, you're at the wrong physio.

Perhaps, or perhaps my problem is different. Physios can’t fix everything, chiros can’t fix everything, doctors can’t fix everything.

Kiwifruta

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#2590021 21-Oct-2020 20:31

I’ve been to chiropractors many times with great long lasting success. I’ve never had the ArthroStim (nor heard of it until your posting) so cannot comment on that. Would be good to ring around other chiropractic clinics too to find what they charge for the ArthroStim.

Generally, the first appointment is quite long (30mins) as the chiropractor wants to know about your medical history and current issues. The subsequent appointments are short, about 10-15 mins long. I’ve had my best experiences with chiropractors who have undertaken additional training to become a sports chiropractor.

What part of the country are you in?

timmmay

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#2590024 21-Oct-2020 20:39

Chairopractors are notorious for charging huge amounts of money for very short appointments, and keeping you coming back when there's really nothing wrong with you.

See a good osteopath. They have an exhaustive knowledge of the human body, and help with manipulation and exercises, rather than 2 minutes of snap crackle and pop and don't forget to pay on the way out.

I can't answer your question sorry. Sounds typical that a chairo would charge as much as they could.

Eva888

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#2590029 21-Oct-2020 20:52

Seems excessive for 12 minutes of being prodded by something that resembles a low tech Ryobi drill with a two pronged attachment that is used over clothing. How do they know where the relevant bones are? He is making minimum $620 per hour assuming he treats four people an hour. I would be questioning the value of such a low tech treatment as no lasers or anything else involved bar pressure.

However, if you feel that your pain subsides with the treatment and you can afford it, then no need to ask anyone. Personally I would be asking other chiropractors for their prices, but if they all decide on a similar charge then the question remains as to how much value it is to you.

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timmmay

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#2590038 21-Oct-2020 21:03

Eva888: Seems excessive for 12 minutes of being prodded by something that resembles a low tech Ryobi drill with a two pronged attachment that is used over clothing. How do they know where the relevant bones are? He is making minimum $620 per hour assuming he treats four people an hour. I would be questioning the value of such a low tech treatment as no lasers or anything else involved bar pressure.

However, if you feel that your pain subsides with the treatment and you can afford it, then no need to ask anyone. Personally I would be asking other chiropractors for their prices, but if they all decide on a similar charge then the question remains as to how much value it is to you.

They start out with the "extended" 12 minute appointments, and ramp you down to 2 minute appointments at the same price.

networkn

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#2590044 21-Oct-2020 21:17

Eva888: Seems excessive for 12 minutes of being prodded by something that resembles a low tech Ryobi drill with a two pronged attachment that is used over clothing. How do they know where the relevant bones are? He is making minimum $620 per hour assuming he treats four people an hour. I would be questioning the value of such a low tech treatment as no lasers or anything else involved bar pressure.

However, if you feel that your pain subsides with the treatment and you can afford it, then no need to ask anyone. Personally I would be asking other chiropractors for their prices, but if they all decide on a similar charge then the question remains as to how much value it is to you.

Yup I agree. There are people it 'works' for and people who it doesn't.

A guy I play squash with, used to be a chiro and quit because he couldn't live with the dishonesty of it. He describes the scenario of being a Chiro as keeping the mind busy whilst nature takes it's course.

Having suffered severe back pain every 6 weeks from when I was 10 until I was 25, and having spent 10's of thousands of dollars seeing everyone I thought could solve it, I had a client who was a GP tell me in no uncertain terms to see a muscloskeletal specialist. The specialist was genuinely shocked I'd never been told to have an MRI or X-Rays and once he had them back, he identified the issue, gave me a solution and I only get back pain rarely now and usually if I don't keep my core excercises up. My back pain was recurrent and long term though. My physio provides relief for that pain now the occasional time I get it.

AaylaSecura

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#2590109 22-Oct-2020 06:33

Kiwifruta: . . .
Generally, the first appointment is quite long (30mins) as the chiropractor wants to know about your medical history and current issues. The subsequent appointments are short, about 10-15 mins long. I’ve had my best experiences with chiropractors who have undertaken additional training to become a sports chiropractor.

What part of the country are you in?

Yes, the first appointment was actually an hour. The chiro has a history in sports, though no 100% what type of qualification (I thought there's only one). I'm in Wellington.

Eva888: . . .
However, if you feel that your pain subsides with the treatment and you can afford it, then no need to ask anyone. Personally I would be asking other chiropractors for their prices, but if they all decide on a similar charge then the question remains as to how much value it is to you.

I agree with that. I'll call around today to ask a few places.

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#2590128 22-Oct-2020 09:02

martyyn: If your physio isn't helping, you're at the wrong physio.

this

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#2590141 22-Oct-2020 10:01

Quick google suggest this "ArthroStim" device is used exclusively by Chiropractors - I can't see any real reference to it used by medical professionals which would worry me.

I am sure you would achieve the same results by having a close friend jab you repeatedly with the eraser end of a pencil whilst burning handfuls of $20 bills.

AaylaSecura:he said I have lots of scar tissue all over my body

Wha?

Externally? How would that mis-align your hip?

Internally? How on earth can he diagnose that from a consultation?

What does this even mean?

Chiropractors are charlatans. Go see the right kind of specialist as per @networkN

I get that you are in pain and likely desperate for a solution, but you will be best served being persistent in your search for the right, qualified medical specialist and services.

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networkn

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#2590147 22-Oct-2020 10:17

AaylaSecura:he said I have lots of scar tissue all over my body

I promise you, as @item has said, this is a load of BS. No chance he could accurately determine this without extensive (and possibly expensive) imaging and there would need to be a good (clinically indicated) reason to do it.

You need to get away from this person.

If Chiro is your chosen form of comfort (because in my experience, most Chiros are not going to clinincally assist you), then fine, but this particular one is going to take a *lot* of your money and feed you a lot of nonsense for the priviledge.

gehenna

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#2590149 22-Oct-2020 10:22

Chiropractors and osteopaths are witch doctors. Find a good musculoskeletal physiotherapist. If you're in Wellington I can help point you to a couple.

dafman

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#2590154 22-Oct-2020 10:44

AaylaSecura: ... and a pronating left ankle, which has caused hip misalignment.

I have severe pronation and suffer mild hip pain. Several years ago, I visited a podiatrist and had orthotics made to reduce the pronation impact. They worked great for several years, but then I noticed my feet/ankles would get sore after prolonged periods of walking barefoot. My (unofficial) assessment was that my muscles/tendons etc had weakened following extensive use of orthotics. So now I still use the orthotics on some days, but most days I go without and my foot pain has disappeared.

Long story short, if you suffer pronation, there will inevitable impacts as you age. I still have periodic mild hip pain at night and just accept it is what it is. I could continue to throw a truckload of money trying to alleviate it (I spent probably close to $2k way back when on the podiatrist/orthotics) but now I'd rather spend that money on other things I get real value from.

geekiegeek

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#2590155 22-Oct-2020 10:45

That device is just a massage gun. You can buy one yourself and save yourself a whole lot of $$$. Any decent massage will help with tightness in the short term but from my own personal experience, you need to find out what the underlying issue is and fix that. Have you had any imaging done? X-Ray or MRI?

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