Tag: sciatica

5 Common Misconceptions About Chiropractors

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Myths of Chiropractic Care

Those of you who follow these periodic blog-posts may remember my April 18, 2025 “rant” entitled “70 and Out? – Mobility!” If you have ever experienced severe back or neck pain, I recommend revisiting this piece and skeptics, also read the article below. My chiropractors literally “saved me!” In my opinion, better than any MRI/x-ray, weeks of standard physical therapy, or MD intervention (pills, shots or surgeries), the chiropractic care of George and his son Benjamin Fraudin offered me the fastest progressive recovery while guiding me to take “baby steps” towards less pain, better mobility and flexibility! They diagnosed the exact location of my compressed discs, manually adjusted my spine, and provided exercises to help me transition out of the acute phase of my sciatica. I’m coming up to my one-year anniversary of needing a cane, TENS machine, and the rental of an electric wheelchairs during the four-day PMEA Annual Conference at Kalahari Resort in the Poconos. THANK YOU, Fraudin Advanced Chiropractic and Rehab in Pittsburgh, PA.

The following guest post authored by Jeanett Tapia was shared by Intouch Chiropractic. Intouch Chiropractic is a boutique chiropractic practice in San Diego, CA, specializing in NUCCA upper cervical care, spinal decompression, and advanced therapeutic treatments. 

If you’ve spent any time researching ways to manage pain, improve your balance, or simply stay mobile as you get older, you’ve probably come across chiropractic care. And if you’re like many of us who’ve reached our retirement years, you may have also come across a reason not to try it, whether from a well-meaning friend, an outdated article, or simply an image stuck in your head of someone’s spine being violently “cracked” into submission.

Here’s the truth: many of the most persistent beliefs about chiropractic care are simply wrong. And those misconceptions may be quietly standing between you and a better quality of life.

Let’s clear the air.

Misconception #1: “Chiropractic care means painful cracking and twisting”

This is, by far, the most common reason seniors avoid exploring chiropractic care. The dramatic neck-snap you’ve seen on TV or heard about secondhand bears little resemblance to what many modern chiropractic practices actually do.

In fact, there are even highly specialized approaches, like NUCCA (National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association), that involve zero popping, cracking, or twisting of the spine whatsoever. NUCCA chiropractic care focuses on a precise, gentle correction of the atlas vertebra (the top bone of the spine), using only a light, calculated touch near the base of the skull. Most patients are surprised by how mild the treatment feels.

For seniors, retirees, or anyone with concerns about bone density or joint sensitivity, this kind of approach can be a genuine game-changer. 

Misconception #2: “It’s too risky for older adults”

Many seniors assume chiropractic care is designed for younger, healthier bodies and that it carries real danger for those with osteoporosis, arthritis, or other age-related conditions. This concern is understandable, but largely unfounded when care is delivered by a qualified, experienced practitioner.

Trained chiropractors assess every patient individually, reviewing medical history, imaging, and physical condition before determining an approach. Techniques are adapted specifically for older adults, emphasizing comfort and safety at every step. Research consistently shows that when performed by a qualified professional, chiropractic care can improve mobility and decrease pain without serious risk, even in elderly patients.

Are there chiropractors that should be avoided? Absolutely. But that’s true with any profession or expertise. For seniors looking for things like treatment for chronic back pain, a good chiropractor can go a long way.

Misconception #3: “Chiropractors only treat back pain”

It’s true that most people walk into a chiropractor’s office with back pain. But limiting chiropractic care to a single symptom is like saying a cardiologist only treats chest pain.

Spinal misalignment, particularly at the top of the cervical spine, can affect far more than your back. Common conditions that respond well to chiropractic care, especially for older adults, include:

  • Chronic neck pain and stiffness
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Balance and coordination problems (a major fall-risk factor for seniors)
  • Joint pain and reduced range of motion
  • Sleep disturbances and fatigue
  • Brain fog and reduced mental clarity

For retirees trying to stay active, whether that means walking the golf course, playing with grandchildren, or simply navigating daily life with confidence, these benefits matter enormously.

Misconception #4: “You’ll need to go forever once you start”

This misconception often comes from a misunderstanding of how chiropractic care works. While some patients choose to make regular maintenance visits a part of their long-term wellness routine (similar to dental checkups), you are never “locked in.”

Many patients come in with a specific concern, receive a course of treatment, and achieve lasting relief, particularly with upper cervical approaches like NUCCA, which aim to deliver corrections that hold over time rather than requiring constant repeat adjustments. The goal is always to restore your body’s natural alignment so that it can maintain itself more effectively.

Your treatment plan is yours. A good chiropractor will communicate clearly, set realistic expectations, and respect your pace and goals.

Misconception #5: “It’s not real medicine, my doctor won’t approve”

Chiropractic care has long suffered from an image problem as being “fringe” or unscientific. That reputation is increasingly outdated. Numerous peer-reviewed studies demonstrate the efficacy of chiropractic adjustments for pain management, mobility improvement, and quality of life, and many primary care physicians now actively refer patients to chiropractors as part of a complementary care plan.

For seniors especially, the appeal of a drug-free, non-surgical approach to managing chronic pain and maintaining mobility is hard to overstate. 

It’s not about replacing your doctor, it’s about giving your body more tools to work with.

Why This Matters for Retirees and Seniors

Mobility is independence. The ability to move freely, stay balanced, and live without chronic pain directly shapes the quality of your retirement years. Chiropractic care, particularly the gentle, precision-based approaches now available, offers a compelling, low-risk option for seniors who want to stay active and avoid the side effects of long-term medication use.

If you’ve dismissed chiropractic care based on any of the myths above, it may be worth taking a second look, especially at upper cervical approaches designed with your comfort and safety in mind.

PKF

© 2026 Paul K. Fox and Eric White

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70 and Out?

paulkfox1 Comment

Editor’s Note: Sorry! I don’t usually use this forum to rant or rave and complain… but, since I am almost flat on my back right now, I need to vent. Hopefully, other “seniors” who read this blog will find some benefits to this article and the research links below.

Keep up the “good fight” to maintain your own health and wellness! PKF

Mobility!

It’s the single most important thing in retirement! “If you ain’t got it, you’ve got nothing.”

There’s nothing worse than losing one’s ability to get around.

When I retired, I couldn’t imagine any limitation to my physical activities (with the exception of doing those ambitious squat thrusts of my youth or running a full gallop with my Yorkiepoo). Sure, as we age, many of us may experience more minor aches and pains caused by the effects slowly progressing arthritis, a touch of foot neuropathy or plantar fasciitis, overuse of our muscles in strenuous activity, lifting, or carrying heavy objects, or other issues, but these “challenges” don’t usually slow us down too much. And yes, I explored a few of those media-hyped over-the-counter topical remedies “everyone” claims will alleviate foot and muscular pain. How many of these do you recognize? Alphabetically I dabbled in Advil Targeted Relief, Aspercreme with Lidocaine, Blue Emu, IcyHot, Nervive, Penetrex, Salonpas, and Voltaren. I even bought several pairs of expensive shoes with custom insoles and orthotics. The foot pain has since mysteriously “gone away” (probably due to some excellent PT and regular bouts of stretching/flexing), which has led me to focus more on a new, annoying development – slight knee pain – for which the docs say may be early onset “bone-on-bone” (Knee Osteoarthritis).

Be proactive, Mr. Fox, I said!

Get off your duff, stretch, and move around more. (At regular intervals, my loving wife and the Apple Watch on my arm continually nag me to stand, move, and exercise!) So I can brag I made a concerted effort to lose weight (down 30 pounds and no longer need blood pressure medicine) and even put myself on a regime of online “old man yoga/chair” exercises (an app costing $38/month – but, after some progress in “core tightening” over several months, I abandoned them!). I’ve sought the services of a good physical therapist to help me through what will eventually be knee replacement surgery (but, if I do their daily prescriptions to build my leg muscles, perhaps the cutting won’t be needed for another decade or two! By the way, musicians/music teachers make good patients of PT because we know the importance of practicing regularly – even on the day of the lesson!) I have a good orthopedic surgeon in my back pocket, and during my last visit with him, I was able to say “no” to cortisone injections. Things seemed to be getting better!

But, all of this came to a crashing halt.

Several weeks ago, I struggled to raise a very heavy conductor’s stand (to which I will eventually chew-out the manufacturer of a poorly designed/awkward-positioned height adjustment screw). After my first dose of extra-strength Advil wore off, I felt like I had pulled a muscle in my back. It went away in a day or two, so I didn’t think much of it. But, five days later, when I woke up and climbed out of bed, suddenly any pressure I placed on my right leg gave me excruciating pain. I have been told this is probably sciatica or a “pinched nerve.” The pain is so bad that when I first get up or stand for even a few minutes on my right foot, I double-over and cannot move. I use any object around me to support myself such as countertops, tables, desks, shelving, etc., and feeling helpless literally “hobble around” trying to get from place to place. Even rolling over in bed the wrong way can cause an extreme surge of this pain which radiates down the entire leg. It has slowed down my activity to a crawl.

The timing could not have been more perfect!

Last week, I attended our state music teachers’ conference. After the five-and-a-half hour trip to the other end of the state (which everyone says with sciatica, you are never supposed to sit that long!), I planted myself in an electric wheelchair to get from place to place, fulfilling my normal PMEA duties such as taking candid photographs of the events and running a session or two. The (level 9) intense pain seems to come and go and I have gone to a doctor to receive a new script for physical therapy including an analysis to pinpoint the exact location of this unhappy nerve and what exercises may help. X-rays so far have shown only a little arthritis of the spine; apparently no herniated disks. (Is this what we all have to look forward to – “a little arthritis” – as we mature?) If it does not get better soon, I may consider going to a chiropractor. Have you had your first introduction to a cane? At the conference, I went to the local Rite Aid and bought one (along with a “TENS-machine,” although I have not unwrapped it yet and will need help setting up the “Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation” device). Thank God for the Internet, because I even needed to search for instructions on which hand to use the cane and how to adjust its length (my physical therapist checked it). It does provide some stability so that I can walk around without knocking books off shelves or outside, but it’s not a long-term solution.

I wish I could tell you I have some good news to report, but… as of today, we have not figured out the cause or location of the problem. I am on prednisone and it is only slightly alleviating the pain. Sitting in my office chair (right now) gives me a dull pain (number 2-3). Weight bearing can raise that number up to 8-9. My wife (who is a saint) has been waiting on me hand-and-foot (and she has a few of her own aches and pains!). My doggies are unhappy because they are receiving fewer long walks and they were kicked out of the bed so I can stretch (and so my restlessness would not keep them up all night). I have had to postpone my hospital volunteer work (I can’t push wheelchairs) and curtail a lot of other scheduled activities. With several concerts coming up for our local community orchestra, I am considering conducting in a chair from the podium… and I may have to miss marching in the annual Community Day Parade on May 17 when I usually serve as the “duck maestro” for the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair’s GREAT DUCK RACE fundraiser.

I’m turning 70 next week!

Several weeks ago, I would have told you I am CELEBRATING the big 7-0! I revel in the freedom of retirement, the joy of “refiring” or “rewiring” myself to explore new projects, refocusing energy on favorite past hobbies and “mindful” pursuits, catching up with former students and colleagues, helping others as a music educator mentor, presenting workshops on teacher self-care, ethics training, interviewing, and retirement transitioning (take a look at my latest professional brochure here), subscribing to the retiree doctrine “it’s not my sandbox anymore” avoiding the jobs/tasks I no longer want to do, and literally… “living the dream.”

Now, I must face these new challenges head-on, and I will! I will not allow myself to “retire” (that old definition to “withdraw” or “resign”). I will fight any acquiescent acceptance of increasing disability, disengagement, depression, unnecessary significant medical intervention, or long-term advanced pain management! Yes, this is a SELF TALK: They say most recovery from sciatica is very slow! If you share this condition, don’t get discouraged!

Mobility.

I want it back! I want to return to modeling what author Ernie Zelinski says in his book How to Retire Happy, Wild and Free are the essential ingredients for a meaningful and satisfying retirement and life passage to self-reinvention, renewing the quest of finding “purpose, structure, and community” throughout our golden years.

Sample Additional Research on Sciatica

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1895638/

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12792-sciatica

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/taming-pain-sciatica-people-time-heals-less-2017071212048

5 Easy Stretches for Sciatic Pain (with pictures)

PKF

© 2025 Paul K. Fox