I would caution you to on finding one that is genuinely reputable. I avoid chiropractors because I have heard nothing but horror stories and I've never yet heard of anyone being "cured" of their particular ailment in less than 3 months! In fact, I can't think of anyone I know who has gone to one and had any improvements...

I am not sure what relief you would get for CRPS from a chiropractor. I can see that if you have secondary problems, say, from sitting a lot that it could help but otherwise I have not seen any medical or anecdotal evidence yet that chiropractic manipulation techniques were of any value in treating or relieving CRPS. I am sure that we will all be very interested to hear how it goes if you do try it.

I did try a chiropractor very early in my RSD journey...approx 3 months after falling. I have to say that compared to any of the 3 pt's that worked on me that I felt the chiropractor was better. At least he wasn't afraid to actually touch my foot. I do feel I gained some ground from the initial injury of torn ligaments and tendons. He did not, however, know why my foot was cold and blue so obviously he didn't know about RSD. In doing research on some of the RSD websites, chiropractors are listed as doctors who treat RSD so I thought I would give it a try. After all, everything else has failed. It appears, however there are very few in my state that have this knowledge. Thanks for your input...Jeannie

I strongly doubt that chiropractic will permanently favorably affect your RSD but you may get some temporary palliative relief. I don't believe it would hurt to try. Like anything else is health care, give it 4 weeks, if you find no value, either temporary or gradual, then it's not for you. I would only continue after 4 weeks if you were sure it was helping. Some chiropractors like MD's, PT's or anyone else for that matter in health care, will have you continue to return so long as they have a mortgage or car payment to feed.

Used to be
Just one point - chiropractors are not doctors. Lots of them "claim" to treat CRPS but if you look through all of the clinical and other literature out there on CRPS, you will see an amazing lack of any references to chiropractic treatment - good, bad or otherwise. If it was something that was considered useful from a treatment or therapeutic perspective, I can't believe that there wouldn't be at least some clinical studies, evaluations or articles discussing its effectiveness.

So long as they don't do you any damage when they are doing their manipulation I am sure that it can't do any harm and if you get something beneficial from it then that is most likely a good thing.

Gymjunkie, While I agree with most of what you said, you are incorrect to state that they are not doctors. They are doctors of chiropractic just like a dentist is a doctor of dentistry or a psychologist is a doctor of psychology. They are not M.D.'s, but they are doctors nonetheless.

There are 3 primary providers acknowleged in the U.S.: MD's, D.C.'s and D.O.'s. By the way,the D.O.'s in addition to administering standard allopathic care (drug's, etc.) also learn how to and believe in manipulating the spine/joints just like the chiro's and along with scores of studies published now, manipulation as done by a D.O. or D.C. is efficacious in treating certain musculoskeletal conditions, many times with validated quicker or better results than conventional medical care. And if they were so horrible, they wouldn't be the #1 alternative health care provider in the U.S., ahead of accupuncture or homeopathy.

While I just don't think that there is much that a D.C. could do for CRPS, there are citations in the literature (J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2000 Jul;30(7):401-9.Thoracic spine dysfunction in upper extremity complex regional pain syndrome type I.Menck JY, Requejo SM, Kulig K) attesting to the benifit of using spinal manipulation for CRPS, and like I stated before, it probably wouldn't hurt to try a short course to attempt to temporarily help with some of the pain, especially in view of the fact that either not much else helps either or treatment which is available can have serious side-effects.

I really wish MDs & DCs would work together, they both could provide more complete care to patients.

I know many are wary of alternative types of care , but I'm sure glad I found my chiropractor.

Dubious
Before you jump down my throat in quite such an abrupt way, I live in the UK and the position here regarding chiropractors is obviously completely and significantly different than where you are. They would never be permitted to be referred to or call themselves "doctor" or use that terminology here. I think this is a simple disconnect that has arisen as a consequence of us living in different countries. Chiropractors clearly have rather a different reputation here in the UK and we have very different regulation of healthcare professionals.

Thanks for the citation of the article which I will look up when I get a chance. I am not saying that it can't help some people, all I am saying is that unlike so many other treatment modalities, there is virtually no mention of chirpopractic treatment in connection with the treatment of CRPS. My view is that this is surprising when you consider how many chiropractors say they can treat it. No more than that.

Hi Gymjunkie,
I wonder why it is then, that many of the RSD websites that we all look to list chiropractors as doctors who do indeed treat this disorder. I can't imagine that these sites which we look to for quidance and direction would list these doctors unless there was something in the literature that supports their having success in treating this disorder as well as the knowledge behind it. I have visited some chiropractic web sites where they posted page after page of literature on RSD so obviously there is knowledge there. When I first started posting here there was a woman who had been treated for RSD by a chiropractor and felt she improved. As you say, it may be a difference in the area that we live. Just something to think about...Jeannie

Gymjunkie.....
I do not think Dubious was "jumping down your throat in an abrupt way", I think he/she was being very matter-of-fact about defining what a chiropractor really is and where they legitimately fit into the medical profession. I do not read it as intending to undermine you, it was merely correcting an inaccurate statement that you had made discounting chiropractics altogether, at least in regard to the US.

It is unfortunate that your experience with chiropractics has been so negative where you live. It is important to find a GOOD doctor in whatever specialty you require. There ARE many good chiropractors here in our country and they are invaluable in treating many ailments/conditions that the other medical professions have been unable to cure through more "traditional" methods.

We should welcome each others input and should be tolerant and willing to learn more information for the common good of furthering education about this disease from which we all suffer, as well as possible treatments to help each individual live their lives as fully as possible. Let's not make it about "us and them".....but rather "we and us"!!

Best wishes for a peaceful, pain managed night to all!!!