My First Trip to the Chiropractor

Hello all. Well, I had the joy of having my very first chiropractic appointment today. So, I thought I'd share my thoughts. I'll admit it, I was definitely skeptical about a practice that cost $65 for the first 45 minute visit. (And insurance has a separate deductible for.) But after at least two months of constant back pain and a referral from my midwife, I thought I should at least give it a try. So after arriving, filling out all the paperwork and talking to the chiropractor about my back problems, she has me take my shoes off and stand flat on the floor. I apparently was doing a very "good" job, because she went on to tell me that my feet were extremely flat! Oh, good. Just what a hormonal pregnant girl wants to hear... something else with her body is out of proportion. They are so flat in fact, that she measured me for orthopedic inserts for my shoes to give me some arch support. Nice. She also evaluated me while we chatted and noticed that I'm a "leg-crosser". When she said it, it almost sounded like I was being charged of a crime. But my mother always told me that polite girls cross their legs. Well, apparently my mother was wrong. She said that between crossing my legs and having obnoxiously flat feet, it's no wonder I am having back pain. (I added the obnoxious part, just for the dramatic effect.) Once my evaluation was over, my adjustment began. I positioned myself on the weirdest looking table I have ever seen. Because I am pregnant, I laid on my stomach, but she put the middle part of the table down. So, my belly just fell through the gap. She then did a quick exam of my legs and said that my right leg was 1/2" shorter than my left. Man, how have I been walking this whole time? So, she did a quick hip adjustment, had it pop a few times and VOILA! Now my legs are even. Hooray! Then she went over my entire back and shoulder area with a machine that sounded like a woodpecker on steriods. It didn't hurt at all, but it sure felt weird. For the next part of my adjustment, I had to roll over on my back so she could do my neck. I was so comfortable and relaxed with my head just resting in her hands, then... CCRRRRAAAACCCKKKKK! The noise was so loud in my ear that I honestly thought she had broken my neck. I had to open my eyes and asked her if I was still alive. She just laughed. (I think she thought I was kidding) After my neck was finished, she moved on to the grand finale of the adjustment. Because I am pregnant, she did a whole pressure adjustment-thing on my uterus. I wish I could explain what she was actually doing, but I have no idea. She mentioned that it can help make labor go faster, so I gave her an instant green light. She just felt around the bottom of my belly for a while and did the woodpecker thing on my pelvic bone. Apparently that too was out of whack. She kept laughing too because this little boy of mine was almost playing a game with her. Wherever she would put her hand, he would try to kick (or punch or headbutt) it away. It was actually really funny. So that concluded my first chiropractic appointment. Even though it was weird and a bit different than I had expected... I have been converted. Ever since I left her office, my back has already felt 100% better. She wants me to go back 2x a week for the next two weeks, which could get a bit steep at $35/visit. But if it helps me sleep better at night and not ache all day long, I'll give in. Now I know why people that start going to a chiropractor, keep going. It is a weird practice, but beneficial. Hope you all enjoyed the play by play of my first experience. :)