If you have some time to kill, you might also enjoy reading the thread: My Soon-To-Be Millionaire Family Members
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Whenever money comes up and my sis senses some skepticism on behalf of my family, I am informed that my BIL was part of a "special program" in chiropractic school (this program is apparently affiliated with the school in some way, but you have to pay to be a part of it on top of your tuition?) that taught him the secrets of how to become a millionaire within a year. They're expecting to be VERY wealthy VERY quickly through this chiropractic office.
Am I missing something here? Are most chiropractors millionaires? Is starting a chiropractic office somehow different than starting other businesses that would make it more lucrative more quickly?
It's an amusing thread and there are also nuggets of advice about chiropractor vs. physio in there, IIRC.
I was wondering if my thread would get linked :)
OP -- to me, having watched my BIL and sister's entire chiropractic journey (AND being an advocate for chiropractic myself as I have definitely benefitted from it in the past), here are my 2 cents:
It seems that there are 2 schools of thought when it comes to chiropractors. You've got the more "old school" chiros... you walk in, tell them what hurts, they crack you around, you feel better, you leave. Then you have what I refer to as "new age" chiropractic. This is where my BIL happily resides.
The new age chiropractors believe in "subluxations" (good link above talking about this) and preach a more preventative, holistic theory of chiropractic care. The idea is that if you come regularly for small adjustments to keep your body aligned, you will avoid many other ailments throughout your life and have overall improved health. They sell "care plans" like you've described above. I have an issue with this one-size-fits-all "prescription" of care... if I present with lower back pain vs. someone who's presenting for simple preventative care, why would I not be handled differently as a patient? Why would my care plan be the same as theirs? Makes no sense to me, and I get the same vibe as you... it's a sales pitch more than it is health care.
Also, some of the new age chiropractors (again, like my BIL) practice a more gentle approach. My BIL doesn't even crack joints... he has a small instrument that's pressurized and he lightly feels all over your body and then shoots you in various spots. I personally don't feel any better after he does this... I have an old lower back injury from playing competitive soccer when I was younger and it can be truly debilitating, to the point where I have to stay home from work because I can't walk. His little applicator thingy doesn't exactly get me up and on my feet.
MY chiropractor, however, is old school. I
walk crawl into his office, he puts me on the table, focuses specifically on my area of pain, adjusts me, and I do feel better. And it's not a fleeting feeling, either... I can walk, go back to work, etc. He doesn't try to sell me on a 12 week or 6 month care package -- he tells me "you probably need to come again in 2 days, and we'll reevaluate at that point." And when I start feeling better, I stop going.
Sounds to me like you might be visiting my BIL's practice ;)