Wow, all of us young 'uns are falling apart, aren't we? I'm almost 24 and I know what you guys are talking about.
Minerwater, yes, I definitely recommend chiropractic medicine. I don't discount the value of some traditional medicine, but i'd rather go to a chiropractor than a doctor any day.
There are several important things when going to a chiropractor, the most important one being (to me at least).....Relax! When you are tense and fearing it will hurt you are fighting what the chiropractor is trying to do and it actually might hurt more! Many chiros will start with a heat therapy or even a brief massage to relax your muscles before they do any "cracking". Relax your body, take normal breaths, and right before he makes an adjustment on your back, slowly release your breath. It's hard to tense your body when you're exhaling. I personally enjoy a chiropractic adjustment. It makes me feel so much better usually. I'm a chiro. Junkie!! He's actually fixing the cause of your pain, not just trying to cover up the pain itself. My chiro gives me stretches and small exercises to strengthen my back and neck muscles and relieve pain.
Another important thing is to find the right chiropractor for you. Each one has his own style and it might not be what each individual person needs. So if you do end up going to one and you don't like the experience, maybe give him another try to see if you can get used to his style. If not, try another. Don't judge chiropractic medicine in general just because of one practitioner. I think it really can be helpful if people give it a chance.
Another thing, you'll probably have to go for a series of appointments to get maximum benefits, not just one. I don't know if you have health insurance, but check to see if you have chiropractic coverage. A lot of them do pay for a certain number of visits per year.
Wow! I just realized I look like a paid spokesperson for chiropractors of america or something!! (i'm not...Haha)
i hope I was somewhat helpful and that you feel better soon. You're too young to live in constant pain.
Best wishes.
Manda panda
