Snyman Basil

I have been going to Dr. Snyman regularly for 7 years now. I read some complaints here about the length of the first appointment, which is true, but every appointment after that I’ve been seen quickly and I normally call day-​of looking for a time to go in with no problems.
I initially started treatment for a pain I’ve had since ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I’m serious. In around 3^rd or 4^th grade I started having neck/​shoulder pain and usually had a tight muscle knot. My dad used to try to massage the knot out, but it never worked, and one time my pediatrician adjusted my neck for it. Eventually the neck pain started causing severe muscle spasms that would have me in tears and whoever was nearest to me had to rub that spot until I could function again. I tried one chiropractor when I was in college, but my neck always hurt more after an adjustment so I stopped going. I suffered with this for 16 years until the spasms started getting even more frequent and I noticed my touch sensitivity on that side was very dimished compared to the other side of my neck, so I decided to try a chiropractor again.
I randomly chose Dr. Snyman based on how close he is to my office. Every appointment includes an adjustment and if I’m unusually tight or in pain in any areas I’m given treatment on the roller table or with the TENS unit (electric therapy) or both. After just a few treatments the neck spasms stopped. In the past 7 years I’ve had maybe 4 muscle spasms when prior to that it was multiple times per week. I continue to get adjusted because I’ve noticed a reduction in headaches and my hips go out of alignment often.
I recently had a knee injury and received far more hands-​on care with Dr. Snyman than I have with my orthopedic doctor. The extent of the ortho appointments has been asking if I’m still in pain, checking if my kneecap was still loose, and referring me for physical therapy. The treatment with Dr. Snyman was an adjustment on my knee (it was hyperextended, something I asked the ortho about but was not given any treatment), checking the joint’s stability, electric therapy, & kinetic tape to help with some lingering pain. I already noticed my walk back to my office was easier.
Occassionaly, due to scheduling, I have received treatment from Dr. Nutche and he has always been equally attentive and provided great care.

I am writing this review partly in hopes of counter-​acting some of the negative things I have seen here.
I have been going to chiropractors for YEARS, and my main complaint has always been, «How do they know something is not seriously wrong with you if they don’t do any sort of imaging?» Well, the first thing Dr. Snyman did was take a full set of x-​rays of my neck, spine, and hips. He also put me through a series of other tests (such as a foot pressure test) including mobility testing with a physical therapist on staff. It was extremely comprehensive.
I learned a lot of things, like that my feet are severely pronated, my neck curves the wrong way, and that one of my legs is shorter than the other. But I digress!
The other thing is that Dr. Snyman did not even adjust me the first time because he said my neck was too inflamed. So, for the person who said he injured him, not sure where that came from. I did have another local chiropractor further injure my neck. I assume it’s one of the risks of getting adjusted?
The treatment is fairly standard: Adjustments, some electro stimulation, etc. But one thing I liked is he also discussed diet with me, and recommended some supplements. Yes, the one he recommended was fairly pricey, and I bought it from him, but I checked, and the price was comparable to ordering it online.
Dr. Nutche, who owns the practice, has also adjusted me, and he incorporates ART techniques, which are just short of miraculous.
My only complaint (and why I subtracted one star) is that they tend to have very long wait times.

Pick another chiropractor. You will be glad I warned you. In short, my visit at Snyman left me unable to move my neck to one side for the following two months. It was pathetic. I missed work, and it was so incredibly debilitating– not to mention painful! When I called them in the weeks following my appointment trying to see if they could help me, they were nasty to me (you know, because I had a complaint) and even hung up. I have lived all over the US and been to many chiropractors in my life. Dr. Nutche was the WORST I have ever seen.

I was told that as a new patient, I’d have to schedule an hour long visit… the availability for these of course was minimal. I scheduled one for this morning at 8:45 and was told to be there at 8:30. I came in a little after 8:30 with my 7 sheets of paperwork all ready and then… waited for a half an hour. I’m sorry, you can’t schedule someone for an hour long appointment and then not take them at the time the appointment is supposed to start. Even if I didn’t have to get to work, I wouldn’t have appreciated the long wait. It’s careless and rude. I probably would have waited longer, but instead I decided to leave, because you know, I have a job to get to. I really don’t care for the longwinded introductory visits at some chiropractors. And according to the other person’s review on here, they wouldn’t have even adjusted me. That’s crazy. I also have not received an apology phone call… so they clearly don’t care about losing business. Oh well, I’ll just go back to the guy I’ve been seeing for a year or so. Just thought I’d get more comprehensive care at Snyman.

No, No, No, No, No.
Wanna feel like you’re a pocketbook? Wanna have your chiropractic treatment hurt? Then Yes, by all means, come to Snyman.
My back and I, we have history. Sometimes we get along great, but when we don’t, I pamper it with massages and chiropractic manipulations. I was introduced to Snyman through Groupon (I think) for a massage. The massage was wonderfully relaxing, and my masseuse was sweet, friendly, and put me at ease. I had stars in my eyes from the massage, which is why I decided to book an apptmt for chiropractic maintenance.
At my chiropractic appointment, I was seated in a room, where I was asked to watch a 15 minute video (I think that’s how long it was supposed to take) while I waited for the chiropractor to come talk to me. The video ended, and I had to wait an additional 30 minutes before he came into the room. He was young — I think he recently started taking over the older Dr. Snyman’s patients. He started telling me about how I should get my shoes looked at, and how I should invest in a maintenance and whole body care package. He also wanted me to look into their fitness clinic. I felt like he was advertising all his wares, and I was the dummy that was supposed to dig into my pockets to buy all these services. I have a background in medical studies, and he was trying to «exaggerate» how certain aspects of my daily function could lead to excruciating pain for me in the future. However, I entertained his lecture because I just really wanted so badly to find a good chiropractor I could rely on. [I had an amazing one in Waco, TX, but he can’t be here with me now :(]
Then after my talk with the chiropractor, I was sent over to a technician of some sort. He put me on the machines to measure my gait and take some x-​rays of my skeletal structure. I am also asked to attempt certain motions and positions, like lunges, etc. As I am a chronic workingout-​a-​holic, I aced these maneuvers no problem. When the chiropractor looked at my chart later, all he could say was, uh, you’re in pretty good shape, but we should still get you on a maintenance plan so you don’t lose your flexibility. Really?
I was hoping I could just get adjusted and go, but I had to put up with all of his nitty gritty sales pitch. Finally, the chiropractor told me, «Well, we don’t usually like to adjust our clients on their first visit, but since your neck seems a little off, we can do a little adjustment.» I was charged $ 200 for the introductory package with my own electrodes so I can get the muscle relaxing treatments (which I actuallly love). I would have been fine with all this if the chiropractic adjustment had actually felt good, which I am used to it feeling sooooo good. On the contrary, when he went to do his adjustments, all I felt was pain. And I felt pain for a couple minutes afterwards. I was hoping that when I got home, I would feel splendid, but when I woke up the next day, I neck and upper back just plain hurt. This experience has me a little hesitant to go to just any chiropractor next time. I feel like this guy is either too young, or too inexperienced, or both. What’s worse is that I feel they’re trying to sell and push things on you. Not the genuine-​homey feel I was looking for. The whole appointment ended up lasting over 2 hours… if you’re going to make a first appointment here, schedule a chunk of time for it cuz you’ll probably need it.
Sorry guys, I will not be coming back, not even for the massage :(. You can have my brand new electrodes.

Several years ago (back when I was generally healthy) I had an accident while at the gym which left me with two herniated discs in my lower back. The pain was extreme, and it fundamentally changed my life for the worse for a long time.
I had previously heard about and seen the bad effects from western medicine’s solution to my problem: namely, surgery to repair the discs. It can actually cause more chronic problems than it can cure. So, I wanted to avoid that solution. However, like most people, I had only heard bad things about chiropractors— that they are somewhere in the universe between used car salesmen and snake-​oil salesmen — so I avoided them. However, after several months when the injury did not resolve, and on the recommendation of an acquaintance, I went to Dr. Snyman’s office in Center City.
Dr Snyman is an experienced, caring and knowledgeable professional (and with a decent sense of humor, which never hurts). Long story short, he treated me over the course of many months with several modalities, helping me avoid surgery on my back, and also turned me on to alternative medicine and mind-​body approaches which I still use today to good effect. So I can say the experience did change my life for the better.
The only real downside seems to be that he’s so crazy overbooked that waits are often very long, and my insurance did not pay for it. Also, the chiropractic cure requires patience, and takes a lot longer than a traditional western approach (in the long run, all for the better).
If you suffer from an orthopedic problem, and you want to avoid traditional western medicine, and all that implies, then check out Dr. Snyman.
PS: His office moved several years ago. They are lo longer on 17^th Street, but I believe are now in the 1600 block of Walnut.