Chiropractors? Real medicine or quacks?

[Jennasis]

I only personally know of one person off hand who had PT that did not work. (I don't personally know too many people who have had PT, mind you ).

By "did not work"--I mean that PT was unable to rehabilitate her. She required surgery. The PT was to see if she could be fixed without it. She had the surgery, and was able to finish the PT and have it finally work.

For your circumstance--you had a condition that chiropractic care not only couldn't fix, but made it worse. That was my mom. I don't let it jade my viewpoint, but I find that for folks in that position, they do let it jade their viewpoint for other people.

I'm not quite certain if you are doing that or not...

But my mom tsks my use of chiropractice care, and I ignore her. I have had MRI's (2x) to confirm that I have nothing going on with my discs. So nothing that could be made worse.

For you and certainly for her--an MRI would have revealed that a chiropractor shouldn't touch. I don't know your full circumstance of why you did not have one, but for her--the military denied her for several years. So according to X-ray, she had nothing going on.


I've had a PT that set the Elec Stim into overdrive and hurt me, but I don't paint all PT's with the broad brush that they are eviland that elec stim should never be used. But it took a long while before I'd let anyone touch me with elec stim.

I was trying chiropractor first for my shoulder...no idea really other than my dh was trying to be nice and find me a PT and found me a combination clinic on our insurance. It really isn't working--so now I am with the therapist (who is really an occupational therapist--but I'm giving it a go!). I really figured it was something deeper than a spinal adjustment can repair.

We did find out that my blessed body is misaligned again--thank you baby #4. And it really isn't holding its position (and I do know why), but now I have to get the shoulder fixed first before I can do the necessary exercises to stabilize my frame.

Anyway, TMI that I had not planned on sharing...

But there ya go!

There was no MRI at the time of the chiro appt I had because he didn't "require" one. He said seeing my x-rays was good enough. I went for an MRI 2 days after he crippled me when a family friend (a pain physician) insisted I have one and ordered it for me when I was incapable of walking.

The chiro told me my x-rays were "BEAUTIFUL" and that my spine was perfect. His diagnosis after hearing my symptoms was that my periformis(sp?) muscles were spasming and clamping down on the nerve.

The MRI I had two days later showed a herniation so massive that even I could see it with my untrained eye. The chiro adjustment had caused the disc to squeeze out of the vertebrae farther than it was and to jam up into my spinal cord.

No fun. So my prejudice against chiros as a whole is very much fear based. Maybe irrational, maybe incorrect, and very unfair. However, having so very close to permanent disability and in agony like that at the hands of a highly recommended chiro, I hope people understand my position. And it's just my opinion. Obviously plenty of people go to chiros and have found relief through them so I doubt my personal prejudice really matters in the grand scheme.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd gag if I needed maggots to clean a wound but they work. In fact, I gagged when I read about them falling out of slippers.

I was a bit taken aback as well. I did jump when I saw them, then I dorwned them...but the man's foot looked beautiful. They were not medical maggots...they were maggots that he developed at home from lack of proper care/hygiene.

 

[Disney Doll]

No idea what your friend was or wasn't doing, but for PT to be effective, you have to do the homework and continue your exercises as prescribed at home. I can't tell you how many people I know who complained that PT "didn't work" and when I pressed for info found that they were not doing any of the stuff at home.

Glad your chiro worked for you, but I'll still never let one touch me again. I don't care how wonderful yours, or anyone else's is. My personal experience has shown time and again that it does not work for me and has proven to do far FAR more devastating harm than any possible good.

On a related note, I have found the same with many types of medication. Some people swear by certain meds for their migraines, and I found that NONE of the traditional meds prescribed for migrained prevention worked for me and that all of them made me feel worse. What eventually worked was a rarely used anti-seizure med. I'll never take a Maxalt/Axert/Topamax etc ever again.

Actually, my friend was quite dedicated to doing exactly what she was told to do, because she was trying to avoid surgery.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

I have skimmed over this thread so hopefully I am not restating a previous remark.

I do believe SOME chiropractors can relieve minor back misalignment but in general, I believe there are better approaches through well supervised PT based on physician recommendations.

I went to a chiro in college after a minor car accisent. He gave me the creeps and never went back. I felt fine after a few weeks anyway.

After college, a friend of mine from high school DIED after having a stroke from a chiropractic neck adjustment. Her name was Kristi Bedenbaugh. Wonderful, athletic, healthy girl who was looking for relief from sinus headaches. google her name and read the story. very sad. She was in the prime of her life about to get married.

After having my first child, I sufferred from lower back pain and was referred to a chiro. I met with him and agreed to back manipulation but not neck. He asked why and I told him about my high school friend. He LAUGHED and said it wasn't true. I never returned to that office or any other chiro. I have since worked with a PT who helped me strengthen my stomach muscles and work on proper alignment of back while exercising. No need for a chiro.

 

[Geoff_M]

Except that drugs are, for the most part, WAYYYYYY more expensive than vitamins and minerals.

When so many of something "cause more harm than they help" when you take them, I would think that their price would be immaterial.

 

[Inigo]

I've (in the past) been willing to give chiropractors a try since I know people who swear by them. I have arthritis and spondilytis, so I figured maybe it would help. I went to chiropracters who were supposed to be the " best".

I've been to four different chiropractors and every single one of them tried to convince me they could help my crohn's disease. They could cure me and I wouldn't need any medications any longer. One of them even said his treatments would make the large keloid scar (from a car wreck 32 years ago) fade completely away.

I vote quacks.

 

[rszdtrvl]

Buming this up because I had to go to the chiropractor this morning. I have been in pain for a couple of days and it just occured to me today that I should make an appt.

I managed to get in within 15 minutes to her, and it turned out my lower back was totally locked up. Which explains why it has been so sore. She said it was like moving a brick wall. My hip was also a bit mis-aligned.

I am still sore, but man!! My back was snap crackle and popping as she was releasing the pressure.

I am sure I will feel pain free within a day or 2.

I am a firm believer in chiropractors. My husband and son also go. My son (14) will let me know when he needs to be seen, because he knows the relief they can bring.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

There was no MRI at the time of the chiro appt I had because he didn't "require" one. He said seeing my x-rays was good enough. I went for an MRI 2 days after he crippled me when a family friend (a pain physician) insisted I have one and ordered it for me when I was incapable of walking.

The chiro told me my x-rays were "BEAUTIFUL" and that my spine was perfect. His diagnosis after hearing my symptoms was that my periformis(sp?) muscles were spasming and clamping down on the nerve.

The MRI I had two days later showed a herniation so massive that even I could see it with my untrained eye. The chiro adjustment had caused the disc to squeeze out of the vertebrae farther than it was and to jam up into my spinal cord.

No fun. So my prejudice against chiros as a whole is very much fear based. Maybe irrational, maybe incorrect, and very unfair. However, having so very close to permanent disability and in agony like that at the hands of a highly recommended chiro, I hope people understand my position. And it's just my opinion. Obviously plenty of people go to chiros and have found relief through them so I doubt my personal prejudice really matters in the grand scheme.

I don't blame you.

 

[cm8]

what do you think?

I go about once a year...first time I ever went, was skeptical...but when I laid on the table and the Doc ran his fingers down my spine and put his finger on the VERY spot I was hurting I became a believer.

I did let them know that I would set up my own appointment if needed...as I had heard that many unscrupulous chiro's like to see you a lot....which may be needed is some cases.

The same chiro I occasionally see has kept my FIL from going under the knife for back surgery (something he did not want to do)...

So many chiro's have that used car salesman "look" about them...

share your experiences...

They serve their purpose in medicine like any other"doctor" qualified for a certain specialty. They study the body more in dept like DOs.

There are good and bad ones like anything in life.

 

[C.Ann]

There are good and bad ones like anything in life.

I agree.. I don't think it has to be (or even can be) a simple cut and dried "real medicine or quacks" type of scenario.. As I posted before, my DD has had good experiences - mine was bad.. We've both also had accupuncture from a family member on her DH's side that is licensed to do it.. It helped DD - for certain things - didn't help my particular problem.. However, I also saw this accupuncture performed on DD's dog - as opposed to pumping him full of heavy-duty IV narcotic drugs for pain from pancreatitis - and was absolutely amazed when the last needle was placed - on the top of his head - and he immediately fell right to sleep.. It's being used on cats, dogs, horses, humans and in some instances it works and others it doesn't..

We have also been treated by "real" doctors with similar results.. Followed the directions to the letter, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't..

When it comes to any type of medical treatment (chiropractors, "real" doctors, accupuncturists, specialists in one particular field, veteranarians, physical therapists, etc.) medicine is not an exact science - and I doubt it ever will be.. I think that's why we can't paint all of them with the same broad brush..

I personally will not allow a chiro to "crack my neck".. Not because I know someone that was drastically harmed (as in crippled for life) by this procedure, but rather because it scares the bejeepers out of me.. Same reason I would never have surgery on my eyes - just so I don't have to wear glasses anymore.. I'm scared - plain and simple.. So much of what I enjoy in life requires being mobile and being able to see, I just won't take chances on any medically unnecessary procedures that can be dealt with in what I (and only I - not speaking for anyone else) feel safe and comfortable with.. I guess what I'm saying is that it's less about the "who" and more about the "can I manage in a way that I feel more comfortable with?"..

Make sense?