Chiropractors? Real medicine or quacks?

[ohiomom28]

I love my Chiropractor. It really does help. She doesn't claim to cure everything. If she did then I wouldn't trust her.

I was having aweful tension headaches everyday for many months. It got to the point where I would go to bed with a headache and wake up with one. They never let up. My doctor just gave me stronger pain killers that I hated taking, and they didn't work anyways. My family doctor actually told me to try a chiropractor.

I didn't believe that it would work, but at that point anything was worth a try. It actually worked. It took a few visits, but I am so much better. I don't know how I could have gone on with my daily headaches for much longer. It was taking a toll on my everyday life.

Now I just see her once in a while as needed. My insurance pays for the visits too. I don't even have a copay.

I have had headaches since I was a teenager. Almost a year ago, I started having daily headaches, went on for a month or more. My doctor just prescribes me Maxalt and send me on my way. I went through the 8 pills my insurance will give me, in about 4 days. I went to a new chiropractor that told me I have no curvature in my neck. He adjusted me and told me to get an in-home traction device. I did and it was the best thing I could've done! I do it usually daily and see him as needed.

 

[LoriABil]

I think it's like any other profession. There are good ones and bad ones. But I've seen too many bad ones using up Medicare caps by billing physical therapy. Grrrr! Just because you can get away with something doesn't make it right.

Sorry, had to rant a bit there. So some good, some bad, go see a PT.

PS ohiomom: I love the home traction units! Anything that saves you from pain meds or surgery...big thumbs up! Good chiro!

 

[declansdad]

I get horrible headaches and tried going in for that. I went for the inital consult and the next visit and never went back. After researching it, I learned that there is no empirical evidence to show that chiropractic care has any effect on headaches. I also read that neck adjustments are linked to a higher risk of stroke. I just know that he made everything hurt worse, and I'm pretty sure no human neck should move the way he made mine move. There was not even any warning as to what he was about to do. No thank you!

This is not true.

 

[npmommie]

my dh swears by his chiropractor. and it is covered by our insurance.

and the risk of stroke ...........it is possible to tear one of the arteries leading up to the brain with neck manipulation, it can also happen with any other kind of forceful neck motion.
different studies have different conclusions. but it is a possibility.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

This is not true.

Um, multiple empirical studies disagree with you. I read many on a database I don't have access to from here, but here is just a quick google search with articles:

http://stroke.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/strokeaha;32/5/1054

http://www.springerlink.com/content/gyvw3wralxb15van/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC99474/

I have read about the risk in multiple sources both in medical literature and mains tream literature. The risk is small, but there is still an increased risk of stroke due to neck manipulations.

 

[Planogirl]

I believe that good chiropractors help people. Just like with any profession, you have to weed out the charlatans first. I hear plenty of complaints about "real" doctors too.

 

[disfan07]

I'm very skeptical about them and always have been. If I were to ever go to one it would only be one that works in the pain center at Cedars-Sinai hospital since that is where I get all of my care and I trust cedars with hiring someone credible.

Now, that being said, I can't go to a chiropractor anyways. It is not allowed by my neurosurgeon because of the surgery I had in june. Because of teh nature of teh surgery I had, having adjustments done by a chiropractor is too risky. The pain center at cedars that HAS chiros. as part of their center agreed that it is too risky.

The chiros themselves did tell me that for many people, chiro is not teh way to go. They agree with getting something checked out by an MD first and if they dont find anything wrong, than go to a chiro but they have had patients coem to the pain center because they went to a chiro when they should have gone to an MD and they ended up with more problems than they started out with.

 

[momz]

I think they are quacks.

Some people SWEAR by them. More power to them, I guess.

I'm with the poster who commented on their not being covered by insurance companies as questionable.

We have a family member who doesn't believe in MEDICINE or actual doctors for ANYthing. They take their babies to the chiro and ONLY the chiro for everything. The baby has a terrible cough and a high fever? Nothing the chiro can't fix. Are they SERIOUS? How about some antibiotics or something for relief! Poor baby, made to suffer.

Anyways, that is my opinion.

Well, just my opinion, but jumping to the conclusion that antibiotics are needed to treat fever and cough can be harmful. Afterall...antibiotics are toxic...they kill things (bacteria). So, antibiotics are helpful for bacterial infections, but many times fever and cough are caused by viral infections.

Over use of antibiotics leads to very serious consequences...c.diff for one.

So...who's the quack? The chiropractor who did no harm, or the MD that over prescribes antibiotics in response to the pushy know-it-all patient/parent who believes every cough and fever needs to be treated with a pill?

 

[superme80]

There are good ones and bad ones. When I was young my mom's chiro would adjust me for free, I was a gymnast so I had lots of back issues. My husband sees one and he really likes them. My friend is going to school to be one, so she can adjust me anytime!!!!

 

[bicker]

There is a reason they aren't MD's. Quacks, all of them.

Dentists, nurses, physical therapists, and psychologists aren't MDs either. Are they all "quacks"?

Well, let's put it this way....the hospitals won't let them darken their doors for a reason!!! And I know what some of you are gonna say....it's because the hospital wants people to go under the knife so they can make money, but I'm not buying it.

Why? Because hospitals aren't driven by money and profits?




I'm really not passionate about chiropractors, personally, but some of the rationales for disparaging them disturb me greatly.

 

[Skywalker]

My family doctor is skeptical of them. He said if you want to try it go ahead -for back or other problems. But don't let them near your neck!

Anyway, I did make an appointment and was turned off by the sales pitches, everything from they can cure anxiety and ear aches to you should start bringing your baby from birth, etc.

I opted out. Then he assumed it was a cost issue and started trying to pressure me into a payment plan. Whatever.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have found chiropractic care useful. I'm seeing one right now and he has referred me to physical therapy for chronic shoulder pain. Things have improved, but my shoulder muscles need work.


In any case, there are quacks that have allowed for the whole profession to be typecast.

I have taken my children and I have had my infant adjusted. BTW---they do not adjust infants like adults..no snap crackle popping at all! For my 10th, I jokingly call it her attitude adjustment. She asks to go and treatments are effective for her (and she is often less cranky after, hence the nickname).

My mom has had bad luck---but that is because of an unknown injury to her spine for which chiropractic care is contraindicated. When the military finally permitted an MRI, she was able to get the proper diagnosis.

Stay away from package deal chiropractors. They remind menof ambulance chasers.

 

[jamimb]

If you had asked me 5 yrs ago I would have said quacks but not today! I started seeing my chiro about 4 yrs ago for chronic back pain. I have mild scoliosis. Anyway I now see him once a month and feel great! I adore my chiropractor it's the traditional MD that I don't trust these days! Legalized drug dealers is what they have become!!!!!

I guess like any profession there are some quacks out there but I think chiropractors can be very very useful. My brother in law a few years ago started having seizures. All the Dr's he went to could not figure it out. He was not able to work for months and kept having the seizures regularly. He went to a chiro who told him she thought he had a pinch nerve. She adjusted him and he has not had a seizure since.

Truth be told I trust my chiro more than my regular doctor. I think a regular doctor has it's place but I trust holistic healing much more! Seriously my husband has a disease of the digestive system and the doc just wants to pump him full of pills! He has never once in all the yrs my dh has seen him asked about his diet. It wasnt until we did some research on our own that we found some natural ways(diet mostly) to get it under control.

 

[Jennasis]

I have a problem with the whole "gotta see me 3x a week for 6 months" nonsense. I saw my PT once a week for 8 weeks after spine surgery and made a full recovery AND it was covered by my insurance.

 

[Magpie]

I have a problem with the whole "gotta see me 3x a week for 6 months" nonsense. I saw my PT once a week for 8 weeks after spine surgery and made a full recovery AND it was covered by my insurance.

When I had a pinched nerve in my neck, I saw my chiro 2 x a week for about four weeks, then it was once a week for another four weeks or so. And I made a full recovery. AND it was covered by my insurance.

Just sayin'.

 

[Jennasis]

When I had a pinched nerve in my neck, I saw my chiro 2 x a week for about four weeks, then it was once a week for another four weeks or so. And I made a full recovery. AND it was covered by my insurance.

Just sayin'.

The chiro who crippled me was not covered by my insurance. My favorite part was when he tried to convince me that the crippling was normal.

 

[declansdad]

The chiro who crippled me was not covered by my insurance. My favorite part was when he tried to convince me that the crippling was normal.

Curious; if one md caused you great harm would you call all doctors bad?

 

[Jennasis]

Curious; if one md caused you great harm would you call all doctors bad?

He wasn't the first chiro I've gone to. But I get your question, and the answer is a resounding no. My prejudice is unapologetically against chiropractors.

 

[Bilberry]

I went to one once and it was comical. It was just a strange experience.

But with that said, I know people that swear by chiropractors. One family member has found great help with back issues. So what ever works I say. Personally, I think I just visited the wrong office. If I develop chronic back problems in the future, I'd visit a chiropractor to see about help.

 

[declansdad]

Um, multiple empirical studies disagree with you. I read many on a database I don't have access to from here, but here is just a quick google search with articles:

http://stroke.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/strokeaha;32/5/1054

http://www.springerlink.com/content/gyvw3wralxb15van/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC99474/

I have read about the risk in multiple sources both in medical literature and mains tream literature. The risk is small, but there is still an increased risk of stroke due to neck manipulations.

And there are studies that say there is not an increase.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article16388.ece

http://www.iwh.on.ca/highlights/does-chiropractic-care-for-neck-pain-increase-stroke-risk

http://smperle.blogspot.com/2010/04/science-sometimes-stroke-and.html