What do you think of chiropractic medicine??

[sha_lyn]

same way it survived before modern day medical treatment, dental treatment etc. It survied, just not as well/health/long.

 

[Disney Doll]

Couldn't agree more. My dad's a PT, so maybe that's why I have a poor opinion of chiropractors, but a PTs goal seems to be to get you better as quickly as possible, whereas chiropractors seem to go for the quick fix over a long period of time. Just my opinon...

Isn't that interesting??? Everyone I have ever known who has been seeing a PT sees them for an extended period of time, and most of the folks I know who have seen chiropractors have seen them for 6-12 weeks and been done.

Most traditional medical people don't like chiropractors...I think they're afraid they may take away some of the "business".

I have had 2 personal experiences with chiropractors. The first was on Good Friday before the long Easter weekend when my DH hurt his back @ 4PM!!!! Couldn't find any traditional medical person to see him, but the chiropractor did, and DH's back was "50% better" (DH's words) after one treatment. Chiropractor saw DH 3x/week, then 2x/week, then 1x/week for a total of about 12 weeks. Dh has been pretty good since.

My own experience...strained my neck, couldn't turn my head. Chiro did some manipulation, significantly better after one treatment, staye din treatment for about 6-8 weeks with decreasing frequency, and no problem since.

I do believe that if you see a good chiropractor, it's a very viable alternative, and makes a lot of sense. As with any medical professional you would consult with though, the secret is finding a good one.

 

[mrsltg]

Have you ever seen Penn & Teller's show on showtime? Can't type out the name as it's not appropriate, but another name for it is "Baloney". They did a whole show on chiropractic "medicine". Seems like quackery to me.

Erin

 

[Rajah]

I love my chiro, but you really do have to find a good one. Some are pretty out there. I like to go to those who practice both chiro and sports medicine / fitness.

 

[Chris2597]

Thank you to all who responded. DS is still in pain this morning, not as severe as last night but still more than he had prior to the appt yesterday. I made an appt with our primary care physician who has been seeing him through this. I called the chiro dr and asked the name of the procedure that he did along with any other info that would help...He has not called back yet.
This chiro does come highly recommended and has a good name in the area....He also did a full body xray of my ds and ordered an MRI to insure there was reason that an adjustment would injure him further....We see the dr at 245 and I will post an update.

 

[grinningghost]

I've found my chiropractor to be MUCH more useful than all the physical therapists I've seen. I get immediate, drastic relief from my neck and upper back pain from my chiropractor. I see a physical therapist 3 times a week for a month, and nothing changes.

I think the PT's are the money-grabbers.

 

[mudnuri]

I have no arguement against the effectiveness of a chiropractor. As you can see, many swear by them. And they do have Chiropractic school after college. But they are not even remotely a "medical doctor".

hmmmm and to think the D.C stood for Doctor of Chiropractic medicine...I wonder what it really stands for ??

The Undergraduate Education

Similar to the requirements of medical schools, prior to entering chiropractic college students must first complete 2-4 years of premed undergraduate studies - depending on the chiropractic college and state one wishes to practice in. During this time there is an emphasis on basic sciences including organic chemistry, general chemistry, physics, biology, and psychology.

Upon successful completion of the undergraduate studies, those students who are accepted to a chiropractic college enter a 4-5 year academic program, which is similar in content to medical school. Course work includes an in-depth study of anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, radiology, biomechanics, spinal adjustive techniques, including a variety of other health-related areas.

The primary focus of the chiropractic education is to teach the student how to recognize and effectively treat a wide variety of soft tissue disorders in order to reduce pain and discomfort, allow for effective and proper healing, restore normal body biomechanics and improve overall health. In order to treat such conditions, students are taught a number of different techniques and methods including chiropractic spinal adjustive techniques. Through chiropractic spinal adjustments, the students are taught how they can positively influence the body through the nervous system using specific spinal adjustive techniques. An emphasis is also placed on other aspects of health including diet, exercise, nutrition and wellness. Moreover, students receive thorough training aimed at identifying those conditions which are beyond the chiropractor's scope of practice and which require outside medical referral.

During the academic 4-5 year program, students must successfully complete a number of national board examinations which are required for licensure. In addition, students must spend several hundred hours of internship in which they treat patients suffering from true health ailments while under professional supervision. Some schools actually begin introducing and training students to the clinical setting in just their second year of studies. This ensures that the graduating doctors of chiropractic will have all the necessary education, skills and clinical experience to provide exceptionally safe and effective chiropractic health care. Many colleges have additionally employed externship programs in which student interns assist field doctors in their private practices prior to graduation.

You may be surprised to learn that chiropractic doctors receive more class and study time in many important subjects compared with their medical counterparts.

Subjects Class Hours
Chiropractic Students Class Hours vs. Medical Student hours

Anatomy 540 510
Chemistry 165 325
Diagnosis 630 325
Microbiology 120 115
Neurology 320 110
Obstetrics 60 150
Orthopedics 210 155
Pathology 360 400
Physiology 240 325
Psychiatry 60 145
Radiology 360 150
HOURS 3,065 2,710
J ADDITIONALLY REQUIRED STUDIES
J Spinal Manipulation
Nutrition
Physiotherapy
Advanced Radiology Pharmacology
Immunology
General Surgery
TOTAL HOURS 4,485 4,250

Sorta makes ya wonder huh?

Brandy

 

[Galahad]

Sorta makes ya wonder huh?

Brandy

Not really. That they have course "called" those things does not make their education equivalent to medical school. No responsible DC would claim they are the equivalent of an M.D.

For example, what precisely does a DC study about obstetrics? If one EVER tried to deliver a baby based upon their DC license I would hope they would lose it.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Not really. That they have course "called" those things does not make their education equivalent to medical school. No responsible DC would claim they are the equivalent of an M.D.

For example, what precisely does a DC study about obstetrics? If one EVER tried to deliver a baby based upon their DC license I would hope they would lose it.

Ever heard of Webster technique? It is an specific adjustment for turning a breech baby. DH has had 4 successful Webster technique patients.

DH also has quite a few pregnant patients. He needs to know what happens to the body during pregnancy to properly treat his patients. He would never try to deliver a patients baby. He also has to know the anatomy of the female. Lots of women get adjusted during labor. There are certain points on the body that can help relieve pain in a laboring woman. Chiropractic also helps relieve menstrual cramps.

DH's Sister is studing to become a PT right now. She calls my DH with homework questions because DH studied the exact same thing at Palmer College of Chiropractic.

 

[Galahad]

Ever heard of Webster technique? It is an specific adjustment for turning a breech baby. DH has had 4 successful Webster technique patients.

So what are his malpractice rates?

DH's Sister is studing to become a PT right now. She calls my DH with homework questions because DH studied the exact same thing at Palmer College of Chiropractic.

Make sense. PT is not medicine.

 

[poohandwendy]

Y'all should be at our upcoming Thanksgiving dinner...my Dhs sister and her DH are both chiropractors (Palmer grads)...my DHs brother is currently in med school (in chicago). I just pop the popcorn and enjoy the show...this topic is inevitable and entertaining. Being the manicurist of the family, I like to just stir the pot.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Y'all should be at our upcoming Thanksgiving dinner...my Dhs sister and her DH are both chiropractors (Palmer grads)...my DHs brother is currently in med school (in chicago). I just pop the popcorn and enjoy the show...this topic is inevitable and entertaining. Being the manicurist of the family, I like to just stir the pot.

My SIL worked in a PT office for an internship. She said they would bash Chiropractors. Since she didn't want to stir the pot she didn't say anything then. However, in her classes they do the same thing and she stands up for Chiro's. One of her teachers wants DH to come and speak to the class next spring. Dh is all for it.

 

[mudnuri]

Not really. That they have course "called" those things does not make their education equivalent to medical school. No responsible DC would claim they are the equivalent of an M.D.

For example, what precisely does a DC study about obstetrics? If one EVER tried to deliver a baby based upon their DC license I would hope they would lose it.

I would LOVE to see a Optomotrist deliver a baby......

it actually does make it the same depending on where they study pre-med....my chiro went to one of the leading medical colleges...then onto his chiro college...

Funiest part, my family physician, is all for us using chiropractic care...no responsible medical person would bash another IMHO...

Brandy

 

[helenabear]

My dad swears by them!

I, on the other hand, prefer to go to PT for anything like that. They worked with me to get my back in good shape and taught me exercises that will help the muscles as well as getting the spine (and other joints) aligned.

So I swear by PT instead

 

[katerkat]

Personally, not a fan. But my sister's a PT, so I have that bias.

My son sees a PT once a month for his neck. He is improving by leaps and bounds under her care. In addition, the practice is pediatric and does speech therapy, so she was able to pinpoint some of his other problems and tell me what to watch for. Seeing a chiropractor for a quick adjustment wouldn't be a good solution for us.

 

[Galahad]

I would LOVE to see a Optomotrist deliver a baby......

it actually does make it the same depending on where they study pre-med....my chiro went to one of the leading medical colleges...then onto his chiro college...

Funiest part, my family physician, is all for us using chiropractic care...no responsible medical person would bash another IMHO...

Brandy

I agree with your last sentence completely. DW is also all for folks using chiropractic.

My point is that DC do themselves and their patients a disservice when they try to make the claim that they are "just like physicians". They are not. They have a valuable place in healthcare, but they are not physicians. Where they did "pre-med "won't make their medical training any more rigorous. Course names notwithstanding, there is no comparison between med-school and chiropractic school with respect to rigor. That's not the same as as "badmouthing". The healthcare world badly needs great nurses. That doesn't mean doctors are obligated to consider a nurse to be just the same as a physician.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Personally, not a fan. But my sister's a PT, so I have that bias.

My son sees a PT once a month for his neck. He is improving by leaps and bounds under her care. In addition, the practice is pediatric and does speech therapy, so she was able to pinpoint some of his other problems and tell me what to watch for. Seeing a chiropractor for a quick adjustment wouldn't be a good solution for us.

If I remember correctly your son had/has torticollis? My Nephew had that also. His Dad is a Chiro. also. He learned different techniques besides adjustments from his teachers (he was still in college at the time.) Adjustments were painful for him at that time. He is doing great now (he is 4.5). I'm glad your son is doing well also.

 

[katerkat]

If I remember correctly your son had/has torticollis? My Nephew had that also. His Dad is a Chiro. also. He learned different techniques besides adjustments from his teachers (he was still in college at the time.) Adjustments were painful for him at that time. He is doing great now (he is 4.5). I'm glad your son is doing well also.

Yup, he has torticollis. His PT noticed little thing like at 6 months, he didn't make any consonant sounds (at 7 months, he only says ba and ma), and that he has problems with certain sounds. So now we're keep a close eye on his hearing and speech. I don't know if a chiro would have noticed that. (And I don't know if a PT who doesn't specialize in children would notice, either.)

I'm glad your nephew is doing better! Russ only tilts when he sleeps now.

 

[720L]

I've been to both a chiro and PT. I think the PT helped more, but I also only went the the chiro for 3 weeks. I got sick of going twice a week and not really seeing an improvement! I had the chiro do the "activator method"--it's where they don't "crack" your back. Very gentle. I was too scared to get the normal adjustment.

 

[mickman1962]

I just had to throw my opinions in. I worked around PT's for 2 1/2 years now so I always had negative opinions about chiropractors but a couple of years ago I was having really bad headaches ( i guess you could call them migraines) every single day, I dont know why but I went to a chiropractor a couple of times a week for a month; he adjusted me and also did heat and ultrasound and my headaches disappear, so i think he was a good one, BUT I'm still iffy about it; just like anyone in the medical field, there are good ones and bad ones.. you just have to be careful in who you choose. Ever since me going to the chiropractor i have been able to "pop" my neck occasionaly when i feel it tight and i was never able to do that before so that makes me think a bit.... just follow your gut...

if you "guess" you could call them migraines, then they are not. Any migraine sufferer will tell you that. They might be bad headaches but not migraines