Chiropractors are real doctors

[George 152]

OK, I'm actually considering going to a chiropractor to seek relief for lower back pain. This guy offers a "Spinal Decompression" therapy which looks promising. However, looking round his website, I found this:

http://coolchiro.com/wellness_topics/c_46_chiro_myths__facts.html

Some of those claims seem exaggerated, like this one "... In fact, chiropractors have more hours of classroom education than their medical counterparts". My BS meter went off the charts.

Get thee to a physiotherapist.

 

[Miss_Kitt]

I just want to mention to anyone considering a chiropractor: do NOT let them do a snapping-type adjustment to your neck. This can, under some circumstances, cause damage to the blood vessels leading to the brain, leading to what is in essence a stroke.

How widespread this injury is is hard to tell, because most patients are reluctant to punish the chiropractor, or do not associate the injury with their adjustment because it happens somewhat later.

Quackwatch article, which I admit I have not read but their stuff is usually pretty good:
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/chirostroke.html

I know about this because one of my friends was nearly killed by her chiropractor doing this. She has a stent in one of her blood vessels and is on clot-controlling drugs for the rest of her life--starting at age 30.

Don't risk it. There are PTs and physios that will treat your back issue without risking your life!

Just my thoughts, MK

 

[Tsukasa Buddha]

Spinal decompression is everywhere around where I live, and I think it is a scam against chiros as well. The machine used is just a heavily marketed traction device that is needlessly expensive and complicated. It also doesn't do squat. The CBC did a good exposé.

If you want a massage for nebulous lower back pain, go to a masseuse. Don't contribute to a quack's business.

 

[Joey McGee]

I know about this because one of my friends was nearly killed by her chiropractor doing this. She has a stent in one of her blood vessels and is on clot-controlling drugs for the rest of her life--starting at age 30.

That is absolutely brutal.

Reminds me of the story where a 22 yr old Canadian athlete DNF at the Olympics because her Chiro cranked her spine.

over-rotated her neck during a routine adjustment, tearing tendons and muscles, which then pushed up against the main artery in her neck and also the nerves.

She probably would have won gold for BMX, was 5 time world junior champion.

More horror stories at what's the harm...

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

Spinal decompression is everywhere around where I live, and I think it is a scam against chiros as well. The machine used is just a heavily marketed traction device that is needlessly expensive and complicated. It also doesn't do squat.

So you're saying chiropractors are getting a taste of their own non-medicine?

Actually, I have a tough time accepting that someone buying (or leasing or whatever) an expensive machine to practice quackery and bilk people out of their money is a victim. I think of them more as co-conspirators!

 

[Emet]

Spinal decompression is everywhere around where I live, and I think it is a scam against chiros as well. The machine used is just a heavily marketed traction device that is needlessly expensive and complicated. It also doesn't do squat. The CBC did a good exposé.

Thanks for posting that. Very well done exposé. The MDs were frank, and the reporter did a good job.

 

[JoeMorgue]

In discussions like this we need to maintain very clear lines between "feeling better" as in your general perception of pain or physical well being and actually "being treated" in the objective sense of a procedure or substance actually improving the overall functioning of your body or treating any illness, injury of condition.

From a certain point of view I'm sure much pseudoscientific quackery does occasionally make people "feel" better. Pain is not an exact science in this sense. You can actually treat pain or you can distract yourself from it. Just putting yourself in a better mood can make pain much easier to deal with.

Your back hurts. You can sit on the couch watching TV and try to ignore it or you can drive cross town and pay someone to "adjust your spine." Neither one of those actions will objectively treat the cause of your pain, but the later might make you feel better due simply because you're doing something.

So someone saying "My back hurt, I went to a chiropractor, and now it doesn't hurt as much" might be 100% accurate while at the same time being 100% meaningless. If you stub your toe then receiving oral sex or eating a slice of Devil's food cake or playing a few Halo deathmatches might make you feel better, but none of those are medicine.

Chiropractics is absolute quackery and the fact that it seems to get more mainstream acceptance then burying a potato in your backyard under a full moon to get rid of warts or balancing your humors is sorta sad.

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

So someone saying "My back hurt, I went to a chiropractor, and now it doesn't hurt as much" might be 100% accurate while at the same time being 100% meaningless. If you stub your toe then receiving oral sex or eating a slice of Devil's food cake or playing a few Halo deathmatches might make you feel better, but none of those are medicine.

Yep.


So too will doing nothing. Over time, we generally regress to the mean. If we're sick, we usually get better. If we have a headache, usually it will go away. [ETA: Anyone here remember Granny Clampett's sure-fire, never fails cure for the common cold? After the recipe for a poultice or whatever, the instructions said, "then wait 2 weeks".]

And the few times these things aren't true, it's a really good idea to seek help from an actual medical professional.

 

[JoeMorgue]

Which is why I think people can get so defensive about this kind of thing. I want to be very clear here when I say that chiropractics is not a valid medical science, I am most certainly not calling people that claim to have had their pain improved by chiropractics liars. In most cases I think that the people that have been treated by chiropractors and feel that the physical pain has decreased probably are from a certain point of view correct.

My line in the sand is the claim that chiropractics actually treats any medical condition.

Believe me my empathy does lie with people that suffer from chronic pain conditions. I can imagine little in life more frustrating our disheartening then being in constant pain.

 

[Langis]

Chiropractic is as legitimate a medical practice as parrying (SF3) is as legitimate a gameplay mechanic.

 

[BStrong]

I've had probably more than my fair share of bike crash related injuries over the years, and have gone to see various chiropractors.

Some offices I made my way out of without being treated because I recognize ******** when I hear it.

I finally happened upon a guy who is a straight shooter, does the absolute minimum amout of treatment to get you back on the ground, and there's no ******** about him.

I will agree that chiro isn't a cure for every problem, but when my guy gets me feeling better with one visit, it's a success for me.

 

[Maurice Ledifficile]

If chiropractors had to undergo similar rigorous training to what physicians have to go through, along with the critical thinking training, the good ones would quit in the middle of it.

Evidence is a big deal. Science is a big deal. Subluxations are made up. There is enough info in other threads and on the skepdic, so I feel I don't have to justify any of this...

The practice of chiropractics today owes an infinite debt to the jackasses who passed legislation in the early[ish] 20th century that protects them so well. Without this early legislation, they would not be doing what they're doing today.

Why, oh why, oh why do we have to put up with quackery!?!?

 

[Emet]

I finally happened upon a guy who is a straight shooter, does the absolute minimum amout of treatment to get you back on the ground, and there's no ******** about him.

I will agree that chiro isn't a cure for every problem, but when my guy gets me feeling better with one visit, it's a success for me.

Perhaps you see a chiropractor who is willing to admit what he is doing:

Positive Signs

Try to find a chiropractor whose practice is limited to conservative treatment of back pain and other musculoskeletal problems. Ask your medical doctor for the names of any who fit this description and appear to be trustworthy.

Membership in the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Therapists (CAMT) is a very good sign, but the number of chiropractors who belong to this group is small. CAMT's "orthopractic guidelines" describe a science-based approach to manipulative therapy.

In addition to manual manipulation or stretching of tight muscles or joints, science-based chiropractors commonly use heat or ice packs, ultrasound treatment, and other modalities similar to those of physical therapists. They may also recommend a home exercise program. For most conditions that chiropractic care can help, significant improvement should occur within a few visits.
(...)
Remember that although manipulative therapy has value in treating back pain and may relieve other musculoskeletal conditions, chiropractors are not the only source of manipulative therapy. Physical therapists, many osteopathic physicians, and a small number of medical doctors do it also.

http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/chirochoose.html

If he tells you he is correcting vertebral subluxations, he is full of crap.

 

[paiute]

"...chiropractors have more hours of classroom education than their medical counterparts".

It's true. The average chiropractor takes seven years to get through college.

 

[Bionic Hips]

For back pain, try a physiatrist- they specialize in physical rehab medicine. Years ago when I hurt my back big time, wife got me a book by the New York Times science writer about what actually worked. Chiropractors were dead last (#5) behind massage therapists, sports doctors. Roaring in at #1 with no close second were physiatrists. Main issue is finding one - I believe there are 4,000 or so in the country. If you live in NY area or CA should be easy.

If the problem is muscular, exercises will be life time - just because you feel better is NO reason to stop. This of course is medical advice and the result of my experience - check with your doctor for the best advice.

Good luck with the problem.