Chiropractors -- Part Two

[nekosensei]

I talked to doomsey this evening, and he's a bit skeptical on the whole me going to a chiropractor thing. His reasoning is that he thinks it is a quack science. I guess I'm waffling on this a bit because I a bit nervous that I'll end up with someone incompetent who will make my neck worse instead of better. On the other hand, if a chiropractor can do something to help me out, it would be better than sitting at home and taking muscle relaxants when I'm hurty. And I can't take them on days when I have work anyway because I'm not supposed to drive when I'm on them.

So...I guess...if in doubt, write an LJ poll and ask my friends' list, huh?

[Poll #1057581]

Comments

[samcallahan.livejournal.com]

I'm by no means an expert on medical science. But after I started going, I found that one of my friends, who is a traditional doctor of medicine, also went to the same chiropractor. This particular chiropractor was recommended by the doctors sister, who is a practicing chiropractor.

If its good enough for medical doctors, and all the assorted sports types (who make their living by using their body as a finely tuned instrument)that forestdruid mentioned in his comment to your previous post, it's good enough for me.

That being said, it's symptomatic relief, and probably not addressing the underlying problem. But neither is popping anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxants. Your mileage may vary...

chiropractor

[forestdruid.livejournal.com]

Chiropracty uses many of the same principles as acupressure and acupuncture. 99% of what they do is massage and joint manipulation. The best thing that chiropracty has going for it is that it does not rely on drugs. Rather than giving a patient muscle relaxants, the chiropractor stretches the muscles. It hurts like all that is unholy, but it worked very well for me. Best of all, I learned all sorts of stretches and sleeping/sitting positions to help prevent any future problems.

Re: chiropractor

[juxta-poser.livejournal.com]

HERE HERE!!! You took the words out of my mouth.

[fuzzyscribble.livejournal.com]

I started seeing one after I put my back out for the Nth time while on vacation. I couldn't bend over far enough to touch my KNEES much less my toes. Had pain when I took a deep breath. After the first adjustment...I was able to almost touch my toes. The increase in ROM was incredible. I almost cried. I mean...I was having a hard time wiping my own ass. Sorry for the TMI. But I pride myself in keeping a clean butt.

I hate to say it...but there's a lot of prejudice against Chiropractic...just like their is against osteopathic medicine...homeopathic medicine...Chinese medicine. And some of it is unfounded. It's not a "miracle cure" by any stretch of the imagination. It's a therapy. Just like PT...or MT...or taking painkillers.

Chiropractic...like allopathic medicine...has an underlying theory that ties the study together. It believes that disease starts or is exacerbated because of spinal sublaxations. Now...my cold may have nothing to do with my spine...but poor posture inhibits deep breathing...and I've gone in for an adjustment with a sinus infection...and he's manipulated my head and jaw enough to let me breathe and drain.

Clothes don't float in your closet...they need a hanger. And your spine is the hanger for the rest of your body. Not quackery...but then again...you can't charge 14k for giving someone a back massage...but for doing rotator cuff surgery....

Anyway...

Sure, chiropractic has some places where it's kind of kooky. So does allopathic (conventional) medicine. Because let me tell you...your body is suffering from a deficiency of painkillers and muscle relaxants...right??? Where is the actual therapy to the point of injury? Nope...just pop a pill. That's the Western approach. And the Western approach used to include bleeding and leeches. And still includes multiple drug recalls a year.

The number of people who die each year from Chiropractic malpractice and conventional malpractice...I mean...there's no drugs. No surgery. And very little risk of injury. So why not?

Now hormone replacement therapy after menopause...there's quack science!! Obviously being female is an ILLNESS. Thanks western medicine...for making my mother sick for ten years until they "discovered" that women go through menopause FOR A REASON. *gasp* And that hormone replacement causes just as many problems as it "cures."

Sorry. Don't mean to insult Doomsey...but the placebo effect is the most revolutionary "cure" in medicine. Is it quack science too?

"miracle" cured me!

[saint-vaelor.livejournal.com]

I had unknowingly injured myself a work, like it didn't hurt when I did it, really, and it took time to manifest.

Later, the evening of the following day or so, I started having chest pains. The sort of pains one would describe if asked what hallmarks of heart attack felt like. I couldn't breathe deeply, that hurt the worst. By the next morning, I could barely move.
Now, I couldn't afford to miss work, then, I had no benefits and every hour I didn't work was an hour I didn't get paid. I needed fixed, fast.
I went to a chiropracter first, it was cheaper and more local and I was pretty sure nothing was wrong with my heart. He checked me out, declared I had pinched a nerve between my ribs, gave me a pop and I was cured. I was back at work the next day (as the doc told me to take it easy for the rest of the current one.)

Just my experience, others may be different.

[sailatinu.livejournal.com]

It really depends on the mentality, and also the training the "doctor" has received.

Many of them call themselves doctors, yet are not MD's.
So, that is something to be aware of.

We have a chiropractor nearby us, who all of the staff chiropractors are overseen by a neurologist. So, that isn't quackery there, it is medical science.

But many of them will take you down a mythical journey, where you'll enter Narnia, as they take your money out the door, and potentially cause fatal harm against you.

It really comes down to, the training.

Many chiropractor schools.. well, anybody can become a chiropractor! :)

[happyfunpaul.livejournal.com]

About a decade ago I was referred by my then-PCP to a fellow who didn't call himself a chiropractor-- the sign on his door said "manual medicine"-- but I guess he'd qualify as one.

I was having back and hip problems at the time. In four visits the "manual medicine" doctor did some nifty manipulations (details in a moment) and gave me some specific stretches and manipulations to do on my own, some of which I still use whenever my back flares up. Overall, it was a positive experience which definitely reduced the pain significantly and gave me tools to help in the future, though it was not some miraculous cure.

Visits were definitely a novel experience. One time in particular, a session started in which I indicated a tightness and pain in one spot of my back. He sorta frowned and set up his hands in specific spots on my shoulder and leg. Then suddenly he applied pressure and turned me into a human gumby. KKKRRRAAAAKKKK! Man, that was awesome! Dramatic! I thought for a second I might be paralyzed. :-)

Historically, there was a period during which there were a lot of quack chiropractors-- ones who claimed unrealistic cures for ailments not directly related to bones and joints. There may still be some of those, and they give the profession a bad name. But if your PCP refers you to a chiropractor, for reasons specifically related to joints, I would say give the chiropractor a try.

- Paul, who's normally pretty skeptical about these matters

[lucy-burb.livejournal.com]

Not all chiropractors are made alike. Just like doctors, you get good ones and bad ones. Ask around for recommendations to a good one in your area. When I started seeing one, I went three times a week for several months. Then I went once a week for about a month, then monthly just for maintenance. It can be costly, but think of it kind of like orthodontics, only for your spine. I go every month or so now, just to keep things lined up. I feel much better when I'm straightened out: less headaches, more range of mobility, better sleep, less pain! Good luck in your quest.

[lucy-burb.livejournal.com]

Oh, I forgot to add: I think there's only two schools of chiropractic in Canada. But there are doctors who are quite rough (snap-you-in-half experience) and some who stretch you out gently before they adjust. Mine also won't adjust me if my body won't cooperate. Sometimes I'm stiff, even after stretching. He just says "That's all I can do today" and adjusts what he can. It definately depends on who you get.