Alternative Treatments
July 24, 2011 - 1:08am
The Chiropractic Debate...
I'm sure this has been discussed numerous times, but I have to try again and see what the current opinion is.
First off, the disputes between MD's and Chiropractors are frightening. How can I see both if they each contradict the other?
My pediatrician was conservative and told me he absolutely did not believe in Chiropractic. He examined me for scoliosis when I was in the middle school age and said I was fine. I'll never know exactly when my scoliosis developed.
My mom was seeing a chiropractor so I decided to try it out because I had been feeling back pain and stiffness. He did numerous examinations of me before treating me, which included x-rays. I got to see the x-ray, which was scary. I had never seen an x-ray of my back, and I had a huge curve. I couldn't imagine how I was even sitting straight with that spine. The chiropractor never mentioned the word scoliosis, and said that he was glad we caught it now because if I waited a few months longer he wouldn't be able to fix it. This raised my skepticism.
I had an appointment with the pediatrician coincidentally in the next couple of weeks, so I told him what happened and he re-examined me. Again, he said my spine was perfectly fine. He told me about how he sat in on the chiropractic treatment of an infant where the baby was rendered paralyzed, so he was obviously biased from one experience.
At this point I was so confused, so I went to see a specialist. He explained to me I had scoliosis and finally gave me some answers. He didn't tell me to stop seeing either doctor.
I quit the chiropractor after I started feeling worse. I know he could not reduce my curve, and I think the manipulations did not help.
The whole chiropractic field does not sound to me like an exact science. Whenever I try to do research or read about it, I get the same vague details. They talk about alignment and 'energy' and how the ancient greeks used chiropractic medicine. I'm sure people who go to chiropractic school for years are taught something with more depth, so why isn't that information out there? I want to know how it works and why it works. Is this just me?
I'd love to hear your opinions or personal experiences.
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There is no simple answer as much is there is no one treatment for every medical condition.
Opinions and treatments vary all of the time-medical science doesn't know everything at all and is usually very conservative and reluctant to change and accept new ideas.
There is a lot that doctors aren't taught about- diet and nutrition for example-so you need to look elsewhere if you aren't getting answers.
Chiropractic won't mend a curved spine or other long-time conditions in just a few visits, if at all. They might be able to help with it and release locked joints, that sort of thing.
I visit mine every 3 months for a routine freeing up of my spine as it tends to get still and movement becomes painful.
When my SI joints lock up the chiro is the only one who can free them up.
Treatments also vary with the chiros themselves, as with doctors.
You could also try a physiotherapist who can examine the spine, joint by joint, and loosen up any that may be out of place.
Doctors are restricted in what they can advocate or refer you to, and while most probably accept that chiropractic is here to stay (because it works) you will probably never get a referral to one, or even to a physio or masseuse, from a doctor. They just don't know!
Hi,
If having chiropractic treatment has helped any organic type"0" disorders like bed wetting or asthma, unfortunately there is no scientific evidence that's out there apart from anecdotal evidence (a chiropractor's patient citing that it helped them).
Chiropractors should not claim to help treat any condition there is no scientific evidence for as it clouds our value to the health profession and society. If by providing a chiropractic treatment someone's asthma or bed wetting stops that's really great but we can't prove why or if its linked to a chiropractic adjustment. maybe medicine isn't advanced enough to test it yet but i'd urge my fellow chiropractors to keep focused on true neck and lower back pain as a science backed form of treatment. Medicine is still learning too and advances are always being made. My wife has fabry-disease and it was misdiagnosed for many many different conditions before it was stumbled upon after referral for a genetic test in a routine eye examination. We should all help improve science whether we are medical doctors, chiropractors or surgeons- always remember we are here to help those in need and sharing knowledge is vital to its development. If you have a patient or are a patient with back pain that also has symptoms of chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia.
Entire Post Deleted. Solicitation at Spine-Health is never permitted
Ron DiLauro, Spine-Health System Administrator 08/30/11
Member Banned
Forget the "spam" advertisement for chiropractor....
Me personally, until I had issues where the disk(s) were on nerves and such, he was my best friend. My chiro actually discovered that I had more going on than "Alignment" issues.
The key is, "What is going on in your spine, and whether chiro is SAFE for you and your spine." I will report the spammer to Ron and such, but you have to decide....am I having nerve issues due to disk issues, or bone alignments that can be helped with adjustments? I know, it bites, but your body will tell you, and too.... a good chiro will also tell you.
Brenda
ACDF C5/6 2/08 - C6/7 8/09 - Neuropathy right arm and both legs - Cervical Myelopathy
10-11-11 PCF C4-T2 - C4-C7 Lamies; Surgery #2 Emergent removal large Hematoma!
L2/3/4 & L5/S1 fusions and Laminectomy on hold till neck fused.
For the full "Cliff Notes" please click my name!
"Life can knock us down, but we can choose whether or not to get up!!"
My chiro was able to help me continue for around 17 more years before my spine put the "stop sign" up! (G)
The key is, is your chiro going to let you know when disks/spurs (osteophytes) etc are now an issue? If he (err...she) is, great stuff! Mine treated me well, and when improvements stopped, he was wonderful about getting me an MRI to "see" what was going on....to *me* that is the key - more treatment to feed his practice, or "hey I think more is going on here....
Again, NOT even close to knocking chiros (mine kept me in my career almost 18 years - "thanks so much"), or out for their own profit. You will know. Please let us know how it goes.
Brenda
ACDF C5/6 2/08 - C6/7 8/09 - Neuropathy right arm and both legs - Cervical Myelopathy
10-11-11 PCF C4-T2 - C4-C7 Lamies; Surgery #2 Emergent removal large Hematoma!
L2/3/4 & L5/S1 fusions and Laminectomy on hold till neck fused.
For the full "Cliff Notes" please click my name!
"Life can knock us down, but we can choose whether or not to get up!!"
I believe in them to an extent, but you have to be sure you will not do worse by adjusting.
I came across a website that was started by chiropractors who upon going to chiro school and grad, that they did not believe in what chiro preached. I will link it to you if I get the chance.
By the same token many athletes swear by it and I know people who do as well.
Unfortunatly with the spine it is often a try it and see if it works world out there ( baring the risk of making things worse and getting the right approval).
So for some accupuncture, chiro, yoga, pilates,etc might work and others it will not.
I guarentee you the ones it worked for are supporters, so who really knows.
Herniated T6-7 impinging on cord. Annular tears in T5-6 and T7-8, DDD and smorls nodes throughout thoracic. Small herniation in C2-3 and buldge at L 4-5.
"A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove . . . . but the world maybe different because I was important in the life of a child."
Post deleted. In addition to solicitation, there were clear violations of forum rules. Bashing of doctors and the medical field is not permitted
Ron DiLauro, Spine-Health System Administrator 12/02/11
Member banned for Solicitation of their personal business