Chiropractors....

[penguinz]

Went for the first time ever yesterday. Lower back and sciatic pain virtually gone.

Wish I had gone sooner!


What are your thoughts on back crackers?

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by blake5676

What is a physical therapist trained to do that a chiropractor is not? Most chiropractors I know have EMS, ultrasound, traction, and rehab areas in their offices as well. And vice versa as well. In my opinion, they are both musculoskeletal specialists.

Interesting. I found PT exercises to rehab a knee injury from working out, post-surgery to help strenghten my knee again. Chiro couldn't do that for me.

Physical therapists aren't cheap either.

[Buehler445]

I've been to two good chiropractors and one bad one. And I've had a pile of doctors tell me they are quacks.

The two good ones were good. They helped with back pain, but also with injury recovery. There might have been better options, but none that are out here. I've tried living with back pain thinking it will heal. Sometimes it won't until you can get shit loosened up. I've also had ankle injuries that refused to heal until they got realigned.

The two that were good were also sports medicine guys, so it's not like they were completely quacked out.

In my experience they can help structurally, but if they want to try to sell you on fixing asthma or blood pressure or other physiological ailments that are unrelated to bones and soft tissue injuries, wave that bullshit flag.

[otherstar]

I'm late coming to this thread, but I work as a librarian and ethics instructor at a Chiropractic College in the Houston area. Chiropractic does work, but you need to look carefully for the RIGHT kind of chiropractor. The college where I work teaches EBM (evidence based medicine) and RBP (results based practice). As a matter of fact, the senior-most professor where I work as published several articles saying that there is no scientific evidence that the subluxation complex exists (which is the foundation of straight chiropractic philosophy). There are several DOs and MDs on the staff and not one "straight" chiropractor (if you come across someone who graduated from Life West...run like hell the other way). Good EBM based chiropractic is closer to osteopathy (many of the adjustment techniques are the same), with the exception that DCs cannot prescribe medicines.

It's a case of doing your homework before you visit any medical provider. I had one DO that only wanted to prescribe pills and give shots...he was worse than an MD in that regard. My current MD works in a joint practice with a DO and a Chiro and she's doing a great job of helping me manage my diabetes. I used to have chronic shoulder and hand pain that was the direct result of several separated shoulders I suffered when I wrestled and played football in high school. After treatment from an attending assisted by student interns (those who are in the last portion of their program), I hardly have any problems any more.

Just my two cents.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

In my experience they can help structurally, but if they want to try to sell you on fixing asthma or blood pressure or other physiological ailments that are unrelated to bones and soft tissue injuries, wave that bullshit flag.

More than a few of them have other specialties like nutrition. That is a valid treatment from some of those conditions like blood pressure. Do you not think that many blood pressure issues can be helped by diet? My extremely low blood pressure was raised to normal levels and has remained that way for ten years.

A few are specialists in allergies ( one I used to go to ) and some sports issues.

[otherstar]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

More than a few of them have other specialties like nutrition. That is a valid treatment from some of those conditions like blood pressure. Do you not think that many blood pressure issues can be helped by diet? My extremely low blood pressure was raised to normal levels and has remained that way for ten years.

A few are specialists in allergies ( one I used to go to ) and some sports issues.

Yes, and nutritional therapy is usually evidence based. There is plenty of genuine scientific evidence supporting the claim that diet affects our health. A "straight" chiropractor might tell you something like "chiropractic adjustments can cure AIDS." (I've actually heard this from a "straight" chiropractor) There is no scientific evidence upon which to base that claim...it's quackery. The difference between evidence-based medicine, and non-evidence based medicine is genuine scientific research.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by otherstar

Yes, and nutritional therapy is usually evidence based. There is plenty of genuine scientific evidence supporting the claim that diet affects our health. A "straight" chiropractor might tell you something like "chiropractic adjustments can cure AIDS." (I've actually heard this from a "straight" chiropractor) There is no scientific evidence upon which to base that claim...it's quackery. The difference between evidence-based medicine, and non-evidence based medicine is genuine scientific research.

Did you ask a gay chiropractor his opinion?

[Why Not?]

My wife swears by her chiro. I just kind of avoid doctors or whatever if at all possible. To many shady folks and the health care system is to ****ed up. However, I had surgery a couple of years ago and the surgeons were awesome. So there's that.

[Jimmya]

Don't have much faith in Chiropractors (witch doctors) here!

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

More than a few of them have other specialties like nutrition. That is a valid treatment from some of those conditions like blood pressure. Do you not think that many blood pressure issues can be helped by diet? My extremely low blood pressure was raised to normal levels and has remained that way for ten years.

A few are specialists in allergies ( one I used to go to ) and some sports issues.

I never said blood pressure couldn't be controlled by diet.

I merely said IN MY EXPERIENCE they can help structurally

I haven't ever had an adjustment that had any physiological effects other than structural healing. All those supplements and shit, I haven't had work.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by otherstar

Yes, and nutritional therapy is usually evidence based. There is plenty of genuine scientific evidence supporting the claim that diet affects our health. A "straight" chiropractor might tell you something like "chiropractic adjustments can cure AIDS." (I've actually heard this from a "straight" chiropractor) There is no scientific evidence upon which to base that claim...it's quackery. The difference between evidence-based medicine, and non-evidence based medicine is genuine scientific research.

I've never met a chiropractor who said adjustments cure anything like that. I have heard them say that subluxations interfere with communication to areas of the body. Every chiropractor I know believes in a medical doctor for certain things. In fact, the one who is an allergy specialist, has a father who is a medical doctor. Tho' they tease one another all the time about their professions.

Ya' know when I stopped nursing my daughter, she got her one and only ear infection. I didn't want those frikken tubes and such medical doctors use. I didn't want to start on a round of antibiotics and wind up overusing them. I went to a doctor first before using the prescription. One adjustment helped heralong some other drops or something I can't remember what it was and it was gone pretty fast. I haven't a clue why it worked but it did. She never had a re occurring ear infection afterwards either. I never had to take her back for routine adjustments either.

I just went to google why chiros say this works and I found this:

During the birthing process, cervical (neck) vertebrae can become misaligned, disrupting nerve function, which can affect the the eustachian tube. This may lead to fluid buildup in the middle ear and cause otitis media.

It goes on to cite a promising study published in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics on ear infections.

http://www.healthychild.com/chiropra...ar-infections/

Another time, she had a rash that wouldn't go away and a doctor diagnosed it as impetigo. What they gave me didn't get rid of it. I got some cream from the chiro and that worked but the chiro said it was not impetigo too. Go figure.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

I never said blood pressure couldn't be controlled by diet.

I merely said IN MY EXPERIENCE they can help structurally

I haven't ever had an adjustment that had any physiological effects other than structural healing. All those supplements and shit, I haven't had work.

Ok. Ok. You just mentioned blood pressure was why I asked that. No need to yell. Chiros usually know more about nutrition than medical doctors is why I said that. Medical doctors know some things but their training is not as extensive in that area.

Now, did they muscle test you on those supplements? I was told some people don't do well with certain brands and some don't absorb them to help. Yeah, I know muscle testing is supposed to be mumbo jumbo. I definitely think certain brands, dosage and absorption are a factor in supplementation for people. We're all individual like that.

[booger]

Anyone try inversion or those teeter hang ups? Spinal decompression I guess you could call it. Thought of trying it with my sciatic nerve and bulging disc problems

[kchero]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Btw, did you know that if you go to a "straight" chiro it is likely they don't believe in germs theory or vaccinations.. I shit you not. That's the kind of "doctor" I want manipulating my spine!

Haha so this! I had one explain to me how chiropratic cured spanish flu in the early 1900's. After his preaching, he asked me what I did for a living. I informed him that I have my doctorate in pharmacy and his mouth dropped and he quickly changed the subject.

[ghak99]

I've never been to one, but my neck is pretty messed up right now and I'm getting close to giving one a shot.

If I go, I will definitely be warning him of my "If you put me in a wheelchair, I will have no choice but to do the same in return" policy.

[ptlyon]

Several years ago I was having lunch with two friends, one is a chiropractor.

He had ordered the special of the day which was a build your own sandwich from a buffet type of thing. My friend and I ordered something else off the menu.

When the chiropractor got up to get his meal my other friend asked him to get some turkey off of the buffet. He said he would.

I then said to the chiropractor, 'You can't do that! Don't you have morals? Oh wait, nevermind, you're a chiropractor.'

To which he responded, 'What the hell does that mean?!?'

God me and my other buddy just laughed...