Chiropractic Therapy A Scam?

[shanenin]

Is there much medical documentation backing what chiropractors do for therapy? In all honesty it seems kind of scam like. My wife has an appointment to see one for shoulder pain, I am trying to keep an open mind aout it, but am haveing trouble(keeping an open mind).

[TheTerrorist_75]

The chiropractors that my step-father went to almost ended up crippling him for life. They never took x-rays or any other scans and kept working on his neck. They didn't realize that he had damage to several bones in his neck and all they were doing was furthering the damage. He ended up losing the movement on his left side and had to have surgery to correct it. He is now partially crippled on that side. It is better to have a specialist check to see what the actual problem is then go and have it corrected the proper way.

[Scarlett]

I guess it all depends on which one you see. I went to one, and he actualy helped me. He took x-rays right off the bat. I always felt better, after the visits. At the same time I was seeing a physical therapist, (work comp) Worthless! My chiropractor likes to call them physical terrorist's. LOL

But since there are some that could be like the one TT has mentioned. Maybe it would be best to err on the side of caution. Or have him/her checked out somehow. You could ask co-worker's and friends for opinions and references.

[blim]

I've also heard good and bad about chiropractors. Hubby went to one and it just ended up being very, very expensive (our insurance wouldnt cover it)

I pinched a nerve in my back and went to our doctor, who is a DO. Snap, Pow! Instant relief, and he said "you only need to come back if it still bothers you".

I personally would recommend a DO (doctor of osteopathy, vs. MD). A DO can do everything a chiropractor can and everything a doctor can. It also would be a good "compromise" for the two of you

Liz

Edited August 24, 2005 by blim

[shanenin]

I've also heard good and bad about chiropractors.  Hubby went to one and it just ended up being very, very expensive (our insurance wouldnt cover it)

I pinched a nerve in my back and went to our doctor, who is a DO.  Snap, Pow!  Instant relief, and he said "you only need to come back if it still bothers you".

I personally would recommend a DO (doctor of osteopathy, vs. MD).  A DO can do everything a chiropractor can and everything a doctor can.  It also would be a good "compromise" for the two of you

Liz

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

thanks for the suggestion. :-)

Does a DO have a regular medical degree also, unlike a chiropractar?

[HPoirot36]

I've had back problems for 34 years,since a car wreck at 16. I've been in hospital,had every kind of therapy that there is. All the pain killers too.NOTHING helped as much as the chiropractor. The last bad spell I had,my back hurt so bad I couldn't walk.Had to go from room to room on my knees. Emergency Room sent me home with 5 pain pills. The newxt day,I went to the Chiropractor,and after the first visit, I was able to walk. 2 visits later,I was feeling fine.

I also sent a friend with shoulder problems,and he fixed her up to.

My mother,who is 82,goes once a month,every month.She goes bowling every Tursday and she says the visits to her chiropractor keeps her back from hurting.

A GOOD chiropractor will NEVER treat you without doing x-rays first

The AMA and most doctors don't want to recognize Chiropractic because it works (in many cases) and is MONEY out of their pockets.

However,many hospitals now have Chiropractors on staff,and many states (mine included) require insurance companies to cover Chiropractic care.

Scam? No......works all the time with all injuries? no. But personally I would rather spend $35 for a visit (in my area,may be more in other places) than hundreds or THOUSANDS on other forms of therapy that don't work.

Oh,and on a side note,regular therapists and hospitals are now beginning to use therapy that Chiropractors have been using for YEARS.

I don't know how it is now,but my Chiropractor years ago told me that he had more classroom hours of training than an MD has.

Let your wife go and see if it helps. If they don't do x-rays first (or have her x-rays from elsewhere to look at),be cautious.

Oh,and I don't know about your state,but here,you can ask for and get any x-rays that you have taken by a hospital ot anywhere else.

[TheTerrorist_75]

Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.)

A doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) is a physician licensed to perform surgery and prescribe medication. Like an M.D., an osteopath completes 4 years of medical school and can choose to practice in any specialty of medicine. However, osteopaths receive an additional 300 to 500 hours in the study of hands-on manual medicine and the body's musculoskeletal system.

Osteopathic medicine is dedicated to treating and healing the entire patient as a whole, rather than focusing on one system or body part. An osteopath will often use a treatment method called manipulation -- a hands-on approach to assure that the body is moving freely. This free motion ensures that all of your body's natural healing systems are free to work unhindered.

Osteopaths hold to the principle that a patient's history of illness and physical trauma are written into the body's structure. The osteopath's highly developed sense of touch allows the physician to palpate (feel) the patient's "living anatomy" (the flow of fluids, motion and texture of tissues, and structural make-up).

The osteopath's job is to "set" the body to heal itself. To do so, the Osteopath gently applies a precise amount of force to promote healthy movement of tissues, eliminate abnormal movements, and release compressed bones and joints. In addition, the areas being treated require proper positioning to assist the body's ability to regain normal tissue function. This process is called osteopathic manual medicine (OMM) or osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT).

Over the years, the gap between "conventional" medicine and osteopathic medicine has narrowed, as M.D.s have embraced many of the premises of osteopathic medicine (such as recognizing the impact of stress on the immune system or posture on various body systems). In addition, D.O.s have incorporated the diagnostic and treatment techniques common to conventional medicine.

Doctors of osteopathic medicine may be found in nearly any health care setting, from community clinics and private practices to academic medical centers.

Like M.D.s, osteopaths are licensed at the state level. Osteopaths who wish to specialize may become "board certified" (in much the same manner as M.D.s) by completing a 2- to 6-year residency within the specialty area and passing the board certification exams.