Chiropractors: How much can they really heal?

Can this article be written with more of a sneer toward holistic healing? The bias is unbelievable!

In my business experiences with chiropractors (no, I've never been treated by one), I think they're insurance scamming quacks.

On the other hand, I don't see them being accused of doling out non-needed drugs in order to get the excursion trip to Spain from the pharmaceutical companies.

sugarfree wrote:

Can this article be written with more of a sneer toward holistic healing? The bias is unbelievable!

Wow, sugarfree, I was thinking that for once an article on a subject like this actually had some balance, even though it was fairly shallow. Usually these types of articles simply present pseudo-science without even a hint of skepticism and read more like an ad than something that a trained reporter should produce.

You have no experience with Chiropractors ? At least not treatment wise , then what gives you the right to even say anything ? I've seen one after I hurt my back, he tried a few things none of them actually worked, he did get me set up with an MRI and after the results told me he could not help my condition, and suggested a "Orthopedic Spine Specialist, so all Chiropractors are not "insurance scamming quacks" as you stated, your opinion is just that, but again you have never had treatment by a Chiro, so you really have no business making your comment.

No Different wrote:

In my business experiences with chiropractors (no, I've never been treated by one), I think they're insurance scamming quacks.
On the other hand, I don't see them being accused of doling out non-needed drugs in order to get the excursion trip to Spain from the pharmaceutical companies.

Here in the mecca of chiropractic (it started here in Davenport, IA) it is common practice to go to "the chiro" for any body aches and pains. Personally, I think it's a lot of hooey.

Holistic "medicine" is quackery, plain and simple.

It may work, it may not...But i will say I have noticed a couple of things about chiros...

1. Their schools, unlike medical school, will accept anyone, even your run of the mill dumb-a-s-s who cant score higher than a 20 on the ACT.
2. They went this route because they couldnt get into med school, pharm school, opt school, etc. They want large amounts of money, and dont care that they are stupid.

Base on this, I do not want anyone who is not of equal intelligence of a doctor to touch my spine. There is a reason why certain schools rejected these people, and there is a legitimate reason why medical schools and the medical association will not recognize these folks as doctors.
-Their schools accept anyone. Doctors need to be intelligent.
-Their coursework is nowhere near the intensity of med school, yet, they are messing around with your most important body parts (even the chiros say this...)

Simply put...The science may be there, but the people who practice it are for the MOST PART (not all) dumber than door knobs.
I have gotten a couple chiros riled up when i ask them about how adjusting the spine can cure certain ailments. I dont doubt that it can, but if you cannot explain to me and get frustrated...I cannot let you treat me...

Ask a chiro, and if they spew some bs about "reliving pressure off of nerves" etc without citing how the pressure release correlates to the treatment at hand...youll know that they dont even know their own field.

I'll say this, if people walk out of a chiropractor's office feeling relief from pain, then we should all STFU!
I went to one once for back pain, and I felt so good walking out that I had to restrain myself from going back and kissing the chiro's shoes.

The problem with chiropractic is the same problem with tarot card reading and astrology: lack of science, but loads of reported "success".
Neither subluxations nor the arrangement of the stars in the heaven have any evidence that they affect human behavior or health. Yet people who ardently believe that they do, and furthermore seek out labeled "professionals' who dispense with "treatments", experience relief to some degree.
Wierd huh?

In all the years I have been using chiropractic, 20+ I always feel better after an adjustment. At the same time MD's usually turn their noses up when there is spinal pain and prescribe a pain killer instead.

Bune c wrote:

In all the years I have been using chiropractic, 20+ I always feel better after an adjustment. At the same time MD's usually turn their noses up when there is spinal pain and prescribe a pain killer instead.

The fact that you have to keep going back for "adjustments" for over 20 years should tell you something. Most of the chiro's out there have minimal, if any, true medical training. At best, they're massage therapists who push a little harder. At worst, they're undereducated hacks who scam insurance companies for money.

The way I look at it is having a spinal adjustment (or other body part) is pretty non-invasive. So, to start with that is not a big deal. If it works for you, great. If not, then follow the traditional paths which may be more invasive. I don't think anyone can say what works for one person will work for another. I, myself, have had great luck with chiropractors. Yes, there are bad ones out there, but there are also good ones too. Same with MD's...

I'm presently seeing a chiro for some lower back pain that has plagued me for a few years. After the first visit I started feeling some relief and now after four visits the pain is almost gone. My regular MD never did anything more than prescribe pain meds and muscle relaxers and all they did was make me feel like a zombie.

Through some manipulation of the spine, some deep tissue massage (which is heavenly) and some E-Stim, I'm almost back to my old self again. Maybe some chiro's are chasing insurance dollars, but some MD's might be doing the same. Don't knock something until you've tried it.

I struggled with lower back pain for 15yrs using pain pills to help, since I started going to the chiro my back hasn't felt better.

More credit has to be given to the natural healing powers of the body. We cant just assume that taking a pill will cure everything that ails us

The article definitely was a PR opportunity for the McDonald's of chiros. At least the Trib acknowledged that primary care by chiros is "controversial." Thanks for understating the obvious.

I've gone about 10 times and felt neither better nor worse, which doesn't matter anyway. Show the science that proves people are healed for the wide variety of ailments claimed by chiros. Oh, it doesn't exist? Oh, but you "heard about this guy"...

PTK wrote:

I'm presently seeing a chiro for some lower back pain that has plagued me for a few years. After the first visit I started feeling some relief and now after four visits the pain is almost gone. My regular MD never did anything more than prescribe pain meds and muscle relaxers and all they did was make me feel like a zombie.
Through some manipulation of the spine, some deep tissue massage (which is heavenly) and some E-Stim, I'm almost back to my old self again. Maybe some chiro's are chasing insurance dollars, but some MD's might be doing the same. Don't knock something until you've tried it.

A good educated Physical therapist could do the same, and teach you how to take care of yourself so you won't need to come back forever for adjustments.

I have met a couple a chiros who also believe that their field is good for spinal issues only, not infections or other problems.

Do you think that Chiro One also offers experts in phrenology, magnet therapy, or patent medicines?

Ultimately, like going to any other type of medical professional, it is in the hands of the consumer to do their research on who is and isn't intelligent and will provide the best health care that is needed. Being a graduate of the University of Chicago, having scored well above 20 on the ACT, and had been on early route to medical school, I chose to go into chiropractic for a career.
I appreciate the ability that people can come on to a site and express their views about how they feel, but would truly encourage everyone to give their personal experience to help guide others into making better decisions about the health care providers that are out there trying to get America to think about where health comes from. We all have to look inside to heal what is wrong, not rely on chemicals to change or stop natural processes that are occurring in our bodies to tell us there is something we did previously wasn’t the best decision for our well being.
Thank you for your opinion, but in the future, please maintain factual information, as opposed to gross generalizations.

Smelly wrote:

It may work, it may not...But i will say I have noticed a couple of things about chiros...
1. Their schools, unlike medical school, will accept anyone, even your run of the mill dumb-**** who cant score higher than a 20 on the ACT.
2. They went this route because they couldnt get into med school, pharm school, opt school, etc. They want large amounts of money, and dont care that they are stupid.
Base on this, I do not want anyone who is not of equal intelligence of a doctor to touch my spine. There is a reason why certain schools rejected these people, and there is a legitimate reason why medical schools and the medical association will not recognize these folks as doctors.
-Their schools accept anyone. Doctors need to be intelligent.
-Their coursework is nowhere near the intensity of med school, yet, they are messing around with your most important body parts (even the chiros say this...)
Simply put...The science may be there, but the people who practice it are for the MOST PART (not all) dumber than door knobs.
I have gotten a couple chiros riled up when i ask them about how adjusting the spine can cure certain ailments. I dont doubt that it can, but if you cannot explain to me and get frustrated...I cannot let you treat me...
Ask a chiro, and if they spew some bs about "reliving pressure off of nerves" etc without citing how the pressure release correlates to the treatment at hand...youll know that they dont even know their own field.

Julie, after reading the posts, I think there is a lot of mis-information among members of the general public. All graduates of National University of Health Sciences, for example, have had a minimum of 4 years of undergrad science plus 5 academic years of study in chiropractic medicine. If you would like to do a factual piece on chiropractic education please feel free to visit our university personally.

Jim Winterstein, DC
President - NUHS

I think chiropractic care is a bunch of bologna. If you have to continually go back, how is that treating the problem in the long run. It is a temporary fix, but one should not have to continue to go back weekly to feel good. To me it is a scam/rip off. There are many followers to the money making business which I find to be odd.