Am I right to fear chiropracter practice?

hecutler

What was from a blog? What I wrote a few minutes ago? ??? What are you talking about?

micromass

I notice that you did not debunk Ernst in any way. You just resorted to an ad hominem attack.

Don't worry, we can access PubMed articles. But not all the readers of the forums can.

Please don't. The link is from a blog. It's not reputable evidence.

Evo

The reference to the NY Times was a blog. This thread is about alternative medicine (chiropractic) and mainstream medicine. Not chiropratic vs ibuprofen.

micromass

Yes, the risk is slight, but there is a risk nonetheless. Even a slight risk is too much for an outcome such as stroke. Certainly if there are no other benifits.
Also, malpractice claims are not very good data to base research on, is it?

bobze

Especially considering its unfortunate that woo peddlers get to police themselves. You basically need a fellow peddler of woo to take the witness stand against the SOC delivered by the woosters. Good luck with that.

DaveC426913

Setting aside the contention of whether chiropractors are effective. In fact, granting that they are:

The OP should still go to a GP, rather than a chiropractor. The OP should get a full physical done to check for any medical issues, make sure they are in good health, rule out other causes and contraindications and then - if indicated by the GP - see a chiropractor.

And, for anyone who disagrees, "go see your GP, they will get you the help you need" is the official policy - the only policy - of PF.

Nano-Passion

I agree. Just the other week my friend had neck pain after visiting a chiropractor. Another chiropractor fixed the problem but I don't want to put my body in a gamble really. It is just not something I'm completely comfortable with.

To everyone else, I will go to a general doctor.

Darken-Sol

i showed this thread to my girlfriend and it devolved into generally the same argument. it seems chiropractor people are convinced its the only way. i tried explaining preventative steps like stretching, exercise, and correcting posture will eventually keep her from actually going. her argument was it is too late for that. its not. imo its just an easy fix for something people can do for themselves. i have yet to visit a chiropractor, so i may be biased.

Mr.Samsa

I'm a bit late to this thread, but hecutler's comment is even more problematic given that Ernst's specialty is in complementary and alternative medicine. His initial training was as a homeopath, and he was the world's first professor of complementary medicine, and the first occupant of the Laing chair in Complementary Medicine until he retired last year.

Ernst is proudly and unashamedly a supporter of alternative medicine but (importantly) he is also a supporter of the scientific method. So he conducts studies and trials to determine whether the stuff he is supporting has any validity or not, and often finds that it does not - like homeopathy.

To say that Ernst is "hell bent on one thing or another", implying that he is biased against alternative medicine or is conducting faulty studies, is simply absurd. If anything, he is biased towards finding positive evidence, and often claims that about 5% of alternative medicine has some validity and evidence supporting it, and I imagine that figure is probably higher than the real percentage of valid treatments in alt med.

fawley

I am also not sure if chiropractic work will do it, as you said, regular physical exercise as a preventive and curative method is more, or at least equally, promising. As you describe your problems, it seems as if your muscles are under a one-sided pressure coming from your posture. Maybe it is also advisable to communicate that to your boss. Certain chairs might reduce the symptoms. Given that you have symptoms already a physiotherapy might be a point to start from. It requires a lot of discipline, but it is also a sustainable method to get/remain healthy. Whatever you do, see a doctor first.
regards

Nano-Passion

Just to update this thread: At one point I woke up and was in a lot of discomfort, I had to lay in bed for a while. I just went to the pharmacy store and got a neck rest. What strained my neck was the long commutes in the car for some reason. So I used the neck rest for a couple days and now I use it if I have a long commute somewhere. But everything is fine. :D

Cheers.

turbo

I gravitate toward Osteopathic doctors (they have chiropractic training). Unfortunately, I have to re-educate them (twice, so far). Once they get a look at my spine, they want to "fix" it. Due to an accident back around 1975, I have a ruptured disk and a couple of vertebrae that are misaligned and fused in that position. I am pain-free in that regard and don't want any manipulation.

After I had a stroke, my neurologist ordered an MRI, and when she discussed the results with me she asked "Why didn't you get this fixed?!' She is from Germany, and I had to explain that my wife and I had no money and no insurance in the early 70s and that there was no way to get that surgery performed. She has been here long enough that she is clear on this now. She is working for the VA, helping vets deal with traumatic brain injuries.

nitsuj

My dad has bad back pain as a result of an "extra disc"? or something like that.

To the point of trying dodads & gadgets. One of the coolest and was effective for my slightly herniated lower disc was an "inverter" where one lies on a bed and can fully invert (or whatever in between), strapped in by the ankles.

Anyways, his opinion of chiropractic work is yes it's "quackery" but after some "shopping around" recommendations ect, ended up with a great chiropractor. An old guy who retired not long after my dad started seeing him.

So with that said, why be so rude as to paint all chiropractors as on the verge of "malpractice" or whatever. very obviously it is dependent on the individual and how they "practice" the "trade".

Borek called ya'll right away. It's a bias.

Oh and my dad is also of the opinion most advanced medicine is "quackery", how true.

Perhaps it's too strong/insulting a term. But regardless, healthcare is not an exact science, in particular that dealing with pain.

DaveC426913's is the only post that should be left after a moderator cleanup.

nitsuj

Micro I don't buy your argument of "the risk is slight, but there is a risk nonetheless." The data was 1 in 5 million, you understand that's nill.


I understand that was data to counter argue the "risk". Which you dismissed and then said it's data to base research on??

micromass

Anecdotal evidence is not evidence.

We're not being rude, we just have valid criticism. If it's very obvious, then give a scientific reference.

Right. This says enough in my opinion. Most doctors are quacks, right??

For the record: there has not been a moderator cleanup in this thread.

Tell that to the people who are now disabled due to a stroke.

mazinse

wait wait someone needs to explain how does the manipulation of the back spine cause a stroke which is in the head.