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Have you ever been to a chiropractor? Did it help?
turbo-1 said:MIH, many Osteos drift into quackery, and IMO chiros begin and end there. Physical therapy is probably a more productive and less dangerous route to take. I had a really stubborn case of tendinitis that was finally resolved with some several-times-weekly therapy and (ouch) cortisone injections. The Osteopath that I was seeing was absolutely useless, so I switched to an MD, got some PT and some medical treatment. Problem solved. It seems incredible now, but at the worst of the the inflammation, I had a very hard time picking up a coffee cup with my right hand, and I am right handed.
BTW, as someone who could repeatedly bench my body-weight just a year earlier, it was really depressing not to be able to grab a coffee cup.
Me too. It would have really sucked not to have been able to use it productively for the past 10-15 years. It's commonly called tennis elbow, but it is the tendons that connect from your elbow to the muscles that contract your fingers that get inflamed. I could hardly bear to grasp anything with that hand. Repetitive stress injuries can creep up on you.Math Is Hard said:Glad your hand is better.
The cuff?! NO! Not the Cuff!Math Is Hard said:No worries. I don't see any cortisone injections being suggested. I scream and cry when they take my blood pressure.
It only resulted from neck motion, as if he had pushed a neck vertebrae out of place and it was getting hung up on the bone above or below when I moved my head even a small amount. It was constant the day of the treatment after I left his office , and I noticed it happening now and then for about four more days. I call it a "clicking" but it was actually just a sensation, very like the sensation you get when you "crack" a joint.Math Is Hard said:Zooby, that's such an interesting story about the clicking in your neck. How often was it? Did you sound like a Timex watch? When did it go away?
The Osteopathic doctors around here are generally trained in spinal manipulation, too - at least they perform those services in their offices. The ones in private practice (not affiliated with a hospital) seem to be the ones who start dabbling in iridology, reflexology, aromatherapy, chelation services, etc. All D.O.s are not created equal. I have a friend in CA who is a D.O. and who is a very busy surgeon. He is a no-nonsense guy, a war hero, and well-respected in his field. He was involved with the assessment of the US's disaster-readiness. You may have read about some of the reporting years back regarding how close hospitals and other medical services are to their maximum capacities and what could be done (Navy hospital ships perhaps) to increase the availability of such services, especially if some of the medical infrastructure is damaged in the disaster.Moonbear said:I do wonder if turbo has osteopathic medicine confused with something else, though. Schools of osteopathic medicine do provide a full medical training, but with more emphasis on the patient as a whole. When they graduate with a D.O., they are qualified to do a residency right along with M.D.s.
This is probably feel-good quackery, no better or worse than reflexology, homeopathy, etc. I wonder why the practicioners aren't crowing about treating stars like Tiger Woods, the Williams sisters, MLB pitchers, etc? If the technique is "well-regarded" (by whom?) why do top sports stars rely on their doctors, coaches, and trainers instead of getting stuff fixed with ART?Proton Soup said:there are some things often practiced by chiros(and maybe some D.O.s) that are well-regarded, like Active Release Technique, for treating muscular injuries. but i doubt you'll ever see many MDs treating patients that way because there's simply not enough money in it.
Many years ago, my wife visited a chiropractor in Waterville, ME because she had persistent lower-back pain, and he sent her home with a treatment schedule that would have bought him a new car and put us in the poor-house. We went out and bought a firm Serta mattress, and put the old bed in the attic and put the Serta on the floor of our bedroom (no box-spring). For the next couple of weeks, I tried to warn her whenever I noticed her slouching on the couch or easy chair, and she got used to the firmer mattress. Before the month was out, her back problems had disappeared and she was able to join me in jogging, workouts, etc without pain. Bad posture and a soft mattress were the problems. A few years later, we got a water bed and MY back went bad. We ditched the water-mattress and bought a firm California King conventional mattress - back problem cleared up within weeks.chroot said:I dated a girl in college who had persistent pain in her lower back. Despite this being very unusual for a skinny 19 year old girl, she had been going weekly to a chiropractor for almost two years.
The pain went away for a few days after each treatment, but was never really eliminated. The chiropractor (who happened to be one of the more "scientific" sort) told her that it was normal, and that many people need weekly spinal adjustments for the rest of their lives.
She eventually went to a real doctor, who discovered a softball-sized primitive neuroectodermal tumor growing in her lower back. The tumor had probably quadrupled in size since she first sought treatment from the chiropractor.
She spent the next 18 months out of school, enduring several surgeries, the removal of part of her pelvis, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Thankfully, she survived. I'm pretty sure she never went back to the chiropractor.
- Warren
Math Is Hard said:Have you ever been to a chiropractor? Did it help?
turbo-1 said:This is probably feel-good quackery, no better or worse than reflexology, homeopathy, etc. I wonder why the practicioners aren't crowing about treating stars like Tiger Woods, the Williams sisters, MLB pitchers, etc? If the technique is "well-regarded" (by whom?) why do top sports stars rely on their doctors, coaches, and trainers instead of getting stuff fixed with ART?
turbo-1 said:You found a chiropractic fan-site that pretends to do actual healing. Do you see anything wrong with that? If your child had a a pain due to a cancer would you subject her or him to time-wasting quackery in order to dance around a bit or would you like to to have your child healed? This is not a trick question.
Math Is Hard said:Have you ever been to a chiropractor? Did it help?
zoobyshoe said:Since he ‘knew’ that applied kinesiology works, and the best scientific method shows that it does not work, then, in his mind, there must be something wrong with the scientific method."
Moonbear said:I'll say it outright...I think chiropractors are quacks. The best one can hope for is a really great massage if the problem is nothing but sore muscles. At the worst, they can inflict real injury. Most of what they do has all the healing power of cracking your knuckles, which is to say it does nothing.
I do wonder if turbo has osteopathic medicine confused with something else, though. Schools of osteopathic medicine do provide a full medical training, but with more emphasis on the patient as a whole. When they graduate with a D.O., they are qualified to do a residency right along with M.D.s.
aychamo said:Sorry to bump an old thread.
Thank you for saying this outright. Alternative medicine is the bane of my existence. My fiance works in a spa, and a lot of her friends are massage therapists. These people have all sorts of wacky / quackery belief systems.
Massage therapists are taught all sorts of ridiculous things in school, like reflexology. The problem is that most of these massage therapists are only high school educated, so they don't know any better. They learn it in "school" and think it's a fact. They believe in stuff like acupuncture, etc. I've alienated more than a couple of her friends because they always want to debate me (I'm a M.D.) - these debates do not go well for them! It doesn't mean anything to them that the anatomical pathways these things claim to function by simply do not exist!
Chiropractors are by far the worst. I can't stand these guys. You have to appreciate that their entire practice is based around something they can't prove exists: subluxations. These guys are getting so ridiculous too. In my area, the chiropractors are all opening "wellness centers." In these "wellness centers" they all attempt to diagnose disease using ridiculous unproven tests (salivary enzyme tests, etc). Magically, they find a disease you have and say that you need supplements to cure it, which conveniently they sell for $30 a bottle. You got to love that this new practice of theirs has absolutely nothing to do with chiropractics, and 100% to do with quackery.
Not to mention that all the health food stores are now selling homeopathic remedies. These are the most expensive bottles of water on the market. Even local pharmacies are now selling them. I've questioned the pharmacist, and he replies "hey, people think they work!"
The alternative medicine scene just absolutely makes me sick. My biggest problem, besides the fact they are stealing from people and lying to them, is the delayed time-to-treatment. Every second (and penny) people waste on these completely inefficacious treatments is time that increases the patients chance of dying.
Sorry to vent... This stuff drives me absolutely crazy. I simply cannot understand how as a society we can be so dumb as to let this stuff penetrate into the mainstream. How can a chiropractor practice? How can insurance companies pay for these treatments? How can they be allowed to do non-proven tests to "diagnose disease" and then "cure" it with non-FDA approved supplements? How can people run an acupuncture clinic? How can they be allowed to practice reflexology? How can people be so misled and unable to reason that they believe in this stuff?
A chiropractor is a healthcare professional who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, particularly those related to the spine. Chiropractors use manual techniques, such as spinal manipulation, to address issues like back pain, neck pain, and headaches.
Chiropractic treatment involves the manipulation of the spine and other joints in the body to improve alignment and function. This is thought to relieve pain and improve overall health by allowing the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery.
Chiropractic treatment is generally considered safe when performed by a licensed and trained professional. However, like any medical treatment, there are potential risks and side effects. These may include soreness, stiffness, and headaches. It is important to discuss any concerns with your chiropractor before beginning treatment.
Chiropractic treatment is commonly used to treat back pain, neck pain, headaches, and other musculoskeletal issues. It may also be beneficial for conditions such as sciatica, whiplash, and joint pain. However, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional to determine if chiropractic treatment is the best course of action for your specific condition.
The number of chiropractic sessions needed varies depending on the individual and their specific condition. Some patients may see improvement after just a few sessions, while others may require ongoing treatment. Your chiropractor will work with you to develop a treatment plan based on your needs and goals.