chiropractors

Are Chiropractors safe? Most people wit back pain will come to the office or Express Care with an acute event. Many will either have used a Chiro in the past or were considering one before seeing me. On the whole, I like chiropractors. I think the theory of subluxation is valid and many patients of mine have had good results with visiting a chiropractic practitioner. To argue a fact, I have had some horror stories from Neurosurgery friends stating bad results from manipulation. (Remember, this is also true of seeing a doctor for a diagnosis, occasionally there are some docs who just don't practice good medicine). To be safe, get a recommendation from a friend or doctor who has used the chiropractor before. See a primary care doctor or an orthopedic surgeon also to make sure you have two opinions. Remember, if it continues to hurt when you have had the manipulation, medicine, therapy or needles.....something is wrong. It never hurts to do and xray for trauma or and mri for anatomy but the history and physical exam is always the strongest thing in a doctors arsenal to defeat pain and disablility. A doc that goes straight to mri in treating back pain is missing something. (3 in 10 people with no pain will show a bulging disc on mri).
One thing I have to say is I have seen the growing trend for chiros to have physical therapists in the same building or do the therapy on their own. I am very particular about what a therapist does to my patients. I often ask someone with an acute flare up if they had attempted physical therapy in hopes that we can get them to see someone but I immediately get the answer,"I tried therapy and it doesn't work". When patients see me for back pain, if there is no nerve death yet and work is tolerable, maximize on every possible modality, treatment and herb/pill to get the pain away. It only goes away with changing muscle tone, letting the disc go back in, continuing with proper nutrition and sleep. For the person that can't afford therapy, time off from work or medicine, time to save money and change jobs.
Miracles don't happen when you come to the er, chiro or MD. If back pain is from chronic weight, manual labor or poor nutrition and poor healing, most docs can only help to keep the pain to a minimum while the patient changes the lifestyle. Had a guy come to the ER yesterday who had back pain and a few bulging discs since last year but can't afford PT and can't take time off work. He wanted narcotics cause they help with pain. He has been suffering since last spring and hasn't done anything but visit the Er every once and a while. I was going to give him pills but I would only be postponing his need to make a lifestyle change. Wife already stated he had an addiction problem to vicodin so obviously he wants a shortcut and will not address the big issue of finding another job or getting a loan to see a good physical therapist. Said he tried chiro and PT and it "didn't help"...(obviously he only tried one center).
Do the research on the chiro, see a physician also and make a timetable to change your life. The back is telling you something isn't working with life now so you must make a change.