No, I didn’t know that . . . because it’s not true. What a surprise that you should get the facts wrong. It is true that several studies suggest that there are real problems with over-reliance on antibiotic treament, both in the U.S. and the rest of the industrialized world. What there isn’t, is either solid evidence or a plausible mechanism of action for effective chiropractice treatment.
One of my favorite things about chiropractors is when they recommend getting an adjustment every week – for the rest of your life, whether you have any symptoms or not. (I don’t know if that’s standard practice these days, but I’ve run into it several times.)
Me too, damnit. I’m sorry I wasted money on having my ruptured appendix removed, or taking that life-saving chemotherapy for liver disease. I should have gotten my spine adjusted to all the free flow of energy through my nerves; would have been right as rain.
Well, while it’s awake, let me add one more anecdote to the thread.
15 years ago I had sciatica to the point where I couldn’t walk a city block without excruciating pain running up and down my hip. I was literally pricing canes at 25. I went to see a chiropractor. I was uninsured at the time and he charged me 25 dollars a week, for however many visits it took (3 at first, then 2, then one.) It cured me. To this day it hasn’t returned. I sing the praises of chiropractic to the heavens.
Then, two years ago, I’m in grappling class and demonstrate a move with my partner (the “upa” if you know Brazilian Jiu Jitsu). I kind of overextended my neck but there was no pain. As I walked home after class my neck stiffened up, and by that night it was totally immobile and hurt like hell to move.
It was painful for weeks despite ice and painkillers and I still couldn’t move it very much so I went to see a chiropractor. (Different one from the one 15 years ago.) I explained the situation to her, she measured my range of motion, asked me a bunch of questions, and then it was time for the adjustments. All went fine until we got to the part where she did my neck. It was shockingly painful. I immediately got dizzy. She started to move on to the next adjustment, but I was seeing stars and told her I had to lie down–at which point I blacked out on the table. Apparently my eyes stayed open the whole time, and she freaked out. I came to a few minutes later, pale and sweaty, and spent the next week or so on an expensive whirlwind of neurologists, X-rays, and a MR-Angio to rule out dissection. The tests apparently said everything was okay, but it scared the crap out of me and cost me a bundle. My neck still isn’t right now, over two years later, and I’m not sure it ever will be.