What did the chiropractor just do to me??

[Jackmannii]

@Stranger_On_A_Train

Not to defend chiropractors, who certainly include a large number of quacktastic members among their ranks, but despite what your friend thinks there is almost nothing a chiropractor could do that would result in fragmenting vertebrae.

This is likely true - but there remains a risk of serious injury when forceful manipulation exacerbates pre-existing spinal conditions (there are also horror stories relating to older men with back pain who are manipulated by chirps before it’s discovered that their back pain is caused by prostatic carcinoma which has metastasized to bone.

Following up on the earlier statement about the uselessness of neck cracking :

“It’s been said before, but I’ll say it again: any degree of risk is unacceptable when there is no benefit. A Cochrane systematic review has shown that HVLA (high velocity, low amplitude) manipulations are no more effective for neck pain than gentle mobilization and that neither is effective unless used in conjunction with an exercise program. And there is even less evidence for benefit in non-neck-related conditions. NUCCA practitioners and other chiropractors who manipulate necks for almost any complaint are clearly out of line.”

Chiropractic Strokes Again: An Update

[Razncain]

@Stranger_On_A_Train

Not to defend chiropractors, who certainly include a large number of quacktastic members among their ranks, but despite what your friend thinks there is almost nothing a chiropractor could do that would result in fragmenting vertebrae. If he really had bone fragments near the spinal canal, that is an indication of either some kind of impact or crushing trauma that would be far beyond anything a person could do by hand, or a progressive deterioration of skeletal integrity that at most was exacerbated by the chiropractic manipulations. His lawyer was correct in warning him from pursuing a lawsuit.

Stranger

He had no prior trauma, and looking back, couldn’t recall anything else in his past history that might have brought this on later. I agree with you, it is possible he may have already had something, and the chiropractor’s procedure only exacerbated it.

[harmonicamoon]

@Rachellelogram

I went to a chiropractor for the first time today. I get chronic headaches and thought it might be a better alternative to all the ibuprofen I’m popping. I’ve been a chiropractic skeptic for a long time, but I really liked it. After the initial assessment, she put a hot towel-thing on my neck for about 5 minutes. Then she had me lie on my back, turned my head, and quickly twisted my neck. A series of sharp cracks came out from the base of my skull. I gasped because it sounded scarily like my neck was being broken, but holy crapspackle! It feels so good now. My neck parts are looser and my head feels lighter.

I came home and read that there’s a risk of stroke from neck adjustments. I didn’t know I was going to get one before I went in there. Nothing bad happened, but I’m not sure if I should go back. Any thoughts?

Well Rachellellogram, when you say “It feels so good now”, I think that answers your question. How did you find this chiropractor? Was she recommended to you? There are good ones and bad ones. A good one may be rare, I don’t know. I have known a few. There are some things they are good at.
With regard to the neck cracking, they seem to want to surprise you with it. It you are anticipating it, you will tense up and it won’t be effective.
So, hopefully the pain is gone, and no more Ibuprofen. Get out the saxophone and celebrate.

[Razncain]

Chirobase, is often cited by dopers. From one of their links: Neck Manipulation and Strokes, there is plenty of evidence that chiropractors are under reporting. Also, the largest malpractice insurers won’t release how many cases they know about. Estimates from strokes caused by neck manipulations are all over the place, some claiming one in millions. One Canadian stroke consortium believed their data showed 20% of strokes are due to neck manipulation, and that there is “gross underreporting of chiropractic manipulation as a cause of stroke.”

[Jackmannii]

@Jackmannii

there are also horror stories relating to older men with back pain who are manipulated by chirps

Sorry, I meant to say manipulated by chimps.

[Stranger_On_A_Train]

@Jackmannii

This is likely true - but there remains a risk of serious injury when forceful manipulation exacerbates pre-existing spinal conditions (there are also horror stories relating to older men with back pain who are manipulated by chirps before it’s discovered that their back pain is caused by prostatic carcinoma which has metastasized to bone.

I don’t disagree. Chiropractors are not medical doctors, are not qualified to diagnose diseases or dysfunctions not relating to spinal misalignment, and have a paltry amount of strong clinical evidence for many claims. I would certainly avoid the neck-twisting ‘adjustments’ as the same effect can be had by more gently manipulating the back and performing stretching exercises, and in general, the problems that are treated by chiropractic manipulations are more throughly (and cheaply) addressed by proper exercise and fitness. Chiropractic treatment should be considered a stop-gap to allow relief so that the underlying problems can be addressed, and if applied correctly is probably more effective than the standard medical practice of masking pain via pharmaceutical treatment.

Stranger