We’ve all heard Chiropractors referred to as
‘quacks’ sometime in our life, right? ‘Quackery’ was termed back in the 17th –
18th century when so-called doctors would claim that their creations of
elixirs, potions or other treatment methods to be healing cures for a number of
ailments. The definition is “the methods and treatments used by
unskillful doctors or by people who pretend to be doctors” (Merriam-Webster) or
a simple way to put it: “medical fraud”. Back then, people did not have to
obtain a degree in medicine in order to practice medicine. These ‘quacks’ soon
found a way to profit off of made-up treatments that were not proven to be
beneficial. ‘Psuedo-Medicine’ is term that was used for
treatments that were ineffective, though
people claimed their effectiveness.
Whatever you want to call it, the term is still
appropriate for some cases, but Chiropractic Medicine can no longer be labeled
as such, since it is a scientifically proven and effective treatment. However,
there are Chiropractors in the field who have found ways to do little work for
more money. I’ve heard plenty of stories where the Chiropractor comes in,
cracks the client’s neck and then walks back out. I’ve also heard stories where
the Chiropractor will never explain what is going on with the client’s spine or
will never discuss their progress- they just keep having the client come back
until their insurance or funds are exhausted. I have actually been down that
road myself numerous times, and through all of my experiences, along with
feedback from clients, I have learned so much and it has given me the ability
to know how to detect a good and legit chiropractor.
First, let me explain my experiences with
Chiropractors to give you an idea of how different they all are, how many can
seem like they are abusing their title, and how there are gems in the rough.
• When I was young, my grandmother who I stayed
with during the day, had a Chiropractor who did house calls. Who knew if he was
actually licensed. He was very old- a man with his white coat and black
doctor’s bag. The stereotype we all know from back in the day, but he carried
it out into the 1980′s. When he came, I would get adjusted as well- I was only
a spunky youngin’ in great condition- I really didn’t need it. Not only did he
crack our backs and necks, but he would make us drink ‘soda water’ (baking soda
in warm water) or ‘soy water’ (soy sauce in water) claiming it would keep us
healthy, hydrated, and to flush out toxins. Pretty soon, when I would find out
he was coming, I would run and hide under the bed. I was terrified of the
‘torture’ he would put me through. That experience scarred me for a long time.
He eventually passed away, which is sad, but he lived a full life and I was
relieved that I would not have to endure this thing I feared any longer.
• In my early teenage years I was heavily
involved in gymnastics. My parents had found a new Chiropractor in the area,
and to my astonishment, his technique was quite different. It was a gently
approach with barely any touch, only a subtle movement of his hands resting
over the cervical spine while lying on my side. He would adjust me and I would
lay there for a few minutes to rest and then get up. I did feel a difference,
but I wondered to myself if I really even needed it. Sure, I was young and
active, but I wasn’t in pain or feeling locked up. It was just a routine visit
my parents had me do. Pretty soon I found out he was divorcing his wife,
closing his practice, and taking off to another country with his new
girlfriend. At that moment I determined that Chiropractors were just in it for
the money. I stopped going to him and planned on never seeing another one
again.
• I started massage school in 2008. We
obviously covered the anatomy and function of the body, including the spine and
bones. It sunk in then that our spine protects something very vital- our
nerves. Our spinal cord is so intricately wired with the nervous system
throughout our entire body. It helps us move, feel sensations, think, see,
hear, taste, smell, react….and so much more. If a nerve becomes impinged by
tissue or bone or becomes damaged, it dampens our functionality. Also,
everybody’s spine goes though some sort of change throughout the years and is
never perfect, nor will it ever go back to its original state. Motor Vehicle
Collisions will cause some sort of fluctuation in the spine, even at a very
minor impact. These lessons I learned to value and open my mind back up to
Chiropractic work, especially in learning that many Chiropractic offices also
have massage therapy. They go hand in hand because if you are to get a massage
before an adjustment, it will warm up and loosen the tissues in order for an
easier adjustment, otherwise the structures would just go back to the way they
were due to tight muscle pulling them back. This is a vice versa situation- if
you have a structural misalignment and get a massage, the bones will end up
causing the muscles to revert to their tight state.
• Well, my son had fallen one day and knocked
his head on concrete. He only complained of a tight, sore neck and headaches,
but that was enough. I knew at that point he needed to see the Chiropractor as
soon as possible. I chose to go with one who was within walking distance to our
home. He was an older Asian man who had us watch an informative video about the
spine before his first adjustment. Then he would have him lay on a rolling table
with a heat pad under his neck for about 15-20 minutes. After that, we would go
into the adjustment room and my son would get on the adjustment table. The
doctor would use a combination of manual adjustment (what I call
snap/crackle/pop) as well as the Activator method which is a tool that is
subtle and painless that the Chiropractor ‘clicks’ in spots where the
vertebrae, pelvis, or ribs are out of place. I was intrigued by the applicator
method, but didn’t enjoy seeing my son be jolted like that. After going about
15 times, I soon realized that this guy was never going to tell me that my son
was better and we could stop coming. I wasn’t too fond of that either, so I
just stopped bringing my son in.
• My son had another fall to the head (seems
like a bad addiction for him, I know), so again, I rushed him to the
Chiropractor. This time I took him to one I knew whose clinic was across the
hall from where I worked as a Receptionist in a naturopathic/massage clinic. I
heard nothing but great things about him as he and the massage clinic owner
would refer each other to clients, and from what I had observed in speaking
with him myself on occasion, I thought I’d give him a try. I actually saw him
first, as he offered me free treatment whenever I needed it. I didn’t have
insurance, so I couldn’t pass that up. My hips were off so I finally took up
the offer. I was amazed. Instead of an x-ray, he did a postural and
range-of-motion assessment on me. I found out later that he is a former massage
therapist. After the assessment, he had me lay on the adjustment table with a
heat pad on my back for about 10 minutes and he would step out of the
room. (He only sees 2 clients at a time and no more.) He would come back
in and solely use the applicator to adjust every single bone, vertebrae, and
rib that was out of place- all the way down to the sacrum where I was out of
whack. That first session made a remarkable difference and I didn’t need to go
back for a while. So I took my son- and he said it would only take about 6
sessions to get him back into place, but by the 4th session he said my son was
good to go. While he would adjust, he would have a conversation with me and
also point out what is off and give me tips and exercises. And his personality
is very pleasant and high-spirited and connected with people- you can just tell
he cares. I ended up taking my son back after falling in the shower (yup,
another one…) and myself going back to him when my back problems really flared
up. Only a few adjustments and I was as good as new and I haven’t had to see
him since then which was a year ago (2013). I refuse to see him for free now,
so he gave me a deal.
• Yet another experience worth sharing:
There was one time I went to an interview for a massage therapist position at a
Chiropractic clinic. When I walked in, the lobby was small and there was only a
partial wall separating it from the big room where I saw about 8 tables lined
up and 3 people being treated at once. The massage room was only separated by a
curtain. I waited quite a bit and overheard the receptionist and a waiting
client talk about the Chiropractor’s golf endeavors and upcoming vacation. The
Chiropractor was late to interview me and he gave me only about 2 minutes of
time and asked not even a handful of questions. He wasn’t at all present with
me. The receptionist on my way out said she would notify me that evening if
they would be offering me the job. I received the offer and declined.
I refer clients to my chiropractor now,
whenever I can. I work in a massage clinic where 90% of our clients are Group
Health and unfortunately he does not accept that insurance and the owner of my
clinic has had little luck finding a good Chiropractor who takes that
insurance. In giving one of my Group Health clients the tips to search for a
Chiropractor, she heeded my advice as well as a word-of-mouth referral from a
co-worker. When she walked in the next appointment she had with me after seeing
him the first time, her face lit up and she looked like a weight was lifted off
her shoulders. She was so thrilled to feel a release she hadn’t had in a long
time.
When I need to refer out and I cannot refer my
chiropractor, these are the suggestions I give my clients of what to look for
in a Chiropractor, so I stress to you using these tips no matter what:
1. Don’t just go for convenience or locale
2. If you have Group Health (as many
Chiropractors along with Massage Therapists do not accept GH), look up
Chiropractors that are covered in your plan
3. Pick a few and do your research- Yelp reviews,
visit their website, give them a call
4. Ask what techniques/methods they use. I find
the gentle approach just as effective unless something is really stuck. The
applicator method is my pick.
5. In all honesty, a Chiropractor with less
experience will most likely be the best option. Why? Because he is trained in
the newer techniques and adjustment methods which are usually more gentle and
less invasive.
6. Avoid a clinic where the Chiropractor sees
more than 2-3 patients at a time.
7. Don’t stop asking questions. Ask what is out
of place, ask what you can do to prevent it in the future, ask how many times
they think you should come in for that particular issue, how many patients he
sees at a time/in a day. You can tell if they are being honest by the way they
answer. Vague answers are a red flag.
8. Having massage therapy on site is a plus, but
by all means (this goes for any provider), don’t go for convenience but if you
are finding it effective and enjoyable, stick with it.
9. You shouldn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable at
your visit. If it gives you a bad vibe, don’t do it. (Same goes for any
provider)
10. If you find a Chiropractor you love, brag
about them! People need to hear the effectiveness and legitimacy of
Chiropractors, as there are many folks out there who still believe they are
‘quacks’ because of the ugly rumor or that they have had a bad experience in
the past.
Here is some other great information:
Please take these tips and an open mind,
because most Chiropractors are as legitimate and skilled as any other licensed
physician. Don’t let stories and rumors or past experiences discourage you.
A valuable side note:……I think
nowadays our general physicians are turning into ‘quacks’, where you are
waiting forever to be seen for 5 minutes and not really getting to the bottom
of issues, jumping to a quick diagnosis and a prescription for drugs that only
mask the symptoms and do not address the underlying cause. This also goes for products
we see advertised that are supposed to help with such things as weight loss,
younger looking skin, and overall better health. The bottom line is we need to
do our research and not believe everything we hear or read. It is so hard for
someone without the medical knowledge to really know, but the least you can do
is look into it yourself, but never self-diagnose, and seek natural guidance
from a naturopath, acupuncturist, nutritionist, etc. in order to obtain a
thorough assessment and answer through holistic avenues that treat the cause of
the issue or condition and to better your life as a whole and not just the
condition at hand. This I will explain in a later post, but this must be said
in order for me to distinguish to you what is happening in the industry of
Western Medicine. It is good to understand that pharmaceuticals are taking over
America’s health industry. Don’t believe me? Again, do your research. People
are becoming more and more aware of this and are going the alternative route.
I’ve lost count of clients who say they wish to avoid taking drugs for pain…..
transferred- original post date 05/31/2014
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