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Chiropractic
I have enjoyed a good relationship with chiropractors through the years. Studies comparing their treatment to physical therapy done by M.D.s have shown no difference in outcomes. The good ones will know when to refer their patients to a surgeon and do it. They will not do any high-impact manipulation to a patient with a known herniated disc. I have seen many patients who have been carried along for years with chiropractic and I’m sure there are many others I have never seen who have gotten well with chiropractic. Chiropractors cannot prescribe drugs or do surgery, however, so they will often send patients for consultation if they are not responding adequately. The patient may just need some medicine and reassurance and return to the chiropractor. Some will need surgery and then can go back to the chiropractor for rehabilitation after 3-6 weeks. One risk
of chiropractic manipulation of the neck is stretching the vertebral
arteries that run up the sides of the neck. That is very rare, but it
can cause clots to form in an artery that may block off circulation
or small pieces of clot may break off and clog smaller arteries in the
brain. That is called vertebral artery dissection. See: |