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Chiropractic is like all health disciplines. It works for some problems and doesn’t work for other problems. For musculoskeletal problems (like back pain, neck pain, headaches, migraines, fibromyalgia, sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, herniated discs, auto accident injuries, work comp injuries, and sports injuries) chiropractic works exceptionally well. In fact, in many instances, people find better results with chiropractic than with drugs or surgery!
Chiropractic has an enormous amount of peer-reviewed research showing that it is safe and effective for chronic problems involving the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system. There have been over 50 random controlled, double-blind trials showing chiropractic is more effective than drugs & surgery for the management of back pain. A recent study at Duke University showed chiropractic was more effective than drugs for headaches & migraines. Researchers in San Diego showed chiropractic to be more effective than medicine or physical therapy for injuries associated with whiplash trauma during a car accident. People suffering from back pain, neck pain, headaches, migraines, sciatica, sports injuries, herniated discs, and extremity problems can rest assured that the chiropractic care they are receiving is backed up by rigorous scientific research.
For years, the medical community has attempted to portray chiropractic as a dangerous therapy, particularly when involving manipulation of the cervical (neck) area of the spine. However, none of these medical opinions are based on scientific facts. In fact, there have been numerous studies that explored the overall risk of spinal manipulation. These studies (which were published in peer-refereed scientific index medicus journals) show the rate of an adverse reaction following a chiropractic adjustment to be roughly 1 in 3,000,000. Now for purposes of comparison, you have 100 TIMES greater likelihood of being injured from taking Motrin™. Chiropractors pay the lowest malpractice premiums of any physician. Why is this? Because according to the insurance industry, chiropractors don’t injure or kill people. It literally is the safest form of healthcare known to humankind.
You don’t have to go back forever. You don’t have to do anything. For example, you don’t have to eat right and exercise. You don’t have to brush & floss your teeth. You don’t have to get to bed on time and get a good 8 hours of sleep each night. We do certain things because it makes sense to do them. We see benefits in keeping up with maintaining our health.
While you don’t have to go to a chiropractor forever, some people opt to continue on a periodic maintenance basis so they can keep their joints moving well and maintain good posture. It’s kind of like going to the dentist for periodic checkups and cleanings. The spine is just like everything else (your teeth, your car, your house, etc..) in that it requires periodic maintenance for optimum function. People go to their primary care doctors indefinitely. Women go to the gynecologist for an examination. These things are done for wellness & prevention measures. The same thing applies to your spine with chiropractic care.
The word “Doctor” is Latin for “teacher” or “learned one”. It doesn’t mean “he who prescribes drugs”. There are many different types of doctoral degree programs: D.C., M.D., D.O., O.D., D.V.M., D.M.D., Ph.D., Ed.D, D.P.T., etc. A professional or academic doctorate degree is considered to be the highest degree conferred in any given area of study. A chiropractor is a doctor every bit as much as a dentist, veterinarian, or medical doctor.
While you may be able to “crack” the joints in your back, you are merely doing a non-specific manipulation of your spine. A chiropractor doesn’t do that. Chiropractors perform very specific corrections by moving the vertebrae to their “normal” position. This is like if you knock the front end of your car’s suspension out of alignment. You go to the auto shop and the mechanic loosens the suspension. Then they put a laser down the long axis of the car and move the camber and tow back and forth until the front end is re-aligned and then re-tighten everything back up. They aren’t just wiggling it back and forth carelessly. A chiropractic adjustment works along the same principles. The chiropractor locates the vertebrae that are out of alignment. Then utilizing very specific vectors, he/she gently slips the bone back into place.
Certain people in the medical community (who have a negative bias against chiropractic and seek to sling mud against the profession) are trying to convince the world that chiropractors cause strokes. Again, there is no scientific study that proves this claim. Not one. And yet the medical community continues to frighten the patient population with this myth. It’s unscientific and dishonest of them to perpetuate this lie.
While chiropractic has an outstanding track record for helping people get rid of back pain, that is not the only condition that can be treated. Literally, any problem that has to do with the nervous system, or the musculoskeletal system can be helped with chiropractic care.
Most chronic spinal problems adults have started when they were children. As the twig is bent, so grows the tree. Wouldn’t it make sense to nip these problems in the bud before they’ve had a chance to blossom into a full-blown crisis? Wouldn’t it make sense for a chiropractor to treat young girls to first start to show signs of scoliosis? Kids have spines too – and they most certainly need chiropractic care.
The medical community has certainly softened its stance with regard to chiropractic and their treatment toward chiropractors. Unfortunately, there are still a couple of old-timers who are set in their ways. There is still professional bigotry out there. But for the most part, the younger doctors don’t hate chiropractors. They view them as a medical sub-specialty (which is exactly what it is). The continuous expansion of the scientific literature (which proves chiropractic works) has certainly changed attitudes.
Chiropractic is not only safer and more effective than drugs & surgery for chronic problems, but it is also less expensive too! When you consider that spinal surgery costs an average of $50,000.00 – and fails 50% of the time, chiropractic seems like a bargain at 10 times the price. Also, when you take into consideration the amount of damage that drugs cause to your liver and kidneys – and the long-term costs of the damage to those organs, again chiropractic is a better deal.
You don’t need permission to go see a chiropractor. In today’s day and age, you can go see any healthcare provider you want. If your medical doctor tells you you can’t go, find another doctor you can STILL go. You are the health care consumer. It’s your body and your money. You can go to anyone you want.
Our mission is to be Pittsburgh’s top center for chronic conditions, specializing in chiropractic care and functional medicine. We provide innovative, non-invasive treatments that address root causes, helping patients achieve lasting wellness.
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