Does Anyone Know if It Is Ok to Go to a Chiropractor When I Have Chiari?

Question by Lovely: Does anyone know if it is ok to go to a chiropractor when I have Chiari?
I am scheduled to go to the chiropractor on Thursday because my back is extremely tight… I’ve never been to one before but it is definitely necessary now, however I am a little concerned as to whether it is a bad thing to do with my condition (Chiari). I have read a few stories where chiropractors have actually made conditions worse, but I think that only happens when you see them specifically for neck manipulation and once they have went multiple times. I was hoping that someone could help me decide whether maybe I should just ask the chiropractor not to crack my neck or what I should do??

Best answer:

Answer by Diane A
Well, I would run this by your neurologist or something BEFORE you visit the chiropractor–would hate to see you get some permanent damage. How about a really good massage??? ANd a hot stone treatment?

Answer by Real Life
I’d strongly recommend cancelling your appointment. If your back is feeling tight, talk to your doctor about massage or physiotherapy, he/she will be able to explain the best course of treatment for you :)

Although it sounds like a proper medical treatment much like physiotherapy, chiropractic treatment is actually dangerous and non-scientific. If you have a back problem it’s best that you go to a doctor or a physiotherapist to be referred to the correct specialist for your case.

Chiropractic can be split into 2 different groups – Straight and Mixed.
Mixed chiropractors are more mainstream and offer treatments like exercise and massage.
Straight chiropractors believe that subluxations are the leading cause of all disease in the body, and that these diseases won’t be a problem if you have the correct spinal manipulations. This is medically and scientifically incorrect.

Here are some articles that you can research to form your own opinion. I’ve also found this podcast episode to be really easy to understand, it helped me to realise that there’s more going on here than people may understand:
http://cdn4.libsyn.com/skeptoid/skeptoid-4042.mp3?nvb=20090513061409&nva=20090514062409&t=08547f83239b40104eb6c

“Cervical manipulation is a preposterous thing to do, and it should be banned.”

“But despite patients’ enthusiasm for the neck adjustment […] researchers have not produced definitive proof of its medical value”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18871755/

Here’s some compelling evidence about the damage that Chiropractic does, a list of people who have died as a direct result of chiropractic http://whatstheharm.net/chiropractic.html

“Chiropractic therapy for neck pain has a high rate of adverse reactions, according to the results of a randomized study published in the July 1 issue of Spine.”

“Of 280 participants (83%) who responded, 85 (30.4%) reported 212 adverse symptoms after chiropractic care.”
http://quackfiles.blogspot.com/2005/07/chiropractic-therapy-for-neck-pain-may.html

“there is a new study providing more solid evidence that chiropractic treatment increases the risk of stroke”

“Neurologists think chiropractors can damage the vertebral artery, which rises to the stem of the brain in two right-angle turns, by twisting the neck beyond its natural limits, tearing the artery in a sudden, jerky motion. The researchers concluded that there may be a “gross underreporting” of chiropractic manipulation as a cause of stroke”

“Chiropractors usually rely on anecdotes to defend their practices. Supporting scientific evidence is lacking, and most scientific studies that have been advanced in support of the practice are not up to scratch”
http://www.hfienberg.com/statstuff/chiro2.htm

Even the American Medical Association has called chiropractic an “unscientific cult”.

Good luck with your back troubles, I hope you can get some real treatment and get the results you’re looking for :)

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