New WG patient

[Sangye]

Some chiropractors go over the top with their claims and some are also ruthlessly into sales. However, a chiropractor who only focuses on your frame is not practicing chiropractic.

[JanW]

When I was having back problems in my 20s, I went to a chiro. Starting going once a week and pretty soon he had me up to 4 or 5 times (it was pretty cheap and not covered by insurance -- so maybe $25 or so, I could afford it). Then he wanted to get me into a gym that he was part owner in, then he wanted to sell me supplements, then he wanted to fix my sinus headaches. I eventually stopped going to him (I think my back was pretty well fixed by that point). What I like about my acupuncturist (and I know sometimes they get th same 'over the top' rap as some chiros) is that he doesn't try to sell me the herbals, and never tells me that for certain x or y is going to work. He also doesn't suggest any of his practice as a substitute for western medicine. I would be interesting in knowing from you what you think a chiro could do for me based on what I've said about my achiness.

[Sangye]

Since your gait has been altered by your limping, it can create misalignments in any joint (and most likely in numerous joints). Each of those misalignments interfere with the flow of nerve signals to and from the brain, which results in deepening levels of interference. So a limp turns into a shoulder misalignment that turns into a muscle imbalance that turns into organ dysfunction, etc....

Each muscle is associated with a particular organ. The pectoralis muscles are associated with liver, Lats with pancreas. Muscle dysfunction can either cause or reflect organ dysfunction. It's important to undo the interference that started the chain, or it creates widespread and deeper imbalances.

Chiropractic is definitely not a substitute for medical treatment for Wegs. It is, however, a great substitute for many other conditions. Chiropractors are considered primary care/ gatekeeper physicians in most states.

[JanW]

How would you suggest one go about finding a 'legitimate' chiropractor? For instance, my acupuncturist is also a medical doctor...I'm assuming that wouldn't be the case with most chiros, and might not even be a good bar to set. I found a lot of the internet suggesting that doctors that were trained in Eastern and Western medicine where the way to go for acupuncture, but will also confess that I haven't researched chiro in the same way because I really haven't thought about getting any. For whatever reason, my docs past and present seemed to have a much more positive view of acupuncture vs. chiro.

[Sangye]

Jan, it's good that you're happy with your acupuncturist, but training in Western medicine is the last thing I would look for in one. What I look for is excellent training in their specialty-- Eastern medicine. The best acupuncturists are Doctors of Oriental Medicine (DOM). It's a difficult degree to obtain and most have trained with Chinese and/or Tibetan masters.

Chiropractors undergo schooling that is as demanding as MDs. Same anatomy, diagnostic procedures, radiology, etc.... Chiropractors have to pass National Board exams and state licensing exams. A "legitimate" chiropractor is one who's licensed, no different than an MD. You can google Chiropractic education v Medical education to see comparison tables of hours spent in training. MDs spend way more time than chiros in subjects like OB/GYN but it might surprise you to see that chiros take about 3 times more Neurology.

If you want to learn about the reason for the medical profession's slow acceptance of chiropractic, read about the anti-trust lawsuit filed against the AMA in 1976-- Chester Wilkes, DC et.al vs AMA. The AMA spent decades with the stated goal of trying to destroy the chiropractic profession because it was (and still is) the leading competition to medical doctors. It indoctrinated not only its own members, but nurses and the public. Americans don't realize to what extent they are still being affected by the decades of deliberate misinformation. Many doctors and nurses who were not even in practice (or born!) have inherited the attitudes of those before them, without ever stopping to question it. I can barely bring myself to read the memos the AMA wrote about chiropractic for decades. Horrible stuff.

[JanW]

Perhaps I should rephrase that 'legitimate' to good...what should one look for in a good chiro?

I have read that also about DOM degrees. My guy happens to be Taiwanese and went to med school where they teach them side my side. He was a hemotologist, but hasn't practiced Western medicine in 20 years.

[moyan]

Re chiropractors Thank you Sangye, another myth gone to sleep

[Sangye]

Moyan-- you're welcome.

Jan-- thank you. It was hard to contain my shock at seeing that word used. It's said that to be a chiropractor you have to have the hide of a rhinoceros. I've definitely found that to be the case!

There are many ways of practicing chiropractic and many techniques. Ultimately the best chiropractor for you is someone you enjoy seeing, who explains everything, who respects your wishes, whose uses treatments you're comfortable with, and is someone you trust.

Sometimes it takes a few tries to find the right one. I went to two in Maryland before finding a great one in Virginia. In Arizona I used to drive 3 hours (one way) to my chiro in Scottsdale, once a month. It entailed closing my office and losing a day's income, but he was worth it. That was the price for taking care of myself.

[JanW]

Sangye - Sorry my words offended. When I said 'legitimate' I didn't mean to imply that some of them weren't licensed or quacks or anything -- more like I don't think a rheumy who has seen as few WG cases can call themselves a "WG specialist" although it appears that some of them do to some of the people I have seen on this board and others. In the same way, my former chiro was completely disdainful of conventional medicine, was always trying to get me to spend more with him, etc....I don't consider him "legitimate" although obviously he was licensed and a trained chiro. I would expect the legitimate guy to treat the things he can treat (like any other specialist--although I get that chiros are generalists).

I'll have to think more about this -- I'm already committed to seeing so many docs, I'm not sure I'm up to giving a whole history to another! I have quite a different worldview on holistic medicine than you do, and I'm just not sure that I'm ready to add someone else to my treatment plan.

[Sangye]

No worries-- it was just a suggestion.