Thought I had one on but...

[jimmygun]

I really thought I had convinced my friend last year that chiropracy (sp?) is just to the left side of useless. I gave him pertenent info from this site and from other websites which said at best it was no better than a massage and at worst could cause serious damage and even death.

A few weeks ago I was over to see him and he was in so much pain from his sore back he could barely move. He confessed to me that he had relapsed and gone back to the chiropractor twice. I asked if he felt any better and he weakly replied as I assisted him in standing up... a bit better I guess.

I told him that I had given him the straight dope on chiropractic medicine and he had made his choice. I also thanked him for wasting our taxpayer money on such witch doctoring. The major cost of visiting these quacks is born by health coverage.

What must one do? He knew the score, he accepted the material I gave him, he even looked up more of his own but he still went back.

[Cecil]

I believe the original theory behind chiropractic medicine (that all diseases are caused by misaligned vertebrae) is complete bunk.

However, I think spinal manipulation has been demonstarted to be effective in treating some things, including lower back and neck pain. Furthermore, not all chiropractors subscribe to the original theories.

Obviously if he's going back he thinks it's at least marginally effective. Berating him for doing that is silly. I mean, whatever works, right? Don't discount the power of the placebo effect. :D

[arcticpenguin]

Has he had real doctors look at it? Medicine can't cure everything, but at least he would know what he is dealing with.

I blew out a disk in my lower back several years ago. I didn't get a proper diagnosis until I insisted my 'primary care physician' (yes, I had to deal with an HMO) sent me to a specialist, and I got an MRI done.

[jimmygun]

Spinal manipulation has been shown to be no more effective than a professional massage. The Chiropractic Society of the US even agrees with this finding.

If he were footing the entire bill himself then he could eat chalk and sprinkle urine in his cherios for all that I care, but when people are dying for want of real medical care in Canada and part of our health dollar is going to something so preposterous I have to complain.

The chiropractic industry is so wrapped up in anecdotal, placebo cures that it is very difficult if not impossible to get people to see the light. I thought I had this one out of the darkness but he slipped back in. He obviously did not feel any better after his two sessions as was demonstrated by his inability to even get out of his chair. What relief did he get for his $20 + and my $120+ tax money? None! He will continue going and going and going untill his allotted health care money runs out and then he will be turned away at the door.