The Truth About Chiropractic
Chiropractic care has been around for over 120 years as a non-surgical way to treat musculoskeletal disorders in an alternate manner. These ‘disorders’ are known to affect health via the nervous system. The gentle manipulation of the spine, and other joints in the body may be the answer to back pain and other conditions of the musculoskeletal system.
- Myth #1 – Adjustments are Painful – Actually, most patients do not experience any pain and may even usually feel a sense of relief following the adjustment. The joints that are locked up are mobilized from the spinal manipulation and cause pressure to be released. Of course, there are rare times, when for a variety of reasons, an adjustment may be slightly painful, either due to too much force being applied or severe muscle spasm. This is usually temporary and does not happen too often.
- Myth #2 – Chiropractic Care is Expensive – Many people think that chiropractic care has to be expensive. First of all, most insurance companies do cover chiropractic. In addition, if you were in an auto accident or had a work injury, those are usually covered at 100%. Chiropractic care can be much more affordable than going to multiple doctor office visits and prescription medications seeking to try and help your back pain, neck pain or headaches. In fact, most office visits are less than a massage therapy session.
- Myth #3 – Once you Start, There is no Stopping – Many people believe that chiropractic care is required for life to maintain a healthy musculoskeletal system. However, some people only need adjustments once or twice to get complete relief. Others, for example, after an accident, may need several months of care. Many people like how they feel following an adjustment and realize, just like good dental hygiene, that regular chiropractic care – often called maintenance care – is something they want to pursue, either on a monthly or semi-annual basis. The process depends on many factors and is not something that has to be done forever to maintain a pain-free lifestyle.
- Myth #4 – Chiropractic Care is Dangerous – There are stories of chiropractic care being dangerous and even causing death. These claims are rare and usually have much more to do with the patient than the chiropractic manipulation itself. The risk of herniated disk worsening or vertebral artery dissection are rare in nature. Patients with a healthy vertebral artery are not considered at risk for a dissection. Screening practices can and are being used to limit chiropractic care of individuals with arteriosclerotic disease and/or high levels of homocysteine. The known negative effects of NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are also something that should be considered, due to their gastrointestinal and cardiovascular complications. One great way to prove this very low level of danger is to view the cost of malpractice insurance, which is extremely lower than other types of doctors. To put it into another perspective, the risk of dying from a neurological complication from a cervical manipulation is 0.3 in a million, whereas using NSAIDS that cause a GI bleed has a risk of 400 in a million. There are even non-manipulative maneuvers like childbirth, archery, and star gazing that can be responsible for cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs). However, if there is a chance that you are suffering from arteriosclerotic disease, it may be best to consider another method of treatment for your pain.
- Myth #5 – Chiropractic Care Rarely Works – This is just untrue, as many individuals have experienced relief due to chiropractic care. Often times, a chiropractor is the last doctor that a person sees. By this point the condition is often very chronic and the problem may take longer to correct than the person thought, so they stop care prematurely. It reminds me of the story where a man is digging for treasure and stops 6 inches above the treasure. In any event, depending on your exact condition, chiropractic manipulation may be the answer to your joint and back pain. Schedule an appointment for an assessment and let Dr. Spitz determine the best course of action for you. He will develop a plan customized to your exact needs and address any concerns you may have regarding the chiropractic care process. If Dr Spitz doesn’t think that chiropractic care can help he will refer you to the appropriate specialist. Usually if after 2-3 weeks of care there is no relief, either an MRI is ordered or a referral is made.
The Chiropractic Health Center of Bristol is a great source for your chiropractic needs. Dr. David Spitz has the knowledge and techniques to help align your spine and provide a sense of relief without the need for prescription medication or surgery.
To make an appointment, please call our office at 860-583-4346 or click request appointment button below.
Dr David M. Spitz is the founder and clinic director of the Chiropractic Health Center of Bristol, located in Bristol, CT. Since 1982, he has treated thousands of patients for various conditions ranging from neck and back pain, to migraine headaches. He specializes in treating patients who have suffered whiplash injuries and/or back injuries in a motor vehicle accident.
Dr Spitz was a volunteer EMT-I and a lieutenant for several years at the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department. He has lectured throughout CT on various topics including, chiropractic, stress management, headaches and preventing back injury in the workplace.
