are chiropractors legitamate doctors?
79505
Yes, they are.  But like with any doctors, they should be licensed by your state.  Their training is shorter in comparison to other medical doctors.
274396
yes, as long as the Osteopath is trained, licensed & certified.\nI broke my back in 3 places d/t an automobile accident. My chiropractor would not even touch me without x-rays to see what was going on inside.\nYou may want to consider this, too; taking some x-rays. Just a safety precaution.
98261
Some chiropractors have given the profession a bad name.  Now, there are many good chiropractors practicing evidence-based chiropractice.
114319
Most of the time (95% or better) conservative chiropractic care is very effective for work related cervical spine injuries.  Most of these injuries involved "deranged" spinal joints (and often involve shoulders, upper back, jaw and other regions) and associated damaged soft tissues, including muscles and tendons, but ligaments, fascia and other connective tissues which attach to and surround the spine, which need to be rehabiliated and restored to normal function, when possible.  It is important to do a thorough history intake and physical examination, including taking two or more X-rays of the site of suspected injured structures, to evaluate, identify and diagnose what is wrong.  Without figuring out what is most likely wrong (diagnosis), it is very likely to provide a faulty and potentially useless or harmful plan of care.   I have found that a multi-modal approach which combines "chiropractic adjustments", also called chiropractic manipulative treatments, followed by passive modalities (hot, cold, muscle stimulation, ultrasound, therapeutic massage, etc) and therapeutic exercises targeted to any specific physical deficits, done to the capacity and tolerance of a patient, work very well, usually done at 2-3 times a week initially, and then less often with continued demonstrated signs of improvement until the patient is at or near a pre-injury status (if possible).  If a sinister injury is suspected, or if a patient fails to recover as much and as rapidly as expected, then a second opinion consultation with a specialist, and advanced diagnostic tests, are arranged.  It has been estimated that Chiropractic care is about 100 times safer (or more) than taking an aspirin for these kind of problems, when provided by a properly trained and licensed Chiropractic physician or licensed Chiropractor.  There is nothing "fake" about properly planned and provided chiropratic care.
27172
It depends on who you talk to because they both have different results in the long run.  Chiropractors treat the underlying structural problem and it may take a while to heal.  While a regular doctor will give you pills that will help you right away, and probably recommend surgery.  I personally like chiropractors for this type of injury.
911879
Some chiropractors are not too bad. They seek to cure rather than get you hooked on regular treatments. Most, however (my opinion) are in it for the money and want you to keep coming back. If you want a permanent cure to spinal problems, you would do better to get a book by Kit Laughlin called "Overcome Neck and Back Pain". He studied chiropractic, yoga, shiatsu, and others. He's come up with a system of stretching exercises which do pretty much everything a chiropractor can do except without the price and having to go into the office. Check it out, it's one of the best books I've ever gotten.
45074
Chiropractors are doctors in a sense that they have earned a DC (Doctor of Chiropractic). But they are prohibited by law to prescribe medicines other then natural herbs and things like that. They DO NOT have to take the MCAT, they DO NOT have to go through residencies. There are 2 types of fully licensed doctors in the U.S. which are MD (Doctor of Allopathic medicine) and DO (Docotor of Osteopathic Medicine). A Chiropractor is limited in what they can and can not do. For example, they are prohibited to practice in a hospital, they can not perform surgery or treat mental disorders. But the choice of whether a DC is a legitimate doctor will be up to the patient, someone with a PhD. can call themselves a docotor also.\n\n\nIn closing, my opinion DO, MD or DC, they all must work together to achieve the one central goal which is to help imporve one's quality of life. Only then will the patient have the best chance to be free of sickness. But I prefer to go to a MD or DO.
35808
to be a chiropractor you are techically a doctor- instead of MD, they are DC (doctor of chiropractic) They still have to go through years of school and learn all the biology, anatomy, etc. with rotations and whatnot.. Most of them though believe in the alternative medicine- which is why they go into the field in the first place
15626
There are two kinds of doctors.  Those who think they are god and everyone tells them so and those who know there is a God and marvel at his creation.  You have mostly meet the former.
1146113
I am a retired Chiropractor. Both types of practitioners have a place in modern health care.  For optimal health care you might consider seeking care from both.\n\nThink about this analogy.  "Water or food - what is your preference?"  Both would be best!
498106
Oh there are so many books as well as infon on the internet. But do read alot, and ask questions, not just from an MD but go to a good chiropractor. There is a lot of stuff out there claiming to be 'true' alternative medicine, but it's just junk. Be careful. Herbs can be very potent. Many of our medicines are derived from them(aspirin for one) but plant-derived 'drugs' can also be dangerous(think ephedra, cocaine) Chiropractors are a good source. Midwives too. As well as Homeopaths. Homeopathic Medicine is more widely used in Europe than what is referred to as 'western' or 'American' medicine. Each valid branch of medicine has its good uses.
795811
Hi Becka.  Chiropractors are trained and licensed to diagnose and treat human ailments without the use of prescription drugs or incisive surgery.  Chiropractors define themselves by what they choose NOT to prescribe (prescription drugs and incisive surgery).  Any 'recommendation' for therapy, treatment, or 'course of action' is a 'prescription'.  Every Chiropractor prescribes (recommends) some type of treatment or course of action for patients.  So, yes, Chiropractors can prescribe exercise regimens.\n\nI am a retired Chiropractor.  Best wishes.
199959
I would seriously consider going to a chiropractor. you have so many vital bones and your spinl cord in your back. do one thing wrong and bad things could happen.
1044797
Hi Smoothladyb.  I am a retired Chiropractor so I will suggest a good Chiropractic evaluation, but I would like to make a couple of additional comments.\n\nYour condition is very unusual, which makes it very challenging for any doctor to 'sort out'.  However, just because your symptoms are unusual it does not mean they are not real!\n\nYears of experience (meaning my many screw-ups that turned into learning experiences) have taught me that when the patient has a strong sense about the cause of their condition it often 'pays off' to listen to their insights.  So, if you truly feel like you are dealing with a circulation problem, continue to push your doctors to evaluate that.\n\nYour hypertension and kidney issues clearly indicate that you have problems with your vascular endothelium (the lining inside your arteries).  It doesn't sound like your doctors are addressing this underlying problem, but rather, are merely treating the sign of the problem - the hypertension.  It may be a good idea to find a doc that is more focused on treating CAUSE rather than signs and symptoms.  A good Naturopathic Physician, Chiropractor, or Medical Doctor interested in 'Functional Medicine' may be able to help you.  You can find a list of Functional Medicine docs on the website for "The Institute of Functional Medicine" (just do a web search of that name to find their website).\n\nAn excellent book on Hypertension and related cardiovascular issues just came out called:  "The High Blood Pressure Hoax".  It is written by Sherry Rogers, M.D. and covers a large variety of underyling causes of hypertension and damage to your endothelium (issues that most medical doctors don't care enough about to educate themselves on).\n\nThe last time I checked, this new book was not yet available at Amazon.com, but it may now be there.  If not, you can order directly from the publisher at 1-800-846-6687.  I highly recommend this book for someone like you who clearly has the intelligence and motivation to do a little 'real' learning about your health.\n\nAnother book on hypertension that I might suggest for you is by Mark Houston, M.D., professor of cardiology at Vanderbilt Medical School.  The book is called: "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Hypertension".  This book is available at Amazon.com for only $10.17.  I have heard Dr. Houston lecture at professional educational semiars and his info. is cutting edge 'medicine'.\n\nI hope this long discourse has been helpful to you.  Best wishes and good luck.
794100
Go and see a doctor of Chiropractic and ask the same question a week from now. Don't think your question will be the same.
827989
That is total bull.  Visit your primary care physician and have a thorough evaluation done, if he/she just gives you meds and you want more than that then ask for a referral to see a physiatrist if you have chronic symptoms. A referral to a physical therapist may also be an excellent option for you based upon the physician's findings.  Also, tell your physician which chiropractor you visited and what they told you was wrong, that way the physician is aware of this quack. \n\nI will say this, if you decide to see a therapist, do not be afraid to call around and ask to speak to the therapist to see if they indeed specialize in spinal care. Some do and some don't, it is a much wider field than most realize. Most physical therapists that do specialize in spinal care are highly educated in the dynamics of the spine and also do perform manipulation of your joints when warranted but they also have many other options for advanced treatment. \n\nNone the less, I do not recommend corporate facilities such as HealthSouth, NovaCare or Banyan Tree as most of these facilities do not allow the therapist to have control over thier own schedules and you may not be able to see the same therapist from visit to visit, which in my opinion is poor medical care care driven by corporate interest. \n\nChiropractic care, if you can call it that, what a sham! There may be a few good chiros out there who want to do a good job and may actually practice ethically but the profession is litered with so many quacks like the one you visited that finding a good chiro is about as likely as winning the lottery or being struck by lightening.\n\nWhat the general population doesn't seem to realize anymore is that chiropractors are traditionally not trained in modern medicine nor are they a branch of modern medicine. They do NOT go to medical school. Chiropractors are trained in chiropractic which is an unfounded, unscientific model of quasihealthcare usually taught in colleges that only teach chiropractic. There is not a single chiropractic school in the states that is found in a university system. They are usually seperate entities from all other schools because they teach their own form of science and health which is NOT recognised in the mainstream. They are NOT another type of medical doctor that just decided to go into chiropractic care versus say, orthopedics or neurology. \n\nIf you want to know the truth behind chiropractic care and chiropractors, then check out the following links. Really check out these sites too as many of the articles are written by chiropractors that have renounced their own profession.\n\nhttp://www.ncahf.org/pp/chirop.html...\nhttp://www.quackwatch.org/01quackeryrela...\nhttp://www.chirobase.org/01general/chiro...\nhttp://www.acsh.org/healthissues/newsid....\nhttp://www.chirobase.org/01general/skept...\nhttp://www.quackwatch.org/01quackeryrela...\nhttp://www.chirobase.org/06dd/chirovet.h...\n\nAlso, chiropractors state that research has justified their techniques, check out the following;\n\nDuring the past few years, two reports about the treatment of low-back pain have placed chiropractic in a favorable light. One, issued by the RAND Corporation, concluded that spinal manipulation was appropriate for some cases of low-back pain. The other, produced by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), judged manipulation useful for controlling symptoms while awaiting the spontaneous recovery that occurs within a month in most patients with low-back problems.\nAlthough chiropractors have promoted these reports as endorsements of chiropractic, they are not. They merely support the use of manipulation in carefully selected patients. Only a few of the research studies on which their conclusions were based involved manipulation by chiropractors; most were done by medical doctors and physical therapists whose practices are not identical to those of chiropractors. Most chiropractors manipulate the vast majority of patients
349364
If the chiropractor has not been helping she may need to seek treatment elsewhere.  Chiropractors have helped a lot of people, but so can massage therapists, physical therapists, and alternative treatments like acupuncture.  She should talk to an orthopedic doctor about her options.