Chiropractors, Immunizations, Flu Shots: Who to Believe

I may be wrong but I tend to side with those who graduated from medical school.

I am biased, I have never gone to a chiropractor. Nor has anyone in my immediate or extended family. I just never viewed them as doctors or necessary. I might be missing out. The chiropractors I have known in my life seem to be a little fringe/anti western medicine. No dairy diet, no immunizations , home births, homeschool, heavy into essential oils etc. Seems like a theme with the ones I know or I have heard my friends go to.

I personally would get a couple opinions from medical doctors.

Updated

I may be wrong but I tend to side with those who graduated from medical school.

I am biased, I have never gone to a chiropractor. Nor has anyone in my immediate or extended family. I just never viewed them as doctors or necessary. I might be missing out. The chiropractors I have known in my life seem to be a little fringe/anti western medicine. No dairy diet, no immunizations , home births, homeschool, heavy into essential oils etc. Seems like a theme with the ones I know or I have heard my friends go to.

I personally would get a couple opinions from medical doctors.

My husband had visited a chiro years ago and it did help some but the chiro also suggested visiting the PCP if he thought it was needed. If this one were to say that his work prevents diseases and the flu etc, then bye bye. But everyone has their own beliefs. I have a friend-more acquantance really--that will not vaccinate. She got mad I would not let her by my kids when they were born, we have had arguments about vax but we still talk and get together.

There is some more recent research into the stroke risk but it has more to do with underlying issues not as a whole. For my sons, any chiro work they may consider when they are older will have to be very carefully coordinated because they have a bleeding disorder. Going to a chiro or even a massage can be deadly.

Many moons ago I worked as a worker's compensation claims rep. I dealt with dozens of chiropractors. The good ones, the honest ones, all said that "maintenance visits" were a crock. A good chiro will treat the underlying problem, and if they can't fix it in a reasonable period of time will refer you to a specialist. Anyone who says you need weekly/monthly maintenance visits is a scam. Either there is no underlying problem or they are simply relieving the symptoms for a little while and not treating the actual problem - you could accomplish that with ibuprofen a lot cheaper.

Since you like chiropractic and respond to it I highly recommend you look into Airrosti - it's a form of chiropractic that works heavily on the musculature and stretching/strengthening exercises. I've been for my running injuries, a friend went for headaches, it was nothing short of miraculous for each of us. I had trouble running for months, Airrosti fixed me in 3 visits. It's not cheap, but it works and it works quickly (usually).

My mother found me a chiropractor when I was 10 and had asthma so bad I would end up hospitalized several times a year. I fully believe that he "cured" my asthma. I never had another flare up that put me in the hospital. And eventually it stopped showing up all together. (Came back years later as an adult after I got pregnant but anyways...)

This guy was an old old school chiropractor and nutty as a fruit cake to boot. You know what?? My family didn't care because after my asthma cleared up everyone started going to see him and he fixed back problems and neck problems...he helped my family feel better and stay well.

He didn't believe in modern western medicine at all!! So my mom didn't talk with him about it just what he was doing for me or her...

I see them as two different types of health care. You can do both and don't talk about one with the other.

Given the paucity/absence of evidence that chiropractic is effective, I would err on the side of safety - NO neck manipulation. The 'old' evidence your chiropractor is disregarding is an article in Stroke published in 2014. The American Heart Association also issued a cautionary statement following the paper.

http://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/32/5/1054.abstract

I believe the quotations you place around the term medical professional are appropriate. Chiropractors are NOT medical professionals. Not unless they go to medical school.

My daughter sees about 7 specialists. (She has multiple, serious, medical problems). My personal preference for her doctors is: though they all may not 100% agree with each other, they all respect each other, and they all have her best interest at heart. For example, one of her doctors wants her to take some supplements. Another of her doctors says "I personally don't think those supplements work, but I do know that particular doctor is well-respected, and the supplements won't do any harm. I defer to that doctor and to your judgment". I don't want any of her doctors showing disrespect to the others.

I wouldn't want to see a doctor who thought that another doctor I was seeing was wrong, stupid, ignorant, or a crook. Many chiropractors see their treatments as part of the whole picture. They believe they can help with aching muscles or old injuries or a sore neck and shoulder, and they realize that adjusting your neck won't cure an infected toe or a yeast infection. And the primary doctor will realize that he or she can deal with your medical issues, and having a chiro to come alongside and give you some pain relief can be a good thing.

I think it was wrong of that chiro to speak up like that, because that's not his area of expertise. He didn't go to medical school. He shouldn't have gotten into the area of vaccinations, or Democrats vs Republicans, or which religion is better or whether New York pizza is better than Chicago's. He should be professional in his treatment towards you, which means: addressing your sore neck, and helping you be as pain-free as possible. And of course, your primary doctor shouldn't inflict any personal opinions on you, about the droughts, or whether the rents are too high. He should treat your physical body in the best way possible. That was very unprofessional of your chiro, in my opinion, and that would affect my whole opinion of his ethics and standards.

I have had good results with my chiropractor and so has my husband. My husband actually broke his back when he was breaking horses in his teens. A chiropractor is who was able to help him get to where he doesn't have chronic pain. When I brought him in, his daughter and I had to stand on either side of him supporting him to get him into the office.

I have also had the pleasure of working for osteopathic physicans. They are the same as MD's with the exception of the osteopath treating the body as a whole. If you went into an osteopath's office with back pain they would be more inclined to find the "root" of the problem rather than treat your symptoms. Personally, I like that philosophy and you will find DO's practicing in the same clinics as MD's. Years ago (25+) it was not uncommon to speak to an MD who looked down on DO's and called them in the same category as chiropractors.

My advise to you, if you're concerned adjustments could lead to strokes, is to get another opinion. I have a disease that makes me prone to strokes (blood clotting disorder) and because of my mother's family history, I have done extensive research on strokes. I have never come across anything that says that. If your confidence is shaken, then I think you need to look at that. My Chiro doesn't recommended the flu shot either. He recommends a good balanced diet and I followed a regimen that he gave me (extra c, d3 and zinc) and didn't get the flu even though I took care of my husband who had a bad case of it. My children didn't get it either. Is it because our immune systems are stronger? I don't know. My husband didn't want to follow my chiro's recommendations because he hates taking pills of any kind.

I know it's hard to discern the truth. I do believe docs tend to over medicate. I went to the doc with pain in my big toe. He said I had gout and wrote a prescription. I asked if there was a way to make sure (blood test or ?) and he said you can have a blood test but it's a waste of time. I know it's gout (I knew what it was from working with urologists and didn't think it was). When I called to check on my results it was negative. If I had started taking the medication, based on the dr.'s hunch, I would've been taking something I didn't need.

My thoughts are you know your body the best. You are your best health advocate.

Blessings!
L.

you've already made up your mind, despite saying you don't want a debate on the subject. and you yourself decided that he doesn't vaccinate due to autism worries, even though he didn't say that. most of my anti-vax friends don't take autism into account at all.
i'm weary of the fury and nastiness and misinformation being flouted on both sides, and don't believe for a second that you didn't want it with this post.
khairete
S. (who vaccinates but also thinks the flu vaccinations are a giant hoax)

adjustments have nothing to do with vaccinations. He completed school to learn how to adjust spines. I wouldn't change my opinions of him or his skillset because he didnt vaccinate his kids. If he has been helping you then I don't see a problem. I do agree with him that dr's are quick to medicate, and I also agree with the DR that the chiro's will usually do too much treatment to get the $. I love my chiro, he just tells us to come in when needed. I tried to go to another one and he wouldn't accept insurance unless I was on a family plan through his practice. I trust my chiro, I trust my dr. They are two different things.

I see a chiropractor and have since I was 17 and have never heard of adjustments causing strokes (not saying it is not true). I do go for chronic muscle pain in my shoulder and for well visits. My daughter and I go regularly (once a month) and we rarely get sick even though we are always exposed to people from all over the world (we live in the most popular vacation area). When we do get sick it is gone in about three days, I believe this is due to our well adjustments and healthy life style.

Like any other human being they will have their difference of opinions with regards to medicine (even regular medical doctors have different opinions).

I have read many medical papers and articles written by medical professionals (not chiropractors) that dispute the safety of so many vaccines (nothing to do with autism), due to how many chemicals used to make them, along with what is used to grow the viruses/bacteria's (bovine blood, etc.). I have also read many medical papers and articles by medical professionals praising them (also not chiropractors).

I think its important for Americans to remember that we have freedom of choice over our lives and that includes ALL medical decisions and procedures.

If you are at odds with this chiropractor then find a new one.
Just remember that each human has the right to make their own decisions about their own health no matter what.

I will tell you that I personally am against ANYONE being forced to get something they don't agree with like a shot (vaccine), pill, radiation, chemotherapy, etc..

I will always stand for someone's right to choose even if I don't agree with the choice. If people think there shouldn't be a choice at all then please go try living in a concentration camp or with ISIS.

I would never take medical advice from someone who didn't go to medical school.

I think "all or nothing" is a difficult position to sustain, whether it's medicine, chiropractic, acupuncture, nutrition, this diet or that diet (carbs/no carbs, sugar/no sugar, etc.) and so on.

I think your PCP's info is incomplete - my understanding of the "stroke" problem is that, with a lot of cracking of the neck, some patients (particularly the elderly and others with a large plaque build-up in the arteries), some plaque could be dislodged and cause a clot, which could cause a stroke. That's why a lot of practitioners don't do the cracking (which some call "Pop And Pray"), but do more gentle manipulation such as applied kinesiology. So you might look into that. Lots of MDs do refer patients to chiropractors, so your PCP's feelings aren't universal. In that regard, your chiropractor is correct that there wouldn't be a single practicing DC left.

Many chiropractors approach their practices with the idea that they deal in acute care, but that visits should taper off. I went to one who very clearly stated that, if I didn't have significant and measurable results in about 6 visits, then HE was doing something wrong. Maybe not a complete cure, but a big change. Now, you can argue the 6 visits vs. 4 vs. 10, but the idea is the same. But the same might be said of MDs - I had one doctor who did ridiculous tests to either drive up the cost (like an EKG every visit even though I had no heart problems, and a breast exam every visit which I thought was just abusive and ethically questionable and for which I reported him). So you can't throw out an entire field of study or practice because there are poor practitioners.

I'm with you on the vaccine issue. I think there's no excuse for this guy saying he won't vaccinate his kids - so they are at risk and they are exposing other people to diseases that were largely horrible for all who got them (measles, mumps, German measles, chicken pox, polio). I think you can argue the flu vaccine because there are so many strains and it doesn't seem to provide the protection that the other ones do. But the return of these epidemics because of a lack of belief in research is ridiculous.

That said, you don't have to agree with every single thing a practitioner says, in any field. No, a chiropractor didn't go to medical school, but your MD didn't go to chiropractic school or pharmacy school or massage school or physical therapy training, and many of these practitioners rely on each other for expertise and help. My mother broke her shoulder, and she needed coordinated services from an orthopedic surgeon, an Xray technician, surgical nurses, rehab physicians, rehab nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, personal care attendants, and home aides. Nobody said, "Don't listen to X or Y because that person didn't go to medical school."

I think the question for you is, are you getting benefit? Maybe you don't need to go every month, maybe you do. There's only one way to find out. But the same could be said of "maintenance medications" - I was told I needed to be on 3 different ones, but now I am off them and maintaining my health through a combination of other regimens. One PCP was very pro-medication and convinced me I had had a "silent heart attack" among other problems, but a cardiologist told me my bad EKG was based on faulty wiring in the leads (great - bad equipment). Another PCP in the same practice was thrilled with my improved lab results and positive changes (reduced breast cysts, better cholesterol, etc.) using supplements, and she told me to keep at it because she couldn't argue with success plus clinical trials. But it depends on the person, the medication, and other factors in the person's life and immune system. You might do well, for example, with a natural anti-inflammatory, some sort of exercise (yoga, strength training, stretching), and maybe fewer visits per year.

So it sounds like both your PCP and your DC are scared of the worst possible scenario. The PCP is afraid to endorse anything that might cause a stroke (whether or not there is evidence of that and without knowing what method your DC uses), but he doesn't know anything about chiropractic. Your DC is freaked out about the vaccine scare stories, but he has no info on real clinical data and didn't go to med school. Other doctors are scared to death of things like statin drugs, while others swear by them because they don't want to get sued by someone who died of high cholesterol. Some of them will look into alternatives like natural peptides from plants, some won't because they are either not open, not up on data, or afraid to endorse something outside the area covered by their malpractice insurance.

So I don't think you can look at any one practitioner as the expert on all things. You are the ultimate decision maker on your body.

The easy answer is that the chiropractor is not a "medical professional." They do not go to medical school. They do not have the knowledge or training that medical doctors have.

Frankly, I lump chiropractors in with quacks and snake oil salesmen (e.g. Mercola). That said, I generally thought that they were harmless. Given what he is now telling you, I might take back the "harmless" identifier.

You seem intelligent and thoughtful. If you really feel the need to continue visiting your chiropractor, you could always tell him that you are there only for the treatments and not for his other ignorant and uninformed opinions.

I personally think chiros are charlatans, but if you like your chiro and you feel better after he cracks your spine, keep going. But he is not an MD, so take any advice he gives you regarding medications with a grain of salt.
It isn't up to him whether you vaccinate your kids or not - that's your call and yours alone to make.

I think your observation is spot on. A good doctor - MD, DO, or chiropractor - will tell you that every therapy has risks and benefits, and will let you decide if the benefits outweigh the risks.

Your chiropractor, instead of acknowledging the real (published in 2014, not old), but small, risk of stroke after adjustment has chosen to demonize the entire traditional medical community rather than admit that his profession is not perfect. I would run away from this person because he is not honest with you.

FWIW, I have been to 2 chiropractors. One was someone who gave me a specified course of treatment for a specified period of time to deal with a specific problem. I respected her. Unfortunately, she left the group practice. I was transferred to another person in the group who made up additional problems that I did not have and tried to get me to commit to treatments for this fake problem, followed by maintenance treatments, into eternity. I left and will not go back.

I think you have to weigh the benefits of different treatment practices. My DH does go to a chiropractor sometimes, but doesn't give her as much weight in his day to day healthcare as his PCP. I knew someone in college who worked in a chiropractor's office, but the chiropractor was so anti-Western medicine she fired people (like my friend) who didn't 100% adhere to her no-meds philosophy. But not all of them are like that.

IMO, it is your choice to continue ANY treatment you feel is not beneficial in the way you need or not. My DH tried acupuncture for his back and it didn't work for him, so he didn't return. I'm sure his chiropractor would love to see him more often, but he does what he wants. You can also seek his advice ONLY on what you need (pain) and nothing else. I personally don't often get the flu shot, but I got my DD vaccinated, and I discussed that with her pediatrician. IMO, that kind of falls into "Thanks, Jiffy Lube. I only want an oil change and I'll take all other repairs to my regular mechanic."

IMO, it sounds like this works for you and has worked for 10 years. I would thank the PCP for his advisement, and I would tell the chiro that you only want him to work on your neck, as he has for a long time, and do not need his advice on other medical concerns. And then don't get into a tennis match between them.

I would hesitate to make it an "all or nothing" situation. I do believe in vaccines, and I do believe the flu shot is worth it. It may not be perfect or 100% effective, but I do believe it's better than no flu shot. But just because you and he disagree with those topics does not necessarily negate everything that he does or believes. I think you have to treat the topics separately.

I've never been to a chiropractor, so I don't know. But I also don't want to doubt the relief you have gotten. Would you feel comfortable talking to your PCP about other options ... just to learn about them, do some research, etc? That might be a good thing for you to do just for your own piece of mind.

I do understand your hesitations and why you are wondering if you can still trust him (the chiropractor). He is in the medical profession, but they all have their own specialty.

I get kidney stones (yay!) and see a urologist. I wouldn't ask my PCP advice about kidney stones, and I wouldn't ask my OB/GYN about heart disease.

Your PCP expressed concerns. That's fine, but let him/her point you towards a specialist in that field and ask more questions before making a decision.

Okay, here's my thinking about this.

Shame on ANY doctor who has you coming to see him or her once a month for 10 years. That's just ridiculous. You're helping him pay his rent. Your husband is right.

This doc has not gotten to the root cause for your spasms. Ten years of spasms? There is no way I'd put up with that from ANY doctor, and I believe in chiropractic.

You need to be figuring out what it is about your body that causes this issue. Have you ever done gentle yoga or stretching before? What do you do for exercise? What about deep tissue massage? One that doesn't mess with your spinal cord? If you were doing some gentle exercises that strengthened your back muscles over time, you wouldn't have problems with your spinal cord and wouldn't need all these adjustments. A physical therapist could help you with this, and a sports med doctor would send you to a PT to teach you what to do. It's a way to put you on a path of healing, rather than autopilot and letting someone DO something to your back.

About the rest. Look, NO chiropractor is going to admit to causing strokes. They'd be out of business as a profession and that's not going to happen. The fact that he harped on vaccinations and refuses to vaccinate his kids is a big clue as to why he chose alternative medicine, yet the way he practices shows no real caring for his patients. NO doctor who cares about the patient would keep them on the string for 10 years doing the same thing every month...

He can harp on the medical community all he wants, but when his children catch one of these diseases because there are so many like him who aren't vaccinating, it's a regular doc he'll end up taking his kids to if they have really bad cases of the diseases.

As far as the flu shot is concerned, we can really see the difference in flu shots that are on the mark, so to speak, when they get the formula right. We don't have great big flu epidemics. This year's flu shot was a bust and gee, it happens. But I'd rather us try our hardest to prevent the flu then just give up. People DIE from the flu, and countless hours of productivity are lost from people being out of work and not being able to take care of their families when they come down with it.

If I were you, I'd start a different GENTLE program and get some physical therapy. If you want to wean yourself from the adjustments while you're doing this new stuff, do that. This way you can ease into one treatment while easing out of another. But what I wouldn't do is continue going to this doctor without a end game plan for YOURSELF. He's not interested in an end game.
PS - And ditto Maria M. I like what she said about a physiatrist.

My pcp sent me to a chiro for issues with my shoulder. this one did not believe in maintenance visits and was honest and decent enough to tell me that if I was not feeling better is a few visits he would send me for pt. Four visits later , all of which believe it or not consisted of some exercises, there was significant improvement and I was discharged.

So, if I were in your shoes, I would consider finding another practitioner for your neck spasms. Frankly, this chiro should keep his opinions to himself regarding vaccinations and having worked in the health insurance industry for as long as I have, I'm inclined to agree with your husband.

This is not to say that all chiropractors are ...whatever.
; there are some decent ones. Also you may want to see an osteopath. Or physiatrist, an MD that deals with orthopedic issues nonsurgically --worked wonders for my arthritic knees with shots and a referal to pt, where his orthopedist cohorts only told me to lose weight and exercise (and yeah, now that the pain is almost null and void, I can exercise)

I hope I made sense

Good luck and feel better

I think it's common for chiropractors to have a somewhat alternative medical point of view.

If you've been going to the same guy for a decade, and it's helping you, and you haven't gotten a stroke yet, then keep going to him. Don't worry if your medical philosophy is different from his. I'm not personally into chiropractors, but if you like it, go for it.

I once saw a chiropractor's flyer that claimed that he could cure all kind of things, including AIDS. This was over two decades ago, before there was any real prevention for AIDS. I was astounded at such a claim.

Perhaps find a DO (which is a medical doctor) that is certified in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. Basically an MD with medically verified chiro experience. My husband is currently in Med School and not all DO docs do OMM, but those that do are great. See if you can find one and switch. He is not a doctor, and he's throwing things at you out of left field.

to answer your actual question: how can I trust him about it being safe when I think he is so off base on this other topic?

In my personal opinion you can't. People will say that someones personal beliefs have nothing to do with their professional practice. But I don't know that I share that view regarding someone whose very job it is to provide you their opinion based on their knowledge, understanding and opinion on a wide variety of subjects that affect your personal health.

People who are very far off mainstream worry me a bit. Personally - alternative philosophies and experimental methods can be life-changing and, in some cases, life saving. Large breakthroughs in medicine are made because someone questioned the status quo. However, science tends to be science and it worries me when people start refuting a scientific premise with an irrational and illogical "emotional' argument.

My dad had an intern in his office whose father suffered a stroke while on the chiropractor's table. My former piano teacher had to have major back surgery after some botched chiropractic treatments. I know some people swear by chiropractic care. I'm pretty skeptical of it. I've dealt with back pain for years. I've never seen a chiropractor. I've used massage therapy and even physical therapy. I personally would not ever consider a chiropractor.

Two points and I won't give you any more information...

Look at the difference between the malpractice insurance payments. My OB/GYN pays a half a million dollars a year in malpractice insurance (I worked for her so I've seen the premium). My chiropractor ( that I now work for) pays $350.00 a year. Actuaries are paid big money to get these things right....

Next point is the chiropractor is citing information from the manufacturers vaccine insert (not anecdotal evidence) information the manufacturer states as fact. I will defend your right to vaccinate...they are your kids, but read the entirety of the vaccine insert, not just the "contraindications."

My two cents...
M. :)

I'm more inclined to trust someone whom I've seen for 10 years, with good results, than I am a PCP who sees me 15-30 minutes, tops, every year.

I see a chiro and it's the ONLY thing that has ever helped my neck issues. My orthopedic MD basically gave me pain meds and said good luck.

That's not to say that there aren't bad chiros out there - like any profession there are bad apples.

Mainstream medicine has its place, too. I would ask the PCP for a link to a copy of the study so you can read it yourself.

Good luck.

You can never know who to believe a100%.

A good chiropractor will treat your issue over a period of a few weeks and then you're good. Unless you have some severe spinal issue like my husband did after a horrible auto accident, maintenance really doens't do anything. But chiropractic can be very helpful in a lot of things and I know some are very good, others are less so. I would reduce your chiro visits and see how things go. My husband has his own TENS unit to do electrical stimuli at home - saves a huge amount of time too.

As for doctors - sure there's some truth to what the chiropractor says. But modern medicine and "big pharma" does save lives and improve quality of life. Diabetics needs insulin, people with MS need expensive drugs, those with sever arthritis live normal lives with good Rx as do people with mentla health problems. Immunizations save lives. Talk to any senior citizen who remembers polio, measles and whooping cough outbreaks and ask how many children died or were handicapped for life. Every one of those seniors rushed to get their own kids immunized when they were first developed..

If you treat your body crappily and then expect pills and surgery to fix you you're not using modern medicine the right way. But if you take care of yourself and get medicine only when really needed and surgery hardly ever you have a good balance.

I have a good friend who is a chiropractor, and I have been treated by him now and then for neck/back issues. He solidly believes that chiropractors who keep people coming back week after week aren't doing their jobs and are keeping the cash coming in for reasons other than their concern for your health.

Give it a try not going to him for a month or two and see how you feel. In my opinion, he is worse than the doctors he derides for their practices, because he hasn't fixed you at all. He merely made you a regular. The PCPs I know don't want to do that. They want you to take care of yourself well so you don't HAVE to go to the doctor all the time.

I'd ask your doctor for a link to the study s/he referenced about chiropractic and strokes. Ask if the study explored why some people get strokes and some do not (age, build, gender?). It's worth exploring further, certainly. Read the study, and read any follow-up studies (but make sure they're reputable - ask your doctor for help with this).

That being said, my overriding thought is that I'd consider any practitioner a quack who doesn't "believe" in something that is as mainstream and thoroughly researched as vaccines. Your chiropractor does not understand double-blind, peer-reviewed science. His view on any study, therefore, is suspect.

In addition, unless you have some kind of major structural problem (scoliosis? Crushed discs? Broken bones that healed incorrectly?), why in the world has this problem not been totally resolved in over a decade? Does that indicate a competent level of medical care, really? Any industry that's set up to ensure that you have to keep coming back every month forever is also suspect, in my opinion. Presuming that you are not structurally deformed, continuing back spasms could indicate other health problems (like hypothyroid, just off the top of my head). It's worth exploring that with your GP and possibly an orthopedic specialist (if your issue is, in fact, due to an actual structural issue).

Your post seems to indicate that somehow you don't want to change chiropractors (you write that you're "not really asking" if you should change) but instead are asking "how can I trust him" as a chiropractor if he's so off base on other things.

But why wouldn't you change chiropractors over this? It sounds like you're seeking some answers to justify staying with him for treatment while you abhor his other beliefs. Stop trying to find a reason to trust him and take your health and your money elsewhere.

I don't use chiropractics but my brother swears by it, and I have no issue with folks who say it works for them. But even my brother, who has had it for years, agrees that chiropractors get you for life -- there are always more adjustments they say you must get done. Your husband sounds suspicious of that. I would try going to yoga etc. for a time and possibly working with a doctor if you haven't lately. If it's gone on for a decade, when is the last time you got a diagnosis or tests from a doctor? A chiro will tell you it's all fine if you just get the right adjustments, and yes, adjustments do help for a time, but I'd want to delve into whether there is more going on, if the pain keeps returning.

Hi L.,

Do you know what the route cause of your spasms are?

My son had spasmodic torticollis which was pretty severe. He could only look one way. He had was seen by the top experts here and we did physiotherapy. We actually were able to keep it under control just by special exercises we had to do and stretching. It was extremely painful at times. No one ever mentioned a chiropractor for it. I'm sure they probably align the spine somehow and maybe that helps, but we saw many specialists, and it was never discussed.

My sister has intense TMJ with migraines and her whole face will clench up as well as her neck and shoulder. She has had Botox injections (huge help) and she did a mouth guard or bite plate at night. She had no idea she was clenching her teeth in her sleep. She didn't grind, just clenched. It would cause these horrible spasms. It was her dentist who said she had too much wear on her molars and she was sent to the leading dental specialist here. She does stretches that relax her jaw, neck and shoulder.

A friend has Parkinson's disease and has spasms from Dystonia in her neck. I think it's similar to what my son had. She takes medication for it and does stretching.

While I am not discrediting a chiropractor (and I have never used one so I can't comment), I think after ten years, maybe it's time to try other methods? See if they are more effective?

That's what I would suggest. And if you need more tests to figure out why you're getting neck spasms, that's your best bet (unless you already know).

Good luck :) I know they're horrible so I feel for you.

His personal beliefs have absolutely nothing to do with how he treats his patients. Period. It's his business and none of yours and he should have kept his mouth shut.

Medical doctors stay in business because they keep their patients coming back for various things. If their patients are able to control pain and feel better without seeing them they lose money and aren't able to stay in business so his comments were self serving.

IF chiropractic care caused strokes wouldn't you have already had them? Wouldn't you have first hand knowledge of that effect?

D.O.s are good docs. I was born in an Osteopathic Hospital in OKC. I grew up going to D.O.s and never saw an MD until I was in College. I was totally shocked they didn't fix me when I was in pain. They gave me pain meds and told me to go home and to bed for 3 weeks then come back. I went to my D.O. and he gave me a shot of muscle relaxer in my back then massaged my back then put heat on it. He felt around on my back and found what was out of place. He stretched me and moved me, not an adjustment like a chiropractor but like he was trying to put a bone back in place. I was fixed and didn't go to bed and didn't take a bottle full of narcotics.

You have found what works for you. Stick with it and don't let other people's opinions sway you. Too much information is just as confusing as hearing things and not doing any research.

I took a class called "How to lie with statistics". Basically the class showed that any person who looks hard enough can find a citation where they can say they've found a statistic that shows the danger or positive outcomes that could happen. Anyone can make up anything and show the statistics but that really doesn't mean anything.
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I vaccinated and have no doubt that some children do have side effects from the shots. I do not believe kids that have autism got it from having vaccinations.

For that to be true every single child in the world that has a diagnosis of autism would have to have had the exact same shots....so it's not possible. There are children who have been diagnosed with autism that have never had a shot in their life. So there is no way there is a cause and effect here.