Seeking advice on Back Surgery.

PeteG · #22 08-16-2006, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by titanx5

I hope you are now better informed about your current situation and management options. Since none of us have seen you clinically nor look at any of your studies we can only speculate on what we would recommend. But as I have said prior always try conservative treatment until it fails.

As in regards to alternative/non surgical options, by all means try them and see what happens. Just realized that there are many comfounding variables to the effectiveness of the treatment. Because most people with acute disk herniation will get better on their own, so if they got some sort of physical therapy/chiro its hard to say what really helped. Also after getting treatment for one hour of course everyone feels better. I have never gone to a chiro, but i sure do feel better after a massage.

I do not see many agreement when it comes to opinion by the cutters versus chriopractors. I must admit I pretty much know next to nothing on their practice. But chiro/spinal manipulation is not as benign as people think it is. For example the literature has extensive series about cartoid/veterbral dissection with c-spine manipulation and I have taken care of a vert dissection after manipulation. I am one that do not think there is a chiropractic solution to everything, unless one can tell me they can fix a grade 3 spondy

Hope all this helps

Ok, I have to respond to this one. One of the many rumors that fly around about chiropractic care is this issue of vertebral artery dissection following an adjustment. I realize, as you admitted, that you do not know much about our practice. My purpose here is only to shed some light on this issue.

First of all, a true study of the literature out there shows very little evidence that chiropractic care causes such an incident. Just follow these links:

http://www.worldchiropracticalliance...ons/stroke.htm

http://www.worldchiropracticalliance...okestudies.htm

http://www.chiropracticissafe.com/

My malpractice insurance (excellent coverage, zero incidents in 12 years) is a small fraction of any MD's malpractice insurance. I pay less in malpractice premiums than most board members pay for car insurance. If we were causing such events, insurance companies would not be giving us such low premiums. Trust me.

Also, you claim that the dissection you repaired was following a "c-spine manipulation." Chiropractors are the only professionals trained to deliver a highly specific adjustment. A manipulation is a non-specific mobilization procedure performed by DO's, and often by unskilled professionals. An adjustement and a manipulation are NOT the same thing.

Also, you begin by saying you know "next to nothing" regarding the principles or practice of chiropractic, then go on to say that "I am one that doesn't think there is a chiropractic solution to everything.." That is a common problem run into with the medical profession these days, giving patients opinions and misinformed statements about what we do and how we do it without knowing any of the facts about our practice. I have MANY patients that are MD's, nurses, PA's, PT's, etc. The reason they come in for care is that they have taken the time to learn the facts, experience the care and get the results. In the future, please take the time to find out the facts and make informed statements before you pass information on to patients and to the public. Remember we are here with our patient's best interests in mind. Sometimes there are things out there not delivered by the medical profession which are to the patient's best benefit.