what are the risks/dangers of chiropractic treatments?

Answer 1

Chiropractic adjustments are one of the safest forms of healthcare. However, like all 'interventions' there is some risk.

The most common 'risk' is a few days of soreness as the body/muscles adjust to the change in function. A rare risk is the possibility of 'separating a rib' (known as a costo-chondral separation). This is painful (like a broken rib) for about 3 to 6 weeks, but normally heals on its own without any long-term complications.

An extremely rare risk is damage to the vertebral arteries in the neck. This can result in a stroke-like syndrome. This condition is so rare that numerous studies in the early 1990s were unable to determine how often it actually occurs (scientifically known as 'incidence'). More people are killed by lightening strikes in the U.S. each year than are injured by this very rare event.

For comparison, it has been reported in the scientific literature that common pain killers like Advil and Motrin KILL at least 16,500 Americans every year (and the number may be as high as 30,000). The Journal of the American Medical Association just reported last week that serious side-effects from prescription drugs cause over 700,000 emergency room visits every year. So, by any comparative standard, Chiropractic spinal adjusting is very, very safe.

Best wishes. Hope this is helpful for you. I am a retired Chiropractor.

Answer 2

Hi I am actually a chiropractic student at NYCC in upstate New York. I can see and understand your hesitation towards chiropractic care. Chiropractors do more than just "crack"/ adjust/ or manipulate your neck. Chiropractors can actually do things like pin and stretch, ultrasound, ConnecTX, cold laser, Russian/Biphasic stimulation and more since it can be more of a soft tissue or muscular injury that does not need a cervical or neck adjustment. Also if it is more serious than Chiropractors are actually allowed under their sphere of practice to get x-rays or MRIs and CTs to make sure there is not a fracture, vertebral slippage or even a disc herniation. As a conservative and wellness profession, we can actually do a lot without the use of medication. As for the stroke concerns, there is very little scientific evidence that shows that chiropractors even cause strokes or are related to them. I do advise that there is a risk of it but as I said it is rare with a extremely low likelihood that it a stroke would occur. Through chiropractic colleges like NYCC, we actually practice on each other throughout our years of schooling and are very well trained to sight red flags for patients with risks of stroke and to detect if the patient did have a risk at the chance that an adjustment had caused one. At the bottom of this comment I have attached a site to several articles about the risks and benefits of chiropractic care and its relations to stroke. I hope this helps and if you have further questions I am sure I will check back in a couple of days to check comments for questions.

http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/stroke.shtml#Links

Answer 3

Providing you choose a properly trained and accredited practictioner then there should be no risks... in fact you should feel great. But accidents have happened (usually at the hands of charletans) so just choose carefully.

Answer 4

The risk is having a serious condition, getting a back adjustment that makes you feel better, and not being referred to a specialist for a serious problem that needs imediate treatment.

It happens.

Answer 5

I have never nor will ever go to one of these. Something about cracking bones and my RA that doesn't sound apealing.....Are they considered REAL doctors now? They never used to be?....

Answer 6

feeling better