Are chiropractors MD's. ?

[Teacher Terry]

So here's a question: If you were going to see a physical therapist and learned that she had a doctorate in PT, (like mine is) would you ask if she was a MD?

You know that the schooling, training and depth of knowledge required is nowhere equal to that of an MD. Not by a long shot.

Would you change your mind about seeing her? Would you be concerned knowing she wasn't a MD?
Would your mind say that she is not a "real" doctor?
Would you deride her for claiming to be a doctor?

In many ways, a chiropractor is pretty much a physical therapist with a doctorate and a lot more training. Frankly I don't see much difference. Dentists and eye doctors are doctors but I wouldn't want them removing my appendix.

I've even had physical therapists perform the same adjustments that my chiropractor does.

You are absolutely correct!! I have soft tissue damage from a number of car accidents and would be in a lot of pain without my chiropractor. When my neck is out, I get a nonstop headache, and when my back is out, one of my hips is higher than the other. A medical doctor could not relieve either of these items and I walk out of my chiropractor‘s office 15 minutes after entering it and both problems are solved. The headache doesn’t immediately go away, but it’s diminished and once I either take a nap or go to bed that night I wake up the next morning without it.

Once I was out of town and not able to see my chiropractor and I had a nonstop headache for three weeks straight. It was awful. Both doctors and chiropractors have a place in our medical system.

 

[RetiredHappy]

I didn't hold any regard for chiropractors until I developed a herniated disk in my neck. I went to PCP, urgent care and ER with it and didn't get anything other than bills. I finally went to a chiropractor and he made it where I could survive. I'll always have issues with it but at least I can live with it now.

But with a herniated disk, you were not seeing the right doctors. PCP, urgent care and ER are not able to do anything. You should have gone to an orthopedist, spine doctor or a neurosurgeon.

 

[Flyfish1]

But with a herniated disk, you were not seeing the right doctors. PCP, urgent care and ER are not able to do anything. You should have gone to an orthopedist, spine doctor or a neurosurgeon.

Exactamundo! I was trying to stay out of this discussion, since I'm a retired MD. My med school roommate and lifetime friend is an Ortho Spine Doc, who trained in NYC and did a fellowship at HSS. Way back when there was a Chiro who did a radio show and would take calls from " patients". My friend and his fellow Orthos would call in with a scenario and easily trap the fool into an absolute disastrous outcome. I think they have a place with minor things, but not my spine -ever.

 

[FD1000]

The following video is the best way to heal back pain. It's called the Mckenzi method and practiced around the world. I healed my back and many basketball players. It also helps to relieve neck pain

You can buy a used book at Amazon. See the book (link).

The best posture is the cobra (link). I do it when I have back pain after lifting, working in the yard, or at any time. I hold for 30-60 seconds, and it's gone. In severe cases you have to do it 6 times per day, 30 seconds each and usually, the pain is gone in 4-5 days. That also includes sciatica.

Just watch.

.

 

[groesbeck]

But with a herniated disk, you were not seeing the right doctors. PCP, urgent care and ER are not able to do anything. You should have gone to an orthopedist, spine doctor or a neurosurgeon.

I agree - and you'd think one of them would have told me that. I didn't know what to do at the time since I've not been to medical school. The first doctor I went to was at urgent care. He diagnosed me with a herniated disk, gave me muscle relaxers and told me if I went to the ER they might do an MRI. I went to the ER the next day because I could barely move well enough to get dressed. ER doctor didn't do anything other than give me opioids and a bill for $600. I took a few of the opioids and they didn't seem to do much. I didn't have a PCP so I found one and went to see him and he gave me gabapentin which didn't do anything.

I was recommended to see a chiropractor by a friend. Had one of the 3 MDs told me to see the correct specialist I'd have done that.

 

[jrendt]

OP here. The reason I ask is that I have been suffering from a type of arthrithis for 2 years, PMR. A friend of mine heard it and talked to his "chiropractor" buddy and said he'd get me an answer. His chiropractor buddy said "I've never heard of PMR, let me look it up. Within an hour he had a cure for me and for $150 a treatment he'dhave me cured!!

For the past two years I've been seeing a Reumataligist who spent 20 years at the Mayo Clinic before meeting me. We meet every three months and he knows my blood work better than I can say. I am in daily pain, a lot. Thats how this works I'm told.

A chiropractor told me to leave him and let him take care of me. Your thoughts?

 

[jrendt]

OP here. The reason I ask is that I have been suffering from a type of arthrithis for 2 years, PMR. A friend of mine heard it and talked to his "chiropractor" buddy and said he'd get me an answer. His chiropractor buddy said "I've never heard of PMR, let me look it up. Within an hour he had a cure for me and for $150 a treatment he'dhave me cured!!

For the past two years I've been seeing a Reumataligist who spent 20 years at the Mayo Clinic before meeting me. We meet every three months and he knows my blood work better than I can say. I am in daily pain, a lot. Thats how this works I'm told.

A chiropractor told me to leave him and let him take care of me. Your thoughts?

I was married to a Rheumatologist for 20 years. There is no way a chiropractor is qualified to treat Polymyalgia rheumatica. Back pain from a pinched disk or muscle strain yeah, but not an inflammatory disease with comorbidities like Giant Cell Arteritis.

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[indiajust]

No. That's why they are cheaper. Not as regulated, much better with cash and posted prices. Less likely to bother with insurance. Responsive to customers. Less systemic deadweight.