chiropractor for infection prevention

[dadofandrew]

Like many in my age group, I grew up at a time when many believed chiropractors were either fake or "adjusted" injuries just enough to require 2-3 visits a week. I have never gone to one, but have never had the need either. My son has had strep throat 3 times this year, just got over pneumonia, and has had allergies often his entire life.

 

Has anyone had success with any form of alternative medical provider? I talk to many seniors each day, and they often tell me they've had luck with sinus infections, and other illnesses you would not usually associate with a chiropractor, including ear infections, sore throats, and the like.

[pretendastronaut]

My sister is a chiropractor in Iowa and she speaks frequently about preventing infections this way. She doesn't do adjustments on children herself, but she does take her son to another chiropractor.

 

I never really thought about it until this moment, but we have twins, and the older of them had torticollis and he saw a chiropractor for a short while. The younger one never saw a chiropractor, and he needed anitbotics a couple of times this winter, that the older one didn't.

[Fatter than Joey]

Hey AL --

 

Sorry to hear that your big man isn't feeling well.....

 

Here are some thoughts ---

 

1.) As you are probably aware, the scientific community doesn't provide a lot of evidence that chiropractics is effective in reducing infections.

 

2.) Taking a growing boy to a chiropractor is probably a borderline dangerous proposition with little payoff.

 

3.) I understand that a lot of chronic infections are caused by fluids building up, and not draining properly -- It is a feasible that an "adjustment" could cause fluids to drain, however, the specialist you probably need to see is an ears/throat/nose expert.

[Brian the Automator]

I'm not sure about chiropractors, but I've heard that acupuncture has worked wonders for people. I had acupuncture done once, and it didn't do a thing... However, I know a guy that had a completely wrecked back, and acupuncture was a magic bullet.

 

I'm the kind of guy who prefers western medicine, but I don't think acupuncture wasn't all that expensive. I'm won't claim it's going to cure all that ails your son, but if you're really frustrated, it's worth a shot. It's not like a chiropractor where there's a chance that something could go horribly wrong.

 

Best of luck to you and your son.

[RyDogg66]

Why not consider voodoo? Its about as effective as chiropractors.

[lodiness]

I've actually done acupuncture quite a bit. When I messed up my back really bad, they do the acupuncture under a heat lamp and then give you a deep tissue massage that really helped. I've also gone for shoulder problems, to stop smoking (if you do this, go the recomended number of times, usually 2 or 3), and just for stress relief. Also many acupuncturists will have chinese herbs that help quite a bit. I used to take this thing called Purged heat. Tasted like crap, but it gave me tons of energy during the day, and then I could sleep at night no problem, just made me feel a lot better. I would definitely give it a try, and sometimes your insurance will cover it if your doctor gives you a referal.I'm not big on western medicine, so this is the route that I took, and it works well for me. If your in the Madison area check out Beijing Accupuncture. It's on University Ave. down by Sonic in Middleton.

[mothershipconnection]

but I've heard that acupuncture has worked wonders for people. I had acupuncture done once, and it didn't do a thing... However, I know a guy that had a completely wrecked back, and acupuncture was a magic bullet.

 

The problem for them is that placebo acupuncture works just as well as "professional" acupuncture. I'd stick with treatments that work in demonstrable, well-understood, falsifiable ways instead of magical subluxations and chakras. If a medical treatment has had decades or centuries to be scientifically-validated and its practitioners and proponents have failed to prove an effect, it's best to not waste your money on it.

 

Regarding home remedies for allergies, I use a sinus rinse bottle with kosher salt dissolved in warm water and it's great. Pretty much every doctor I've talked to about my allergies and sinus infections recommended it. However, it didn't work as well as switching from cigs to chaw.

[dadofandrew]

FTJ, I'm a little curious as to why you think it would be cruel to take a 7 year-old to a chiro...I've never been to one, but I cannot believe they are scary...painful perhaps?

 

Thanks to the others, I do not think he'd go for acupuncture, as he feels fine as soon as his antibiotics begin, so he has no incentive to accept a bunch of needles.

[Brian the Automator]

The thing with acupuncture is that the needles are SO thin that you don't feel them. Although, I'm sure just the thought of it would freak him out.

[Fatter than Joey]

FTJ, I'm a little curious as to why you think it would be cruel to take a 7 year-old to a chiro...

 

I am not sure I used the word "cruel" -- I'd rather take my growing child to an actual doctor -- for example a ear/throat specialist, than let my growing son be exposed to the dangers of spinal adjustment.

[pretendastronaut]

A response from my sister;

 

 

DadofAndrew...

I am that chiropractor that pretendastronaut is talking about. Chiropractic is a very SAFE and effective way to help the body function and heal the way it is supposed to. The bottom line about chiropractic is this: The body was made to be able to heal and be a self regulating organism. The brain controls ALL functions in the body and does this through the spinal cord and nerve system. When there is interference in this communication pathway (usually a spinal bone out of position), the body starts to display outward signs or symptoms. Chiropractic very gently removes this interference which allows the body to be able to heal and function correctly again. Your son's immune system is down for some reason and while the antibiotics will definitely help his symptoms, they are not correcting the problem. If you are interested in knowing more I would be glad to share. There are many different chiropractors out there so you do want to make sure you are going to someone you trust and has worked on children before. I happen to know a few great ones in the Milwaukee area.

 

And I am not sure why my brother thinks I don't adjust kids. My son is a year old and I adjust him once a month. (I do have others check him when they are around as well) About 20% of my patient popluation is kids and they get great results fast because they don't have the years of degeneration and trauma that we do.

 

And PS..Chiropractors are REAL doctors..we actually have more hours in a classroom than MDs.

[sgtcluels]

I think MSC hit it on the head. Placebo effect.

 

I have a friend whos' a quack Chiropractor and she's insane about it. It seems more a cult then anything else, you believe it'll cure you so you feel better in the abstract. For instance, I had severe back pain, numbness in my feet and lack of mobility. MRI revealed 1 L4-L5 acute herniation pressing on the S1 nerve root, 1 severe herniation in L5 - S1 and a buldge in L3-L4. I was told by my neurologist that I'd require surgery, Chiropractor said a 6months to a year with therapy it would fix it. My body would absorb the damaged disc tissue.

 

Lets see... 6 - 12 months of high dose drugs to cure the pain plus adjustments for a year, or surgery the correct the issue with a 99% success rate. I went with Surgery and it changed my life. I'm afraid of Chiropractors, a twist of the back can't cure everything. And most importantly, I had a friend who went to a Chiropractor, got adjusted and ended up having to go to the emergency room that evening due to severe back pain.

 

Chiropractors are just holistic healers. There's a reason why Western medicine has migrated to the scientific method.

[Fatter than Joey]

The body was made to be able to heal and be a self regulating organism.

 

By who? -- Everyone's body is different, and some do not have the ability to heal.

 

It seems more a cult then anything else,

 

Its origin stem from religion rather than science.

 

And PS..Chiropractors are REAL doctors..we actually have more hours in a classroom than MDs.

 

You are not real medical doctors -- and that's the bottom line.

[Crew2323]

There are quack chiropractors just like there are some quack doctors. So I think it is wise to do research on chiropractors just as you would a doctor. We tend to trust a doctor more who attended a well respected medical school. So the same could be said for those who attend well respected chiropractic schools.

 

My family and I go to a chiropractor, and he went to a well respected chiropractic school. We were at first skeptical about using a chiropractor. But when our daughter was born her hip was a bit out of place. The pediatrician who checked on her while she was in the hospital didn't see anything wrong. We even went back to him because she would constantly cry when riding in the car and would be constipated for days at a time, but the pediatrician didn't find anything. He thought she just had colic. So we went to the chiropractor as a last ditch effort, and he found her hip was out of socket, and it was in the process way causing her constipation. So no more than 30 minutes after every appointment (which at that time was twice a week to correct her hip), she would have a blowout in her diaper.

 

Later, our daughter had a fever for five days. It seemingly broke 3 times, only to come back. We went to our chiropractor, he adjusted her, and the next day her fever was gone. My wife had a history of migrane headaches, and now after going to a chiropractor once a month for the last few years, she hasn't had a migrane since.

 

I can only share my experiences, but I would recommend chiropractic to anyone. But do your homework before going to just any chiropractor.

[DSFastball55]

Calling chiropractors quacks or whatever is pure ignorance.

I have first-hand knowledge that they can be more effective in some cases than traditional doctors. Just one of several examples I could give involves my mother. Her back had bothered her for months and she had been given pain meds by a medical doctor that helped but really only masked the problem. I convinced her to try a chiropractor, and after one visit a week for six weeks, her back pain is completely gone. That was two years ago, and the pain has not returned.

[dadofandrew]

How would I decide on a "good" chiropractor?

 

FYI, he has been to a ear/nose/throat guy, who found nothing. He only suggested my wife and I be checked to see if we were "silent carriers", having the strep germ and not the symptoms. We weren't.

 

Thank you for having your sister write that, PA, appreciate it.

 

I will continue to look into both sides. As she stated, just waiting for him to get sick and throwing Amoxicillin in him seems a bit 1960's to me. Being proactive makes sense.

[yount19.u]

How would I decide on a "good" chiropractor?

If one of the first questions they ask is "is this visit the result of an auto accident?" don't go there. A treatment schedule that differs depending on whether or not someones car insurance is involve is a red flag. Being on the insurance side of things, I've seen many crooked chiropractors milk patients' insurance in order to get paid for treatment schedules they would not normally recommend to cash customers. With that being said, I see a chiropractor myself, on occasion, and do feel they offer many alternative health benefits if you want to avoid the drug and surgery alternative.

 

My advise would be to avoid any chiropractor who feels they are a medical doctor and feels chiropractic care is the only solution. A good chiropractor knows their limitations and is willing to give the pros and cons of chiropractic treatment. Being the father of a young one myself, if I had second thoughts about traditional treatments for my child, I would ask my family physician. I've found that more doctors are becoming more open minded to alternative treatments and are willing to recommend alternative healers like chiropractors or herbalists. As long as you trust your family doctor, it can't hurt to ask.

[pretendastronaut]

dadofandrew, my sister said she would be glad to gather some names for you, of people she would would talk to. Let me know.

[NelsonR]

And PS..Chiropractors are REAL doctors..we actually have more hours in a classroom than MDs.

My daughter's MD did her hours of classroom work at the University of Wisconsin Medical School. For some reason I doubt the hours that chiropractors put in at the Palmer College of Chiropractors @ Davenport, IA are equivalent.

[dadofandrew]

PA, if she knows anyone in the Wausau area, shoot me a PM.

[DuWayne Steurer]

I had back problems for years. I subsequently was going to a chiropractor for years. I finally went to a doctor. I got a cortisone shot, followed by 6 weeks of therapy. My back has been fine 99% of the time since then.

 

I had tendonitis in my right elbow. At the urging of my holistic healing crazy boss, I went to a chiropractor for a few months. I questioned this method of treatment, and asked the chiropractor and his junior partners if they would have the ability to diagnose and refer me to a real doctor if he felt I wasn't responding to chiropractic treatment. He assured me that he would.

 

I went to a real doctor after 3 unseccesful months of chiro treatment (as well as to the visible disgust of the chiro who thought I was "resonding well"), and my elbow was in such terrible shape, they had to do TJ surgery. This was likely caused by the delay in seeking actual medical help.

 

I don't doubt that there's chiropractors out there who ply their craft skillfully, and to the benefit of many of their patients. I do strongly doubt that it's a catch all wonder cure for just about everything that many chiro's claim it to be.

[whizkid]

just waiting for him to get sick and throwing Amoxicillin in him seems a bit 1960's to me.

 

It makes some logical sense that there might be a benefit in certain instances of back pain or leg pain from back problems. I can't decide though if chiropractors being able to reduce or prevent infections is more 19th century PT Barnum or 17th century witchcraft. The '60s are more recent. I won't even bother to comment on the chiropractors are real doctors remark. If you're not happy with your ENT try another.

[DuWayne Steurer]

My previous post offered nothing in the way of constructive solutions, so I'm back.

 

As far as pre-emptive methods, one thing I'd look at is diet. The way you eat can have a lot do with how well your immune system functions. Altering the diet, as well as potentially including some children's vitamins might go a long way towards promoting better health and immune systems ability to fight off or prevent infection.

 

As far as specifics, I'd talk to your son's doctor (or a different doctor, if you're losing patience)

[Jimbo]

My chiropractor mentioned children who went through difficult deliveries are subject to infections due to physicians grabbing the head and twisting to get it out of the womb, leaving the vertebrae misaligned.

[Katuluu]