Take in Lewis's _Elmer Gantry_ some time.

* * *

The chiropractor I saw last week after my orthopedist told me to wait out my condition (bulging disk, pinched sciatic nerve) must be lazy, or honest.

I was weirded out enough by some of the stuff he said that I'm certainly not giving up on Real Medicine, but he *did* note some weak butt and thigh muscles (palpably flabby on the effected side) that nicely explains why *sitting* hurts like hell. When I tense up those muscles the pain becomes tolerable.

He said there was nothing wrong that wouldn't go away with time, but gave me a couple of exercise routines to build up my thigh and told me to check back in a couple of weeks.

Of course, if he offers to clear up my allergies with Adjustments I'm running like hell.

You might already be familiar with it, but if you want to read more about chiropractic bad practice, go to www.chirobase.org and its associated www.quackwatch.com.

I have chronic low back trouble (bad posture and
being fat don't help that) but, every once in a while, get really severe pain in the upper back
(to the point that all I can do is sit in a chair - luckily, it goes away in about a day).

I did go see a chiropractor about it, got a few weeks of massage, some neck adjustments, and the recommendation to rearrange my desk at work (not keeping your hands lower than your elbows when you type can cause upper back trouble).

The main thing to me that seemed pointless was
having a brief massage with a little device that
bounced sonor into my muscles. I can't say
that did anything for me.

But when I said I felt fine, that was fine. No problem.

My own motive for going was to experience a new (for me) body-work technique, and to get some minor back grumbles attended to. At the initial consultation, he said "a few treatments" and he's stuck to that.

The wall of the waiting room displays some "principles" authored by L. Ron Hubbard (run away!!), but the individual practitioner is sound enough. To affirm Mary Kay Kare's position, I went in with a clear idea, on what basis I was allowing this treatment.

And yeah, Laurie Mann, brilliant massages!

Crazy(but tries to be civil when anonymous)Soph

As to chiropractery--there's good, bad, and chicanery. And as someone up above noted, it's hard to know which is which until somewhere along in treatment.

But isn't that the same with doctors? Who hand out Lipitor (still) for cholesterol problems as if it's candy. And ghu knows how many folks have horror stories attached to that drug.

Jane

Vic, if you'll run your pointer over the link I posted, you'll find that it's part of the www.chirobase.org site.

All: I have no doubt that chiropractors do some good. Many people in my family suffer from something-or-other that causes our backs to get out of whack. One or two applications of gentle pressure, your back makes a noise like popcorn popping, and suddenly Everything Feels Much Better. This is totally alien stuff to Patrick, but he's gotten pretty good at doing it for me.

These days the worst quacks tend to be working other lines (viz., selling colloidal silver as a cure-all via high-pressure MLM plans). What fascinated me about that chapter wasn't what it said about chiropractic practice, but rather the broadly applicable general principles of quackery. The "Yet disease" gambit is a work of art. So is "How long has it been since you really felt good?"

I'd love to get a look at Parker's textbook.

My brother went to Lafyette and was head of the student group that arranged for music acts to perform at the college, way back in the early 60s. And Ralph--as a minor folk singer--was one of those invitees. Posters went up all over the campus trumpeting, "RALPH LEE JONES here Saturday night." I have never let my brother forget that one!

Jane

"Ralph Lee Smith is an old friend from our days in the Village in the 60s."

I have to ask . . . ever hear of a place called Fugazzi's?

Crazy(yes, would love a look at that textbook, too!)Soph

That said, I believe that spinal manipulation can be a valuable therapeutic modality, that no one does it as well as chiropractors, and that we know very little about the best ways to apply it to musculoskeletal ailments. The problem, as I see it, is that DCs (Doctors of Chiropractic) work as =primary care providers= without the clinical skills to do it properly. As an example, in my last year of practice, I had 2 patients with kidney infections and one with metastasized ovarian cancer, all of whom presented with back pain. I diagnosed the infections and referred them to medical care, and the woman with the cancer was already in medical workup, but later died. After some time out living abroad, I realized that I could not ethically continue to assume responsibility as a "portal of entry" primary care provider without the necessary knowledge. I had plenty of book learning, but no internship or residency to put that learning into action. I know some DCs who have close professional relationships with MDs, and I think that's the best situation.

As for all the incredible woo-woo --- if I put it in a science fiction story, no one would believe it!!

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense -- the "movie heart attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath. This feeling often comes along with chest discomfort. But it can occur before the chest discomfort.

Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

If you or someone you're with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the other signs, don't wait longer than a few minutes (no more than 5) before calling for help. Call 9-1-1... Get to a hospital right away.

(Hi to the several familiar names from MythSoc!)

Janet

No, but I was in the White Horse crowd. And that was 40 years ago and I have Fuzzy Memory Syndrome.

Jane

I talked to three chiropractors before I found one I felt comfortable with. The first talk was with a clinic that wouldn't treat me unless Workmans Comp would authorize the change to chiropractic care. (WC wouldn't.)

The second was with a small office that left me feeling very uncomfortable. They were of the persuasion that chiropractic would cure EVERYTHING. I raised some questions about the claim on a wall poster that chiro would be effective for acne. They responded by quoting... GRAY'S ANATOMY (a very general passage about the importance of the spinal cord) as a conclusive authority on the efficiacy of chiropractic. They also showed a video of a guy effusing about chiro, but the guy did it in so slimey a manner that I ended up thinking "This guy oozes snake oil." And they also wanted me to sign up for a minimum of a year's treatments.

The third chiropractor I talked to had over twenty years experience, didn't preach the gospel of chiro at me, and just said he thought he could help me with the back pain. After two weeks treatment, I'd improved significantly, and was able to go back to carrying mail in a month.

This discussion has made me remember the time, many years ago, when a smart, charming and lovely young lady at a party offered to "pop" my neck.

She was a smart, charming and lovely young lady. So OF COURSE I let her "pop" my neck.

To no ill effect. But looking back on that now, from the perspective of a 50-year old whitebeard, I'm aghast that I would have let an untrained amateur do that sort of twisting and jerking on my neck.

(I wonder if Teresa remembers that party?)