While chiropractors go over the line at times, you should know that quackwatch is run by a psychiatrist who is not at all likely trained in physical medicine so it is not exactly an unbiased source to cite. Some of what he says may be true; while other information is junk science and represents his own bias against the profession. For example, he alludes that stroke and manipulation run hand in hand while the literature points out that the incidence is 1 in 1 to 3 million manipulations; not even enough really, to list it on informed consent. You have a higher chance of dying from a bee sting or being struck by lightening (this is not an endorsement of chiropractic, just my opinion of a mis-statement). Another perspective, roughly 1 in 1000 die from disc surgery and prescription anti-inflammatory medication. There are many more scientific studies that prove the limited value of manipulation. In fact there is one study out there from a couple years ago that states that you are more likely to have a stroke shortly after seeing your GP than your chiropractor (is that one on his site?). And besides, I know several orthopedists and neurosurgeons as well as neurologists and GP's who refer to chiropractors. They can't be all bad as there are good and bad of everything! Oh...BTW, manipulation under anesthesia is a procedure developed by osteopaths some 50 years ago that actually has very favorable outcomes in the literature. Some chiropractors are trained and certified in this procedure and do quite well with it.

Ralph Nader is not an automotive engineer either, and most watchdog sites & organizations are not unbiased; neither are pro-/endorsing sites, professional associations or the like.

Actually, Dr. Barrett is retired, and while he runs Quackwatch (and 23 other watchdog sites), content is contributed and reviewed (when appropriate) by an international network of people from all kinds of backgrounds/professions, including a former chiropractor who contributed:

Quote:

Reader Comment From a former chiropractor: I have been doing a vascular surgery rotation for the past month, which is part of my postgraduate medical education. During my chiropractic training, when the subject of manipulation-induced stroke was brought up, we were reassured that "millions of chiropractic adjustments are made each year and only a few incidents of stroke have been reported following neck manipulation." I recently found that two of the patients on my vascular service that suffered a cerebrovascular accident (stroke) had undergone neck manipulation by a chiropractor, one the day that symptoms had begun and the other four days afterward. If indeed the incidence of stroke is rare, one M.D. would see a case of manipulation-induced CVA about every 10 years. But I believe I have seen two in the past month! I therefore urge my medical colleagues to question their patients regarding recent visits to a chiropractor/neck manipulation when confronted with patients that present with the neurologic symptoms of stroke. I also urge potential chiropractic patients to not allow their necks to be manipulated in any way. The risk-to-benefit ratio is much too high to warrant such a procedure. —Rob Alexander, M.D. http://www.quackwatch.com/01Quackery...irostroke.html

I could have cited many many articles, but IMO, Dr. Barrett's was the most comprehensive, best written, and well-referenced I could find in short time. The article's sources are there at the bottom for anyone to follow-up.

I'm sure we could argue this and cite contradicting sources til the cows come home. If people are interested/concerned, they can read all sides of the issues....

Google: chiropractic stroke
Google: chiropractic quackery
Google: debunking chiropractic
(and related searches at the bottoms of these search pages)

...and decide for themselves.

Doc

I am familiar with that site. I was a member of a contributing group for many years.

So...a Google search is authorative over peer-reviewed literature?? I am just wondering...what kind of Google results might you get if you instead (of yours) used search words like "chiropractic neck pain," "chiropractic low back pain" or "benefits of chiropractic?"

But then again I don't think this thread was meant to definitively decide the efficacy of an entire profession. We'll leave that up to the insurance companies and poiliticians!

Search them and see. You get a lot sites of chiropractic professional associations and chiropractors -- they are not exactly unbiased either.

The search criteria I suggested, when you include the related searches as I suggested, present both sides in their extremes, and some examinations of both sides. As with most things, there are always at least two sides to every issue (and often/usually more) and truth lies somewhere between.

Misinformation and misconceptions about medications, supplements, advertising, and other questionable therapies and practices (and safety thereof) are often pointed out on this site, and people are always free to examine the information and/or ignore it as they choose.

Doc

I wasn't talking about allopathic medicine...I was refering to chiropractic.

Just mess'in with ya. I think they are all a bunch of unscientific cultist that grow hair on their palms, chase their pets around the house with electric cattle prods and should be taken out to the shed...

could you tell me about Migranal.. that is the med that was prescribed for me...

First, don't confuse it with an OTC migraine supplement called Migranol - they are not the same.

Migranal is not a pain medication. It is a migraine medication - a derivative of ergotomine, and while it works similarly to triptans, and has similar efficacy to Imitrex, there are different side effects, warnings, and potential drug interactions associated with it (some as long as 14 days apart):
http://www.healthcare.com/medication...asal-16497.php

You should get/have gotten a drug information sheet with the prescription; read it very carefully, and if you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

I'm not finding the usual PubMed page on this medication; instead there is an archived drug label at:
http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed...archiveid=7093

The Wiki page is severely lacking, but I do find a MedLine page:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...s/a603022.html

More can be found on the web; google: dihydroergotamine nasal spray

Doc

I must say i did really well with the manipulation under anesthia. I got back alot of mobility. I am losing it now. I do walk to try to stay somewhat fit and i chase the little ones thats exercise in its self. the chiropracter also helps with my headaches. When i did p.t. my headaches increased to where i had to stop. i dont feel i was ready for it or the trainer did not know what he was doing. I really felt he could of done more and i will not go back to that one again. i saw another doctor today one of the car ins doc. ime. I was told by him that the surgeon i am dealing is one of the best and to trust what he says. I also agree because this surgeon told me to finish pain management first before he will do anything. I finally spoke to my nerologist today and he told me is ordering something tht i will spray up my nose for the headaches. i am not sure of the name yet.

Do you have a diagnosis of the type of headaches (cervicogenic, migraine, cluster, etc)? Some nasal sprays for headache are Imitrex/Imigran (sumatriptan), Zomig (zolmitriptan), Butorphanol (Stadol) Migranal (dihydroergotamine). If whatever he prescribed doesn't work, it doesn't mean another might not, so let him know; there are others to try.

Doc

i was on molpax, sumatripiane, amitriptoline, already... amitriptoline worked but i gained 9 punds in two weeks with it. So now we are seeing what else may work for me