By Robert A. Leach, DC, MS, FICC, CHES
When TW Meade, MD and other medical researchers in England took a second look at chiropractic care versus medical outpatient therapy for acute and chronic lox back pain in 1995, they were not surprised by their findings. Data on 741 men and women aged 18-64 years showed that even three years after a 30-day trial of care, patients that received chiropractic adjustments had 29% less disability.
The findings matched results from an earlier investigation they also published
in the British Medical Journal, which found the benefit for chiropractor
treated patients was greatest for those suffering with chronic or severe
pain.
Literally dozens of other small to large scale investigations now point to the fact that chiropractic care is more effective then medical care for a number of the most common conditions including back and neck pain, disc problems, carpal tunnel and other joint problems, migraine and neck tension headache.
What is an adjustment worth? Ask the mother of the 11 year old patient we saw in 1991 who had suffered daily severe headaches for 9 months when first seen here, after a general practitioner, sinus x rays, neurologist, CAT scans of the brain, TMJ specialist, psychologist, and physical therapist had failed to diagnose or stop the headaches. Within 6 weeks of adjustments the young man’s headaches disappeared with no recurrence during a two-year follow up. Chiropractic neck x rays revealed a whiplash, and upon questioning the boy and mother remembered he had been struck in the face by a line drive while covering first base three months prior to the gradual onset of the headaches.
For the majority of sufferers of chronic or severe pain, chiropractic care pays for itself quickly. In many cases the cost of a single MRI, for example, can be greater than the cost of an entire program of chiropractic care that resolves the problem.
Federal guidelines on back pain treatment in as long ago as 1994 pointedly state that only 1 in 100 patients will benefit from disc surgery, and for the vast majority if chiropractic care can bring significant relief the body will heal itself without ever having to need surgery which can cost tens of thousands in surgical casts and lost wages. Research published in Spine in 2006 demonstrated that chiropractic care was effective even for leg pain associated with MRI confirmed herniated low back discs.
What is an adjustment worth? Ultimately only you can answer that question. However, if your experience is like that of the majority of our patients, then you will find that adjustments are well worth the investment of your money and your time.
©2008 by Robert A. Leach