Chiro

[unbibium]

The skeptical community universally rejects chiropractic. But last night, Stace brought up a valid point, that there's no way insurance would pay for it if it were entirely a scam.

Perhaps, but some folks somewhere are getting insurance to pay for things that are entirely scams, like reiki or reflexology.

Medicine is tricky because it's so serious, and the claim of "this cured me" and "this made me feel better" seems less extraordinary a claim than "you should have done nothing, because it healed itself". The placebo effect claim is even harder to digest, because the relief would not have occurred without the treatment, so what's the proper alternative?

Regardless, if you're in pain, you see a doctor, which is what I'm doing. If I'm suspicious of anything, I get a second opinion if I can. But as a layperson this is all I can do.

Comments

[greenbirds.livejournal.com]

Chiro has worked wonders for several horses I know. So far as I know, the placebo effect doesn't hold for critters.

Therefore, I think it's worth a try, even if the chiros are probably full of s**t about WHY it works. :)

[pentomino.livejournal.com]

You know what I saw on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy once? Horse acupuncture.

I've never considered the placebo effect on animals. I have to draw on what Kerri said about massage being as effective as chiro: massage certainly has a measurable phsyiological effect of some kind, otherwise they wouldn't go through the trouble for Kobe beef. So I wonder of the chiro-massage connection holds true for animals.

Incidentally, the placebo effect wouldn't have to work on animals for it to affect the results. It could affect an observing human's sense of empathy, i.e. "It looks like he feels better," or "he looks like he's going a little faster," in the absence of accurate measurements. That's just a hypothesis.

[kerri9494.livejournal.com]

Massage is as therapeutic as chiropractic adjustments (and some contend, much safer), but it's not covered by insurance. This makes no sense. Chiropractic adjustments don't CURE anything -- they make ya feel good for a while, though.

The reason insurance covers it is because the chiropractic industry has good lobbyists.

You're better off taking an Advil and a nap. Or getting a massage.

[pootrootbeer.livejournal.com]

My medical insurance plan offers discounts on both massage therapy and chiropractation -- but they are considered "wellness treatments", and not health care.

[pentomino.livejournal.com]

Incidentally, I wasn't considering chiropractic for my foot, although I got physical therapy once for an ankle that was billed AS "chiropractic". What was that all about?

[kerri9494.livejournal.com]

Also, the IRS is getting sued by some tranny because they won't allow her to deduct her sex reassignment surgery as medically necessary -- even though it's supposed to be a treatment for a gender identity disorder. The IRS is saying no, the treatment for that is psychological intervention, but they won't let her deduct that, either. Weird.

[I heard this on NPR yesterday. I may have some or all of the details messed up.]

[vyus.livejournal.com]

there's plenty of reasons insurance pays for stuff they don't want to.

nevertheless, if it seems to work for you, i wouldn't worry about others' opinions.

[mezdeathhead.livejournal.com]

I don't know about anyone else, but I'd say the chiropractor has cured me a few times. Yeah, surgery would have a more lasting effect, but if it weren't for my chiro, I wouldn't be able to walk or move my head.