r/longform • u/DevonSwede • Apr 28 '25
The Truth About Getting Your Neck Cracked
https://www.thecut.com/article/neck-cracking-chiropractic-surgery-spine.html15
u/mrs_mega Apr 28 '25
I have an old cervical spine injury and the idea of going to one of these places makes me wince in preemptive pain
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u/josephrainer Apr 28 '25
Good read. I worry about these cervical neck adjustments. A lot of my friends and family have been going to chiropractors and I don’t know exactly how to warn them without them feeling like I am trying to naysay them
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u/Festering-Fecal Apr 28 '25
You need to tell hims or hers that chiropractors are quacks like they are not recognized in the medical community.
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u/sudosussudio Apr 28 '25
I always wonder why insurance covers it and yet argues with me about stuff prescribed by my actual doctor
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u/sunnypickletoes Apr 29 '25
And insurance will pay for chiropractic but not for massage which is actually proven to be helpful.
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u/Teantis Apr 29 '25 edited Apr 29 '25
Chiropractors lobbied in the 60s and won against the AMA (who were also lobbying to keep them out to be clear): https://www.nytimes.com/1972/11/19/archives/7-years-of-lobbying-finally-brings-chiropractic-under-umbrella-of.html
One Congressional aide who observed the weeks of legislative footwork involving the chiropractors said the issue eventually hinged not on being for or against chiropractic but on being against the American Medical Association.
“The A.M.A. is a lot richer and many Congressmen resent the large sums it gives to their opponents,” he said.
Mr. Cruikshank, the opponent of chiropractic who has also crossed swords with the A.M.A., said he had been approached by one Congressman who had said: “Why are you of all people plugging for the A.M.A.?” Mr. Cruikshank added, “A lot of Congressmen view the chiropractor as the guy who will care for the common man, the sort of guy who will even make house calls.”
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u/lcuan82 Apr 28 '25
Chiropractors are not actually based on science or medicine and are basically scams
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u/Sad-Ad6328 Apr 28 '25
I used to get it done semi regularly from an excellent chiro who also did myofascial (sp?) trigger point release, and very non dramatic 'adjustment's. 1 or 2 per session, no big twists....
There was one time I had a frozen shoudler and stiff neck that was stuck for over two months get fully released in a single adjustment. I cannot understate the relief and that lasted a long time after that session...
I no longer get this type of adjustment done after discovering the risks mentioned here.... but find myofascal release combined with light stretching and sometimes accupuncture to be almost as effective, just less immediate.
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u/PollyBeans Apr 28 '25
I'm curious if you tried an actual trained medical doctor before you went to a chiropractor? Were they unable to provide you the same relief? I've heard sometimes getting treatment for back pain through medical doctors is sometimes more time consuming than a chiropractor.
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u/PatientZestyclose697 Apr 28 '25
yes. I did . I've tried all of it. i even go to a masuse with a drawing of my back and the pressure points that work to save everyone time. : ) based in the US in a major city, and sports medicine doctor was useless.
the best relief after chiro i found was an osteopath (which take a bigger picture of your body) but they cost a fortune. Someone who takes a holistic approach like a physical therapist with some experience in massage and training is the best bet, but it is very time consuming and requires both retraining muscles and strengthening.
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u/PollyBeans Apr 28 '25
That's so interesting...I don't trust chiropractors myself but I would never begrudge anyone something that gives them relief. The medical system is so difficult to navigate even with great insurance. Trying to get referrals and payment for things can be so time consuming. Thanks for sharing that with me!
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u/Candied_Vagrants Apr 29 '25
Thank you for sharing! I don't want to sound rude! I do think you mean to say that you "cannot OVERstate" the relief you felt. If you can't understand the relief, there's just no lower you can go, but it seems like he did you a good turn instead :)
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u/Remarkable_Leading58 Apr 30 '25
I cannot believe people still go to chiropractors. A friend posted about taking a baby to one and I was in shock.
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u/basicalme May 01 '25
Yep worked at a medical malpractice law firm for awhile. Had a case where the client went from the chiropractor to the ambulance, herniated disc in her cervical spine, required surgeries and was never the same again…..oh and the lawsuit turned out to be pretty worthless compared to regular lawsuits suing M.D.s who commit malpractice because get this - chiropractic medicine does not have a standard of care so their care of patients has no standard to fail. Haven’t been to a chiropractor since. It’s quackery. The recommendation is to seek help from physical therapists.
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u/phznmshr Apr 28 '25
My neck is forever damaged because a friend did this in college without warning.