<p>chiropractors get a doctorate but they are not medical doctors and cannot practice as a physician...I visited a chiropractor's office with my anatomy class (I don't know why) and the lady their kept on empasizing she was a doctor: "high my name is DOCTOR blah blah" and she was saying its just as hard to become a chiropractor as it is to become a doctor...I did not like that because chiropractors don't go through 90 hour a week residencies for minimum wage...
I respect a chiropractors job, but I didn't respect this lady</p>
<p>In North America, there is a minimum of 6 years full-time university level education to obtain a Doctorate of Chiropractic. This includes two years of university credits in qualifying prerequisite subjects. After this has been completed, then over 5,000 hours of classes at a nationally accredited chiropractic college are required. This includes student doctoring and an intern program that last over one year. In addition to class requirements, a series of three to four national board examinations must be passed.</p>
<p>"Who is this that darkens my council by speaking words without knowledge?"<br>
The BOOK OF JOB.</p>
<p>Chiropractors are "real" doctors. For one thing, let's compare education. The average MD has 4,248 classroom hours. Both chiros and meds take classes on anatomy, physiology, pathology, biochemistry, neurology, diagnosis, toxicology, obgyn, x-ray etc etc etc. In almost all of the cases, the chiropractor has the same number or more classroom hours on particular subjects, in comparison.<br>
Chiropractors also have to have a one year internship and many do an associateship. Chiropractors now do rounds in major hospitals. They also can participate in many different types of therapy and healthcare (including natal-delivery, and minor surgery), depending on the state of license. </p>
<p>The standards continue to become more rigid. There is even an entrance exam, coming into play. All the latest research that continues to come out validates the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of chiropractic.</p>
<p>Plainly put, if you think they are not doctors, you are incredibly ignorant and need a reality check. Most of the chiros that I know would gladly put their knowledge of anatomy and physiology up against an md any day of the week. They should work together, respecting each other. </p>
<p>In the end, you don't have to believe in gravity. It works in spite of your ignorance.</p>
<p>You know many DO schools emply techniques of Chiropractic.... also when I wake up with a huge wrench in my neck from how I am sleeping no MD is gonna me feel better naturally. A chiro can adjust the problem without using pain meds.... they are not Doctors in the purest since "MD / DO" but they do offer a valuable service. Sure there are some quacks, but there are some fake plastic surgeons our there too, do we lambast them....</p>
<p>actually some do....</p>
<p>I meant to say "employ"</p>
<p>Of course Chiropractors are REAL doctors.How insulting to say otherwise.There will be a greater need for such doctors and other health care physicians as we are living longer in greater numbers.There are doctors for surgery,and doctors for healing and helping in other ways.There are also doctors who make ignorant statements.Even doctors trained in other countries are REAL!</p>
<p>Chiropractors have lovely jobs that help many people. They are NOT doctors. I don't care if they have to earn what they call a "doctorate." My husband is an MD, and the schooling and work he had to do to achieve that has been 8 years now and counting (as he still has to complete residency to be really really done). Chiropractors need 2-4 years undergrad (usually only 2 years) and then another 4 years. Not equable. As far as other "doctors," I can tell you that for me to get MY doctorate in history, I'll be in school for the 4 years of my BA, then another 6-7 years of studying at least, possibly more by the time I go the MA-PhD route and finish my language study (yes, I need 3-4 languages).</p>
<p>To summarize: good profession, not doctors. Period.</p>
<p>And incidentally, the reason the classroom hours for med school and chiro school euqte closely is that med students have to take tons of hours as undergrads that chiros don't - if you count both undergrad and grad science hours, MDs come out on top. And while DOs use chiropractic methods sometimes, that's not the issue. I'm not concerned with the methods, it's the education and mastery issue. A DO spends the time, a chiro does not.</p>
<p>Research has shown that the clinical outcomes for chiropractors and MD's are identicle. However, people prefer going to the Chiropractor...hmm.</p>
<p>The key is to find a chiro who treats his practice like an MD would. If the guy gives you one adjustment and that's it...he's a quack. If they go through and actually put together a solid treatment plan, then the chiro is legit. </p>
<p>Recent research in Spine has proven that there is an ideal arrangement of the spine that has been mathmatically quantified (eg the cervical vertebrae should lay in line to a certain size and shape oval.)</p>
<p>So for the adjustment of the spine, chiro's have been validated. Now as to whether removing subluxations will really improve your bowl mobility or reduce the number of infections you have...not so sure, but for pain and just overall functionality, it appears as though Chiropractors are are a valid and legitimate treatment option, one that MD's should not feel bad referring patients to.</p>
<p>A massage therapist would also make me feel better :)</p>
<p>I hurt my mid back this is my chiro's plan everytime I go:</p>
<p>15 min of Electric Stim on the affected muscles.
15 min massage thearpy from a licenses therapist
adjustment from Chiro
ultra sound on affected areas..</p>
<p>copay 20 bucks</p>
<p>Almost worth it just for the massage.... he treats his practice as a medical practice and gets good results...</p>
<p>I was a very sick child who endured countless headaches ,ear infections, neck pain and a great deal of suffering. I got by like anyone would. My family doctor M.D. was well respected and generally liked around town. My parent took me to him when things got bad. He always prescribed drugs.It always went like that. I would feel better then it would get bad again.
Upon meeting my girlfriend , she recommended I visit her chiropractor. After an examination he took x-rays of my neck. He found that I had a birth defect called Klippel-Feil syndrome which means I have many vertebra in my neck that during my fetal development formed together in one big chunk. The nerves that came out of the vertebra were being pressured. He moved the vertebra with his hands.They moved.I felt better. The medical doctor never looked for anything like this nor do I believe he knew to look. He was trained in chemical and surgeries.
I get regular care and life is good. Is a Chiropractor a Doctor? Who gives a damn.</p>
<p>I forgot to add, now that I have had time to stew.No offense to traditional medicine but you act as if you are the only answer to health care. You will set a broken bone but you dont not believe in putting a vertebra back in place? My Chiropractor carrys malpractice insurance that is much less expensive than an M.D.. You are arrogant and offensive and dangerous. The earth is not flat. There are Chiropractors that are probably a disgrace to their profession.The dogmatic attacks from the drug industry and AMA lawyers, and young students have not succeeded. Maybe this stuff works.
If you go to the chiropractor and he makes you walk you will put him/her in a higher regard than "dr". I bet when traditional doctors start using chiropractic it will be the biggest "discovery " ever found by modern man.</p>
<p>I just would like to say that my husband is currently in chiropractic school. Chiropractors work really hard to be called a doctor. They deserve that status. CHiro's study everything an MD would, they just don't prescribe meds. They spend much more time studying anatomy and physiology then MD"s do. Don't get me wrong, I'm very respectful of MD's, i just don't like people saying bad things about chiros. My husband words so hard every day and night studying. I hardly get to see him. I also see a chiropractor regularly and she has helped me on so many things that a MD couldn't. She fixed my lower back no problem when an MD just gives me pain killers to cover up symptoms. So, for anyone who says that chiropractors don't deserve to be called dr's need a reality check. Live the life of a wife of a chiro student and all should understand the sacrifice.</p>
<p>And MD's spouses dont go through the same thing with med schools, license exams and residency?</p>
<p>I do understand they go through the same thing. Why should Chiro's get called quack doctors and not get all of the respect that MD's get when they work just as hard. We're going through the same thing, yet people don't see them as real doctors.</p>
<p>I think its unfair to call somebody who is well educated in a health profession a quack.</p>
<p>They shouldn't be called quacks</p>
<p>I will try to keep this short...</p>
<p>what are they teaching you in med school?</p>
<p>True there are schools and DC's that give Chiro's a bad name, however, do you not think there are bad MD's out there too? </p>
<p>Chiropractic has been splitting into two directions for the past 30 years. The new, and the one I am a part of, has been more inline with current medical practices practicing and promoting an "evidence based" approach. Which is difficult at times as a student because many medical claims have been debunked or based on weak "evidence". Imagine going to school and learning that you don't have any effect on something you thought you did. But that is the "practice" of medicine. Dental fillings eventually expand and crack teeth but they don't stop or tell you that do they. Every profession has its problems. Look at all current recalled drugs.</p>
<p>However, low back pain, in fact most back pain, cervicogenic headache, otitis media, and many other NMS complaints we have much documented success with. Don't forget that Chiropractic includes, diet, nutrition, excersise, physical therapy, we don't just crack backs. Well some do, but these are the ones I am talking about that give the rest a bad name. As for X-rays, some X-ray everyone that walks in the door. I am totally opposed to this. That is an example of different school philosophy or rather dogma. I cringe at the word subluxation even though it is just word play.</p>
<p>However, as a patient I was cured by a chiropractor when three MD's told me nothing was wrong and even gave me an MRI. Many students have had the same happen to them and that is why they are pursuing to become a DC. </p>
<p>I watched an MD apply for a teaching postion at my school and give a guest lecture and did not know how to properly read an MRI! I know MD's who take bribes from Merck and Pfizer!</p>
<p>If you say DC's are money motivated, keep in mind we go into our own practice most of the time. I don't have much of an option to work in the VA, hospitals, military, etc..thanks to the long history of the AMA, which was guilty of screwing us over for so many years. See the Wilkes case against the AMA. There are bad apples in every bunch and they disgust me. Yes there are wackos out there. My school laughs at them. Chiropractic is not the cure-all for disease. I lobbied in DC for VA to have chiro's and on the way met someone who's DC you used healing stones and reiki. I said that is not chiropractic, he is a quack. Problem is you get the naturopathic bunch who become DC's but explore other foo-foo "medicine" so it gets attached to Chiropractic.</p>
<p>As for schooling, I did not know that your gross anatomy, biochem, embryology, pathology, physiolgoy, histo, radio, microbio, cell bio, differential diagnosis, etc..differed so much from mine.... Why not do some research before making such a claim.</p>
<p>By the way, chiro's have more radiography class/lab than MD's with the option for a three year residency to become a radiologist in fact more class and lab hours in general. I am never taught by grad students, have much one on one time with DC's, radiologists, anatomists with PHD's etc, my class size is about 33 people, with split up labs of 17. </p>
<p>Yes, we do get some bottom barrel applicants but they don't last long with 33 hour per week class hours. I have heard MD' get out at noon to study while we are in class till 5pm. Lucky ba.tards.</p>
<p>Not as competative to get into, but require the same minimum requirements as DO school and even MD schools. It is just you can get in with the minimum reqs. Also, state laws differ regarding Chiro's. I am a portal of entry physician in Oregon. I can deliver babies, perform proctal,gyno exams, minor sugery, phys therap, smt, physicals, but in washington I can't do some of that.</p>
<p>Keep in mind Chiro national board exams are not optional like they are for MD's</p>
<p>Anyway, so much more to say but really we should not argue, but wonder why DC's, MD,DDS, etc don't work together.</p>
<p>We will see what happens when your back hurts and surgery or drugs don't cut it.</p>
<p>Much of that time is residency. I can equally state that Chiro's have more class and lab hours so MD's are not real doctors. So if chiro's did more residency will they live up to your standards and be considered a real doc? Regardless of your opinion many states think so and legally allow them to be such. </p>
<p>What is a MD without drugs? A chiro can work anywhere with his hands to perform SMT. Chiro's learn everything a MD learns except for some pharmacology. That is not saying DC's do not get any pharmacology.</p>
<p>Funny, people don't argue over psychiatrist and psychologist even though one can pass drugs the other can't.</p>
<p>And I love it that I have more training than a dentist and they are called Docs.</p>