Chiropractic Facts and Misconceptions
by Nori Connell, RN, DC

An article in the winter issue of AboutTown entitled “Treating Back Pain” described one person’s specific condition and healing journey. In the process of describing her situation, the author sometimes offered as facts what was simply one person’s opinion—a common enough occurrence when comments are put into written form. It is my opinion that a great deal of care and judiciousness should be used when personalizing in such a public forum. Therefore I would like to correct respectfully some misconceptions made in that article about chiropractic care and chiropractors.

As a chiropractor, my goal is to restore and optimize function to the spine and nervous system. Specific spinal adjustments are part of my treatment, yet many of the techniques I employ help to balance the body’s organs, and biochemical systems as well. I offer counseling in lifestyle and dietary changes, exercise regimens when needed, and consider these as important a part of my patient’s visits as the spinal adjustments. My education as a chiropractor prepared me for the assessment process of physical diagnosis, for reading laboratory results, radiographs, etc. In “Treating Back Pain” the author suggests that chiropractic education is “not as extensive as that for traditional or osteopathic physicians.” The fact is that a chiropractic education requires more prerequisites and graduate hours than either an MD or DO degree. The difference is that chiropractors do their internships during their last year of scholastic study rather than after completion of their scholastic career. Other than that, the actual number of course hours are as much or more than those of the doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathic medicine, although the focus is different. Our course content focuses more on anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, nutrition, and wellness, and focuses less on pharmacology and pathology (although both are included in the course content).

Personally, I have been a practicing chiropractor for over 24 years now, but I began my medical career ten years earlier as a registered nurse. I had worked in two of the finest hospitals on the East Coast and wanted to expand my knowledge and experience. As a rule you leave school with “the basics” and then begin to “practice” your art. As a chiropractor I am aware that there are many techniques approved by the chiropractic board that are not taught during scholastic preparation. Individual practitioners will seek out and learn postgraduate techniques depending on their philosophy and add the tools they specifically need to treat patients the way they choose. It was my desire to seek out more education to round out my knowledge in a way that would allow me to practice the way I wanted.

Each professional’s practice is as unique as a fingerprint, and even the finest MDs, DOs, chiropractors, acupuncturists, physical therapists, etc. can have an off day. I’ve seen good and bad in both the “traditional” and the “alternative” health fields, and would suggest that whatever type of care you seek out, you consider the different types offered within the scope of that modality to determine which would best suit your particular needs. From my training and days as a nurse I learned a great deal and have a lot of respect for medicine. The greatest lesson I learned, however, is how important it is to be a conscientious consumer in one’s own care. We expect our health care professionals to be perfect and although they try to do their best at all times, it is my opinion that we, as consumers need to take more responsibility and not simply hand off our health to the professionals.

The more we educate ourselves the less we give our personal power away. Many people I’ve spoken to get more personal referrals for their hairstylist or mechanic than they do for their health care practitioners. We often let our insurance companies—whose first goal is to make money—determine what care we can and cannot receive. I believe we all owe it to ourselves to seek out the care that will best suit our needs at a particular time, and recognize that the care that may have worked well for us in the past may not be what is best for us now. We need to remain flexible and continue looking until we find what we need. We would not go into adulthood continuing to use our pediatrician as our primary doctor. We may also want to consider combining modalities to optimize our desired outcome.

While all opinions are valid, the facts cannot be altered. I hope that this clarifies some of the facts about chiropractic care and supports your ability to make informed choices, and to advocate for yourself and your loved ones’ highest quality health care.