Doctor: I have consulted decades of scientific literature to diagnose your ailment and provide a treatment plan based on humanity's continually improving understanding of the biochemical workings of our bodies.
Chiropractor: I have consulted a book written by D. D. Palmer in 1895 who was a magnetic healer, anti-vaccine, and anti-medicine. He says you have ghosts in your bones and it's messing with your natural healing powers. I'm gonna crack your back now. Yes I'm a doctor. Well not a doctor doctor, but you know.
As a nurse I can do pretty much everything a chiropractor can that's not horribly unsafe and unproven. I can advise on diet, exercise and herbal supplements, I can massage muscles and help someone stretch through range of motion. I even know how to use a fucking TENS/EMS device, and I could probably get certified in acupuncture if I wanted. The only thing I don't do that a chiropractor does is sever spines and snap necks, and if that's all they managed to learn with all that extra school they can keep it, lol.
TLDR; all the "doctor" shit they do is actually nurse shit and everything else is assault and battery.
Gonna be completely honest: a chiropractor saved my life.
I experienced an injury and literally couldn't walk for 3 months. Three doctors kept ignoring my pain and thought I was exaggerating. They kept treating me like a drug-seeker and I couldn't afford more visits due to be uninsured & now unable to work. They also would not refer me to a physio/physical therapist without more appointments and several expensive tests.
A chiropractor gave me an initial "adjustment" and I was finally able to hobble for a few minutes without collapsing. But I could not afford more appointments.
The pain and anguish went on for over 2 years. I was literally on the verge of killing myself by the end of it.
Finally.. my dear mother referred me to another chiropractor and offered to pay for a few appointments. I was at the point of ending it anyway, so I figured "why not?"
I went in, the guy took x-rays, and informed me that one of my vertebrae was lodged in my pelvis, pinching so many nerves, he was surprised I was even standing. He said he'd see me again to assess me, then the third appointment he would hopefully be able to help.
To keep this from being any longer, he fucking fixed it. Over 2 years of near unbearable pain, and he cured it. I could walk upright. I could reach upward. I could reach the floor. I could hug my kid again.
He then told me to come back at least 3 times per week to keep everything in shape and I was like "lol no". To be fair, I did 3 more appointments to make sure this wasn't a fluke, but after that, I researched everything with a mind clear of pain and figured out how to heal and maintain.
Am I stupid for going to a chiropractor? No. I was poor. I was desperate. Did it help? Yes. Would I recommend them to others? Fuck no. They're predatory in the way they maintain their "patients". Swear to god, I'm pretty sure he tried to fuck something up in my shoulder to get me to return later.
But don't blame all folks who go to chiropractors. Some don't have much of a choice.
My newborn was having issues with reflux that affected their sleep. A mother in our support class recommended going to see an infant chiropractor for an adjustment.
I couldn't believe my ears, and I probably made an enemy by outright asking why the fuck you would let a chiropractor crack the back of your 4 week old baby.
It amazes me how commonplace chiropractics are, and how people put a lot of faith in them before trying anything else.
I need something clarified by someone who doesn't go to a chiropractor and never has.
I've heard it's all bullshit from multiple sources over the years. I've heard they aren't even doctors most of the time and that there's no empirical evidence that supports chiropractic practitioners at all.
Every attempt to research this is met with thousands of results from low quality sources all singing its praise.
Are there good people to see for back pain? Because I feel like looking for that is gonna turn up chiropractors as well and I'm not so sure I should even trust them with that shit.