Among the problems that chiropractors can create are herniated discs or making an existing condition with spinal discs worse and compressing nerves in the lower spinal column (known as cauda equina syndrome).
Patients with certain pre-existing conditions are not advised to use chiropractic treatment for fear of aggravating their conditions. This includes people with severe osteoporosis, existing tingling, numbness or lack of strength in the legs or arms; those with cancer of the spine; people with an elevated risk of stroke, such as those who have already had one or currently have high blood pressure, diabetes or are extremely overweight; and those with spinal instability or other excessive motion in the area.
Signs of a Bad Chiropractor
As with any doctor, there are rules and licenses that must be obtained by a chiropractic practitioner. Here are a few rules:
- Licenses should be prominently displayed in an easily accessible area. You should be able to see that the practitioner is up to date on the licensing requirements of your area.
- A complete medical history should be taken - A competent chiropractor will want to know about medical history before doing any treatment.
- Your case should be discussed before treatment. It is important to know how many visits will be required before beginning any regimen.
- Costs of the treatments should be discussed. This includes whether the proposed treatments will be covered by insurance before any treatments begin.