Chiropractic and the Nervous System
Chiropractic’s effect on the nervous system is something that has been debated and has provided some discourse between the AMA and ACA. Specifically, chiropractors in the past have made outlandish claims about what chiropractic treatment can “cure”. As chiropractic continues to drive more toward evidence-informed care I see that the old school beliefs are beginning to dwindle. Most MDs that I have met with like chiropractic and are very open to referring patients and collaborating in care. Personally, I know that chiropractic care is excellent at treating musculoskeletal pain. When I say “chiropractic care” I am referring to the combination of chiropractic adjustments and other soft tissue manual therapies. Since I began my practice, one of the most common misdiagnosis I have seen relates to peripheral nerve entrapment vs. spinal entrapment. Using soft tissue therapies, I have been able to alleviate many cases of chronic peripheral nerve entrapment that patients have dealt with for years, and often have already exhausted the Western Medicine treatment options. I don’t write this to knock the medical profession or to congratulate myself but I see that most patients with sciatic type symptoms that receive typical spinal nerve treatments (injection/radio ablation) don’t get better; some may get temporary relief but rarely is it long lasting. Our strength as chiropractors is our ability to feel and sense tissue tension and dysfunction. Those skills, combined with a proper examination can help us direct effective care for peripheral nerve entrapment. All doctors should agree that the best course of action is the most conservative first and that is where we shine. I will say that I have seen adjustments greatly affect the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system through my personal experience of treating patients I receiving treatment myself. Unfortunately, there isn’t enough evidence available yet and I feel that these outcomes are more on a case to case basis rather than something we can hang our hat on.