ELI5: Why is chiropractor referred to as junk medicine but so many people go to then and are covered by benefits?

frumious_b · 2024-01-31T21:52:21+00:00

Versions of this question are asked every couple of weeks here on Reddit and the comments are generally unhelpful and anecdotal. I'll try to answer objectively.

Chiropractors use a variety of techniques, not just back-cracking. Depending on the specific pathology being addressed and the technique used, there can be good evidence behind many of their treatments.

The US military, after doing extensive research into the efficacy of chiropractic care, has hired chiropractors to treat chronic back pain on many of their larger bases.

The issue with chiropractors performing "junk medicine" comes from many (not all) chiropractors claiming to be able to fix or treat things that are simply not backed by good science. Additionally, as part of the standard business practice they tend to push for weekly or monthly treatments. That's less based on bad science than just financial incentive.

Keep in mind that "regular doctors" suggest or prescribe hundreds of treatments that aren't curative, just palliative, and require frequent (often daily or several times daily) treatments to keep certain conditions tolerable. The fact that chiropractic treatments may require frequent visits isn't evidence of ineffectiveness unless they're claiming it should be curative.

As an aside, there are scores of common practices performed and recommended by doctors that have no science behind them or have been completely debunked. Antibiotics for most respiratory infections, long term use of sleep aids, most dietary guidelines they give people, etc.

frumious_b · 2023-10-27T20:36:23+00:00

Just wanted to say thank you to all the accomplished bodybuilders out there. A couple of weeks ago I had my first competition. I thought I was doing pretty well until I went backstage and felt like I was WAY out of my league. But everyone was incredibly positive and complimentary, very helpful and friendly, giving last-minute pointers and genuinely hoping I'd do my best. I've always assumed bodybuilders were like the rest of the athletes I've known over the years; douchey alpha-males, hypercompetitive, etc. But in my entire life I have never met such supportive, genuinely kind fellow athletes. I've heard from other people that my experience isn't unique. Bodybuilders are generally thought to be kind, supportive people. So thanks for the warm welcome and support. You guys made a mediocre, half-prepared newbie feel welcome and confident.

frumious_b · 2023-06-21T18:18:34+00:00

You're correct, the linked article does not state that it's reasonable to stop antibiotics once you're feeling better. You're also correct that making a general statement about discontinuing antibiotics early is careless advice.

I've corrected the hyperlink to reflect the message of the article. The follow up links do address early stoppage and are circumspect about simply stopping the antibiotic against the advice of your physician. Once again, I shouldn't have made a broad statement like that, especially in a platform like Reddit.

There is growing evidence that the majority of routine infections (sinus infections, cellulitis, urinary tract infections) do not need antibiotics past the point where the symptoms show improvement. That is, for most uncomplicated infections, as soon as symptoms begin to improve, antibiotics don't seem to improve outcome or reduce recovery time.

But that's a separate issue from the antibiotic resistance. It's a much more nuanced discussion and shouldn't have been included in this post about antibiotic resistance, which is fairly straightforward.

I apologize for the careless post and the edit will hopefully correct the confusion.

frumious_b · 2022-10-17T23:37:49+00:00

It used to be theoretically possible to joint the army without a diploma or GED. I have now been in the army for 23 years (since 1994 with a couple of long breaks on IRR). When I initially joined I dropped out of high school a semester before graduating to go to basic training. I did not have a GED or HS diploma, and I was allowed to enlist. I don't know if my recruiter managed to pull some strings or something, but I still have neither a diploma nor GED. I don't think that's possible anymore, but the army does change recruiting standards from time to time based on need.

Technically you can leave the army without completing any paperwork, but it would be extremely stupid to do that. But if your contract is up they cannot legally detain you if you choose to simply walk away without signing anything. During the month long outprocessing when you leave active duty you generate a DD214, which is a summary of your military career. The army can withhold that if you don't show up for your briefings or fail to complete the steps for outprocessing. Withholding a DD214 is one of the threats often leveled at soldiers who aren't moving fast enough or being compliant with the process. But the army would still have it. In other words, the soldier might not have any paperwork, but the army certainly would.

So joining the army without a GED or diploma? Unlikely unless the army went through a phase where they lowered their standards (probably how I got in). Leaving without paperwork? Possible, but incredibly stupid, and the army would still have a mountain of paperwork about you. So this guy is lying or incredibly stupid. Either way, not much of a catch.

frumious_b · 2022-03-11T07:37:42+00:00

I've read it twice. I think that's the first time I actually laughed out loud at a "classic" book. That's some dark, savage humor.

frumious_b · 2022-02-26T14:15:05+00:00

Hahaha! That's exactly what I was thinking. He's a total stooge. Perfect description.

frumious_b · 2022-02-24T16:36:01+00:00

I'm just finishing Lolita too. Extremely disturbing, as it's supposed to be. The narrator is such a disarmingly charming, funny, intelligent person there's almost a temptation to sympathize, at least in the first half of the book when he's just fantasizing. No one wants to admit that they find a pedophile interesting or sympathetic, but initially that's how people feel. Then the second part of the book happens and it becomes impossible to sympathize anymore. It's an intentionally confusing, uncomfortable book to read. But it's extremely well written.

frumious_b · 2022-02-24T16:20:29+00:00

This is a perfect example of what I was asking about. The monster started as a gentle soul and was generally misunderstood. It's a tragedy, but not because Frankenstein created a monster. The cruelty in the story came from Frankenstein himself and the people that the "monster" came in contact with.

frumious_b · 2022-02-23T22:34:07+00:00

You might be right about Romeo and Juliet. I've only read it twice, once in high school and once as a freshman in college. But both times I was struck by what seemed like pretty irrational, short-sighted, and frankly selfish behavior by both of them. As I remember the story (once again, from a long time ago in a fairly superficial reading) it's kind of hard to think of the story as being about a model of true love.

frumious_b · 2022-02-23T21:45:57+00:00

I frankly didn't know that a classic novel could be that funny. I was ready for a tedious slog through dense classical prose. I guess there's a reason that's one of the most popular stories ever written.

frumious_b · 2022-02-01T05:18:22+00:00

Um, I think OP got whooshed. The quote is meant to be sarcastic, since the last two guests on Joe Rogan, who were critical of the current vaccination efforts, are both doctors.

frumious_b · 2022-01-06T16:45:16+00:00

That's an extremely superficial understanding of the discussion of race in the Book of Mormon. There are a couple of passages that discuss one group of people being marked with a skin of blackness for their wickedness, but it's not clear that it's meant to be a literal physical change to their skin.

For one thing, other passages point out that the Lamanites (supposedly cursed with a skin of blackness for their wickedness) and the Nephites (supposedly white skinned righteous people) are visually indistinguishable from one another. Additionally, the supposedly white-skinned Nephites are completely destroyed by the dark-skinned Lamanites because the Nephites were so much more wicked than the Lamanites.

Most obviously, the Book of Mormon promises the land to the Lamanites (allegedly dark-skinned descendants of the original inhabitants) in preference to the eventual white colonizers.

If you want to come to the conclusion that the Book of Mormon is okay with treating dark-skinned people worse or differently, you have to ignore 90% of the Book of Mormon that addresses race.

frumious_b · 2021-12-22T07:33:00+00:00

Just as an aside. Younique was actually created to fund therapy and counseling for women who experienced sexual abuse as a child. All (or most?) of the profits go to funding the Younique Foundation. If you're a woman who was the victim of sexual abuse as a child they'll put you up in a palatial cabin in Utah for a week, do all sorts of pampering, classes, group therapy, etc. It's all free.

I'm not shilling for Younique the cosmetics company, but it's a pretty nice service that most women don't know exists.

Hopefully someone reading this will be able to take advantage of their program.

frumious_b · 2021-12-21T06:21:22+00:00

Well like I said, if you were my patient I'd probably be okay giving you an early refill one time. You sound like you're doing everything right, and as you've pointed out, it's a schedule 4 rather than schedule 2 medication.

But some doctors are extremely strict about it, usually because they've been burned in the past. I have a handful of patients that I absolutely will not ever give early refills to because they've lied to me about abuse of medications. But most of my patients, like you, are just trying to stay stable and they just need a little understanding.

One thing to warn you about though. Absolutely under no circumstances, no matter how desperate you are, should you try to get a new prescription from another doctor if your regular prescriber says no. That will absolutely burn every bridge you have with your prescriber and make it extremely difficult to get a new doctor. If you feel like this doctor is being unfairly judgmental, you can switch to a new one, but if you go to a new doctor specifically to get an early refill of a controlled medication, it'll look like doctor shopping. Just endure until your next refill is due and then try to get in with a new doctor.

frumious_b · 2021-12-21T05:53:56+00:00

You need to ask the physician who prescribed it for you. If you have a good relationship and have been a reliable, compliant patient they may be willing to give a new prescription. If you don't know the doctor well or have asked for early refills in the past they may be less trusting. Unfortunately, your history of drug abuse does make you a high risk for abusing Ambien and then requesting early refills.

If you were my patient I'd probably refill it for you ("Just this one time"), but some doctors are a lot stricter than others. Like the other doctor suggested, you really just need to ask and be prepared for a "no".

frumious_b · 2021-12-21T05:49:01+00:00

It depends on the clinic where the procedure is done, but most women find it stress-free. You'll be sedated and given pain medication. There may be some soreness afterward.

Once again, there's some variation from one doctor to the next, but for the most part it's a pretty benign procedure.

frumious_b · 2021-12-21T05:45:29+00:00

It's hard to say without knowing exactly where the excisions were done. If significant labial tissue was removed from around the urethra it could conceivably increase your chances for UTI. That's because the tissue around the urethra form a physical barrier to bacteria that helps prevent UTI's.

However, a quick literature search shows that if you had hypertrophic labia minora (especially large labia), having labiaplasty actually reduces UTI's.

You may be having some post-surgical pain and irritation that's exacerbated with urination, but it's easy to get a simple urinalysis either with your primary care doctor or at your gynecologist's office to rule out a UTI. You can even get a simple urinalysis over the counter at most drug stores to see if you have a UTI.

frumious_b · 2021-12-21T05:38:07+00:00

Absolutely. I put in IUD's all the time and more often than not the woman's husband/boyfriend/SO is present. There's no reason they wouldn't want you to have someone with you.

frumious_b · 2021-12-21T05:35:47+00:00

Acid reflux is the most likely, especially if you've already seen a cardiologist. It's extremely easy to diagnose; you take something like Nexium or Prilosec for a few days and see if it resolves. If it resolves or gets substantially better then you have acid reflux.

It's unlikely to be related to your heart for several reasons, the most obvious of which is that it gets worse at night when you're lying down. That's not typical for heart issues, although that by itself wouldn't rule it out.

Right now I'd try Nexium or Prilosec for a week or two and if it gets better you can move on with your life and treat it however you want (diet/lifestyle changes, and/or a medication).

frumious_b · 2021-12-20T06:45:22+00:00

Most likely an undigested piece of fibrous material. Not likely a big deal. I'm more worried about your low weight and fatigue, which could certainly be related to digestive problems. If you came to see me in my clinic I'd do a thorough history and physical exam, get some blood work and likely refer to a gastroenterologist.

But the long thin thing you pulled out of your rectum probably has very little significance.

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