The Use of X-rays in Chiropractic Treatment

The practice of chiropractic has been around for about 120 years or more.  It is the belief of the discipline that it can relieve back pain by manipulating the spine.  Scientific research has yet to catch up to the belief that what chiropractors do is helpful (NCCIH, 2012).   There are different schools within the practice such as the Palmer School, which suggests that the only bone in the spine that can be moved is the atlas bone as it is the only one that pivots and can get out of alignment.  If that one bone is out of alignment, it will affect other vertebrae and nerve endings throughout the entire spine even though the trouble is in the neck (The Palmer College of Chiropractic, 2017).  These practitioners take x-rays of the neck to see which way the atlas is out of alignment and then realigns that bone.  The use of x-rays in the practice of chiropractic medicine does little to help people who have nerve pain as nerves are in the soft tissue, which x-rays see through.  X-ray has limited use in the field of chiropractic medicine.

Discussion

Chiropractors like to think they fix subluxated vertebrae.  They take x-rays on a new patient’s spinal column in their offices usually.  However, since x-rays can only reveal if a bone is crammed into another bone, the chiropractor is only positioning what nerves are involved in the pain the patient feels.  The research now indicates that chiropractic can relieve neck and lower back pain, but it does not relieve any spinal pain elsewhere along the spinal column.  Scientific studies now conclude that chiropractic can relieve the pain of migraines, neck injuries, whiplash, and “lower extremity joint conditions” (NCCHI, 2012, para. 15).  Science also says that chiropractic cannot fix fibromyalgia, asthma, sciatica, or mid-back pain (NCCHI, 2012).  Several reports suggest that chiropractic cannot fix damaged nerves or pinched nerves.  Thus, it has limited use as a complementary medical treatment.  In fact, if a chiropractor is really doing his job well, he would order CAT scans or MRI or myelogram (Laser Spine Institute, 2017).  The only things an x-ray of the spine can see are arthritis, fractures, tumors, and bone spurs.  Since many insurers do not include chiropractic visits as something they cover, most people cannot afford to pay for a CAT scan or MRI as these are expensive tests.

Ernst (2014) says that chiropractors misuse x-rays and over use them.  It would seem that chiropractic doctors are like snake oil salesmen.  Patients come to the chiropractor with back pain and get an x-ray and treatment plan for what the doctor supposedly sees in the x-ray.  The chiropractor does not tell the patient they have limited ability to diagnose and treat nerve pain.  Treatment plans are expensive and at the end, most people are not “cured” of their pain.  Andrews (2013) also says that x-rays are not needed by chiropractors in order to relieve a patient’s back pain, but he believes chiropractors use x-rays as a precaution in case they would be sued.  Those x-rays are ruling out tumors, fractures, and other conditions that would expose themselves in x-rays.  That idea makes more sense since Americans live in a country where malpractice suits are popular.

Moreover, each time a person has an x-ray taken, they are exposed to radiation.  There is a danger in being exposed to too much radiation as it is known to cause cancer.  Doctor’s should ask questions of the patient before ordering an x-ray to see how many recent medical treatments they have undergone.  X-rays in chiropractic, if just one, is not harmful, but several may be.  It is always wise to have as few tests as possible that deal with radiation.

Conclusion

In examining the evidence about chiropractic and x-rays, it seems that there is little need in taking an x-ray of a patient’s spine.  Chiropractic can only relieve neck and lower back pain.  Taking the x-ray seems to be as a precaution in case there is a lawsuit rather than seeing nerve damage a patient has (TEAM, 2012).

References

Andrews, K. (2013). Chiropractic health care and x-rays. Spine-Health. Retrieved from https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/chiropractic-health-care-and-x-rays

Ernst, E. (2014). Chiropractors’ use of x-rays. Retrieved from http://edzardernst.com/2014/01/chiropractors-use-of-x-rays/

Laser Spine Institute.  (2017). Diagnosing chronic back conditions through x-rays.  Retrieved from https://www.laserspineinstitute.com/beendoctors/section/tests/27/xray/197/

NCCHI.  (2012). Chiropractic in depth.  Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/chiropractic/introduction.htm#hed5

Palmer College of Chiropractic. (2017). What is chiropractic? Retrieved from http://www.palmer.edu/about-us/what-is-chiropractic/

TEAM. (2012). When should chiropractors take x-rays? Retrieved from  http://teamchirodm.com/chiropractor-xray/