Comments on: Does Pain Management Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA) and Needle EMG Have Any Place in Chiropractic?

By: Brandon Harshe, DC

Brandon Harshe, DC — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:54:39 +0000

Chiropractic is unique and stands alone among all healthcare professions, or at least it should. I just don’t agree we have to medical doctors, osteopaths, or physical therapists to be a good doctor, or turn chiropractic into those things, like the CCE says we do… maybe that’s a reason the CCE received 42 complaints filed against them with the USDOE and has 1 year to correct them. But if you think chiropractic is those things, by all means go practice that way.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:30:10 +0000

All I have to say is that I didn’t get into the chiropractic profession to bow down and worship the chiropractic god’s in a dark room with candles lit around a spinal shrine. I got into chiropractic, which is a health care profession to deliver health care to my patients. I didn’t get into the chiropractic profession for the sake of chiropractic, I got into it to help the sick get better. All this nonsense about “true” chiropractic, or “pure” chiropractic is ridiculous! I thought this was about the patient! If a patient comes in and needs treatment beyond an adjustment for their issue, I’m not going to say, “I can’t help you, you would benefit from some simple stretches and exercises along with a simple dietary change and some physiotheray, but I’m not going to help you even though I know how to because it’s not “pure”/”true” chiropractic”. If a patient has something wrong with them that can’t be efficaciously addressed with an adjustment and I don’t treat them with knowledge that I have within my scope of practice, that’s malpractice. Just like if a medical doctor doesn’t treat a patient for their illness because it’s his “opinion” that the treatment isn’t “pure” medicine, than that’s malpractice 100%. Why is it that chiropractic is the only healthcare profession that is not taken seriously? Why are we the only ones called quacks? I know the answer to that but I’m not here to start arguments. When a patient goes to the dentist with TMD, the dentist can help with prescribing certain stretches and exercises. That’s not “true” dentistry, but they still do it and don’t have stupid arguments within the dental profession about how it’s wrong. If medicine was to have yours and other “straight” chiropractors view on their profession about staying “true” to the roots, than they would still be bleeding, purging every patient that walked in the door. As I stated before, this isn’t about being “true” to chiropractic like it’s our wife and we will be committing adultry if we go beyond the adjustment, this is about THE PATIENT and what is in THEIR best interest, not ours. I got into the profession to serve mankind with my skills and knowledge of the human body, not argue and fight about what’s “true” and “pure” chiropractic. Also, I agree that MUA and needle EMG are not part of the traditional definition of chiropractic, but SO WHAT! Who cares if it’s not. This is about the patient remember. I will do everything within my power to properly treat and diagnose my patients, even if it is not “pure” chiropractic and there is nothing wrong with that. The patient comes first, not the definition of chiropractic. I’m sure your patients wouldn’t appreciate it if they knew that their DOCTOR put his personal opinions before their health and well being. I know I wouldn’t. Its these opinions about chiropractic that have made us the only health profession that wants nothing to do with the health profession. If we were to be just “Straight” chiropractors to “pure” chiropractic, we could technically get through school in 1 year and that is not doctor. It’s the rest of the knowledge we attain of the human body and how to treat it that makes us DOCTORS.

By: Brandon Harshe, DC

Brandon Harshe, DC — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:14:37 +0000

I absolutely agree with everything you just said. However, besides Sherman I would add Life West and New Zealand College of Chiropractic as the only schools teaching true ChiropracTIC.

By: Erik Weston,DC

Erik Weston,DC — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 03:54:42 +0000

As stated before, I agree that MUA and nEMG are not chiropractic. But also as stated before, they have been included in almost every state scope as legally and ethically performed by health practitioners including chiropractors. I don’t understand why you would so vehemently attack what other chiropractors choose to do under their license and scope. By your definition any modality should not be included in the scope of chiropractors, or as you suggest we all should be osteopaths if I use a hot or cold pack or any modality. I guess because you don’t use them and this is your blog and you don’t want your prospective patients to be disillusioned about your technique of chiropractic you feel the need to insult us. Well when you insult me you insult the majority of the profession which is sheer arrogance. You correct subluxations. We correct subluxations AND more. You see, practically ALL of chiropractic colleges and universities offer certifications in physiological therapeutics and nutrition ( even Palmer, BJ’s namesake). MUA courses and EMG courses are sponsored by chiropractic colleges. So according to you ALL chiropractic colleges ( except for possibly Sherman?) are wrong, practically all chiropractic state boards are wrong, the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners is wrong, and the majority of practicing licensed chiropractors are wrong as all of them include therapeutic modalities. Your right, I see it now. Yours is the true chiropractic. The rest of us along with the colleges , state licensing boards and National licensing institutions all should have been osteopaths. I’m done with this silly little blog. Since it is your blog, the last comment is yours. Doesn’t matter, I won’t be checking back.

By: Brandon Harshe, DC

Brandon Harshe, DC — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 07:14:54 +0000

No osteopaths don’t remove vertebral subluxations. They did, however, start doing MUA along with orthopedic surgeons back in the 1930s. Sure what I say may be pretentious and insulting, but logically speaking, as chiropractors, who are separate and distinct in the health care paradigm, why do something that was originated by osteopaths way back when? MUA is a medical/osteopathic procedure and therefore doesn’t and shouldn’t have a place in chiropractic. That’s the source of my comment up above. To me, chiropractic is about performing an adjustment to reduce the vertebral subluxation and allow the Innate intelligence the opportunity heal the body as it was intended. Manipulations don’t do that. Manipulating a fixated joint to induce movement is far different than performing an adjustment on a subluxated vertebra. Manipulating any joint while someone is under anesthesia completely interferes with Innate Intelligence due to perception of pain and quantity of mental impulses being distorted by the anesthesia.

By: Erik Weston,DC

Erik Weston,DC — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 01:23:27 +0000

I agree. Those you mentioned are not chiropractic. But as chiropractors we are able to perform them in almost all states. Which means that most chiropractic boards find them to be useful to chiropractic care. These where not readably available in the time of BJ so we can only surmise of what he would have utilized or not. As far as osteopathy, I may be mistaken but I don’t believe osteopaths diagnose and treat the vertebral subluxation complex. As a chiropractor I do many times everyday. I remove nerve interfence which restores proper nerve function which allows the body to heal itself. As does any chiropractor who performs their version of the chiropractic adjustment with innate purpose and care. Do osteopaths do that? The answer is no. Whatever else we offer our patients is up to us as practitioners. Chiropractic scope has expanded and grown and most of us have grown with it. To suggest that we have chosen the wrong profession is an insult and extremely pretentious in my opinion. But that is your opinion and you are entitled and welcome to it.

By: Brandon Harshe, DC

Brandon Harshe, DC — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:52:10 +0000

Yes B.J. Palmer would have utilized all the newest and latest technology. But to say he would have done it under a broad scope is not correct. B.J. Palmer did everything he did to prove the subluxation’s existence, it’s effects, and how Chiropractic could affect the nervous system positively. He had no regard for modalities or anything that wasn’t chiropractic being called chiropractic. Yes, everyone has the right to practice how they want, and yes chiropractors can do various things under their respective state’s scope, but MUA, needle EMG , and vitamins are not chiropractic. You can’t look up chiropractic in the dictionary and see as the definition “the use of vitamins, exercise, modalities, needle EMG, and MUA.” I personally feel that if people want to do those things, they ought to have just gone to school to become an osteopath, because there is really no difference in that and how most chiropractors practice..

By: Erik Weston, DC

Erik Weston, DC — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:39:18 +0000

The question is not if these procedures/tests “have a place in chiropractic”. I believe the question you are posing is should chiropractors be performing MUA’s and nEMG’s. The only determining factor is what each state deems “within the scope” of chiropractic. Everything else is individual opinion. Fortunately, individual opinion does not make law. Collective opinion does. Unfortunately in politics, $$$ sometimes bests collective opinion, but that is a different topic.
Any practitioner should perform whatever he/she deems necessary to assist the patient in achieving their individual health goals, which vary patient to patient. A chiroopractor should never allow themselves to be limited by anothers beliefs or opinions. I know chiropractors who don’t take radiographs because they don’t feel that is chiropractic. I know others who do not refer for MR studies because they believe that is not chiropractic, or others that sell more vitamins than perform adjustments, but would never consider a diagnostic test because to them that is not chiropractic. Some chiropractors go as far as to claim that the chiropractic technique they perform is better than other techniques. Or if modalities are utilized. It is shameful when some practitioners try to impose their individual opinions on others and degrade them based solely on their personal beliefs. History has shown this to be a dangerous path.
I have multiple offices and personally care for patients who are interested in wellness care, family care and injury care. I utilize modalities when I feel it is necessary to help those who want to achieve pain relief. I do not use them for wellness patients (by the way, ice packs are considered modalities). I perform radiographs in my office. I refer for MR’s when warranted. Remember, chiropractors are not excluded from standard of care, even if you are a cash practice. If you care for any pain syndromes at all, you enter into the realm of medical standards and are responsible to act accordingly. I personally perform nEMG/NCV on patients that have differential diagnoses. I perform SMUA and extremity joint MUA on patients that I feel would benefit and have met all criteria. I sell very little vitamins. I carry a good fish oil and joint supplement. I am licensed in multiple states and follow the scope of each state. I do what it takes to do my best to help each patient achieve their health or condition goals within the scope of chiropractic. I believe that if DD Palmer who was also interested in magnet therapy, BJ Palmer who pioneered chiropractic xray or as he called it “spinography” and who patented the NCM (Neurocalometer) and who used the “latest technology” that the times had to offer had lived today they would be utilizing all that was available under the “scope” of chiropractic to assist their patients reach their goals. I believe DD and BJ would be on the cutting edge of technology and procedure. I believe that they would not stand for any chiropractor not doing the same. And that, my fellow chiropractors is MY individual opinion.

By: Brandon Harshe, DC

Brandon Harshe, DC — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 21:33:43 +0000

So what drugs are you prescribing? Seriously if you utilize those things that’s fine, but don’t call it Chiropractic. Chiropractic is Chiropractic, not botanicals, or drugs, or vitamins, or anything else. Prescribing botanicals, drugs, or vitamins is an allopathic approach aka alternative medicine. Chiropractic is not allopathic in nature. It is not a treatment for anything. That’s the problem too many Chiropractors don’t take the time to understand. You can take Chiropractic into the 21st century as you obviously think you are doing, but there is already a group of health care professionals that do what you do and are more respected by the medical community… they are called osteopaths… maybe that would have been a better career choice for you?

By: Aaron Root, DC, DACNB

Aaron Root, DC, DACNB — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 18:49:36 +0000

WHUH ? “…definition and heart of the profession?…” so,…our profession has to stay in the 19 century ? are you still driving that AMC Pacer ?

We are NOT a “drugless” profession. Not only do our patients take drugs, but we utilize botanicals and vitamins that have drug-like effects, and the issue as to whether or not they are ‘drugs’ is just a semantics, turf, and legislative issue, not a biochemistry issue.

I also disagree with the earlier posts about chiro’s desire to expand scope of practice for the purpose of $$. Nothing could be further from the truth. Many of us “expansionists” spend enormous amounts of $$ on additional education, licensing and certification fees, equipment, etc… without any guarantee of recovery of those investments.