what are the risks/dangers of chiropractic treatments?

Chiropractic adjustments are one of the safest forms of healthcare. However, like all ‘interventions’ there is some risk.

The most common ‘risk’ is a few days of soreness as the body/muscles adjust to the change in function. A rare risk is the possibility of ‘separating a rib’ (known as a costo-chondral separation). This is painful (like a broken rib) for about 3 to 6 weeks, but normally heals on its own without any long-term complications.

An extremely rare risk is damage to the vertebral arteries in the neck. This can result in a stroke-like syndrome. This condition is so rare that numerous studies in the early 1990s were unable to determine how often it actually occurs (scientifically known as ‘incidence’). More people are killed by lightening strikes in the U.S. each year than are injured by this very rare event.

For comparison, it has been reported in the scientific literature that common pain killers like Advil and Motrin KILL at least 16,500 Americans every year (and the number may be as high as 30,000). The Journal of the American Medical Association just reported last week that serious side-effects from prescription drugs cause over 700,000 emergency room visits every year. So, by any comparative standard, Chiropractic spinal adjusting is very, very safe.

Best wishes. Hope this is helpful for you. I am a retired Chiropractor.