To best answer this question we must weigh the risks versus the benefits.  We can compare the chiropractic adjustment to simple Ibuprofen, as both may be used to reduce pain.

 Let’s begin with the risks of each option.

 Side effects of an adjustment:  The most common side effect of an adjustment is post-treatment soreness, which should not last longer than 24 hours.  It’s comparable to the soreness you feel after exercise.

Side effects of plain Ibuprofen (an NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug): nausea, dyspepsia, gastrointestinal ulceration/bleeding, raised liver enzymes, diarrhea, constipation, epistaxis, headache, dizziness, priapism, rash, salt and fluid retention, and hypertension.  If you are not up on medical terminology, I can assure you some of these are very nasty symptoms…   (Ibuprofen side-effect information collected at Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibuprofen#Adverse_effects)

 Uncommon risks of adjustments:  One statistic states there is one death per every 3.3 million adjustments given, however the records indicate that most of these adjustments were not administered by a chiropractor.  In other words, never let someone other than a chiropractor manipulate you… 

Uncommon risks of NSAIDs:  The same resource reports 132,000 deaths per 3.3 million NSAID users. 

 Now lets look at the brighter side of things and talk about the benefits.

 Benefits of chiropractic adjustments:  Decrease pain, reduce muscle tension, reduce irritation of nerves, increase flexibility, increase motion, and positively affect every system in the body.  Adjustments will fix the cause of the pain rather than covering up the pain signal.

Benefits of Ibuprofen:  It is convenient.  Once it starts to wear off and you feel the pain again, you can take another pill.  It sounds easy, but can become a vicious cycle.

 So, what is your conclusion after weighing the risks versus the benefits? 

 This is a very general comparison, but it seems conclusive that the risks are lower and the benefits are higher with chiropractic adjustments for relieving pain.  Unfortunately we live in a society where to some people convenience means more than their own health.  I would like to encourage those of you who have never tried chiropractic or who are unsure about it to take a look at our website for more details, www.vancouverwashingtonchiro.com.  We do free consultations every day to simply educate the public on how chiropractic care works and how it can help them.

 For more inclusive information of the risks of chiropractic visit the American Chiropractic Association Website and view the article titled “What are the Risks of Chiropractic Neck Adjustments.” www.acatoday.org/membersonly/ChiroRisks_Lauretti_06.pdf