Big Pharma vs. Alternative Health Care: Unpacking Misinformation About Chiropractors
"Wait… Chiropractors Cause Strokes?"
"Some of the studies and like the payouts that these pharmaceutical companies… oh yeah, there was like 60,000 people that may have died because of this medication, and they paid, you know, a couple billion dollars… out of their $13 billion profit."
This conversation with a patient says a lot. It highlights a huge double standard in healthcare.
When pharmaceutical companies settle lawsuits worth billions—after medications may have harmed or killed tens of thousands—we barely flinch. But when someone says, “I heard chiropractors can cause strokes,” suddenly we’re ready to sound the alarm on chiropractic care?
Let’s dig deeper.
💊 Big Pharma’s Big Problems (And Small Consequences)
From the opioid epidemic to dangerous off-label drug marketing, the pharmaceutical industry has left a massive footprint on public health. Purdue Pharma’s role in the opioid crisis, which has taken hundreds of thousands of lives, resulted in a $7.4 billion settlement. Johnson & Johnson paid $2.2 billion for illegal marketing of antipsychotics like Risperdal. (AP News, OAL)
And yet—these companies are still operating. Still profiting.
Meanwhile, chiropractic care gets dragged through the mud for extremely rare adverse events. Why?
💡 The Chiropractic Stroke Myth: What's the Truth?
The fear that “chiropractors cause strokes” stems from concerns about neck manipulations and their association with vertebral artery dissection—a rare type of stroke. But correlation doesn't mean causation.
A major study published in Stroke found that people who suffered this type of stroke were just as likely to have visited a primary care doctor before their stroke as they were a chiropractor. That’s because early stroke symptoms—like neck pain and headache—often send people to a provider. (AHA Journals)
In other words: the stroke likely brought them to the chiropractor—not the other way around.
🌿 The Midwest Chiropractic & Wellness Approach
At Midwest Chiropractic and Wellness here in Eden Prairie, MN, we know these concerns are real. That’s why Dr. Mitch and Dr. Zach take every patient through thorough assessments, use advanced diagnostics, and build custom treatment plans designed for safety, function, and long-term relief.
We’re not here to “grease you up and crack your neck.” We’re here to actually help you understand what’s going on in your body—then fix it the right way.
Our approach includes:
SoftWave Tissue Regeneration Therapy (TRT)
Precision chiropractic care
Movement-based rehab and education
Honest conversations
And if you don’t need to come back 3x a week for the next six months—we’ll tell you that.
🔍 Truth, Not Hype
The next time someone says, “I heard chiropractors cause strokes,” ask them if they’ve heard how many lives were lost to improperly prescribed medications. Ask them how many doctors got rich off that. Then ask yourself—who’s really looking out for your long-term health?
Because here at Midwest Chiropractic and Wellness, it’s not about hype. It’s about truth, trust, and results.
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📅 SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT with Dr. Mitch or Dr. Zach whenever you’re ready—we’re here to help you move, feel, and live better
