Category: Cramped Lip Muscles

Many adults live with chronic back pain, stiffness, or muscle spasms without ever discovering the real cause. One possible contributor is a spinal finding known as fish vertebrae—a biconcave shape of the vertebral bone often seen alongside degeneration. While the shape itself cannot be reversed, the symptoms it creates—pain, tightness, loss of mobility, and sleep disruption—can make everyday life extremely difficult. A recent case report published in the Asian Pacific Chiropractic Journal on October 1, 2025, highlights how chiropractic care, including the correction of subluxation, helped a 42-year-old man regain comfort and mobility after years of worsening spasms.

Before beginning chiropractic care, this patient had been living with severe muscle spasms around his mid-back. These episodes struck two to three times every day, often lasting 20 minutes at a time and forcing him to get up and walk just to reduce the pain. The problem had been growing progressively worse over the previous two years and was now interfering with his ability to sleep, breathe comfortably, and exercise. Despite seeing multiple therapists and undergoing imaging studies, he was told that nothing could be done to help his condition.

His chiropractic examination revealed significant restrictions in spinal movement, pain on even gentle pressure, and an uneven pattern of spinal alignment that included scoliosis and degeneration at two spinal levels. Subluxations were identified near the area of degeneration—places where spinal segments were not moving correctly and where nerve and muscle irritation could easily develop. These imbalances were believed to be contributing to his body’s ongoing protective muscle spasms. The goal of care was clear: correct subluxations, reduce mechanical stress, and relieve the nervous system irritation that was sending his muscles into overdrive.

Within the first month of chiropractic care, the patient noticed something he hadn’t felt from any other treatment—his spinal movement improved, and the spasms became far less frequent. By his four-week review, he reported a 50% improvement in symptoms, with spasms dropping from several times a day to just a few times per week. His range of motion increased, and he could move more freely without triggering pain. These early changes signaled that his spine and nervous system were beginning to function more normally.

Ten weeks into care, the transformation was remarkable. The spasms had completely resolved. His mobility had improved by 90%, and he could sleep comfortably without fear that lying down would trigger a painful episode. He even reported feeling calmer and more confident, no longer living in constant anticipation of the next spasm. “My overall posture and mobility have improved greatly,” he said, adding that he was able to live with far less discomfort than he had in years.

This case demonstrates that even when structural changes in the spine—like fish vertebrae—cannot be reversed, their painful effects can often be managed successfully. By correcting subluxations and restoring balance to the spine, chiropractic care may help reduce protective muscle tension, decrease pain, and improve overall function. For individuals living with chronic back issues or degenerative findings, this story offers hope that meaningful, life-changing relief is possible.

A case report published on February 7, 2025, in the open access science journal Cureus documented chiropractic care helping reduce scoliosis in an adolescent patient. The National Library of Medicine defines this condition as, “Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common form of pediatric scoliosis occurring in individuals between the ages of 10 to 18. By definition, idiopathic scoliosis implies that the etiology is unknown or not related to a specific syndromic, congenital, or neuromuscular condition.”

This study begins by describing how scoliosis is measured and the possible health issues related to severe cases. “This spinal deformity is measured by the Cobb angle. Scoliosis is classified as mild (Cobb angle: 10-24°), moderate (25-39°), or severe (≥40°). Mild-to-moderate scoliosis can lead to cosmetic deformities, back pain, functional limitations, and psychological challenges. Severe scoliosis is associated with cardiac dysfunction and pulmonary complications.”

One of the ways scoliosis is treated medically is by spinal surgery. The authors of this study point out that surgery can provide cosmetic improvements but may present other issues. “Surgery involves significant recovery time. Surgical procedures carry inherent risks, such as infection, neurological injury, or complications from implants.”

In this case, a 14-year-old boy was diagnosed with scoliosis. Upon a referral to a pediatric orthopedist, the curvature was measured to be a Cobb angle of 43 degrees. The pediatric orthopedist told the family that there was “not much that we can do” and recommended bracing. If the curvature continued to get worse, then surgery would be recommended.

An examination was performed at a non-medical center and included palpation, range of motion and orthopedic tests. The results showed asymmetry of the hips, shoulders, and spinal muscles. Spinal x-rays were taken and digitally measured to determine the amount of scoliosis. At that time, the scoliosis measured 42.4 degrees for the Cobb measurement angel.

Care was started on the boy in the forms of mechanical rehabilitation, stretching, and specific chiropractic adjustments. After 20 visits of the various forms of care, and again at 13 months after the initial visit, the chiropractor performed a follow-up set of spinal x-rays to measure the progress of the curvature of the boy’s spine. The new x-rays showed that the scoliosis had significantly improved, going from initially 42.4 degrees to being reduced to 28.9° after care and reduced further to 23.8° at the 13-month follow-up.

In their conclusion the authors wrote, “The results of this case report are consistent with the findings of previous research on the efficacy of scoliosis-specific exercises and chiropractic interventions in the management of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. These studies have demonstrated that nonsurgical approaches can lead to significant improvements in spinal alignment, respiratory function, and physical capacity.”

On May 5, 2023, the Journal of Medicine and Life published the results of a case study documenting the successful resolution of a patient who was suffering with severe difficulty swallowing and had not gotten any help from medical care. When the swallowing difficulty is coming from muscles in the throat and neck, it is known as cervicogenic dysphagia.

The author of this study defines this condition by saying “Cervicogenic dysphagia is characterized by difficulty swallowing caused by musculoskeletal and/or neural dysfunction in the cervical spine.” He notes that about 3% of the general population, and about 20% of people over 50 are affected by dysphasia. He describes two possible mechanisms that can create cervicogenic dysphagia. One mechanism is postural, where the position of the neck creates problems with swallowing. The second mechanism involves the nervous system, where the neck can interfere with nerve system signals that affect swallowing.

In this case, a 48-year-old man sought out chiropractic care for help with his swallowing problems. The man’s history revealed that he had a history of some neck pain and tightness for the past 5 years, but his swallowing difficulties only started 8 months prior to seeking chiropractic help. At first, the man reported a “a grabbing sensation” in his throat, but he did not experience any pain associated with this feeling.

Over time, his problem worsened. He later described the feeling as food being stuck in his throat when eating. Eventually, he was unable to swallow any dry food, such as cake or bread. He was medically diagnosed as dysphagia associated with an anxiety disorder by a hospital psychiatry department. Medical treatment was physiotherapy and medications.

After three months of medical care, his condition continued to get worse. Over time, he was only able to eat chopped noodles and oatmeal and was unable to dine out at any restaurant. This problem severely impacted his quality of life and caused him to lose over 20 pounds in 5 months.

Eventually, his dysphasia got so severe that he was unable to consume thick liquids and sometimes even choked on his saliva during swallowing. He was then admitted to the hospital where a battery of tests found no pathologies and he was placed on a diet of oatmeal. After two additional months of seeing no results medically, the man researched online and decided to try chiropractic.

A chiropractic examination with x-rays was performed and chiropractic care was started. By the third week of chiropractic care, the man reported that his symptoms had gradually improved. At this point, he was now able to eat lunch with his colleagues. By the fourth week of care, his breakfast meals could now include eggs and toast. By the eight week of chiropractic care, the man reported that he was able to eat steak for his dinner. He was eventually able to discontinue all medications that he was taking for his problem.

In giving an overview, the author summed up this patient’s case by stating, “This case report describes a 48-year-old man who complained of difficulty swallowing for 8 months. The patient had a history of neck pain and tightness in the upper trapezius region during office work. His symptoms gradually worsened, and he eventually could not swallow any dry food. Despite multiple consultations and treatments, his condition did not improve until he sought chiropractic therapy.”

A case study was published on February 11, 2019, in the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic that highlighted the case of a man suffering with foot drop and foot numbness being helped by chiropractic. Foot drop happens when a person is unable to lift the top of their foot upward causing it to drop down as if pointing their toes.

Typically, foot drop is accompanied by a numbness in the top side of the foot. The study notes that the common peroneal nerve is often the source of the dysfunction that then results in the muscles controlled by this nerve being unable to flex the foot upward.

The common peroneal nerve is a branch from the sciatic nerve. A dysfunction in either the common peroneal nerve or the sciatic nerve or the origin of the sciatic at the spine can create foot drop without there being any pain in the nerves that feed the muscles for the top of the foot.

In this case, a 61-year-old man sought care at a hospital-based chiropractic clinic. His chief complaint was right-sided foot drop. His problem began 9 days prior to his chiropractic visit. As described by the study, his symptoms began “following 3 days of sitting in his canoe with the right lateral aspect of his leg resting against the gunnel of the canoe.” The man had been sitting on a canoe for three hours each day over the course of three days. By the end of the third day, he had problems walking up a hill as his foot would not flex properly.

Upon arriving home an hour later, he noticed he had lost some feeling on the top of his right foot, as well as being unable to flex his foot upward at all. He went to his medical doctor who did not prescribe or render any treatment other than to tell the man to wait ten days to see how he was doing. After nine days with no improvement, the man decided to seek chiropractic care.

A physical and chiropractic examination was performed which confirmed the loss of sensation and feeling on the top side of his right foot. Chiropractic care was started with the man being seen twice a week for the first three weeks, followed by once a week visits. In addition, the man also received physical therapy in the hospital setting.

In the discussion, the authors of this study provided an overview by stating, “Our patient initially presented to his primary care physician, who told him to monitor his condition for any changes; there was no treatment provided, no recommendations for palliative care and minimal discussion related to his condition. Still seeking answers, the patient came to the chiropractic office on a self-referral, where a complete and comprehensive physical exam was performed, and a treatment program was implemented.”

As a result of his care, the study reports that the man continued to improve with both his ability to upwardly flex his right foot as well as an increase in sensation and feeling in his foot. By the 11th week, the man had completely regained the function of his right foot and no longer had a loss of sensation or feeling.

The Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published a case study on September 28, 2018, of a combat veteran suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, (PTSD), who was helped by chiropractic. The National Institutes of Mental Health describe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder by saying “PTSD is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.”

The study authors begin this report with a startling statistic as to the frequency of overall mental health issues. “Mental Illness is a very relevant topic in health care today. In 2013, approximately 1 in 5 adults over the age of 18 were diagnosed with a mental illness and approximately half of all Americans will experience a mental illness in their lifetime.”

According to this study, the frequency of PTSD is estimated to range between 8%-14% in the general population, with the military population suffering at a higher rate. A study done in 2010 of the Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) military veterans showed prevalence rates of PTSD between 13.3% and 19.8%. Some studies suggest the rates can be as high as 31% of veterans who have served in combat situations. PTSD is the second most common condition in the military, with the most common condition being depression.

The cost of treating PTSD over a protracted period of time will be staggering to the US military. In 2010, a study of US service members in Iraq estimated that the total cost of PTSD treatment per person ranged from $5,900 to $25,800 over a two-year period. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that total lifetime medical costs for veterans over the next 40 years to be between $300 and $600 billion dollars for all types of medical conditions. With PTSD being a large portion of that total expense, and with veterans suffering from PTSD averaging medical bills that are 60% higher than the norm, it is clear that this condition has a large financial impact.

In this case, a 35-year-old veteran sought chiropractic care for symptoms related to his PTSD attributed to his military deployment. One of the issues he listed was an “over stimulated nervous system.” He further described his condition by describing it as an “…intense, never-ending anxiety which has bled into all areas of [his] life – mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and into relationships with others.” His symptoms began in 2004, 11 years prior to seeking chiropractic care.

After an examination, specific chiropractic care was started. Within two weeks of the start of the care, the man had several comments which included that he felt “less tension in his muscles at rest,” as well as a “small increase in overall well-being.” He noted that he was “much more relaxed at rest” and was able to “tolerate watching his kids.” After about a month of care, his comments included that he was experiencing “improved digestion,” he also felt that he was “more resilient overall” and was now able to “take a full breath.”

When asked to evaluate his mental/emotional state, he stated that there was improvement in many areas compared to before starting his chiropractic care. He now noted that he “rarely” experienced the presence of negative feelings about himself, moodiness, angry outbursts, depression, lack of interest, restlessness, difficulty sitting still, or the experience of recurring thoughts or dreams.