Category: Medication

A patient with a rare and very painful neurological disease, Parsonage Turner Syndrome, was helped by chiropractic care. This according to a case study published in the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic on August 11, 2022.

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) describes this rare condition. “Parsonage-Turner syndrome (PTS) is an uncommon neurological disorder characterized by rapid onset of severe pain in the shoulder and arm. This acute phase may last for a few hours to a few weeks and is followed by wasting and weakness of the muscles (amyotrophy) in the affected areas.”

The study reports that the condition may occur in slightly more than 1 in 1000 people in a year and is twice as common in men than woman. The most common area affected is the brachial plexus which is the a complex of nerves in the shoulder that carry signals from the spinal cord in the neck to the arms and hands.

Parsonage Turner Syndrome, sometimes called plexus neuritis or neuralgic amyotrophy, typically begins with severe acute pain in the shoulder area that can either be unilateral or bilateral and that may last anywhere from a few days to a few months. Numbness and other sensory disturbances typically also occur. As the condition progresses, the person will experience severe muscular atrophy and weakness in the shoulders and arms. In many cases this condition will self-resolve, but it may take years to do so.

In this case, a 37-year-old man was experiencing excruciating bilateral shoulder girdle pain. The man initially sought care from his primary care medical doctor and was given pain medication and a steroid pack. Although the pain medication did provide relief, the man noted that three days later he had lost some range of motion of his right shoulder. After an MRI, a surgeon recommended cervical disc fusion surgery.

After declining to go the surgical route the man sought chiropractic care. Chiropractic care, along with exercise, vitamins and therapy was started on a regular basis. During his care, regular evaluations were conducted to monitor his progress. The study noted that the man continued to improve over several months of care.

The study reports that at the conclusion of care “…a final evaluation was performed in which all strength and range of motion returned and he was able to perform all previous activities of daily living.”

One of the major issues today with the medical treatment of severe painful conditions is the addiction problems associated with opioid usage. The authors of this study address this issue by saying. “Currently, no global treatment exists for neuralgic amyotrophy. During its initial onset, opioids may help alleviate the pain, but offer no benefit in terms of recovery; in addition, the risk of addiction has to be considered.”

In the journal The Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research are the results of a case study published on January 27, 2020, documenting the resolution of hypothyroidism in a patient undergoing chiropractic care.

On their website, the American Thyroid Association defines hypothyroidism saying, “Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism means that the thyroid gland can’t make enough thyroid hormone to keep the body running normally. People are hypothyroid if they have too little thyroid hormone in the blood.”

The study authors report that the prevalence of hypothyroidism in the general population ranges from 3.8%-4.6%. However, subclinical hypothyroidism, which is less severe, becomes more common in the elderly population and can be as prevalent as 20% in women over the age of 60 years.

The symptoms of hypothyroidism can sometimes be confused with normal aging but include tiredness, weight gain, dry skin, cold intolerance, constipation, muscle weakness, puffiness around the eyes, hoarse voice, and poor memory. It is noted that some people with hypothyroidism have no symptoms and can only be diagnosed with bloodwork.

In this case, a 52-year-old woman went to a chiropractor for a variety of issues. At that time, she was suffering with discomfort and/or paresthesia in the neck, upper and middle back, bilateral knee pain and bilateral hip pain when sitting for an extended period. She rated her pain as a 7 out of 10, with 10 being the worst. The woman had also been medically diagnosed with hypothyroidism for which she was taking medication.

A chiropractic examination was performed consisting of static and motion palpation, a postural analysis and spinal x-rays. The conclusion of these tests was that the woman had multiple areas of spinal subluxations that were affecting her nervous system.

Chiropractic adjustments were started on the woman at a frequency of three times per week. On the woman’s 20th visit, she reported a significant reduction of her pain issues. On the 30th chiropractic visit, a follow-up set of x-rays were taken which showed postural and structural improvements in the woman’s spine.

On the woman’s 31st chiropractic visit, she reported to the chiropractor that she had seen her medical doctor who ran lab tests and informed her that she no longer had hypothyroidism. Her MD then took her off her thyroid medication.

In the conclusion of the study the authors wrote, “Subluxation based chiropractic care may be a beneficial approach in reversing hypothyroidism, reduction of the symptoms of hypothyroidism and improving the quality of life for individuals with hypothyroidism.”

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published a case study on August 12, 2019, documenting the resolution of chronic constipation in a toddler following the introduction of chiropractic care. Childhood functional constipation is reported to affect between 8-9% of the pediatric population with the condition affecting boys and girls equally. It is responsible for 3% of all pediatric primary care doctor visits.

The Mayo Clinic lists several signs that a child is suffering with constipation. These include: less than three bowel movements a week, bowel movements that are hard and dry and difficult to pass, pain while having a bowel movement, stomach pain, and blood on the surface of hard stools.

The author of the study notes that the main nerve in the body that controls the gastrointestinal system is the “vagus” nerve. This nerve originates in the upper neck area and travels down to many of the internal organs including the intestinal system. Any malfunction in the transmission of the nerve can have a negative effect on the gastrointestinal system, causing problems such as constipation.

In this case, a 3-year-old girl was brought by her parents to the chiropractor. It was reported that the girl had been suffering with chronic constipation for the prior year. During this time, the young girl would only have a bowel movement approximately every three to five days with the help of medication. When she did have a bowel movement, it was usually very large and more solid than normal. The medical physicians who examined the girl could not find a medical cause for the constipation and therefore said it was “functional.”

A chiropractic examination was performed. This included a postural evaluation, spinal range of motion tests, spinal segmental range of motion, and a heat reading thermographic study. From these tests, it was determined that subluxations were present, mainly in the upper neck. Specific forms of age-appropriate adjustments were started.

There were no changes noted after the girl’s first adjustment. However, after the second adjustment, the girl said she needed to go to the bathroom, and she had a bowel movement in the chiropractic office restroom. The girl’s parents noted that this was the first bowel movement she had in months that was not initiated by medication or laxatives. On the third visit one week later, the girl’s mother reported that her daughter was having daily bowel movements without any laxatives or medications. In the following three months, there was only one reported episode of the girl having constipation. This one episode was relieved on the same day after a chiropractic adjustment.

In the study’s discussion and conclusion, the author wrote, “Constipation adversely affects the quality of life of those afflicted with this condition. Any treatment that can fully alleviate constipation, and notably without dependence upon a pharmacological agent which reduces the symptom temporarily, warrants strong consideration. This case report provides supporting evidence on the benefits of chiropractic care in a young patient diagnosed with chronic functional constipation.

The Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published a case study on November 12, 2018, documenting the care of a woman with a clinical diagnosis of depression and anxiety being helped by chiropractic.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), “Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about a number of different things.” This condition is twice as likely to affect women than men and is most common in middle age. It is estimated that this condition may affect up to 18% of the population in the U.S. alone, which represents about 40 million people.

There are several symptoms that have been associated with GAD including a feeling of restlessness or on edge, being easily fatigued, having difficulty concentrating, the feeling of your mind going blank, irritability, muscle tension and sleep disturbances.

Panic attacks are many times associated with GAD and are sudden in onset. To be classified as having a panic attack, a person must be having at least four specific symptoms from a list of 13 symptoms associated with the attack. These symptoms include heart palpitations, sweating, trembling or shaking, shortness of breath, feelings of choking, chest discomfort or pain, nausea, dizziness, or feeling faint, hot flashes or chills, numbness or tingling, and a fear of dying.

Depression is described by this study as, “depressed mood most of the day, diminished interest or pleasure in activities throughout the day, significant weight loss, insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day, psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day, fatigue or loss of energy approximately every day, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt every day, diminished ability to think or indecisiveness nearly every day, and recurrent thoughts of death.”

In this case, a 30-year-old woman went to a chiropractor seeking help for anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. She had been suffering with these conditions for 8 years and was being treated medically with a variety of medications. She reported that she felt she needed to take her medication “too often lately”.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included a postural analysis, thermography, and spinal x-rays. From the examination, it was determined that subluxations were present and specific forms of chiropractic adjustments were started at the rate of four visits per week.

After two weeks of chiropractic care, the woman reported that she had a decrease in frequency of panic attacks, from seven times per week down to less than one per week. She also reported that she was sleeping better and noticed an increase in her energy.

After four months of care, the woman stated that she no longer suffered from depression or anxiety. She stated that she had an increased quality of life due to the ability to be happy as well as her increase in energy. As time and her chiropractic care continued, the patient reported that she was able to get off all her medications for anxiety and depression.

In the conclusion of this study, the authors wrote, “The patient involved in this case study states that she had no anxiety or depression after four months of chiropractic care on subjective patient progression forms. After long term care of two years, the patient ceased all medication for anxiety and depression. The results obtained in this case study shows positive improvement in mental health when chiropractic care was implemented.”

In their November 2018 issue, the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics (JCCP) published a case study and review of literature following the case of a child who was suffering with functional constipation being helped by chiropractic. Functional constipation is when there is no underlying pathological condition causing the constipation.

Approximately 95% of all cases of constipation do not have an organic cause and are therefore considered functional constipation. It is estimated that 3% of children in the western world suffer from functional constipation. Medical care usually consists of lifestyle recommendations concerning food, and the giving of laxative medications.

Studies prior to this one reported that that 36.4% of children with functional constipation were taken by their parents for alternatives therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy, osteopathic and chiropractic manipulations, as well as spiritual and psychological therapies.

Beyond just the physical problems from constipation, the long-term effect on a young child can be significant. Suffering with constipation for a long period can put a child at risk of missing developmental milestones, as well as suffering emotional and physical disturbances that can have severe consequences later in childhood and into adult life.

In this case, a 21-month-old girl was brought to the chiropractor by her mother. The girl had been suffering with episodes of constipation for the past 15 months. The problem started when the child started to eat solid foods at about the age of 6 months. The girl would only experience a bowel movement every 5 or 6 days. The girl would strain when going to the bathroom and would occasionally cry out in pain when passing a stool. Rarely, due to the hardness of the stool, the child experienced bleeding from her rectum.

The girl’s parents tried to help their daughter through natural and healthy foods and increased fluid intake. However, eventually, they took their girl to an pediatrician who prescribed laxatives. The laxatives seemed to give some relief, but the problem would immediately return when her parents attempted to take their daughter off the drugs.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included a visual inspection, both static and motion palpation, and spinal ranges of motion. From the examination, it was determined that multiple levels of subluxations were present. Specific spinal adjustments, appropriate for the girl’s age and size, were started to address the subluxations.

After the girl’s first adjustment, it was reported that she started having regular bowel movement either daily, or every other day. The girl’s mother immediately discontinued giving her daughter the laxative medication, as it was no longer needed. After five months of continued wellness chiropractic and without the aid of laxative medication, the girl had not had any issues with constipation.

In reviewing the available scientific literature concerning the medical treatment of functional constipation in pediatric patients, the authors concluded, “The effectiveness of laxatives is not showed in placebo-controlled trials and does not warrant the widely accepted usage. We observe that there are side effects in using laxatives for children.” They continued, “Chiropractic experience-based practice showed positive results in functional constipation. Children and infants with constipation as with other conditions should be treated regarding all aspects of their health.”

On June 14, 2018, the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published a case study documenting the improvement of heart rate variability and quality of life in a patient with Sjögren’s Syndrome following chiropractic care.

According to the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation website, “Sjögren’s is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects the entire body. Along with symptoms of extensive dryness, other serious complications include profound fatigue, chronic pain, major organ involvement, neuropathies and lymphomas.” They estimate that there are more than 4 million people presently living with this condition. Women are nine times more likely to have this problem then are men.

The most common symptoms of Sjögren’s Syndrome include dryness of the eyes and mouth due to dysfunctions of the salivary and lachrymal glands. Other serious health issues associated with Sjögren’s Syndrome can include lymphoma, neuropathy, gastritis, reflux esophagitis, peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, and autoimmune hepatitis.

In this case, a 48-year-old woman suffering from pain and numbness in the back of her left leg sought out chiropractic for an evaluation and possible care. Her problems began two years prior with no known causative factors. The numbness had gotten so severe that it prevented her from walking or standing for longer than 30 minutes. She was using over-the-counter medications for this problem, but she reported that it was getting worse. Her history noted that two and a half years earlier, she had been diagnosed with Sjögren’s Syndrome. The woman was under the care of her family physician (MD), an orthopedist and a physical therapist, and was given multiple prescriptions. She was also on a gluten-free diet.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included a visual postural inspection, spinal palpation with range of motion, as well as surface EMG, thermal scan, and a heart rate variability test. Based on the examination findings, spinal x-rays were also performed.

Chiropractic care was started on the woman with multiple visits per week. As care proceeded, the woman noted improvement in many of her symptoms. A follow-up heart rate variability test initially showed a 27% improvement which continued to improve up to 159% after several months of care. Although she still had the diagnosis of Sjögren’s Syndrome, the study reported that her inflammation levels have decreased, as verified by her blood work. The woman reported that she was taking less medication, had less stress in her life, and was experiencing an overall increase in energy.

In their conclusion the authors wrote, “We described the successful care of a patient with symptoms congruent with a diagnosis of Sjögren’s Syndrome. This case report provides supporting evidence that spinal adjustments to correct vertebral subluxations can have significant improvements in presenting symptoms associated with Sjögren’s Syndrome and overall improvement in quality of life.”

The results of a randomized controlled study, which included sham procedures, was published in the May 2018 edition of the journal Chiropractic & Manual Therapies. The study showed that subjects with non-specific dizziness and neck pain were helped by chiropractic.

The study begins by pointing out that neck pain and dizziness are common ailments in older adults. While neck pain carries with it the discomfort and limitation of daily activity, dizziness adds the risk of fall which can lead to serious problems, disability, or even death. For this reason, any form of care that can assist in the reduction of dizziness is of value to an aging population.

This study was conducted in Australia, so the statistic related to population occurrences may be different from other countries such as the United States. It is inferred that most industrialized advanced nations would share similar statistics concerning dizziness. One such statistic noted that among Australians over the age of 50, about 36% have reported dizziness in the past three months. Women seem to be affected by the problem at a slightly higher rate than are men. The medical treatment for dizziness is usually drugs. However, these medications carry a variety of risks including an increase incidence of falling in the elderly population.

Neck pain also carries an increased statistical risk of falls, although not as great as dizziness. The medical treatment of neck pain through medications carries its own risk of side effects. It has been well documented that pain medication usage has become a major health issue in most societies.

Neck pain accompanied by dizziness is referred to as “cervicogenic dizziness” or “cervical dizziness.” The diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness is usually made by ruling out all other possible factors that could be causing the dizziness independent of the neck pain.

This study was unique in several ways. First, the researchers used social media and advertising to recruit a large number of people for the study. From the respondents, the numbers were reduced by only accepting people who would fit into a specifically narrow criteria. Participants had to be between the ages of 65 and 85, and have both neck pain and dizziness for a period of at least three months.

A number of factors led to participants not being included in the study. Such factors that would exclude participants from the study were pathologies relating to the dizziness, a diagnosis of Meniere’s disease, a history of stroke or heart disease, psychiatric diseases, or a history of inflammatory joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Because of the narrow parameters of acceptance, the number of acceptable participants in the study was drastically reduced.

The remaining participants were randomly divided into two groups. The participants did not know which group they were in, or what the difference was. One group got chiropractic adjustments using an instrument set to the proper level to deliver an adjustment, the other group received a sham adjustment with the same type of instrument set to the zero level. This would allow the instrument to activate and make the same noise and sensation as a real adjustment without any impulse as in a real adjustment. Care was rendered for the same period of 4 weeks to both groups, after which a re-evaluation of the level of dizziness and neck pain was performed.

Data related to the severity of the neck pain and the dizziness were done one week prior to any chiropractic or sham intervention and then again one week after the four-week four-visit trial. The dizziness was measured using a dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) score, and the neck pain was measured using a neck disability index (NDI) score. The results of this study showed that the group that received the real adjustment was statistically improved for both the neck pain over the group that got the sham adjustments when measured using the standardized DHI and NDI scoring.

From the January 2018 issue of the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics comes a documented case study of chiropractic helping a baby who was suffering from chronic constipation. In children, constipation can be expressed as infrequent bowel movements and can have hard and dry stools.

The study begins by noting that between 5-30% of the child population will suffer with this issue. More than one third of the cases become chronic, lasting for more than 8 weeks. The study reports that many factors can contribute to the issue including dehydration, dietary factors such as cows milk intolerance, or a change in diet. Certain organic issues can also lead to constipation as well as psychological factors including purposefully withholding stools which can become an acquired behavior in some children.

If no known cause can be found for the constipation, it is referred to as idiopathic constipation. The study describes how this problem can be detected by noting, “Signs and symptoms of childhood constipation include excessive flatulence associated with a foul smell, infrequent passing of stools, abdominal pain and withholding or straining to stop the passage of stools.

In this case, a mother brought her 2-year-old son in to see the chiropractor. The boy’s problems primarily included three weeks of right shoulder and arm pain which was affecting his daily activities as well as his sleep. His mother additionally reported that her son was suffering with chronic constipation for over a year and was taking what she described as a “significant” amount of medication for the issue. The boy’s bowel movements were extremely foul smelling and very painful to pass. The child was eating a very nutritious and healthy diet which would rule out dietary concerns for causing the constipation.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included inspection, range of motion, and palpation of the spine and pelvic bones. With the findings, age-specific chiropractic care was started on the boy. After only one visit, the child was completely free of the initial pain of right shoulder and arm pain. Within ten days, the boy’s mother reported that her son was having more frequent bowel movements associated with looser stools and less straining. As a result, the boy’s mother was able to reduce his medication.

The study records that after four visits “…the mother reported that for the first time in his life, the child was sleeping throughout the night without waking and routinely passing a stool with no complaint.” After two additional visits the boy was having regular bowl movements without any straining.

In the abstract of this study, the authors give and overview of the case and the results by stating, “After four treatments, the frequency of bowel movements increased from once every other day to twice a day and use of medication decreased. Sleep quality also improved. As a result of the improvements noted with this intervention, a musculoskeletal mechanism for the development and persistence of constipation in children has been proposed.”

The Chiropractic Journal of Australia published a case study in their December 2017 issue documenting the case of a patient suffering with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) and chronic tic disorder showing positive improvements due to chiropractic care.

According to the Tourette Association of America, Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (also known simply as Tourette syndrome), “…is a neurodevelopmental disorder that becomes evident in early childhood or adolescence. It is part of the spectrum of Tic Disorders and is characterized by motor and vocal tics.”

This issue is not as rare as most people think. According to the study authors, “The current estimates are that 1 out of every 160 children between the ages of 5-17 in the United States has TS and that 1 out of every 100 children has TS or another tic disorder.

The symptoms of Tourette syndrome can include repeatedly blinking of the eyes, shrugging of the shoulders or blurting out unusual sounds or offensive words. The tics, or involuntary movements associated with this condition typically appear between the ages of 2 and 15 years of age. Boys are three to four times more likely to have this problem.

In this study, a 19-year-old man went to the chiropractor for an evaluation. At the age of 12, he fell from a chair. Shortly thereafter, he began to develop uncontrollable tics and muscle spasms. At the age of 14, he was officially diagnosed with Tourette syndrome by his medical doctor. The spasms the boy was suffering from mainly focused in his face, jaw and vocal cords. He also suffered with bilateral spasms of the muscles of his feet. He was treated medically with medication, which had a minimal effect.

Upon presentation to the chiropractor’s office, his tics were objectively evaluated using the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale. This scale is an effective way of measuring the severity of the tics for comparison later in care. According to this scale, his overall impairment due to his condition was rated at 40 percent.

A chiropractic examination and x-rays showed a number of postural abnormalities as well as a reversal of what should be a normal forward curve in the neck. From these findings, it was determined that subluxation was present.

Specific forms of chiropractic care along with certain focused exercises were performed on this patient. Due to the severity of this case, the patient was initially seen five times per week. The patient was visiting the United States from Canada for 12 weeks when he sought chiropractic care. He was therefore only available for care at this facility for 12 weeks before returning to Canada.

An examination was performed to evaluate his progress before he left the country. The results of that evaluation showed that the young man had reduced his overall impairment by half, going from 40% to a 20% impairment according to the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale.

In the authors’ conclusion and discussion, they explain how nerve system interference could create this type of issue by noting, “Altered spinal biomechanics associated with abnormal posture may cause significant neurological stress and malfunction.” They also explained, “The central nervous system (CNS) is the master control system of the human body and ultimately controls and coordinates all body and cellular function. Since the CNS is housed inside the skull and spine, it can be subjected to consequent adverse mechanical tensions.”

In relating to this man’s specific situation, the authors said, “Since the patient reported a traumatic fall at age 12, we propose that the cause of the abnormal spinal configuration was a result of trauma. Through the restoration of normal biomechanical structure and curvature, these abnormal stresses and strains were removed from the spinal cord and neural elements, which led to the improvement in function in this patient.”

On December 11, 2017, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published a case study documenting the resolution of a pregnant mother’s footling breech presentation under chiropractic care. A footling breech presentation is when one or both of the baby’s feet are in the downward position and are therefore more likely to be born first instead of the normal head first position.

The study begins by noting that about 3-4% of pregnancies result in a breech presentation. Current medical thinking is that a breech birth represents a significant medical threat and therefore a Cesarean birth is normally recommended in these cases. Since, for many reasons, a normal head-first vaginal birth is preferable to a cesarean birth, any reasonable process that can correct the breech should be explored.

In this case, a 38-year-old pregnant woman sought a chiropractic consultation and evaluation. The woman was in her 30th week of a pregnancy with twins that were in the footling breech position. She had previously had three individual pregnancies and delivered each child without complication. The woman had never experienced chiropractic care before. She was physically active by playing volleyball and swimming.

A chiropractic examination included palpation and a postural analysis. This showed a forward position of her head, as well as an uneven pelvis. There was also an abnormal motion of the pelvic bones when put through a range of motion test. Based on the findings, chiropractic adjustments were given.

Over the next 11 days, the patient was seen 5 times. In that time, both of the fetuses turned from the footling breech position down to a normal vertex, head-down position. This correction of the position of her fetuses allowed her to deliver her twins vaginally, without complication or medication.

The study also reviewed several previous studies showing chiropractic helping correct breech presentations and allowing for normal vaginal delivery. In one of those documented cases, a breech presentation self corrected after four chiropractic adjustments. In another case, the breech corrected after one week of chiropractic.

The overall body of evidence for breech presentations being resolved under chiropractic continues to grow. The authors of this study reviewed several other studies showing that chiropractic helped in those cases. In this particular case, the results were especially important because of the woman being pregnant with twins. In their conclusion the authors wrote, “This case report provides supporting evidence on the benefits of chiropractic care for the pregnant woman with fetal malpresentation.”