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Bell’s Palsy Helped by Chiropractic

A case study published on September 19, 2022, documented the resolution of Bell’s Palsy with chiropractic care. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke defines this condition by saying, “Bell’s palsy, also known as idiopathic facial palsy, is a form of temporary facial paralysis or weakness on one side of the face.”

Bell’s Palsy usually only affects one side of the face. It results from dysfunction of the 7th cranial nerve, known as the facial nerve. Problems with this nerve can create issues with facial expressions, blinking, eye tearing, and taste from the tongue. This condition is most common among people between the ages of 15 and 45 years and affects approximately 40,000 Americans each year.

In this case, a 52-year-old woman went to the chiropractor because she had been suffering with neck pain and a variety of other symptoms for the previous 3 years. She said the pain was constant and rated it as 4 out of 10, with 10 being the worst. The problems started after she had been cleaning her teeth with a toothpick. Over the next few days, she experienced numbness and pain over the left side of her face and started to experience ringing in her ears. Her face pain continued to get worse and was aggravated by talking.

Her problem created issues with her being able to drink causing her to spill liquid when attempting to do so. She found it difficult to make facial expressions and had difficulty with raising her left eyelid and eyebrow, as well as fully closing the left eye. For the first year of her condition, the woman went to a Chinese medicine practitioner who used herbal medicine and acupuncture. These reportedly gave her 60% relief. However, over the following two years before starting chiropractic, she did not see any further improvement.

The woman was finally referred to a chiropractor by a friend. After an examination, chiropractic care was started at the rate of three visits per week. The results after only the first week of chiropractic were that the woman reported a decrease in her pain down to 2 out of 10. She also reported that she could now talk without an increase in jaw pain.

After one month of chiropractic care, the woman had improved 98%, with her only residual being mild left eyelid drooping when making certain facial expressions. The woman’s face pain, neck pain, and other symptoms were completely gone, and her facial movements were normal.

In the study conclusion the authors wrote, “Patients with Bell’s palsy may also develop symptoms of trigeminal neuropathy. The current case as well as those previously published suggest that these patients may respond to chiropractic …”

October 12, 2022
Lower Opioid Usage with Chiropractic Among People with Back or Neck Pain

The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics released the results of a study on October 1, 2022, showing that people under chiropractic care utilize and are prescribed less opioids for their pain. The title of the study is, “Association Between Chiropractic Utilization and Opioid Prescriptions Among People with Back or Neck Pain.”

The study begins by pointing out that a third of the population in the United States has experienced back pain in the past three months. In 2016, a study reviewing insurance claims showed that one in five of all new lower back pain cases seeking medical care were prescribed opioids within 30 days of their initial complaint.

The study also reported that in 2017, clinical practice guidelines recommended that “opioids should be considered only in patients for whom other therapies have failed because they are associated with substantial harms.” Even with these guidelines, in 2020 there were 16,416 overdose deaths involving prescription opioids.

In this study, researchers at Life Chiropractic College West reviewed data from multiple studies to see if there was a change in the frequency of usage if opioid drugs in patients who were under chiropractic care and medical care, as opposed to those who were only under medical care.

The studies included 4686 people who had experienced lower back or neck pain. Of these people, the data showed that 21% were prescribed and utilized an opioid prescription.

The data was further examined to see the rate of opioid usage for those who received chiropractic care. The researchers then compared the rate of opioid usage verses the total group. The data showed that people with back or neck pain who sought chiropractic care had a 54% less probability of purchasing or receiving an opioid prescription for their condition than those that did not utilize chiropractic.

One of the studies that the researchers used for gathering data for this study showed that those who utilized chiropractic care had a significant decrease in overall health expenses verses those who used opioids. That study showed that “Medicare patients who initiated long-term management of chronic low back pain with opioids had twice the Medicare charges in a 4-year study period compared to those who initiated chronic low back pain management with spinal manipulation therapy, typically provided by Doctors of Chiropractic.”

In their conclusion, the authors of this study stated the obvious by saying, “Patients with back or neck pain who saw a chiropractor had approximately half the odds of reporting an opioid prescription compared to those who did not see a chiropractor.”

Considering the expense both financially, as well as human suffering and death, chiropractic should be considered first before opioids are prescribed or administered when it comes to low back and neck pain.

October 12, 2022
Improved Brain Development in Children Undergoing Chiropractic Care

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health Chiropractic published a study on October 3, 2022, with the title, “Improved Brain Development in 37 Children Undergoing Chiropractic Care for Correction of Vertebral Subluxation: A Retrospective Analysis of Health Outcomes.”

The authors of the study begin by explaining that much of the function of the brain depends upon the input that the brain receives from the environment. If there is interference from subluxation that alters the incoming messages to the brain, (known as afferent input), there then will be an abnormal response coming from the brain. Abnormal responses can be interpreted as brain developmental issues in children.

The authors explain, “We know that subluxation can alter input, increasing afferent input to the nervous system, lowering adaptive thresholds, and creating hypersensitivity to “normal” stimuli. Altering input thus alters output; it is logical to think that this change in output can be measured via the functionality of the nervous system and, in this study, developmental skills and how the body interacts with the external environment.”

This study looked at and measured many functional and developments skills in children who were shown to be deficient in developmental areas and were categorized as Neuro-Deflective Disorder. The evaluation of the variety of issues was done using both objective findings and parental evaluations on the child’s day-to-day activity and developmental skills.

On all the children in this study, subluxations were located and addressed through specific chiropractic adjusting procedures. The children were then regularly given a reevaluation to determine progress of subluxation correction and developmental changes.

Learning outcomes, which included things such as completing homework, the ability to concentrate on tasks and goals, handwriting, reading comprehension, organization and planning, spelling, understanding concepts, vocabulary and expression, attention or focus, and participation in extracurricular activities was regularly measures. The results showed that in the group there was an average improvement in this area of 64.8%.

A 74.12% improvement was recorded in intra and interpersonal skills outcomes. These included feelings about school, relationships with peers, self-esteem, anxiety, rigidity, family relationships, loss of temper, emotional outbursts, and ability to self-regulate emotions.

The study documented a 62.60% improvement in sensory outcomes which include food choices, sensitivity to pain, and overall sensory sensitivity.

General health outcomes were also monitored and recorded and showed a 47.92% as a result of chiropractic care. These included quality of sleep, amount of sleep, eating habits, digestive health overall, frequency of bowel movements, and energy levels.

With an overall documentation of improvement in all areas, the study authors summed up their results in the conclusion where they wrote, “Chiropractic adjustments, which focus on the reduction of vertebral subluxation, appeared to be beneficial for children with Neuro-Deflective Disorders. When measuring and assessing quality of life for these patients and families there was a positive correlation between chiropractic care and improvement in measured areas.”

October 12, 2022
Scoliosis Corrected with Chiropractic: A Case Study

On September 19, 2022, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health Chiropractic published the results of a case study showing that chiropractic care had helped correct scoliosis in a child. Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine when viewed from either the back or the front.

There are normal curvatures to the spine when viewed from the side. The neck should have a curve forward, the mid back should curve backward, and the lower back should curve inward. When viewed from the back or front, the spin should appear straight.

There are approximately 3 million new cases of scoliosis diagnosed in children each year which represents about 3-5% of the pediatric population. Scoliosis is much more common in girls and is most commonly found in adolescents between the ages of 10 and 12 years of age. When the cause is not known to be from a disease or injury, it is referred to as idiopathic scoliosis.

Scoliosis is measured on x-rays in degrees. A 10-degree curvature is considered medically significant, but only a small percentage of these are ever treated. When the curvature is over 40-degrees, the typical medical treatment can include surgery to insert metal rods into the child’s back to hold the spine in a straighter position.

In this case, a 5-year-old girl was brought to the chiropractor because she was suffering with headaches and having trouble sleeping. A chiropractic examination with spinal x-rays was performed and it was discovered that the girl had a scoliosis that measured 13-degrees. Subluxations were also present in the child’s spine. Specific chiropractic adjustments were then started.

After 28 days, a reassessment was performed to see the progress to that point. The study shows that the girl’s sleep had improved by 30% and she had experienced a reduction in headache frequency and intensity. A follow-up set of spinal x-rays showed that the girls scoliosis had reduced from a 13 degree curvature down to 0 degrees, in essence a total correction.

In their conclusion the authors of the study wrote, “Objective, quantifiable measures of scoliosis were improved in a relatively brief amount of time with conservative utilization of the (specific) chiropractic analysis to address vertebral subluxation. No other modalities or treatments were necessary to produce improvement in thoracolumbar scoliosis measurements.”

October 12, 2022
Chiropractic Aids Woman After Double Mastectomy

A case study published in the Journal of the International Academy of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine in June of 2022, documented chiropractic along with rehabilitation helping a woman recover from residual symptoms of a double mastectomy.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons approximately 144,000 mastectomies were performed in the US in 2020. The Mayo Clinic describes this procedure on their website as, “A mastectomy is an umbrella term used for several techniques to remove one or both breasts. In addition, the surgeon may also remove nearby lymph nodes to determine whether the cancer has spread.”

This study notes that breast cancer is broken down into 4 stages. “Stage 1 is clinically non-invasive which means the cancer is isolated to the location in which it is found and is unlikely to spread to other parts of the body. Stage 2 is determined by the size of the cancer cells found; typically, the tumor will be measured between 2-5 centimeters to have this classification. Stage 3 is determined when the tumor is over 5 centimeters in size and more than 4 lymph nodes are involved. Stage 4 is classified when the cancer metastasizes beyond the breast and lymph nodes to other parts of the body.”

In this case, a 67-year-old woman sought chiropractic care for lingering symptoms she was experiencing after her double mastectomy. The woman had previously had stage 2 breast cancer and had a double mastectomy which included removing all cancerous lymph nodes.

Her symptoms included radiating numbness and swelling that went down into her hands. Additionally, the woman’s shoulder range of motion was decreased in all motions. She reported that her condition was affecting her ability to perform normal daily activities as well as having a negative impact on her job performance.

After an examination specific chiropractic care was started along with other therapies and home exercises. The woman reported that immediately after her first chiropractic care visit, she felt an increase in her shoulder motion as well as relief in tension throughout her upper body. After only two weeks of care, the woman reported that she no longer was experiencing any of her original symptoms.

In the study conclusions, the authors wrote, “While breast cancer is prevalent and well researched in many areas, this case offers a unique perspective as a chiropractic physician was an integral part of the rehabilitative efforts. The patient’s symptoms decreased after one treatment, and no symptoms were reported after 4 treatments.”

September 13, 2022
Child with Sway Back and Back Pain Helped Through Chiropractic

The Journal of Physical Therapy Science published the results of a case study on September 5, 2022, that documented the improvement of lower back pain and swayback in a young girl who underwent specific forms of chiropractic care.

The term “sway back” is a commonly used term for an increase in the inward curvature in the lower spine. Other terms used are “lordosis”, or “hyperlordosis”, as used in this study, meaning a significant increase in the curvature of the lumbar spine. In many cases, this abnormal increase in lumbar curvature is associated with lower back pain as well as hip, leg, knee or ankle pains.

In their study introduction, the authors explain this issue as it affects children. “The prevalence of low back pain (LBP) in children is relatively common and some studies have shown it to be increasing. Although the risk factors of LBP in childhood are varied, children are often unaware of their posture while performing common tasks such as sitting and wearing a schoolbag which can be a direct cause of back strain. Regardless of causes of childhood LBP, without proper intervention as a child, there is a possibility that the LBP will progress and may increase in severity as the child ages.”

This study documents the case of an 11-year-old girl who was suffering with mid-lower back pain, as well as sporadic pain in both her hips, knees, and ankles. Additionally, it was reported that the girl was experiencing weakness in both her legs.

An examination and x-rays revealed a definitive increase in the forward curve of the lower back therefore being diagnosed as hyperlordosis. With the presence of spinal abnormalities, and with the consent of the girl’s parents, specific forms of chiropractic procedures were started on the girl on a regular basis consisting of multiple visits per week.

Periotic re-evaluations were performed as well as follow-up spinal x-rays to evaluate the progress. As care continued, the study reports that there was a measurable improvement in the curvature in the lower back. Additionally, the study noted that the girl also showed improvement in her pain symptoms. The authors noted a direct correlation between the improvement in the girl’s lordosis and her decrease in symptoms which eventually were completely gone.

In their conclusion, the study authors summed up their findings by stating, “Lumbar hyperlordosis can be reduced in pediatric patients presenting with hyperlordosis and associated symptomatology.”

September 13, 2022
Rare Neurologic Disease Causing Severe Shoulder Pain Resolved with Chiropractic

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.”

September 13, 2022
Feeding Tube Removed Following Chiropractic in a Man with Bickerstaff’s Brainstem Encephalitis

The Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published the results of a case study on August 22, 2022, that documented the improvement in quality of life for a man suffering with Bickerstaff’s Brainstem Encephalitis, (BBE). BBE is a rare autoimmune inflammatory disorder that affects the central nervous system and can also affect the peripheral nervous system.

According to this study, BBE is extremely rare, having less than 100 cases reported. It is similar in symptoms and effect to Guillain-Barre syndrome. Symptoms usually include issues with speech, vision, muscle strength, and a wide variety of other neurological symptoms. Due to the rarity of BBE, medical treatment varies greatly and is geared toward helping with the symptoms of the disease.

In this case, a 31-year-old man went to the chiropractor after the man had received a medical diagnosis of BBE. Three and a half months earlier the man was reported to be a healthy individual. One morning he woke up “feeling rundown” and “just did not feel right.” The following day he could only urinate sporadically despite feeling the that his bladder was full.

A week and a half later the man started having tremors and weakness in his right leg. He also reported that he started having trouble swallowing while eating dinner. This continued to get worse until he could no longer eat. Multiple medical visits during this time resulted in little help.

By the third week the man was also having trouble speaking and was experiencing double vision. At this time the issue was grave enough that a feeding tube was inserted, and he was sent home. Despite all the medical treatments, he did not see any progress over the next two months.

One day while walking up stairs the man experienced extreme fatigue, a rapid heartbeat and light headedness which continued to get worse throughout the day. He was readmitted to the hospital where it was noted that he had left sided facial paralysis. With the variety of symptoms and no definitive findings the man was given the diagnosis of BBE and treatments of plasma exchange were started.

Upon seeking chiropractic care and relating his history, a chiropractic examination was performed which included spinal x-rays. The x-rays noted multiple areas of malpositioned vertebrae and abnormal curvatures including a reversal of the normal forward neck curve. It was determined that subluxations were present, and a course of specific chiropractic adjustments were started.

As care progressed the man was able to slightly swallow and eat solid foods for the first time since his BBE diagnosis. Chiropractic care was continued and within weeks the feeding tube was able to be removed and the man was able to eat solid food without trouble. Additionally many of his symptoms improved including better motion and an absence of pain in his neck shoulders and lower back.

In describing how chiropractic was able to help this man with Bickerstaff’s Brainstem Encephalitis, the authors of the study explained, “The positive results as described in this case show the possible connection between the disease and its associated symptoms in the presence of a vertebral subluxation. With reduction of subluxation, the body’s innate intelligence is able to function and focus on healing.”

September 13, 2022
Improved Health Outcomes in a Child with Down Syndrome Undergoing Chiropractic Care to Reduce Vertebral Subluxation

The above headline is from the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic, published on July 22, 2022. The study documented a number of health and quality of life improvements in a baby with Down Syndrome receiving chiropractic care.

The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes the condition by stating, “Down syndrome is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome. Chromosomes are small ‘packages’ of genes in the body. They determine how a baby’s body forms and functions as it grows during pregnancy and after birth.” They further explain, “This extra copy changes how the baby’s body and brain develop, which can cause both mental and physical challenges for the baby.”

It has been estimated that about 6,000 babies are born with Down syndrome in the United States each year. The average lifespan of a baby born with Down syndrome has increased over the years. In 1910, a baby with Down syndrome would be expected to live only to age 9. By 1983 the life expectancy had risen to 25 years, and by 2012, the life expectancy had risen to 60 years and is continuing to increase.

In this case, a 7-week-old baby girl was brought to the chiropractor by her mother. The baby had been diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth as the mother was not aware until delivery that her baby had this condition. The baby girl had trouble breastfeeding and was not gaining appropriate weight. The baby also had issues with sleep and did not establish a normal sleep pattern. Additionally, the parents had to wake the baby every two to three hours and attempt to feed her to prevent further weight loss.

When the baby was brought to the chiropractor, an examination was performed. This examination included inspection, a postural analysis, and spinal palpation. It was determined that the baby had areas of vertebral subluxation that were affecting nerve system function.

Specific age-appropriate adjustments were given to the baby girl to correct the subluxations. The baby was seen weekly for a six-week period. After the initial six weeks, the mother reported that her baby girl was no longer having problems with breastfeeding. The baby was also gaining weight normally and her sleep pattern had returned to normal. As care continued, it was reported that other issues, such as constipation or congestion, would clear up after a chiropractic adjustment.

In the study conclusion, the authors summed up the results of this case by noting, “This case demonstrates a situation in which subluxation-based chiropractic care has successfully helped a patient with Down Syndrome to stimulate normal developmental activities (such as latching and regular sleep patterns) and increased her overall health (by resolving acute symptoms including constipation and respiratory issues).”

August 12, 2022
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Symptoms Improved with Chiropractic

On July 24, 2022, the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published the results of a case study documenting the improvement of a woman under chiropractic care, for the symptoms of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). In the simplest terms as described on WebMD, “Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a disorder in which most of your blood stays in your lower body when you stand up, and in response, your heart rate jumps.”

According to this study, “Approximately 500,000 patients in the United States suffer from POTS, and 25% of them are disabled due to this condition and unable to work.” The study also reports that POTS is five times more common in women than in men, and most commonly seen in women between the ages of 15-50 years.

John Hopkins Medicine describe the symptoms by stating, “The symptoms of POTS include but are not limited to lightheadedness (occasionally with fainting), difficulty thinking and concentrating (brain fog), fatigue, intolerance of exercise, headache, blurry vision, palpitations, tremor and nausea.”

In this case, a 31-year-old woman went to a chiropractor because she was suffering with neck pain. She could not recall any reason for the neck pain except that she had started a new job that required that she be seated for up to ten hours in a day. She listed that pain as a 6 out of 10, with 10 being the worst imaginable.

Initially, the woman did not mention to the chiropractor that she had been diagnosed with POTS. Many people who are unfamiliar with chiropractic mistakenly do not mention other serious health conditions to their chiropractor because they do not think it would have anything to do with chiropractic care. Since chiropractic works by correcting nervous system interference caused by subluxations, the positive effects can be very wide reaching on all sorts of health concerns.

This woman developed POTS when she was 16 years old. The condition was so severe that anytime she attempted to stand upright, she would pass out. Because of this, her medical physician ordered bedrest for three months. She was given medication in an attempt to help her symptoms. Because she did not like the way the medication made her feel, she made several lifestyle changes and avoided triggers that would create an episode. Even with these changes, the woman was still experiencing severe episodes three to four times a month with durations of thirty minutes to an hour.

After a chiropractic examination, it was determined that the woman had multiple areas of subluxations. A schedule of chiropractic adjustments was started to address the subluxations. The results of the care showed that the woman’s neck pain had resolved, even when working for long hours. The symptoms from her POTS also showed significant improvement. By the end of the care recorded in this study, the woman had gone two months without a POTS episode, and the last one she did experience only lasted five minutes.

In the conclusion of this study, the author summed up the results by saying, “This case report demonstrates the effect of chiropractic treatment of a female patient with postural orthostatic tachycardia and associated neck pain. After experiencing chiropractic care, the patient reported a decrease in the signs, symptoms, and frequency of occurrences of POTS flare ups.”

August 12, 2022

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