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Trigeminal Neuralgia Resolved Under Chiropractic Care – A Case Study

On April 6, 2022, the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic published the results of a case study documenting the resolution of trigeminal neuralgia for a patient who was undergoing chiropractic care. Trigeminal neuralgia is a painful condition that causes severe electric shock-like pain on one side of the face.

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, “Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), also known as tic douloureux, is sometimes described as the most excruciating pain known to humanity. The pain typically involves the lower face and jaw, although sometimes it affects the area around the nose and above the eye. This intense, stabbing, electric shock-like pain is caused by irritation of the trigeminal nerve, which sends branches to the forehead, cheek and lower jaw. It usually is limited to one side of the face. The pain can be triggered by an action as routine and minor as brushing your teeth, eating or the wind. Attacks may begin mild and short, but if left untreated, trigeminal neuralgia can progressively worsen.”

The study begins by pointing out that trigeminal neuralgia is a common condition affecting between 12.6 and 28.9 per 100,000 people each year. This condition is three times more common in women than in men, and typically strikes between the ages of mid 30’s to mid 60’s. Typical medical care for this condition starts with medications but may include a recommendation for surgery if no relief is found.

In this case, a 25-year-old man went to the chiropractor after having suffered for six months with burning left-sided jaw pain. The man’s medical doctor had diagnosed him with trigeminal neuralgia. A chiropractic examination was performed, and it was decided to start a regime of conservative care including spinal adjustments.

The study reports that, after three months of care, the man was no longer having symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia and was completely pain free. The study also reported that at some time in the future, the man’s trigeminal neuralgia did return after a boxing match in which he was hit in the jaw. This second episode was again successfully corrected under chiropractic care.

The authors of this study acknowledge that pharmaceuticals are a common medical approach. “The treatments for TN are not universally agreed upon and controversy still exists regarding treatment options. Pharmacological treatment seems to be the most widely accepted and utilized form of treatment; however, few randomized control trials exist, and many of the medications are associated with significant side effects.”

May 12, 2022
Resolution of Eczema, Ear Infections & Balance Problems with Chiropractic

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published the results of a case study on April 18, 2022, documenting the successful resolution under chiropractic of a small boy who was suffering with eczema, ear infections and balance problems.

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, “Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is an inflammatory skin condition that affects an estimated 30 percent of the U.S. population, mostly children and adolescents. It is a chronic disease characterized by dry, itchy skin that can weep clear fluid when scratched. People with eczema also may be particularly susceptible to bacterial, viral, and fungal skin infections.”

The authors of this study suggest that eczema may be the result of an over-protection from microbes causing a weakness in a child’s immune response. “Exposure to microbes at a young age primes future immunological response, therefore restricting exposure to infectious disease may skew the child’s adaptive immune response.” They also note that food can play a role in the condition as well as being overly clean, thus not allowing normal immune development. Because of the unsightly look of the skin, children with eczema have a significantly higher chance of developing behavioral issues.

In this case, a 28-month-old boy was brought to the chiropractor by his mother. The boy had been suffering with eczema since around his first birthday. Additionally, the boy was suffering with ear infections, and he had balance issues. The boy’s mother reported that her son’s eczema was the most severe behind the left knee, and occasionally at his elbows. She noted that the itching would be so severe that her son would scratch himself enough to break the skin.

An age and size appropriate chiropractic examination was performed, and it was determined that vertebral subluxations were present in the boy’s spine. With this information, specific chiropractic adjustments were started on a regular basis to address the subluxations.

At the three-month point in care, a follow-up evaluation was done which included giving the boy’s mother a questionnaire concerning her son’s health. The mother reported that her son’s eczema was gone, that he had not had any ear infections since beginning the chiropractic care, and additionally, his balance was 60% improved. At both the 6-month and 12-month re-evaluation, the boy had not had any relapses of his eczema, even though this condition usually has frequent relapses.

In their conclusion, the authors wrote, “This study details relief of symptomatology associated with eczema, ear infections and balance in a child under chiropractic care.” This case study shows improvement in eczema in a two-year-old boy undergoing subluxation-based chiropractic adjustments. With the increasing prevalence of eczema in the United States and ‘control not cure’ approach that is the standard of care for eczema, there is a need for chiropractic care in children with eczema.”

May 12, 2022
Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disorder Resolved Under Chiropractic According to Study

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published a case study on April 8, 2022, that documented the case of a baby who was suffering with Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD) and was helped by chiropractic.

According to John Hopkins Medicine, “Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common condition in which the stomach contents move up into the esophagus. Reflux becomes a disease when it causes frequent or severe symptoms or injury. Reflux may damage the esophagus, pharynx or respiratory tract.”

In this case, a seven-month-old was brought to the chiropractor for help with unresolved gastric reflux. She had been previously diagnosed by her pediatrician with GERD. The baby girl’s mother stated that her daughter could not sleep through the night because she was gassy and constipated.

Oral drops were first tried to help the girl, but only provided limited temporary relief. Her MD prescribed Pepcid which also offered no relief. Eventually, the MD prescribed Zantac. The girl had great difficulty taking this medication, and no change or improvement was seen from it anyway.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included postural observations, both static and motion spinal palpation, and leg length assessment. The purpose of the examination was to determine the presence of subluxation and how best to correct them. From the examination, it was determined that multiple areas of subluxations were present, and specific forms of age-appropriate pediatric adjustments were started.

On the visit after the girl’s first adjustment, her mother reported that her daughter’s reflux symptoms were slightly improved, and she was able to sleep through the night easier than before. Due to this improvement, the girl’s mother took her off half the dosage of medication she was taking for the GERD.

One week later, the mother reported that her baby girl’s reflux symptoms were subsiding allowing her to reduce her daughter’s medication even further. She also reported that the baby girl was now sleeping eight hours a night, which she had not been able to do for several months prior to starting chiropractic care.

After one month of chiropractic care, the girl’s mother said that her daughter was like “a new baby!” By that time, her mother had taken the girl off all reflux medications, and her symptoms had completely resolved. The study recorded that, after one month, the girl was reactive, pleasant, and continued to be sleeping well.

In this study’s discussion section, the authors summed up the overall reasoning for chiropractic in this case and those similar to this. “The importance of having a child’s spine checked for vertebral subluxations at birth cannot be over stated. A trauma at birth, no matter how minimal it seems, can cause stress on the vertebral column and lead to a subluxation that may cause interference with sensory or motor function of the nerve root. These anatomical and physiological problems are not always obvious and may remain subclinical for months, as in the case of this seven month old, or even years. Chiropractors are the only professionals adequately trained to detect and correct vertebral subluxations of the infant spine. If proper spinal joint health is restored, then there is the opportunity for proper human health to be restored.”

May 12, 2022
Improvement in ADHD Symptomatology Following Chiropractic

On May 2, 2022, the result of a case study was published in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health documenting the improvement in symptoms of a young boy who was diagnosed with ADHD. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.”

The study begins by noting that ADHD is one of the most widely diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders affecting children. It is estimated that 9.4% of children from the ages of 6 to 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD in the United States. They also point out that the rate of diagnosis of this condition is continuing to rise. The study reports that more parents are turning toward non-medication approaches to helping children with ADHD.

There is currently much debate on why ADHD is becoming more prevalent, but it is known that those with immediate family members who have ADHD are between two to eight times more likely to be also diagnosed with ADHD than those whose family members do not have this condition.

Medications are a common mode of treatment for ADHD but these medications come with much controversy and side effects. The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend medication as a first line of treatment for younger children. “For preschool-aged children (4-5 years of age) with ADHD, behavior therapy, particularly training for parents, is recommended as the first line of treatment before medication is tried.”

In this case, a 5-year-old boy was brought to the chiropractor by his mother. The boy was exhibiting behaviors of ADHD and his mother wanted to see if chiropractic could help without having to go the medical route and receive an official diagnosis of ADHD. She was looking to explore non-medical options for her son and was interested in seeing if a cause could be found for his, as she described, “out of control” behavior.

The boy’s history, as reported by his mother, included a continuous urge to bounce and jump. He also had a history of ear infections, and his mother reported that he skipped crawling during his developmental progression and currently exhibited toe walking.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included spinal range of motion, motion and static palpation, visual observation, paraspinal thermography, and a static EMG study. The results of the examination confirmed the presence of vertebral subluxation. Based on the finding of subluxation, and with the mother’s permission, a series of specific chiropractic adjustments were started to correct the subluxations.

Changes during care were measured both against the original exam findings as well as the perceived changes as noted by the boy’s mother. After 14 chiropractic adjustments, the boy’s mother reported that his teacher noticed that the boy exhibited behavioral changes and that he was becoming more focused with fewer disruptions in class. His mother also reported that, shortly thereafter, her son was able to be a part of family gatherings without being a disruptive factor.

Over time, the boy continued to improve as measured by both the examination procedures as well as his activity. At one point, his mother reported that her son wrote a letter by himself, a task that he was previously not been able to accomplish. The study authors stated, “The results of this case study reveal an overall positive outcome of ADHD symptomatology following chiropractic care.”

May 12, 2022
Neck Curve and Headaches Improved Under Chiropractic Care

The Journal of Physical Therapy Science published the results of a case study on February 23, 2022, documenting the substantial reduction in headache frequency and severity, along with the improvement of neck curve of a young woman undergoing chiropractic care.

This study begins by defining cervicogenic headache. “Cervicogenic headache (CGH) is defined as a “secondary type of headache caused by disorders of the cervical spine or any of its components.” In other words, these types of headaches come from issues in the neck and are usually only on one side of the head.

In chiropractic, it has been noted that the curvature of the neck has a direct correlation with neck pain. When viewed on a side x-ray, the neck should have a smooth forward sweeping curvature. Many Doctors of Chiropractic have noticed that a reduced or reversed neck curve is more prevalent in patients suffering from headaches. This study examines one such case and documents the results of chiropractic care on both the condition of cervicogenic headache as well as the cervical curvature.

In this case, a 26-year-old woman went to a chiropractor seeking help for her headaches that were severe enough to cause nausea. The woman reported that she was also suffering with upper back pain, neck pain, and pain on the mid-lower back on her left side.

An examination was performed which included palpation, range of motion, some orthopedic tests, and some muscle tests. Spinal x-rays were also taken in a standing position. The x-rays showed multiple areas of misalignment and the side cervical x-rays showed a curve reversal of a part of the woman neck.

With the information obtained from the examination and x-rays, specific forms of chiropractic care were started to address the spinal abnormalities. The woman was initially seen 25 times over a two month period.

After 25 chiropractic visits, the woman reported a 90% reduction in her headache severity and frequency. Her nausea was completely gone at this point. She also reported a 70% reduction in her neck pain as well as an 80% reduction in mid back and upper back pains. The woman also noted that she was able to sit longer at work and it was easier for her to perform her job duties.

The woman’s neck curve was reevaluated with a follow-up set of spinal x-rays. These new x-rays showed that the neck had improved from a partial reversal of her curve to a more-normal forward curvature. Two and a half years later, the woman reported still maintaining her good improvement.

In their conclusion the authors wrote, “A cervical kyphosis was reversed back to a normal lordosis in 8 weeks and coincided with dramatic resolution of cervicogenic headache in a young female. The cervical lordosis may be a key biomechanical biomarker in cervicogenic headache.”

April 12, 2022
Improvements in Developmental Delay in a Baby Girl Following Chiropractic Care

The Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics released a case study on March 11, 2022, documenting the improvement in developmental delay of a baby girl who underwent chiropractic care. The study reports that this is a common issue and between 1-3% of children under five are affected by developmental delay.

The study begins by noting that “Child development can be subdivided into four domains, including: motor, speech and language, social/emotional and cognitive.” In each of these domains, there are milestones that a child should achieve to be within a normal range. When the child fails to reach a milestone when compared to other children at the same age, that child is consider developmentally delayed in that specific domain area. When a child under five years of age is delayed in two or more domains, the child can be determined to have global developmental delay.

In this case, a 3-year 4-month old toddler girl was brought to the chiropractic clinic by her mother. Her mother was concerned that her daughter had a “communication delay and walking delay.” The girl’s mother also reported that her daughter had learning difficulties, difficulties achieving milestones, digestion and feeding problems, general co-ordination and balance issues, crawling and walking delays, hip and leg co-ordination problems, as well as flexibility, and low muscle tone problems.

A chiropractic examination was performed where it was determined that vertebral subluxations were present. With the mother’s consent, age-appropriate specific chiropractic adjustments were begun.

On the second visit, the mother reported that her daughter had slept better after her first adjustment, and she felt that her daughter was walking better as well. By the third visit, the mother reported that her little girl was calmer and was visibly walking better. As care continued, the girl continued to show improvement in her speech, her movement, her walking, and her sleep.

The study authors listed all the various improvements achieved by this girl. The list included, “sleep quality improved, waking brighter, general mood improvements, general behavior improvements, number of meltdowns decreased, posture improved, improved walking and general movement, pain or discomfort has decreased, strength/stamina has increased, fruit and vegetable intake increased, cold or flu frequency/duration decreased, mental energy levels increased, vitality improved, fewer run down days, physical energy improved, bounced back better from fatigue/stress.”

In commenting on her daughter’s improvement, the mother stated, “I feel my child is healthier and has stronger resilience. I feel my child has a higher level of health overall.”

In describing the link between child development and chiropractic, the authors explain, “Chiropractors and chiropractic students recognize that the central focus of chiropractic care is to assess for and reduce nerve interference, caused by vertebral subluxation, to enhance nervous system function and support the optimization of health and well-being.” They further define subluxation by saying, “A vertebral subluxation has been recognized as a complex of functional and/or structural changes in articulations of the spine and pelvis that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health.”

April 12, 2022
Reduction in Blood Pressure Following Chiropractic

On March 14, 2022, the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published a study documenting a case where chiropractic care resulted in the reduction of blood pressure of a patient who had been diagnosed with hypertension.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explain hypertension on their website by stating, “Blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body. Blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day, but it can damage your heart and cause health problems if it stays high for a long time. Hypertension, also called high blood pressure, is blood pressure that is higher than normal.”

This study begins by noting that hypertension is a major health issue in the U.S. and is closely related to cardiovascular disease and stroke. The study authors mention that pre-hypertension affects 41.9 million men and 27.8 million women.

Commonly, pre-hypertension is defined as a systolic pressure from 120–139 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or a diastolic pressure from 80–89 mm Hg. The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association consider hypertension to be a blood pressure above 130-139 mmHg systolic or a diastolic of 80-89 mmHg or higher.

In this case, a 52-year-old woman went to a chiropractor specifically for her issue of high blood pressure. She was employed as a personal trainer and was active in yoga and spin classes. Her MD said that her blood pressure was 185/90 and recommended that she take medication. She was apprehensive about taking medications and decided to try chiropractic first.

A history and chiropractic examination were performed. The examination included spinal range of motion, leg length tests, surface electromyography (sEMG), thermography (spinal heat readings), and some orthopedic testing. Motion and static palpation was used to help determine the presence of vertebral subluxations in the woman’s spine. From these tests, it was determined that multiple subluxations were present. With these findings, a specific course of spinal adjustments was started to address the subluxations.

The woman’s blood pressure was initially measures at the start of chiropractic care to be 185/90 mmHg. On the second visit, her blood pressure was taken again and had dropped to 165/88 mmHg. By the woman’s 7^th chiropractic visit, her blood pressure had dropped to 130/86 mmHg, and was reduced even further by the 9^th visit to 128/76 mmHg. Her blood pressure continued to improve and was eventually measures at 106/62 mmHg.

In the study conclusion the authors wrote, “The woman reported on in this case experienced an improvement in her blood pressure following chiropractic care.” They also noted that it is the autonomic nervous system that affects blood pressure. “While it is impossible to extrapolate this case data on to the general population, other randomized controlled trials and cohort studies have shown similar objective data in relation to the chiropractic adjustments relationship to autonomic nervous system function.”

April 12, 2022
Study Shows Opioid Prescriptions Greatly Reduced in Seniors Receiving Chiropractic

A study published on January 31, 2022, in the journal Chiropractic & Manual Therapies shows that older adults are less likely to fill prescriptions for opioids if they are under chiropractic care. The title of the study is “Association between chiropractic care and use of prescription opioids among older Medicare beneficiaries with spinal pain: a retrospective observational study.”

The study begins by pointing out that there have been several large studies that showed that patients who sought out chiropractic care for spine-related pain were less than half as likely to receive a prescription for or utilize opioids as a method of treatment. Considering the opioid epidemic situation our society is currently facing, any alternatives to opioids is preferable.

This study looks specifically at older adults who are on Medicare and suffer from spinal pain. Prior studies looked at the opioid usage in the general population and not specifically among seniors who are more likely to be on multiple medications in addition to any opioid use. The interactions of multiple medications with opioids, coupled with other health issues that seniors typically suffer from, add special concern to finding out if chiropractic care could reduce the usage of opioids in seniors.

Researchers reviewed the Medicare claims over several years of 55,949 Medicare beneficiaries who were suffering with spinal pain. Of this total patient number, 9,356 received chiropractic care and 46,593 did not. Those who were received chiropractic were also receiving medical care at that time. The researchers tabulated the number of people in each group who filled a prescription for opioid medications within one year of the initial diagnosis for spinal pain.

The results of the study showed that those who got chiropractic care were 56% less likely to fill an opioid prescription within 365 days of first chiropractic visit. Those who sought chiropractic earlier in their condition were 62% less likely to fill an opioid prescription compared to those who did not receive chiropractic.

In their discussion, the researchers noted that their results were similar to other studies that did not specifically look at seniors. “The results of this study support our hypothesis that among older Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with spinal pain, recipients of chiropractic care have a lower risk of filling a prescription for an opioid analgesic as compared to non-recipients.”

The results of this study add further strength to the argument that chiropractic should be included on senior care especially when related to spinal pain. In the conclusion to the study, the authors summed up the results by saying, “Older Medicare enrollees with spinal pain who saw both a chiropractor and a primary care physician had less than half the risk of filling an opioid prescription, as compared to those who received primary medical care alone. The association was most pronounced among those who saw a chiropractor within the first 30 days of care.”

March 14, 2022
Recovery from Severe Headaches and Neck Pain with Chiropractic

The Chiropractic Journal of Australia published the results of a case study released on February 11, 2022, documenting the improvement of headaches and neck pain on a patient who was also diagnosed with neurofibromatosis.

According to the Mayo Clinic’s website, “Neurofibromatoses are a group of genetic disorders that cause tumors to form on nerve tissue. These tumors can develop anywhere in the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and nerves.” They note that the tumors are usually benign. They also note that there are three types of neurofibromatosis with the type 1 (NF1) being the most common.

This study reports that over 50% of patients with neurofibromatosis develop bode deformities such as scoliosis as well as difficulty in healing any bone fractures. Pain in the spine and head area can also result from NF1. The study authors begin by stating that “The purpose of this case report is to present the results of a five-year conservative management for neck pain, cervicogenic headache and spinal deformity in a patient with NF1. Chiropractic intervention may be a viable option for addressing musculoskeletal pain and cervicogenic headache resulting from NF1.”

In this case, a 25-year-old salesman had been medically diagnosed with NF1 ten years before his seeking chiropractic care. In the past six months, the man had developed pain on the right side of his head and neck. His head pain extended around to the front of his head. On a scale of 0 to 10 with 10 being the worst, he rated his neck pain as a 2 out of 10 and his head pain as an 8 out of 10. The man described his head pain as a pulsating squeezing that lasted about an hour occurring about 2-3 times per day. He reported that over the preceding month, the pain disturbed his sleep and daily activities.

Chiropractic care was started on a daily basis for the first week and then reduced in frequency to three days per week for the next 4 weeks. After the first week, the man reported that his pain reduced from an 8 down to a 5 out of 10. The chiropractic care frequency continued to be reduced as the man improved. Follow-up x-rays of the man’s neck showed an improvement of his neck curvature which prior to chiropractic care had been almost straight, instead of a normal forward curvature.

Eventually, the man began maintenance chiropractic care with a lower frequency of visits. At a 5 year follow-up, the man reported that he no longer had the pain symptoms he originally complained about.

In their conclusion, the study authors summed up the results of this case by saying, “This case report details the long-term recovery of a patient with NF1 from severe headaches and neck pain following chiropractic treatment. It provides evidence and highlights the value of chiropractic intervention in improving neuromuscular functions and resolving cervicogenic headache in a patient with NF1, especially when the problems cannot be effectively solved by pharmacological or other conservative means.”

March 14, 2022
Chiropractic Care More Affordable Than Multidisciplinary Care

A study in the journal Chiropractic & Manual Therapies showed that chiropractic care alone was more affordable and similarly as effective as multidisciplinary which included chiropractic for the treatment of patients suffering with low back pain. The study, published on March 1, 2022, was titled, “Multidisciplinary integrative care versus chiropractic care for low back pain: a randomized clinical trial.”

This study attempted to see if there was a difference in outcomes between chiropractic care alone verses a multidisciplinary approach, which included chiropractic, in the care for patients suffering with lower back pain. This study looked at two groups of people suffering with either sub-acute or chronic lower back pain. The care for each of these groups was only rendered for a 12-week period, but the results of that care were tracked for a year after care began.

The primary outcome that the study was examining was pain intensity. However, the study also looked at secondary outcomes including disability, improvement, medication use, quality of life, patient satisfaction, frequency of symptoms, and missed days of work or reduced activities day. Participant’s results were reported on weeks 4, 12, 26 and 52 after the beginning of care.

A total of 201 participants were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into two groups. One group received only chiropractic care, while the other group received several different types of care which included exercise therapy, self-care education, traditional Chinese medicine, massage therapy, chiropractic care, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medication.

The results of the study showed that both groups experienced considerable improvements in all measured outcomes. The group that received the multiple types of care got marginally better results as far as pain relief and disability. On average, the multidisciplinary group showed a few percentage points better relief of their symptoms throughout this study.

One of the drawbacks that the researchers pointed out was that the cost of the multidisciplinary care was considerably higher than the chiropractic care alone. They also noted that the group that received multidisciplinary care had more doctor visits and was less convenient for the patients, as well as on average each visit lasting much longer. They also noted that the multidisciplinary care was logistically difficult to coordinate the various types of care from a provider standpoint.

It should also be noted that the multidisciplinary care included the continual use of medications, which carries its own inherent risk from side effects. Ongoing use of medication is opposite the goal of most pain care which is to have the patient no longer need pain medication.

The authors sum up the results of the study and their conclusions by stating, “Low back pain patients who received integrative care by a multidisciplinary integrative care team tended to have better outcomes than those who received chiropractic care. However, given the relatively small magnitude of between group differences and the extensive resources required to successfully manage and implement, the team based integrative care might not be worthwhile.”

March 14, 2022

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