October 2020

• Migraine Headaches Resolved Under Chiropractic Care
• Resolution of Vomiting Problems in Two Pediatric Cases Under Chiropractic Care
• Remission of Fibromyalgia and Resolution of Depression with Chiropractic
• Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Improved with Chiropractic

The Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research published the results of a case study on September 21, 2020, documenting the resolution of chronic migraine headaches in a patient undergoing chiropractic care.  Chronic migraines are migraines that occur more frequently for a period of at least three months.

On their website, the Cleveland Clinic describes headaches by saying, "A migraine headache is a type of headache that tends to recur and causes moderate to severe pain. The pain is often described as throbbing or pulsing and usually begins on one side of the head. Migraine headaches are worsened by physical activity, light, sound, or physical movement. The pain typically last from 4 hours up to 3 days."

The Cleveland Clinic also reports that, "The National Headache Foundation estimates that nearly 12% of the population experience migraine headaches. This means that nearly 40 million people in the United States have migraines. Women are about three times more likely than men to experience migraines."

In this case study, a 53-year-old woman was referred to a chiropractor by a neurologist for an evaluation of her upper neck. The woman had been experiencing migraine with aura for twelve years. She was suffering with migraines four days a week that would last 8 hours. The woman reported that the pain was sharp and radiating from her neck to her temporal areas. Additionally, the headaches were occurring with blurred vision, vomiting, nausea, grinding of teeth, spasm, tremors in jaw two–three times a day. Her symptoms were so severe that the woman would be bedridden for days and was unable to care for herself.

A specific chiropractic examination was performed focusing on the upper neck area. Special x-rays of the upper neck were also done. It was determined that there was a subluxation at the top of her neck and specific chiropractic adjustment procedures were started to address the upper neck area.

Immediately after her first chiropractic adjustment, the woman reported that she no longer had a headache, no blurred vision, no nausea, and no neck pain. She additionally noted that she no longer felt like a headache was coming on. After the first visit, the study reports that the woman remained free of migraines and neck pain.

After three months of chiropractic care, a re-evaluation was performed. At that time, the woman reported that she had been free of migraines since her first adjustment, she could rotate her neck without pain, she reported increased energy, improved clarity, and brightness in her vision.

In their conclusion, the study authors note that this woman was a medical failure and was sent to the chiropractor by her neurologist. They note that the woman had been suffering with her debilitating problems for 12 years. Once chiropractic was started, the woman became completely free of her migraines and the symptoms associated with her previous condition.

The August 20, 2020, issue of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published the results of two case studies that documented the resolution with chiropractic of vomiting problems in two separate pediatric cases.  Both patients were young boys who had never received chiropractic care prior to the care reported in this study.

In the first case, a 9-year-old boy who was feeling sick and vomiting was brought to the chiropractor. His parents reported that their son was previously a healthy and active child who played a number of sports year-round.  They also noted that, in playing sports, there were multiple occasions where their son would get hit and fall hard.  

A chiropractic examination was done which included inspection, palpation, and infrared thermography. Spinal x-rays were also performed which included motion x-rays of the neck known as video fluoroscopy.  From these tests, it was determined that subluxations were present. Specific forms of age appropriate chiropractic adjustments were started to address the subluxations. No nutritional, exercise, physiotherapy, or lifestyle modifications were incorporated into the boy’s care.

After just one chiropractic adjustment, the boy’s parents reported that their son experienced a complete resolution of all symptoms by the next day. He no longer felt sick and was not vomiting. His parents continued their son under chiropractic care on a wellness basis.

In the second case, a 7-year-old boy was brought to the chiropractic suffering with complaints of random vomiting after eating. The vomiting was occurring about once every six weeks. He was also suffering with hearing loss in his left ear.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included thermal imaging scans, a video-fluoroscopy, and static x-rays. As in the first case, it was determined that multiple areas of subluxation were present. Based upon the findings, a series of specific chiropractic adjustments were started on the boy.

The case study reported that the boy’s vomiting problems had completely resolved, but that as of the writing of this report, there had not been a change in his hearing. The study noted that this boy also remained under chiropractic care as a wellness or preventative measure.

In their discussion, the authors of the study note that spinal injuries from activity, accidents, or sports will usually affect the neck more seriously in younger patients than it would in a fully developed neck. This scenario sets up the possibility for nerve system interference known as subluxations. Since most subluxations do not result in symptoms, they can remain present for years and create health issues that are seemingly unrelated to a health issue the pediatric patient may be experiencing.

The Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published the results of a case study on August 24, 2020, documenting the improvement under chiropractic care of a patient suffering with fibromyalgia and depression.  Fibromyalgia affects about 2% of the adult population in the US, which comes out to be about 4 million people.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion , Division of Population Health, "Fibromyalgia (fi·bro·my·al·gi·a) is a condition that causes pain all over the body (also referred to as widespread pain), sleep problems, fatigue, and often emotional and mental distress. People with fibromyalgia may be more sensitive to pain than people without fibromyalgia."

The study lists other issues that commonly are associated with cases of fibromyalgia. These other problems include stiffness, fatigue, numbness, migraine, tension headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, TMJ syndrome, swollen lymphatic tissue, carpal tunnel syndrome, intolerance to cold weather, anxiety, depression, mental fogginess, and sleep disorders.  Women have this problem 9 times more frequently than do men. 

In this case, a 48-year-old woman who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia went to the chiropractor. She had been given the diagnosis of fibromyalgia 13 year prior to her chiropractic visit. She also reported suffering with headaches, dizziness, neck, shoulder, and upper mid-back pain, as well as lower back pain that occasionally radiated down her legs.  The woman had trouble sleeping and reported a 50% loss of sleep for the past 10 years.  She reported that she was on three different medications for her problems, one of which was for depression.

At the time of her visit to the chiropractor, the woman reported that her pain was very severe as she could not sit in a chair longer than an hour or stand more than 30 minutes without her pain increasing. She was unable to walk without severe pain and was unable to carry out normal daily activities without severe pain.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included a posture analysis, motion and static palpation, and spinal x-rays. The x-rays showed a loss of the normal forward neck curvature, disc degeneration, and malpositioned vertebrae. It was determined that subluxations were present, and a plan was set forth for the woman to receive chiropractic adjustments at the rate of 3 adjustments per week for 12 weeks.

The study reports that the woman started noticing relief after the first adjustment. As care continued, her pain reduced dramatically and her range of motion increased. After 6 months of chiropractic care, the woman had experienced over 75% relief in her symptoms. This improvement caused her medical doctor to change her diagnosis to remission of fibromyalgia.

In the study discussion and conclusion, the authors wrote, "There are a few models and theories in which the mechanism of subluxation correction can help to manage fibromyalgia symptomatology. With the removal of vertebral subluxations the interference in the transmission of mental impulse between brain and body are restored and therefore proper physiology is returned. "They continued, "The findings in this case study suggest chiropractic adjustments to reduce vertebral subluxation may benefit patients who suffer from fibromyalgia.

On September 28, 2020, the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research published the results of a case study that documented the reduction of scoliosis in a young girl who received chiropractic care. The chiropractic adjustment given were only done on her neck but caused the rest of her spine to change.

The study begins by explaining that scoliosis is a curve of the spine to the side, greater than 10 degrees when looking from either the front or back on spinal x-rays. The method of analysis which measures the degrees of curvature is known as the Cobb method. The study notes that when disease or physical bone deformities are not present as the cause of the curvature, it is considered to be idiopathic scoliosis.

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is described by the Scoliosis Research Society on their website as, "AIS is by far the most common type of scoliosis, affecting children between ages 10 to 18; it’s found in as many as 4 in 100 adolescents. In general, AIS curves progress during the rapid growth period of the patient."

Scoliosis is found in 2-4% of children between the ages of 10 and 16 years old. It is less common in children younger, and very rare in those less than three years of age. AIS is considered to be the most common form of scoliosis. Typical medical care for the more severe cases is bracing.

In this case, a 12-year-old girl was brought to the chiropractor after having had a collision with a blow to the head while playing lacrosse over a week earlier. As a result of the accident, the girl was suffering with headaches. The collision was so severe that the girl temporarily lost consciousness and resulted in daily pulsating headaches near her left ear. In addition, the girl also was suffering with difficulty concentrating, neck, low-back, shoulder and ankle pain, and stomach discomfort.

A chiropractic examination and x-rays were performed. The x-rays showed a significant scoliosis present in the girl’s spine. From the examination and x-rays, it was determined that subluxation in the upper neck was present.  To address the subluxation, specific chiropractic adjustments were started.

As care continued, follow-up examinations and spinal x-rays were performed. It was reported that the girl was experiencing symptomatic relief with her complaints. The x-rays showed a reduction of the subluxation in the upper neck. Additionally, the x-rays showed that the scoliosis was reducing, even though no adjustments were given to that part of the spine. Measurements of the curvature on the x-rays revealed that after 28 days of chiropractic care, there was a 40% reduction of the girl’s scoliosis.

In the discussion portion of the study, the authors summed up this case by stating, "This case presented the reduction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in a 12-year-old female presenting with a chief complaint of headaches. Over a 28-day period, conservative chiropractic management led to improvement in chief complaint as well as incidental findings of scoliotic distortions."