Case Study Shows Chiropractic Benefit for Spinal Stenosis

2012-03-05T21:50:00+00:00

In the May 2001 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) is a case report of how chiropractic helped a patient with Spinal Stenosis. In this study a 78-year-old man had low back pain and severe bilateral leg pains. Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a condition resulting in narrowing of the spinal canal and pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. Degenerative changes are also common. The patient commonly has chronic low back pain and unilateral or bilateral leg symptoms.

The patient in this study was a 78-year-old man with acquired degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. The onset was slow and progressive with increasing low back pain of 2 years' duration and progressively worsening bilateral anterior leg pain of 4 months' duration. The patient described an "achy low back" pain with a belt-line distribution and an "electric," "sharp," and "crampy" pain along the front of the lower leg. The MRI study of his lower back reveled a narrowing of the spinal canal.

In this case the man underwent an initial course of chiropractic care for a two week period during which significant changes were noted by the patient. The conclusion of the case report demonstrates successful care of a patient with symptoms either caused by or complicated by central spinal cord stenosis.

Relief of Symptoms in Cervical Spinal Stenosis Through Specific Chiropractic

2012-03-05T21:53:18+00:00

From the June 2004 issue of the peer reviewed scientific journal, The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, comes a documented case study of a 70 year old woman who was injured in a side-impact motor vehicle accident. The report noted that within hours of the accident, the woman developed headaches, neck pain, and a burning sensation on the left side of her face and the entire left side of her body, including her arms and legs.

She was taken to the emergency room where an MRI was performed and she was initially diagnosed as having had a CVA (cerebral vascular accident or stroke). Later she was seen by a neurologist who felt that she had not suffered a CVA and after additional tests her diagnosis was changed to "cervical myelopathy". Cervical myelopathy is a form of spinal cord injury resulting in spinal cord compression. A cervical MRI was performed and revealed significant spinal stenosis with spinal cord deformation.

The patient started chiropractic care two weeks after the accident. She stated that her goal was to avoid spinal surgery. Her symptoms included headaches, neck pain, and a problem she described as an "odd sensation like my left face, body, arm, and leg are hot and burning."

Specific chiropractic care was initiated and the patient was adjusted each office visit for 18 sessions over 55 days at a frequency of 3 times per week for the first 2 weeks and then once per week for the duration of the treatment period.Â Within just two weeks the patient reported that her burning sensation had decreased by about 90%. She also experienced quick resolution of her muscular aches and pains. In just under 2 months the patient had reported complete resolution of her symptoms.

In this study the author concluded, "Resolution of the signs and symptoms of cervical stenosis with MRI-documented spinal cord compression through chiropractic techniques is reported." In other words, this patient was spared surgery and the quality of her life was dramatically improved.

Spinal Stenosis - Ladera Family & Sports Chiropractic - Ladera Family & Sports Chiropractic

Case Study Shows Chiropractic Benefit for Spinal Stenosis

Relief of Symptoms in Cervical Spinal Stenosis Through Specific Chiropractic