Chiropractic treatment of C1-2 misalignment - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

hope2Cbetter · 05-15-2004, 09:34 PM

Hi! I am new to this board and looking for some help. I fell hard on my tailbone over a year ago and my head jerked back and then hit the floor hard. Since that time I have had extremely blurred vision, testing at 20/200 at more than one specialist's office. All tests on my eyes are normal. In my search for answers I visited a chiropractor just this past week. He took xrays and said there is a 3 mm difference in the opening in my C1-C2 vertabrae on the right side of my neck compared to the left. He has suggested a series of 10-12 "adjustments" on my neck to see if this might return my vision to normal. Has anyone had experience with neck adjustments at a chropractor's office and did you have improvement? Anyone with a vision problem that improved or was fixed after a series of adjustments? Please help. Thank you!

boxer_dog_luv · 05-16-2004, 08:53 AM

AGREE!! DON'T LET A CHIRO TOUCH YOU! Sounds like you have a significant injury. I started with a "crink" in neck in 2001 and not thinking it was a meds problem or neurosurg. issue at first, I felt like someone, a chiro, could "work it out." Well two years later and thousands of dollars lighter, over the objections of the chiro, when I self-ref. to my family MD and had an MRI the chiro was treating me for a diagnosis that did not exist. I think the chiro made up a very officious medical terminology sounding dx to fit the symptoms. The MRI showed that the disk was bulging and foramen narrowed on the opposite side, another level entirely. Now I wonder if the chiro did more harm than good. Be very careful and get accurate diagnostic studies that a neurosurgeon can order and interpret. Even after I saw the neurosurgeon last summer, the chiro's office called my home weekly for about 5 times wanting to do more adjustments without the advice or consent of my neurosurgeon until my husband felt like it was getting to be harassment and threatened them with legal action if they didn't stop calling to solicit "more treatments." Good Luck!

Hurdy · 05-16-2004, 09:31 AM

Hi There, I AGREE with the others! Please do not see a chiro until you have had an MRI and have seen a neuro. When you see a NS you can ask if it would be apropriate to see a chiro. I just had ACDF C 4-5 and C 5-6 with double titanium cages. Let me tell you, i suffered my injury about 3 years ago, at the time i had no insurance so the pcp i was seeing at the time would not order a mri, instead just kept misdiagnosing me with a pulled trapezius muscle in my back. I was in soooooo much pain and they would not prescribe pain meds, for a week a went to the docs everyday begging them to help me. The pain was so bad the thought of suicide actually went through my mind because nobody would help me. I didnt get pain meds until i couldnt take anymore and went to the ER. Anyway, i had a herniated disc and during the first week of sufferring i made the mistake and went to the chiro. No x-rays were taken and he cranked my head from side to side, well if that didnt make matters worse!!!!!!! When i finally made it to the NS and i told him about the chiro, i thought he was going to faint!!!!! lol Anyway, i dont know what type of docs you have been to, but like the other posts, you need to go to your pcp and be examined then get referrals for at least an mri, go back to pcp and get the results then if a NS is necessary go see one. I also have one more piece of advice, should your mri come back with issues that would require a NS, make sure you go see one and dont let your pcp talk you into trying physical therapy or such first!!!! Should you have herniated discs or such, the sooner you see the ns the better the outcome of your neck and vision will be! Good luck, Hurdy

EmtShirl · 05-18-2004, 05:45 PM

hope2cbetter ~

First off cute log in name.

PLEASE listen to the others PLEASE! DO NOT LET A CHIRO TOUCH YOU IN THAT AREA!

I have several reasons why you shouldn't ever let them work on you cervical spine. I know chiro's can help people but don't let them with your neck!

Here is my situation right now and this is why I say as I do. I have/had spine problems for years and I had lumbar fusion less then 3 years ago. I had cervical fusion a little over a year ago last Dec of C4-5, C5-6. I now have tears in C2-3, C3-4, and C6-7. I am down to three options as of this time and I will tell you that C2-3 is a very serious level for any doctor/surgeon/Neuro/Ortho to work on. This is why I have not desided what I should do at this point and to be honest my Neurosurgeon doesn't want to take the risk until we are sure we have tried EVERYTHING else first.

My point here is please so research and I mean hours and hours before you go ahead with this. See as many doctor's as you can including the ones I mentioned above. I am sure you will not find much if you look because I have been looking for anything and everything for about a month now including several other message /support boards and have not found much of anything. Until you do find information don't do it and please see a neurosurgeon first. The brain stem in right in the area you are talking about so I am not sure why this chiro would want to put himself at risk of perm. injury to you?????

PLEASE see another doctor first PLEASE!

EmtShirl

hope2Cbetter · 05-18-2004, 06:18 PM

I am so glad that you all have responded with advice and warnings. I was to have an appointment with the chiropractor today but I'm not feeling well, so I cancelled it. I did some checking today and discovered I have had a previous MRI of my neck and a cervical spine xray which were performed in 1998. I thought I had the films done but couldn't remember for sure. I am going to pick up those films and reports and see if there is any mention of prior "mis-
alignment" at C1-C2. If there IS, then I see no need to go to a chiropractor to "fix something that ain't broke!" If, however, there appears to be no problem with my 1998 films/report, I think I will make an appointment with a neurosurgeon and continue with the medical route of treatment for now. If I didn't mention it earlier in a post, I saw the chiropractor on May 12 and he did an "adjustment" on my back and neck. It didn't hurt, but it frightened me and I don't do well with fear and am probably not feeling well for that very reason. My gosh, that man could break my neck without even trying and I'd rather be legally blind.