In the past, it was believed that chiropractic neck manipulations caused patients to have strokes. A recent study by the Annals of Medicine has found that this isn’t true at all. In fact, they did a comprehensive study of all of the literature out there and discovered that these manual manipulations and therapies don’t increase the patient’s risk of, in clinical terms, “Cervical Arterial Dissection or CAD,” also known as a tear in the wall of the arteries. However, it’s important for chiropractors to know the signs of a potential CAD case, since there are some exacerbating factors that make it seem as though the chiropractor is to blame, when in fact, they aren’t.
Know Which Pre-Existing Conditions and Disorders to Ask About
Before a chiropractor does any manipulations on a patient, they need to ask them plenty of questions. This is normally done as a part of the initial physical exam, so nothing really needs to change, except for the focus on the questions. There are some that must be brought up in order to determine if the patient has any risk factors for CAD. These questions include asking the patient about their history of smoking cigarettes, which increases the potential for CAD. Others are having a vitamin deficiency, such as low blood levels of B12, B6, and B9, having a disorder that involves the connective tissues, and having a history of recurrent tinnitus (also known as a frequent ringing in the ears.) Additional symptoms and disorders include having frequent respiratory infections, very low cholesterol levels, being underweight, and having a history of issues with the arteries, such as previous instances of CAD or any other type of
anomalies with the arteries.
Obviously, if you have any of these conditions, you’ll need to tell your chiropractor about them, even if they don’t ask. It’s best that they have all of the information that they need before choosing to proceed (or not) with the physical manipulations and adjustments. Just keep in mind that you have one of these conditions or disorders, the odds that you’ll end up with CAD or a similar syndrome increase.
Watch for the Symptoms of CAD
In addition to understand which pre-existing conditions can increase the risk factor, all chiropractors – and patients – need to know how the symptoms of CAD present. This makes it easier for the patient to know when something is wrong so that they can seek medical help immediately. Even perfectly healthy (yet hurting) patients may be subject to CAD since sometimes things happen that others can’t control. The main symptoms of CAD include a feeling of vertigo or an unrelenting spinning sensation, a sudden headache that feels as though it’s a cluster headache or a migraine, severe neck pain that comes on very suddenly without any warning. These are all signs that you might be experiencing an arterial tear. Tell your chiropractor immediately about them if you are still in their office. If you aren’t, then call an ambulance. Even if the pain ends up being just a headache, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Although chiropractic manipulations aren’t the cause of CAD, according to the studies by the Annals of Medicine, there’s always a chance that one could occur, particularly if any of the pre-existing conditions are present. By keeping an eye on your patient after their treatment, you are helping to prevent a potential catastrophe.
Safe Treatments Are Very Important
Above all else, chiropractors need to treat their patients properly. It’s possible to do a chiropractic manipulation without yanking on the patient roughly in order to realign their spine and get to root cause of their pain. The amount of force that’s used can be too much, resulting in additional damage to the soft tissue, muscles, ligaments, and arteries. If you feel as though your chiropractor is being a bit rough, speak up. There’s no reason for your treatment to be rough and painful. Yes, in some cases it may hurt a bit as you are realigned, but overall, you should feel a sense of relief when it’s done, not pain. Don’t be afraid to say something.
In summary, although chiropractors have been found to not be the cause of CAD, also known as tears in the arterial walls that can be deadly, some caution must still be taken. Both the patient and the chiropractor need to know what those risk factors are, as well as the main symptoms of CAD. Otherwise, a deadly condition may occur before you realize what’s happening.
