Epilepsy/Seizures
Epilepsy and seizure disorders: a review
of literature relative to chiropractic care of children.
Pistolese RA. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2001;24(3):199-205.
From
the abstract:
This study reviews 17 reports of epileptic patients
receiving chiropractic care. Fourteen of the 17 patients were
receiving anti-convulsive medications, which had proven unsuccessful
in the management of the condition. Upper cervical care to
correct vertebral subluxation was administered to 15 patients,
and all reported positive outcomes as a result of chiropractic
care.
The author states “Chiropractic care may represent
a non-pharmaceutical health care approach for pediatric epileptic
patients…It is suggested that chiropractic care be
further investigated regarding its role in the overall health
care management of pediatric epileptic patients.
Chiropractic
Management of a Patient with Subluxations, Low Back Pain
and Epileptic seizures. Alcantara, Herschong, Plaugher and
Alcantara .J Manipulative Physiol Ther, Volume 21, Number
6, pp. 410-418, April 1998.
This is a case study of a 21 year
old female with a history of grand mal and petit mal seizures
occurring every three hours since childhood. Examination revealed
subluxation/dysfunction at L5-S1, C6-C7 and C3-C4, retrolisthesis
at L5, hypolordosis of the cervical spine and hyperextension
at C6-C7.
Gonstead care was administered and at a 1.5 year follow-up, "The
patient reported her low back complaints had resolved and
her seizures had decreased (period between seizures as great
as 2 months).” The authors conclude, "Data suggests
that epilepsies are common, with an incidence between 40
and 200 per 100,000 with an overall prevalence between 0.5-1.0%
of the general population. When one considers the potential
side effects of antiepileptic drugs, research into the effects
of chiropractic care for patients with epilepsy should be
initiated."
Epileptic seizures, nocturnal enuresis, ADD.
Langley C. Chiropractic Pediatrics Vol 1 No. 1, April, 1994.
An
eight year old female with a history of epilepsy, heart murmur,
hypoglycemia, nocturnal enuresis and attention deficit disorder
had been to five pediatricians, three neurologists, and six
psychiatrists and had ten hospitalizations. She had been on
Depakote™ , Depakene™ , Tofranil™ and
Tegretol™ .
She had been a difficult birth, a cesarean
had to be performed under general anesthesia. The mother was
told the baby was allergic to breast milk and formulas and
was stayed on prescription feeding. The doctors told the mother
the girl would never ride a bike nor do things like normal
children do. The child was wetting the bed every night and
experiencing 10-12 seizures/day, with frequent mood swings,
stomach pains, diarrhea and attended special education classes
for learning disabilities.
Chiropractic adjustments were given
C1 andC2 for approximately three times per week. Two weeks
after beginning care the bed-wetting began to resolve and was
completely resolved after six months. She was also going to
leave special education classes to enter regular fifth grade
classes.
After one year of chiropractic, the seizures were much
milder and diminished to 8-10 per week. Patient was also released
from psychiatric care as “self managing”. Her
resistance to disease increased and she can now ride a bike,
roller skate and ice skate like a normal child. After medical
examinations, she is expected to be off all medication within
a month.
Chiropractic adjustments and the reduction of petit
mal seizures in a five-year-old male: a case study. Hyman
CA. Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics Vol. 1 No.
1 Jan 1996.
This is the study of a five-year-old boy who was
having 4-6 seizures every hour. The child also had bilateral
toe in foot flare with leg pain. The child received upper cervical
care (Palmer toggle-recoil and Thompson adjustments) and
adjustments of T4, L2 and both sacroiliacs. By the third
visit, the mother noted that the 4 to 6 seizures an hour
had reduced to 2-3 seizures every two hours. After two months
of chiropractic care, it was reduced to 1 seizure per day
with a duration of 2-4 seconds. The bilateral leg pain completely
resolved and the foot flare decreased.
Longitudinal clinical
case study: multi-disciplinary care of child with multiple
functional and developmental disorders. Golden, L. Van Egmond,
C. J Manipulative Physiol Ther May 1994, Vol.:17(4) pp.279.
Cessation
of a seizure disorder: correction of the atlas subluxation
complex. Goodman R., Mosby J. Chiropractic: J of Chiropractic
Research and Clinical Investigation. Jul 1990, 6(2) pp.43-46.
A
5 year-old girl with a seizure disorder began chiropractic
care. Patient was experiencing 30-70 seizures per day. On the
17th day after the adjustment, the seizures numbered 100 (the
most recorded). On the 27th day the seizures abated. The seizures
remained absent for approximately 4 weeks. Adjustment was to
the occipito-atlanto-axial complex.
Subluxation location and
correction. Stephen R. Goldman, D.C. Today’s Chiropractic
July/August 1995 p.70-74.
Case Study No.2
This is the case of a 22-month-old child diagnosed with chronic
infection and febrile seizures. The condition started when
he fell out of a chair and hit his head on the floor. He
had been on antibiotics and Phenobarbital since age six
months. As a result of the medication he did not eat well
and lacked the strength to play.
Chiropractic analysis revealed
C1 subluxation.
Within 4 months of adjustments, all medication
was stopped and he resumed normal activities for a boy of his
age.
Structural normalization in infants and children with particular
reference to disturbances of the CNS. Woods RH Journal Of
The American Osteopathic Association, May 1973,72: pp.903-908.
Post-traumatic
epilepsy, allergic problems, otitis media and dizziness have
been relieved by cranial manipulation.
Neurocalometer, Neurocalograph,
Neurotempometer Research As Applied To Eight B.J. Palmer Chiropractic
Clinic Cases. Preface by L.W. Sherman, DC, Asst. Director B.J.
Palmer Chiropractic Clinic. Published by Palmer School of Chiropractic,
Davenport, Iowa (undated).
Case No. 1560. Epilepsy (grand mal)
.
Age 24. He has had seizures since age 7, most of the convulsions
occur at night, averaging 1-5 every 24 hours.
Patient’s
entrance remarks:
The longest that he has gone without any attacks
have been two or three weeks and that was immediately after
adjustment from local chiropractor. Patient has been taking
Phenobarbital for past 17 years.
Phenobarbitol use was discontinued
a day or two prior to his entering the BJP Clinic and “much of the reaction
following reduction of nerve pressure was, in our opinion,
withdrawal symptoms….”
After the first adjustment,
his attacks increased in severity and number. The patient began
to experience various symptoms: headache, hallucinations, and
numbness in both hands. The attacks increased per day to 12,
26, 51, 41, 54, 78, 97, 125-150 (in one 24 hour period!). The
patient then reported five seizure-free months. Symptoms returned
briefly after dental work was performed but after adjustment
disappeared. Patient eventually remained seizure-free.
Neurocalometer,
Neurocalograph, Neurotempometer Research As Applied To Eight
B.J. Palmer Chiropractic Clinic Cases. Preface by L.W. Sherman,
DC, Asst. Director B.J. Palmer Chiropractic Clinic. Published
by Palmer School of Chiropractic, Davenport, Iowa (undated).
Case
No. 2348. Epilepsy. Boy, aged 5 years.
March 1944, child had a streptococci infection in inner ear.
Started falling many times each day: often hurt himself.
Child had a tonsillectomy, appendectomy, and hernia operation “since
this trouble started.” Child had first adjustment
8-22-45.
Immediately after the first adjustment, “child became
more alert and his eyes started getting clearer. His appetite
increased and we noticed he wasn’t so nervous”.
In
the two weeks since the first adjustment, the child gained
five pounds. Child was discharged and parents were advised
to have child under observation for period of several months
as the original NCM reading (pattern) had a good chance of
returning. Child had a “mild attack” three months
later and then remained free of epileptic symptoms.
Child had
one adjustment in all.
Child’s father later entered Palmer
School of Chiropractic.
Blocked atlantal
nerve syndrome in infants and small children. Gutman G. International
Review of Chiropractic, 1990; July:37-42. Originally published
in German Manuelle Medizin (1987) 25:5-10.
From the abstract:
Three case reports are reviewed to illustrate
a syndrome that has so far received far too little attention
and which is caused and perpetuated in babies and infants by
blocked nerve impulses at the atlas. Included in the clinical
picture are lowered resistance to infections, especially to
ear-, nose-, and throat infections, two cases of insomnia,
two cases of cranial bone asymmetry, and one case each of torticollis,
retarded locomotor development, retarded linguistic development,
conjunctivitis, tonsillitis, rhinitis, earache, extreme neck
sensitivity, incipient scoliosis, delayed hip development
and seizures.
Cortical blindness, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and
recurring otitis media: A case study in chiropractic management.
Amalu WC, Today’s Chiropractic May/June 1998 pp.16-25.
This
is the story of a 5-year-old boy referred by his parents because
of recurring middle-ear infections at one-month intervals.
The child had been diagnosed with cortical blindness, cerebral
palsy, epilepsy and severe brain damage, secondary to possible
aborted crib death or viral encephalitis.
His mother reported
he had been a very healthy child. “Two
days following a well-child checkup with an inoculation”,
became “colicky” and developed a mild upper respiratory
infection with fever. After putting him to sleep, he became
cyanotic, gasping for air and nonresponsive. In ER a septic
workup found no infection. A cranial CT-scan showed cerebral
edema, comparable with either an ischemic insult or sepsis.
Child began to have seizures 24 hours later, diagnosed as
severe hypoxemic encephalopathy, secondary to possible SIDS
or vital encephalitis.”
Child remained on Phenobarbital for over 1½ years
then placed on Dilantin ™. Multiple specialists said
he would never walk, speak, regain his vision or progress
in school. At the time of his first chiropractic visit, he
was having 30 grand mal and complex seizures a day and otitis
media once per month.
“Upon presentation, the patient was non-ambulatory,
uncommunicative and non-responsive with a constant loud vocal
drone and almost constant writhing torsocephalic motions…gross
motor coordination included reaching out with his hands and
rolling over onto all fours.”
Chiropractic Management: “Correction of the atlanto-occipital
subluxation was chosen as the first to be adjusted.” Knee-chest
posture adjustment on posterior arch of atlas. After the
1st adjustment, the mother noted that he had his first good-night
sleep in weeks. After the 2nd adjustment, seizures reduced
to only 10 a day, vocal drone became a quiet intermittent
moan and he began to clap his hands.
During the next week patient
had become more alert, sitting up and looking around, responded
to sounds and seizures decreased to 5 per day. Pupillary
reflexes returned to normal, almost all writhing motions
had ceased, ears were clear of effusion.
After the 3rd week,
seizures were 5 per day, no grand mal. Patient was sleeping
through the nights. For the first time in his life he vocalized “dada” and
began vowel sounds. Overall, spasticity had decreased in all
extremities. He began showing fine motor skills. He had his
first month free from otitis media in 9 months.
After the 5th
week, ophthalmologist noted a drastic improvement with recovery
of central field vision. Seizures now to 3 per day. Saying
more words and improved fine motor coordination.
7-12 weeks:
seizures reduced to staring spells which saying his name brought
him out of. Over the next 10 months improvement continued.
All epileptic drugs removed and neurologist declared him non-epileptic.
He remained free from ear infections. His vision improved to
the point where he was prescribed glasses. Vocabulary continued
to increase. He was learning to feed himself and was potty
training. He was able to walk slowly with the assistance of
holding someone’s hand.
Comment from Dr. Koren: This appears
to be a vaccine related injury. Encephalopathy is known as
a possible reaction to the DTP inoculation.
EEG and CEEG studies
before and after upper cervical or SOT category 2 adjustment
in children after head trauma, in epilepsy, and in “hyperactivity.” Hospers
LA, Proceedings of the National Conference on Chiropractic
and Pediatrics (ICA) 1992;84-139.
Five cases are presented herein.
Conventional EEG studies demonstrate responses of two children
with petite mal (absent seizure) with potential for generating
into grand mal. Upper cervical adjustment reduced negative
brainwave activity and reduced the frequency of seizures over
a four month period.
In two cases of “hyperactivity” and
attention deficit disorder, upper cervical adjustment reduced
non-coherence between right and left hemispheres in one child
and in another, CEEG demonstrated restoration of normal incidence
of the alpha frequency spectrum. Increased attention span and
improvement of social behavior were reported in both cases.
A
child rendered hemiplegic after an auto accident displayed
abnormal brainwave readings. After adjustment, the CEEG demonstrated
more normalized brainwave readings. Child was able to utilize
his left arm and leg contralaterally to the injured side
of the brain without assistance after upper cervical adjustments.
The
side-effects of the chiropractic adjustment. Burnier, A. Chiropractic
Pediatrics Vol. 1 No. 4 May 1995.
This is a case history of
R.S., male, age 15,with the diagnosis epileptic seizures due
to birth trauma. He was on antibiotics, Mebaral™ , Depakene™ , Klonopin™, Phenobarbital™,
and Dilantin ™.
Chiropractic care found subluxations at
Occiput/C1 with Atlas ASR, C5/C6 posterior, D4/D5 posterior.
Adjustments resulted in a marked decrease in the number and
frequency of seizures since onset of care. Decreased medication
intake to one drug with 1/3 dosage. Able to recover from flu,
cold, respiratory infection without medication or antibiotics
and without seizure. Marked improvement in school. 5 years
later the child has been seizure free on reduced dose of medication.
Brain
injured child with seizures benefits from chiropractic care.
Gambino, D.W., Chiropractic Pediatrics Vol. 2, No. 1, Oct.
1995
A five year old boy with a history of seizures and brain
injury began chiropractic care. Immediate improvement was
seen and seizure activity ceased.
Copyright 2004 Koren Publications,
Inc. & Tedd Koren,
D.C.
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