Gynecological Conditions
Gynecological Conditions
Masarsky C. and Weber M. (Neurological Fitness Vol. 2, No.
1 Oct. 1992) state: “While a medical examination to
rule out serious underlying pathology is always a good idea,
researchers have suggested that chiropractic care might be
a viable alternative for women suffering from menstrual pain
and discomfort. This would be especially true for women who
cannot or do not wish to take anti-inflammatory drugs or
oral contraceptives.”
Neurological Pelvic Pain. Molina
N. Dynamic Chiropractic Jan 29th, 2001 p. 28, 40.
This is the
case of a 45 year old woman who had been suffering from constant
pain in the lower back and the right lower quandrant of the
abdomen. She had initially gone to her OB/GYN. She was first
given antibiotics with little improvement.
A total abdominal
hysterectomy was then performed (including the tubes and the
ovaries). Her pain was gone after the surgery, for about 3
weeks. Then it returned. Chiropractic examination revealed
disc herniation at L1-L2 and disk bulge at L5-S1. Her neurologist
recommended back surgery (laminectomy). Patient refused. After
six months chiropractic care, she remains relatively pain free.
She could have avoided major surgery if she had seen a chiropractor
first.
The types and frequencies of nonmusculoskeletal symptoms
reported after chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy.
Leboeuf-Yde C, Axen I, Ahlefeldt G, et al.J Manipulative
Physiol Ther Nov/Dec 1999:22(9) 559-64.
“How frequently [do] patients report nonmusculoskeletal
symptomatic improvements and [what are] the types of such
reactions that patients believe to be associated with chiropractic…”
Twenty
consecutive patients from 87 Swedish chiropractors answered
questionnaires on return visits. A total of 1,504 questionnaires
were completed and returned. Twenty-three per cent of patients
reported improvement in nonmusculoskeletal symptoms, including:
- Easier to breathe (98 patients)
- Improved digestive function (92)
- Clearer/better/sharper vision (49)
- Improved circulation (34)
- Less ringing in the ears (10)
- Acne/eczema better (8)
- Dysmenorrhoea better (7)
- Asthma/allergies better (6)
- Sense of smell heightened (3)
- Reduced blood pressure (2)
- Numbness in tongue gone (1)
- Hiccups gone (1)
- Menses function returned (1)
- Cough disappeared (1)
- Double vision disappeared (1)
- Tunnel vision disappeared (1)
- Less nausea (1)
Dysfunctional uterine bleeding in a woman
with concomitant low back pain and lower extremity pain – conservative
chiropractic intervention. Stude DE. In: Proceedings of the
1991 International Conference on Spinal Manipulation, FCER;
63-66
This is the case of a patient with dysfunctional uterine
bleeding, lower back pain and lower extremity symptoms. The
day after a chiropractic adjustment the patient reported
improvement in bleeding and musculoskeletal symptoms. By
the second adjustment, all symptoms disappeared. Four months
later symptoms had not returned and normal menstruation had
resumed. One year later, uterine bleeding returned without
back or extremity pain. After she received chiropractic adjustments
once again the bleeding stopped.
The mechanically induced
pelvic pain and organic dysfunction syndrome: an often overlooked
cause of bladder, bowel, gynecological, and sexual dysfunction.
Browning JE. Journal of the Neuromusculoskeletal System,1996;
4:52-66
The mechanically induced pelvic pain and organic dysfunction
(PPOD) syndrome is thought to be caused by subluxations of
the lumbar spine affecting lower sacral nerves.
Sufferers with
PPOD can have low back pain, bladder, bowel, gynecologic
and/or sexual dysfunction.
This is the case of a 29-year old
woman with bilateral pelvic and low back pain, inguinal pain,
urinary stress incontinence, loss of genital sensitivity, loss
of libido and vaginal discharge. A gynecological exam failed
to reveal any pathology.
Sacral nerve root involvement, secondary
to a L5/S1 disc herniation was found. Under chiropractic care,
the patient initially experienced symptoms of pain and paraesthesia
of the genitalia which disappeared quickly. Within one week
her bladder dysfunction had resolved and the other symptoms
were less severe.
After 4 weeks, her other symptoms had completely
resolved.
Chiropractic care for women with chronic pelvic pain:
a prospective single-group intervention study. Hawk, C, Long
C, Azad A.J Manipulative Physiol Ther Vol. 20 No. 2 Jan 1997.
This
was a study involving 19 volunteer female subjects (18 completed
the study) to assess the role of chiropractic care for women
with chronic pelvic pain (CPP)
The mean improvement in the PDI
score was 13.0 points; in the VAS it was 4.0 and in the BDI
it was 6.1 points. All eight subscales of the Rand-36 Health
Survey increased post-intervention, with the largest differences
in role function limitations because of physical problems (45.8%),
emotional problems (44.4%) and pain (40.6%).
Chiropractic management
of a 7-year-old female with recurrent urinary tract infections.
Vallone SA. Chiropractic Technique 1998: 10:113-117.
This girl
had trauma to the thoracic and lumbar spine and had not responded
to homeopathic and antibiotic therapy for two years. The patient
received eight chiropractic adjustments over a period of two
months with complete resolution of the complaint.
Distractive
manipulation protocols in treating the mechanically induced
pelvic pain and organic dysfunction patient. Browning JE Chiropractic
Technique. 1995; 7:1-11.
From the abstract:
Treatment protocols outlining the application
of distractive decompressive manipulation of the lumbar spine
in the management of the (mechanically induced pelvic pain
and organic dysfunction syndrome) have been developed. Their
incorporation requires the identification of patients with
symptoms of bladder, bowel, gynecologic, and sexual dysfunction
secondary to impairment of lower sacral nerve root function
as a result of a mechanical disorder of the low back.
Dysmenorrhoea.
To treat or not to treat. Polus, BI, Henry SJ, Walsh MJ. Chiro
J Aust 1996; 26:21-4.
This review paper examined a number of
studies that have shown a positive correlation between chiropractic
intervention and the alleviation of the suffering associated
with primary dysmenorrhea.
The effect of spinal manipulation
on pain and prostaglandin levels in women with primary dysmenorrhea.
Kokjohn J, Schmid DM, Triano JJ, Brennan PCJ Manipulative Physiol
Ther, June 1992; 15(5): 279-285.
This was a randomized pilot
study of 45 women, age 20-49, who were divided into experimental
and control groups. The controls received a "sham" manipulation.
The
perception of pain and level of menstrual distress were significantly
reduced immediately after spinal manipulation. The symptom
improvement of the experimental group was twice as great as
the symptom improvement of the control group. These effects
were associated with significant decreases in post-manipulative
plasma levels for both groups.
Evaluation of the Toftness system
of chiropractic adjusting for subjects with chronic back pain,
chronic tension headaches, or primary dysmenorrhea. Snyder,
BJ, Sanders, GE Chiropractic Technique, 1996;8:3-9.
This is
a study of 24 subjects with chronic back pain, 19 subjects
with chronic tension headaches and 26 subjects with dysmenorrhea
who underwent a series of Toftness adjustments or sham interventions.
Toftness adjustments had significant clinical benefit, whereas
those receiving sham interventions did not improve
Enuresis,
spasmodic dysmenorrhea and gastric discomfort: a vertebral
subluxation complex entity. Regan KJ Digest of Chiropractic
Economics March/April 1990;32(5):110
Patients suffering from
bed-wetting, menstrual cramps and ulcer pains/indigestion were
given chiropractic care. MDs performed pap tests, pelvic exams
and upper GI studies which were negative for active pathology.
One subject did have a true peptic ulcer and demonstrated a
desire to go in the study.
“A total of eight subjects in each category were selected
and two in each category were not treated (to be used as
control studies)….It should be noted here that no
one had any low back, dorsal or cervical spine pain prior
to being a patient in this program.
“In the dysmenorrhea category, all cases of pelvic
pain and severe cramping of the uterus had stopped.” All
women experienced three menstrual cycles through the duration
of this study. “The bedwetting category demonstrated
50% of the children had stopped bedwetting early in the program,
25% of the children had a 50% reduction in the frequency
of occurrences and 25% showed no improvement.
All the patients
in the gastric category except one responded to chiropractic
care; no one was taken off medication or put on special diet.”
Disorders
of the iliopsoas muscle and its role in gynecological diseases.
Dobrik I. Journal of Manual Medicine, 1989; 4: 130-133.
This
paper discusses how gynecologists and chiropractors should
work together for the benefit of the patient.
Effectiveness
of spinal manipulative therapy in treatment of primary dysmenorrhea:
a pilot study. Thomason PR, Fisher BL et al Journal of Manipulative
and Physiological Therapeutics, 1979; 2:140-145.
One group of
women received chiropractic adjustments, one group was given
sham adjustments and one group was monitored only (control).
24.6%
of the subjects demonstrated a vertebral displacement at the
first lumbar segment, 45.5% showed it at the second lumbar
level, 54.0 % at third lumbar, 63.7% at fourth lumbar, and
63.7% had a fifth lumbar subluxation. Of those who received
chiropractic adjustments, 88% reported reduced pain during
their menstrual periods while none of the control or sham
group did.
A chiropractic approach to the treatment of dysmenorrhea.
Liebl NA, Butler LM Journal of Manipulative and Physiological
Therapeutics, 1990; 13:101-106.
This is the study of a patient
suffering from monthly menstrual cramps since the onset of
menses which intensified after the birth of her child, 4 years
prior, (eight painful days a month). The patient received 19
adjustments over a two month period, approximately twice per
week for the first two months and once a week for the last
month. Patient was adjusted in the sacroiliac, upper lumbar,
mid-thoracic and upper cervical areas. Some cranial adjusting
was done in some sessions.
“The average number of recordings showing pain in
the baseline phase was 8 per month compared to an average
of 2.25 episodes per month in the treatment phase.” Pain
was over 1/3 lessened.
Mechanically induced pelvic pain and
organic dysfunction in a patient without low back pain. Browning
JE. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics,
1990; 13:406-411.
18 years of organ trouble in the pelvis including
diarrhea, pelvic pain, and reduced genital sensitivity resolved
within eight weeks of chiropractic care. The patient had undergone
numerous medical and surgical procedures: an appendectomy
for abdominal pain (appendix was normal), partial hysterectomy
and left oophorectomy to resolve pelvic pain and abdominal
bleeding, three exploratory bowel surgeries for continuous
diarrhea, pain, rectal bleeding and mucous discharge and
four bladder surgeries - without resolution.
Patient had reduced
genital sensitivity, sexual dysfunction (been unable to experience
orgasm), and had pelvic pain during intercourse.
Diagnosis:
Central L5 disc herniation.
Complete resolution of symptoms
including pelvic pain and diarrhea occurred within eight weeks;
genital sensitivity improved and patient was able to achieve
orgasm on a regular basis after thirty weeks.
Pelvic pain and
organic dysfunction in a patient with low back pain: response
to distractive manipulation: a case presentation. Browning
J. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics,
June 1987; 10(3): 116-121.
Chiropractic may be an effective
means of treating pelvic disorders secondary to lower sacral
nerve root compression.
The recognition of mechanically induced
pelvic pain and organic dysfunction in the low back pain patient.
Browning JE Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics,
Vol. 12 No. 5 Oct, 1991.
Pelvic organic problems responding
to manipulative treatment include impairment of bladder, bowel
and sexual function.
Uncomplicated mechanically induced pelvic
pain and organic dysfunction in low back patients. Browning
JE J of the Canadian Chiropractic Association. 1991; 35: 149-155.
The first patient was a 29 year old female with back pain radiating
into the right leg following a lifting injury. In addition
a second lifting injury caused urinary urgency and stress incontinence,
loss of genital sensitivity, loss of libido and constant
sharp rectal pain. No pelvic abnormality could be found.
Within one month of chiropractic care the bladder disturbance
and the other pelvic complaints completely cleared up.
Distractive
manipulation protocols in treating the mechanically induced
pelvic pain and organic dysfunction patient. Browning JE, Chiropractic
Technique, Vol. 7, No.1, Feb. 1995.
From the author’s
abstract:
The mechanically induced pelvic pain and organic dysfunction
syndrome...characterized by various disturbances in pelvic
organ function has been successfully managed by chiropractic
manipulative procedures...symptoms [include] bladder, bowel,
gynecologic, and sexual dysfunction secondary to impairment
of lower sacral nerve root function as a result of a mechanical
disorder of the low back.
Association between primary dysmenorrhea
and pain threshold at the thoracolumbar junction. Hains F,
Batt R, Bellis S, Martel J. Proceedings of the 1992 International
Conference on Spinal Manipulation, FCER; 106-109.
This study
showed a possible correlation between the thoracolumbar junction,
spinal irritation and dysmenorrhea using pressure pain threshold
algometry.
Dysfunctional uterine bleeding with concomitant low
back and lower extremity pain. Stude, DE Journal of Manipulative
and Physiological Therapeutics, Vol. 14 No. 8 Oct. 1991.
A temporal
relationship between chiropractic care and uterine bleeding
in a patient with mild low back and leg pain.
Endometriosis
and anterior coccyx: observation of five cases. Robinson and
Freedman. Research Forum 1(4) Chiropractic helps endometriosis
sufferers.
Painful menstruation with special reference to posture
as an etiological factor. Adams TW, Pacific Medicine and Surgery,
1943; 42.
The group suffering from menstrual pain had a much
higher incidence of poor posture.
Theoretical considerations
to the clinic and therapy of spinal disturbances in gynecology.
Dvorak N. Manuelle Medizin, 1973, Heft 1. Five pages.
This is
the study of 496 female patients with gynecological problems
(inflammation, dysmenorrhea, sacral pain etc.) who underwent
chiropractic care. Immediate relief occurred in most cases.
Functional
disorders (fixations) of the spine in children. Lewit K. Manuelle
Therapie, J.A. Barth, Leipzig, 1973. Chap.2.7. Pp. 50-54.
Functional
disorders in children may manifest themselves as sleep disorders,
loss of appetite, psychic problems, and dysmenorrhea and may
not exist as spinal pain. Studies on healthy children revealed
pelvic subluxations in 40% of all school children, cervical
fixation in 15.8%. After manipulative treatments, the problems
rarely recurred.
Chiropractic adjustment in the management of
visceral conditions: a critical appraisal. Jamison JR, McEwen
AP, Thomas SJ. J Manipulative Physiol Ther, 1992; 15:171-180.
This
was a survey of chiropractors in Australia. More than 50% of
the chiropractors stated that asthma responds to chiropractic
adjustments; more than 25% felt that chiropractic adjustments
could benefit patients with dysmenorrhea, indigestion, constipation,
migraine and sinusitis.
Investigation of the effect of chiropractic
adjustments on a specific gynecological symptom: dysmenorrhea.
Arnold-Frochot S. J Aust Chiro Assoc, 1981; 10:14-16.
The authors
identify chronic low back pain and abdominal pain as typifying
dysmenorrheal. They discuss five patients (ages 18 to 23) suffering
from this condition. Two patients responded “almost immediately” and “were
almost completely relieved of their menstrual pain.” Two
others felt no benefit and the fifth had “some relief
after intra-pelvic work was performed in order to reposition
the uterus.”
Copyright 2004 Koren Publications, Inc. & Tedd
Koren, D.C.
Top of Page