Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis, a once rare condition
has become the “polio” of the 21st century. It
is presently the foremost disabling neurological disease
in the United States and is increasing world-wide.
Upper cervical
chiropractic management of a multiple sclerosis patient:
a case report Elster, EL, Journal of Vertebral Subluxation
Research June 2001, Vol 4, No.2
Abstract:
This article reviews the upper cervical chiropractic
care of a single patient with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
This
47-year-old female first experienced symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis
(MS) at age 44, when she noticed cognitive problems and loss
of bladder control. After viewing multiple lesions on MRI (MS
plaques), her neurologist diagnosed her with MS. Two years
later, she noticed additional symptoms of leg weakness and
paresthesias in her arms and legs. Her symptoms progressively
worsened without remission, so her neurologist categorized
her as having chronic progressive MS and recommended drug
therapy (Avonex). Upon initial examination of this patient,
evidence of an upper cervical subluxation was found using
precise upper cervical radiographs and paraspinal digital
infrared imaging.
The patient’s medical history included one possible
mechanism (a fall approximately ten years prior), which could
have caused her upper cervical subluxation. The patient was
placed on a specially designed knee-chest table for adjustment,
which was delivered by hand to the first cervical vertebra
according to radiographic findings. Monitoring of the patient’s
progress was through doctor’s observation, patient’s
subjective description of symptoms, thermographic scans,
neurologist’s evaluation and MRI.
The patient was managed
with upper cervical chiropractic care for two years. After
four months of upper cervical chiropractic care, all Multiple
Sclerosis (MS) symptoms were absent. A follow-up MRI showed
no new lesions as well as a reduction in intensity of the original
lesions. After a year passed in which the patient remained
asymptomatic, another follow-up MRI was performed. Once again,
the MRI showed no new lesions and a continued reduction in
intensity of the original lesions.
Two years after upper cervical
chiropractic care began, all MS symptoms remained absent.
Upper
cervical protocol for five multiple sclerosis patients. Elster
EL, Today’s Chiropractic Vol. 29 No. 6 November/December
2000
The interesting thing about this paper is that all five
patients had experienced head or neck trauma prior to the
onset of their symptoms. Evidence of vertebral subluxations
in the upper cervical spine was found in every patient. Every
patient was medically diagnosed using MRI and other procedures
as having MS.
Case no 1: a 54 year old woman diagnosed with
MS at age 44. Symptoms included tingling in arms, hands, legs
and feet and pain, numbness and tingling in extremities upon
cervical flexion. After 4 weeks of care the patient’s
MD took her off all drugs and at a two year follow-up the patient
remained symptom-free.
Case no 2: a 33 year old man diagnosed
with MS at age 30. He deteriorated quickly with visual loss,
loss of bladder control, constipation, loss of balance, memory
loss, sensory deficits in extremities and pain, numbness and
tingling in extremities upon cervical flexion. After initiation
of care, deterioration ceased and patient began to heal noticing
immediate correction of some symptoms and gradual improvement
of other symptoms over several months. One year follow up revealed
overall correction and/or improvement of MS symptoms.
Case no
3: a 46 year old female first diagnosed at age 44 with memory
and cognitive problems, frequent urination and loss of bladder
control and painful tingling in arms and legs. After two months
of care bladder control returned. Sensitivity and strength
in extremities returned to normal. By 4 months all MS symptoms
disappeared.
Case no 4: a 55 year old woman diagnosed with MS
at age 46. Symptoms included painful paraesthesia of left arm,
fatigue, mental confusion, insomnia and lack of coordination
of right arm and leg, progressively worsening over a 9 year
period. Four months after commencement of care her condition
continued to improve – increased energy, mental clarity,
and arm pain gone.
Case no 5: a 43 year old female with MS for
7 years. Symptoms included numbness in legs, hands and face,
pain and numbness and tingling in extremities upon cervical
flexion, loss of grip strength and curling of left hand. The
symptoms were present constantly for six months prior to care.
Some symptoms disappeared immediately and others disappeared
over one month’s
time.
Multiple sclerosis patients under chiropractic care: a
retrospective study. Killinger LZ, Azad A. Palmer Journal of
Research. 1997:2:96-100.
This was a review of five years of
patient files. Toggle-recoil technique was used to give the
adjustment. Three of the four cases reported a significant
trauma to the spine that preceded the diagnosis. All patients
reported improvement in functional health status and quality
of life.
A case study: the effects of chiropractic on multiple
sclerosis. Kirby SL,
Chiropractic Research Journal 1994; 3(1):7-12
This is the case
history of a 24 year old female with the chief complaint of
paresthesia and tingling in upper and lower extremities, stiffness
in left arm and hand, and chronic fatigue. She was diagnosed
by a neurologist as probable MS.
From the abstract:
Management of a case with symptomatology
indicative of Multiple Sclerosis. The condition, which currently
has no cure, responded favorably to chiropractic care using
an upper cervical approach to reduce a specific subluxation
complex.
Clinical presentation of a patient with multiple sclerosis
and response to manual chiropractic adjustive therapies.
Stude DE, Mick T. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological
Therapeutics, 1993;16:595-600.
This is a case study of a 32-year-old
male with fatigue, gait imbalance, diplopia, and numbness from
the lower trunk to the distal lower extremities. He had a family
history suggestive of MS. Reflexes were hyperactive, and hypoesthesia
was present with the neurological pinwheel exam. There was
evidence to suggest biomechanical vertebral segmental dysfunction.
A medical neurologist and a medical radiologist both agreed
that the neurological evaluation and multifocal demyelination
lesions, confirmed with MRI, reinforced the working impression.
After
the first chiropractic adjustment (prone and side-posture)
the patient reported complete absence of symptoms. Months later,
the patient reported remaining symptom free.
The role of chiropractic in the management of degenerative
disease cases. Ward, L. Today’s Chiropractic July/August
1995.
This is a fascinating discussion of the late Dr. Lowell
Ward’s research and clinical success with “incurable” Duchenne
muscular dystrophy sufferers and other cases. Dr. Ward stated:
“Degenerative conditions we have had good success
in working with include: ataxia, multiple sclerosis, cerebral
palsy, epilepsy, convulsive disorders, the various dystrophies,
phobias and most any chronic degenerative, ‘incurable’ or
life-threatening disease. Generally speaking the degenerative
spinal pattern is relatively the same from disease to disease.”
Dr.
Koren comments: I have studied and used Dr. Ward methods. Although
the above statements may seem fantastic, he was, in fact, able
to elicit impressive healing responses from many patients given
up as incurable by other doctors. For information on his work
contact: Ward Chiropractic Group, 3535 East Seventh St., Long
Beach, CA 90804. 310-433-0444.
The role of trauma in the pathogenesis
of multiple sclerosis: a review. Poser CM Clin Neurol Neurosurg
96:103-110, 1994
From the abstract:
The suggestion that an alteration of the
blood-brain barrier (BBB) is an obligatory step in the pathogenesis
of the multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion has been amply confirmed
by innumerable magnetic resonance scans. There also exists
a large body of clinical, neuropathologic, neuropsychologic,
radiologic and experimental evidence that shows that trauma,
in particular mild concussive injury to the head, neck or upper
back, thus impinging on the brain and spinal cord, may result
in an increase in BBB permeability. It is only logical then
to infer that when such mild trauma to those parts of the body
affects MS patients, the resulting alteration of the BBB
leads to the formation of new lesions or the enlargement
and activation of old ones. In such situations trauma acts
as a facilitator of the postulated, but still not fully understood,
pathogenetic mechanism of lesion formation.
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).
Multiple
Sclerosis. Case number 2109.
Patient medically diagnosed as
Multiple Sclerosis and was told to go home to die. Symptoms
first noticed in September 1943, while on duty as a missionary
in Central Africa. Started with numbness in feet; traveled
upward until it reached his neck. Hands shook somewhat but
were useful. Could walk when someone balanced him.
In October
1943 he became helpless, could not feed or take care of himself
in any way. After Chiropractic adjustments, he gradually improved
enough to feed himself and get around fairly well (December,
1943).
About 22 years ago, patient fell ten feet off building,
landing on his head. He was unconscious for thirty minutes,
had a very sore neck for several days, but does not remember
any other ill effects of this fall. Does not take drugs of
any kind. No other member of family similarly afflicted.
Elimination, sleep, appetite, digestion good. Strength limited.
Patient entered the BJ Palmer Chiropractic Clinic February
17, 1945.
Pre-adjustment-atlas ASR. Patient received one adjustment
in 2-19-45, left clinic 3-3-45. Patient was adjusted ten
months later after Neurocalograph reported return to pattern.
Patient was able to return to work with almost complete recovery.
Comment
from Dr. Koren: Was this person immunized before leaving for
Africa for his missionary work? The records do not say. However
vaccinations have been implicated in multiple sclerosis and
the vaccinations he received could have been the cause of his
condition.
The subluxation specific; the adjustment specific.
Palmer, BJ. Davenport, Iowa, 1934: Palmer School of Chiropractic,
1934, pp. 862-70.
As early as 1934 BJ Palmer reported management
of MS patients with upper cervical chiropractic care in which
improvement or correction of many of the symptoms of MS were
observed. These included: “spasticity, muscle cramps,
muscle contracture, joint stiffness, fatigue, neuralgia, neuritis,
loss of bladder control, paralysis, in coordination, trouble
walking, numbness, pain, foot drop, inability to walk, and
muscle weakness.”
Chiropractic clinical controlled research.
Palmer, BJ, Davenport, Iowa, 1934: Palmer School of Chiropractic,
1951, pp. 417-432.
This is the case study of a 38 year-old man
who was diagnosed with MS at the Mayo clinic. According to
the records the patient presented the following picture: “helpless;
he could not feed nor take care of himself.” 22 years
prior he was knocked unconscious after a ten foot fall and
reported neck pain “for a few days” afterwards.
Care
consisted of right atlas adjustment. The patient reported: “I
am happy to say that through chiropractic, I have been made
almost well. Today, I have just a little numbness left in
my hands. I have the full use of my hands, feet and my whole
body.”
Copyright 2004 Koren Publications, Inc. & Tedd
Koren, D.C.