With greater numbers of people choosing chiropractic care, treatment related injuries are alarmingly on the increase. Negligent spinal manipulation can cause disc herniation, spinal fractures and in more severe cases, spinal cord contusions. These injuries can cause permanent disability and in the most serious cases, paralysis.
Serious chiropractic injury can also be caused by a neck manipulation or adjustment. In this treatment the chiropractor places his hands on the patients head and turns it in an attempt to rotate the the cervical spine; as seen in an alarming number of cases this procedure can stretch and make a tear in the vertebral artery creating a blood clot thickening the artery wall and often obstructing the flow of blood. The symptoms of vertebral artery dissection can include head and neck pain, intermittent or permanent stroke symptoms such as difficulty speaking, impaired coordination and visual loss. This is usually diagnosed with a contrast-enhanced CT or MRI scan.
Vertebral dissection may occur after chiropractic manipulation or other physical trauma to the neck, such as a blunt injury (e.g. Car accident or a direct blow to the neck)
The effects of a chiropractic adjustment can present immediately or days and even weeks later. Stroke can occur at any age from infant to elder. Signs of stroke listed by the stroke association and available on their website are as follows:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
Have you or someone you know been injured by a chiropractic neck manipulation, adjustment or other chiropractic procedure?
Do you have questions?
Call the injury lawyers at the Kahler Personal Injury Law Firm today for a free no obligation personal injury consultation. 1-866-739-7702
