Tag Archives: seizures

Seizures Stopped Under Chiropractic Care

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How Common is Epilepsy? Does Chiropractic Care Help Seizures?

The Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research published a case study on February 23, 2017, documenting chiropractic bringing about the resolution of seizures of a woman suffering from epilepsy. The authors of the study define epilepsy by saying, “Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes seizures in the absence of any underlying medical condition such as fever.”

Seizures Stopped Under Chiropractic Care Austin TX Chiropractor Head Neck Injury Pain Nervous System Best Reviews1Epilepsy is fairly common. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that in 2013, 1.8% of the population, equaling 4.3 million adults over 18 years of age, suffered with this affliction. The CDC also estimated that 1% of those under the age of 18 also have epilepsy. This means that a total of 5.1 million people in the U.S. alone suffer with this problem at a cost of $15.5 billion in healthcare costs each year.

In this case, a 22-year-old woman went to the chiropractor seeking help for her health issues. At that time, she was suffering from daily headaches and was getting a seizure about every third day. Her seizures would last from several minutes to up to an hour. Her medical care for these problems consisted of medications which were largely ineffective.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included a postural analysis, range of motion, orthopedic and neurological tests, thermographic studies, and x-rays. Findings of the test and x-rays were indicative of the presence of subluxation in the woman’s upper neck.

The patient completed a “Quality of Life in Epilepsy” patient survey (QOLIE-89) prior to beginning care to be used as a baseline, and to evaluate changes as care was rendered. On this initial test, the woman’s score was 29.27 indicating a very low quality of life. An average score for epileptic patients is 67.90 for this test.

As soon as chiropractic care was started, the patient reported that she stopped having headaches and no longer had any seizures. This improvement was noted after the very first visit and the patient remained headache-free and seizure-free throughout the course of her care. A follow up QOLIE-89 survey was performed and the woman’s score had increased to 80.715, an improvement in her score of 51.445 points, which is 12.275 points higher than the average.

This case was not an isolated one as the authors also reviewed several previous studies of chiropractic care for people with epilepsy. What they noticed was that, of the 17 cases documented in studies, 14 of those patients who were taking medication for their seizures did not see any benefit. However, when these patients received chiropractic care, 15 of the 17 reported positive outcomes.

In their conclusion the authors wrote, “This case adds to a body of evidence of patient-reported improvements in seizure activity following a course of subluxation based chiropractic care.”

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson. Austin chiropractor located in north central Austin, TX.

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Improvement in Autistic Behaviors Following Chiropractic Care – A Case Series

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Do Chiropractors See Neurodevelopmental Cases? Does Chiropractic Care Help Autistic Children?

In the August 11, 2016, issue of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health is a published case series showing chiropractic helping four children suffering from autistic behavioral symptoms.

improvement-in-autistic-behaviors-following-chiropractic-care-austin-tx-chiropractor-pediatric-child-kid-newborn-helpThe authors of this study explain that the vagus nerve is a major controlling pathway for the parasympathetic nerve system. It is the parasympathetic system that has been shown to have a broad effect over autism-like behaviors and problems. This study looks at four children to see if correcting subluxations affecting the vagus nerve can have a positive effect on children suffering with autism behaviors.

The first child was a 7-year-old boy with a variety of autism related symptoms who was diagnosed with high functioning autism. After eight chiropractic visits, it was reported by his mother that her son seemed to have a decrease in looks of confusion and an increase in talking. Additionally, his mother also reported a decrease in bed-wetting and a decrease in response to food allergies, as well as being less picky in food choices. His mother also noted that her son won the most improved student award, to which she commented, “I cried, because I just never expected him to win an award like this.”

The second patient was a 5-year-old girl also diagnosed with high functioning autism. In this case, her mother reported a decrease in constipation as well as improvement in auditory and processing skills. The girl was given an “Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist” test after four months of chiropractic care. This test showed that the girl had improved in all four areas tested, which include speech/language communication, sociability, sensory/cognitive awareness, and health/physical/behavior.

The third patient was a 4-year-old boy also with high functioning autism, who, according to his father, was better able to throw a baseball after chiropractic. It was also reported that the boy showed improvement in initiating conversations with adults and children at his school, and had improved eye contact. These improvements allowed him to begin to participate in after-school activities.

The fourth child patient was a 4-year-old boy suffering with oculomotor apraxia. The authors described this condition by stating, “Oculomotor apraxia is a condition in which the child must turn their heads in order to follow their eyes, which cause a clumsy gait and difficulty in learning motor skills.” The boy also suffered with seizures and motor skill delays. After chiropractic care, the child was better able to run. He also showed improvement in his endurance, being able to walk at an aquarium for 5 hours. Additionally, it was reported that the boy was able to nap better, had less moody outbursts, and less apprehension.

In their conclusion, the authors explained chiropractic’s role in helping these children by stating, “The social engagement system controlled by the vagus nerve has significant potential ramifications for a child on the autistic spectrum or with other neurodevelopmental issues. As seen in the four above cases, each child showed significant behavioral improvements, which may be in part due to activation of the vagus nerve, thereby activating the social engagement portion of that nerve.”

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson. We are located in north central Austin, TX.

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Breathing and Strength Problems Improved in Multiple Sclerosis Patient with Chiropractic

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Can Chiropractic Care Help Multiple Sclerosis? Can Chiropractic Improve Immune Function?

A case study published in the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research on August 18, 2016, showed how chiropractic helped improve the quality of life for a patient with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) by showing improvement in breathing and muscle strength.

breathing-and-strength-problems-improved-in-multiple-sclerosis-patient-with-chiropractic-austin-tx-chiropractor-local-best-doctor-reviews-starsThe study begins by defining MS by saying, “Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, degenerative disease of the nervous system that is demyelinating and inflammatory in nature and is characterized by patchy sclerosis of the central nervous system (CNS).” They note that MS affects 400,000 people in the United States and over 2 million people worldwide. Half of those with MS also experience depression, and almost all patients with MS have a shortened life expectancy.

Some of the symptoms associated with MS can include numbness in the extremities, fatigue, muscle spasms, muscle weakness, vision loss, blurred vision, loss of coordination, gait alteration, seizures, mood swings, depression, tremors, impaired bladder control, and loss of sphincter control. Medical care for MS is geared around helping patients with the symptoms, as there is no known medical care available for the condition itself.

In this case, a 58-year-old woman presented herself for chiropractic care. She was confined to a wheelchair and had been diagnosed with MS. Her history shows that she was suffering with constant, severe, throbbing pain in her left hip for 6 years. Additionally she reported suffering from neck pain, neck stiffness, wrist pain, irritability, constipation, sinus problems, cold feet, cold hands, tension, dry skin, heat and cold intolerances, tingling sensation in her arms, shoulder pain, shortness of breath, depression, and difficulty urinating.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included a visual and postural inspection, spinal x-rays, and thermographic studies to check for heat variations. In addition her respiratory volume levels were checked and her hand grip strength was measured.

Specific chiropractic care was begun to address the subluxations determined to be present in the woman’s spine. Care was rendered over a 10 week period consisting of 30 total visits. After this period, a re-evaluation was performed.

The re-evaluation x-rays showed a notable spinal improvement. Additionally, the woman’s respiratory volume had measurably improved. Her grip strength also improved, with her left-hand grip strength improving from 2.8 lbs to 12 lbs, and her right-hand grip strength improved from 3.0 lbs to 8.0 lbs.

The results of this study were consistent with other studies of MS patients under chiropractic care. The authors cited several other studies showing chiropractic helping patients with MS. In one reported study, researchers found that 90.9% of MS patients in that study showed symptomatic improvement and no further progression in the MS disease process while under chiropractic care.

In explaining a possible mechanism for why MS patients can be helped by chiropractic, the authors stated, “A properly functioning immune system will prevent MS development or can even initiate healing within the nervous system. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to restore immune system integrity to a normal state.”

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson. We are located in north central Austin, TX.

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Epileptic Seizures Gone with Chiropractic Care

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What is Epilepsy? Can Chiropractic Care Help Epileptic Seizures?

Published in the August 1, 2016, issue of the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research is a documented case study of a patient being helped with epileptic seizures. The study defines epilepsy by stating, “Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition that is characterized by recurrent unprovoked epileptic seizures.”

Epileptic Seizures Gone with Chiropractic Care - Car accident collision injury care in Austin texasIn describing the mechanism of seizures, the authors of the study note that seizures are an abnormal and unregulated electrical discharge that occurs within the gray matter of the brain and interrupts normal brain function. They report that between 8 and 10 percent of the population will experience a single seizure some time in their lives with 3 percent developing into epilepsy.

Seizures are generally treated medically with a variety of drugs. However, about 30 percent of those treated are not contained or adequately managed by the medications. Those that can gain some control with their medication are relegated to accepting any side effects while taking that medication for the rest of their lives. For this reason, many patients have sought alternative types of care such as chiropractic.

In this case, a 23-year-old woman suffering from grand-mal seizures went to the chiropractor. She had been suffering from seizures since the age of 21. Since getting seizures, the frequency has increased from two per month to twice weekly. Her history noted that within the first year of her epilepsy diagnosis, she had lost fifty pounds and developed depression, anxiety, migraines, allergies, severe fatigue and memory loss. She was then given medications for these ailments as well. Even after being prescribed a high dose of epilepsy medication, she was still having 2 seizures per week.

A chiropractic examination was performed including a physical examination, postural analysis, palpation, and spinal x-rays. The diagnosis reached from her examination was temporal lobe epilepsy, abnormal posture, and chronic subluxations in the cervical, thoracic, and pelvic areas.

Chiropractic care was started at the rate of three visits per week, and included specific adjustments of the detected subluxations. Within two months of chiropractic care, the patient reported a complete alleviation of her anxiety and depression. She also reported feeling overall improvement and started to take herself off her medications. Her improvement continued over the next several months. By her six-month evaluation, the woman was off all medications and was free of any seizures.

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson. We are located in north central Austin, TX.

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Baby’s Life Changed With Chiropractic

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What is Sandifer Syndrome? Can Chiropractic Help With Digestive and Neurological Problems?

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published a case study on April 14, 2016, documenting the case of a baby girl who was suffering with a variety of digestive and neurological problems being helped by chiropractic. The baby had been diagnosed medically with Sandifer syndrome since birth.

Chiropractic-Baby-Adjustment-Austin-Tx-Pediatric-Family-Chiropractor-Health-WellnessThe study reports that Sandifer syndrome is when a baby exhibits contortions of the head and neck, sometimes the chest, and abnormal postures, in an effort to relieve their symptoms from severe gastro-esophageal reflux with or without hiatal hernia. It is believed that these spasms may actually be seizures and appear as sudden extensions of the head and neck where the head may be twisted from side to side and the upper part of the trunk bent from side to side.

In this case, a 12-pound, 11-week-old baby girl suffering from reflux and digestive problems, possible seizures, and possible colic, was brought to the chiropractor. She had been diagnosed by a pediatric neurologist and pediatric GI specialist with Sandifer syndrome. Her symptoms included explosive bowel movements since birth, but she started to become constipated, going 3-5 days without a bowel movement. It was reported that the infant screamed uncontrollably during her first week of life.

The infant girl also experienced regular hiccups, vomiting, and difficulty lying flat which would cause her hands to shake, eyes bounce, face to become red, and she would scream. Due to the severity of her suffering, the baby was placed on the powerful medication Zantac twice per day.

A chiropractic examination with spinal palpation was performed. Vertebral subluxations were found and specific adjustments were done as needed. By the seventh visit, the study reports that the baby showed more frequent bowel movements, decreased reflux, decreased gagging, decreased spitting up, and was able to lay flat again.

As care continued, by the 10th visit it was noted that the patient began sleeping in her crib for six hours a night and was having bowel movements daily. On the 12th visit, the baby’s mother was asked to fill out an evaluation form to report on the progress of her baby girl. In the evaluation, she noted that her daughter was less congested, had no more episodes of shaking, was better during tummy time, showed less fighting when eating, had better sleeping, and more frequent bowel movements. The baby girl also exhibited more energy, and an overall increase in playfulness.

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson.

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Seizures Gone, Behavior, and Cognitive Development Improved with Chiropractic

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Does Chiropractic Care Help Seizures? Can Children See A Chiropractor?

On May 14, 2015, a study was published in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research documenting the case of a toddler suffering from seizures, behavioral disturbances, and developmental delay, being helped by chiropractic.

Seizures Gone, Behavior, and Cognitive Development Improved with Chiropractic - Austin TX ChiropractorIn this case, a 2-year-old boy suffering from seizures was brought to the chiropractor. The history noted that 1 year and 4 months prior, the boy fell about three feet hitting the back of his head on a wooden deck. The boy immediately started having a seizure and his parents took him to the emergency room. His head was treated for the laceration with 4 staples. X-rays were taken and no fracture was found. No neurological tests were performed at that time and the child was prescribed pain medication for his pain.

After a few days, the child’s seizures got worse. Because of this, his parents brought him in for a further medical evaluation where electroencephalogram (EEG) studies were performed both while he was sleeping and awake. The boy’s sleeping EEG did not show any problems but the one done while he was awake showed activity consistent with seizures. Next, an MRI and CT scan were performed, but neither of these found any medically detectable abnormality.

The boy was prescribed anti-seizure medication, which was ineffective. The child’s seizures continued to worsen over time. He worsened to the point where he was experiencing an average of 3 seizures per week and occasionally up to 3 seizures per day. As a result of his problems, his parents noticed that their son became overly aggressive, combative, angry and generally uncooperative. They also noticed developmental delays in their son’s language, including his ability to form sentences.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included palpation, thermal scans of the neck, and specific spinal x-rays. The authors stated that the purpose of the chiropractic examination was to see if a subluxation was present at the level of the first cervical vertebrae. Based on the examination, it was determined that a subluxation was present at the top of the boy’s neck and specific chiropractic adjustments were begun.

After the first adjustment, the boy’s parents reported an increase in their son’s seizures. However, after subsequent visits, the seizures began to decrease in frequency. The number of seizures continued to decrease until they were completely gone by 51 days after the initial chiropractic adjustment. At approximately 2.5 months after the beginning of care, the boy was taken off all anti-seizure medication.

The boy had one minor seizure three months later, but with continued chiropractic check-ups, the child remained seizure free thereafter. His parents also reported that his behavioral issues and other problems were also resolved.

In their conclusion, the authors wrote, “This case is one example of how chiropractic care may be helpful in bringing balance back to a child’s nervous system. Though this is only one example, it adds to the ever growing number of case studies that have shown chiropractic care to be effective in helping to control seizures in children and in other non-musculoskeletal conditions.”

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson.

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Cross-Eyes Helped with Chiropractic

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What Is Strabismus? How Can Chiropractic Help Crossed Eyes?

A study published on March 12, 2015 in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health documents a case of a Down’s Syndrome boy with crossed eyes being helped with chiropractic.

The authors of the study begin by explaining, “Chiropractic is often mistakenly regarded as having a very limited scope of practice in general, i.e. neck pain, back pain and headaches. Yet, chiropractors and their patients experience a multitude of positive results beyond these musculoskeletal complaints, especially in children.”

Cross-Eyes Helped with Chiropractic - Austin TX ChiropractorThe authors report that chiropractic care is the most common type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for children. Studies show that usage of chiropractic nearly doubled in a few short years, rising from 11% in the early nineties to 20% by the late nineties. They note that children represent between 8% and 11% of chiropractic care received.

The authors further explain, “Some of the common pediatric conditions addressed by chiropractors include scoliosis, infantile colic, nocturnal enuresis, constipation, otitis media, seizures, autism, ADHD, asthma, cerebral palsy and strabismus. However, one study revealed that wellness care was the highest ranking reasoning for pediatric chiropractic care.”

In this case, a 4-year-old Down’s Syndrome boy was brought into the chiropractor’s office along with his family for correction of any subluxations. The boy’s right eye was crossed inward. The mother  reported that both the boy’s eyes were originally crossed and that surgery had been performed on the left eye in an attempt to return it to a more normal position.

After a chiropractic analysis, adjustments were initiated to correct the boy’s subluxations. After 12 visits, the boy’s parents reported to the chiropractor that their son’s right eye had completely returned to center. Additionally, his left eye, which had been surgically corrected, started to also correct and was therefore slightly  divergent from center. This indicated that the surgery may not have been needed, as the eye may have attempted to correct itself with chiropractic.

In their conclusion the authors wrote. “The results of the reduction of vertebral subluxation in this case suggest that chiropractic care may be beneficial in the correction of strabismus. Had the patient not undergone the operation to repair the left eye, we propose that both eyes would have been centered in the neutral position.”

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson.

Escaping Epilepsy: Man Credits Chiropractic Care with Stopping Seizures

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Can Chiropractic Care Help Epilepsy? How Does Chiropractic Help with Seizures?

This title is from a feel-good story published on February 14, 2015, in the Rapid City Journal of South Dakota. The story, written by Christopher Smith, chronicles the life of Robert Renner, an 89-year-old man whose life has been drastically different due to chiropractic care.

According to the article, as a young man, Renner suffered from terrible grand-mal seizures that often left him unconscious and in spasm. During this 11-year period. Renner’s quality of life deteriorated due to his seizures.  Then, in 1947, friends of Renner saw a sign that said that chiropractic could help with neurological problems. His friends spoke with a doctor who suggested he go to the Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.

Man Credits Chiropractic Care with Stopping Epilepsy Seizures | Austin TX ChiropractorD.D. Palmer discovered chiropractic in 1895 in Davenport. He established a school there which his son, Dr. B.J. Palmer, developed into a world famous college and healthcare facility. However, in 1947, chiropractic was still relatively unknown and not well accepted. In spite of any skepticism, Renner’s grandfather came up with $1500.00 to send his grandson from their home in northern North Dakota to the Palmer clinic in Iowa.

The rest, as they say, is history.  He reports in the article that he has not had a single seizure since. “After 11 years of epilepsy, I was at the clinic for four weeks in October of 1947,” Renner recalls. “I had attacks usually three times a week; I’d chewed my tongue so bad I could only eat cold soup. At the clinic they took x-rays of my back and spine three times a day to see my improvement. When I left, they showed me the first x-ray and where the problem was in my first vertebrae, and how it improved each day. And I haven’t had any signs of epilepsy since.”

Not only does Renner credit chiropractic for the elimination of his seizures, but he also states that regular chiropractic care has kept him headache free for 40 years. “Chiropractic work saved my life,” he said. “Over the years as I’ve moved around, I’ve had 13 or 14 different doctors. It’s marvelous what they can do for people.”

Dr. Stephen Gullikson, from Rapid City, is Renner’s current chiropractor and explained in the article how chiropractic works. “The nervous system controls 100 percent of our body’s functions, from hair growth to toenails. My job is to remove interference from the nervous system, so when you do that with the adjustments we do through chiropractic care, many types of symptoms that people come in with are helped along the way.”

Dr. Gullikson continued, “If the nervous system has interference because of a misalignment of the back compressing a nerve, problems can arise wherever that nerve goes,” he said. “So when I work with patients, I can see many different results on things they might not have even told me about. My goal is really to help people get well without drugs or surgery.”

It obviously does not take much convincing to get Robert Renner to be excited about chiropractic care. He intends to continue chiropractic care for the rest of his life. Renner concluded, “I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the doctors that have helped me, and the Lord guiding me.”

If you or anyone you know suffers from seizures or epilepsy, chiropractic may be able to help. Please call our office at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson.

Seizures Gone with Chiropractic Care

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Can Chiropractic Care Help With Seizures?

The Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published a study on April 10, 2014 documenting the case of a young girl with pseudoseizures being helped with chiropractic care.

The study authors reported, “A seizure is characterized by an abnormal discharge of nerve cells in the brain that can cause altered awareness or abnormal sensations, involuntary movements or convulsion.”  Similarly, pseudoseizures are identical in their presentation and symptomatology to grand mal seizures, but lack the presence of neurological activity measured on an EEG.

Seizures Gone with Chiropractic CareIn this case, a 14-year-old girl was brought in for chiropractic care by her mother who reported that her daughter had been suffering from 30-40 seizures per month for the previous three months. The history noted that the young girl’s seizures often occurred in multiples on one day with two to three seizures at a time and one to two minutes of quiet in between. The frequency and severity of the seizures was continually getting worse since their onset. Her problems were so severe that she had to discontinue traditional school in favor of being home schooled.

Prior to the chiropractic examination the girl had been examined by her primary care doctor, an allergist, a neurologist, a psychiatrist and a psychologist. She had been subject to a battery of tests including multiple MRI’s, EEG’s, CT’s and blood work. The tests had not shown any pathology, so the medical diagnosis given was that the girl was suffering from pseudoseizures.

A chiropractic examination and analysis revealed the presence of vertebral subluxations. Specific chiropractic care was then rendered to correct the subluxations. Care began at the rate of 2 to 3 visits per week.

The study showed that by the girl’s sixth visit, she had gone without a seizure for eight days which was the longest time period since her seizures began three months prior. She experienced one additional seizure during her eighth visit to the chiropractor, and was adjusted at that time. This event was followed by another eight days of her being seizure-free.

As chiropractic care continued, the girl’s seizures continued to decrease in frequency.  After 5 months of chiropractic care, the girl would still get the pre-conditions and feelings like a seizure was coming, but no seizure would ensue. She continued to remain seizure-free and was able to return to school after 8 months of chiropractic care.

“It is postulated that a relationship between subluxation, specifically upper cervical subluxation, and childhood seizure disorders exists,” the authors noted in their conclusions. “Evidence from this case supports the elimination of vertebral subluxations as an effective management approach in the care of children with seizures.”

If you or someone you know is suffering with seizures, they should be checked by a Doctor of Chiropractic for vertebral subluxation.  Please call (512) 452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson today.