Tag Archives: Post-Op Pain

Researching Chiropractic: Stroke, Palsy, and Post-Op Pain

Chiropractic clinical case histories have been a regular feature of our patient newsletter since its inception. There seems to be no limit to the health problems that respond to chiropractic care. How many people suffering, on drugs, facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care? 

Probably most of them.

Stroke in a 50-year-old womanstroke 

A woman with a 10-month history of left hemiplegia (paralysis on the left side of the body) after a hemorrhagic stroke began chiropractic care. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bleeds and a part of the brain is oxygen deprived. 

Her ability to move her arm and leg, as well as standing, balancing, posture and walking were all affected. Additionally, she had neck pain and a “constant dull ache” headache. 

The cause of the stroke was an adverse reaction to AVA 30, an oral contraceptive pill, in combination with the medication tranexamic acid.

Chiropractic care located and corrected her vertebral subluxations. She had 17 visits over a ten-week period and began to show improvement in her strength and physical functioning by her second visit.  

She continued to improve in posture, neck range of motion (ROM), overall muscle function and nervous system balance. Sadly, she discontinued care after her neurologist told her 3rd party payer that “chiropractic care increased the risk of a stroke” (an unproven, baseless claim). (1)

Resolution of brachial plexus palsy following birth trauma stroke

A 14-day-old baby boy suffered from a brachial plexus (nerve) injury following a traumatic Caesarean birth.

The child suffered from lack of muscle tone (hypotonicity) of the right arm that was so severe that his arm was virtually non-functional. 

Chiropractic correction/adjustment was made of the atlas (C1) vertebra. His right arm muscle tone began to immediately improve. The parents were “astonished!” Two days later, at the next chiropractic visit, the muscle tone in his arm was almost normal (about 90%) compared to the left side. Four days following, his right arm was at 100%. (2)

Complaints following surgerystroke

A 37-year-old man complained of nausea, fatigue, gastric reflux, dizziness and migraines following surgical removal of a vestibular schwannoma (a rare benign tumor on the 8th cranial nerve that leads from the brain to the inner ear).

He was adjusted six times in five weeks. One month after beginning care, he had much improvement in nausea, fatigue and gastric reflux. Dizziness and migraines completely resolved. (3)


  1. Russell D, Doyle M. Hemorrhagic stroke: improved motor function & decreased dysponesis following chiropractic care to reduce vertebral subluxation: a case report & review of the literature. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. May 13, 2019:59-65.
  2. Cooper K, Alcantara J. Resolution of brachial plexus palsy from birth trauma following chiropractic care to reduce vertebral subluxation: a case report & review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic. June 3, 2019:59-62.
  3. Harden J, Smedley L. Improvement in vestibular dysfunction & quality of life following chiropractic care in a male suffering from post-surgical complications for vestibular schwannoma: a case report & review of the literature. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. March 18, 2019:34-44.