By Joy Stephenson-Laws, JD, Founder 

What exactly is a chiropractor? When we think about this profession or consider going to a chiropractor, I think many of us think of someone leaning over a massage table and snapping a person’s neck “back into place.” It looks painful but relieving. It looks dangerous, but it’s safe. Right? 

Well, not entirely, and there are many things you should consider and precautions you must take before visiting a chiropractor. To put it simply, chiropractors are licensed healthcare professionals (emphasis on licensed) who address musculoskeletal system issues. 

“Treatment typically involves manual therapy, often including spinal manipulation,” reports the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, branch of the NIH.

“The manual treatment methods used by chiropractors range from stretching and sustained pressure to specific joint manipulations, which are usually delivered by hand and involve a quick and gentle thrust. The purpose of the manipulations is to improve joint motion and function. Manipulations are most commonly done on the spine, but other parts of the body may also be treated in this way.”

You really want to go to someone reputable, because you obviously want to be in good hands if someone is manipulating your spine. It is also important to know that chiropractors should examine you, get your detailed health history and more before they manipulate your body for treatment.

Sadly, we see from the following tragic story that injuries should also be addressed and resolved before getting treated by a chiropractor. I do not believe chiropractors should be looked at as those who heal injuries. I think the treatment should be seen as more complementary and only appropriate if cleared by your main healthcare practitioner.

Recently, a 29-year-old woman died after getting her neck adjusted by a chiropractor. Reportedly, she first injured her neck while working out. 

“After she heard her neck crack, she visited the hospital accident and emergency department. She was administered a CT scan, and medics advised she receive a lumbar puncture to eliminate the possibility of a hemorrhage. However, she declined, ‘self-discharged’ from the hospital and opted for chiropractic therapy,” according to a report from People.

It’s unfortunate that she did not take the advice of the emergency department. I think this may have saved her life. According to the report, she told the chiropractor about her CT scan, but the chiropractor did not get older medical records before beginning a four week-long treatment. 

After one of her treatments, she experienced very concerning symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, double vision, difficulty speaking and more. She was advised to go to the hospital but refused. Paramedics ended up coming to her because her condition got so bad. If you read the report thoroughly, you will see that poor choices were made by both the patient and chiropractor involved. What the young woman died of was something called a vertebral artery dissection.

In a previous blog titled Why Some People May Be Scared of the Chiropractor!, I discussed in great detail what a carotid artery dissection is after a 41-year-old woman died from one. Located in the neck, the carotid arteries are extremely important blood vessels that provide blood to the face, brain and neck.

The vertebral arteries are also major arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain, particularly the posterior parts of the brain, such as the cerebellum and brainstem. These arteries are paired, meaning there is one vertebral artery on each side of the body.

A dissection in a blood vessel refers to a tear or rupture in the inner lining of the vessel. Specifically, it occurs when there is a tear in the innermost layer of an artery, which allows blood to flow between the layers of the vessel wall, creating a false channel or space. This can cause the vessel to become narrowed or blocked, leading to reduced blood flow or even complete obstruction.

As you can probably imagine, this is a risk if your neck and spine are manipulated (especially if you are already injured).

“The tear can also trigger the body's clotting system. A clot can then block blood flow at the site of the tear. Or pieces of the clot can break off and block blood flow in smaller branches of the artery. Blocked or decreased blood flow can lead to a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke” (John Hopkins Medicine).

The previous blog I mentioned discusses several incidents of young people experiencing dissections after chiropractic treatment.

It’s not up to me to tell you to visit or not visit the chiropractor, however, I think it is important to be extremely cautious and do not receive treatment if you have any injuries or health concerns. Keep your blood vessels healthy and talk to your doctor about your risk of dissections. I also cannot say enough that if you do decide to go to a chiropractor, do your research and go to someone reputable. Make sure he or she does a full health history assessment.

I highly recommend reading Why Some People May Be Scared of the Chiropractor!. It is informative and empowering to have this knowledge so that you can be extremely proactive about your health and wellness.

As always, keep your musculoskeletal system as healthy as possible by maintaining a nutrient-rich diet, exercising regularly and taking routine nutrient tests in order to identify any nutrient imbalances or deficiencies.  If the test reveals you are not nutritionally balanced, a competent healthcare professional can work with you regarding making the necessary dietary changes and recommend quality supplements in a safe manner if necessary.

Enjoy your healthy life!