CHIROPRACTIC MANAGEMENT OF A PATIENT WITH SUBLUXATIONS, LOW-BACK-PAINAND EPILEPTIC SEIZURES

Objective: To describe the chiropractic management of a patient presen ting with complaints of low back pain and epileptic seizures. The disc ussion also addresses epilepsy and the current concepts of this disord er, possible mechanisms for the neurological effects of the chiropract ic adjustment at sites of subluxation and its therapeutic implications are proposed. Clinical Features: A 21-year-old woman with low back pa in reported that she had fainted during the night and hit her head. Sh e had been diagnosed since childhood with grand mal (tonic-clonic) sei zures as well as petit mal seizures. She had a seizure approximately e very 3 hr, with a duration between 10 sec and 30 min for each episode. Examination indicated signs of subluxation/dysfunction at the L5-S1, C6-C7 and C3-C4 spinal levels. There was no evidence of cranial nerve involvement or any upper motor neuron lesion. Radiographic analysis re vealed retrolisthesis of L5, hypolordosis of the cervical spine and hy perextension of the C6-C7 motion segment. Intervention and Outcome: Ch iropractic adjustments using a specific-contact, short-lever arm, high -velocity, low-amplitude maneuver (i.e., Gonstead) were applied to the subluxations at the cervical, thoracic and lumbopelvic region. The pa tient's reported low back pain and neck complaints had resolved and he r seizures had decreased (period between seizures as great as 2 months ). Conclusion: Results encourage further investigation of possible neu rological sequalae, such as epileptic seizures, from spinal dysfunctio n and treated by specific spinal adjustments.