It is no lie that I am a complete and absolute nerd when it comes to research about my profession and passions. I LOVE RESEARCH! I LOVE FACTS! I LOVE THAT CHIROPRACTIC IS BASED ON CONTINUAL AND PROGRESSIVE RESEARCH! Therefore, I found the research about chiropractic care and progressive demyelinating diseases like Multiples Sclerosis very compelling and almost inspirational. I read countless research articles every week about chiropractic cases successfully promoting better quality of life in people that are or were diseased by helping them reach a higher level of health. This morning I was inspired enough by an article on chiropractic and multiple sclerosis that I wanted to share the research with you.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (the system that chiropractors work on). This disease is really upsetting to me, for the simple fact that it is becoming extremely common in today’s society. While just years ago, the disease was relatively unknown; in today’s day and age it is almost impossible to not know of someone that is suffering from this autoimmune disease. The disease effects mostly 20-50 year olds by causing a loss of coordination, eye problems, sensory or motor issues, headaches, numbness throughout the entire body, depression, etc. MS can only be diagnosed with an MRI by analyzing plaque deposits in the brain, but it is treated countless ways in the U.S. There is no cure for the disease; however, I am so ecstatic to say that chiropractic has been one of the only successful way to treat the disease in order to diminish or eliminate symptoms. Most people will have symptoms of MS prior to ever being diagnosed with the disease which causes them to just ignored the symptoms allowing it to progress until the symptoms become so unbearable that they seek medical help. These symptoms could be anything from shaking, to tenderness in the head, dizziness, etc. Therefore, the case I read about MS symptoms and Chiropractic care goes as follows:
In this case, a 49-year-old woman suffering from MS went to the chiropractor. She had been diagnosed with MS years earlier in 1996. This diagnosis was confirmed by MRI studies. The first symptom she noticed was an uncontrollable shaking feeling in her body that was relieved by exercise. Upon going to the chiropractor, she was suffering with neck pain, difficultly writing, fatigue, head instability, severe neck and upper back pain and stiffness, loss of grip strength in her hands, cold hands/feet, ringing in the ears, vertigo, blurred vision, photo-phobia, and allergies. Her MS was causing difficulty in talking and affecting her ability to drive a car.
A chiropractic examination showed a reduced range of motion in both the neck and lower back along with postural abnormalities. A thermal scan was performed which showed abnormal temperature variations in the neck area. X-rays were taken of the cervical spine which showed misalignments in the upper neck area.
It was determined that the woman had vertebral subluxations present in her neck. Chiropractic care was begun using specific adjustments designed to address the subluxations found in the woman’s neck.
After care was ongoing, the patient was given a questionnaire to record her progress of her adjustments. She recorded a marked improvement in her driving ability, allergies, cold hands/feet, vertigo, blurry vision, ringing in ears, fatigue, neck pain, and upper back pain. She also reported that her prior complaints had not returned since she began chiropractic care. She even showed moderate improvement in her writing ability and her head instability.
The study authors note that MS is considered an immune system problem that causes the neurological issues. To help explain how chiropractic can have a positive effect on MS, the authors wrote, “Studies have shown that when the nervous system is not working properly it will impair the immune system because of the numerous connections between the two. Chiropractic adjustments aim to remove subluxations interference in the nervous system. This will help restore the body’s ability to be in a state of homeostasis and respond to both changes in the internal and external environment, improving overall health, and allowing the body to heal.”
I am absolutely excited to be a doctor for a profession aids the body to heal and really repair. I love seeing miracles everyday, and helping people reach a higher state or health and healing through chiropractic care.
If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 219-661-8680 for a consultation with Dr. Ashley Nelson
