Dr Merri's Blog

On May 15, 2017, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published a case study documenting the reduction of epileptic seizures in a four-year-old boy as a result of receiving chiropractic care. The Epilepsy Foundation states that "Epilepsy is characterized by unpredictable seizures and can cause other health problems." They continue, "Epilepsy is a spectrum condition with a wide range of seizure types and control varying from person-to-person."

The study authors point out that epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases, with the World Health Organization estimating that 50 million people suffer with this condition worldwide. In the United States it is estimated that 2.9 million people of all ages have epilepsy. Each year, 460,000 new cases are diagnosed in children under the age of eighteen years.

The authors offered a technical explanation of epilepsy by stating, "Seizures occur as a result of abnormal and asynchronous distribution of neuronal electrical discharges in the brain and can result from both increased excitatory synaptic neurotransmission or decreased inhibitory neurotransmission."

In children, frontal lobe epilepsy is the second most common type of epilepsy. The frontal lobe of the brain is responsible for motor functions, voluntary eye movements, speech and language abilities, and social competency. Epilepsy in children is often treated using a variety of antiepileptic drugs. These drugs are not effective in about 20% of the cases and come with a variety of adverse effects including slowed neurological development, decrease in cognitive and executive function, behavior difficulties, and learning disorders.

In this case, a 4-year-old boy was brought to the chiropractor by his mother. The boy had been suffering from daily seizures since birth. His mother was hoping to improve the quality of her son's life by reducing the frequency of his seizures. Shortly after birth, the mother noticed the seizures which seem to occur when her baby woke up from either a nap or deep sleep. The baby boy was later evaluated by his pediatrician and a pediatric neurologist, and was subsequently placed on an anti-epileptic drug. Over the next several months, the medications were changed in a failed attempt to control the seizures. After not seeing results from the medications, the boy was eventually diagnosed with intractable frontal lobe epilepsy at eighteen months of age.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included paraspinal thermography to determine heat variations at the spinal level to help determine when a chiropractic adjustment was needed. After obtaining parental permission, specific chiropractic adjustments were performed to correct vertebral subluxations.

At the second adjustment visit, the mother reported that her son had not had any seizures since receiving his first adjustment. Over a seven month period, the young boy continued to show improvement. His parents reported that they noticed improvements in their son's balance, speech, and a significant decrease in eye rolling. The boy has shown significant improvement in coordination, speech, and overall quality of life. The report noted that his medication has been reduced and the number of seizures the boy was having at the writing of the study had reduced to three to four seizures per week.

In their discussion, the authors point out that this case of chiropractic helping a patient with epileptic seizures is not isolated. "There is a significant body of research regarding chiropractic and seizures. Most are case studies where the chiropractor or patient reports are used to determine outcomes. These studies using chiropractic care show a positive relationship between the use of chiropractic care and the reduction of seizure episodes and associated symptoms."

The headline above comes from a Newsmax Health article by Lynn Allison published on January 11, 2017. The article offers information showing that one of the most profitable drugs of all time is actually based on a false theory. Statin drugs bring in over $34 billion in sales each year.

Ms. Allison begins the article by saying, "Millions are being misled about the pros and cons of statin drugs." She goes on to explain that a recently convened panel of experts are suggesting that the theory of bad cholesterol may be faulty. If this revelation is true, it would mean that the millions of statin drugs being given are unnecessary and may even be harmful.

Additionally, the side effects of taking statins may be more serious than treating cholesterol, if that cholesterol is not as harmful as once thought. Some of the side effects of statin drugs include muscle pain, liver damage, increase in blood sugar, type 2 diabetes, memory issues, and neurological effects.

Dr. John Abramson of the Harvard Medical School stated in the article that earlier research found no link between high LDL cholesterol levels and heart deaths in those over 60. In an article titled "The Great Cholesterol Con," Dr. Abramson stated, "A lack of association between LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular disease in those over 60 from our recent systemic review suggests the conventional cholesterol hypothesis is flawed."

Dr. Richard Thompson, former physician to the Queen of England, asks the questions, "For hundreds of years physicians have clung to outdated and ineffective treatments. Could statins be now the latest star to fall? Have patients been misled over them for many years?"

Dr. Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., co-author of "The Great Cholesterol Myth," also added to this article by saying, "Our book, ‘The Great Cholesterol Myth,' references dozens of studies that not only cast doubt on the cholesterol theory but in some cases totally refutes the notion that cholesterol causes heart disease. We list several peer-reviewed studies that show more than half the people admitted to hospitals for cardiovascular disease have normal cholesterol. Not only doesn't cholesterol cause heart disease, it is a lousy predictor of it!"

To drive home his point, Dr. Bowden, while appearing on the Dr. Oz show, said, "Trying to lower the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol is like trying to lower the risk of obesity by taking the lettuce off your Big Mac."

Dr. Bowden further explained the problem with doctors over-prescribing these drugs by saying, "Doctors prescribe them randomly for anyone with a so-called elevated cholesterol level. Interestingly, the Framingham study revealed that people with the highest cholesterol levels actually lived the longest." He continued, "And the claim from drug companies that statins save lives usually does not hold up upon close examination. You may see a slight reduction in heart attacks but your will see a corresponding increase in cancer and diabetes."

I’m often asked why children would need chiropractic care.

It is understandable that many people would wonder this when one considers that the majority of people believe that chiropractic is for back and neck pain.

When one understands that our spine is actually a driver of normal brain development and that the spinal cord is housed inside the spine, they can finally begin to understand that chiropractic should actually be a part of every person’s life much like every person sees the dentist to maintain the health of their teeth.

Those facts are:

1. Your spinal cord is located in your spine and is your nervous system’s information highway. The majority of messages spending information from your brain to your body and your body to your brain travel through the spinal column.
2. Your nervous system controls and coordinates every part of your body. We often don’t think about how our body works but without the nervous system, nothing would!
3. Misalignments of your spine can distort nerve messages and contribute to a wide range of health problems.
4. Misalignments of the spine are known as vertebral subluxations and negatively affect your nervous system, health and well-being.
5. Maintaining the health of your spine and nervous system should be a regular part of a healthy lifestyle and can dramatically improve your quality of life.

Hopefully, that makes it clear why not only children, but all individuals should have their nervous system and spine checked periodically throughout a lifetime. If one is having health challenges, this is especially important to check to see if nervous system interference coming from the spine is a factor. Once those issues are corrected, it then makes sense to maintain the health of the spine and nervous system throughout a lifetime.

A study shows that long-term use of proton pump inhibitors, which are widely prescribed to treat heartburn, ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems, carry an increased risk of death.

Heartburn drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been shown to be connected to an array of health problems such as dementia, bone fractures, and kidney damage. A new study performed at the Washington University School of Medicine indicates extensive use of such drugs is also tied to a heightened risk of death. Millions of Americans rely on PPIs for heartburn, ulcers and a variety of other gastrointestinal issues. These drugs can be easily obtained over the counter. They are sold under brand names like Prilosec, Nexium and Prevacid.

About the Study

The research team studied the medical records of about 275,000 PPI users and upwards of 75,000 people who took a separate class of drugs referred to as H2 blockers that minimize stomach acid. The findings were recently published in BMJ Open.  H2 blockers and PPIs are prescribed for an array of serious medical conditions like esophageal cancer, gastrointestinal tract bleeding and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The data from the above-referenced data set was analyzed in-depth. A common theme emerged: PPI users had a heightened risk of death. As an example, when the researchers compared patients who took H2 blockers with patients who took PPIs across one or a couple years, it was determined that those who took PPIs had a 50% higher risk of perishing across the next half-decade. The average person assumes PPIs are safe as they can be obtained quite easily over the counter to treat heartburn and/or indigestion. Yet there are serious risks to taking such drugs, especially if they are consumed across extensive periods of time. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of these risks. This is a major problem as PPIs have quickly become one of the most commonly used drug classes in the country. As an example, about 15 million monthly prescriptions for Nexium were written in 2015.

The study's authors believe the combined side effects of PPIs might affect mortality rate. To determine if this is the case, the researchers sorted through millions of veterans' medical records within a database provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. They pinpointed over 275,000 individuals who were prescribed a PPI and more than 73,000 individuals prescribed an H2 blocker across a time span of October of 2006 and September of 2008. The researchers determined how many of these individuals perished and the exact date of death across a five-year period.  

The Results

The researchers determined there is a 25 percent higher chance of death in the PPI group when contrasted against those in the H2 blocker group. The research team determined that for each 500 people consuming PPIs for a single year, there is a single additional death that otherwise would not have occurred. This is important as millions of people use PPIs on a regular basis. This massive scale means PPI use has the potential to cause thousands of deaths every single year.

The researchers also determined the risk of death in those who were prescribed H2 blockers or PPIs even though they did not have gastrointestinal conditions for which these alleged remedies are recommended. In such instances, the research team determined those who took PPIs had nearly a one-quarter increase in the chance of death when compared to those who took H2 blockers. This risk steadily increased with the amount of time people used the drugs. After 30 days of use, the risk of death in H2 blocker and PPI groups was similar. However, those who took PPI for a one to two years endured a nearly 50% hike in odds of death compared to those who used H2 blockers.

Yan Xie, Benjamin Bowe, Tingting Li, Hong Xian, Yan Yan, Ziyad Al-Aly. Risk of death among users of Proton Pump Inhibitors: a longitudinal observational cohort study of United States veterans. BMJ Open, 2017; 7 (6): e015735 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015735

https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/popular-heartburn-drugs-linked-higher-death-risk/

On June 16, 2016, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published a case series documenting the positive effects of chiropractic care for eight special needs children. The study authors report that the number of special needs children is continuing to rise at an alarming rate. "More children each year are being diagnosed with neurodevelopmental challenges ranging from Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder."

The study reports that the rate of autism has risen from 1 in 5000 in 1975, to 1 in 88 as of 2008. The rate of ADHD has risen 16 percent since 2007 to the present where current estimates show that around 10 percent of children ages 4 to 17 are being diagnosed with the condition. The number of children enrolled in Special Ed programs has risen 30 percent in the last 10 years and currently is at 13 percent of all school age kids being in these programs.

In this study, eight children with a variety of special needs were studied to see the results of chiropractic care. Four of the children were seen at a chiropractic university clinic, and four were seen in one of the author's private practices.

Each of the children received chiropractic care for the correction of subluxations that were determined to be present. Each of the eight children showed improvement for their respective neurological issues.

These issues included a 11-year-old girl who had difficulties with reading comprehension, handwriting, and mathematics. After chiropractic care, it was reported that she has now been selected to be tested for the honors program. Two sisters, ages two and four, were suffering from anxiety and speech delays. After chiropractic care, the study documents that the two-year-old girl had improved to the point where she can now be in daycare, and the four-year-old no longer needed speech therapy and was accepted into a prestigious preschool program.

In their summary the authors noted, "Seven out of eight showed improvement that drastically reduced or discontinued one or more other services that they had been a weekly part of their care." One child with Cerebral Palsy showed good improvement but limitations prevented the marked improvements seen by the other children in this study.

In the April 17, 2017, issue of the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research is a published study documenting the case of a man who had suffered a stroke 18 years earlier being helped by chiropractic.

According to the study authors,  Stroke is the leading cause of disability, third leading cause of mortality, and fifth leading cause of death in the United States.  They continue,  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines stroke as something that occurs to interrupt blood flow causing brain cells to die within minutes due to the lack of available oxygen.  It is estimated that approximately 800,000 people suffer a stroke in the United States each year.

There are three types of stroke: ischemic, hemorrhagic and transient ischemic attack (TIA). Ischemic strokes, either transient or permanent, occur when there is some sort of blockage of an artery that brings oxygenated blood to the brain. These types of strokes account for 80% of the cases. The remaining 20% of strokes are hemorrhagic strokes, which is when an artery in the brain ruptures and leaks blood.

Statistics show that 40% of stroke survivors will experience moderate to severe impairments that require some form of specialized care. Of those, 25% will have minor impairments, and only 10% of those that have a stroke will recover almost completely. The statistics show that 14% of those who suffer one stroke will have another one. The mortality rate of those that suffer a stroke is not encouraging. Within 10 years of suffering a stroke, 32% of stroke victims die.

In this case, a 58-year-old man went to the chiropractor seeking relief from left hip pain that he rated as 8 out of 10 in severity. The man had tried therapy and cortisone shots which gave little relief. In his history, he noted that he had suffered a stroke 18 years earlier which left him with some residual paralysis bilaterally with little to no control over his fine motor skills and widespread muscle spasticity. His right hand was contracted in a complete fist which left it unusable. His motor skills were also impaired such that he had trouble putting on his jacket, buttoning it, or zipping it up. The man's medical doctor told him that these effects were permanent.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included a postural evaluation, range of motion, palpation and spinal x-rays. Based on the finding of the presence of subluxations, chiropractic adjustments were started on a regular basis.

After a short period of time, the patient reported that his back pain had eased considerably. However, in addition to his back pain being helped, it was also noted that after two months of chiropractic, the man was able to turn the pages of a book with his right hand, something he had not been able to do since his stroke. Additionally, after eight months, he reported improvement in his fine motor skills, reduction of muscle spasticity, and overall easier movement. Over time, he was able to take his right hand, which had been locked in a fist, and flatten it out on a table. He also reported that he was able to move well enough to put on his own jacket, snap the buttons, and zip it without help. He also noted that he was able to workout on his home workout equipment, which was something he was unable to do since his stroke.

The man also noted one other interesting effect that he attributed to his chiropractic care. After chiropractic, the man visited his optometrist and was told that for the first time since his stroke, his eyewear prescription did not change. The man found this strange because at each optometrist evaluation visit since his stroke, his eyes had gotten worse.

In the conclusion of this study, the authors wrote,  The clinical progress documented in this case suggests that chiropractic care addressing the vertebral subluxation. 

 

A study published in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice on April 4, 2017, found that more than 20 percent of medical patients are misdiagnosed. The study titled "Extent of Diagnostic Agreement Among Medical Referrals" looked at the diagnosis originally given to patients and compared that to the diagnosis later given upon the patient seeking a second opinion.

The study reviewed the records of 286 patients who were referred by their primary care doctor to the Mayo Clinic's General Internal Medicine Division in Rochester, Minnesota, over a two-year period from Jan. 1, 2009 to Dec. 31, 2010.

Overall, the results showed only 12 percent of those seeking a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic had their diagnoses confirmed. However, 21 percent of the patients had their diagnosis completely changed, while 66 percent of those patients received a refined or redefined diagnosis. Overall, the study showed that almost 88 percent of patients seeking a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic receive a new or refined diagnosis.

Previous research cited in the new study showed that errors in diagnosis "...contribute to approximately 10 percent of patient deaths." Additionally they "account for 6 to 17 percent of adverse events in hospitals."

"Effective and efficient treatment depends on the right diagnosis," said study co-author James Naessens, a health care policy researcher at the Mayo Clinic, in an April 4th press release in Science Daily. "Knowing that more than 1 out of every 5 referral patients may be completely [and] incorrectly diagnosed is troubling -- not only because of the safety risks for these patients prior to correct diagnosis, but also because of the patients we assume are not being referred at all."

In a Washington Post article, Mark L. Graber, a senior fellow at the research institute RTI International and founder of the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine, who was not involved with the study noted, "Diagnosis is extremely hard. There are 10,000 diseases and only 200 to 300 symptoms." He added, "Doctors are humans, and they make the same cognitive mistakes we all make. If you are given a serious diagnosis, or you’re not responding the way you should [to medication], a second opinion is a very good idea. Fresh eyes catch mistakes."

Second opinions are still encouraged, but the concern is that they may be limited due to in-network insurance issues preventing patients from seeking second opinions. In response to the problem of diagnosis error, the National Academy of Medicine has called for dedicated federal funding for improved diagnostic processes and error reduction.

It is obvious that there is an increase in cost both in diagnosis and medical treatment if the first diagnosis is not confirmed by the second opinion. However, Naessens sums up the concerns if a second opinion is not sought saying, "Total diagnostic costs for cases resulting in a different final diagnosis were significantly higher than those for confirmed or refined diagnoses, but the alternative could be deadly."

A long-term case study published on February 9, 2017, in the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research followed the improvement received from chiropractic care of an elderly man with a long list of health issues including difficulty in walking, balance, standing and overall mobility. Mobility, musculoskelital pain, and balance are of key concern to the geriatric population and have a significant impact on the quality of life.

Pain plays a key role in the abilities of a senior to function normally. According to a 2014 study in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science. "Spinal pain is the most common of all chronic pain disorders. In a previous study, 24.6% of older adults with chronic pain reported back pain."

In this case, an 85-year-old man presented himself to the chiropractor for a variety of health concerns. His chief complaints for which he went to the chiropractor were difficulty walking and poor posture. In addition to the issues he sought chiropractic for, he also had a number of prior medical diagnoses that included benign prostatic hypertrophy, osteoporosis, heart valve insufficiency, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, angina, and other assorted problems. Most of his issues were being treated medically. As a result, the man had been prescribed eighteen different medications that were being taken on a daily basis.

A chiropractic examination was performed. This included a range of motion study, paraspinal thermography, a postural analysis, spinal motion palpation and spinal x-rays. As expected, the man's range of motion in all areas was significantly reduced. His head was carried in a forward position causing a roundness of his shoulders. The spinal x-rays on this patient showed considerable calcium buildup indicative of intervertebral degenerative joint disease, spinal arthritis, and old compression fractures of several of his vertebrae.

Based on the findings of all the examination procedures, the diagnosis for this man was healed compression fractures, calcification of the abdominal aortic, atherosclerosis, abnormal postural and vertebral subluxations in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions of the spine. With this diagnosis, chiropractic care was rendered.

This study recorded the chiropractic care and progress for this man over an eight year period. Over that time, a variety of chiropractic techniques were utilized. The study records that, over time, the man's overall health improved and he experienced improvement in gait, balance stability, coordination, posture and reported an increase in strength in the lower extremities. The man's medical doctor also noticed the changes and commented that the patient was healthier while under chiropractic care. In addition, he was able to get himself in and out of a chair, and was able to reduce the amount of prescription and over the counter medication he was taking.

The author of this study summed up the implications of this study by noting, "Age related musculoskeletal problems can cause impairment in a patient's balance and gait. An unstable person on their feet puts them at a higher risk of falling and as age increases so does the risk of falling." She continued to explain how this can help by saying, "Individuals over the age of 65 years of age that suffer from musculoskeletal dysfunctions may benefit from chiropractic care. Chiropractic care focuses on the vertebral subluxation complex (VSC)."

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.

The 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."

On February 27, 2017, the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research published a case study documenting a patient suffering a loss of the sense of smell (Anosmia), which was corrected with chiropractic care. According to the Anosmia Foundation, between 2 and 5 million American adults suffer from some form of this condition.

The study reports that a loss of smell can be either partial or complete, and can be temporary or permanent. A complete loss of smell is rarer. The condition is more common in the elderly population. Some of the associated causes can include head trauma, sinus or nasal diseases, pathologies, toxic exposures such as cocaine abuse, and some very rare congenital anomalies. Several medical conditions have also been associated with a loss of the sense of smell. These include: Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and depression.

In this case, a 58-year-old woman came to the chiropractor for care related to her high blood pressure as well as symptoms from a recent car accident a month earlier. Her blood pressure condition had been present for 20 years since the birth of her son, and she was taking medication since that time. Since her car accident, she had been suffering with right shoulder and mid-back pain.

The woman reported that she had been involved in another car accident 9 years prior. It was immediately after this accident that she had lost her sense of smell. Her ability to smell had not returned since that time.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included palpation, a posture assessment, paraspinal surface EMG, and x-rays. Based on the findings, specific forms of chiropractic care were initiated.

The results of the care were objectively documented by improvements in the paraspinal surface EMG, the spinal x-rays and the other examination procedures that were performed.

Over the course of care, the woman reported that the pain from her most recent accident was dramatically reduced. Additionally, she noted that her sense of smell had completely returned.

The study authors noted that there is no standard medical care for anosmia. Many times, this condition is overlooked because of the concern of more severe injuries in post-traumatic accidents. A common medical treatment for this condition is the use of oral steroids. However, published studies on this type of treatment has shown that the use of steroids is just as effective as spontaneous recovery, but carries significant risk of side effects.

Because of the lack of successful medical treatment, and the increased risk due to steroid usage, the authors believe that additional studies into chiropractic for people with a loss of their sense of smell is warranted.