Signs and Symptoms
Signs and Symptoms of Strokes Induced by Chiropractors and Upper Cervical Manipulation
According to the American Stroke Association, warning signs of stroke include the following:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
When Might Chiropractic History Relate to Occurrence of Stroke?
Signs that a stroke may have been a result of a chiropractic upper cervical manipulation include the following:
- You noticed symptoms possibly indicative of stroke shortly after your treatment
- Your stroke occurred fewer than 30 days after your upper cervical manipulation
- You had few or no other known risk factors before your stroke occurred
If you are relatively young and healthy, a correlation between the upper cervical manipulation and your stroke should be considered and examined.
Chiropractic Stroke Awareness Organization is dedicated to understanding, evaluating and researching the risks of stroke induced by chiropractic upper cervical manipulation. Contact us to learn how you can join us in our quest to raise awareness and increase knowledge about this issue.
Following is a brief synopsis of a typical sequence of events when a stroke induced by an upper cervical manipulation is suspected.
A Twist of the Neck, a Tearing of the Artery Lining, a Clot, a Stroke
It has been demonstrated that a twist of the neck such as what occurs during upper cervical manipulation may tear the inner linings of arteries that supply blood to the brain (dissection). As a result, a clot (thrombus) forms and pieces of the clot (emoboli) can shoot into the brain. Vessels get smaller and smaller as they approach the central destination of the brain. When such a clot blocks that portion of the brain, a stroke occurs. Because these strokes mimic the symptoms of aneurysms, they are often referred to as "mini-aneurysms," especially when victims are young and healthy enough for doctors to have no reason to suspect stroke as the cause. However, an informed physician, who is able to compile a detailed history on a patient presenting these symptoms, will uncover the association with an upper cervical manipulation and proper testing will reveal the arterial tear (dissection) and subsequent life-threatening clot.
To request more information about strokes induced by chiropractors' manipulation of the upper cervical area, contact us.
