Epilepsy is a chronic disorder characterized by paroxysmal brain dysfunction due to excessive neuronal discharge, and usually associated with some alteration of consciousness. The clinical manifestations of the attack may vary from complex abnormalities of behaviour including generalized or focal convulsions to momentary spells of impaired consciousness. (Stedmans Medical Dictionary).
WARNING: always work with a chiropractor who does not discourage concurrent medical care, and uses only specific chiropractic techniques. Unpublished case studies do not constitute comprehensive medical evidence, and should be viewed as informative only. Epilepsy drugs can NOT be substituted by chiropractic care. Do not cease medicationwithout neurological specialist consultation.
CASE ONE
History
- female
- 5 years of age
- symptom duration 4 years
- forceps delivery
- diagnosed Chiari Type I malformation
- parents have taken nightly supervision in shifts for 4 years.
- impending surgical treatment drove parents looking for alternatives, when risk of morbidity was reportedly given at 70%
- family had moved interstate to be near medical services within Sydney Childrens Hospital
Presenting symptoms:
- sleep apnoea up to 30 times per hour
- decreased Oxygen saturation (average 70%)
- nocturnal seizures up to 5 per night
- nocturnal enuresis (bed wetting) average 6 times per night
- anorexia (not eating) for 3 days
Outcomes:
- sleep apnoea down to 18 times per hour
- Oxygen saturation now 97-99%
- nocturnal seizures absent
- nocturnal enuresis (bed wetting) 0-1 event per night
- increased activity and energy
- appetite improved, eating much larger portions of food
Chiropractic Co-Management
Patient was adjusted using Atlas Orthogonal analysis. The child was checked every 2-3 days. The child was adjusted in the atlas area and once at T12 using Activator Methods analysis. The response to chiropractic adjustment has been dramatic. Neurological and medical experts have not acknowledged the chiropractic co-management .
It appears that medical care COMBINED with chiropractic care has been the most successful management to date. Medical specialists had not offered chiropractic co-management options.
The child has been sustaining these benefits for nearly a month now. We will keep you posted.
The full case study is here.
CASE TWO
History
- female
- 8 years of age
- seizures first noticed 13 months of age
- traumatic birth; emergency cesarean after 30 hours labour and at least 5 hrs in fetal distress
- diagnosed ADHD and on medication
- extensive drug trials and experimentation
- decreased appetite, frequent anorexia
- has had limited but favourable response from previous chiropractic care and immunoglobulins.
Presenting symptoms:
- 20 to 40 seizure events per day
- severe language and intellectual delay
- hyperactivity
- regular anorexia and poor appetite
Outcomes:
- seizures down as low as 7 per day
- appetite increased to full daily meal consumption
- as of 6.7.01, seizures down to 2 a day, none at night.
- radiographic improvement of neck lordotic curve
Chiropractic Co-Management
Patient was adjusted using Atlas Orthogonal analysis . The child was checked twice daily for 5 days, then had to fly back home.
To date, no drug had provided relief, except immunoglobulin experimentation which took 3 months to “work” and then stopped after the 7th month.
The response to chiropractic adjustment has been noted with a dramatic reduction of seizures. Follow up will occur when patient returns from interstate.
It appears that chiropractic care has been the most successful management to date. The parents had never been offered chiropractic co-management.
Follow up was not conducted and it is unknown what the outcome was beyond a few months.
CONCLUSION:
It is unknown whether epilepsy is related to spinal function. There appears to be some relationship between brain function and peripheral neural input.
It is an exciting area of study that I would love to investigate some day.