From the January 22, 2018, edition of the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research comes a case study documenting the improvement under chiropractic of a patient suffering from Raynaud’s Disease, as well as chronic upper back and lower back pain.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Raynaud’s Disease, also known as Raynaud’s syndrome or Raynaud’s phenomenon, is a condition that “…causes some areas of your body — such as your fingers and toes — to feel numb and cold in response to cold temperatures or stress. In Raynaud’s disease, smaller arteries that supply blood to your skin narrow, limiting blood circulation to affected areas.” Typically, during a flair up the fingers turn white, then blue with tingling and a cold feeling. Raynaud’s is more common in woman than men, occurring at between 4-6% of the female population.
In this case, a 29-year-old woman went to the chiropractor for consultation and care. The woman was suffering with cold, stiff, and cramping hand pain along with purple discoloration. She had been experiencing these symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon for over ten years. Additionally, she was now suffering with pain in the upper back, intermittent lower back pain, and dizziness.
After a full case history, a chiropractic examination was performed which included spinal thermographic heat readings and spinal x-rays. The initial x-rays showed a decrease from the normal forward curvature of the neck. As a result of the findings, a determination of the presence of subluxation was made, and specific forms of chiropractic adjustments were started.
After 11 weeks of chiropractic care, a re-evaluation was done to access the progress. At that time, it was recorded that the thermal scans had returned to normal and the neck x-rays had shown an improvement in the curvature. The patient reported a resolution of the symptoms of Raynaud’s, including her hands being warm again as well as a decrease in the cramping and stiffness. Additionally, she reported that her upper and lower back pain were gone.
The authors explained the purpose of chiropractic care in these types of cases by saying, “The Gray’s Anatomy textbook states that the role of the nervous system is to control and coordinate every function of the body. Therefore, the main objective of subluxation-based chiropractic care is to achieve optimal functioning of the nervous system. Regardless of the health condition, the role of the chiropractor is to reduce neurological interference within the body by locating, assessing and reducing vertebral subluxation, utilizing specific chiropractic adjustments.”
In the conclusion of the study, the authors further explained their results by saying, “This case report shows improvement in the symptomatic presentation of Raynaud’s Phenomenon in a 29-year-old female after 11 weeks of subluxation-based chiropractic care. The patient had been suffering from symptoms of RP for over 10 years and was seeking an alternative solution. Subluxation-based chiropractic care, used to address neurological disturbances caused by vertebral subluxation, can lead to positive outcomes in chronic symptomatic cases.”
