All five Tourette’s Syndrome patients I have seen
have had significant misalignment of C1 and C2
During 21 years of practice as a doctor of
chiropractic, I’ve aided many amazing musculo-skeletal and organic
cures by correcting vertebral subluxations. The highlight of my career,
however, has been in assisting a total recovery in four patients who
suffered from Tourette’s Syndrome.
In this article, I’ll describe the case of my
first patient with Tourette’s. I am writing this for doctors and
laypeople alike, since a grass roots effort is needed to educate the public
about a potentially powerful cure for this dreaded disorder.
Tourette’s Syndrome (TS) is the disorder that is
sometimes the object of jokes, since in rare and severe cases, TS sufferers
yell out swear words in public. If you have ever been around someone with
it, you would know it is no laughing matter.
TS was first described in the late 1800s by a French
physician. This disorder usually begins in early childhood or adolescence.
Despite public perception to the contrary, coprolalia—the involuntary
use of obscene or inappropriate words—is rare. TS is considered to be
of unknown etiology; its cause is unknown. No successful orthodox
medical treatments for it exist. Medications are sometimes prescribed to
calm the patient and improve sleep, since fatigue can worsen TS symptoms.
Presentation
“Can chiropractic help Tourette’s
Syndrome?”
This question, posed by David, a recent new patient,
seemed to involve more than casual interest.
“I don’t know,” I admitted.
“I’ve never worked with a person with Tourette’s. But if
it’s caused by vertebral subluxation, maybe I can help. Why do you
ask?”
His 10-year-old daughter, “Beth,” was
diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome at age 5. Her particular
constellation of symptoms consisted of grunting, grimacing, twitching
fingers and toes, and blinking eyes.
Beth also had suffered for 5 years with lack of
bladder control during the day and night. At her first appointment, she had
a wet spot on her pants.
Tears filled my eyes as I imagined the embarrassment
she must have suffered. Although she seemed outwardly confident and
happy, I wondered how long it would take for her to develop emotional
problems. As a former clinical psychologist, I know how cruel children at
that age can be about anyone who is different, and how fragile the young
psyche can be.
Her parents had taken her to several medical doctors,
including a pediatric neurologist at a large children’s hospital.
This specialist prescribed various medications, but they made her so sleepy
that she would fall asleep during a meal. Needless to say, this level of
drowsiness also affected her schoolwork and functioning in other areas of
life.
Her trauma history included forceps delivery after a
long labor. She also had a serious fall at age 18 months, which fractured
her left arm. Beth had undergone no surgical procedures.
Fortunately, the parents decided to try alternative
health care approaches.
Evaluation
After taking the history, I conducted standard
chiropractic tests. Range of motion was within normal limits. There was no
palpable tenderness. Her reflexes, sensation, and cranial nerve tests were
all normal.
Usually, the only imaging method I use for children is
spinal video-fluoroscopy. However, due to the severity of her case, I
also took an A-P open-mouth view to confirm the upper-cervical listings. I
also took a spot lateral lumbar view to assess any posteriority that might
narrow the intervertebral foramen and affect the nerves governing bladder
function.
My analysis of her spinal x-rays and motion films
revealed significant and multidimensional subluxation of C1 and C2. That
means the first two bones of her spine were fixated and out of alignment in
more than one direction. Those vertebrae contain the spinal cord with its
millions of nerve fibers as it first leaves the brain.
She also had subluxations at occiput, C5 and 7 and T1
and 2, and retrolisthesis of L2–4.
Treatment
Beth’s treatment consisted of a series of
specific adjustments to the subluxated vertebrae. I used Pierce and Palmer
methods with gentle drop, instrument, and hands-on adjusting.
Her visits were three times per week for 2 weeks,
twice per week for 4 weeks, once per week for 4 weeks, every 2 weeks for
four visits, then every 3 weeks for six visits. She is currently on a
once-per-month wellness schedule.
I tried to increase the time between her maintenance
visits to 6 weeks since my average pediatric patient only needs an
adjustment every 2 to 3 months. However, Beth’s symptoms returned
slightly whenever we went past 1 month between adjustments.
Her life was recently very stressful. During that
time, she did not sleep well and had a lot of anxiety. Very mild and
transient TS symptoms returned, so she received three adjustments in a
2-week period to stabilize her condition. Beth has received a total of 39
adjustments from December 2004 to April 2006.
Results
Beth experienced remarkable improvement after just her
first adjustment.
At her first re-evaluation after 1 month and twelve
adjustments, she and her parents reported a 65% subjective improvement. She
still had some grimacing and some fidgeting hands, although much less than
before. All of her other symptoms were gone. Video-fluoroscopic spinal
evaluation showed fewer and milder subluxations and a perfect cervical
lordosis.
At her second re-exam after 6 months of care and 25
adjustments, she was 95% subjectively improved. Fluoroscopic spinal imaging
showed improvement, but some misalignment and fixation still existed at
occiput; C1, 2, and 5; and T1. These chronic subluxations, I believe, are
areas of past injury that will require periodic attention.
Sixteen months after beginning chiropractic care, Beth
shows no Tourette’s symptoms except for the temporary exacerbation
described above.
Word of mouth drew four other Tourette’s
Syndrome cases to my practice. Like Beth, three have enjoyed complete
cessation of TS symptoms. The fifth experienced only 40% improvement and
elected to discontinue care after four months.
All five of these patients had significant misalignment
of C1 and C2. Four of them also had abnormal lateral cervical curves. That
is, instead of a smooth C-shaped curve with anterior convexity, they had
straight, S-shaped, or reversed necks. In addition, two of them had
“stair-stepping” of C2–4 with marked posteriority or
backward displacement of each vertebra.
My hypothesis is that, at least in some TS patients,
vertebral subluxation can exert slight pressure, irritation, or distortion
on nerve fibers that, over time, results in a diffuse hyperspasticity. This
explains the various symptoms, all of which involve inappropriate or
involuntary contraction of muscles.
These cases highlight how vitally important it is that
everyone receive regular spinal check-ups. I now realize more deeply the
profound consequences of chronic vertebral subluxation.
Further research and documentation are obviously
needed to provide more objective evidence. For Beth, my other TS patients,
and their families, however, there is no need for double-blind,
peer-reviewed studies. Their lives have been enormously changed for the
better.
I ask your help in furthering research and education
about the potential effectiveness of chiropractic care for TS so that more
people may receive relief or a total cure.
During 21 years of practice as a doctor of
chiropractic, I’ve aided many amazing musculo-skeletal and organic
cures by correcting vertebral subluxations. The highlight of my career,
however, has been in assisting a total recovery in four patients who
suffered from Tourette’s Syndrome.
At her first re-evaluation after 1 month and twelve
adjustments, she and her parents reported a 65% subjective improvement. She
still had some grimacing and some fidgeting hands, although much less than
before. All of her other symptoms were gone. Video-fluoroscopic spinal
evaluation showed fewer and milder subluxations and a perfect cervical
lordosis.
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