Expert: Dr. Victor Dolan, DC, DACBSP - 11/10/2008

Question
i have Type 1 Chiari and suffer with Severe Pain both muscular and neuropath pain. I need to know what could help if anything to release the tight muscles in my neck and upper back? I have also been diagnosed with 2 bulging disks, 1 at C-4 and 1 at T-11. Also DDD in the beginning state of it. I just can't take the God Awful Pain anymore and my meds are not helping. Can a Chiropractor help me?

Answer
Type 1 Chiari malformation, pain, bulging discs, degenerative disc disease, Dr. Michael Johnson, chiropractic neurologist

Hello Holly,

Sorry to hear of your pain caused by a complicated picture.

Treatment for Type 1 Arnold- Chiari Malformation is often posterior fossa and upper cervical decompression (suboccipital craniectomy and cervical laminectomy).

For a chiropractic perspective on Chiari type 1 (besides my opinion here) I recommend you contact Dr. Michael Johnson, Chiropractic Neurologist for further information on this condition and possible conservative approaches. He has contact points at different websites- the first that comes to mind is:
    http://lifechangingcare.com
Dr. Michael L. Johnson DC, chiropractic neurologist- author of the best-selling book, What Do You Do When the Medications Don’t Work?—A Non-Drug Treatment of Dizziness, Migraine Headaches, Fibromyalgia, and Other Chronic Conditions.

As a Doctor of Chiropractic with additional education and credentials in neurology, I would feel comfortable with his (Dr. Michael Johnson)comments on your condition.

My opinion:

Can a Chiropractor help you?

Possibly.  
But CERTAINLY you have to make the doctor aware of your condition (and every good Doctor of Chiropractic would discover this in your history and consultation).  You should CERTAINLY take your Xrays, MRIs, films and reports to the Chiropractor you choose.  The Chiropractor you choose should CERTAINLY be a chiropractic neurologist or at least enrolled in Dr. Johnson's course.

You have a delicate, complicated problem.  You need a delicate, complicated approach.  Some chiropractors may adjust (treat) too aggressively for your condition; that is why you MUST make the DC aware of your condition, and why I recommend a Doctor of Chiropractic with additional training in neurology and conservative, noninvasive approaches to the spine.  I would not just go to the neighborhood chiropractor, and most 'neighborhood' chiropractors would not take your case.

Depending upon the severity of your condition, the Doctor of Chiropractic may not take your case.  And,,,,,,,, I hate to say it,,,
very conservative chiropractic techniques, neurological techniques may be very safe and effective for your condition,,,, but,,,, I hate to say it, doctors of ALL disciplines are afraid of litigation, and it may be difficult to find a DC to take your case.

Your condition may grow worse-- NOT due to any treatment you are receiving--- but doctors do not want to be near the case when that happens.  Blame can be assigned-- correctly or not.  If a Doctor of Chiropractic is involved,,,,,,,,,, unfortunately the Doctors of Medicine will certainly blame the chiropractor- correctly or not.

Depending upon the severity of your condition, surgery may be a treatment option, or the only option.  You should be examined/ evaluated by two or three neurosurgeons and get their opinions.  Perhaps you must have surgery (even though that entails certain risks).  For a chiropractic evaluation I would visit  http://www.acnb.org/  and look for a DC with a DACNB credential, and/or I would contact Dr. Johnson at  http://lifechangingcare.com  .

My recommendation(s):
As above.  Have your films and reports ready.  Visit two or three neurosurgeons. Visit a Doctor of Chiropractic with a neurology credential.  Take in all the opinions, all the information, all the risk / benefit ratios and make the best decision you can, given your SPECIFIC findings.

I wish you good luck and good health naturally.  You have a complicated case.  IF, if  Chiropractic is appropriate- given the above consultations- "CONSERVATIVE" is the word for treatment.

Thank you,

Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
HTTP://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com          (eamil newsletter)