Expert: Dr. Victor Dolan, DC, DACBSP - 11/30/2008

Question
I recently went to my chiropractor for a typical adjustment.  Within 5 minutes of leaving, I started seeing "sun spots" and had blurriness of vision for about 15 minutes.  As soon as my vision  became normal, an incredible headache ensued.  The headache remained all day until I went back to the chiropractor and he adjusted my atlas bone and oxicult (spelling?).  2 days later my vision became blurred again, for about 20 minutes, and then the headache (extremely acute in pain- up the base of the neck and painful in the forehead area) came again. I was about 2 hours from my chiropractor, so I went to chiropractor in the area.  She applied ice and heat electro-sensations and adjusted me and I've been fine for 5 days now.  Do you know what caused the symptoms, and is there any danger in returning to the chiropractor?

Answer
Hello Rick,


Sorry to of your complaints.

Chiropractic is safe, effective, cost effective for neuro-musculo-skeletal complaints.  Neck pain, headache, even hearing and vision may be affected by adjustment.  Appropriate Chiropractic adjustment
brings balance to our bodies, helps restore homeostasis, brings us towards good health naturally.  Chiropractic works upon the nervous system, the master control system.

Chiropractic can work wonders.  Luckily, if and when chiropractic causes a problem, the problem is usually transient and minor- often a soreness or a headache.  Chiropractic is safe (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11VN2sGMdbI ), effective and cost effective (see:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s68Yr38-lAQ&feature=related ).   However, your symptoms, these symptoms, this result of treatment should be rare, very rare.  Having these symptoms requires your Doctor of Chiropractic to perform a new and perhaps more extensive examination.  MRI or the head (brain) and neck (cervical spine) should be performed to evaluate for any neurological  or circulatory anomalies (nerve or blood vessel anomalies).  Your regular Doctor of Chiropractor should hold off on his(her) regular type of adjustment technique, and should perform a cervical/ neurological examination upon you, and get those MRIs.

If you have been getting  'regular adjustments'  without any side effects,  these symptoms indicate that something may be changing inside you.  Perhaps the old adjustment technique is no longer appropriate for your current physical condition.  Communicate, talk with your regular DC.  Ask for a new evaluation, MRIs, and a change in technique.

I hope this information helps you.

If necessary, do not hesitate to re-contact me at AllExperts.com @
http://allexperts.com/ep/965-100794/Chiropractors/Victor-Dolan-DC-DACBSP.htm  

I wish you good luck, and Good Health Naturally,
your Staten Island Chiropractor signing off,

Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
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