Expert: Gerald Anzalone, D.C. - 2/22/2009

Question
Dear Gerald Anzalone, D.C., I have been struggling with back pain for the last year, some good days, some bad. I also have an old neck injury, from being rear-ended in my car. A few weeks ago I did a work-out at a new gym, did all sorts of machines, hours later my back pain was so bad I went to the local hospital, I have accident insurance and wanted to know what I had done, ie get a picture or something, I was also having numbness on the right side of my face, right hand and right foot. The Doctor, came in and after an examination told me numbness on the right side of your body Can IN NO WAY be associated with neck or back injury, she (The Doctor) then told me she was very reluctant to let me leave with out a CT to my brain. I explained to her that when I was a police officer and hurt my back I had the same numbness on Rt side, after Chiro ajustment the numbness was gone. She insisted the association was NOT POSSIBLE, I reluctantly got a CT of my brain and all was clear. I got a chiropractic adjustment and the numbness went away. Please tell if an assiciation with right side numbness and neck or back injury is possible. I really appreciate your time and expertise.
  Thank You,   Jona

Answer
Jona,

The CT brain scan was a good idea, and even better that it did not reveal any abnormalities.

To address your question, it may be possible for a chiropractic adjustment/manipulation to alleviate symptoms of pain or numbness, but usually this is the case in the arms, hands, legs, or feet, rather than the face. The face generally receives its nerve supply from cranial nerves, which exit off of the brain stem, whereas the arms and legs receive its nerve supply from the spinal nerves exiting the spinal cord.

From your description of your injuries, I can't say for certain that the chiropractic manipulation was the modality by which your symptoms were relieved, but in this case, since your symptoms resolved after receiving the chiropractic manipulation, I'd say that you can't argue with success. I'm glad that you had a successful outcome to your problem.

I hope that this answers your question.