Name: Melissa Money
Age: 25
Date: October 10, 2011
Symptom: Migraine Headaches
Symptom Details: On February 25, 2011, I experienced my first ever migraine, accompanied with vomiting and blurred vision. I went to the ER, where they performed several tests including a spinal tap. The next day, I awoke with severe pain radiating from my shoulders down my arms. By the time I got back to the ER, my arms were partially paralyzed and I couldn't raise them above forty-five degrees. I was also in excruciating pain. The doctors told me that it was impossible that these new symptoms were in any way related to the lumbar puncture and sent me home with no alternative explanation or treatment plan.
Duration: 7-12 months
Previous Treatment & Results: I visited my primary care physician a few days later, who was also adamant that this was in no way related to the lumbar puncture. She prescribed steroids and pain killers, and referred me to a neurologist. My neurologist was very concerned about these bizarre symptoms, and ordered an MRI and an electromyogram to investigate. In the meantime, I was living with intense, radiating pain 24/7. This lasted for 11 days. I didn't sleep, I barely ate. I couldn't care for my children. The neuro tests came back completely normal.
Date Started & Results: March 7, 2011, I visited Dr. Chapman for the first time for this issue. I've seen him off and on for several years. I was at the breaking point emotionally from lack of sleep and hurting so much. At that point I was 10 days into paralysis and pain with no idea when, if ever, I'd get relief. After an intense adjustment, I felt some burning sensations in my back and shoulders, but no pain relief yet. 12 hours later, I fell into a deep sleep for the first time in over a week. When I woke up the next day, the pain was significantly lessened. I returned twice that week for adjustments, the pain getting less each time. Finally at the end of March after weekly adjustments, my range of motion improved bit by bit. By the end of April my range of motion was back at 100% and I was regaining strength in my arms. In June I was released from my neurologist's care with the expectation that I'll be back to normal by February 2012.
Comments: Dr. Chapman was the first person to really listen to me, and genuinely care that I was in that kind of pain. This wasn't the first I'd seen amazing results after receiving chiropractic care, but this spinal cord injury was the most serious medical issue I've ever experienced. All my other doctors did was run tests and prescribe pain killers. Dr. Chapman actually made a difference in my healing time and pain level.
