subluxations and memor y loss?

Question

I started chiropractic care about 6 months ago and have recently found that my neck is pretty messed up. I'm 15 years old and I already have bone spurs (which, according to my chiropractor, people don't typically get until they're 30 or 40 years old). Apparently I have a pretty major subluxation, as well. I admit that I don't understand all of it, but from what I understand, those are the two major things going on with my neck. So, my question is, can my problems with m neck be causing me to have minor problems with my memory? And also, what other symptoms should be expected?

Thanks.

Answer 1

"Doctors" of Chiropractic medicine, indeed! Chiropractors are quacks. Run away!

I had back problems for years and saw a chiropractor out of desperation. He discouraged me from seeing an orthopedist and subjected me to manipulations three times a week. When, after about six months of visits, my pain was worse than ever, I had a CAT scan and learned that I had a tumor in my spine. The tumor had grown so large that it cracked the vertebra. Can you imagine how much pain I was in?? The chiropractor could have PARALYZED me! Needless to say, I stopped going to him immediately and had surgery to remove the tumor (and the bone). It took me a year to recover and I am now practically free of pain.

Chiropractors are charlatans, just like psychics and televangelists. I don't know how they can sleep at night.

I suggest you go see a neurologist and get a CAT scan of your neck. You don't want to take any chances.

Answer 2

A subluxation can affect spinal functions, but not brain functions, so it cannot be the cause of memory problems. The brain is upstream from the damage in you neck, and nerve problems only occur downstream.

You have probably already experienced the type of symptoms caused by bone spurs - neck pain and stiffness, maybe numbness, pain or tingling along the path of nerves in the injured portion of the spine.

It's unlikely you will have other symptoms unless the spurs continue to progress, which is a condition called spondylosis. Progression of the problem leads to more severe versions of the problems you have had, with one possible exception. Chronic compression of a nerve can eventually kill the nerve, resulting in localized paralysis and numbness in the part of the body served by the nerve.

At your age, it might be a good idea to find out if you have spondylosis, or if the spurs are caused by bad postural habits. Ask your chiropractor if he/she thinks that you might have a degenerative condition. It would be a good idea to have your family doctor order an MRI for your spine, and to repeat the MRI in a few years to look for changes.