Mar 2, 2009 7:53 pm US/Eastern Group Claims Chiropractry Gave Them Strokes Two women have launched a billboard campaign, warning about risks associated with chiropractry. Both suffered from strokes, and believe their treatments led to their conditions. “At 26, I was told I’d never walk or talk probably again. They inserted a feeding tube,” said Britt Harwe. Today she has recovered remarkably but still cannot eat solid food. Another stroke patient, Janet Levy, bears a scar on the back of her head. “It ended up that a clot went to my cerebellum, so I had to have emergency brain surgery,” she explained. They are among hundreds nationwide who claim chiropractors caused them to have a stroke. Victims say when a chiropractor manipulates the cervical spine, it can tear the arteries inside, and that can cause a blood clot which may travel to the brain. The condition could lead to a VBA stroke. “Linda and I decided to do the billboards and advertising just to build awareness that this is a way that you can have a stroke,” Harwe said. The women formed a support group that posted these provocative billboards across the tri-state, generating controversy and concern and among chiropractors. “I think it may be misleading,” chiropractor Michael Minardo said. A recent study found the risk of VBA stroke is the same whether you see a physician or a chiropractor for neck pain. “When you look at a greater population of people, and what precipitated stroke, it can be going to the beauty …
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Tags: billboard campaign, Chiropractry, Claims, emergency brain surgery, Gave, Group, janet levy, stroke, Strokes, Them
@docsrocks Well, I would never go as far as this ad to say that I know FOR SURE that a chiropractic manipulation caused the stroke; I believe that is irresponsible and factually inaccurate because many things could have caused the stroke. However, I believe it is equally irresponsible for any Chiropractor to say definitively that it is NOT POSSIBLE for a chiropractic manipulation of the neck to cause a stroke in every case; each person and each manipulation is different.
@docsrocks You know, I am not “medically” trained, I have no medical training at all; all I am looking for is for someone to say “you know, it is possible…” rather than saying, “it’s not even possible” I am not looking for a definitive “we know that”; but what you and others are saying is that it is NOT POSSIBLE for manipulation to cause the clot to release. It may or may not have caused the stroke, but to say it is NOT POSSIBLE is a mistake.
@MeadTBC99 Believe it or not, we are accountable, just like MD’s. We are licensed and carry malpractice insurance. To you, and some others, it isn’t coincidence, but all the studies done have shown it actually is just that.
@MeadTBC99
Yes, there are now a number of studies including those on cadavers to test amount of force on the va and there is yet to be any smoking gun relationship. If there were, it would have been found by now and those/that technique would likely be banned (there are around 100 various techniques).
@MeadTBC99 Now we’re getting somewhere. So you know it was a manip that did it, but not moving your head quickly, looking over your shoulder, or the myriad of other things than may have a clot throw coinciding with them? It’s only possible for a manip to do it and not car accidents that have exponentially more force on the neck? Are you sure?
@lerxt42 And I wouldn’t let you alone with a young child.
@MeadTBC99 We’re sorry that a chiropracti cervical adjustment injured you. Though this occurance is very rare, a remote possibility exists. Be well and peace.
@lerxt42 You still have one of those old mercury swith thermostats? Break open the mercury filled bowl and sip the stuff down…it tastes good! Go do it. Chiropractic Now!
i wouldn’t let one of these quacks adjust the thermostat in my living room let alone a spine
@chiropractic47 the quacks in
By the way…I am in way suggesting that people avoid chiropractors because they are inherently bad…but, to say that there is NO CONNECTION at all may be an understatement of the facts. I am very simply saying that it may be more than coincidence that people had strokes within hours of manipulation and each one is stemming from the basilar artery and influencing the cerebellum. If they were in different regions (some cerebellum, some cerebrum, etc) then I could buy that it is coincidence.
@docsrocks Ok…specific mechanical breakdown, I don’t know. What I do know is that the clot lodged in my basilar artery and the manipulation of my neck allowed the clot to dissect, dislodge and therefore caused the stroke. My question for you, in return is this: is there any evidence that chiropractic manipulation is not tied AT ALL to a stroke. I mean, to me it is not a mere coincidence that many people, myself included, suffered a stroke within hours of our manipulation.
@cowy1 Yeah cowy, we know what you’re smoking. Noone has taken the issue more seriously than us. But you wouldn’t know that. Nor admit it. Thebottom line is, the more we know, the more it looks like a myth. Mechanism of injury is nonexistant at this point. If there were a ‘smoking gun’, then it’d be easy to identify the technique and level and indicatiors, etc…. But there isn’t.
@MeadTBC99 Ok, how does that happen? Give me a precise mechanical breakdown, not-”he twisted my neck”.
Chiropractic is proven not increase the risk of strokes.
Folks, you will be no longer hearing from cowy1, I slaughtered him. CHIROPRACTIC!!
if this group is going to bring awareness to the public about the possibility of stroke,I ask them to please remember to educate the public that physical therapists,osteopaths and some medical doctors perform cervical manipulation also.
Okay, so, here is my situation…I had a stroke in December and the clot that released into my cerebellum was a direct result of being manipulated in my neck. The clot was lodged in my Basilar artery, and it was allowed to dissect and dislodge because of the manipulation. Anyone who denies this has no idea what they are talking about. Do I think that Chiropractors are bad? No, but I do think they have to be careful.
Smoking gun fellas. Chiros would sound more credible if they addressed this problem head-on as opposed to attacking people who they hurt.
The vast majority of chiropractors DO have informed consent with ALL new patients!! There are probably some who do not, and they should either get with the program or retire. Nuff said!
Now, stop fussing and being scared, and go get your adjustment for true health!
It’s sad to see strokes happen, but keep in mind that they may not be correct about chiropractic visit causing the stroke. If they are vulnerable to having a stroke in the first place, then any number of things can cause a blood clot to break free to cause a stroke. this could be everyday things like turning your head to back out of the driveway, or get your hair washed in a bowl at the hair salon.
But they don’t make videos warning people not to turn their head too far, or to avoid washes.
Bunch of complete idiots. They had strokes and not one shred of evidence it was an adjustment that did it.