Chiropractors are health care professionals who use their hands and treatment tools in order to help relieve ‘problems with the bones, muscles, and joints’.
Chiropractic care can help with an array of painful conditions in the muscles and joints, from neck pain to elbow pain and can even be used to treat repetitive strain injuries.
That said, chiropractic care is viewed as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), meaning it’s not a traditional medical treatment. Although rare, chiropractic injuries can occur.
In short, chiropractic negligence is when an injury is caused or worsened by chiropractic treatment.
Chiropractic negligence can cover numerous injuries and complications with differing levels of severity, from headaches to fractured bones to more serious conditions, such as strokes.
If you’ve suffered an injury as a result of chiropractic negligence, you could be entitled to make a compensation claim and should seek advice from a clinical negligence solicitor.
Types Of Chiropractic Injuries
The most popular types of chiropractic treatments are spinal and neck manipulation, also referred to as ‘chiropractic adjustments’.
While serious complications are rare, chiropractic injuries can occur that you should be aware of.
Types of chiropractic injuries include, but are not limited to:
- Bone fractures
- Frequent headaches
- Herniated discs
- Strokes
- Paralysis
1. Bone Fractures
Although they are rare, bone fractures are an injury that can occur during chiropractic adjustments.
Chiropractic adjustments involve quick thrusts and movements, which can put a strain on the patient’s bones you might not initially be aware of.
This is especially true for people with pre-existing conditions, such as osteoporosis, a disease that weakens your bones.
This comes down to the fact that ‘osteoporosis causes the bones to become weaker and more brittle’, meaning the risk of fracture during chiropractic adjustments is greater.
As such, you should be wary of bone fractures, especially if you have a pre-existing condition. The chiropractor should go through the risks beforehand and discuss alternative forms of treatment, such as trying deep tissue massage before carrying out physical adjustments. Informed consent is very important.
2. Frequent Headaches
Another chiropractic injury that can occur is frequent headaches.
While chiropractic adjustments can cause temporary headaches in some patients, particularly if you’re dehydrated before your treatment, these headaches shouldn’t last long.
Considering the common nature of headaches and the array of circumstances they’re caused by, this complication can be more difficult to spot.
That said, if you experience sudden and more severe headaches after your adjustment, this could be the result of chiropractic negligence.
3. Herniated Discs
A serious injury that can be caused or worsened by chiropractic care is a herniated disc.
A herniated disc, also known as a slipped disc, occurs when the soft cushion of tissue between the bones pushes out.
This can be a common cause of back, neck, and leg pain, and can manifest in an array of symptoms. These symptoms can include everything from tingling in your shoulders to problems bending or straightening your back.
If you suspect that you have a herniated disc following chiropractic adjustment, contact your doctor before seeking legal advice to find out whether you could make a claim.
4. Strokes
Although a rare complication, neck and spinal chiropractic adjustments can increase the risk of a stroke.
Research suggests that ‘those with a high risk of vertebral artery dissection may have a higher risk of a stroke’ if they undergo certain types of chiropractic adjustments.
The thrusting chiropractors use to make adjustments can place strain on the vertebral and carotid arteries, and if a tear is caused, blood clots can form. This has the potential to cause a stroke.
If you or a loved one has experienced a stroke following chiropractic treatment, get in touch with a clinical negligence solicitor.
5. Paralysis
While chiropractic care has been known to treat some of the symptoms associated with many conditions, including cerebral palsy, the risk of paralysis cannot be overlooked.
Spinal and neck adjustments can cause arterial dissection, which can cause numerous symptoms, dizziness, vertigo, and even paralysis.
For instance, one case saw a 28-year-old woman paralysed following a chiropractic adjustment to her neck that resulted in four dissected arteries.
While it’s unclear how common this complication is, many spine specialists deem neck manipulation to be dangerous.
Are You Eligible For Chiropractic Negligence Compensation?
If you suspect that you’ve experienced an injury or a pre-existing injury/condition has been made worse following chiropractic care, you might be able to make a chiropractic negligence claim.
Our team of experienced and sympathetic clinical negligence solicitors are here to support and guide you and your family through the investigation process.
Get in touch with a member of our team to establish whether a claim is possible to get you the compensation that you deserve.
