Dr. LauraGravelle
Gravelle Family Chiropractic
& Wellness Centre
Chiropractic and Massage Therapy
CALL TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT!
204 Oxford St West
Main Level
London ON
519-433-9222
Monday 3:30-6:30 pm
Tuesday 9:30-11:30am
Wednesday 10:00am-12:00 noon and 3:30-6:00pm
Thursday 10:30am -12:30 pm and 3:30-6:00pm
Friday 9:30-11:00am
One of the major challenges in educating the public about chiropractic is the myth that the purpose of chiropractic is to alleviate symptoms or conditions of the back and neck. This idea alone has stopped millions of people from having a life filled will greater health and vitality and less suffering from illness and disease.
The true purpose of chiropractic is to align the bones of the spine (vertebrae) allowing proper communication between the brain and body and from the body to the brain. The spinal cord, which carries the messages is protected by the bones of the spine and any misalignment can negatively effect the communication system and ultimately the body’s ability to coordinate function or what we call health.
Although chiropractic is NOT a “treatment” or cure for any condition, it is true people with conditions have a greater capacity to heal when the body is communicating properly. Chiropractic is for everybody under any circumstance, however the best and most logical way to use chiropractic would be to schedule regular check ups to be sure the body is always working at its best. A check-up as soon after birth as possible is optimal.
A seizure is the outward sign of a malfunction in the electrical system in the brain. Seizures that occur more than once, without a special cause, are called epilepsy (also called a seizure disorder). Seizures may be convulsions, brief stares, muscle spasms, odd sensations, or episodes of automatic behaviour and altered consciousness.
While the exact cause of seizures is unknown, medical researchers have focused upon traumatic brain injury (specifically mild concussive injury to the head, neck, or upper back) as a risk factor for seizure onset. Following the injury, seizures can be triggered immediately or can take months or years to develop.
The purpose of chiropractic care is to correct vertebral subluxations (misaligned vertebrae) thereby reducing irritation to the nerves in the brain stem and spinal cord that can trigger neurological dysfunction. While many seizure sufferers recall specific traumas such as head injuries, auto accidents or falls, some do not. In certain paediatric cases, the injury can occur from the normal birthing process.
Below are some case studies reporting the effects of subluxation correction in people with seizure disorder and ADD/ADHD:
Objective: To review the currently available literature regarding chiropractic care relative to patients with epilepsy, particular emphasis being placed on those who have epilepsy as children.
Results: The present study reviews 17 reports of paediatric epileptic patients receiving chiropractic care. Fourteen of the 17 patients were receiving anticonvulsive medications, which had proven unsuccessful in the management of the condition. Upper cervical care to correct vertebral subluxation was administered to 15 patients, and all reported positive outcomes as a result of chiropractic care.
Conclusions: Chiropractic care may represent a nonpharmaceutical health care approach for paediatric epileptic patients. Current anecdotal evidence suggests that correction of upper cervical vertebral subluxation complex might be most beneficial. It is suggested that chiropractic care be further investigated regarding its role in the overall health care management of paediatric epileptic patients.
A 5-year-old patient was diagnosed with ADHD and treated by a paediatrician unsuccessfully with methylphenidate (Ritalin), Adderall, and Haldol for 3 years. The patient received 35 chiropractic adjustments during the course of 8 weeks. During chiropractic care, the child's facial tics resolved and his behaviour vastly improved. After 27 chiropractic visits, the child's paediatrician stated that the child no longer exhibited symptoms of ADHD. The changes in structure and function may be related to the correction of cervical subluxation.
This is an eight year old female with a history of epilepsy, heart murmur, hypoglycemia, nocturnal enuresis and attention deficit disorder. The child had been to five paediatricians, three neurologists, six psychiatrists and ten hospitalizations. Child had been on Depakote, Depakene, Tofranil and Tegretol. She had been a difficult birth, a caesarean had to be performed under general anaesthesia. The mother was told the baby was allergic to breast milk and formulas and was stayed on prescription feeding.
The doctors told the mother the girl would never ride a bike nor do things like normal children do. The child was wetting the bed every night and experiencing 10-12 seizures/day, with frequent mood swings, stomach pains, diarrhea and special education classes for learning disabilities.
Chiropractic adjustments were given C1 and C2 for approximately three times per week. Two weeks after beginning care the bed-wetting began to resolve and was completely resolved after six months. She was also going to leave special education classes to enter regular fifth grade classes. After one year of chiropractic, the seizures were much milder and diminished to 8-10 per week. Patient was also released from psychiatric care as "self managing." Her resistance to disease increased and she can now ride a bike, roller skate and ice skate like a normal child. After medical examinations, she is expected to be off all medication within a month.
As a result of that fall I suffered with neck and back pain and began epileptic seizures. I took medication to control the seizures and would spend at least one week out of the year flat on my back in pain.
I decided to see a chiropractor. The most exciting benefit I received from chiropractic was that my epileptic seizures ceased! I have not had a seizure or had to take medication to control them since that time eleven years ago. I prefer chiropractic over any other health care provider because of the positive results I've experienced. Now, whenever I have any health problems, I always think chiropractic first.
We felt as if we had to try anything for Trent. Medical doctors had given us no hope other than that he was just going to have to live with his problems. He was on medication for seizures; without it he would have fifteen to twenty-five per day. He was very depressed, rarely smiled or laughed, and was having terrible problems in school. He had not been able to understand anything he read since first grade, and he is now seventeen years old and in ninth grade. He had become so discouraged he was ready to quit school.
Since receiving chiropractic adjustments it's as if we have a new person living in our house. He does not need the seizure medication, is not depressed, and now even smiles a great deal. He is improving in school, is taking more interest, and is able to concentrate for the first time. After about three visits to Trent said he had read a story and for once understood what he'd read.
