Today I'm going to tell you a personal story. It's about my neck. And, it might be about your neck.
About nine years ago, I had a lot of migraines. To make the migraines go away, I went to the chiropractor and had my neck adjusted.
I felt better.
But one day, I was playing catch with my 5 year old in the back yard and went numb on my right side. I couldn't see very well - things looked like the inside of a kaleidoscope. It didn't hurt very much. Actually, I felt kind of drunk.
I called an ambulance. My 5 year old put away the dog and let the paramedics in.
To make a long story short, I had had a stroke. The vertebral arteries on each side of my neck were dissected. See, we have major arteries in our necks:
They weren't made to be stretched and turned. My neurosurgeon (one of the best in the country) told me he sees it all the time. Most often in young moms.
I don't have any residual effects. I was very lucky.
I bring this up now because yesterday, I saw my regular doctor who told me she happens to have three other patients who stroked due to chiropractic neck adjustments. I just felt I had to tell you.
Now, when I have a migraine, I do this:
And maybe take an Advil or have a glass of wine. I let my husband make dinner. And I go to bed.
There's an article on this issue here. Sorry - I know this is off-topic. But, I just felt I should tell you.
