A young man of 27 years of age recently complained of chest pain. He reported that it felt like his 'heart was getting squeezed'. He indicated that the pain was getting worse and was spreading. He also had neck and shoulder pain and a sharp pain in the head. The chest pain had started two to three weeks ago and did have any known cause. The patient also said that he had had a fever just prior to getting the chest pain. He reported that the chest pain was aggravated by sitting in a slouched position and by twisting. It felt better during and after exercise (he did a lot of resistance training).

The patient went to see his doctor, as he thought that it was something wrong with his heart. The doctor did several heart tests including blood pressure readings, and an ECG, and did not find anything abnormal. The doctor dismissed the patient saying it was probably a structural problem. The fever was related to an infection that he had at the time.

Chiropractic analysis discovered acute T4 rib subluxations at the sternum, with associated muscle spasm, probably caused by doing bench presses at the gym. He also had a twisted pelvis and an S shaped scoliosis. After several chiropractic adjustments and some muscle therapy the patient was a great deal better and quite relieved that there was nothing wrong with his heart.

Recently an 84 year old woman presented with low back pain and a feeling that her legs were like jelly. As a result of this sensation she had fallen over several times and continued to be afraid of falling again. She could not walk without assistance and she had to shuffle her feet to walk. She also had numbness in her feet and toes.

On examination it was found that she had a large scoliosis and she could not bend to the left or turn to the right without suffering from low back pain. She had lost muscle strength in her leg and feet muscles and could not feel a pin prick on her toes.

After four treatments the patient reported that she no longer felt any pain or numbness and she could walk without assistance. Ongoing treatment is continuing to improve muscle strength and to improve touch sensation in the feet and toes.

A middle aged woman presented with low back pain and a burning sensation in the middle of her rib cage. The burning pain was always on her left side and she occasionally experienced pain into her left groin. The patient reported that the pain would come and go, but would usually occur every few days. She had been suffering like this for over five years, and thought that it may have been related to working at her desk, where she has to lean forward a lot.

On examination, the patient experienced a burning sensation on all movements of her lower back in the region of her left sacroiliac joint (left pelvis), and had restricted movement bending to the left hand side. It was discovered that she had a 7mm difference in the heights of her legs, a twisted pelvis and a compensatory scoliosis which was causing acute inflammation of her L5S1 vertebral segment (at the base of her spine) and also of her T9/10 vertebral segment (lower rib cage).

The patient's treatment involved nine treatments over a three week period, at the end of which she reported feeling no pain in her back at all and felt lighter, less restricted in her back and had a greater sense of well-being. She is now receiving a maintenance treatment on a monthly basis and continues to do well.

A young female patient presented with pins and needles, and numbness in the thumb of her right hand. These symptoms were present all the time but could get worse with certain activities such as keying information into a computer, using the right arm to carry things, or doing activities around the house. When very bad, the pins and needles would extend into the index, middle, and ring fingers of the right hand.

The patient's symptoms started seven years ago with the birth of her first child. This was diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome. The symptoms have been with her since. Ten years ago she also suffered a head-on car accident which left her with lower neck spinal degeneration.

On examination the patient had a moderate scoliosis and could not bend her head forward, backwards or to either side without causing pain in her neck. Chiropractic analysis revealed subluxations in her lower neck and upper thoracic spine (which are the outlets for nerve transmission to the hand and fingers). She tested positive to tests for carpal tunnel syndrome and also to thoracic outlet syndrome (which can also cause hand and arm symptoms).

The patient's treatment involved three adjustments per week for the first three weeks. She then had one adjustment per week for the next three weeks. After twelve adjustments this patient reported that she had no pain, pins and needles, or numbness for the first time in seven years.

A young female patient presented needing chiropractic advice about her headaches. She complained of migraines with hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of her body). There was also loss of vision in half of one visual field, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. The headaches began at nine years of age without incident. She has had at least two per year since then, but they have been getting worse. This year she has had one per month and three in the last four weeks prior to treatment.

Upper neck subluxations and pelvic subluxations were found and adjusted over a seven week period. Since her first treatment she has not had any headaches and hasn't even felt one starting.

In addition, she mentioned that she had irregular and heavy periods and her menstrual cycle could be up to eight weeks long. These symptoms are also normalising.

A young female patient presented complaining of not being able to fall pregnant. Nine months previously she suffered a miscarriage and ever since then her menstrual cycle had been irregular (ranging from 17 days to 6 weeks). Medical tests revealed that her hormone levels were low and that she was not ovulating. The doctor advised her to go onto the pill to regulate her periods but this was unsuccessful. She also suffered from low back pain, neck pain and was having headaches daily. Chiropractic analysis revealed that the patient's pelvis was twisted, and there were low back and upper neck subluxations.

The patient's subluxations were adjusted 11 times during the first month, at the end of which, she had her first normal period in 6 weeks. By this stage her low back pain and headaches were greatly improved.

After several weekly and fortnightly treatments the doctor discovered that her hormone levels were rising and were almost at the stage of allowing ovulation to occur. The patients treatment was extended to once a month.

Five months after her first visit the patient fell pregnant and now both mum and baby are doing well.

A 15 year old female presented complaining of kidney pain. It started in August 1999 for no apparent reason and has continued every day since then. The patient described her pain as a throbbing ache in the kidneys. She reported that it was very sensitive to even light touch. Her complaint worsened over Christmas when, on two occasions, she noticed a lot of blood in her urine. This was confirmed by a urine test which was taken the following day.

Being concerned about kidney pathology and blood in the urine, an ultrasound was performed on the kidneys - no abnormality was found. This was followed by an IVP (intravenous pyelography) in which a contrast agent is used to visualise the kidney and lower urinary tract - no abnormality was found. An MCU (retrograde Micturating cystourethrography) and a Lasix renal scan was also performed. As a last resort a urethral catheter was suggested to determine the cause. This was thought to be too invasive and alternative care was sought. So far the patient had visited a GP, a urologist, a paediatrician, and a nephrologist.

Chiropractic examination revealed that the patient had a scoliosis and an acute subluxation of T10/11 (the level of nerve supply to the kidney) and the rib at the same level. This patients kidney symptoms abated within two chiropractic adjustments and all her movements were full and pain free after six consultations.

A young female patient presented after being told that chiropractic might be able to help. Her complaint started four years ago when she was pushed over at a train station. This accident broke her left hand, wrist and forearm. It resulted in neck pain and headaches, pins and needles and some numbness in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th fingers of her right hand, weakness in the left arm and hand, blurry vision, deafness, tinnitis ( a whoosing/ringing sound in the ears), loss of balance and episodes of passing out. She has not been able to stand with her feet together without falling over and could not walk in a straight line without losing her balance for the last four years. The headaches, dizziness and tinnitis were the most unbearable as she could not hear what people were saying, there was always noise in her ears and the pain was relentless, causing four years of suffering. She has seen doctors, hearing specialists, neurologists and even psychiatrists. There have been times when this patient has thought that she was suffering from some mental illness and she had resigned herself to the belief that there was nothing that could be done and she would have to put up with this for the rest of her life.

On examination the patient had normal neck and back movements (she could turn and bend fully) but most movements were painful. Subluxations (joint dysfunctions) were found in her upper neck, and upper and lower back which were adjusted three times per week for the next three weeks. She has now received 10 treatments and is not suffering from any of her initial symptoms. She can now hear normally without any ringing in her ears or deafness. She has no blurry vision or headaches and has regained her normal balance. Half way through her initial treatment program the patient came in, delighted that she could walk in a straight line and reported that she felt great.

A 30 year old male presented recently, suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. This is a medical diagnosis for a collection of bowel symptoms including bowel pain, alternating constipation and diarrhea, burping, reflux, nausea and bowel gas, of which, no anatomical basis can be found.

The patient's symptoms started 10 years ago not long after a snow skiing accident in which he fell 20 feet into soft snow, eventually landing on his back. His symptoms followed an irregular pattern and numerous medical tests were unable to find a cause. He had an endoscopy, a colonoscopy, barium meals, stool samples were taken, and various diets (including no dairy, high fibre, no alcohol, no cigarettes, no garlic or onions and self experiment with refined foods) were tried, all to no avail.

Chiropractic analysis revealed that the patient's pelvis was twisted resulting in a subluxation of the left sacro-iliac joint. There were also upper cervical and mid thoracic subluxations.

The patient's subluxations were adjusted four times over the first two weeks and then once a week for five weeks. He is currently being adjusted once every two months. Ever since the first two weeks of treatment 7 months ago, the patient has had no return of his symptoms, and he is enjoying his new health.

At the age of 19, a female pedestrian was hit by a car and was thrown 60 metres through the air. With fractures to her skull, collar bone, and her right arm and leg, she was in a coma for 6 weeks. After dying and being resuscitated three times, she came out of her coma and spent three months in hospital doing intensive physiotherapy to learn to walk again. For the next 17 years after her accident this patient suffered severe low back pain, headaches, neck and shoulder pain. Fortunately, she found that taking voltaren or nurofen medication relieved her symptoms, however they always returned and so she sought the help of a chiropractor.

Chiropractic analysis revealed pain on all neck movements and most low back movements. Spinal analysis indicated a twisted pelvis and compensatory scoliosis that extended throughout her spine. There was a lot of muscle spasm particularly in the gluteals, quadriceps, upper neck, and shoulder muscles. Subluxations were found at the left sacroiliac joint, and the L5S1, T45 and C12 vertebral segments. This patient was adjusted twice a week for the first two weeks, and then once a week for the next five weeks. After her first few adjustments she reported feeling a vast improvement in her symptoms. She felt much less pain and a lot more flexibility. She continues to improve and wishes she had started chiropractic treatment years ago.

An 8 month old baby was presented to the clinic with poor sleeping habits. The baby was waking up every 2 hours and had difficulty returning to sleep. The mother had experienced an uncomplicated pregnancy and the baby was otherwise in good health. After losing sleep for several weeks the mother who was already getting chiropractic treatment herself, decided to take her baby to the chiropractor.

On examination the baby had inflammation of her second cervical facet joint on the right and had inflammation of her right sacro-iliac joint. The baby's neck and pelvis was adjusted on the first visit. We received a phone call the next day from a very grateful mother who was thrilled that her baby had slept the whole night through. We did a second adjustment of the same joints to ensure that her symptoms did not return.

A 55 year old woman suffered a car accident on the way home from work. She was rear ended and had to have the next three weeks off work as she was experiencing neck pain, headaches, light-headedness, pins and needles and numbness in her right hand. At the doctors request this woman attended a physiotherapist 3 times per week for 6 months but did not get much relief from her symptoms. She presented to this clinic 7 months after the accident.

On examination this woman could not turn her neck to the right hand side and felt pain in her arm whenever she tried. She had recently been told that an operation was needed to remove a spur in her neck. The examination revealed that she had inflammation of C23, C67, T23 and the rib on the right at the same level, and L5S1. Chiropractic manipulation was performed on these joints and some soft tissue massage was also utilised. Within 6 visits this patient reported feeling pain free for the first time in 7 months. She found that the pins and needles and numbness also went away and that she did not feel the need to have an operation to remove the 'spur' in her neck.