digestive problems

Digestive Disorders, Bowel (including irritable bowel syndrome), Kidney, Incontinence, Interstitial Cystitis

The types and frequencies of nonmusculoskeletal symptoms reported after chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy. Leboeuf-Yde C, Axen I, Ahlefeldt G, et al.J Manipulative Physiol Ther Nov/Dec 1999:22(9) 559-64.

Twenty consecutive patients from 87 Swedish chiropractors answered questionnaires on return visits.  A total of 1,504 questionnaires were completed and returned.  Twenty-three per cent of patients reported improvement in nonmusculoskeletal symptoms, including:

• Easier to breathe (98 patients)
• Improved digestive function (92)
• Clearer/better/sharper vision (49)
• Improved circulation (34)
• Less ringing in the ears (10)
• Acne/eczema better (8)
• Dysmenorrhoea better (7)
• Asthma/allergies better (6)
• Sense of smell heightened (3)
• Reduced blood pressure (2)
• Numbness in tongue gone (1)
• Hiccups gone (1)
• Menses function returned (1)
• Cough disappeared (1)
• Double vision disappeared (1)
• Tunnel vision disappeared (1)
• Less nausea (1)

Lumbar nerve root compression and interstitial cystitis – response to decompressive surgery. Gillespie, L, Bray R, Levin R. British Journal of Urology, 1991;68;361-364.

This paper discusses ten patients with interstitial cystitis (nine females, one male).  MRI revealed nerve compression at L5 and after surgery the symptoms in 9 of the 10 cleared up.

The mechanically induced pelvic pain and organic dysfunction syndrome: An often overlooked cause of bladder, bowel, gynecological, and sexual dysfunction.  Browning JF.  Journal of the Neuromusculoskeletal System 1996; 4:52-667

Pelvic pain and organic dysfunction (PPOD) syndrome is thought to be caused by a lumbar spine problem causing secondary impairment of lower sacral nerve root function. Patients report bladder, bowel, gynecologic and sexual dysfunction. 

This is the case of a 29 year-old woman with bilateral and low back pain.  Previous chiropractic care gave partial relief but an exacerbation was accompanied by inguinal pain, urinary stress incontinence, loss of genital sensitivity, loss of libido and vaginal discharge.  A gynecological exam failed to reveal any pathology.

Lower sacral nerve root involvement, secondary to a L5/S1 disc herniation was found. After the first adjustment the patient initially experienced symptoms (pain and paraesthesia of the genitalia) but within one week, bladder dysfunction had resolved, and the other symptoms were less severe.  After 4 weeks, all her PPOD symptoms had resolved.

Lumbar nerve root compression and interstitial cystitis-response to decompressive surgery. Gillespie L, Bray R, Levin N, Delamarter R.  British Journal of Neurology, 68:361-364, 1991.

This paper describes nine females and one male who were diagnosed with interstitial cystitis.  They described their pain as "severe." MRI of the lower spine found a lateral compression of the L5 dorsal nerve root.  Surgical decompression of the lateral foramina of L5 resulted in immediate relief of urological pain in nine patients and continued symptom free after a six-month follow-up.

As the authors state: "An identifiable lumbar nerve root compression appears to cause urological dysfunction consistent with interstitial cystitis."

Irritable bowel syndrome and spinal manipulation: a case report.  Wagner T, Owen J, Malone E, Mann K. Chiropractic Technique 1996; 7: 139-140.

Irritable bowel syndrome, also known as mucous colitis and nervous bowel affects 15-25% of adults.  Symptoms include cramping and/or abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, ulcer-type symptoms, heartburn and/or upper abdominal indigestion.

In this case study of a 25-year-old woman with chronic irritable bowel syndrome her chief complaint was intestinal pain and diarrhea which was worse during stressful periods which occurred one or two times per week for the past five years.

After her first chiropractic adjustment, she reported that she had not experienced any diarrhea for two days. Her symptoms were quickly alleviated during the course of her care. Two years later she remained symptom free.

Enuresis, spasmodic dysmenorrhea and gastric discomfort: a vertebral subluxation complex entity. Regan KJ Digest of  Chiropractic Economics March/April 1990;32(5):110

Patients suffering from bed-wetting, menstrual cramps and ulcer pains/indigestion were given chiropractic care.  MDs performed pap tests, pelvic exams and upper GI studies and were negative for active pathology. One subject did have a true peptic ulcer and demonstrated a desire to be in the study.

"A total of eight subjects in each category were selected and two in each category were not treated (to be used as control studies)".It should be noted here that no one had any low back, dorsal or cervical spine pain prior to being a patient in this program.

"In the dysmenorrhea category, all cases of pelvic pain and severe cramping of the uterus had stopped.  All women experienced three menstrual cycles through the duration of their menses. 'The bedwetting category demonstrated 50% of the children had stopped bedwetting early in the program, 25% of the children had a 50% reduction in the frequency of occurrences and 25% showed no improvement.

All the patients in the gastric category except one responded to chiropractic care; no one was taken off medication or put on special diet."

Chiropractic adjustment in the management of visceral conditions: a critical appraisal.  Jamison JR, McEwen AP, Thomas SJ. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 1992; 15:171-180.

In this a survey of chiropractors in Australia, more than 50% of the chiropractors stated that asthma responds to chiropractic adjustments; more than 25% felt that chiropractic adjustments could benefit patients with dysmenorrhea, indigestion, constipation, migraine and sinusitis.

The recognition of mechanically induced pelvic pain and organic dysfunction in the low back pain patient. Browning JE. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 1989,12(5):369-373.

Pelvic organic problems that have been shown to respond to manipulative treatment include impairment of bladder, bowel and sexual function.

Copyright © 2004 by Tedd Koren, D.C.

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