Vertebrobasilar Stroke Caused by Chiropractic Manipulation: The Recovery

On a cold, metal exam table, I laid dying while two interventional radiologists worked against the clock attempting to save my life. Only 30 years old, I had been to a chiropractor the day before and I was now having a stroke as I documented in my first article: Vertebrobasilar Stroke Caused by Chiropractic Manipulation: The Symptoms. After suffering a sudden, severe headache, loss of coordination and visual disturbances in the chiropractor's office, I was sent home with advice to take Tylenol and told that 'this often happens' following a neck manipulation. My symptoms worsened and by morning I could not stand unaided and my speech was slurred. Being young and healthy, I did not suspect I was having a stroke until I lost my ability to stand up or speak.

As I detailed in my second article on Vertebrobasilar Stroke Caused by Chiropractic Manipulation: Diagnosis and Treatment, after spending 10 hours in the ER, a team of doctors discovered my vertebral artery had been dissected during the chiropractic manipulation. My life was on the brink as I received Urokinase dripped on the clot deep in my basilar artery to dissolve it and restore blood flow. As I have been told, I was the third person to receive this new and experimental stroke procedure. Of the three, I was the only one to survive.

Finally, the clot was dissolved and I was slowly regaining consciousness. As they wheeled me out of interventional radiology, I was surrounded by my family and friends that had gathered. My best friend, who was to be married in weeks, whispered I needed to get better so I could make it to the wedding. I remember muttering, "I already RSVP'd. I'll be there!" That is the last thing I remembered until I came to seven days later.

The next seven days following my stroke caused by chiropractic manipulation were spent in the ICU. I have no recollection of that time, although I have been told I was extremely agitated. Apparently, I was desperate to have a Diet Coke and I begged and when denied my only vice, I swore and kicked. My mother apologized to every nurse and doctor I came into contact with explaining that this was not the daughter she knew. I am told I used words my mother didn't even know existed.

On my eighth day in ICU following my vertebrobasilar stroke at 3:00 am, I woke up. Alone in my hospital bed connected to wires and IV's, I stared at the clock on the wall opposite me and tried to remember where I was and what had happened. Slowly I remembered...chiropractor...headache...loss of speech...overwhelming feeling of death...STROKE!

I spent 4 more days in the hospital. Before leaving, I began speech therapy. The therapist needed to listen to my answering machine message to hear how I sounded before my stroke. I walked with a limp. My face drooped on the right side and my right hand curled up into my body unless I concentrated on keeping it straight. But I was young and healthy and I was determined to recover from this stroke and its stunning after-effects.

I was embarrassed to go out in public because I appeared to be drunk. I walked with a shuffling limp and I spoke with a slur. The remnants of the stroke I barely survived. Neuro-psych testing revealed the areas of my brain that were most damaged by the stroke caused deficits in spatial awareness. This would have caused the most trouble for me if I was an architect. Fortunately, I was in money management (which I now realize does not require much brain power!)

During the three months I was on disability leave from my career as an investment advisor, I worked to increase my endurance, improve my gait and my speech that had been severely impacted by the stroke. I was exasperated that in speaking, I would often be at a complete loss for a common word. But I am proud to say that I did not let a vertebrobasilar stroke get the best of me. I worked through each and every issue. Today, you would not know that I had a stroke. My neurologist informs me that I am not at any more risk for having another stroke than anyone else my age. This is because the stroke was caused when a chiropractor dissected my left vertebral artery and not because I had any type of heart disease or other medical condition.

I am proud to say that six months following my stroke, I was asked to come to the hospital and be interviewed about my stroke and the procedure that saved my life. The interventional radiologist that saved me would be there. I jumped at the opportunity. Dressed in my suit from work, I arrived back at the hospital where I had almost died from a chiropractic manipulation that caused me to have a vertebrobasilar stroke. When my doctor saw me, he did not recognize me! He thought I was the person who would be conducting the interview. I am not sure who was more pleased-him, because he saw the true miracle he had helped to create, or me, because I knew I had not only survived the stroke, I had flourished in the face of adversity!

Many have asked if I sued the chiropractor. I have always been cognizant of the fact that all people make mistakes, including medical professionals. I did not initiate a lawsuit for over a year. It was not until I realized that my ability to do many things had been compromised by the chiropractor's lack of knowledge regarding stroke symptoms. I had been a private pilot and I lost my medical after the stroke. At that time, any stroke, no matter the cause, was an automatic loss of pilot's license. I was not able to get disability insurance and life insurance premiums were increased.

The fact is, the chiropractor that dissected my artery and caused my stroke should have known that this could happen following a neck manipulation. My neurologist had read extensively about the connection between neck manipulation and stroke. But more importantly, as a medical professional, the chiropractor should have recognized the warning signs of stroke that I was exhibiting.

The medical review panel that reviewed the case prior to court was made up of two chiropractors and a neurologist. They did not deny or disagree that my stroke had been caused by the chiropractor's manipulation. However, they found that I had recovered to such an extent that they did not see any permanent disability caused by the stroke. We settled with the chiropractor for a very modest sum.

To read more about my story, see these articles:

Vertebrobasilar Stroke Caused by Chiropractic Manipulation: Diagnosis and Treatment

Vertebrobasilar Stroke Caused by Chiropractic Manipulation: The Symptoms