The Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research published a case study on Jan. 6, 2014, documenting the case of Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia, a rare and extremely painful condition, being totally resolved under chiropractic.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, "Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GN) is a rare pain syndrome that affects the glossopharyngeal nerve (the ninth cranial nerve that lies deep within the neck) and causes sharp, stabbing pulses of pain in the back of the throat and tongue, the tonsils, and the middle ear. The excruciating pain of GN can last for a few seconds to a few minutes, and may return multiple times in a day or once every few weeks."
In this case an 83-year-old woman went to the chiropractor with a diagnosis of right-sided Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia which she had been suffering with for ten years. The woman noted that her pain was helped by medication, but made worse by talking, swallowing, coughing, quick head movements, and air conditioning.
The woman’s daughter explained that her mother had given up speaking two years prior, because even whispering two or three words would send electrical shock pains through her right throat, tongue, cheek, and temple. Her condition was causing her to sleep most of the day. When she was awake, she would spend most of her time trying to swallow one cup of water.
Her pain rating on examination was 10 out of 10 on the pain scale. The examination also showed postural abnormalities, as well as positive thermography readings along her cervical spine. X-rays were taken, and with the examination results, confirmed the presence of subluxation in the upper neck. Specific chiropractic analysis and adjusting were initiated to correct her subluxation.
Immediately after the woman's first adjustment, the study notes, "The patient got up and started talking normally with a pain level of one, and went home with her daughter." This miraculous change continued, as it was reported that just two days later, the pain was completely gone. Because of her complete recovery, and under the supervision of her neurologist, she started reducing, and eventually eliminated, Neurontin, the drug she was taking for the condition. Seeing her results, the woman's neurologist even encouraged her to continue with chiropractic care.
(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)
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