I saw a chiropractor for back pain – I blacked out before being rushed into ICU with deadly arterty tear
CARISSA Klundt nearly died when visiting a chiropractor to fix her sore back after they cracked her neck so hard it tore an artery.
“As soon as it happened, I knew something was wrong,” the 41-year-old from, Las Vegas, Nevada, US, said.
“You do hear a crack anyway when you get an adjustment but I knew something had gone wrong.”
The fitness instructor felt immediate pain in her neck and became nauseous when she got home.
She went to the practitioner in November 2022 recommended by a friend to help with her ongoing back and chest pain.
After attending three appointments a substitute chiropractor stepped in to perform her adjustments for the fourth.
The mum-of-three said she instantly became concerned when the woman performed a particularly forceful neck crack that left her in sharp pain.
Despite the worsening pain, Carissa brushed it off as a ‘strained muscle’ and continued teaching exercise classes.
But a few weeks after the appointment, the mum started to “see things” and “black out”. That was when her husband decided to take her to hospital.
After undergoing a CAT scan, doctors told Carissa that she had suffered a tear in the inner lining of the vertebral artery – a condition known as a vertebral artery dissection (VAD).
It happens when a tear occurs in the inner lining of the vertebral artery, a blood vessel in the neck that supplies blood to the brain.
This tear allows blood to enter the arterial wall, potentially leading to stenosis, thromboembolism, or even stroke – a medical emergency when blood stops flowing to the brain.
Concerned Carissa would have a stroke, doctors sent her off to a specialist hospital.
“If I hadn’t gone to hospital, I would’ve had a stroke,” the mum said.
“I could’ve so easily died,” she added. “It traumatised my whole family”.
I never thought anything like this could happen to me
Carissa Klundt
Carissa said her life was put on pause after suffering the artery tear.
“For the first month I was pretty much in bed,” she said.
“I was exhausted, sleeping for 17 hours a day. I needed help walking. I was in constant pain,” she added.
Even now, Carissa still has “lingering symptoms now”.
“It’s a whole lifestyle change. I’ll never ski again, I’ll never go on a rollercoaster, I’m not teaching classes anymore,” she said.
“There’s still a residual fear of it happening again. I’m doing well now but it’s been a long recovery process.”
Major warning
Adamant her visit to the chiropractor nearly cost her her life, Carissa is warning others to be wary of alternative medicine.
“It’s not about blaming anyone, it’s just about spreading more awareness,” she said.
“I want people to understand what the symptoms are and that this is a life-threatening condition.
“I never thought anything like this could happen to me. I was healthy, active and deeply in tune with my body.”
Uses of chiropractic treatment
CHIROPRACTIC is a type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that uses manual therapy to treat issues with the joints, muscles, and bones.
Chiropractors use their hands to manipulate the spine and other joints to help them move properly.
Chiropractic can mainly help with pain in muscles and joints, such as:
Chiropractic is not widely available on the NHS, but it may be offered in exceptional circumstances in some areas.
Most people who have chiropractic treatment pay for it privately.
You do not need to see a GP before making an appointment, but it’s best to speak to them for advice first.
Some people may experience side effects from treatment, such as:
- aches and pains
- stiffness
- tiredness
These side effects are usually mild and pass in a few days.
There’ s a risk of more serious problems, such as stroke, from spinal manipulation.
If you’re unsure whether chiropractic is safe for you, speak to a GP.
Source: NHS