Police Officer Suffers Chronic Pain From Explosion

Police Officer Patrick Pitt received a dramatic injury in a bomb explosion on active service in 1980. At the time the injury occurred there were no visible symptoms and no medical advice was taken. In 1982, whilst on police duty, the officer experienced sudden deafness and breathing difficulties. Upon immediate examination he was found to have had substantial injury to the sinus and nose, which resulted in a number of operations. Basic symptoms were mitigated and the officer has been symptom free since approximately 1990.

In 1991, the officer experienced considerable difficulty with loss of the use of his right arm and pain associated with the elbow and tingling of the fingers. The cause of this was analyzed and diagnosed as a possible ulnar nerve problem. Surgery released the nerve and the symptoms improved for a short time but returned, this time with pain and tingling on both the left and right side and with restricted movement of the head. Following further specialist medical advice it was determined that the officer had sustained significant injury during the original explosion, which had gone unattended, the result of which was a compaction of discs in his spine and the generation of a widows crease. The spinal injury was exacerbated by the presence of two extra ribs blocking the nerve canal to the rest of the body. The officer had considerable pain, limited movement and walked with a stoop.

An operation to remove these ribs was not recommended by the consultant surgeon due to potential risk factors. Physiotherapy was undertaken and mild traction and exercise relieved the symptoms.

In 1990 further severe symptoms occurred, brought about by the degenerative process, which resulted in inability to move the head outside a limited radius and constant pain. Painkillers were prescribed. The prognosis was that this would gradually degenerate over a period of years.

Following further advice from medical practitioners, chiropractor advice was sought from Dr. Bruce Gruber of Northwest Chiropractors. Following a short period of intensive chiropractic therapy, the symptoms were relieved and it was discovered that the spine had bent causing exacerbation of the symptoms and a speedier deterioration in the condition than was expected.

Since then therapy has returned the spine to almost normal structure and has enabled the entire relief of the symptoms apart from occasional bouts of pain brought about by physical trauma caused by circumstances beyond the control of the officer. In general, the quality of life has improved very considerably and the officer is now able to engage in regular exercise and other activities without loss of movement or other incapacitating problems, although the ability to lift heavy weights is somewhat restricted.

The symptoms are entirely alleviated by regular chiropractic attention and the patient's life has returned to near normal. The patient is pain free and has not had to take medication since the immediate chiropractic treatment. Overall the chiropractic treatment has been very successful and has achieved more than its initial objective.