Approximately six years ago I saw Doctor David Cicerchia, orthopedic spine surgery specialist, for lower back discomfort, and pain radiating down my outer left leg. After the Doctor’s physical examination, x-rays, and an MRI, his recommendation was physical therapy (PT) to create space in my lower spine. Dr. Cicerchia explained to me what he saw in the x-ray and on the MRI, and he played the MRI disc on his machine showing me the areas of his concern in my lower spine.
Physical Therapy helped alleviate the discomfort in my lower back, however the pain down the outside of my left leg persisted. Because PT was not effective for the pain in my left leg, I asked my PT ”What is the difference between what PT can do for my leg pain, and what a chiropractor can do?” She said that a chiropractor can perform “spinal manipulations,” which she would not do as my PT.
I made an appointment with Dr. David Carnabuci, Chiropractor, and he told me that the x-rays and MRI were required at my first visit. When he called me in to be examined, he told me that he was unable to view my MRI because the MRI disc would not play on his machine; then Dr. Carnabuci made a disparaging remark about the Sturdy Hospital Imaging Dept., and blamed Sturdy Hospital for creating a bad MRI disc. The same MRI disc however, played successfully and flawlessly in Dr. Cicerchia’s office, where both Dr. Cicerchia, and I, viewed and discussed the MRI’s images and findings.
After a couple of ineffective chiropractic sessions with Carnabuci, there was still no improvement with the pain in my left leg. At my last chiropractic session with him, he had me bend over an examination table face down, at approximately a 90-degree angle, and he told me that he was going to perform a spinal manipulation that would create space in my lower spine. Standing behind me, he repeatedly pushed with heavy, compressive upward strokes on my lower spine. The compressive pressure that he was exerting on my lower spine was so hard that it was causing me to grunt each time he pushed upward.
Immediately after Carnabuci finished his chiropractic manipulation on my lower spine, I told him that “There is an abnormal sensation of tingling, like the feeling of pins and needles, running down the length of my right leg and foot;” he did not appear to be concerned with my comment. Upon leaving his office, I noticed weakness in my right leg, and severe weakness and impairment in my right ankle and foot. Because of the heavy pressure he was exerting on my lower spine during his manipulation, and his lack of concern and response to my comment of an abnormal sensation of tingling running down the length of my right leg and foot, I thought this sensation might be common and expected after the manipulation
.
After a period of no physical improvement, I went back to Dr. Cicerchia and explained to him what had happened during Carnabuci’s chiropractic manipulation and showed him the result of the Drop foot injury that I had sustained. Dr. Cicerchia told me that there was an injury to my peroneal nerve, which controls the muscles involved in lifting my right foot. My Drop foot condition was manifested by numbness on the top of my foot, an inability to walk in the normal heel to toe progression, and an inability to raise the toes or foot from the ankle, which results in an uncontrolled slapping of the foot and toes against the ground when attempting to walk. Again, Dr. Cicerchia recommended PT for the Drop foot diagnosis, the doctor’s visit and PT that I had to pay for. So Carnabuci’s manipulation was not only ineffective on the pain in my left leg, the condition that I went to him to resolve, but now he has seriously injured my right leg, ankle, and foot, which was perfectly healthy and normal before his manipulation.
I called Carnabuci and informed him that after his spinal manipulation, my ability to walk had been severely impaired, and that I could only walk a number of yards before having to stop due to leg, ankle, and foot physical impairment and weakness, to which he responded, “That sounds like a significant nerve injury.” I also told him that I had to start PT for Drop foot, and I asked him if he could do anything to reverse the damage that he had done to my peroneal nerve. He said, “No, but come back and see me after PT is over. (Really? I would never be his patient again.)
The PT told me that the peroneal nerve heals very slowly, and that I may never recover fully from my Drop foot condition. So here is where I am 6 plus years post chiropractic injury. I have recently retired, and my wife is always asking me if I want to take a walk with her. I tell her no, because six years later, after countless hours of home PT, I still have weakness, stiffness, discomfort, lack of full range of motion, improper gait mechanics, and frustration that my right foot and ankle are still impaired; I had always walked for companionship, enjoyment, and for the health benefits of regular exercise, but now for me walking is both uncomfortable and undesirable.
Again, I went to Carnabuci Chiropractic for pain in my left leg. After his chiropractic manipulation, I still had the same level of pain in my left leg, and my normal and healthy right leg, ankle, and foot, sustained significant impairment due to the peroneal nerve injury. Throughout my lifetime I have heard many warnings about the risks of serious injuries at the hands of chiropractors, and that serious injury happened to me.
I will never go to a chiropractor again, and I do not recommend chiropractic manipulation.
by Bruce Smith
xxx.xxx.116.72
August 04, 2022
