Woman paralyzed, in ICU after visit to chiropractor
SAVANNAH, Ga. (CNN Newsource/WJCL/WKRC) - A recent college graduate from Georgia is paralyzed and in intensive care after a chiropractic adjustment.
Caitlin Jensen’s brother, Caleb Johnson, says June 16 is a day the family will not forget.
"That morning we were up and talking to her--before work,” Johnson said. “You're talking to her and then 30 minutes later, she's in the hospital and now in the ICU."
Her family says she visited a chiropractor for an adjustment and left with four dissected arteries.
"She's able to open her eyes every now and then and wake up a little bit,” Johnson said. “And kind of move her hands to squeeze a little. But that's it."
After a stroke, cardiac arrest, and a loss of pulse for 10 minutes, her family says doctors at Memorial Health revived and stabilized Jensen.
Her family setup a GoFundMe to support current costs and long-term therapy when the time comes.
"It's huge just to know that people are out there supporting as we to get her into therapy,” Johnson said.
Dr. Steve Ranicki, a chiropractor, says Jensen’s condition is incredibly rare.
"Those dissections will often produce symptoms of headache and neck pain, which then typically drive people to a doctor's office,” Ranicki said. “Once they've gone to the medical doctor or chiropractor the likelihood is, unfortunately, a stroke will occur. Sometimes it is as simple as going to a hair salon and having your neck tilted back in that bowl for an extended period of time while they're washing your hair. Or it just could be horseplay or who knows what."
The chiropractor Jensen visited could not comment on any of his patients citing HIPAA.
Jensen's family is focused on getting her out of the ICU and into rehab sometime in August.
