Resolution of disc-related peripheral oedema following Chiropractic treatment: A case report

Narrative: A 36-year-old female patient with no significant medical history suffered a fall with resultant stabbing back pain and herniated nucleus pulposus of L4/L5 and L5/S1 with severe discomfort and moderate non-pitting oedema in her legs, worse on the right, affecting her quality of life. A constant, deep ache in her left lower abdominal quadrant and bilateral inguinal region was also present. Deep vein thrombosis and underlying pathology were ruled out.Physical examination revealed a non-pitting oedematous right lower leg with diminishment of crude touch and pinwheel sensations, absent patellar and calcaneal deep tendon reflexes, and significant mechanical and positional distortions with iliopsoas dysfunction. Clinical metrics were monitored throughout her 11-treatment care protocol. Significant reduction in back, leg and left abdominal pain was reported within 4 treatments with improvements in movement ability and functional daily tasks noted with a reduction in measured oedema and mechanical dysfunction. The previously absent calcaneal reflex became detectable bilaterally by the end of the initial 8 treatment phase. This was compared to the only other case of peripheral oedema subsidence following Chiropractic care reported in literature where the proposed improvement mechanism was attributed to autonomic regulatory effects of Chiropractic adjustments.This report proposes a haemodynamic-related cause of oedema due to compression of the common femoral vein secondary to mechanical dysfunction and prolonged hip extension. The mechanism by which Chiropractictreatment is effective in this case is considered to be in the treatment of underlying mechanical dysfunction.