Real Patient Case Studies
Chiropractic Chicago | Dr. Elissa Grossman
These case studies are based on real patient examples from Dr. Elissa Grossman’s practice. Each case reflects individualized, conservative chiropractic care. Results vary based on the condition, severity, and how long symptoms have been present.
Case Study 1: Cervical Nerve Pain With Arm and Shoulder Symptoms
Patient info:
Adult male patient. Active lifestyle. Came in primarily due to arm and shoulder pain with associated neck pain.
Symptoms:
- Arm and shoulder pain that was significant enough to prompt care
- Neck pain occurring alongside the arm symptoms
- Nerve-related pattern suggesting the issue was not isolated to the shoulder
Root cause analysis:
Dr. Grossman determined the arm and shoulder pain was “definitely coming from the nerves in the neck,” meaning the cervical spine was the source of the radiating symptoms rather than the arm being the primary problem.
Treatment plan:
Care included a combination of therapies Dr. Grossman commonly uses for nerve-related cervical cases:
- Spinal adjustments to restore motion and reduce nerve pressure
- Shockwave therapy to help “speed the process” and support healing
- In-office care followed by home exercises once the patient was able to tolerate them
Outcome, results:
- Arm pain resolved
- Neck pain reduced by approximately 80% within the first month
Case Study 2: Sciatica With Severe Limits in Walking and Sitting
Patient info:
Adult male patient with a physically demanding job. Symptoms were impacting basic daily function.
Symptoms:
- Constant pain with pain down the leg
- Difficulty walking “very far”
- Difficulty sitting for long periods
- Nerve symptoms consistent with sciatica, including numbness/tingling patterns that can travel into the leg and foot
Root cause analysis:
Dr. Grossman noted that most “sciatica” symptoms actually originate from nerve irritation at the lower spine levels that join to form the sciatic nerve. In this case, she also noted the patient already had “changes” and “damage in his spine,” which made the case appear more complex initially.
Treatment plan:
Dr. Grossman described a conservative, multi-step approach commonly used for lumbar nerve irritation:
- Chiropractic adjustments to restore joint motion and reduce nerve irritation
- A specialized table with traction-style motion used to “decompress the nerves and get motion in the joints and discs”
- Electrotherapy / EMS to increase circulation and help muscles relax
- Shockwave therapy if needed
- Therapeutic massage to address soft tissue tension that may be pulling on and irritating the sciatic nerve
Outcome, results:
- The patient improved faster than expected despite complex spinal changes
- At a follow-up exam about a month into care, the patient was approximately 75-80% improved
Case Study 3: Suspected Herniated Disc With Persistent, Intense Nerve Pain
Patient info:
Adult patient presenting with symptoms consistent with a more severe disc issue.
Symptoms:
- Pain that can shoot down the leg
- Possible weakness
- Pain that tends to be more unrelenting and more constant, with less ability to get comfortable compared to milder cases
Root cause analysis:
Based on the symptoms, Dr. Grossman suspected a herniated disc, where disc material separates and moves into an area it should not be, putting added pressure on the nerve. To confirm it:
- X-rays showed disc thinning, a common sign of a disc problem
- Orthopedic tests reproduced the leg pain, pointing to nerve compression
- An MRI was used to confirm the herniation
Treatment plan:
Care started with more frequent visits to bring down the pressure on the nerve and ease the leg pain. It included:
- Chiropractic adjustments and spinal traction, kept within the patient’s comfort level
- Physiotherapy to calm the irritated nerve and support healing
- Therapeutic massage to relax the muscles around the spine
Outcome, results:
The patient’s leg pain and nerve pressure reduced steadily with conservative care. He was able to comfortably sit and move with less pain.
Case Study 4: Migraine Improvement Noticed During Care for a Different Concern
Patient info:
Adult patient who came in primarily for a lower back injury and did not initially present migraines as the main problem.
Symptoms:
- Primary complaint: lower back injury
- Secondary history: migraines
Root cause analysis:
From a chiropractic perspective, migraines are often linked to irritation of the nerves in the mid to upper neck that travel into the head. As part of this patient’s overall spine care, the neck was adjusted along with the lower back, which likely reduced that nerve irritation and may explain why the migraines stopped.
Treatment plan:
- Chiropractic care addressing spinal alignment, including cervical spine adjustments as clinically indicated
- Follow-up exams/check-ins where changes were reviewed
Outcome, results:
At a follow-up, the patient mentioned they had not had a migraine in a long time. This was an unexpected improvement, as migraines were not the original focus of care.
Case Study 5: Severe Scoliosis With Significant Deformity and Chronic Pain
Patient info:
Adult female patient born with a severe structural deformity and significant physical disability. The case was severe enough that clear imaging was difficult.
Symptoms:
- Significant chronic pain
- Major structural deformity and instability affecting daily function
Root cause analysis:
Her spine curves severely from side to side, and because of her congenital deformity, her body has to compensate to stay upright and move. That compensation overloads the unstable segments of her spine and the surrounding joints, which was driving her chronic pain and limiting her daily function. The extent of the deformity also made her X-rays hard to read, so Dr. Grossman relied on careful clinical assessment to guide her care.
Treatment plan:
- Conservative chiropractic care tailored to a complex structure
- Adjustments and treatment pacing adapted to tolerance and safety
- Frequent reassessment due to the severity and uniqueness of the case
Outcome, results:
Within a couple of weeks, the patient was significantly better and was able to return to her daily activities. She remained a highly active professional, and her response to care was remarkable given the complexity of her case.
Case Study 6: Knee Pain Limiting a Personal Trainer’s Work and Mobility
Patient info:
Female personal trainer in her early 30s. Highly active. The issue affected both workouts and her ability to demonstrate movements to clients.
Symptoms:
- Knee pain severe enough that she could “hardly do” workouts
- Could not kneel to work with clients
- Difficulty demonstrating exercises due to pain/limitations
Root cause analysis:
Dr. Grossman emphasized knee pain is often tied to altered biomechanics that can originate from:
- Above (pelvis/spine/head position) or
- Below (feet mechanics, uneven legs, muscle imbalances)
She also emphasized finding why the knee is not healing, not just treating pain. In her care approach, orthotics are often critical when foundation issues like pronation or imbalance contribute to stress at the knee.
Treatment plan:
- Shockwave therapy targeted to support healing and recovery
- Electro muscle stimulation to increase circulation and relax muscles
- Orthotics check/correction to address foundational mechanics
- Chiropractic support as needed to ensure alignment and movement mechanics were not continuing to overload the knee
Outcome, results:
- Felt significantly better after the first shockwave session
- By the third session, she reported being 80–90% improved
- At later follow-up, she reported being “100%,” with nothing she couldn’t do
Case Study 7: Infant With Recurrent Ear Infections and Concern for Ear Tubes
Patient info:
Infant patient brought in by a parent. The child had ongoing ear infections and had received multiple antibiotic courses.
Symptoms:
- Recurrent ear infections
- Multiple rounds of antibiotics
- Parent was told ear tubes might be needed
Root cause analysis:
Dr. Grossman described how birth can place significant stress on the neck and upper cervical spine, and that irritation in this area can affect nerves involved in related functions. For pediatric evaluation, she described a gentle process:
- observing movement and symmetry
- looking for side preference in head turning
- visual and palpatory assessment appropriate for infants
Treatment plan:
- Gentle pediatric chiropractic adjustments
- Extremely light pressure for infants, similar to the pressure used to check whether a tomato is ripe
Outcome, results:
At the most recent follow-up, the infant had not had another ear infection since beginning care. Results vary by child.
Patient feedback:
Parent-reported in the follow up visit that there were no ear infections since beginning care.