Real Patient Case Studies
Chiropractic Chicago | Dr. Elissa Grossman
These case studies are based on real patient examples Dr. Elissa Grossman discussed in her interview. 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 (around a month timeframe mentioned), the patient was reported to be 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:
Dr. Grossman described common herniated disc patterns as:
- 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:
Dr. Grossman explained that a herniated disc involves disc material separating and moving into an area it should not be, potentially creating greater nerve pressure. She emphasized confirming the diagnosis with imaging when a herniation is suspected:
- X-rays may show disc thinning as an indicator, but not a confirmation
- Orthopedic tests can support clinical suspicion
- MRI is used for confirmation to understand what is happening inside the spine
Treatment plan:
For disc cases that are more intense, Dr. Grossman described care that may include:
- More intensive initial care until the patient gets relief and reduced pressure
- Adjustments and spinal traction-style care within tolerance
- Additional physiotherapies as appropriate
- Therapeutic massage to support surrounding tissues
- Discussion of nutraceutical support for healing/repair as part of overall recovery planning
Outcome, results:
Specific outcome for a single herniated disc patient was not stated as a complete story, but Dr. Grossman emphasized that many patients respond well to conservative care when properly evaluated and managed, and that not all herniations automatically require surgery .
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 (not highlighted until later)
Root cause analysis:
Dr. Grossman described migraine/headache root causes from a chiropractic perspective as irritation to nerves in the mid to upper cervical spine that travel into the head. In this patient’s care, the cervical spine was adjusted as part of overall spine management, which may have reduced nerve irritation patterns .
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 reported “in happenstance” that they had not had another migraine in a long time. Dr. Grossman noted it as an unexpected improvement that wasn’t the original focus of care.
Case Study 5: Severe Scoliosis With Significant Deformity and Chronic Pain
Patient info:
Adult female patient born with severe deformity, including major physical disability (described as having one arm and one leg). 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:
Dr. Grossman explained scoliosis as a side-to-side curvature that creates compensatory changes and alters how someone moves. In severe cases, structural instability can raise the likelihood of pain and dysfunction. In this particular patient, the extent of deformity made X-ray clarity difficult, reinforcing the need for careful clinical management .
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:
Dr. Grossman reported that within “only a couple weeks,” the patient was significantly better able to go about her life. She noted the patient remained a highly active professional despite substantial disability, and the response to care was “incredible” given the challenge level.
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:
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.