A man from Tennessee is speaking out against visiting chiropractors, particularly for neck discomfort, after experiencing a severe injury that he describes as ‘unbearable.’

Tyler Williams, a Nashville-based content creator, sought chiropractic help for neck tightness just a day before celebrating his 33rd birthday last June.

During his visit, his neck did not crack on the first adjustment attempt. However, on the second try, the chiropractor applied excessive pressure, resulting in a loud and painful pop.

Immediately, Mr. Williams sensed that something was amiss. As he attempted to rise, he experienced intense dizziness and excessive sweating.

It took him half an hour to regain the ability to sit up, and by the time he arrived home, he was violently ill and suffering from blurred vision.

The following morning, as he tried to turn off his alarm clock, he was overwhelmed with debilitating pain that made movement nearly impossible.

He quickly went to the hospital, where medical examinations confirmed that he had a herniated disc in the C6 region of his spine, located in the neck.

Chiropractic injuries can be serious (stock image)

A herniated disc occurs when the soft, gel-like core of a disc pushes against the outer ring of the spine, often resulting in pain, weakness, and in severe instances, paralysis.

In a recent TikTok video that has garnered over 2.6 million views, Mr. Williams stated, “I was in the worst pain I’ve ever felt. The entire right side of my body felt completely numb, almost like static.”

‘It was truly frightening. I had no idea what was going on, but I understood that something was fundamentally wrong.’

Now, at 33 years old, he is cautioning others about neck adjustments at chiropractic clinics, as his injury has kept him bedridden for two months and severely impacted his finances.

He expressed, “I want to prevent anyone from experiencing what I’ve been through.”

Each year, approximately three million Americans endure a herniated disc, which is a leading cause of neck and back pain.

While typical symptoms include pain, weakness, and numbness, there are rare cases where a herniated disc may result in paralysis.

Mr. Williams spent weeks in the hospital seeking relief, during which time doctors administered corticosteroid injections into his spine to alleviate inflammation, though they provided minimal relief.

He indicated, “It did practically nothing.”

The medical staff presented him with two options: undergo spinal fusion surgery—a procedure that entails removing herniated vertebrae and fusing the adjacent vertebrae with synthetic material—or manage his pain through physical therapy.

Since spinal fusion surgery can sometimes fail and lose effectiveness, Mr. Williams opted for physical therapy instead.

Despite his decision, he found the pain so unbearable that he spent two months bedridden and was unable to fulfill his duties as a content creator.

“Basically, my savings just disappeared,” he lamented.

Months later, Mr. Williams still struggles with limited mobility and continues to endure significant pain. He is now contemplating legal action against the chiropractor believed to be responsible for his condition.

He stated, “This has devastated me in every way—mentally, financially, physically. My entire life was derailed overnight, despite not having done anything wrong.”

“I wouldn’t wish this experience on my worst enemy,” he added. “Please think twice before visiting a chiropractor, because if something goes wrong, your options are limited. You don’t want to go through this, I assure you.”

Caitlin Jensen from Georgia claims she was paralyzed from the neck down after having her neck adjusted by a chiropractor. She is pictured here before the injury.

Ms. Jensen, after her injury, spent eight months in the hospital and is still in the process of regaining her basic movements.

It’s important to note that chiropractors are typically not medical doctors, as they do not undergo medical school training to earn their qualifications.

Instead, they are generally required to complete at least three years of undergraduate education followed by four years in a chiropractic graduate program to obtain a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree. Moreover, every state mandates chiropractors to hold a license to practice.

Chiropractic treatments are often promoted as alternatives to pharmaceuticals or surgical interventions for issues such as chronic pain, headaches, arthritis, and stiffness, and they have gained popularity within holistic health communities.

Nonetheless, the lack of medical training has led to public skepticism, particularly following contentious incidents. For instance, a 2014 case involved 30-year-old Jeremy Youngblood, who suffered a stroke shortly after visiting a chiropractic office, with the coroner attributing his death to spinal manipulation.

In response, Dr. Bill Kinsiger, President of the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, criticized chiropractors, referring to them as “snake oil salesmen.”

In an interview with FOX13, he stated that chiropractors often manipulate the neck for conditions unrelated to it, such as lower back pain and other non-spinal health issues.

Additionally, in 2022, 28-year-old Caitlin Jensen from Georgia suffered a stroke after a chiropractic adjustment ruptured four arteries in her neck, resulting in a loss of pulse for ten minutes. Her family reported that medical professionals linked the stroke directly to the neck manipulation.

Jensen faced paralysis from the neck down and spent eight months in recovery, gradually regaining movement in her limbs and relearning how to speak.