All right, so this is a case of what I would consider an incidental fix. This was not an issue brought to my attention during the new patient exam, and frankly, I didn't even know it was a problem. My goal wasn't to fix this specific issue, yet it happened. This is a common phenomenon in chiropractic care—a patient tells you about an unexpected, positive change after the adjustment.
This particular patient—a woman in her mid-to-late 40s (ages and names changed for privacy)—came into the clinic primarily for low back pain. I had been treating her children, and she decided to transition to my care to address her own discomfort. Fine, that's what we do!
During the initial assessment, I performed a neurological check of her spine. I found nothing alarming: all reflexes were present, muscle strength was adequate, and nerve sensitivity seemed completely normal. Based on the objective findings, I thought this was a standard case of non-specific low back pain.
As I examined her spine, we got down to the second and third lumbar vertebrae (L2 and L3). Boy, were they fixated! She had a history of visiting several chiropractors over the years, and it was clear these segments were stuck.
The fixation at L3, the third lumbar vertebra, presented a unique challenge. L3 is notoriously difficult to correctly adjust. Due to its position with two lumbar vertebrae above and two below, it acts as a pivot point. If a chiropractor attempts to adjust L3 while the patient is on their side (a common maneuver), any pop or cavitation heard is usually the vertebra above or below that segment moving—not L3 itself. It is near impossible to truly isolate and adjust L3 effectively in that lateral position.
Given the severity of the fixation, the standard Activator technique wouldn't budge L2 or L3; it was like hitting a brick wall. So, I switched tactics and moved her to a specialized table to perform a more standard Diversified technique.
Isolation: I had her face down and focused specifically on L3. Using the specialized table, I was able to isolate the segment and finally get L3 to move.
Addressing L2: Once L3 was mobilized, we could then move on to L2.
Refining the Fix: I brought her back to the Activator room and used the specific Activator technique to fine-tune the movement of the now-unlocked vertebrae.
She experienced some expected soreness, which we managed with ice and rest while I finished adjusting the rest of her body. Then, I sent her on her way.
I received a call the very next day.
"I have my period," she told me.
I apologized, explaining that alleviating stress from the body sometimes results in a period coming slightly early or delayed.
She quickly corrected me: "No, no, don't say sorry! I haven't had a period in 11 months!"
She believed she was going through menopause, which is officially declared after a 12-month cessation of menses. She was worried because she still wanted to have more children.
I was stunned. 11 months!
When you look at the anatomy, the pieces fall into place: the direct nerve innervation to the sexual organs comes from L2 and L3. By correcting that severe, long-standing fixation, we were able to restore the neurological communication necessary for the body to start performing its normal cyclical function.
While the prospect of her having a child again is a separate conversation (and I've addressed the risks of late-term pregnancy with her), the immediate impact was undeniable.
This story highlights a crucial principle. If you are worried about irregularities in your period—whether it's frequency, flow rate, or chronic issues like PCOS—consider checking your body for a structural imbalance.
Instead of immediately chalking it up to a complex syndrome, seek an assessment to find a better, more fundamental solution. By fixing the root neurological issue, we were able to get her body to work the way it was designed to.
I hope you found this unique, incidental find as interesting as I did!