In a tragic turn of events, Joanna Kowalczyk, a 29-year-old woman from Tyneside, U.K., died after she ‘felt a crack to her neck’ and sought out medical attention from a chiropractor to treat her neck pain. This incident has raised significant concerns about the risks associated with chiropractic care, particularly for individuals with undiagnosed medical conditions.
Tragedy seeps through the cracks
On September 26, 2021, while Kowalczyk was at the gym, she felt a ‘crack’ in her neck during her workout session. A later coroner’s report stated that the ‘crack’ in her neck was likely due to bilateral arterial dissections. Bilateral arterial dissections are tears in the layers of the carotid artery located in the neck. This condition can lead to severe health issues, such as brain hemorrhages and strokes. The precarious location of these arteries makes any damage done to them potentially life-threatening.
The day after sustaining her injury at the gym, Kowalczyk sought medical attention by visiting Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead. At the hospital, she underwent a CT scan but left before a lumbar puncture procedure could be performed. Medics had suggested she undergo a lumbar puncture to rule out any potential hemorrhage. A lumbar puncture involves extracting cerebrospinal fluid to examine for any issues, such as bleeding or infection.
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