Study Results: Migraine Headaches and NUCCA Care

http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/2824927

Atlas Spinal Care, a chiropractic clinic in Upland, CA, has announced that the results of a migraine case study on the use of atlas vertebra realignment to reduce migraine headache symptoms has just been published in the prestigious medical journal BioMed Research International. The report was co-authored by Dr. D. Gordon Hasick and Dr. H. Charles Woodfield III, two highly revered doctors in the NUCCA organization. The study indicated that the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) protocol may be beneficial for people who suffer from this condition.

The study focused on 11 subjects, who were diagnosed to be suffering from migraine by a neurologist. Atlas misalignment was detected in each of them and the goal of the NUCCA treatment was to correct the position of the C1 vertebra. The chiropractic care was provided for 8 weeks. Results indicated a significant reduction in headache days although it was indicated that a future study with controls is needed to confirm the observations.

"While future research is needed to substantiate these initial findings, looking at the underlying physiology of migraine with cutting edge imaging while providing a low risk and effective treatment for migraine is exciting," said co-author Dr. H. Charles Woodfield III, Director of Research for the Upper Cervical Research Foundation in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Dr. Tymothy L. Flory, head and neck specialist and board certified NUCCA instructor said, "In this research study we measured significant improvement in quality of life reported by the migraine sufferers, and we are beginning to understand the physiological mechanism of what causes migraine headaches."

Atlas Spinal Care, which was founded by Dr. Flory, focuses restoring head and neck function, an approach he finds to be an effective migraine treatment in his office. In so doing, Dr. Flory and his team aim to help patients feel better and live bigger. Because he is so uniquely qualified in both understanding and treating this kind of pain, the clinic has become popular. While the clinic has always stood behind the effectiveness of the NUCCA treatment, the fact that this study has indicated its effectiveness enables them to push it forward with even more confidence. Dr. Flory also hopes that it will encourage more doctors to specialize in NUCCA protocol, so that more people across the country can find relief from their migraines.

Contact Atlas Spinal Care:

Dr. Tymothy L. Flory
909-982-9100
AtlasSpinalCare@gmail.com
2335 W Foothill Blvd Suite 20, Upland, CA 91786

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/2824927#ixzz3zcK3ClI6

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

Study results are in! #Migraines #Headaches #NUCCA #UpperCervical
Posted by Travis Robertson on Thursday, April 7, 2016

Study results are in! #Migraines #Headaches #NUCCA #UpperCervical https://t.co/0iHA6jD1cn

— Travis Robertson (@theuppercblog) April 7, 2016

How About A Few Self Care Tips For The Upper Neck?

Editor's Note: This article is part of a larger article from Dynamic Chiropractic, a Chiropractic publication, so it is written as if the chiropractor was reading it.   You can find the full article here.)

Self-Mobilization Exercises For The Upper Neck

Our patients often have recurrent patterns of fixation. When I can, I like to show them how to self-mobilize these areas. Here are two exercises to address these patterns.

1. Upper Cervical Side-Bending. This is an exercise I developed for one of my patients who kept experiencing upper-cervical jamming and headaches. This is useful for a patient who lacks side-bending at the occiput or has a recurrent atlas fixation. Look at the patient. Is their head "on straight"? If not, here is a way to teach them to straighten it out.

This exercise is a bit tricky and requires decent motor control, so you will need to teach the patient how to do it a few times. We are not trying to get them to stretch or side bend their whole neck. We don't want the motion to occur in the middle or lower cervical spine. We are trying to induce side-bending motion into the upper cervical spine. The visualization is to see their face spinning or rotating around their nose. Think of a clock face with the nose in the middle.

Step one is to straighten the head in the sagittal plane by activating the deep neck flexors. You probably already know this as a stand-alone exercise. This begins to correct the chin poke and lack of posterior glide. Next, the patient should hold this chin tuck position and put their hands on their head and face. One hand is on the temporal region; the other on the opposite side, over the jaw. They are going to resist gently and move their head against the resistance of their hands. Ask the patient to move about 1-2 inches. This is not an isometric exercise; it is about inducing motion.

The usual error is to just push against the top hand, which puts the fulcrum lower in the neck. The patient needs to equally push against the opposite hand, the one on the jaw. Some patients need to start to push with the jaw first to get the right motion started. Caution may be needed if they have a TMJ issue. As always, remind them to gently resist; this is motor control, not a strength contest.

2. Sternocleidomastoid stretch.  What muscle is pulling on the occiput? The primary short and tight muscle is usually the SCM. This is another exercise that may be challenging for your less-coordinated patients. It can be done either supine or sitting. Let's outline it step by step. (By the way, this same routine can be done by the doctor to the patient as a pin and stretch.)
Start by instructing the patient to use their opposite hand to grasp the bulk of the SCM muscle. Aim at the tightest part of the SCM; it could be up high or down near the clavicle. Grasp it between the thumb and fingers. If this proves too challenging, you can have the patient place their opposite hand on the top of the medial clavicle and pull downward, stabilizing the origin of the muscle.

Patient tucks the chin, lifts the sternum and elevates the crown toward the ceiling. This is the basic motion that activates the deep neck flexors and puts the head in the proper start position.

Patient rotates the head about 20 degrees toward the side you want to stretch. This is counterintuitive; the SCM has an obliquely upward path, which lengthens the muscle.
Patient tips (side bends) the head away, maintaining the chin tuck position; then pulls downward on the tight part of the SCM with the hand grasping it. (They can also lubricate with lotion and glide with compression down the muscle belly.)Here are the common errors: They lose the chin tuck. They tend to want to rotate to the same side as they are side-bending, instead of rotating to the opposite side. Some patients have a hard time grasping the muscle; the glide way may work better for them.

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

Upper Cervical Care and the Migraine

A case study published in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research on January 24, 2013 documents chiropractic helping a patient with migraine headaches. The study authors note that "Among children between the ages of 5-15 years, the prevalence of migraine headaches are at 10.6% while among those 15-19 years of age, it is as high as 28%."

According to the Headache Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society, Migraine headaches usually are one sided affecting one half of the head and pulsating in nature, lasting from 2 to 72 hours.  Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, photophobia (increased sensitivity to light), phonophobia (increased sensitivity to sound) and the pain is generally aggravated by physical activity. Up to one-third of people with migraine headaches perceive an aura: a transient visual, sensory, language, or motor disturbance which signals that the headache will soon occur.

In this case a 16 year old girl went to the chiropractor, with the consent of her parents, suffering from migraine headaches without aura.  Her history revealed that she had been suffering migraines since kindergarten, and with headaches for as long as she could remember. She described her headaches as a throbbing pain located in the frontal area, with these attacks occurring at a rate of 1-2 per week, and lasting approximately 2-3 hours per episode, occurring primarily at night.  Since puberty her headaches seemed to have gotten worse.  Over the years she had been prescribed approximately 15 different medications for her headaches.

A chiropractic examination and x-rays were performed. The examination showed postural abnormalities with the girl's head being tilted to one side, and the range of motion of her neck was restricted. Additional abnormal alignment findings were also noted from her examination. The specific x-rays taken showed spinal vertebrae in the upper neck being malpositioned, which were determined to be subluxations in her neck. 

A specific plan of correction for the subluxations was begun. The study authors noted that the results were immediate.  They recorded, "On the day following the patient's first visit, the patient reported noticing 'some' improvement in the intensity of her HA complaint. On her second visit and 5 days since her initial visit, the patient indicated no subjective complaints of headache that day."

Chiropractic checkups occurred regularly over a 5 year period to monitor the girls progress. The authors noted that, "According to the patient, her HA intensity being bearable without the need for medication and her headache attacks abated to approximately 2-4 migraines per month." 

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

Upper Cervical Care Helps Complications After Brain Surgery

Many people who go to chiropractors have had surgery of some kind. Often, they are concerned as to whether they can get chiropractic after surgery. This case study, documented in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research, on June 14, 2013, may help answer this question.

In this case, a 17-year-old girl came to the chiropractor with health concerns that included an astrocytoma that was surgically removed from her cerebellum four years earlier. According to the American Brain Tumor Association, "Astrocytomas are tumors that arise from astrocytes—star-shaped cells that make up the 'glue-like' or supportive tissue of the brain." The authors of the study explain that the cerebellum is part of the central nervous system (CNS) and has no direct ability to cause muscle contraction, but if harmed or removed, body movements become uncoordinated and abnormal.

In addition to the brain tumor removal, the young girl also reported a history of scoliosis, headaches, tremors, fatigue, loss of balance, and dizziness. After her brain surgery, the girl experienced a significant decline in her postural control, her speech began to slow and was slurred, and her balance became difficult to maintain. Her balance got so bad that she was no longer trusted to drive. She also had fatigue and headaches that were debilitating and caused her to vomit. Her history noted that, prior to these symptoms, she was an avid dancer and soccer player, and was not taking any medication.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included palpation, thermography, and x-rays. From this examination, it was determined that the young woman had subluxations in the upper neck creating nerve system interference. A series of specific corrective chiropractic adjustments was initiated for the correction of the subluxations.

The patient stated that she began noticing changes by her second visit. By the 24th visit, the patient reported that her balance had improved from a 6 out of 10 to a 9 out of 10 since starting chiropractic care. She also stated that her speech had improved over 90% since beginning care, and that she feels it is smoother and less choppy.

In their conclusion the authors wrote, "This case report outlines subluxation-based chiropractic care of a 17-year-old female who was experiencing a loss of balance, difficulty with speech and postural problems following the removal of an astrocytoma from her cerebellum. This is one case demonstrating an improvement in balance, speech and posture while under chiropractic care."

 

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

Upper Cervical Care and the Chronic Migraine

A study published in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research on July 22, 2013, documents the case of a 75-year-old woman suffering from migraines who was helped with chiropractic care. The Journal study reports that, "Migraine headaches are common and disabling, with an estimated 35 million US citizens experiencing a migraine in 2005."

A review of medical sources on migraines shows that the medical profession does not have an understanding as to the cause of migraines, and their only treatment is medication in an attempt to alleviate the pain.

However, the authors of this study suggest that, "Many investigations suggest that chiropractic care may be of benefit to patients suffering with headaches including migraines."

In this case, a 75-year-old woman presented herself to the chiropractor with migraines. She had been diagnosed with migraines as a teenager and suffered with them ever since. She had never been to a chiropractor prior to this time as reported in this case study. The woman reported that her migraine headaches were rated about an 8 out of 10, with 10 being the worst. She had taken numerous pain killers and anti-inflammatories in an attempt to help the problem.

The chiropractic examination and analysis including x-rays led to the conclusion that there was a subluxation at the upper neck known as the atlas. Based on this information, a specific form of upper neck adjustments was initiated to correct the subluxation in the upper cervical area of the neck.

The case study notes that after 10 weeks of care, the patient's migraines reduced from an 8 out of 10, to a 3 out of 10. The improvement was verified by examination procedures as well as by her medical physician. The study authors reported, "Upon re-evaluation with the patient’s medical doctor, the patient stated an improvement in the overall frequency and duration of migraines, as well as a reduction of her medications, but the exact dosages was not given."

 

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

5 Upper Cervical Care Testimonials

All of these testimonials come from Dr. Zachary Ward and his website

 

Sleeping better with more focus

Written on August 5, 2013 by DrWard in NUCCA Chiropractic Successes

What was life like before upper cervical care?
Okay health. I had migraines, and lower back pain, and shoulder pain spoadically–but it was manageable.
What about now?
I am sleeping better. I can get comfortable and sleep sounder. I have better focus, and am getting things done. No lower back pain and almost no shoulder tightness.
I really like that I’m actually holding my adjustments longer. I also like that I’m adjusted only if needed.
–Sarah M.

Headaches and post-concussion symptoms

Written on August 5, 2013 by DrWard in NUCCA Chiropractic Successes

How would you describe your health before you began receiving your adjustments? 
I had very severe headaches and ao a very low hear rate and blood pressure to the point where I was almost always nearly-fainting (3 – 5 times daily).
What is it that you heard or read that made you decide to choose my office for upper cervical chiropractic care?
My mom heard Dr. Ward speak at a networking group. She immediately thought of me and I started coming to his office for chiropractic care.
Were you skeptical about chiropractic care?
No. I would try anything to get better.
What are the three benefits that you’ve noticed since you’ve begun upper cervical chiropractic care?
1. Headache relief.
2. No more near-fainting.
3. Better attitude.
What aspect of this service have you enjoyed the most?
The improvement in me.
–Madison

A lot of shoulder and upper back pain

Written on August 5, 2013 by DrWard in NUCCA Chiropractic Successes

 

How would you describe your health before you began receiving your adjustments? 
I was in a lot of shoulder and upper back pain.
What is it that you heard or read that made you decide to choose my office for chiropractic care?
I live nearby and I saw the office.
Were you skeptical about chiropractic care?
I wasn’t sure if it would work for me. I wasn’t aware of “upper cervical care.” It seems completely different than traditional chiropractors that crack and twist your body for adjustments.
What are the three benefits that you’ve noticed since you’ve begun upper cervical chiropractic care?
1. I am able to sleep more soundly and longer through the night.
2. I have better posture/more aware of my posture.
3. No more or reduced shoulder pain.
What aspect of this service have you enjoyed the most?
The minimal adjustments make such a profound difference. It’s amazing.
–Sarah C.

No longer sleeping away weekends

Written on August 5, 2013 by DrWard in NUCCA Chiropractic Successes

Before upper cervical care?
My shoulders hurt and were uneven. I did not have much energy. I would sleep away my weekends.
Now, after a few weeks of upper cervical adjustments?
Now, I am happier, more social, and smile more. I sleep almost through the night, and I’m not waking up three times a night. I am more ready to go, rather than sitting at home. I feel more healthy and happy than I was before walking into your office. I am taking vitamins and eating healthier than I did before. I am very grateful.
Thank you,
Erik. H.

Recognizing problem posture

Written on August 5, 2013 by DrWard in NUCCA Chiropractic Successes

Dr. Zach has helped me to recognize when my body is out of alignment, creating a change in my posture. His adjustments have significantly affected my sinus, snoring, and sciatica. I have found that consistent exercise and adjustments go hand in hand with positive results. His personal care is second to none.

–Scott B.

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

Why Travel 4,646 Miles for Upper Cervical Care?

by Alison

4646 miles is how far it is from Boulder to Norway. A recent patient of mine, Sigmund, traveled here from Norway because they do not have Upper Cervical Chiropractic where he is from. Sigmund has been dealing with pain, numbness, and headaches for 8 years. He has tried everything to get the pain to stop, but he has only received temporary relief. His friend, Monica, searched the web for neck trauma treatments and found our site. Sigmund had been suffering for so long that he was willing to try almost anything to be able to go back to work and have fun with his wife and children without the fear of pain.

Sigmund booked a flight to Colorado for his first trip to the United States. He underwent the initial exam and received his first adjustment. He came to the office everyday while he was here for checkups. When Sigmund went home, he was so grateful and excited to go on his family vacation because he was without pain for the first time in 8 years. He also set up an appointment with his boss to see if he could start to come back to work full time.

Here in the U.S., I hear all kinds of reasons why people don’t have time for care, or they live too far to come in for treatment, yet others travel incredible distances and will do anything to take control of their health. The last thing Sigmund said to me before he went back home is, "I wish everyone knew about this care, and the people in the United States are so lucky that there are clinics here."

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

Dwyane Wade, Migraines and Upper Cervical

Dwyane Wade, Migraines and NUCCA

by Dr. William R. Davis Jr.

One of NBA Basketball‘s most exciting players Dwyane Wade continues to battle migraine headaches.

"Most of the time it lasts for four days," Wade said. "This time, the effects are going into the third day. I’m doing everything with the doctors, but there are certain things you can’t control."

Or can you?

Is it possible that there is an underlying cause associated with your migraines Dwyane?

If you got to the underlying cause would it be possible to prevent these migraines?

Would it be possible to eliminate them completely?

Dwyane Wade is a very physical player. He frequently dives on the floor and has had several head and neck traumas over the years. Here is one example of Wade whacking his head on the ground in the playoffs a few years ago. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3ksc5_bpYw

What happens when you get head and neck traumas?

Well these accidents and injuries can tear loose the connective tissue that holds the spine in place and create a weakness, which then allows the spine to breakdown and lock into a stressed position.
Now I am sure that the Miami Heat have a staff Chiropractor, as almost all professional sports team do. But to get to this problem he may need a more advanced approach than general chiropractic. Learn more from a recent WebMD story http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20070316/chiropractic-cuts-blood-pressure

If Mr. Wade has a misalignment in the upper neck at the base of the brain, blood flow has been shown to be effected. Research is demonstrating that these misalignments in the upper neck at the level of the Atlas can be an underlying cause with several vascular conditions such as Migraine Headaches, High Blood Pressure, Multiple Sclerosis and others. The veins that drain the brain are not working the way that they are supposed to be.

The main way that this takes place is the physical trauma associated with head and neck injuries.

The only way to safely, precisely and gently realign the spine is by acquiring precise upper cervical x-rays. Once the upper neck is viewed from all three directions then a plan can be put together to correct this complex condition. The NUCCA procedure is very effective at restoring the upper neck to it’s proper alignment.

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

Sydenham's Chorea and Upper Cervical Care

‘Ask the Doc’ responds to a question about Sydenham’s Chorea

By Dr. Philip Schalow

“I was diagnosed with Sydenham’s Chorea as a child. As I recover from headaches under upper cervical care, can I expect that other problems related to that diagnosis might also clear up?”

Sydenham’s Chorea is considered an autoimmune disease wherein the infection (thought to be a type of strep) gets into the brain. Any time a “bug” gets lodged in body tissues, the immune system becomes very interested in those hiding places and begins attacking those tissues. This can be a big problem! When it happens to the heart, your own body’s protective cells begin destroying heart tissue, and suddenly you have “heart disease.”

With Sydenham’s Chorea, mostly seen in children, the damaged area of the brain controls muscle activity. As a result, a child will begin to show extra activity in the face, body and arms, like a slow writhing or twitching movement. Most of the time, the symptoms clear on their own after a few months, but you are right about wondering if there is other damage to sensitive nerve tissue.

What we know about the immune system is that it is not so much an isolated system as it is an alliance among all the systems of the body. It involves nerve, skin, bone, digestion, endocrine, blood, elimination and even respiratory events to function at its best. We need our thymus gland (endocrine) to produce lymphocytes, our spleen and liver (lymphatic, elimination and blood) for antibodies. We need our long bones for producing blood that carries nourishing oxygen and nutrients to all body tissues. We need our nerves to control and coordinate all the functions of our bodies that keep us alive!

Where upper cervical care helps is to restore blood flow to the brain (there is ongoing research about that interesting fact), and to set up conditions favorable for long-term healing in all the systems of the body, including the immune system. Many patients report fewer sick days, no more asthma attacks, no more seasonal illnesses.

One patient with Multiple Sclerosis (a condition characterized by deterioration of brain cell tissue) has shown improvements in her neurologic tests after one year. It’s a slow process of restoring normal function as the nerve system rebuilds, but as the nerve system rebuilds, we see autoimmune disorders recede.

For complex conditions like Sydenham’s Chorea, upper cervical care is a fundamental contributor to care.

Dr. Philip Schalow is a NUCCA practitioner in Rockford. He owns 1st Step Chiropractic, S.C., 4519 Highcrest Road, Rockford. Call (815) 398-4500 for details or visit www.MyRockfordChiropractor.com.

 

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

What Has Responded To Upper Cervical Care?

For more specific stories from patients around the world click here.

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

Chronic Headaches and Upper Cervical Care

Many people aren’t aware of the relationship between upper cervical (neck) trauma and headaches. With all that modern science has accomplished, there are still more unanswered questions than answered ones. This is also true in the case of headache research. It’s been difficult to pinpoint the exact reason(s) why certain people suffer chronic headache pain. However, research is beginning to point toward upper cervical trauma as an underlying cause for many types of head pain, especially migraine, cluster and tension headaches.

The upper cervical area of the spine refers to the two vertebrae located at the top of the spine, directly underneath the head. C1 (known as Atlas,) along with C2 (known as Axis,) are chiefly responsible for the rotation and flexibility of the head and neck. Like the rest of the vertebrae, they are extremely vulnerable to injury and trauma, especially trauma to the head through auto or sporting accidents.

Because so many nerves transmit through the cervical region (to and from the brain,) trauma to this area results in problems to other parts of the body. This is where the relationship between the upper cervical area and headaches becomes evident. If these vertebrae become displaced, even slightly, chronic head pain can occur. Unless the neck injury is addressed, the symptoms persist.

Upper cervical care involves correcting the position of these injured cervical vertebrae, particularly C1 and C2. Realigning these vertebrae may reduce or eliminate many types of headaches.

The most common types of headaches for which people seek upper cervical care are migraine, cluster and tension headaches. Migraine headaches are characterized by intense pain on either one or both sides of the head. Pain is usually located around the temples or behind one ear or eye. The pain is so severe that it often causes extreme sensitivity to light, dizziness and may even lead to vomiting. Migraines may occur with or without ‘aura.’ Aura refers to visual symptoms which occur 10 to 30 minutes prior to the onset of the headache. They are usually in the form of flashing lights, lines, blind spots or even temporary blindness.

Cluster headaches almost always occur on only one side of the head. Their onset is so sudden and intense, cluster headaches have been described as “worse than childbirth.” In fact, the doctor who originally identified and researched cluster headaches characterized their pain as being able “to drive normal people to suicide.” Tension headaches are sometimes called ’stress headaches.’ They often start midday and usually consist of a dull, aching pain rather than a sharp, intense one. They start gradually and slowly build in intensity. Tension headaches may last anywhere from less than one to several hours.

Of course, not every headache falls into one of these categories. The type and degree of pain varies from person to person. However, if any headache occurs more often than on an occasional or sporadic basis, it’s safe to assume that there may be an underlying cause. Continually treating chronic and recurrent headaches with pain medication may temporarily ease the symptoms, but it won’t solve the problem.

Many of these headaches improve significantly during upper cervical care.  A first visit to an upper cervical doctor usually involves a spinal analysis and tests such as x-rays. From there, the practitioner will determine a upper cervical care will likely be of benefit to you. Patients almost always notice an improvement in symptoms, sometimes after only a few visits with the doctor.

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

TMJ And Upper Cervical Care.

Adapted from an article by MCA

When most people hear the acronym TMJ, they think of their dentist. But an upper cervical doctor can also help. TMJ stands for the Temporal-Mandibular Joint, which is where your jaw (mandible) contacts/connects with your skull (temporal bone). 

The most common symptoms associated with TMJ dysfunction are pain with chewing, clicking or popping of the jaw. But many other symptoms can be caused from TMJ dysfunction including: headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbances, irritability, a loss in focus, ringing in ears, head and neck tension, sinus congestion and ear infections. 

Causes of TMJ dysfunction include blunt trauma to head/neck, fall/ hit onto chin (commonly seen in children), slip/fall on tailbone causing compensatory effects up the spine and into the cranial bones, whiplash/car accidents, and prolonged desk work/forward head posture.

Understanding the relationship between proper function of the upper cervical spine and how that can influence the TMJ is helpful. Upper cervical doctors are trained in identifying and correcting the upper cervical spine. Specific upper cervical corrections are essential to restoring structural balance and providing proper function and neurological integrity. If left uncorrected, dysfunction can lead to grinding of teeth, facial asymmetry, additional stress upon the spinal column, and an increase in current symptoms. 

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

Holding Your Upper Cervical Correction

Being In Adjustment

by Michael Thomas, DC

People often ask me, “When should I come back?” This is a fair question and an important one. Some people only return to the office when life has become too difficult again. “Doc, that pain has returned and I can’t play golf”. “I’ve been feeling it for four or five months but just in the past couple of days I find that I can’t get comfortable in bed at night”. “I thought it would go away but it just keeps returning and it seems to be getting worse!” “This is a different pain than last time and I didn’t think it was related.” “I didn’t think you could help so I went to five other doctors, got cortisone shots, did weeks of physical therapy, had two MRI’s and now the surgeon wants to operate.”

These and many more are common comments from patients when they return to my office in acute pain or problem. The vast majority of the time, an upper cervical correction will once again, return them to health and happiness. “I didn’t realize you could help this!” “I didn’t know it was related to my neck!” “My other doctor told me you couldn’t help this.” “This is voodoo!”.

I hear these and many other comments like these every day. This is why educating patients is almost as important as the actual upper cervical correction. If you don’t know when I can be of help, you won’t come in to get the correction you need to return you to health or to maintain your health. This educational problem is a deep one. In our society, people are generally not taught anything about what we do or even how our bodies really work and therefore don’t realize the results you receive from an upper cervical correction are even possible. We have always grown our patient population one person at a time. Once you have received a correction and realized, felt, and lived the restoration that occurs, then you begin to get the bigger picture. This picture is actually bigger than the symptom expression in any one person -they know what it has done for them in the past but many have no idea of the possibilities.

Let’s briefly explore (this is a whole book in itself!) the areas and issues that can be affected by an upper cervical correction.

Through ongoing research, we now understand that misalignment in the top of the neck changes blood flow through the head in a dramatic fashion. It also changes flow of the cerebral spinal fluid, which lubricates the brain and spinal cord and removes toxins. Many people have headaches and brain fog that seem directly related. Dizziness and equilibrium problems are frequently helped by upper cervical care. The cranial nerves also seem to be affected by misalignment and many people have found improvement in vision, hearing, TMJ and other facial problems. Many people remark they can’t take a deep breath when they are out of alignment. Many people have noticed that their blood pressure returns to normal when they get back in alignment. People report that their esophageal reflux improves when they are in alignment . Many people report that their digestion becomes disordered when they are out of alignment and returns to normal once they’ve been back to the office. One of my patients starts burping as soon as they are back in alignment and this is a sign their gut is working again. We celebrate! I have several patients whose nose starts running and clearing their sinuses right on the correction table! (I have tissues!)

Many people have found that they begin to feel depressed when they are out of alignment and that this will lift almost immediately when they get an upper cervical correction. More than one person has told me they could finally get pregnant after getting an upper cervical correction -after trying for years without success. Seizures have often been greatly reduced or stopped all together.

This is just a sampling of the thousands of people who have come through the office over the years. We haven’t even gotten to pain yet. General Chiropractic care has been painted as “maybe good for low back pains at times” but results in an upper cervical care office would tend to expand it’s usefulness. In the last week I found patients telling me that their horrific trigeminal neuralgia pain was gone. One person related that she had been sitting on doughnuts for years but that she had come in for shoulder pains. After one correction her shoulder was 90% better but her tailbone pain was gone! So was the pain in her knee and ankle. Several people were scheduled for surgery. Most of them cancelled it after receiving relief. They had been told there was no other choice, but we are a choice they don’t know about.

A proper upper cervical correction restores your body to an optimal relationship with gravity. It restores the ability of your body to function as a whole and not have to scramble to keep up with hips going one way, shoulders another, and head yet another. Fighting gravity is a battle we always lose. Gravity is relentless. The correction restores equipoise, that ability of the body to balance easily right on the gravity line, a vertical axis that goes through our middle. It is much the same as a gyroscope. When a gyroscope has enough energy, it spins cleanly and easily. As it loses energy it begins to wobble more and more in an attempt to remain upright. The extra effort decreases its energy further and it increases its wobble until it falls over. The correction restores all the ‘pieces’ (head, neck, trunk, hips) back into alignment decreasing the energy needed just to keep us upright. This energy can then be used where it is needed in the rest of our body maintaining and restoring our well-being. We can think better. We have greater agility and ease in moving about.

My experiences have shown me that upper cervical care is primary health care for human beings. It is a hidden jewel that you have already found and has likely already made a change in your life. Like any precious gift, the more you know about it, the better it can serve you. I hope this piece has expanded your knowledge of upper cervical care. Now let’s spread the word!

(Editor's note: Remember the objective of upper cervical care is to correct head neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication. When this is corrected the body functions at a higher level and can often correct other problems more efficiently on its own. Please do not confuse upper cervical care as a treatment for any condition, disease or symptom.)

What Does Upper Cervical Care Cure?

Adapted from "Chiropractors Do Not Cure Anything!" by Dr. Jason Watts

Upper cervical care doesn't cure anything; not headaches, not asthma, not stomach disorders or even back pain.  Then what does upper cervical care do?

Upper cervical care is based on a very basic scientific fact.  Your brain is responsible for every bodily function you ever perform from before you were born until the time you die.  Your brain sends those instructions through a vast telephone network (known as the nervous system) to every cell, tissue and organ in your body.  If those telephone lines are interfered with in any way, those instructions coming from the brain can get distorted and the result is lost function.

Your spine is designed to protect the telephone lines.  If the spine has been injured (even very slightly and especially where the head and neck come together) it can become a major irritant to the nerve system, this is what upper cervical doctors call head/neck misalignment (vertebral subluxation).  How serious is this problem?

“Vertebral subluxation changes the entire health of the body by causing structural dysfunction of the spine and causing nerve interference.  The weight of a dime on a spinal nerve will reduce nerve impulse transmission by as much as 60%.” - Chang H. Suh, Spinal Biomechanics Specialist, University of Colorado

“Nerve dysfunction is stressful to the visceral nerve and other body structures and the lowered tissue resistance modifies the immune response and lessens the overall capability of the immune system.” - The Journal Science, 1981

“The quality of healing is directly proportional to the functional capability of the nerve system to send and receive nerve messages.” - J Edwards, MD, PhD., Journal of Neurological Science

Knowing how important the role of the nerve system is, it should become clear how vital the job of the upper cervical doctor is.  The objective of upper cervical care is to correct head/neck misalignment that is interfering with proper brain to body communication.  Considering another medical study which states that 80% of newborns receive their first spinal trauma during the birth process, when do you think is a good time to begin checking the spine for head/neck misalignment?  Perhaps at birth, just a thought.

And at what point in life does it become acceptable to have head/neck misalignment distorting your nerve system?  Hopefully never.

This is why periodic care throughout life makes so much sense.  Not to treat or cure any disease or disorder, but to maintain your nervous system function at optimal levels.  Allowing your brain and your body to communicate with maximum efficiency every moment of your life, that is the real definition of wellness and that is what upper cervical care seeks to provide, not a cure for a specific disease.

When people have head/neck misalignment reduced or corrected and their nervous system is able to function better, do some diseases and disorders and other symptoms go away?  Frequently, but in every case their body is able to function at a higher level.