Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care and the Patient with Meniere's

Guest Post by Dr. Timothy Flory

New Research Highlights Natural Relief for Meniere's Patients

Two research studies have shown the effectiveness of chiropractic management of Meniere's disease. The condition is characterized by extreme dizziness, hearing loss, and ringing in the ear. One case study on Meniere's Disease reported on the success of Upper Cervical Chiropractic in managing a patient with the disease after she underwent right vestibular nerve section that proved to be ineffective.

Dr. Tympthy L. Flory, craniocervical specialist from Atlas Spinal Care, says: "Meniere's Disease is a chronic condition that significantly reduces people's quality of life. They often suffer from recurrent vertigo and tinnitus, and some even experience hearing loss. It is known that Meniere's results from inner ear dysfunction, but evidence of the cause and effective treatment has been, unfortunately, still lacking. I have helped many people find relief, however. So it is good to see, therefore, that two significant studies have confirmed what we have believed for a long time: that chiropractic care can provide improvements in the symptoms of people suffering from this condition."

Another study investigated 300 patients, in which various improvements were noted. It was established that the primary cause of the disease in the patients was whiplash trauma, which could have been due to a blow to the head or a vehicular accident. It was found that 90 percent had atlas misalignment patterns of inferior and posterior on the other side of the affected ear. These patients, too, received Upper Cervical Chiropractic care. This study was followed over a six year period, and improvements were noted year after year. Patients reported the intensity of their vertigo using a 0 to 10 scale with 10 being most severe. The average score prior to starting treatment of the head and neck was 8.5. The intensity was down to and average of 3.0 within 6 weeks, 2.0 after the first year of care, and less than 1.0 after threes year. Interestingly, for those that maintained their atlas alignment over a period of 6 years the intensity of their vertigo remained very low, at an average of 0.8.

Both studies demonstrated that providing people with specific chiropractic care of the atlas vertebra offered benefits in terms of treating the condition. The first study concluded that this approach can be used for treating Meniere's disease by correcting the atlas subluxation complex. The second study concluded that patients who have a history of trauma and vertigo should be referred to an upper cervical specific chiropractor for evaluation.

People with Meniere's Disease have traditionally been provided with conventional medical therapy alone and not presented with other options. The new studies, however, suggest that an effective alternative exists. Upper Cervical Chiropractic care, which is a natural form of treatment, is proving to be more effective in providing long term relief.

Atlas Spinal Care is an office focused on structural correction of the head and neck, seeing many patients whose history includes trauma to the head, neck, or both. Located in Southern California, the office sees patients from around the United States seeking help with their vertigo and dizziness.

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

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(Disclaimer: 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.)

#UpperCervicalChiropactic Helps Some #Menieres Patients. https://t.co/UkOCaGJG8M

— Travis Robertson (@theuppercblog) December 1, 2016

Heavy Purses Can Cause Head & Neck Misalignment?

Putting Bricks in Your Purse and Wearing it on Your Shoulder = BAD

This post is primarily for the female readers of this blog, though if you are a man and wear one of those “man-bags” or “murses,” I suppose this is for you, too.

If your purse is heavy please don’t wear it on your shoulder if at all possible. I know habits are hard to break and you need your hands free, but when you put that added weight on one shoulder instead of equally distributed across the upper back (or not at all), it pulls down on that side of your upper body. This causes you to lean more to one side, putting added and unnecessary weight and strain on that side of your body, which only adds to the body imbalance you may be experiencing if you haven’t been under Upper Cervical Chiropractic care.

If you have been under Upper Cervical Chiropractic care, then this sort of strain on one side of your body on a repeated basis will undoubtedly contribute to you losing the restored alignment of your spine, causing you to need another adjustment sooner rather than later. And as you know, when your spine is out of alignment, it often causes stress and tension on the spinal cord, this will ultimately affect your entire body i.e. organs, glands, blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and joints.

So you see, having a heavy purse, and then wearing it on one shoulder, might actually be putting a damper on your health.

Could Heavy Purses Cause Head Neck Misalignment Over Time? #HeadNeckMisalignment #HeavyPurses #Pain #UpperCervical https://t.co/hhhHbkUt8c

— Travis Robertson (@theuppercblog) April 21, 2016

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Has Positive Effect On The Entire Body?

source: www.bodyquirks.com

Upper Cervical doctors have long maintained that people without symptoms may benefit from Upper Cervical Care: that keeping the body free of nerve interference is a good way to help the body function better and be healthier.

Researchers decided to take people who have no symptoms, put them under Upper Cervical Care and then monitor various body systems for improved function.

The author of this study reports that the available research does indeed "lend strong support to the popular contention that holding an Upper Cervical correction confers health benefits to people regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms."

More than 20 research articles collectively document "significant improvements in respiration, range of motion, heart rate variability and autonomic function, endocrine function, cardiovascular function, immune function, muscle strength and overall athletic ability." Improvements were also noted in "reaction-time and information processing, visual acuity, stress and reproductive hormones, healing/recovery time."

The author concludes that since "these initial findings document objectively measured physiologic changes and their associated health benefits in nearly every major system of the human body, it is plausible that Upper Cervical Care may benefit every function of he human body."

#Positive Whole Body Effects of #UpperCervical Chiropractic Care. https://t.co/M2lR83MMQP

— Travis Robertson (@theuppercblog) December 14, 2015

Case Study: Chronic Fibromyalgia Resolved Under Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care

On July 13, 2015, a study was published in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research (JUCCR) documenting the successful resolution of a case of fibromyalgia with chiropractic care. According to womenshealth.gov, "Fibromyalgia affects as many as 5 million Americans ages 18 and older. Most people with fibromyalgia are women (about 80 - 90 percent). However, men and children also can have the disorder. Most people are diagnosed during middle age."

The authors of the JUCCR study begin by noting that fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by widespread, moving, and very frequently debilitating pain and fatigue. Most sufferers of fibromyalgia are very sensitive to being touched as even a small amount of pressure elicits pain.

In this case, a 32-year-old woman presented herself for chiropractic care after having suffered with fibromyalgia for two years. Her history indicated that she had suffered a separated shoulder seven years prior which was re-injured just prior to her fibromyalgia problems. Previously, the woman was treated medically with a cortisone injection and then sent to a physical therapist. She stated the pain worsened during those two months of physical therapy treatment.

In the month following her physical therapy, her health and vitality rapidly declined to the point where she was eventually bedridden. She was suffering with extreme fatigue, pain, and depression. She tried a variety of care including acupuncture, elimination diets, supplementation, tai chi, and meditation, which yielded no results.

She was given a variety of medications which caused her to experience side effects such as visual, sound, and tactile hallucinations, fits of rage, suicidal tendencies, and massive seizure-like muscle jerking episodes. She was then admitted to the hospital for observation by a neurologist for three days.

Due to her condition and the large amounts of medications she was given, by the time she had presented herself for chiropractic, she was not only suffering with her fibromyalgia, but with a variety of other health issues. These included rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, migraine headaches, hypothyroidism, polycystic ovarian syndrome, swollen ankles and feet, cold hands and feet, muscle weakness, numbness in the thigh, eczema, dry skin, blurred vision, excessive tearing, pressure over the eyes, indigestion, hemorrhoids, frequent urination and dribbling, painful and irregular menstruation, difficulty sleeping, irritability, fatigue, depression, and a general feeling of being run-down.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included palpation, range of motion, thermography, postural analysis, and spinal x-rays. The results of the test indicated the presence of subluxation at the top of the woman's neck, known as the atlas vertebrae. Specific chiropractic adjustments were begun to address the subluxation.

After the first adjustment, the patient reported that she felt a 20% reduction in her pain. After three months of care, the woman voluntarily began reducing her medications because of the improvement she was feeling. At nine months into her chiropractic care, the woman had totally discontinued her medication and reported that her pain had improved by 90%.

At the four month mark, the woman reported that she was 100% symptom free and that she felt she had returned to full health and vitality. The study documented that she was no longer bedridden, and was free of pain, fatigue and depression. The woman reported that her life had changed to the point where she had started working with a personal trainer twice a week and exercising three to four days a week. She was also able to fully resume her daily activities.

(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.)

Forward Head Posture And Why It’s Serious

Wondering why you have neck pain or Degenerative Disc Disease? This post explains how a condition called Forward Head Syndrome is the culprit.

Seen standing upright from the side someone with perfect posture would have an imaginary center of gravity line running from just in front of their ear hole through the slight bump on the top-middle of their shoulder. Normally, the center of gravity of their head is slightly forward of this line so that a very slight muscle tone is required to keep the head looking forward. This tone may act to prevent sudden uncontrolled movements of the head, or lolling (you will have personal experienced of this if you have ever fallen asleep sitting up where your head will fall forwards and your inactive muscles suddenly crank up into action and you jerk upright again).

What you get in anterior head carriage is the center of gravity of the head moving a significant distance forward of the correct center of gravity line. In some cases I have seen this has been up to 50 mm forward of the correct line.

The problem is increasingly prevalent because of what we do in our lives and, I suspect, is set to get worse and worse as the smartphone generation grow up. It is easy to spot, just go and stand next to someone and look to see if their ear hole is forward of the mid-shoulder line. I suspect you’ll be surprised how prevalent it is, in fact I think if you did a statistical analysis of your friends it would be the statistical norm, but still wrong, posture. How many of these people are masking symptoms with taking Tylenol, Motrin and Aspirin.

How does it occur?

The key cause is computer use, especially laptops and smartphones. Carrying heavy bags or back packs, lazy posture and television time with little or no exercise also don’t help but it is the eight hours a day for 30 years that really does the trick especially if it starts when you are young – say in your teens. Computer work keeps you in a static position (usually a forward curved position as well) for long periods of time, which is why getting up and moving around every 15-20 minutes will help.

Backpacks also do it by increasing the overall load on the spine as well as by focusing that extra load onto the shoulders, which is where the major muscles that attach to the back of the skull originate, so putting a much larger strain onto the mechanism of anterior head carriage than the weight of the load would indicate.

The other place it I have seen it is in young girls who are tall and they are trying to hide height, though this is getting less common as they don’t fret about it as much as they used to.

What’s the problem with it?

The way you achieve anterior head carriage is by straightening your cervical spine from C2 to C7 and in some extreme cases I have even seen reverse curving in the neck.

In terms of skeletal problems this means that you are removing the elegant shock absorbing cervical curve and turning the neck into a column which transfers the weight of the head straight down the neck through the discs and the posterior facets leading to disc damage and facet injury. This also places the cervical facets in an abnormal position which means they are far more likely to sustain injury. It is rare for a patient to present at the clinic with non-traumatic acute posterior facet syndrome (you know the sort of thing – the "I don’t know what I did but I woke up like this" cricked neck complaint) who has not got significant anterior head carriage. Also with anterior head carriage the posterior fibers of the disc annulus get stretched which increases the risk of posterior disc rupture, protrusion or bulge and the subsequent events associated with these grim conditions.

In neurological terms a straight cervical spine means that your spinal cord, and therefore nearly every nerve in your body, is physically straightened. Imagine trying to straighten out a banana; what happens? The banana gets squashed, the same thing happens to the spinal cord. Now, nerves are designed to take this stretch as you look down but only for a short time and there are a multitude of studies out there showing the changed anatomy of the spinal cord in a chronic anterior head carriage patient. Stretched nerves have been shown to function less effectively(disease) and their axoplasmic flow is reduced.

From the perspective of upper cervical care, when your head and neck are no longer in proper alignment to each other, your muscles have to pick up the slack of supporting your head. This results in a higher muscle tone in your neck and upper back leading to trigger points in the Traps and Lev Scap muscles and Pain. No wonder people have shoulder trigger points that never seem to resolve; the underlying problem hasn’t been resolved and the outcome will remain the same.

The result is neck and upper back pain, restricted cervical bio-mechanics and all the physiological changes that would be associated with an abnormally functioning neck and upper spine.

Now in some people I have seen there are no perceptible problems at all but in others there have been a slew of neck pain, Dizziness, Ringing in the ears, headaches, upper body fatigue, sleep disorders, TMJ Problems and the list goes on and on. And……….. I would be willing to bet that more than a few people have been mistakenly diagnosed with migraine head ache or tension headache who, in reality, have anterior head carriage and tragic cervical biomechanics.

So give upper cervical care a try today and maybe get back on track, get your power set free and regenerate to live long, strong, tall and healthy.

(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.)

73% Of Depression Cases Improve After Upper Cervical Care

During times like these especially, depression can run pretty rampant. (Upper Cervical) Chiropractic can help with those feelings of depression and disparity. A study in the November 7, 2005 issue of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research finds that patients diagnosed with clinical depression experienced a "highly significant" level of improvement in their depression symptoms after a short round of (upper cervical) chiropractic care to correct small misalignments of the spinal bones know as vertebral subluxation. In the study, 15 patients from around the country who were diagnosed as clinically depressed were put under chiropractic care. The study subjects were given the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) survey to determine the extent of their depression before and after the (upper cervical) chiropractic care.

The BDI-II is a questionnaire designed to measure the presence and severity of depression in people 13 or older and is one of the most widely used standards of psychological measures.

In the study, specific attention was paid to the first vertebra in the spine, know as the upper cervical (neck) region. The researchers limited their communication with their patient during the procedures to decrease the possibility of placebo effect. No other relaxation or therapeutic methods such as heat or massage were used in order to decrease the number of variables that might affect the outcomes.

Before the patients had (upper cervical) chiropractic care, the mean BDI-II score was 17. After the chiropractic care, the mean score had decreased to 8 (lower is better). 11 of the 15 patients showed marked improvement after care.

The authors of this study report that historically, the interest in the effect chiropractic care has on mental health started in the 1920’s. Indeed, two chiropractic psychiatric hospitals ran successfully for almost thirty years in Davenport, Iowa. Unfortunately when those hospitals closed in the 1950’s most of the patient records were destroyed. Clinical observations during that time suggested that (upper cervical) chiropractic was at least as successful as state psychiatric facilities.
 
(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.)

NFL, Concussions and Upper Cervical

(Editors Note:  This is a few years old but still may provide useful information. 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.)

How the NFL concussion lawsuit is going to legitimize upper cervical chiropractic care

by Dr. Ward

If you don’t follow sports, you might be missing one of the most important stories to develop in the intersection between sports and health.

Over the past several years, multiple lawsuits have been filed against the National Football League on behalf of over 2,000 players who report experiencing symptoms of concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). The players say that repeat head trauma from playing professional football has lead to them to experience a body of symptoms similar to severe brain injury.

What are some of these symptoms? Headache, brain fog, confusion, ringing in the ears, fatigue, poor sleep quality, and depression.

What’s interesting about these symptoms is how similar they are to the symptoms patients often present with in upper cervical chiropractic offices. Upper cervical chiropractors often see the same pattern of symptoms, right down to the poor sleep quality, brain fog, and depression.

And not because their patients have played professional football.

The symptom connection between the NFL and upper cervical chiropractic patients
Rather, upper cervical chiropractic patients often have a history of playing high school sports. Of falling out of trees. Of being in motor vehicle accidents. Of falling down the stairs. Of being launched from a snow-mobile. Of having their head struck or their neck whip-lashed on one or more occasions.

These are also the same histories and symptoms of people who experience vertigo, migraines, multiple sclerosis (MS), and even other degenerative brain diseases, like Parkinsons.

These are also the same histories and symptoms of people that are being investigated by upright MRI. People who, with this new and different diagnostic tool, are being found to have significant changes in the function and position of their brain and neck. These same kind of symptoms are presenting in people with reduced flow of their cerebral spinal fluid. Or of partially closed vertebral arteries. Or even a partially descended lower brain being pulled into the spinal canal, called tonsillar ectopia.

So—what’s going here? What exactly does this mean? Well, it’s hard to predict what’s going to happen, but this is what I think will happen—broken down into three points.

Three predictions coming from the NFL concussion lawsuit

Medicine will starting looking at the brain, spinal cord, and spine together. The emphasis is on the together part. You see, except in extreme cases, medicine sees a brain injury as something that only exists in the brain. And a neck injury as only something that exists in the neck. But the blood, tissue, and cerebral spinal fluid are all continuous between these two parts of the body. Symptoms of brain trauma can actually be symptoms of neck trauma, and vice versa.

The extremely large prevalence of persons suffering with mild TBI and neck trauma will begin to be recognized as standard imaging for these studies (hospital x-rays, and normal MRI) are going to be found less and less helpful. There is an epidemic of brain fog, depression, concentration problems, and other similar symptoms in the general population that require more than just medication or watching and waiting. Case series in upright MRI and even microangiography (looking at small blood vessels in the neck and lower brain) will lead to complete recognition that physical trauma, especially upper neck injury, leads to a change in blood flow and CSF in the brain.

Because private enterprise, professional athletes, and billions of dollars in damages are involved, the NFL is going to be forced to lead the way in uncovering some of these connections in order to protect itself from further liability and protect its largest assets: its players. (To put things in perspective, these lawsuits may lead to settlement larger than the one wrangled from Big Tobacco.) The concussion that a quarterback took ten years ago may play a role in helping a future MS patient get the help they need.

Which brings us to the final point, captured in the title of this article. This developing information, coming from several independent studies and sources is going to legitimize what upper cervical chiropractors have known for years:

Neck trauma changes brain function. Reversing that trauma through specific adjustments can help restore that brain function.

You heard it here first—the NFL is going to legitimize upper cervical chiropractic care. And you’ll know its happening when upper cervical doctors using x-rays and precise adjusting techniques join the other chiropractors, physical therapists, and team trainers, who are already on the sidelines.

Reduction in Blood Pressure with Upper Cervical Care - Study Shows

A study published on August 11, 2014, in the scientific periodical the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research, added further evidence showing that upper cervical chiropractic care has a positive effect on blood pressure. Numerous prior studies showed that people with high blood pressure who received chiropractic care experienced a blood pressure reduction. One study even showed that people who had low blood pressure had their pressure return to normal.

In the opening of the study, the author points out, "According to the American Heart Association, hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases continue to be a leading cause of death in the United States effecting approximately 77.9 million adults." He continues by noting, "The American Heart Association reports high blood pressure was listed as the cause of death or contributed to over 348,000 American deaths in 2009."

In this study, twenty people were randomly divided into two groups. One group, the control group, received a simulated adjustment that sounded real but no movement of the spinal bones occurred. The second group received a real upper cervical chiropractic adjustment. Follow-up data was taken from all subjects at nearly the same times so as to make the collection of results consistent. The adjustments given to the subjects were for correction of detected Atlas (top bone in neck) subluxations.

To give both groups in the study the same experience, an instrument was used to render an adjustment to the group that was getting a real adjustment. In the control group, the instrument was set to make sound but not deliver a thrust, therefore simulating a real adjustment. After either the real adjustment or the simulated procedure, all patients were asked to lay on the table for one minute. Afterward, standard post-adjustment procedures were performed to verify that spinal changes occurred in the group that got the real adjustment, while no spinal changes occurred in those who got the simulated adjustment.

The results of the study showed that those who received the real adjustment had a significant reduction in both their systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The control group, who received the simulated adjustment, did not show any statistical change in blood pressure. The effects from the single real adjustment given in this study lasted approximately one month.

In the conclusion of the study, the author states, "In this investigation the correction of Atlas subluxation in the experimental group significantly decreased systolic and diastolic values for up to one month with only one therapeutic intervention." He concludes by suggesting, "The results of this study would suggest there would be a significant benefit in evaluating for and correcting any Atlas subluxation or malposition found in patients that suffer from ABP, (arterial blood pressure)."

(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.)

Variables That Impact the Results from Upper Cervical Care

Adapted from "THE VARIABLE IMPACT RANGE OF THE ADJUSTMENT" by Dr. Patrick Gentempo 

THERE IS A RANGE IN THE IMPACT THAT AN UPPER CERVICAL CHIROPRACTIC CORRECTION HAS. WHAT ARE THE VARIABLES THAT CREATE THE RANGE?

The skill of the Upper Cervical Doctor in general.

Much like a farmer who only has a limited amount of land in which to plant his crop, the upper cervical doctor is limited by the amount of skill that they have developed to deliver a correction. As the farmer can expand the acreage of his/her farm, so too can the UC doctor or expand the range of his/her skill. It is not a fixed quantity, but one that can and does expand with intention and experience.

The state of the UC doctor at the time of a particular correction.

Although the farmer may have 5 acres of land, in a given year, he/she may not plant all 5 acres. Maybe they plant just 3. In kind, as the UC doctor may have the capacity to deliver the correction on, let’s say, a scale of 100. They may at a given point and time only deliver on say, a level of 70. This is why intention and present time consciousness are so important to the UC doctor.

The parameters of the patient in general.

In general, the patient may be very healthy or very stressed and sick. These parameters will govern the quantitative extent to which the correction may influence a patient. It is established that people who have lost their health in varying degrees can see significant results from corrections.

Further, it is critical to cite that healthy patients, who manage well the 3 dimensions of stress in their life and show limited signs of body imbalance, benefit from the correction. In fact, qualitatively, corrections received while a patient is in this state of well-being are significant. But much like the starving man who needs food, when given nourishment the impact of food on this person is quantitatively greater than it would be on a satiated individual. Again, not that food doesn’t benefit a person that is not starving. In fact, it is better to receive nourishing food regularly while not starving than it is to wait till you starve and then try to eat. In kind, it is better for one to receive a correction in a healthier state than waiting till health deteriorates.

The parameters of the patient at the time of the correction.

A healthier patient may have a ‘bad day’ – or in upper cervical chiropractic terms, an over-stressed day. The range of the impact of the correction in that particular moment will be affected by this. If the over-stressed patient is ‘receptive’ to the correction (which is the result of the office environment, staff, and UC doctor getting the patient to the ‘receptive’ state in preparation for the correction) then the range of impact is substantial. If patient is over-stressed without relief at the moment of the correction, then it would be as trying to correct a turtle through its shell… that range of impact of the correction would be minimized.

So we have these 4 variables that exist at the moment of any particular correction. The interactions of these variables is complex. And we must realize that in upper cervical chiropractic, we look at these corrections in a series; not relying on one particular correction to conclude on the impact of care on a particular person. But rather, we look at a time-series of corrections to assess such.

However, the cumulative total is comprised of the aggregate of the individual corrections. (We will hold aside from this essay what the patient does between visits and what the UC doctor’s process is immediately after the correction. A hint - I am a big fan of something that has all but vanished from practice – the Resting Room.)

With this understanding about the variables related to the range of impact of the correction, what can practitioners do to maximize the results for the betterment of the patient? Where do they have influence?

1) Constantly strive to increase the skill level at which they can deliver their corrections.

2) Inculcate a process in which they bring themselves to a state of extreme focus and intention before each and every individual correction they give every day.

3) Educate their patients and provide leadership, and maybe even provide services, if they are so inclined, related to their lifestyle behaviors outside of the office.

4) Have a process of preparation for every patient, prior to every correction, so that their body is in a ‘receptive state’ prior to being adjusted.

I cite these as actionable steps, not mere theory. Delivering on the goods is something every upper cervical chiropractic doctor should be obsessed with. If you have found a doctor that does this you have a winner on your hands so stick with it as you are very likely to reap significant benefits from care.

Meniere’s Disease and Upper Cervical Chiropractic?

This original story appeared in the Fall 2013 NUCCA News, the quarterly newsletter of the the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association. It was part of one of three very different stories about healing through upper cervical care. This true-life story comes from Dr. Keith Denton in Monroe, Michigan, and was written by Dr. Zachary Ward.

Liz Hyer’s Hearing Loss and Meniere’s Disease

Liz Hyer had been managing her Meniere’s Disease symptoms well, until she began to take a turn for the worst. A chance reference to NUCCA (National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association) on an online-support page for Meniere’s introduced her to Dr. Keith Denton. It was the first step to finally finding the full help she needed.

"Ever since I can remember," Liz Hyer told the NUCCA News, "I have had aural fullness [feeling of fullness in the ear], tinnitus [ringing in the ear], balance problems and double vision. Six years ago I was diagnosed with bi-lateral Meniere’s disease." Gradual hearing loss in both of her ears lead to the diagnosis from her medical physician.

Meniere’s is a complex and confusing disease that affects the brainstem, creating hearing and balance disturbances. Within current medical thinking, there is little that can be done for Meniere’s patients, especially the hearing loss.

Liz says that her Meniere’s episodes were mild. Though they left her tired, with ringing in her ears, and room spinning for days at a time, they only happened every few months.

Then two years ago her condition worsened. Perhaps the most noticeable change was the severe attacks of double vision. "It was to the point where I had to drive with one eye closed in order to be able to see to drive to work. It was not an ideal situation for safe driving," Liz said. Her doctor referred her to an ENT specialist who diagnosed her with another disease, known as Brown’s syndrome.

Hearing restored with upper cervical adjustment 

January 2013 was her first visit to the NUCCA doctor. "I noticed when I was having a flare up of symptoms, I would get an adjustment from my regular chiropractor and my hearing would improve somewhat," Liz said. "I did some extensive research online about Meniere’s…people were reporting that NUCCA chiropractic had helped relieve their symptoms. By the grace of God I found Dr. Keith Denton."

What happened after her first NUCCA correction? "I went home and laid down. At that point I had severe brain fog and double vision. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t see. I couldn’t hear. It felt like there was a rainforest in my head. It was like fluid running."

A week later, Liz went back to her physician, who repeated her hearing test. Liz was found to have regained her normal hearing after one adjustment. Now, nine months later, her hearing has not declined. But that was just the beginning of her healing story.

Upright MRI reveals depth of upper cervical problem 

Based on recent findings in upper cervical chiropractic research, and Liz’s symptoms, Dr. Denton thought that Liz might be experiencing something known as Arnold Chiari Malformation, where the lower portion of the brain is pulled downward into her spinal canal. He suggested Liz get an upright MRI so she would have a complete understanding of what she was facing. When she approached her neurologist, he told her that the she did not have Arnold Chiari—and that there was no such thing as an upright MRI.

Several months later, Liz tracked down an upright MRI unit in Illinois (they do exist!), and discovered that she did indeed have Arnold Chiari. "Having the hearing back, I have my confidence restored, and it gives me hope that the rest will follow with time."

Just after her interview, Liz wrote to the NUCCA News the following:

"One thing I forgot to mention during the interview was that I have had years of chronic lower back pain. This has melted away along with my hearing issue since being adjusted by Dr. Denton. I have been under regular chiropractic care since I was 18, and at least twice a month for the past 11 years, without a sign of relief for my back. In just one upper cervical adjustment, years of excruciating back pain was but a memory."

Written by Dr. Ward 

Father and dedicated upper cervical chiropractor. Find me practicing gentle upper cervical care in Oakland County, Michigan. Have a question or comment? I'm at your service. Reach me at my Auburn Hills chiropractic practice: (248) 598-4002.

(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.)

Anxiety and Depression vs. Upper Cervical Care

"Upper cervical chiropractic care is a complementary strategy for depression"

by Dr. Larry S. Arbeitman
 

A recent article in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research reported on a case series to evaluate a 12-session upper cervical chiropractic intervention for individuals presenting with anxiety and depression symptoms.

This prospective case study consisted of six adults with (1) at least mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression symptoms based on pre-treatment interview and scores on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient History Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and (2) the presence of upper cervical subluxation. Participants completed the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R) pre and post-treatment and completed anxiety and depression measures weekly throughout the treatment. Marlboro-based Dr. Larry S. Arbeitman D.C., who follows health and wellness issues closely in professional journals and other publications, stated, “Participants received care as usual at the community practice of an upper cervical chiropractor who also had extensive post-graduate training in upper cervical specific chiropractic who was blind to the patient psychological data.”

Five of six patients completed all 12 recommended chiropractic visits. Repeated measures detected significant decreases in both GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores across treatment. The SCL-90-R General Symptoms Index also significantly decreased pre and post-treatment.

The results provide tentative support for the effectiveness of upper cervical chiropractic care for anxiety and depression symptoms. “Four of the five study completers expressed satisfaction with the outcome and that they would recommend similar care to others with anxiety or depression,” Dr. Arbeitman related, “and participants also reported a decrease in muscle tension and pain and an increase in mental clarity and physical energy.”

“This is just one case series,” explained Dr. Arbeitman,“but with such promising results, further research is merited to investigate the relationship between chiropractic care and depression and anxiety.”

Larry S. Arbeitman, D.C. of Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Monmouth, LLC practices in Marlboro, at 25 Kilmer Drive, Building III-Suite 101. For more information on the Upper Cervical Chiropractic procedure, visit www.GetWellNJ.com or call 732-617- 9355 (WELL).

(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 Upper Cervical Care Can Help Low Back Pain.

From this Website

If someone were to say to you "Chiropractor", what would be the first thing that comes to mind? If you’re like the majority, it’s likely LOW BACK PAIN! And you’d be right because 80% of the people that seek out a chiropractor have some sort of pain in their lower back. So as an Upper Cervical doctor, one that only adjusts the top two bones in the spine, does that leave me with the remaining 20%? Can adjusting a bone in the neck really help? Well sit tight because it’s a beautiful Monday morning and I’m in the mood to do a bit of myth busting.

The Misconception

Let me begin by saying I absolutely love what I do for a living and because of that, I try to share it with as many people that will tolerate hearing about it. On occasion (more than I’d like to admit), however, the dialogue I have with people goes something like this:

　
Person: "Oh, so you’re a chiropractor? Can you crack my back?!"

　
Me: "Ha, I get that a lot. Actually, I’m an Upper Cervical doctor and I look for misalignments of one of the top two bones in the neck. They can squeeze down on the brain stem and prevent the messages from the brain to communicate with the body. That could be causing your problem."

　
Person: "You only adjust the neck? Oh, well I have low back pain. You wouldn’t be able to help me."

　
In that very moment, I know I’ve lost them because no matter what I say after that, they’ve already settled back on their preconceived notions of what a chiropractor does. SMH (google it). To say the least, it’s incredibly frustrating! That’s ok though, because as a doctor, that’s my lifelong job…to educate.

Lesson #1

Repeat after me class, "Upper Cervical chiropractic helps low back pain (and SO much more)."

The spinal column is just that, a column that supports the entire body. Not only is it the body’s primary support structure, but it also houses and protects the one thing that animates us- the spinal cord. It’s designed to not only be strong, but resilient to all of the really dumb and daring things we do in life. Of the 26 vertebrae, 24 have locking facets or joints that are all intricately wrapped with connective tissue, fascia, ligaments and muscle to essentially form one continuous functioning unit. The top two vertebrae on the other hand, do not have the locking facets so as to allow maximum motion of the neck. If you’re from the South, you’d know them as the "Yes Ma’am, no Ma’am, and I don’t know Ma’am" bones. The down side to having this great mobility is that they’re more vulnerable to injury or misalignment.

Okay, so a bone in the neck is out of whack, how does that relate to my low back? Ever play the game Jenga? Jenga is a great example of what can happen when even one block (vertebrae) is out of alignment. Even if you have the perfect foundation, if you don’t place the blocks on top perfectly, the entire tower crumbles. Because here’s the deal, your head, which weighs 12-14 lbs rests on your Atlas which weighs in at a paltry 3 oz! You want to talk about a juggling act? There are literally thousands of so-called "sensors" (second only to the number found in the under side of the foot) in the upper region of the neck that communicate to the brain to keep your head upright and level. When a misalignment occurs, the spine WILL compensate by twisting, turning, or rotating the body – whatever it has to do to get your head straight again. Yes, you could look like a pretzel, but if it meant the head was level, the brain would allow it.

This will trigger a chain reaction from the top down and compromise the rest of the spine causing an entire imbalance of the body. The result? Weak spots in what should be a relatively strong spine. And what area of the spine do you think would be compromised the most by a weak spot? I’d wager to say the area that supports the most weight, the low back. Make sense?

Lesson #2

Think low back pain is the only side effect to a misaligned Upper Cervical spine? Think again. Degeneration and arthritis might be in your future forecast as well.

Now if you know me at all, you’d know that I love cars, almost as much as I love using car analogies to explain the proper functioning of the body. Apologies in advance if you’re not a motor head, but please, bear with me for a moment. For example, let’s consider your car tires. Usually, they’ll carry a warranty for a certain number of miles. In this case, we’ll say 60K miles. If properly aligned, rotated, and balanced, you should expect those tires to last the lifetime of the warranty, right? Now suppose you’re a tiny bit negligent and forget to do that all together? Do you think they’ll last? Of course not! They’ll wear unevenly or even prematurely, and could eventually turn into a real safety risk.

This principle can be applied to ANYTHING, because when something is not aligned, it will always wear out faster than intended. Ever wonder why someone will only get arthritis in one knee and not the other? Aren’t the knees the same age? Well, I’ll put it bluntly, age has nothing to do with arthritis or degeneration! Believe me, the hunched over teenager is going to have a worse looking spine when he’s 30 than that of an elderly person that has always been mindful of their posture.

The Bottom Line

If you have chronic low back pain or it "keeps going out", then I would strongly suggest you reconsider the idea that a "neck doctor" can’t help. There are plenty of people much smarter than me (hard to believe) that have done extensive research on the topic and the evidence speaks for itself. Personally, I’ve had low back cases that have time and time again, gotten well WITHOUT ever touching their back. It’s not magic, but sure seems like it.

If you’re curious whether or not your low back pain might be related to a misalignment of the Upper Cervical spine, go ahead and do a rudimentary self check at home. Next time you look in the mirror, look at your ears. Are they level? Are your shoulders? Lie flat on your back on the floor and have a friend look at your feet. Are the heels even with each other? If you answered "No" to any of these questions, you’re more than likely misaligned and a ticking time bomb waiting to be in pain. Please share if you found this article useful!

(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 About The Nerves That Don't Sense Pain?

(Editors Note:  Our post today comes from my good friend and colleague Dr. Adam Tanase, A wonderful and knowledgeable Upper Cervical Chiropractor.)

Not All Nerves Sense Pain

by Dr. Adam Tanase

                                             

Thanks to our body’s sensory nerves, we’re able to tell when something doesn’t quite feel right, like pain.

But did you know that your body has two additional types of nerves that have nothing to do with pain?

Motor nerves control our movements, while autonomic nerves (or “automatic” nerves) govern things you don’t ever have to think about, like heart rate, digestion, and breathing.

This helpful infographic (produced by Mager and Associates Consulting) demonstrates how “feeling good” doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in good health. Nerve irritation can be present in your body without pain.

 

That’s why it helps to get periodic checkups from an upper cervical chiropractor. With the help of objective assessment tools like computerized thermal imaging, upper cervical chiropractic doctors can help restore healthy function to the body by identifying and reducing autonomic nerve tension related to head/neck misalignment.

Falls, The Elderly And Upper Cervical Care

Falls among elderly lead to early death and disability

By Dr. Marcella Ziska

Falls are a leading cause of accidental death and disability among older Americans. In fact, over 60% of all accidental injury deaths in the elderly are the direct result of falling. Of the seniors who end up hospitalized as a result of a fall, 40-50% will end up entering a permanent care facility and lose most of their independence.

As more Americans are getting older, accidental falls are taking a costly toll on our health care system, and on the family members who must care for those who are injured.

The estimated cost of health care directly related to a fall is $6-8 billion annually.

The reasons why seniors fall can be complex and confusing for doctors, family members, and for the victim of the fall. Many times it's difficult to figure out what happened.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other leading health authorities state that prevention is the best way to protect ourselves and our aging family members from being harmed in a fall.

Why are the elderly at risk for falling?

Declining vision.

Mix of Rx medications and over-the- counter medications, including alcohol, leads to impaired movement and ability to think clearly.

Weakness in lower limbs from lack of activity, or from certain diseases.

Chronic pain and reduced range of motion (arthritis) affecting body balance.

Blood pressure too low when moving from seated to standing.

Balance control by the nervous system declines (Vertigo).

Improper footwear.

Obstacles left in common walking areas, or slippery walking surfaces.

Middle of the night bathroom trips.

Forgetting to use walking aids, or using them improperly.


Falls in the aging: what's the common theme? Posture & Gait

Almost all falls are caused by multiple problems. But the body's control of posture and gait (walking) play a role a majority of the time.

Posture control involves a complex system of signals from the brain to the body, and from the body back to the brain. It includes: spinal reflexes, information from vision, information from the equilibrium system of the body (the vestibular system) and information from the "sensing" systems in our skin and muscles.

Posture can also affect our gait, which is how far we stride, how fast, and the rhythm (speed) at which we move.

For many different reasons, the control of our posture, and the control of our gait begins to break down as we age. That doesn't mean falling is "normal," it just means it's more likely to happen.

Anything that improves our body posture, strength, and symmetry can potentially help improve our balance. Improving balance can help reduce the risk of falling.

What improves balance?

Strengthening muscles: specific exercises that work the leg and feet muscles involved in standing and walking can help our balance.

Stimulating the "sensing" part of the nervous system: Unique approaches to stimulating the "sensing" part of the nervous system are being used across the United States. Vibration boards and unique exercise pads stimulate the proprioceptive part of the nervous system, the system that knows our position.

Improving spinal balance: Misalignments in the spinal column, especially in the balance between the head and the neck, force our bodies to adapt to an unbalanced and stressed position. Signs of this disturbance include:

a head tilted to one side or carried too far forward

uneven shoulders

uneven hip height

uneven leg length

straightened curves in the neck

carrying more weight on one side of the body than the other when checking on bilateral digital scales


We can unlock this "lockdown" by correcting the way the neck is carrying the heavy weight of the head with gentle upper cervical chiropractic care (NUCCA). The goal is to get the "head on straight" and take stress off the spinal column. With this approach to spinal balance:

leg length balances

hip heights even

the head is straighter

balance is more equally carried by the feet


Upper cervical chiropractic as a solution for fall prevention

Due to the gentle nature of the upper cervical chiropractic adjustment, it is usually indicated for senior adults. Because of its to ability to improve spinal balance and motion, and because it often results in less pain and better range of motion, this form of chiropractic care represents an important tool in fall prevention for the elderly.

Dr. Marcella Ziska is an upper cervical chiropractor in Omaha, NE (Body in Harmony Chiropractic Center) who uses the gentle method of the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association to analyze and adjust the upper cervical spine. She greatly enjoys serving senior adult patients with upper cervical chiropractic (NUCCA) care.