Who Could Offer Hope to Pain Sufferers?

By Julie Revelant

Published October 05, 2015

FoxNews.com

After enduring  car accidents when she was a young woman— none of which were her fault— Mary Steinhoff was left with chronic, debilitating pain that lasted for 29 years.

“I was in constant pain, [from] head to toe,” the 56-year-old from Morrisville, North Carolina said.  

In fact, the pain was so bad that she couldn’t raise her right arm or lie flat. As a result, she battled insomnia and fatigue, sleeping just 2 to 3 hours every night for years. It was also challenging to drive and impossible to concentrate or read a book.

“It can be an excruciating journey physically, emotionally and spiritually,” she said.

It wasn’t until 2002 that she was finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia, but she continued to live in pain as she tried virtually every treatment available: physical therapy, massage, aqua therapy, acupressure, medication, yoga, psychotherapy and prayer. She even bought a new mattress, tried a gluten-free diet and stopped eating sugar— nothing helped.

“I was desperate to fix this,” she said.

Although chiropractic treatment helped a bit, it wasn’t until she met Dr. Ray Drury, an upper cervical chiropractic doctor in Charlotte, North Carolina last year that she finally found some relief. Upper cervical chiropractors specialize in correcting a small misalignment of the upper neck known as the Atlas Subluxation Complex, according to the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association.

Drury discovered that Steinhoff’s atlas, or C1 vertebra, was tipped 4 degrees forward, which meant that her neck was flat. Since it didn’t have a natural curvature, it was impossible for her to lay flat. He also discovered that her upper cervical spine was not only turned to the right, which caused her spine to turn left, but it was also severely twisted.

After her first upper cervical adjustment, Mary returned home, took a shower and started sobbing. When her husband walked in, alarmed, she rejoiced, “It doesn’t hurt to wash my hair!”

“It was startling to say the least,” she recalled.   

What is upper cervical chiropractic?

The first spinal adjustment ever performed was on the upper cervical spine in 1895 by Dr. D.D. Palmer, who restored a deaf man’s hearing. Although the practice faded out over time, it has seen a resurgence in the past 15 years and is the fastest growing area in chiropractic, said Drury, who is also the author of “The Best Kept Secret in Healthcare.”

The concept of upper cervical chiropractic has to do with the brain stem, which comes out of the head through the top two bones of the neck, known as the atlas (C1) and axis (C2). The brain stem works like a switchboard operator, controlling all of the messages between the brain and the body.

“If one of those bones gets even slightly out of line it can interfere with the messages between the brain and the body,” Drury said.

Using gentle adjustments to the upper cervical spine, the treatment can help people with things like ear and sinus infections, migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, sleeping disorders and digestive problems, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, immune disorders, trigeminal neuralgia and seizures.

In fact, a recent study conducted in Italy found  that upper cervical chiropractic adjustments on patients with chronic venous cerebral-spinal insufficiency and multiple sclerosis had improved function in multiple areas of the body after just 6 weeks.

Instead of treating the symptoms as Western medicine does, upper cervical chiropractic looks to identify and treat the root cause.

“We don’t treat conditions, we treat the body. When everything is balanced and nothing is interfered with, the body is a self-healing organism,” Drury said.

The amount of adjustments needed and how often depend on the individual, the degree of misalignment and how long the individual has had the misalignment.  

“As it holds longer, they need to see us less and less,” Drury said. A treatment can also cause soreness, particularly if you’ve had pain for several years.

It may not be for everyone

 Although there is a possibility that upper cervical chiropractic can help those with serious conditions like MS and fibromyalgia, “unfortunately, the research backs up more of what I would call the biomechanical or neuromusculoskeletal aspect,” said Dr. Erik Korzen, a chiropractic physician, professor and advocator in Mokena, Ill..

Korzen says those conditions can include tension headaches, poor posture, nerve irritation due to arthritic or degenerative changes, which can cause symptoms like numbness, tingling and headaches.

There are also certain conditions where upper cervical chiropractic is contraindicated, such as significant osteoporosis or degenerative changes. To avoid damange, individuals with Down syndrome must have X-rays taken before having treatment, in order to see if they have skeletal abnormalities. Although treatment may help people who have seizures, manipulation could actually trigger an episode, depending on the type of seizures.

Plus, adjustments that involve an excessive amount of rotation could actually cause more damage, and over time, can cause laxity in the ligaments.

As more research is conducted and technologic advances are made, clinicians are faced with deciding to either use treatment for conditions that aren’t backed by research and may cause harm or avoid the risks altogether by not using treatment that has the potential to help, Korzen said.

Now, nearly a year after starting treatment, Steinhoff can completely lift her arm, lie down and sleep for 4 to 6 hours each night. She recently also finished reading an entire book, is making plans to be more social and is hopeful about the future.

“I know that I’m probably never going to be free of chronic pain but to be able to manage it day to day is such a blessing,” she said.

Who could offer #hope to #pain sufferers? https://t.co/0QCi6meOaK

— Travis Robertson (@theuppercblog) October 6, 2015

Mike's Story of Chronic Pain

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. Cecilia Yu in Dallas, Texas, and was written by Dr. Zachary Ward.

Mike Tyler’s 16 Years of Chronic Pain

Without any true answer on why his body hurt so much , Mike Tyler had learned to make chronic, debilitating pain a lifestyle. He even continued playing golf. Though he was skeptical about NUCCA, Mike was game to try anything to get his pain down and his swing back. Would his visit to Dr. Cecilia Yu deliver the miracle he desired?

"When a friend told me about Dr. Yu and NUCCA, I was, of course, very skeptical. I thought I had tried everything and researched everything and had not heard of NUCCA. I thought there was no way NUCCA could help me."

So writes Mike Tyler in an article he wrote about his experience with Dr. Cecilia Yu, a NUCCA chiropractor in Dallas. Mike went through such an incredible transformation with his care, that he put the experience into words, which he shared with the NUCCA News.

Before finding help through NUCCA, Mike had lived with chronic pain for 16 years. "I was diagnosed with a lot of things. I had everything…every x-ray," said Mike. "There was nothing I did not try: chiropractors, massages, stretching, tens units, hanging upside down, acupuncture, ice, heat, medication and supplements. Some of these items would provide temporary relief but would never last any length of time. I went through every possible scenario to stop the pain and be able to play golf."

Back to playing golf without pain 

Mike is a lover of golf. "I have played competitive golf all of my life in the Dallas area," he told the NUCCA News. But Mike’s pain was so unbearable that he had to use a golf club to lift himself off the green anytime he bent over. "I couldn’t bend over to tee up a golf ball." And that was on his good days.

What were his bad days like? He wrote this: "My pain was quite severe. It was painful to sit, stand, walk, or even get in and out of a car. When you live in constant pain, you need to have a plan before each movement. My pain was from my head to my toes with hourly back spasms, cramps and daily headaches. Pain became the norm for me to the point where I could not even remember ever not being without pain. A good day was when I had steady consistent pain where I would know my limitations on those days. Bad days were when the level of pain would fluctuate along with migraines and muscle cramps."

"I went to Dr. Yu’s office with significant doubts," he told the NUCCA News. "She went through her process, and figured out how badly I was misaligned. She put my head in a cradle, and very gently touched my neck."

And then, like many NUCCA chiropractic patients, there was no immediate change. In fact, things seemed to get worse for a time.

"I went through several days of increased pain. Even an old broken finger hurt. It was that bad."

Then several nights after his first correction, Mike slept through the night for the first time in years and awoke to find that his pain had significantly diminished. It would quickly fade away and never return.

"Three days after the initial adjustment and I could bend over and touch my shoes. Because I was so flexible, had no pain, and was experiencing so much energy, I started painting my house…NUCCA truly works without any harmful drugs or procedures."

(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.)

Case Study: Chronic Neck Pain

By Dr. Jason Alder and his site Upper Cervical Studies

The purpose of this case study is to demonstrate the application of Cone Beam CT (CBCT) scan as an effective imaging method for highly specific upper cervical chiropractic corrections.

Patient History

A 38 year old male presented to the clinic with a chief complaint of neck pain that has persisted for the past 7-8 years. The pain was progressing and becoming intrusive in his desired lifestyle. The patient stated that when the pain is at it’s worst, it radiates into bilateral shoulders and arms.

The precipitating cause is unknown. However the patient did have a MVA 4-5 years prior to the onset of symptoms and has actively participated in soccer for the past 30 years and recalls several times that the symptoms have increased following games where the head was used to deflect the ball.

The patient listed several associated complaints including lightheadedness and loss of equilibrium causing the patient to stop his routine and rest until the spell has past.

The patient also describes headache symptoms of both a tension headache and classic migraine precipitated by alcohol use. Pt states 2 episodes/week. Family history includes similar symptoms of migraine headaches. There is also mid back pain localized to the thoracic/lumbar region that is most notable in the evening.

Patient utilizes pain medication to manage the neck and headache symptoms, which helps but the problem persists.

Chiropractic Exam

Flexion of the neck causes increased pain refereed to the shoulders and arms. There was a negative sharp purser orthopedic test. Left C1 – C4 point tenderness and inflammation nodules were found at the posterior lateral vertebral joints.

The patient had muscle tightness on the left side of the neck as well as multiple muscle spams of the right upper Trapezius and Levator scapulae.

Posture analysis concluded an elevated left head by 2 cm, even shoulders and a high right hip by 1 cm.

Leg length inequality check revealed a 2 cm right short leg with a positive right c2 challenge.

Cervical temperature pattern was established using a Titron thermographic instrument.

Imaging Analysis

Imaging was ordered utilizing a seated 3D CBCT unit. On Demand 3D software was used for the analysis of the images following a variation of the Blair x-ray analysis.

The Foramen Magnum/Spinal Canal study found a large right rotation of axis. This was confirmed on the 3D view. The simulated protracto views found a double posterior misalignment of atlas. An exceptionally “tilted” atlas was found on the posterior 3D view that is also observed on the frontal generated x-ray view.

Large right rotation of axis

Flat Plain line


The atlas appears to be tilted up on the right

Care

Upper cervical chiropractic care following the Blair corrective protocol was elected to correct this upper cervical misalignment. Following the first correction and a 20 min rest period the thermographic scan demonstrated a change. The leg length inequality was found to be normal. The patient commented that he felt a bilateral burning sensation in the lower leg region, following the Achilles tendon.

A follow up visit two days later found the burning sensation in the lower legs continued. Cervical thermographic scan and leg length inequality tests were performed and found to negative. This means that the scan was remarkable different from the pattern that was established prior to care and the legs that were found to be uneven before care were found equal after the initial adjustment and continue to be equal 2 days later. The patient also noted a decrease in neck symptoms.

In all, 4 upper cervical corrections were given in a 3 month period and the patient continued to improve. The patient experiences fewer and less severe episodes of lightheadedness and reports that the tension headaches have become an infrequent occurrence.

(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.)

Chronic Pain, Brain Plasticity And Upper Cervical Care

By Dr. Davis, N.U.C.C.A. Chiropractor 

Brain Plasticity also called Neuroplasticity is the ability of your brain to reorganize neural (nerve) pathways in the brain. In simple terms, every time you learn how to do something, you are unconsciously memorizing the process of how it’s done and what the outcome will be. As you learn, your brain is making subtle changes to accommodate the new information and ability.  Neuroplasticity is generally a good thing and allows us to survive. However, there can be negative consequences.

When a person suffers a head or neck injury as a result of a car crash, fall or other accident, the tissues around the spine are stretched and torn.  This damage creates a weakness which allows the spine to break down and lock into a stressed position.  One of the hips will be higher than the other in the standing position.  One of the shoulders will be higher and the head will generally lean to one side.  If this acute injury is not corrected a chronic pattern will develop.  Just like shaping something made of plastic the nervous system begins to develop a fixed pattern. Think of this like a bad habit.  If you do the same thing all the time your brain and your body begins to develop that pattern and the longer you have had that habit the harder it will be to break.

In the same way with these chronic spinal patterns…the longer it has been there the more difficult is will be to break the pattern.

What does chronic pain have to do with neuroplasticity?

As research techniques become more refined, researchers are able to study the human brain and its function in living people, rather than waiting for an autopsy. Up to now, researchers have been able to establish the existence of a network of pain-transmitting areas within the central nervous system (CNS). This was first demonstrated with animals and, more recently, by performing brain studies with humans.

Chronic pain is pain that has been present, either continually or off and on, for at least three to six months.  Chronic pain is complex and often difficult to pinpoint and treat by the medical profession. Acute pain is a sudden pain that can usually be identified and treated, such as a toothache, stubbing your toe, or having surgery.  Chronic pain is very common among North American adults. Data from 1999 demonstrated that about 50 million people seek help for chronic pain. Chronic pain affects people’s lives because it can cause other physical problems, affect the ability to work and enjoy life, and it can affect the social and economic status of people. Chronic pain causes lost productivity and increases health care costs.

Where neuroplasticity comes in is when acute pain develops into chronic pain. Your body reacts to acute pain as it warns you that something is wrong. Usually, once the acute pain has been dealt with, the pain goes away and becomes a distant memory. However, if the cause of the acute pain is not dealt with over the course of a few weeks, months, and sometimes even years, your brain’s “wiring” may reorganize itself and tell your body that the chronic pain should be there and will stay there.  How this change occurs is different from person to person.

Chronic back pain, particularly of the lower back, is the most common complaint of pain in the developed world, even more than headaches and migraines. It’s estimated that 70 to 85 percent of people in developed countries have had, have, or will have chronic lower back pain at some point in their lifetime.  The connection between back pain and brain function has interested researchers for quite a while. In 2004, A.V. Apkanian and colleagues analyzed 17 patients who complained of chronic back pain. After examining the patients’ brains, the researchers found that the patients had some brain atrophy (wasting away of tissue) in the brain.

“Other researchers, such as T. Schmidt-Wicke, agreed with Apkarian when that team studied 18 patients and matched them with controls, people without chronic back pain. The researchers found the same decrease in brain tissue among those patients who had pain, but not in the controls.”

Eight studies that looked at the shape and changes in brain tissue point to the issue that there is a connection between neuroplasticity and chronic pain. It appears that no matter what is causing the chronic pain, the same changes are taking place in the brain and in the same areas.

What is actually causing the brain cell shrinkage or loss?  That’s the key issue.

New research relating to the blood flow to and from the brain may provide a connection.  Phase contrast MRI of the veins and arteries from the brain to the body are showing that when a person has a misalignment of the upper neck (Atlas vertebrae) the blood flow from the brain is altered.  Once the atlas is restored to it’s normal position the blood flow is normalized.

So if someone suffers an injury that causes a misalignment of the atlas at 25 and does not find the underlying structural problem for 10 years…the brain has not had normal blood flow for 10 years! That may result in the atrophy that the researchers are detecting.  And why so frequently we see patients with Lower Back Pain or Sciatica respond so well to an upper neck adjustment with the NUCCA procedure.

If you are experiencing chronic pain an underlying Atlas Misalignment could be the reason.  To have your brain stem and upper cervical spine evaluated for an undetected injury go to  www.nuccawellness.com if you are not in the San Diego County area go to www.nucca.org

References:

http://www.spineuniversity.com/files/Journal_Watch/spineU_neuroplasticity.pdf

http://ucrf.org/projects-funding/project-descriptions#cerebral

Attention Deficit Disorder, Pain And Upper Cervical Care

(Upper Cervical) Chiropractic care improves quality of life, sleep & attention in patient with Attention Deficit Disorder

Marshall Dickholtz Sr., D.C. & Evan White D.C.

J Upper Cervical Chiropr Res. 2012 Aug;27:71-76

Objective: To report an improvement in quality of life, sleep and attention following reduction of an upper cervical vertebral subluxation in a patient with Attention Deficit Disorder.

Clinical Features: A 19-year-old male presented for (upper cervical) chiropractic care with complaints of Attention Deficit Disorder and chronic dorsal and lumbar pain.

Intervention and Outcomes: National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) technique was utilized to evaluate the appropriateness of chiropractic care.  Several objective clinical findings were noted.  The atlas misalignment was corrected with an upper cervical adjustment and immediate improvement was observed. Visual evoked responses revealed normalization of a previously abnormal steady-state visual evoked response.  Outcome assessment tools showed significant improvements in overall health.

Conclusion: The reduction of the upper cervical vertebral subluxation was concomitant with improved quality of life, sleep and visual evoked responses.

(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.)

Have Hope, Get Well

Adapted from

Is there any Hope of getting well?

by Dr. Bill Davis

Hope is a very powerful emotion.  John Maxwell once said “when there is hope in the future, there is power in the present.”  Many patients come into my office as a last hope.  They may have tried the medical approach, alternative approaches and even other chiropractic approaches.  But when they hear about NUCCA upper cervical care, a sliver of hope is born.  NUCCA is a form of care that is focused on restoring the heavy head to a centered and balanced position top of the neck.  The rehabilitative process that ensues once this underlying problem is identified is truly amazing.  As the brain can begin to send proper messages to all areas of the body, hundreds of different conditions have responded to properly aligning the head and the neck.

Typically accidents or injuries will tear loose the connective tissue that holds the spine in place which will lead to a weakness in the spine at the level of the atlas the top bone in the spine.  This weakness will allow the weight of the head to shift from center and begin a cascade of compensations throughout the body potentially leading to pain and poor health.

A great example of this is a recent patient of ours who was struggling with a chronic mid-back pain.  He had a series of dirt bike accidents that had led to the instability and misalignment in his spine.  At 20 years old he had already tried many different treatments including physical therapy, stretching, exercises and medications.  T.J. was losing hope that he would ever be free from this pain and able to work and exercise like a 20-year-old should.  Here is his story…

When I first came to Breath of Life, I was suffering from extreme back pain that was resulting from motorcycle crashes and weight lifting injuries. I had been to other doctors and took medication all in hopes of finding relief, but nothing worked. I looked to NUCCA upper cervical care as a last attempt to find relief.

I have seen many improvements in my health since starting NUCCA care. Not just in my back, but in my energy level, mood and overall well-being.

I am now able to lift weights without worrying about starting another flare up. At work I am so much better now, that I am pain-free and I am even nicer more of the time. I never realized how much being misaligned affected my moods.

If I see someone who is suffering from any kind of pain that they don’t know how to alleviate, I tell them to try NUCCA, because it worked wonders for me when I had no hope.

I now look forward to every adjustment. Knowing that when my body is in alignment I will always leave feeling so relaxed and in the best mood!

(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 We Appreciate Upper Cervical Care

By: Daniel O. Clark, D.C., age 89

Now that I can live pain free without the use of drugs and pain killers ... it makes me appreciate Upper Cervical Corrective Care so much more.

Now that I am able to sleep through the night without getting up to go to the bathroom every two hours … it makes me appreciate Upper Cervical Corrective Care.

Now each morning when I wake up feeling good and anxious to work on the computer … it makes me appreciate Upper Cervical Corrective Care.

Now that I am able to eat food and it does not turn to pain … it makes me appreciate Upper Cervical Corrective Care.

Now that I am once again able to brush my teeth, comb my hair, tie my shoes and button my shirt … it makes me appreciate Upper Cervical Corrective Care.

Now that I am able to walk through the market with my wife and not be totally exhausted … it makes me appreciate Upper Cervical Corrective Care.

Now when I look around and see how other people my age are struggling with their health problems … it makes me appreciate Upper Cervical Corrective Care.

Now that I was able to put aside my wheel chair and dance at my grandson’s wedding … it makes me appreciate Upper Cervical Corrective Care.

Now that I can get up in the morning able to make my bed instead of wanting to stay in it all day ... it makes me appreciate Upper Cervical Corrective Care.

Now that I can once again enjoy the little things in life that I once took for granted … it makes me appreciate Upper Cervical Corrective Care so much more.

Upper Cervical Corrective Care, a new way to get well and stay well, restores the body's natural ability to resolve acute and chronic health problems without the use of harmful drugs and painkillers.

It requires the weight of the head be perfectly balanced on top of the neck to prevent misalignment interference in “brain to body communication” so brain messages can keep the body in a "healing mode" and provide a better quality of life for all ages.

Thousands of sufferers are now realizing the benefits of Upper Cervical Care despite there being so few of these Upper Cervical Doctors!

Pain, Suffering And Upper Cervical Care

What are Your Symptoms Telling You?

by Dr. Tanase

My car has an unnerving ability to scare the bejesus out of me with it’s monitoring system.

It emits a piercing 2-second tone whenever I’m within 50 miles or less of needing to refill the gas tank. The same thing happens when the tire pressure drops, a tail light goes out, or when it’s time for an oil change. Basically, this tone will sound if anything malfunctions, prompting me to have it inspected. It won’t “go away” until I address the issue that triggered the warning tone.

While not every car on the road has this feature, every person reading this article does. You see, our bodies are designed with their own sophisticated warning systems. They’re called symptoms.

For some reason (convenience?), a lot of patients and doctors aren’t overly concerned with why the symptoms are present – they just want them to go away. One of the marvelous accomplishments of Modern Medicine is how they’ve created drugs and treatments that are really good at controlling these symptoms… Unfortunately, it’s almost always temporary. On top of that, serious complications or side-effects can result.

I’ve developed an acronym that represents how Americans view SYMPTOMs:
Something You Merely Patch, Treat, Or Mask.

What if I applied the typical medical approach of symptom-treating to the monitoring system in my car? Well, if I really didn’t want to hear the annoying sound, I could just drive around with noise-canceling headphones over my ears. If you’ve ever tried on a pair, you’d know how easily the “symptom” can be masked by these headphones.

But would that be a very good idea? If all I did was treat my car’s symptom, I’d inevitably run out of gas, get a flat tire, or witness my engine explode. Not good problems to have…

The same holds true for your health. Your body has all sorts of different warning indicators. Headaches, fatigue, dry-mouth, joint pain, numbness/tingling, constipation, and fever are just a few examples. Yes, they’re annoying and inconvenient, but that’s the point! They’re prompting you to take action and fix the problem.

You can choose to patch, treat, or mask these symptoms temporarily, but your body will eventually give out if you continue to neglect what triggered them in the first place.

Now’s a great time to start listening to your body. What are your symptoms trying to tell you?

Perhaps your body is saying it is time for upper cervical care.

Who Is The Greatest Doctor On The Planet?

At first glance you'd think an upper cervical doctor was responsible for these words. But they were actually written by a Harvard medical school instructor and practitioner in the late 1800's. While this belief is trivialized today by the medical and pharmaceutical community, it remains the core foundation of Upper Cervical Care.

Upper cervical care humbly acknowledges that "the ONLY thing that can heal the body is the Power that created it." The wisdom Dr. Cabot refers to in his quote is often referred to as Innate Intelligence. It is the power of life that animates our cells, tissues and organs. It is the coordinating force that maintains our body's intricate chemical balance. It silently and confidently orchestrates all steps involved in the healing process from mending a broken bone to putting cancer in remission. It is in favor of you living, rather than you dying.

Upper cervical doctors often, and most certainly should, let you know about this great force inside you. If you really want to know who's responsible for getting you better from the weak state, chronic illness, incapacitating pain or depressing condition you first walked in with? Take a look in the mirror. It was the best doctor on the planet, the one staring right back at you, that did ALL the work.

Upper Cervical Care...An Answer For Fibromyalgia?

By Dr. Barbara Read

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a family of syndromes with similar symptoms. While each person with "fibro" always has the clear signs of fibromyalgia quality pain, how it affects the person and what other secondary symptoms arise is very unique. Most fibromyalgia patients experience the tell-tale fibro hot spots, of achy, sore muscular spots found in predictable points across the body. Many others will then experience depression, extreme fatigue (even after sleeping), chronic headaches, mental fog, insomnia, numbness and tingling, and even irritable bowel syndrome. While men do experience fibromyalgia, the majority of fibromyalgia patients will be women.

What causes Fibromyalgia?

According to medicine, there is no single cause to Fibromyalgia. Instead, the condition is best understood as a breakdown in the body arising from several different sources. Which means that fibro patients are often confused about what they should be doing to help themselves.

Current treatments for Fibromyalgia include prescription drugs, physical therapy, nutritional therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic care, among others. I have seen my share of persons suffering with fibromyalgia from across central Iowa. This clinical experience helps me say, with confidence, that every case is unique, and deserves more than just one treatment option.

The nervous system is involved

While the symptoms of fibromyalgia can also be influenced by diet, sources of nutrition, emotional and psychological issues, and history of trauma on the body, the nervous system cannot be ignored. There is good reason to believe that much Fibromyalgia pain is caused by an overactive response, between the muscles and the nervous system. This may explain why fibro patients experience other nervous system related symptoms, like depression, headaches, and insomnia.

Many of the medications that fibromyalgia patients are prescribed influence the human nervous system.

Can fibro patients use upper cervical care?

While no one solution is a magic bullet for everyone, many fibromyalgia patients have found significant help with upper cervical care. Upper cervical care focuses on the relationship between the skull and the top of the neck, because of the unique way human beings are formed at this area. The head-to-neck junction contains very important nervous system tissue inside of a joint which is susceptible to injury. Accidents and injuries which disturb this area of the body may change the way the nervous system functions.

Fibro patients who have received gentle corrections to their upper neck have seen great improvements in their fibromyalgia pain. These improvements are often enough to help them manage their own care successfully, with exercise, and diet. And in some dramatic cases, the body's response to the upper cervical correction has resulted in an almost complete remission of fibro symptoms. Fibromyalgia patients may appreciate the gentle approach that most upper cervical doctors use, since contact with painful areas of the body is not necessary.

Every case of fibromyalgia is different, and every fibromyalgia patient is unique. While not everyone will respond all of the time, fibromyalgia patients should know that they have a resource in upper cervical care. Even if a fibro patient has tried general chiropractic, they may still benefit from a consultation with an upper cervical doctor.

Dr. Barbara Read practices in Ames, Iowa at Read Health Center. She is an upper cervical doctor, Board Certified by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). Dr. Read enjoys helping patients of all ages and ability get out of disabling pain, and strengthen their health with upper cervical care.

Upper Cervical Care Stories Of Healing: Part 2

Editors Note: Here is another person's story, again from Dr. Margaret Banitch in Montclair, New Jersey.

Barbara's Story

My back problems began about 29 years ago, shortly after the birth of my first daughter. I was plagued by random bouts of sciatica that sent pain shooting down my right leg, and sometimes completely numbed it for a minute or so. The doctor said that I could expect temporary back problems after childbirth. My lower back pain came and went, sometimes I would "throw my back out" so badly that I was bent sideways and couldn't sit down because of the pain. I've had numerous cortisone shots, which helped temporarily; I've taken strong pain medication: valium & darvocet & percoset, during the times my back was "out". I lost a whole summer one year because I was all twisted up and in pain, and couldn't do much. I had my first daughter with natural childbirth, but my back pain felt worse. I had MRI's which revealed three herniated disks in my lower back, which were very thin, as well as some arthritis.

I've had lots of chiropractic adjustments: three different general chiropractors who don't do the Blair method. They helped a lot initially, but as time went on, the adjustments didn't do much any more. I had always been very physically active, and running was my favorite workout. My doctors & chiropractors told me "no more running", since it may have contributed to my problem. Every time I exercised my back felt so bad, that I exercised very little, and gradually gained about 25 lbs. (over the course of about 15 years).

I finally thought that my only option now was to have surgery. I decided that I would just live with the side effects caused by surgery so I could get somewhat back to normal again, and I made an appointment with a surgeon. Meanwhile, my oldest daughter kept begging me to try Blair (upper cervical). She was in a car accident years ago, which left her with mandibular (jaw) pain, migraines, and neck & upper back pain. Her boss was a patient of Dr. Forest, a Blair (upper cervical doctor) in our home town of Pleasanton, California, and he recommended Dr. Forest to my daughter. My daughter's jaw pain is gone, migraines, and all other symptoms are completely gone. She just goes in for "tune-ups" now as needed.

I kept telling my daughter that she just didn't understand: I had lower back problems, and Blair (upper cervical doctors) just worked on the neck area. How can the method possibly help me? Finally she persuaded me to try the Blair method before resorting to surgery.

I was impressed by the thorough explanation of how the Blair (upper cervical) method works, as well as by the fact that Dr. Forest actually gave me a timeline for when I could expect to be completely healed. No other (doctor) had done that. He took detailed x-rays and measurements, and showed me that my atlas, the bone that sits at the top of the spine, was twisted to the left side and downward, thus pinching the nerves that run from my brain to the right side of my body. This caused the muscles to cramp and pull up my hip on one side, causing the discs in my lower back to be squeezed in an unnatural manner. Each time I went in for an adjustment, he first checked to see if I even needed adjusting. If I didn't need it, he wouldn't do anything. He explained how once the nerves coming from the brain through the atlas are freed, the muscles and other body parts that they serve can relax and begin the healing process in stages. Each time I went in for a treatment, I was taught something new about the healing process, and told what exactly to expect next. Everything went exactly how Dr. Forest had said, and though it was too good to believe at first, I actually began to get better! I felt like I'd gotten my life back. I was able to begin exercising again, and have been able to lose 10 pounds so far, and looking forward to losing the other 15, plus skiing again, maybe tennis again too.

Shortly after beginning my Blair treatments with Dr. Forest, my husband's job required us to move to Connecticut. Dr. Forest recommended Dr. Banitch, and I have received the same quality of care from her that I received from Dr. Forest. I am steadily improving to the point that the chronic pain I used to live with is just a memory. I don't mind having to drive all the way from Connecticut to New Jersey for treatments, because it is worth it to me to feel like my old self again, after many years. I just wish I had taken my daughter's advice sooner than I did, because it would have spared me a lot of misery. I'm so thankful to Drs. Forest and Banitch for restoring my health and energy. And all this without any popping or cracking, or medicine! I'm soon going to turn 52 years old, and I feel better now than I did ten years ago.

Back Pain?

At least 80 % of the American public will at some point suffer from back pain. Anywhere between $16 and $50 billion is wasted on medical expenses and lost work time annually due to back pain.

While it is true that thousands of people go to upper cervical doctors across the country everyday for back pain, many of whom find relatively quick, affordable relief, IT IS NOT TRUE THAT UPPER CERVICAL CARE IS AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR BACK PAIN.

The fact is, some of those people would have experienced relief whether they received upper cervical care or not. For some, general chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, hot/cold therapy or exercise might have been equally effective. Others would probably have felt better in time with no treatment at all. Unfortunately, what seems to work today may not work tomorrow. For many years the medical community suggested two weeks in bed for back pain. Today it is commonly understood that more than two days of bed rest can often make back pain worse. We realize now that as the muscles that support the spine are not used, they become weaker and less able to do their job. The variety in what constitutes effective treatment can partially be explained by the fact that the causes of back pain are as varied as the sufferers themselves.

Eighty percent of all low-back pain originates in the muscles, ligaments or disks. Some pain is caused by sheer overuse of muscles, whether it is by repeated use or by asking a muscle to do more than it is capable of in a single situation. Some back pain is caused by joint conditions--inflammation, arthritis or degeneration. Another leading cause of back pain is the herniated disk. However, interestingly enough, 20-30% of people with herniated disks and back pain actually have discomfort for a reason other than the disk condition. This is noteworthy inasmuch as many of these people go on to have surgery for the disk, which is not the cause of their pain. Still, other pain is caused by unrelated disease in the back area such as kidney or digestive problems or even cancer.

So with the variety of causes of back pain, you may be wondering how any one thing can be effective. For example, how aspirin works to relieve pain is yet unknown. If we don’t know that, how can we know that there is not a less toxic or even cheaper means by which we can do the same thing? Or for that matter, how can we know that this unknown mechanism is not harmful to the body in some significant way?

While upper cervical care is not a treatment for bad backs, it is good for the overall health of the body. Whenever you do anything that is good for your overall health, your whole body benefits. When you get a good night’s sleep, you are more energetic, more coordinated and more clear minded. Exercise, diet and rest obviously play a significant role in lessening back pain, not because they are effective treatments, but because they are good for the body. They promote health. Likewise, while back pain may improve under upper cervical care, it is not because upper cervical care is good for bad backs. Upper cervical care is good for your whole body. So have your spine checked periodically whether you have back pain or not.

Why I Am An Upper Cervical Care Advocate

By John A. Sanders

Ask anybody who knows me, and they’ll tell you I’m always anxious to share the good things I’ve discovered, whether it’s a great new movie, or restaurant, or a product. When my wife and I came up with a terrific way to cook ribs, and people asked for the recipe, we didn’t tell them it was a secret. We gladly shared it with them. And now, people are enjoying Sanders’ Sassy Ribs all over the country.

So, when our amazing Upper Cervical Doctor successfully treated my wife and me for our long-standing pain conditions, I naturally told my family and friends who might be helped. And, they are being helped. But, that just didn’t seem to be enough. About 8 years ago, after leading an active, busy and successful life, I was thrown into prison… a prison of pain. I’ll spare you the details, but suffice it to say that my strange headache condition, and the back and neck pain I experienced, took away my freedom to live as I had before. And, eventually, I was told that this was a life sentence, and that the conditions of my “imprisonment” would worsen over time.

Despite the care and concern of the people who love me, most of my time has been spent in solitary confinement… just me, and my pain, in a constant, never-ending, battle for sanity. Like Steve McQueen and his baseball in “The Great Escape”, I sought to distract myself from my incarceration. In the past, I’d use my guitar and my music to take me away from troubles. But, my pain would not allow me to play. It was like my guitar was sitting just outside my prison cell, and I couldn’t do anything but lament what I once had… what I once was.

I used to travel extensively, all over the world. Obviously, being in jail severely curtails your frequent flier miles. Being a prisoner of pain is no different. I won’t go into the mental and physical torture I went through, because a lot of it was inflicted on me by a well meaning, but increasingly impersonal healthcare and insurance system that doesn’t seem to understand its priorities, and what’s best for us.

The worst part was when my wife was thrown into the cell next to me. Her lower back problems got so bad, she couldn’t stand for more than 5 minutes at a time. And, a drastic back surgery was the torture they had in store for her.

So, when my Upper Cervical doctor released my wife and me from our pain, I couldn’t just run to freedom without taking my fellow “inmates” with me. Of course, not everyone will be able to go. Fear, and the comfort of “an evil that they know” will make it difficult for some to follow when the door swings open. But, you do your best, you keep going, knowing there are many who are ready for a solution.

One thing I’ve discovered: this “prison” is a lot bigger than I thought, and it’s filled with millions of people whose lives have been cut short. So, as I show people how they can escape from their suffering, I’ll be asking them to help spread the word, so everyone can be freed. For me, it came down to this: Once I knew the way out, how could I possibly leave anyone behind? And, how could I let anyone get trapped in that prison again?

That’s why I’m an Upper Cervical Advocate.
What about you?

The Upper Cervical Procedure

Precision Upper Cervical adjusting is a little-known chiropractic procedure that corrects the position of the top vertebrae of the spine, the atlas and/or axis. By correcting the tilt, shift or rotation of these vertebrae, the body is better able to overcome the affects or, in some cases, completely eliminate many different conditions.

The atlas is a single, 2 oz. doughnut-shaped vertebra at the top of the spine. Trillions of nerve fibers from the brainstem travel through the small opening in atlas and flow down into the spinal column. Because of the smallness of the opening and because of the atlas’ close proximity to the brain stem, if the atlas has moved out of position even a fraction of a degree, two very serious things can result.
Body Imbalance

When the atlas and/or axis are out of their proper position, the head moves off center of the body. This creates body imbalance from head to toe. More weight shifts to one side of the body than the other. If these vertebrae are also rotated out of position, they can twist your entire spinal structure, including the pelvis, so that one leg becomes shorter than another. (See illustrations.) Not having your atlas corrected to restore body balance is like continuing to drive a car that is misaligned. Your tires are going to wear out prematurely. You can keep replacing the tires, but unless you have the car aligned, you’ll just be wasting your money. The same thing is true for headaches or ADD or hundreds of other conditions that have been known to respond well to Upper Cervical health care. You can keep taking medication, but if your atlas is out of its proper position and causing the problem, it’s not going away until you get your atlas corrected and body balance restored.

Restriction or Distortion of Brain Messages to Different Parts of the Body

The second serious result of an atlas and/or axis being out of position is the restriction or distortion of critical messages from the brain to all parts of the body. Every cell, organ or tissue that is not receiving adequate nerve supply from the brain will suffer and degenerate. Example: Ball your hand into a fist. This represents your head. Extend your index finger as if you are pointing at someone. Your index finger represents your body. Take a rubber band and wrap it tightly around your index finger where it is attached to your hand. The rubber band represents your atlas, which is wrapped around the spinal cord right near the brain stem and has moved out of its proper position. Wait a few minutes. Your entire finger begins to turn white and blue due to the circulation being cut off by the rubber band. You can massage your finger to restore circulation. You can inject a syringe with pain medication to stop the pain. In severe cases you can cut off the finger to erase the pain. However, only the symptoms of the problem have been addressed, not the cause. The rubber band is the cause.

The same thing is true for an atlas that has moved out of its proper position. It can constrict or distort proper brain messages to organs and limbs throughout the body. Your feet may hurt or you may be having kidney problems, but the cause of the problem may not be in those areas at all, but in your neck where a misaligned atlas is restricting or distorting brain messages to areas throughout the body. If your atlas remains out of position for years, degeneration of organ, muscle and cell tissue can result. Over time, that could be serious, since in many conditions, pain is the last symptom to occur.

Now, here’s the Good News! Repositioning the top vertebrae of the spine brings healing! The repositioning of the atlas vertebrae is done by hand or by instrument. Depending on the doctor’s technique, it feels like a light tap, a brisk thrust, or a soft massage at the side of the neck as the atlas is moved precisely back into its correct position. It is completely “underwhelming.” There is no twisting of the neck. Patients are often surprised how anti-climactic it is until, over a period of time, they feel their bodies healing. The procedure cures nothing. It simply restores body balance and brain-to-body communication so that organs, limbs and tissues can resume normal functioning. The body can now self-heal. That is why we see many different conditions responding to the same procedure. However, too many of us wait too long to get our atlas corrected. This is mainly due to ignorance of the vital role the atlas plays in the health of the entire body throughout life.

It is becoming increasingly clear that parents should have their children’s atlas examined as soon after birth as possible and have regular atlas check ups throughout their lives. Countless problems could be avoided entirely. A rightly positioned atlas is so fundamental to good health; children to grandparents need to get their atlases examined now.