Headaches, Pain, Pregnancy and Upper Cervical Care

Relief from Headaches during Pregnancy + Better Function too

by Jason Blackketter

When she came into our office she was 18 weeks pregnant and had a history of difficult pregnancies, including 6 miscarriages. Her 2 and 1/2 year old son was born 1 month premature.

She was referred in for headaches by another client of ours. After just one specific upper cervical adjustment (and in just two short weeks) her body has begun healing dramatically & functioning better.

[Note: her results are not typical because most people are unwilling to try something new & different. Thankfully this client was willing to get help and try something new (she'd never been to an [upper cervical] Chiropractor before) so her results were different.]

Prior to care, our new client examination and her subjective concerns revealed the following:

–headaches every day, sometimes migraines, wondered if it was hormonal…

–pain and tightness in the right hip, low back, and sacroiliac joints

–stiff, tight, sore muscles in the neck with multiple tender spots

–reduced cervical range of motion (ROM)

–diminished sensation and motor strength in arms & hands

–paraspinal temperature imbalance from infrared Tytron nerve function scan

After the 1st adjustment in our initial program of upper cervical specific care she reported these functional changes:

–fewer and less intense headaches (only in the morning every other day instead of daily)

–NO more pain or tightness in the neck
–reduced pain in her hip and low back, although sacroiliac joints were still tender to the touch

–NO more acid reflux or heartburn (a common occurrence with nearly every meal during all of her pregnancies, but a symptom she had not mentioned during our initial consultation)

–paraspinal thermography balancing, showing better neurological brain-to-body connection

After 2 and 1/2 weeks under care she reported and we observed these results:

–NO more Headaches

–NO more pain or tightness in the neck, hip, low back, or sacroiliac joints

–a new sense of better balance and function in pelvis

–right hip feels more aligned

–improved digestion (NO more acid reflux or heartburn)

–normal ROM in cervical spine

–paraspinal temperature scans adaptive and balanced

–TMJ region feeling better, no more pain or tightness in her jaw, and it seems to work better when eating (TMJ disorder with jaw pain and dysfunction was another symptom not discovered in consultation)

–she said “I feel like everything is lined up and working better.”

–she also thanked me for encouraging her to drink more water (something she knew was good for her, but wasn’t doing regularly)

–and she noticed she’d been sleeping better and more comfortably

So, do you think her 20 week old baby developing inside is benefiting from Mommy’s better function?

Is it possible the baby will be stronger & healthier now too?

She is absolutely thrilled with the improved function since beginning her care (not to mention that she’s feeling a lot better too after the pain relief). Her friends and family members are hearing her story and noticing the changes as well.

In my opinion, every expecting mother owes it to her baby and future generations to get checked (and adjusted if necessary) to ensure her body is performing at its very best!

Thanks to Dr. Jerry Kennedy of Belleville, IL and Dr. Brandon Harshe of Dallas, TX for sharing the video and blog post about Pregnancy and Headaches relieved through Specific Upper Cervical Spinal Care.

Upper Cervical Care Stories Of Healing: Part 4

Editor's Note: Today our story comes from Upper Cervical Health Centers of America and their Cedar Falls, IA office. Again, please remember that upper cervical doctors do not treat any condition or disease. They are simply removing an obstruction to the body healing on its own. When this is accomplished and it stays that way the wisdom of the body can do amazing things.

Keith's Story

Have you ever considered walking across the yard? Ever actually think about it, or does it come automatically? How about walking across the room, or even getting out of your seat? Most people don’t give it a second thought. Ever drop something, even as small as a pen, and just bend down to pick it up without considering doing it? What if it hurt so bad to even bend down to pick up a pen that you considered leaving it alone? How long could you take that kind of pain? A day, a week, maybe a month? How about ten years?? Have you ever been afraid to pick up that dropped pen in fear that you might not be able to straighten up again, or that suddenly you would get a muscle spasm in your back so bad you would be laid up for a week or two?

That was my life for ten whole years! Most of the time I was in so much pain in my back and hips that to just get out of a chair or bed took some real consideration if it was worth it. The rest of the time was in fear that moving the wrong way would make it hurt so bad I would be incapacitated as a result. Sometimes it would hurt so bad I had trouble even breathing.

I went to see chiropractors – four or five different ones, with different approaches and techniques. None of them could keep me on my feet for more than a couple weeks. Then the pain would come back with a vengeance, sometimes gradually, sometimes suddenly, with a huge spasm. I also saw MD’s. Three of them assured me that it would take a “routine” operation, with a 50% chance of not getting any better. I decided I’d rather be in a wheelchair, which is what they “guaranteed” would eventually happen if I didn’t have the surgery.

I couldn’t hold a job because I couldn’t lift anything, walk across a room, or even sit for any length of time.

After about five years of back and hip pain, I woke up one night and noticed my heart had skipped a couple beats, then hammered quite hard for about three beats. It scared me so bad I went to the MD to have it checked out. He said a lot of people have it – could be stress, could be heart disease, so I went for an ultrasound and found my heart was very efficient – better than most. So why the funny heartbeat? I had also had chronic heartburn for many years along with everything else. Nothing could stop it, and I thought the symptoms were all connected somehow. I didn’t realize how right I was.

My wife had been working to support our family, as I couldn’t do much to make any money, being as crippled as I was. It was so hard for us to make it with 5 of us. I don’t know how we did it. I have to commend my Laurie for sticking it out with me. I was feeling pretty useless after ten years of this condition. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, when Laurie told me she was going to quit her good paying job, and go to work for a “new chiropractor” in town. I thought, “oh good, somebody else is going to tell me he can fix me up. How long this time? A week? A month? Seen it before!”

Doc Troyer did just that, so I let him have a chance at my back also. Except he didn’t want to touch my back, but wanted to “correct” my neck! I thought this guy is REALLY going in the wrong direction! Hope he at least pays my wife enough to support our family while I remain crippled! I let him do the x-rays, and show me where my neck was out, and do the correction. It was all too easy, but the 20 min. nap was nice! Ten years of pain can make you a pretty serious skeptic. You had to “show me”, and I’m not even from Missouri!

I went home that day, took it easy, like Doc told me. When I got up the next morning, I was already in the bathroom before I realized it didn’t take me 20 minutes to get out of bed, as usual, and it didn’t hurt nearly as much doing it! Again, we’ll see – a week? A month?

Doc Troyer had me coming in regularly, and after 3 weeks of checking and a few more corrections, I wasn’t feeling too bad. The real test came when my 160 lb Rott decided to chase a cat. I KNEW what was going to happen to that cat! No adjustment was going to help poor kitty if he got a hold of him, so I ran after the dog. My Rott and I both stopped and stared at each other in amazement. Neither of us could believe I ran! I hadn’t run in over ten years. Doc Troyer was making me a believer! Again, time would tell, but this was more than anyone else had done, so I decided to stick with the program.

After 6 months, my heartburn was gone, and another 6 months my heartbeat went back to normal. That sounds like a long time, but you have to understand, my neck was REALLY messed up, and I was also making up for lost time. During that year I was running a 6 acre organic garden and scrapping cars, not taking it easy, like I should have been doing. I figured I might as well challenge those corrections to see how good Doc Troyer really was. He didn’t let me down. Since he started work on me, I’ve fallen backwards off of a car trailer on cement, been pinned down by a heavy piece of steel, lifted heavy objects as often as I could, and done some pretty amazing feats for as crippled as I was. I was steadily getting better through all the punishment I could subject myself through.

Today, I am 54 years old and can out work most 25 year olds, feel better than I have since I was 30 years old, and remain pain free! I owe it all to Upper Cervical care and Doc Troyer. Oh yes, and my wife for going to work for Doc and convincing me to give it “one more try” and see her boss about my pain. If you’re hurting and/or don’t feel right, you gotta give Upper Cervical a try. It’s NOT about the symptoms, it’s about THE CAUSE! Being pain free and feeling better can be so easy, and being as crippled as I was, is NOT any fun!

Upper Cervical Care Stories Of Healing: Part 3

Editor's Note: Here are 8 more stories of healing one last time from Dr. Margaret Banitch in Montclair, New Jersey. Again, please remember that upper cervical doctors do not treat any condition or disease. They are simply removing an obstruction to the body healing on its own. When this is accomplished and it stays that way the wisdom of the body can do amazing things

Michelle

I was diagnosed years ago with Meniere’s disease. I had severe vertigo and vomiting. I never knew when it was going to happen. I saw two ear specialists who prescribed steroids, other medications and steroid shots with no relief. The doctors told me I would have to learn to live with it. I suffered for 2 ½ years before I found out about upper cervical care and started seeing Dr. Margaret. Now I have gone months and even more than a year without any episodes. If I have the beginning of an episode I know I can get my neck corrected and go back to leading a normal life and not worrying if this is going to be the day I need to be taken home from work.


Sean

My 8 year old son injured his neck jumping off a boat in February 2009. He immediately reported neck pain and shortly after I noticed he developed facial tics. I also noticed he was having trouble focusing in school. We went to an orthopedist who x-rayed Sean, recommended tylenol / ibuprofen and said everything would be ok. I continued to search for an answer to his problems and found upper cervical care and Dr. Margaret on the internet. After his first adjustment there was dramatic improvement! The tics have disappeared and he is focusing better in school. Dr Margaret has helped him tremendously and has developed a great relationship with him. I have since started upper cervical care myself and have referred many family members and friends to Dr. Margaret with great results.


Joseph

My son was born 10 years ago with a rare genetic disorder, Hirschhorn syndrome involving severe developmental delays. Since seeing Dr. Margaret he has more verbal sounds and is walking better. I have noticed he is sitting up straighter. His other health care providers and therapists have noticed he has a better attention span and coordination.


Renee

I had severe neck and arm pain for 2 months following a fall in February 2009. In that time I saw 2 orthopedists, another chiropractor and a physical therapist with no relief. My problem was complicated by severe scoliosis and osteoporosis. After 2 visits to Dr. Margaret my neck was pain-free. After 4 visits I had full range of motion in my neck. I have also noticed better balance walking and more energy. It is interesting to me that my former chiropractor refused to continue treatment of me when severe scoliosis and osteoporosis was diagnosed, yet Dr. Margaret treated me without question and successfully.


Stacy

I have had chronic TMJ isuues, neck, arm shoulder and back pain intermittently for over 10 years. I saw TMJ specialists, chiropractors, ear nose and throat specialists and a neurologist with only moderate relief. I have only undergone treatment with Dr Banitch for one month but the change is evident! Remarkably I’ve needed only 2 neck adjustments and the pain is gone. I am more relaxed, no longer wake up with the jitters, sleep better and suffer no headaches. I think this upper cervical care is nothing short of miraculous!


Anna

I had fallen while rollerblading and felt my back was out of alignment... a concern due to my scoliosis. My doctor and pharmacist recommended I see Dr. Margaret. With the upper cervical adjustments I’ve experienced a completely unexpected benefit. My sinuses are sooo much better. I no longer go into a fog when a storm is brewing. I had no sinus infections this past winter like in the previous winters. This has been life-changing - no exaggeration! Aside from feeling less "crooked" and thus more able to do everything, the improvement in my sinuses has given me days and weeks back that I used to lose. I no longer have to worry about what the weather will be like when I have to work and be "on". I am so grateful to have found Dr. Margaret and love her staff as well.


Georgia

Nearly a year has gone by since you started treating me for the severe pain in my neck, back, spine and hip. I was in such bad condition that my posture could be compared to the leaning Tower of Pisa. Daily, I was wracked with pain and I forced myself to bear it. So much so, that after you eliminated the pain, I missed it for awhile. That was then, which brings me to now. Now, I can turn my head as I park my car, instead of my whole body. Now, with the exception of arthritis, I don’t remember the pain in my neck, back and hip that kept me awake at night. Now although I am 63 years old with the spirit of a 33 year old, sometimes, I can almost get my body to believe it. It once told me I was about 93. As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I am writing to thank you for giving me a new lease on life. When I count my blessings, you are high on the list.


Janice

For a little over 10 years I suffered with extreme back, knee and neck pain. Atleast once a year I was in physical therapy for one of my ailments. P.T. was at least 2-4 months long. One day my friend told me about Dr. Margaret. I was amazed how a simple, painless adjustment could relieve those horrible pains in my body. Now I know when my sciatica starts, my knees ache or I just don't feel right... I need an adjustment. Within 24 hrs, I am pain free. It has been life changing for me to have that horrible pain gone. I am so hooked on upper cervical care.