The idea that chiropractic is a viable way to get help for the pain of fibromyalgia is not new. However, those who are already suffering from chronic, widespread pain are unlikely to want to have the spine roughly manipulated by a health practitioner. This is where upper cervical chiropractic comes into play. What is the difference and how can upper cervical care help fibromyalgia patients?
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When someone hears the word chiropractic, they usually envision a patient on the table with a chiropractor twisting the patient's neck to each side, crossing one leg over the other to pop the lower back, or pressing down on the back of a patient. This is nothing like upper cervical chiropractic care.
While there are a number of types of upper cervical chiropractic, the primary thing they have in common is that a low force correction is used. That means the adjustment is gentle and may involve light pressure to a specific area, or a gentle pulse, depending on the type performed by the practitioner you see.
What are the benefits of a low force correction?
That’s sounds great, doesn’t it? But the fact is, those benefit only matter if it works. So how does upper cervical chiropractic help with pain conditions?
The top vertebra in the next, the atlas, protects the brainstem. It also allows for blood flow to the brain through the vertebral arteries. Plus, a misaligned atlas can prevent proper cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) drainage. MRIs have revealed CSF pooling in the brain when an upper cervical misalignment exists. These factors all affect the body’s ability to process pain properly. They can also result in brain fog, problems sleeping, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.
Upper cervical chiropractic involves using diagnostic procedures to identify the specific misalignment as well as using gentle methods to correct the problem. The long-lasting adjustments have allowed many patients to begin healing from the damaged caused by a subluxation. As a result, the symptoms of pain disorders often decrease. Some may even see a complete resolution of the condition.
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TV show host Montel Williams describes how specific chiropractic care has helped his body.
The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
