Anyone who suffers from chronic headaches understands how much it impacts daily life.  Migraines and other headache types can be difficult to classify or diagnose, and the stress of not knowing when the next episode might occur can also be very debilitating.  Treatment options can be confusing and may not provide the relief that so many migraine sufferers are seeking out.

Causes of Migraines

While the exact cause of migraines has not been precisely pinpointed, there are certain known facts about migraines that can help explain their origin.^1-2

• The pain of migraines and other headaches is specifically linked to a lack of sufficient oxygenation to the brain
• Because of their unique anatomy, the uppermost two vertebrae (C1 and C2) of the spine are particularly prone to misaligning.
• An upper cervical misalignment has the potential to affect certain pathways to the brain, negatively impacting blood flow and neurological function. This can be a significant contributory factor in migraines and other headache types.

In a study of 101 patients who suffered with a variety of headache types as well as migraines, 87 of them had a prior injury to the upper neck.³ Even minor incidences that a person may not view as an injury can sometimes have the potential to create an upper cervical misalignment, or subluxation, due to the biomechanical instability of that area of the spine.

Migraines and Upper Cervical Chiropractors

Upper cervical chiropractors are experts in the area of the upper neck, and chiropractors such as Dr. Crowder are helping migraine sufferers in McKinney Texas regain their quality of life.  Dr. Crowder utilizes a highly specialized method of analysis in order to determine if and how those top two bones in the neck have deviated from normal anatomical alignment.  Once that is established, an adjustment is made and the healing process is allowed to begin.  Proper blood flow and neurological function is restored to the brain stem, thus providing relief to migraine sufferers.

REFERENCES:

1. Ebersberger A. Pathophysiology of migraine: models to explain the generation of migraine headache. Anaesthesist 2002 Aug; 51 (8): 661-7.
2. Hamel E. Current concepts of migraine pathophysiology. Can J Clin Pharmacol 1999 Autumn; 6 Suppl A; 9A-14A.
3. Elster EL. Upper cervical chiropractic care for a patient with chronic migraine headaches with an appendix summarizing an additional 100 headache cases. J Vert Sublux Res 2003;AUG(3):1-10

To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. You can also click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.

Chronic dizziness or imbalance is not only unpleasant to experience, but it can also have a significant impact on the ability of a person to function day-to-day.  Activities that are typically thought of to be simple tasks, such as dressing or bathing, can become difficult or impossible for the person suffering from the effects of dizziness.  It is reported that approximately 69 million Americans have experienced some form of vestibular dysfunction and vertigo symptoms.¹

Defining Dizziness, Vertigo and Disequilibrium

The Vestibular Disorders Association offers the following definitions to help clarify the various types of experiences associated with dizziness²:

• Dizziness – a sensation of lightheadedness, faintness, or unsteadiness. Dizziness does not have a rotational component to it.
• Vertigo – the perception of moving or whirling, either of the self or of surrounding objects.
• Disequilibrium – imbalance, unsteadiness, or loss of equilibrium, often accompanied by spatial disorientation.

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and vertigo, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

A number of health conditions can be contributing to the above-mentioned problems.  Disruptions to the signals to the brain from the body’s sensory systems can be important pieces of the dizziness puzzle.  Sensory information is gathered and processed by:³

• The eyes – your vision aids in determining how your body is moving and where it’s located in space
• The nerves – sensory nerves relay messages to the brain about the movement and position of your body
• The inner ear – sensors located inside the ears aid in detecting back-and-forth motion and gravity.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic: A Natural Vertigo Solution 

While it is important to discern the nature of the dizziness or imbalance condition, they all may share one critical thing in common – the underlying cause.  As an upper cervical chiropractor, McKinney, TX vertigo expert Dr. Terry Crowder specializes in locating and correcting the underlying cause of conditions that create vertigo, dizziness, and disequilibrium.  If the position of the head is off due to a misalignment of the upper cervical vertebrae, this is an issue that can only be addressed by a specifically trained upper cervical chiropractor.  A study of 60 vertigo patients revealed 100% improvement or complete resolution of all symptoms in as little as one month under upper cervical specific care.⁴

REFERENCES:

1. Vestibular Disorders Association. About vestibular disorders | Vestibular Disorders Association. [homepage on the Internet]. 2015 [cited 2015 May 1]. Available from: http://vestibular.org/understanding-vestibular-disorder
2. Vestibular Disorders Association. Causes of dizziness | Vestibular Disorders Association. [homepage on the Internet]. 2015 [cited 2015 May 1]. Available from: http://vestibular.org/node/2
3. Mayo Clinic. Dizziness symptoms - Mayo Clinic. [homepage on the Internet]. 2012 [cited 2015 May 1]. Available from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dizziness/basics/symptoms/con-20023004
4. Elster E, Sixty patients with chronic vertigo undergoing upper cervical chiropractic care to correct vertebral subluxation: A retrospective analysis. J Vert Sublux Res 2006; Nov:1-9.

To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. You can also click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.

Text Neck: A Common Problem Today

In a November 2014 article in the Washington Post, a phenomenon known as “text neck” was touted as an epidemic.  In a generation where younger and younger people have access to cell phones and other devices, “text neck” has become a much more prevalent condition.  Mobile technology-induced head, neck, and back pain are seen in many people, young and old.

Poor Posture Causes Neck Pain

The average weight of the human head is about 12 pounds.   It has been said that for every inch the head shifts forward, the stress on the spine doubles.   With that statistic, it is easy to see why more and more people are experiencing neck pain as we see smartphones become the standard.  Most people have developed the habit of bending at the neck to look down at their devices rather than looking down only with the eyes, or bringing the device up to eye level.  Poor posture and forward head carriage have been associated with reduced lung function by up to 30 percent, and are also linked with other conditions such as headaches, heart disease, and depression.

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and chronic neck pain, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

In many cases, the cumulative effect of the many hours of peering down at our devices has left us with spinal misalignments that are causing not only pain, but a reduction in nervous system function, whether it’s apparent to us or not. 

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Relieves Neck Pain Naturally

Neck pain expert Dr. Crowder in McKinney, TX has focused on correcting these types of misalignments to help people get out of pain and achieve better health.  Rather than relieving the pain with temporary measures such as over-the-counter pain relievers, very specific adjustments are made to the upper cervical spine, namely the top two vertebrae.  This serves to restore normal alignment as well as proper function.  An awareness of correct posture when using mobile devices combined with upper cervical chiropractic care can provide a lasting solution to the new epidemic of text neck.

REFERENCE ARTICLE:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/11/20/text-neck-is-becoming-an-epidemic-and-could-wreck-your-spine/

To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. You can also click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.