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1502 W. University Drive #107 | Mckinney, Texas 75069
Vertigo, the sudden sensation that a person is spinning, is difficult to cope with and even harder to find an actual cause for. Medical doctors are only able to find an underlying reason in approximately 50% cases. The majority of these causes lead back to head injuries.
This fact was discovered in a study performed involving 60 patients. When a medical history was taken on each patient, it was revealed that 93% of them had suffered some type of trauma, such as during skiing, car accidents, horseback riding, and some as simple as tripping and falling. Only 4 of the participants could not remember having an accident that was related to their vertigo.
This clearly shows the connection between trauma that affects the head and neck and vertigo. How much damage was done during the accident does not seem to matter. Therefore, if someone is experiencing vertigo, it is vital to recognize the fact that it could be caused by some sort of injury, even if this injury happened a long time ago.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and vertigo, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.
The C1 and C2 vertebrae, which are the top two bones of the neck, are very susceptible to injury due to their location and mobility. They protect the brainstem. However, if they are misaligned they can actually cause the brainstem to malfunction sending improper signals to and from the body and brain. This leads to a number of health problems, including vertigo.
At Crowder Specific Chiropractic, we have been specifically trained to detect where a certain misalignment is and then work to correct this. Once corrected, the body can begin to heal and the brain can once again receive and send proper signals. Our patients have reported a decrease in symptoms. Some have had it go into remission entirely. Is there is more proof available? The study referenced earlier saw a patient that had suffered from vertigo for 37 years have it go away completely. Additional proof abounds. Why not give it a try?
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.
Migraines are, unfortunately, an extremely prevalent condition, affecting approximately 38 million people across the U.S. If you don’t suffer from migraines, chances are you know someone who does. Migraines are not simply just a really bad headache; they are accompanied by a host of neurological symptoms that can sometimes take days to recover from. Healthcare options for migraine sufferers are fairly limited overall and mostly consist of a variety of medications that seek to combat the pain and nausea associated with an episode.
We have seen a trend where more and more people are seeking out natural treatments or remedies for their conditions, and migraine headaches are no exception. People who suffer from chronic migraines may feel tied to different pharmaceuticals they’ve been prescribed to manage the many symptoms, from the pain of the headache to nausea. Many have concerns over side effects, ramifications of long-term usage of these medications, or just prefer to try and manage their health with a more natural approach. Certain supplements and herbs have been looked at in the management of the condition, including:
While supplementation can be helpful in symptomatic treatment, it doesn’t address the root cause.
In many cases, migraine headaches have their roots in the nervous system. The central nervous system controls and coordinates the function of all the other systems in the body. In the instance of migraines, oftentimes the blood vessels, or vascular system, are involved as well. A very specific type of misalignment of the atlas vertebra, which sits at the very top of the neck at the base of the head, is found in most people who find their way to our office with migraines. When the atlas shifts, it creates an obstruction in the ability for the brainstem to function normally. This means that normal signals travelling over the nerves are compromised, and blood flow is affected, which can contribute to the many symptoms of a migraine attack.
At Crowder Specific Chiropractic, our priority is figuring out if a misalignment of the atlas is at the root of your migraines. If through our thorough analysis, it is determined that your atlas is not aligned properly, we work with you to gently restore normal alignment with specific upper cervical chiropractic adjustments. This will, in time, allow the body’s natural healing process to take place, which can lead to a reduction in the frequency and/or severity of your migraine headaches.
References:
https://migraineresearchfoundation.org/about-migraine/migraine-facts/
https://www.migrainetrust.org/living-with-migraine/treatments/supplements-and-herbs/
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.
Vertigo can be the result of past injuries to the neck that have not been properly cared for. Since many ignore neck injuries and expect them to go away on their own, the initial damage caused to the neck eventually begins to affect the ears and the vestibular system which is responsible for maintaining balance.
The top vertebrae in the neck are also called the upper cervical spine. When a misalignment occurs here, it affects how the weight of the head (10-14 pounds) is distributed across the body.
The righting reflex is in charge of keeping the eyes level to the horizon. Because of this, when a misalignment occurs in the neck, other parts of the body have to shift to compensate. Especially when the C1 and C2 are misaligned, this can create pressure on the brainstem or in the spinal cord.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and vertigo, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.
The brainstem plays a vital role in helping to maintain balance. It is the communication center between the ears and the brain. When a misalignment in the neck is affecting brainstem function, signals from the vestibular nerve and other parts of the body can become distorted. Vertigo is just one possible outcome of such an occurrence.
If you suffer from vertigo, I want to encourage you to set up an appointment for a consultation. Upper cervical chiropractors have had great success in relieving vertigo since the condition often springs from an upper cervical misalignment.
We start with a thorough examination of the upper spine to determine if a misalignment exists. Once the exact location and degree of the misalignment can be identified, necessary corrections can take place. As a result, patients may experience a lessening of the frequency or severity of vertigo, and some may enjoy complete resolution.
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.
Neck pain is a common problem in the world today, and it may become even more problematic due to the ubiquitous use of tablets, especially for TV binge-watching. Before you spend 4 hours or more slumped over the small screen catching up on your favorite show, consider the following.
When you are standing or sitting straight and looking directly ahead of you, your upper cervical spine is balancing your head—all 10 to 12 pounds of it. But when you change your posture, that amount of weight increases dramatically.
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.
What does this mean when it comes to tablet and smartphone use? To avoid what has been termed iPad-neck by some and Netflix-neck by others, you need to keep your portable device at eye level. Try getting a stand for your device rather than holding it in your lap and looking down for hours at a time. A few seconds to check a text here and there may not amount to much, but hours of TV watching can do some serious damage. 60 pounds of pressure is more than enough to cause a misalignment.
Whether neck pain is self-inflicted through poor posture or the result of an accident, it is important to correct any underlying misalignments. This is because the C2 vertebra at the top of the cervical spine can place pressure on the brainstem if misaligned. The results can be everything from migraines to vertigo.
At Crowder Specific Chiropractic, we focus on the upper cervical spine to relieve neck strain and help improve posture, thus reducing the amount of pressure being placed on the upper 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.
Many migraine sufferers have an idea of what events during their day may lead to a full-blown attack. It can be stressful to attempt to avoid certain foods or lifestyle behaviors in order to prevent a pounding migraine. Some common triggers include:
- Stress – Physical and/or emotional stress
- Menstruation – Hormone changes just before and during menstruation
- Food additives – Artificial sweeteners and preservatives
- Improper sleep – Too little or too much sleep
- Certain foods/Meal habits – Excess sodium intake, processed foods, and aged cheeses
While it may be a good idea in the short-term to avoid these aggravating factors, I ultimately want you to be able to enjoy your daily activities without having to worry about whether your next migraine is about to start. Most relief care are aimed at reducing or avoiding symptoms without truly examining the underlying cause. Here at Crowder Specific, we are dedicated to finding out if our solution is right for you.
Your spine is responsible for protecting your spinal cord. Your spinal cord is responsible for sending messages to and from your brain. When the top bone in your spine (atlas) misaligns, this creates pressure within your spinal cord. This pressure causes the messages going to and from your brain to be distorted. This may lead to chronic symptoms, such as head or facial pain and muscle spasm.
I hold the highest certification in the knee chest upper cervical technique, a chiropractic technique that is designed to gently re-align the atlas vertebra. Upper cervical is unique in that it is incredibly precise – this allows for no popping or twisting of the neck. Through realignment of the atlas, tension on the spinal cord is reduced. This allows for proper signals to travel to and from the brain. Having proper signals may lead to reduced symptoms.
Bernard et al. described a case report of a 16-year-old girl who presented with chronic headaches. She complained of having 2-3 hours duration 1-2 times per week. After 16 visits with 5 atlas corrections, her migraine frequency and duration decreased. She reported only having mild migraines 2-4 times per month. (4)
References
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.
