Neck pain and back pain are chronic conditions that affect over 1/3 of Americans by the time they reach their mid-50’s. This can often be due to the fact that the neck has a great range of motion and is responsible for keeping the weight of the head in balance. Therefore, injuries are common, and range of movement can be limited.
Some people report having a stiff or sore neck upon waking up. They may feel it was due to their pillow needing replacing or that they slept in an odd position. This can very likely be the reason. The way one sleeps has a huge impact on how he feels when he wakes up.
The preferred way to sleep is on the back. If one must sleep on his side, a good idea is to put a pillow between the legs to keep pressure off the spine. Sleeping on the stomach is extremely hard on the back and neck. It stresses the joints and tissues in the neck due to the head being on one side or the other for long periods.
The cervical spine is made up of 7 bones. The top two bones, C1 (atlas) and C2 (axis) are not like the rest. For one thing, they have no disc to separate them. They also do not have locking joints like the others do. This means that they are more likely to receive injury or misalignment. This is more than likely the reason for neck pain. So what can a person do to ensure that the upper cervical spine is in proper alignment?
Upper cervical chiropractors focus attention on the C1 and C2 bones to make sure that they are in proper alignment. This is done by using a special, gentle technique that allows the bones to move back into the right position.
It is a more natural process than popping and forcing the bones and allows the body’s natural healing properties to take over and repair the damage done. Often, this is all that is needed to help someone cope with neck pain and see it become a thing of the past.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Perkins, call 248-780-8864 or just click the button below area
If you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
What exactly is trigeminal neuralgia? It is defined as sudden burning or stabbing pain in the face that is extreme in nature. Many health care providers are unfamiliar with this condition. Therefore, it can be hard to find a way to care for it, leaving the sufferer in extreme pain. About 150,000 people every year are told they have trigeminal neuralgia.
The trigeminal nerve is the nerve that is responsible for providing sensation to the face. One trigeminal nerve runs to the right side of the head, while the other runs to the left side. Each of these nerves has 3 separate branches:
While the exact cause of trigeminal neuralgia is unknown, there are theories that suggest pressure on the trigeminal nerve causes it to misfire, or it may be due to an abnormally placed artery causing pressure. No matter what the reason, those suffering want to find help. Many are looking for alternative, non-invasive, natural relief, but often do not know where to turn.
One thing that may be causing the trigeminal never to misfire could be a misalignment in the top bone of the neck called the C1 or atlas. The spinal cord sends and receives signals from the trigeminal nerve. If the spinal cord is under pressure due to the atlas bone misaligning, improper signals may cause misfiring of facial nerves.
I have been specifically trained to find upper cervical misalignments and to use a low force adjustment to correct them. Once realigned, nerves can begin functioning properly once again and eventually this may lead to a decrease in the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia. Is there proof that this works?
A 58-year-old woman had been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia 6 years before being part of a case study. It was discovered that she did indeed have a misalignment in her upper neck, and she received specific adjustments to that area by an upper cervical chiropractor. By the end of nine weeks of care, she no longer was suffering from any attacks.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Perkins, call 248-780-8864 or just click the button below area
If you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Whiplash is a common ailment that causes the neck muscles to overextend. The muscles, tendons, connective tissue, and ligaments in the body support the spine and keep it from collapsing. When a person endures whiplash, the tissue begins to weaken and break down the spine causing it to lock into a position of stress.
The more it stays in this position, the more damage is done to muscles, discs, and joints. These begin to wear down. Therefore, if a person has been in a car accident a long time ago and did not have his whiplash treated properly, he can just now begin to see the effects happening. One such result is degenerative disc disease.
Degenerative disc disease is the wearing down of bones and surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tissue. Often this occurs with age, but it is exacerbated by a previous injury. If a person suffered from whiplash, even if it was many years ago, it is important to seek the care of an upper cervical chiropractor.
Success has been seen in relieving patients with degenerative disc disease due to whiplash. When a person experiences whiplash, the C1 and C2 vertebrae often move out of alignment. This area of the neck is able to provide a large range of motion for a person.
However, this does cause it to be more easily damaged. A misalignment here can affect a person’s posture and causes the brain and the body to no longer communicate properly. This leads to a number of different health problems.
I use a gentle, scientific procedure that works along with the body and its natural ability to heal itself. By balancing the head on the spine and realigning the vertebrae, the body can once again begin to operate at its optimum. The long-lasting effects of whiplash may be helped, and a person can continue leading a happy and healthy life.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Perkins, call 248-780-8864 or just click the button below area
If you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Whiplash involves pain that no one wants to deal with regardless of the initial cause of the injury. Maybe it was something as simple as the driver behind you checking a text instead of paying attention to the road, and now you have to deal with the consequences, and not just that one day but perhaps for many months and years to come. That is why it is important to seek the proper relief care for whiplash as soon as possible when an injury occurs.
While many just feel like they can “wait out” the pain with bed rest, it is important to stop the damage caused by a whiplash injury from continuing to worsen. Consider the following suggestions for ways to cope with such an injury.
Cold – Ice immediately following an injury is important. This reduces inflammation. Place an ice pack on your neck for 20 to 30 minutes every few hours. Be sure to wrap the ice pack in a cloth towel so that it does not touch your skin directly.
Heat – After you have used ice for a few days, you can switch over to heat. Heat improves blood flow. You don’t want to do this until the swelling has gone down, which is why you want only to use ice for a few days before switching to heat.
Cervical Collar – If recommended by your doctor, you may end up wearing a neck brace to keep everything aligned properly. However, this is not always the best way to treat whiplash, so only get such a collar if a doctor suggests it.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic – An upper cervical chiropractor will make gentle adjustments that do not involve any popping or twisting that could further damage neck tissue.
Hyperextension of the neck can lead to many other chronic issues including migraines, vertigo, and various systemic health conditions. To avoid these consequences, seek the assistance of an upper cervical chiropractor. We can correct any misalignments before further damage takes place.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Perkins call 248-780-8864 or just click the button below area
A person may wake up one morning with neck pain that causes them to wonder what he might have done to cause it. Did you sleep in the wrong position? Did you lift something the day before that is making it hurt now? There can be a number of reasons for neck pain. Let's examine a few activities that may be contributing to it.
Repetitive movement of the neck or one drawn-out movement can cause a person to strain his neck. This comes from overusing or overstretching the neck ligaments, causing what is referred to as a sprain. This may also cause muscle spasms of the neck. How do these come about? The following activities can contribute to this.
If a person does their best to try to avoid these activities, he will have a much better chance of waking up without neck pain. So, what can a person do if they are already dealing with neck pain?
A good place to begin is to make an appointment with an upper cervical chiropractor. We have had much success in relieving our patients with neck pain. It has been proven that a misalignment in the upper part of the neck of only ¼ of a millimeter can cause a multitude of problems throughout the body. It could be the cause of a patient's neck pain. Once we correct this misalignment, a person may be free of neck pain long-term.
References:
https://www.blairchiropracticblog.com/whiplash-its-more-than-a-pain-in-the-neck/
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/neck-pain-cause
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Perkins call 248-780-8864 or just click the button below area
If the body endures an accident or injury, damage can be done to the connective tissue that consists of the ligaments, muscles, and tendons that keep the spine in place. This weakens this tissue and causes a breakdown of the spine. The spine then locks into a position of stress causing further damage to joints, muscles, and discs. The longer this continues, the more damage is done.
Those of us in the field of upper cervical chiropractic care are very familiar with this situation. We often see patients with spines in this kind of shape. Many times it is due to a vehicle accident that may have occurred recently or may have actually happened as long as fifteen years ago.
Degenerative disc disease is the term applied to this type of breakdown of the bones, ligaments, and discs. It is hard to determine how long it takes for this actually to happen, but often we can determine when the accident has occurred due to the amount of damage to the spine. This can also be referred to as arthritis of the spine. Can this condition be reversed?
It is possible that, through the care of an upper cervical chiropractor, a person can see a reversal of their symptoms. If there is a misalignment as small as ¼ of a millimeter, it can lead to pressure being put on the brainstem. When this happens, the brain and the body no longer communicate properly leading to a variety of health problems. We are specially trained to detect these misalignments using the latest technology. Once they are discovered, we can begin to work to correct them. Once corrected, the brain and the body begin communicating properly, and healing can begin. This will also relieve the pressure being placed on the spine and a person should begin to see a reversal of their symptoms of degenerative disc disease.
References:
The Cervical Spine The Cervical Spine Research Society, Lippincott, 1989 Mason Hohl, MD Professor of Surgery/Orthopedics, UCLA Medical Center Page 440
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Perkins call 248-780-8864 or just click the button below area
An accident has occurred. No matter what the details are, the fact is that whiplash was the end result. What can a person do to heal quickly from the effects? Are there things that should and should not be done? Let's emphasize the truth of the matter: whiplash will not just go away like the common cold. You must be pro-active in the healing process.
A good thing to begin with is icing your neck area. Cover an ice pack with a thin towel (never place it directly on the skin) and leave it on for no longer than 30 minutes. Do this every 3 – 4 hours for the first three days after the accident.
After a few days of icing your neck, you can begin to use moist heat. Be sure the swelling has gone down before attempting this. A hot shower or bath may also help relieve some of the stiffness.
Neck braces have been found to actually weaken the muscles of the neck. So, be sure to check with your upper cervical chiropractor before you put one on.
Speaking of upper cervical chiropractors, a person will want to have their neck examined by one as soon as possible. They will be able to detect and correct any misalignments caused by the accident. What causes a misalignment in a whiplash victim?
It is called whiplash because the muscles of the neck react much like a whip being cracked. This over-extends the muscles and leads to a misalignment of the upper neck area. This type of misalignment causes such things as headaches, symptoms of multiple sclerosis, vertigo, carpal tunnel, TMJ disorders (problems with the jaw), and more.
By consulting with an upper cervical chiropractor and receiving adjustments under their care, a person may see relief from many of these problems. Whiplash symptoms may ease up or go away altogether once the misalignment in the neck has been corrected.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Perkins call 248-780-8864 or just click the button below area
Neck pain is a common problem, and one that will affect most people at some point in life. Just how common is this health issue? It seems to be catching up to back pain. One in ten persons complains of neck pain and one in twenty describes the pain as debilitating. What causes this condition to occur and what can be done about it?
Pinpointing the source of neck pain presents, at times, a challenge. The intricacy of this region of the body makes discerning the cause difficult. Structures such as the skull, bones, and muscles all work together and house nerves, veins, and arteries. Weight plays a big role in this too. A human head is ten to twelve pounds. Your neck supports that weight. Imagine the balance and control needed within the neck's structure to move, balance, and support the head. If anything is even slightly thrown off, neck pain can follow.
Of course, the vertebrae provide that main pillar on which the entire structure rests. These important bones must be in the correct position. For those who are suffering from neck pain – particularly in cases where it is chronic – the upper cervical part of the spine should be examined, with focus on the C1 vertebra.
What is a relief option for neck pain? Dr. Christopher Perkins of Farmington, Michigan is the expert to seek out for relief. He is an upper cervical chiropractor. As such, he is experienced in isolating the cause of the neck pain and correcting the issue through adjusting the C1 vertebra. Sometimes, relief can come in just one exact adjustment of this one bone. Advanced methods, that have proven research to back their effectiveness, are employed by Dr. Perkins to provide relief for neck pain sufferers.
References:
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Perkins call 248-780-8864 or just click the button below area
Whiplash involves tendon or muscle damage in the neck as the result of an injury or accident. While we may think of trauma as needing to be major in order the cause whiplash, the fact is that it can occur in a minor fender bender at just 5 MPH.
When a person is running, or even walking quickly, they are often moving at speeds of 5 MPH or faster. Thus, you don’t have to be in a car to get whiplash. It can happen while working, playing sports, or while taking part in other forms of recreation.
What can you do if you have experienced whiplash to minimize the symptoms? We are going to discuss three practical ways to keep whiplash from getting you down.
Cold – Applying ice to the pain can help to reduce swelling in the days immediately following the injury. Don’t apply the ice for more than 20 minutes at a time and wait a few hours before applying it again. Also, don’t put the ice directly on your skin. Wrapping an ice pack in a paper towel will protect your skin from damage while you treat the inflammation
Heat – After you have iced the injury for two to three days, you can use moist heat. At this point, you have done all that you can for the swelling with ice. The heat will now help the flow of blood to go back to normal.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic – An examination can determine if a misalignment has occurred as a result of the accident or injury. Such misalignments can cause chronic conditions if not corrected. An upper cervical chiropractor is specially trained to diagnose and correct such misalignments.
Ice and heat work well on swelling and blood flow, but even the slightest misalignment can result in future issues if not treated. An upper cervical misalignment can cause the flow of cerebral blood and spinal fluid to be reduced. The result is hindered communication between brain and body.
Dr. Christopher Perkins of Farmington, Michigan has been specially trained as an upper cervical chiropractor. Dr. Perkins welcomes you to seek a consultation, even if your whiplash injury occurred a number of years ago, to see if have experience a misalignment.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Perkins call 248-780-8864 or just click the button below area
