Conditions Treated by NUCCA : Nucca Marlboro & Monmouth : Freehold : Uccofmonmouth.com

Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic debilitating condition that typically occurs more frequently in women, aged 20-50.

Symptoms include widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, fatigue, and tender areas on your body where even the slightest application of pressure causes pain. Many fibromyalgia sufferers also experience headaches, facial pain, TMJ, neck pain, anxiety, dizziness, Irritable Bowl Syndrome, depression, chest pains, difficulty with concentration, dry mouth, blurry vision, and a heightened sensitivity to smells, bright lights and sounds.

Symptoms may be affected by the weather, hormonal changes, time of day (symptoms are generally worse upon rising and toward the evening hours), stress, or the amount of physical activity you engage in on any given day.

No one is certain about the exact causes of fibromyalgia; however current thinking seems to point to the increased sensitivity of pain signals in the brain. Why does this occur? Repeated nerve stimulation may cause changes to the brains of those suffering from fibromyalgia. These changes may trigger an abnormal increase in certain brain chemicals that signal pain, called neurotransmitters. The brain's pain receptors, or neurons, receive signals from neurotransmitters and researchers believe that these neurons may start to hold memories of pain, which makes them more susceptible to pain signals, so they overreact. This particular theory on the cause of fibromyalgia is known as “central sensitization,” however no single cause has been established.
Other theories on the causes of fibromyalgia include:

The NUCCA and Advanced Orthogonal procedure utilizes a gentle touch and a controlled adjustment to the first vertebra of the spine, commonly called the Atlas. The effects of this single adjustment influence the entire spine and nervous system and allow the head, neck, spine and pelvis to return to their proper positions, restoring balance to the body.

After performing a series of NUCCA and Advanced Orthogonal adjustments to fibromyalgia patients, nerve signals are balanced and restored. People generally report a significant reduction in the symptoms associated with the condition, most noticeably the severe pain and fatigue that is characteristic of fibromyalgia. Many return to full-time work and leisure activities (gardening, exercise, dancing) that had been affected by the debilitating effects of this condition.

Migraines
Migraines can be severely incapacitating, especially if they become a daily occurrence. Unfortunately, most people with migraines run to a pill bottle at the first sign of onset. All that does, if anything, is reduce or relieve the pain symptom; over-the-counter and prescription medications do nothing for the cause of your headaches and may, in fact, trigger a “rebound effect” for future headaches.

Migraines headaches are characterized by intense pain that is felt on one side of the head. The pain may be accompanied by sensitivity to sound and light, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cold hands and/or feet. Some migraine sufferers experience an aura (flashing, colored spots or lights that start in the center of the field of vision and radiate outward) prior to actual onset of the headache.

Migraines affect many more men than women. Generally, a migraine attack may last from 4-72 hours. Because of the light and sound sensitivity, many migraine sufferers retreat to the comfort of a dark, quiet room during an episode.

Much about the causes of headaches in general is still unknown; even less is known about the causes of migraine headaches. They may occur as the result of an overly sensitive central nervous system, past spinal trauma (fall, accident,), hormonal irregularities/changes (many women experience pre-menstrual migraines), eating certain foods (i.e., red wine, chocolate, aged cheese, caffeine, etc.), stress, medication side effects, environmental changes (i.e., barometric pressure, altitude, etc.), and changes in sleep cycles.

How Can Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Help Migraine Sufferers?
The National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) has developed a highly advanced spinal correction procedure that repositions the weight of the head over the center of the neck to remove nerve compression and restore balance to the body.

The NUCCA and Advanced Orthogonal procedure utilizes a gentle touch and a controlled adjustment to the first vertebra of the spine, commonly called the Atlas. This adjustment often corrects misalignments in the spinal column which irritate the nerves that run from the brain and spinal cord to the blood vessels in the head. Causes of these misalignments include sports injuries, falls, auto accidents, and poor posture.

The effects of a single adjustment to the atlas influence the entire spine and nervous system and allow the head, neck, spine and pelvis to return to their proper positions, restoring balance to the body. After correcting the vertebrae in the upper neck, normal nerve function and blood flow returns to the patient, allowing many migraine sufferers to at last be migraine free, or at the very least, experience far fewer episodes than they did prior to undergoing NUCCA and Advanced Orthogonal procedure care. Former migraine sufferers have benefited greatly from upper cervical care.

Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis, a chronic and often debilitating disease that affects central nervous system functioning, afflicts an estimated 1 million people around the world. Twice as many women as men suffer from this condition, with most people noticing their first symptoms between ages 20 and 40.

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis vary, but depending on the number of nerves involved and their location, they may include:

Partial or complete loss of eyesight in both eyes, although one is usually affected first, then the other

Pain and/or tingling in parts of the body

Weakness in the limbs, generally on one side of the body, or in the lower half of the body

Fatigue

Loss of coordination/dizziness

Some people with MS may also develop muscle stiffness, difficulties with their bladder or bowel function, sexual dysfunction, slurred speech, and paralysis. Others experience changes in their mental state which may include forgetfulness or problems with concentration.

Most doctors and researchers hold the belief that MS is an autoimmune disease, a disease that causes your immune system to attack proteins in the myelin sheath, a fatty substance that protects nerve fibers in your brain and spine, as though they were foreigners in your body. The myelin sheath becomes inflamed and, eventually, so do the nerves it protects. Scarring results and, eventually, the toll this takes slows down or blocks the nerves that control muscle coordination, strength, sensation and vision, leaving you severely debilitated.

Others feel that there may be some type of genetic link to MS. Some researchers believe MS may be related to a protein that acts just like the myelin protein, that may enter the body when a virus is present.

How Can Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Help Those with Multiple Sclerosis?

The National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) has developed a highly advanced spinal correction procedure that repositions the weight of the head over the center of the neck to remove nerve compression and restore balance to the body.

When questioned by an NUCCA and Advanced Orthogonal chiropractor, many MS patients can recall an event that produced head/neck trauma prior to the onset of their condition. Many of these events are included in the following categories – automobile accidents, falls, or sports-related accidents; the MS symptoms show up at varying times after the traumatic event.

Using paraspinal digital infrared imaging/surface EMG and laser-aligned radiography, a chiropractor can usually detect the presence of an upper cervical subluxation (misalignment of the upper cervical spine).

The NUCCA and Advanced Orthogonal procedure utilizes a gentle touch and a controlled adjustment to the first vertebra of the spine, commonly called the Atlas. This adjustment often corrects any misalignments in the spinal column which irritate the nerves that run from the brain and spinal cord to the blood vessels in the head.

The effects of this single adjustment to the Atlas influence the entire spine and nervous system and allow the head, neck, spine and pelvis to return to their proper positions, restoring balance to the body. Recent research, post-adjustment MRIs, post-adjustment thermographic scans, and a neurologist’s evaluation of the MS patient may confirm that the intervention of the NUCCA and Advanced Orthogonal procedure has halted the progression of Multiple Sclerosis. Correcting an injury to the upper cervical spine through the use of NUCCA and Advanced Orthogonal adjustments may arrest and the progression of Multiple Sclerosis within a relatively short period of time.

Herniated Discs
Discs are sponge-like substances that are located between each of the vertebrae in the spine. They act as “shock absorbers” for the spine, cushioning the vertebrae and allowing for the type of movements that help you twist, bend and rotate.

As the spine ages, the center of the disc may lose some of its water content, causing it to have less of a cushion effect. As the disc continues to deteriorate, the outer layer may tear, allowing tissue matter from the center of the disc to escape through the tear into the area where the nerves and spinal cord reside. This condition is known as a ruptured or herniated disc.

Symptoms of a herniated disc differ based on the size and location of the herniation , but may include: low back pain, leg pain (usually in one leg), muscle weakness, tingling sensation in the buttock, knee, ankle, foot or thigh, pain in the thigh, and in extreme cases, weakness that affects both legs and/or loss of bowel or bladder control.

Causes of herniated discs include the natural degeneration of the spine, as described above, injury to the discs resulting from poor lifting posture, repetitive movements, sports, and back strain.

How Can Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Help Those with Herniated Discs?

Vertigo
Vertigo is the sensation of that either your body or the environment around you is moving, when both are fixed in stationery positions. It may even feel as though your body or the world around you is spinning.

True vertigo is different from the feeling of lightheadedness that comes with fainting. In addition to the feeling of motion, it may include nausea or vomiting, ringing in the ears, and sweating. You may also experience visual disturbances, feelings of weakness, difficulty walking or talking, or a feeling of reduced consciousness. Each episode can last from several minutes to several hours and may be constant or intermittent.

Vertigo may result from any number of causes or as a symptom of another illness or injury, such as whiplash, an inflammation of the inner ear, a tumor (acoustic neuroma), a decrease in blood flow to the brain, neck injury or head trauma, headache (especially migraines), or multiple sclerosis.

How Can Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Help Those with Vertigo?
The National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) has developed a highly advanced spinal correction procedure that repositions the weight of the head over the center of the neck to remove nerve compression and restore balance to the body.

Often, cervical spine misalignment that is the result of severe trauma, an injury or an accident causes nerve function between the brain and body to be compromised. The balance centers of the brain are influenced by the nerves in the upper cervical region. Recent research has revealed that vertigo, dizziness and balance symptoms may result from this type of misalignment.

A NUCCA and Advanced Orthogonal practitioner can conduct certain diagnostic tests on your spine and perform a thorough spinal exam to locate these misalignments. Then, through a gentle adjustment to the upper cervical vertebrae, performed by hand, the NUCCA and Advanced Orthogonal practitioner can realign the spine. This type of adjustment generally relieves any nerve interference, balances the body, resulting in improvement or total relief of the symptoms associated with vertigo.

Allergies
Two out of every 10 people suffer from some form of allergy. An allergy is an unnatural immune system response to a common substance (e.g., dust, mold, pets, pollen, trees, or food). When an allergen enters your body, your body responds by producing histamines which cause most of the symptoms associated with airborne allergies, such as watery eyes and nasal stuffiness.

Allergy symptoms range from mild (e.g., watery, itchy eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion) to moderate (e.g., rashes, hives, difficulty breathing) to severe (e.g., abdominal pain, vomiting, swelling, difficulty breathing and swallowing, mental confusion, or a severe drop in blood pressure).

Most allergies are believed to be inherited. If one parent is allergic, there is a 50% chance that any offspring will be allergic; if both parents have allergies, the risk increases to 75%. Other factors that may influence the development of allergies include pollution, infections, hormones and smoking.

How Can Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Help Those with Allergies?

The NUCCA and Advanced Orthogonal procedure is designed to correct imbalances in the nervous and immune systems, thereby alleviating many allergy conditions in their entirety. The immune system is directly controlled by the nervous system. An over reactive immune system (over sensitive) is often due to an irritated or imbalanced nervous system. By adjusting the atlas, allergic reactions can be prevented without the use of drugs or surgery!

Many health conditions you experience are the direct result of trauma to the upper cervical spine, including whiplash, accident or injury (e.g., sports-related injuries, falls, skiing accidents, etc.), and chronic poor posture.

Using diagnostic testing that includes precision x-rays and thermographic scans, NUCCA and Advanced Orthogonal chiropractors can locate the area of misalignment, apply a series of gentle, hands-on adjustments to the upper cervical spine and remedy the misalignment which relieves the cause of the allergic reaction, rather than just mask the symptoms through the use of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Post-adjustment x-rays and Thermographic/Surface EMG scans are taken to ensure that a successful spinal correction has taken place.

Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) is characterized by facial pain that is described as excruciating, stabbing, and sharp, usually on the right side in the cheek or jaw. Attacks can last for minutes, hours, days or even years and it affects women, generally over the age of 50, far more often than it affects men.

Some people experience a mild attack of Trigeminal Neuralgia, with only slight twinges of pain, while others experience pain so severe, they feel as though “live” electric wires are running through their faces. An attack may last from several seconds to a minute or more, with attacks occurring repeatedly throughout a day, days, weeks or years at a time. Some people experience short periods of remission, although these periods become less common as the disease progresses.

Trigeminal Neuralgia usually only affects one side of the face. In rare instances, it can affect both sides, usually a side at a time. It is a chronic, progressive condition that affects the fifth cranial (trigeminal) nerve, one of the largest nerves in the head. Talking, chewing, or swallowing intensify the pain, making it extremely difficult for the sufferer to cope, which is why it is often referred to as the “suicide disease.” Although the condition is not fatal, it is generally considered to be the most painful affliction known to man.

The pain of Trigeminal Neuralgia starts with the trigeminal nerve, located deep within the brain. This nerve carries sensation from the brain to various parts of the face through three smaller branches. The pain usually originates when the trigeminal nerve comes in contact with an artery or vein in the base of the brain which exerts pressure on the nerve, causing it to “misfire.” Stress or nerve damage may initially trigger the pain.

Compression caused by a tumor, multiple sclerosis or a stroke that affects the lower part of the brain may also cause this condition. Eating, drinking, smiling, brushing your teeth, taking, shaving – all these actions can trigger a painful episode.

How Can Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Help Those with Trigeminal Neuralgia?
The National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) has developed a highly advanced spinal correction procedure that repositions the weight of the head over the center of the neck to remove nerve compression and restore balance to the body.

One of the major problems with Trigeminal Neuralgia is that the pain worsens and becomes more constant over time, requiring higher dosages of pain medication, that usually lose any effect on the pain over time.

Often, misalignments in the upper cervical spine, caused by some type of trauma to the region as a result of an accident or injury, cause compression on certain nerves (cranial nerve V) that result in pain such as that experienced by Trigeminal Neuralgia sufferers. The misalignment is detected through diagnostic testing that includes precision x-rays and Thermographic/Surface EMG scans.

By applying the NUCCA and Advanced Orthogonal procedure, a chiropractor skilled in this technique can relieve compression on the damaged nerve. After correcting the misalignment in the upper cervical spine, normal communication is re-established between the brain and any pressure on the affected trigeminal nerve is removed, thereby alleviating the pain. Post-adjustment x-rays and Thermographic/Surface EMG scans are taken to ensure that a successful spinal correction has taken place.