Question
QUESTION: Hi,

2 neurologist have said I have dystonia and one neurologist who took an nerve conduction test said I did not have dystonia.

I am now going to an upper cervical chiropractor and had abour 8 treatments. He is studied in the toggle recoil.  Before this chiropractor I went to another upper cervical chiropractor who studied in the blair technique. I went to him on weekends becuase he was far so I would see him on friday saturday and sunday each week. I drove there and stayed in the area. I saw him for about 8 weekends.

I am still contracting my head to the right continuously.  I bring my head back to center and it goes to the right again.  The hardest position is my head straight ahead.  I still fell the same.  The blair chiro adjusted c1, 2, & 5 because my mri said Ihad some narrowing at c5 and a bone spur. My chiro said my listing is posterior, inferior left. The toggle recoil chiro is adjusting 1 and two only I believe.

I do not feel any diffence. If you can add some insight or information that may be helpful I would be very grateful.

Thanks,

Teri

ANSWER: With the information given it sounds as though you are being over adjusted, which can result in you getting worse or having no change in symptoms. Also another VERY important point is limitations of matter, for example if your arm is cut off in an accident there is no amount of adjusting that is going make your arm grow back. It is possible that you have sustained a permanent injury, however it is too soon to tell from the information given, also neurological symptoms can take a long time to heal.

Now assuming the work is being done CORRECTLY and assuming your injury has not exceeded the limitations of matter, you can expect results. Also it is very important to understand that if your getting adjusted every single time you go in the that means you are not holding the adjustment,holding the adjustment is a very important if not the most important aspect of Upper Cervical care.

Toggle recoil and Blair are great techniques if the work is done CORRECTLY. Make sure you are going to a trained Upper Cervical Doctor, not someone who took a class once. This is one of the best websites I know of for finding an Upper Cervical Doctor www.UpperCervicalCare.com

Great question.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: When I went to the blair chiro usually I did need to get adjusted on Friday. Saturday no and sunday no.  This chiro who does toggle recoil it seems that when I go to him which is 3x's per week I'm not holding the adjustement so he does adjust me.  Would the fact that I keep pulling my neck to the right take me out of adustment or should I be able to move without coming out?

Do you believe it is possible that if I have narrowing and a bone spur at c5 that it can be causing pressure on the acessory nerve which innervates the scm and contracts it continuously? This does not happen when I sleep. Is that because I am in the sleep state that everything stops or would that be something else?

I feel like my neck is not on the rest of my spine correctly.  My right side feels weak. Can it be a trigger point from the scm or another muscle in the neck that contributes to turning my head right. I know the right scalene does turn my head to the right.I keep thinking it may be a trigger point in one or more of my muscles.  If the chiro was working wouldn't I feel some sort of relief is not totally?

Thanks again.

Answer
It is ok if you need to be adjusted more in the beginning however as time passes you should start holding for several days at a time, then several weeks, then months etc..

I agree with you that it is possible that the bone spur at c5 could be affecting a portion of the accessory nerve however it is unlikely. I would look very closely at your upper cervical spine. I hear from new patients on a regular basis that they have the sensation that their head is not sitting on their spine correctly.

The worst case scenario is that you have permanent damage to the nerve, however it is too soon to tell from the information given. Once the atlas or axis which ever is the major misalignment is corrected and you HOLD the adjustment then your body can begin the healing process. This takes TIME. Assuming the work is being done CORRECTLY the interference will be removed and your body will heal itself.

Thank you for the question's. Please let me know how things go for you.