Progression Through Upper Cervical Care
What will I need to correct the problem?
Upper Cervical Care is different from general chiropractic. At our office, we do not think in terms of number of visits for correcting the problem. When it comes to compression at the base of the brain, and how that weakens the body, we think first about getting the problem corrected, not the number of visits. Recovery and stability of the correction will depend on the progressive degenerative effects that the spinal misalignment has had on the entire body. It is the long term stability of the spinal corrections that get people well.
How long will I need Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care?
After the initial correction is made, the spine returns to a normal, balanced position. If the patient maintains the correction, the acute symptoms will begin to disappear. The body will then enter into a recovery cycle where it begins to stabilize into the new, balanced position. Providing the correction is maintained, once the body is stabilized and begins holding its alignment, recovery takes about one month for every year the spine has been misaligned. Once the patient has experienced how much better they feel when they are in proper alignment, they will schedule appointments to have their atlas alignment checked every few months.
The typical office visit will last 15 min or less and include an evaluation update since the last visit and a correction to the spine if needed. Each visit will usually include an education moment about your health concern in particular as well as home stretching or other recommendations. We find that those who follow the planned schedule are more satisfied with their care in general and see a better improvement with their health concerns.
Do all people respond the same with Upper Cervical Care?
No, there are some conditions that are directly related to body imbalance (misalignment), some that are partially related, and some that are not related at all. During your initial visit, we make every effort to determine whether your condition is caused by a misaligned vertebra or is a condition that requires medical intervention.
How long will it take until I feel better?
About 90% of people we treat notice a change in how their bodies feel following the initial correction. Over the next 3 to 21 days most patients notice some relief of their acute symptoms. Over the first 90 days their bodies will go through considerable structural and neurological change. It is this process of change (recovery) that moves our bodies from a state of poor health to a state of being well.
Will the problem go away with time?
No, without intervention the problem will not go away. Although symptoms may come and go, the problem still exists. If the condition is ignored, over time the problem evolves into a complex set of ailments and degenerative conditions that may not respond to conservative care. If the condition can still be treated conservatively, it may take much longer to correct and stabilize the spine than would have been necessary if the problem had been addressed when the symptoms first appeared.
Why don’t I always get a correction when I feel bad, and why do I sometimes get a correction when I feel good?
The Upper Cervical doctor will only adjust your spine when his objective test(s) detects body imbalance to be present. It is possible for patients to be feeling poorly while maintaining their body balance, or the reverse, feeling well, and needing a correction. The body is extremely complex, and constantly in flux. How we feel is not the best indicator of health. Society has been taught through medicine that when you feel bad, you take something for your symptoms. Pain or discomfort is never an adequate justification for spinal correction.
If I get adjusted more frequently will it speed my recovery?
No, you only get adjusted when an adjustment is necessary. Many times adjusting too frequently can actually retard the recovery process, making the correction less stable.
Can my alignment correct on its own?
It’s unlikely that the spine will move back to its normal balanced position without intervention. However, once you are stabilized your atlas may briefly misalign from a non-force event, such as stress, but realign shortly (a few hours). If you feel you have lost your alignment, it is best to schedule an appointment and get adjusted as soon as possible.
How will I know when I lose my alignment?
From the very first correction the Upper Cervical doctor will begin to teach you how to tell when you are maintaining your alignment, and when you’re not. Some people will have a hard time detecting imbalance and will have to schedule an office visit every month or so to be checked for misalignment.
How often should I be monitored for body balance after the doctor has released me from scheduled visits?
For the patient who can recognize when they have lost their correction, the doctor will give them the freedom to schedule appointments as needed. For those patients who are not yet certain of body imbalance, we recommended they have their spine checked on a monthly basis. Some patients schedule periodic checkups, as they would with their dentist, to ensure that body balance is maintained. How you maintain the benefits of the Upper Cervical spinal correction is always up to you.