Two Case Studies on Neck InjuriesIn this blog we'll look at a couple of case studies of children who suffered traumatic brain injuries or mild spinal cord injuries published by upper cervical chiropractor Dr. Erin Elster. The first case study she reported is of an eight year old boy who hit his head when he fell on a school playground. We'll then look at a six year old boy who sustained an injury from a television falling off of a cabinet and hitting him on the head.
In Elster's first study, she reported that the arms and legs of the boy who fell on the school playground tingled, and he was diagnosed with a spinal cord injury. This led to loss of bowel control, which lasted for the next six months until his mother brought him in to Dr. Elster for an examination of his upper neck vertebrae.
During a digital infrared imaging and radiographic diagnostic, it was determined that he had sustained an injury to the upper neck. The severity of the impact of the fall most likely caused the displacement of his skull from his upper neck. This most likely led to the spinal cord injury, which then led to the injury to his bowels. His initial adjustment restored his bowels to normal activity.
In the case study of the boy who sustained the impact of the television that fell, he was lying on the floor when it fell on him. It fell on his face causing multiple fractures around his eye. Multiple reconstructive surgeries to his eye socket and sinuses followed this diagnoses.
After his surgeries and the fractures healed, his mother noticed behavioral changes in her son. He also suffered from double vision and continuous headaches. They consulted with numerous physicians and neurologists, all of whom determined the injuries were permanent and there was nothing they could do to reverse them.
Though, an examination by Dr. Elster revealed that the boy had sustained an upper neck injury, which was most likely due to the accident he suffered months earlier. It only took a few weeks of care before the double vision and headaches were completely gone.
Both of these case studies reveal that whether your child is playing with friends or just sitting and watching television, there is always that chance of them sustaining and injury to their upper neck. We know you want your kid to be able to be a kid, and we want your kid to be a kid. But it's difficult to be a kid when you suffer from health related issues that can be easily resolved by correcting any misalignments in your upper neck.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
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Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
So, you were pulling out of a parking space this morning, you stopped at a stop light, or some other scenario. Maybe you had plans to go to the gym later that morning or to just start a load of laundry when you got home. Whatever the scenario, your plans were interrupted when you were sitting in your car and someone hit you from behind.
Now, you are experiencing a pain in your neck, and you keep hoping it will go away. That's whiplash. It will go away, but it won't go away on it's own. You will have to take steps to make it go away. It is important to follow the below steps to overcome this neck strain.
When you experience whiplash, your neck muscles crack in a whiplike motion, thus causing them to extend beyond their normal range of motion. There is a high probability that when your neck comes to a rest your top two vertebrae, the Atlas and Axis, will be out of alignment. This misalignment can lead to further complications including migraines, vertigo, carpal tunnel, TMJ, multiple sclerosis, and more.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
So, Thanksgiving is over and the holiday season is in full swing. That means you have plenty of Christmas shopping to do, and with it plenty of heavy items to lift. We want you to have the most pain-free holiday season you can have, so we thought we would share some tips with you on how to make it through this holiday season pain free.
The “Holiday rush” happens every year, but that doesn't mean you need to be in a rush. Luckily, the worst of it (Black Friday) is over. But that doesn't mean there won't be more mad rushes to get that last toy. Here are some shopping suggestions, if you have several people to shop for.
Along with trying to get that last Christmas present for your child or trying to beat those lines, you will need to do a lot of driving to different stores, holiday parts, and other events. You will be tempted to beat the traffic, get to that parking space before the other driver, or just drive a tad faster than usual.
Not only will you be tempted to bend, stoop, stretch, or twist in order to get to that toy, but you will also be tempted to set all of those items on the floor and just wrap them. Your body is not only meant to only sustain so much weight, it is also only meant to turn and twist so far in certain directions.
This holiday season will be full of chances to come out of it with a bad back, soar neck, headaches or migraines, or other types of pain. But the above tips will help you prevent injuries, but they won't guarantee you won't be injured.
So, whether you feel pain or not, after the holiday season, take the time to take care of yourself and seek the care of an upper cervical chiropractor. They will examine your spine to see if there are any misalignments that are leading to or might lead to injuries. Don't wait until the pain appears or worsens.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
If you are experiencing back or neck pain, that is not something you want to ignore. We know you're in pain, and you may not be able to get into our office right away. That means you will have the temptation to crack your neck or spine. Please, don't do that. That will only make the problem worse. The best thing you can do, if you are experiencing pain, and need relief now, is ice your back. Here's a list of steps you should take to receive the most benefit from icing.
Depending on the source of your pain, you may need to ice more than once a day. But don't leave the ice pack on your neck or back for any longer than 20 minutes. Just go throw it in the freezer, and leave it there for a while.
If your pain persists, it may be due to something more than a knot in your back. Here are some common causes of neck and back pain.
If you iced your neck, but your pain persists, these are just some of the conditions that might be causing your pain. Even if your pain subsides after you ice a few times, it is still a good idea to have an upper cervical specialist examine you. There are many underlying conditions that could pop-up later if the initial pain is left untreated.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
An injury to the neck caused by a sudden movement of the head, backward, forward, or sideways, is commonly referred to as "whiplash." While the term "whiplash" is most frequently used to describe auto accident injuries (in which a person is rear-ended, hit head-on, or hit from the side), whiplash can also frequently occur during ski accidents, bike accidents, falls, blows to the head, and other head/neck traumas.
THE MYTH: "If I don't have any symptoms right away, I'm O.K.".
THE TRUTH... After many auto and sport-related traumas, symptoms can be so slight at first, an individual may not realize he/she has been injured. Even if a person feels relatively normal after an accident, he/she should be thoroughly examined. Symptoms can be delayed for days, months, or even years.
COMMON SYMPTOMS: The following are symptoms that can occur following a head/neck injury (days to years later):
In many cases, more severe immune-related, neurological, pain, and disease conditions (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Susceptibility to Infection, ADHD, Seizures, Multiple Sclerosis) can result from head/neck injuries, sometimes occurring many years after the accident.
Two million people are exposed to whiplash injury (related to an auto accident) in the U.S. every year.
When the head is suddenly jerked back and forth or side-to-side beyond its normal limits, ligaments supporting the neck vertebrae can be sprained (over-stretched) or torn, forcing vertebrae out of their normal position.
In tests of low speed rear impact collisions, it was reported that the neck can be injured even in slow speeds accidents as low as 5 mph.
Most rear impact accidents occur at crash speeds of 6 to 12 mph - speeds below the threshold for property damage to the vehicle - but sufficient to cause neck injury.
Whiplash injuries to the cervical spine can occur in sports (skiing, hockey, football, cycling, ice skating, gymnastics, boxing), due to falls, and more!
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
We only get one spine, so it's important that we take as good care of it as possible. Avoid these habits because they are the top 5 ways to damage your spine.
This is the one habit that is the most harmful to the health and function of our spine and our nervous system. When the head is turned to the side and then the weight of the body is placed upon it…the muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints, discs, nerves, etc. are compressed. The application of this stress of stomach sleeping will lead to an acceleration of degeneration of the discs and joints. Some of the worst degenerative disc disease that I have seen in the spine is in those that have spent their life sleeping on their belly. We spend a third of our lives sleeping!
So if you shouldn’t sleep on your stomach…how should you sleep? Flat on your back is best. Some people will find that placing a pillow underneath the knees will be more comfortable. You should always sleep with only one pillow under your head though so the neck is in a relaxed position. If you are unable to sleep on your back then the next best option is on your side. When you are sleeping on your side, you want to make sure that your head and neck are in as an aligned position as possible. You should only use one pillow that is thick enough to support between your shoulder and your head. Most people have a pillow that is too thin to sleep on your side…so there head is side bent all night. The most vulnerable position for the neck to be in is side bent or extended.
This habit, which can feel good at the time will lead to hypermobility in the joints and more and more instability over time as this habit has a tendency to make you want to do it more and more. This is a sign that your spine is probably extremely misaligned and should be evaluated asap.
Here is that vulnerable position again. A side bent head is much more likely to cause a misalignment, especially when kept in this position for 30, 60 minutes or longer why you watch TV.
The longer you sit the more your posture begins to breakdown. If you are sitting for a few minutes it is much easier to keep a good posture. When you sit for hours the chances that your posture is breaking down is very high. So tip #1 is to sit as little as possible. If you can stand to do a task then do it. A least once per hour you want to get out of your chair and walk around and change the posture that you are in…something that helps you to remember to do this is to drink lots of water…which is tip #2. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day…preferrably more. A good rule of thumb is to only drink water and drink about 1/2 of your body weight in ounces per day. So if you weigh 150 pounds then you should drink 75 ounces of water per day. The more you weigh the more you need to drink to be healthy. So if you are drinking water all day then you will need to get up and go to the bathroom which will greatly benefit your spine as well…it’s a win-win. The third tip is to change positions as much as possible when you are sitting. Change the angle of your chair, the height of your chair, move things around throughout the day. Your body gets bored sitting in the same position all the time!
The less we exercise the more the joints of the spine begin to stiffen and deteriorate. So move around! Our bodies were made to move! The best exercise is the one that you will do consistently. Fast walking, swimming, elliptical etc. Pick a cardiovascular exercise and get going.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
Maybe you know someone with arthritis in their hands or even their knees. But arthritis in their spine – now that might be a new one on you!
Arthritis of the spine is known by several names, including osteoarthritis, degenerative joint or disc disease and subluxation degeneration. It is actually quite common - but do you know what it is or what causes it?
This is how it starts – after all – we’re talking about degeneration, which by the very nature of its definition means a process of deteriorating over time. In fact, the first phase of subluxation degeneration can take 20 years to develop!
One of your spinal joints experiences some sort of trauma, such as auto accidents or whiplash injuries. As a result of this entry, your body tries to stabilize the joint by splinting together the bones that make up the joint. It does this by moving calcium into the area of the inflamed joint; the calcium is what actually causes the splint to develop. As the calcium deposits built up, abnormal bone growth results. Subluxation degeneration eventually takes its toll on your body’s health, leading to other conditions.
Maintaining proper joint alignment and movement is essential to prevent subluxation degeneration. It is best to have an upper cervical chiropractic examination as soon as possible after any type of spinal trauma to reduce your risk of doing damage to your spine.
Keep in mind that trauma to the spine may occur during the birth process or during any of the “tumble and fall” years of early childhood and adolescence – right on up through the early adult years. In fact, it can take 40 – 60 years for full spinal degeneration to set in – that’s a long time to go without care for a vertebral subluxation that may have occurred when you fell off the bed at the age of two!
Remember that upper cervical chiropractors are uniquely qualified to detect any type of degenerative change in the spine. The earlier it is detected, the better chance you have for total correction, protection against further damage and a real opportunity to experience what true health is all about!
Upper Cervical Chiropractic can help to improve joint alignment and function and remember, we can also advise you on the best exercise to do to help relieve pain and keep the condition from progressing.
Tell a Friend about Upper Cervical Chiropractic Today!!!
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
When a 2-year-old little girl falls down the stairs what is the typical response? The parents would pick her up and check on her see if there are any notable injuries. If they were concerned about her in any way the parents would take that little girl to the emergency room and get her checked out medically. They may perform X-Rays, a Cat Scan, and other testing. If all those tests come back negative then they would release her back to her parents and tell them that she is going to be okay.
What if when she fell and hit her head the ligaments and muscles that connect the head and neck were damaged. Creating a slight misalignment at the atlas (the top bone in the spine). Once that bone is misaligned and locked out of it's normal position it creates a weakness. This weakness allows the spine to break down and lock into a stressed position. In this stressed position frequently one of the legs will appear shorter than the other when laying flat on your back. And one hip will be lower than the other when in the standing position.
Now in this new stressed position the body begins to grow. With the head slightly tilted to one side and the hips uneven that little girl hits her growth spurt at the age of 8 and a curvature begins to develop. By the time that little girl is 13 she has a 12 degree Scoliosis like the one you see in the picture.
This time the Mom of that 2-year-old little girl is a patient of a NUCCA chiropractor. So after the fall the little girl isn't sleeping well and just isn't acting like herself, she is brought into a NUCCA office to have her alignment evaluated. During the exam the little girl is found to have a one inch leg length difference!
After the exam the little girl is adjusted in her upper cervical spine. Her legs immediately level...the Mom is amazed! That night she sleeps great again and is just like herself again the next day.
Scoliosis? Ear infections? ADHD? Headaches? Digestive problems? There is no way to know for sure. But without a doubt she will now grow up a healthier girl because her spine has been restored to it's normal alignment.
The most common times for a child to develop a misalignment are after birth, when they begin to lift their head, when they begin to crawl and when they begin to walk. After those milestones a child should only be evaluated if they have had a head or neck trauma such as a fall or car crash. About 50% of the kids that are evaluated are misaligned. There will be no other time better than in childhood to correct those problems and allow that child to grow up as healthy as possible.
It is much easier to grow healthy kids than it is to repair damaged adults!
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
Whiplash Leads to Accelerated Breakdown of the SpineAccidents and injuries will tear loose the connective tissue (Muscles, ligaments and tendons) that holds the spine in place. This will create a weakness, which will allow the spine to breakdown and lock into a stressed position. The longer the spine is misaligned the more wearing down of the spinal joints, discs, muscles, etc will take place.
Frequently in upper cervical chiropractic offices we will see patients who have been involved in car crashes. Not only recent car crashes...but car accidents that have occurred 5, 10 or 15 years before or even longer. Based on the extent of degeneration in the spine the original injury to the spine can be dated approximately. Why is that? Well if the spinal balance is altered due to misalignment there will be unequal pressure applied to the spine. Over time this will lead to a breaking down of the bones, ligaments, discs etc. or what is called degenerative disc disease (Bone spurs and disc thinning etc.).
Upper Cervical Chiropractors have been seeing this phenomenon in our offices for years. But now the research is also showing that Degenerative Disc Disease or what is commonly called Arthritis of the spine is a result of accidents or injuries.
Here is what Dr. Mason Hohl an MD and professor of surgery at UCLA Medical Center says...“Follow-up x-rays taken an average of 7 years after injury in one series of patients without prior x-ray evidence of disc disease indicated that 39% had developed degenerative disc disease at one or more disc levels since injury.” 7 years after the injury the discs and other spinal structures are already breaking down! There was an expected incidence of 6% degenerative change in the population over this period of time.
Dr. Hohl goes on to say “Thus, it appeared that the injury had started the process of disc degeneration.”
He goes on to say “In another follow-up study of patients with similar injuries but with preexisting degenerative changes in the neck, it was observed that after an average of 7 years 39% had residual symptoms, and x-ray evidence of new degenerative change at another level occurred in 55%.” So if you already have had an injury that has started the degenerative process and you have another injury it leads to more degeneration in the area.
Why is it so important to get you head and neck alignment evaluated? How many of us have had a head or neck injury that has misaligned our spines? Every day that the spine stays misaligned...more degeneration takes place.
So is it possible to prevent arthritis? Absolutely!
A balanced and stable spine will not degenerate at the same rate as a misaligned and unstable spine.
References: The Cervical Spine-The Cervical Spine Research Society, Lippincott, 1989 Mason Hohl, MD Professor of Surgery/Orthopedics, UCLA Medical Center Page 440
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/.
If you have ever had the urge to crack your back, have someone hug you and crack it for you, or crack your neck, you are not alone. Self-cracking one's spine or neck is something most people, or perhaps everyone, has done at one time or another.
Though, one's ability to crack their neck or back does not mean it is a good practice. It is a sign that their spine is not aligned, and that they need to seek an evaluation from an Upper Cervical Specialist. Below are some other signs that it is time to come in for a checkup.
If you suffer from one of the above problems, it is time to seek an Upper Cervical Specialist. Self-cracking your back or spine might seem like a good idea, and it may lead to temporary relief, but it will not lead to a healthier back. A person cracking their own spine, or even a General Chiropractor cracking a person's spine, no more leads to a healthier back than the cracking sound of metal not lead to a car crash.
If you have one of the above symptoms, it is important to see a NUCCA specialist who will align your spine without any popping, cracking or twisting of your spine. Once you spine is aligned, your brain will be able to better communicate with your body, and your body will function properly.
To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Redwood City California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Pete Tsiglieris of Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, and Sunnyvale. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain and weakness. More information can be found on our website at https://bayareanuccacare.com/
