Is the Atlas connected to headaches?

Atlas (C1) subluxation is often associated with headaches. It sits at the very top of the spine where the nerve flow between brain and body passes through, so correcting it has a global effect on systemic function. This patient's frequent headaches improved as her C1 was corrected.

Why is a reversed neck curve harder to correct?

Neck curve reversals take the longest to correct and have the greatest detrimental effect on spinal, and consequently systemic, function. The soft tissue has adapted to holding the curve backwards, so returning it to an ideal orientation takes sustained care. Starting earlier makes it easier.

Can spinal subluxation interfere with sleep?

Pain that interrupts sleep is feedback that something structural is unresolved. This patient reported frequently interrupted sleep because of her neck and low back pain, and her sleep improved markedly as her subluxations were corrected.

What is a second corrective care plan?

When the first plan produces correction but the spine has further to go, a second corrective period continues from where the films now stand. This patient elected a second process after her three-month results, which is a decision made from the current films.

Do you always take both AP and lateral views?

The analysis uses whichever views answer the question for that spine. In this case the lateral cervical images were not included in the comparison, though the reversal in her neck curve was part of the finding and part of what care addressed.

Atlas (C1) Subluxation, Reversed Neck Curve, and Headaches

How She Arrived

In this month's Spinal Correction Spotlight I am featuring the comparison X-rays of a 37-year-old woman. She originally reported suffering from neck and low back pain with frequent headaches. She also said that because of these problems she had frequently interrupted sleep, as well as a decrease in her ability to exercise.

Her initial care plan was for a 3-month program.

What Her Films Showed

The initial images, taken February 20, 2023, showed a subluxation of Atlas (C1), which is often associated with headaches. I did not include the lateral cervical images this time, but her neck curve is reversed, which is a significant factor in neck pain as well as headaches. Her low back showed a flexion subluxation between L1 and L2 that was contributing to her low back pain and stiffness.

Subluxations create significant interference and stress to the nervous system, resulting in systemic malfunction, as the nerve flow between brain and body gets further reduced.

Clinical Findings — Initial Examination

Patient: 37-year-old female

Presenting complaints: Neck and low back pain, frequent headaches, frequently interrupted sleep, decreased ability to exercise

X-ray type: AP cervical and lateral lumbar

Initial X-ray: February 20, 2023 — Atlas (C1) subluxation, reversed cervical curve, L1/L2 flexion subluxation

Re-evaluation X-ray: June 5, 2023 — C1 corrected, curve improved with the head drawn back over the shoulders, L1/L2 flexion subluxation improved

Care span: 3 months of corrective care between films

Outcome: Marked improvement in function and sleep; returned to intense exercise; elected a second corrective plan

Cervical AP — Before & After

February 20, 2023 initial AP cervical X-ray showing an Atlas C1 subluxation in a 37-year-old female with frequent headaches, Rochet Family Chiropractic Royal Palm Beach

Before — Feb 20, 2023 Initial X-Ray

June 5, 2023 re-evaluation AP cervical X-ray showing C1 corrected after three months of subluxation-based care, Rochet Family Chiropractic Royal Palm Beach

After — Jun 5, 2023 Re-Evaluation

Lumbar Lateral — Before & After

February 20, 2023 initial lateral lumbar X-ray showing an L1 L2 flexion subluxation contributing to low back pain and stiffness, Rochet Family Chiropractic Royal Palm Beach

Before — Feb 20, 2023 Initial X-Ray

June 5, 2023 re-evaluation lateral lumbar X-ray showing improvement in the L1 L2 flexion subluxation, Rochet Family Chiropractic Royal Palm Beach

After — Jun 5, 2023 Re-Evaluation

Three Months Later

The follow up X-rays, taken June 5, 2023, show a correction to C1, which has a global effect on systemic function. Her curve has improved, drawing her head back over her shoulders, which has had a profound effect on her pain levels as well as her ability to return to exercising intensely. There was also an improvement in her L1/L2 flexion subluxation.

She has seen a marked improvement in function and in sleep, along with her Activities of Daily Living and Quality of Life, and she has decided to go through a second corrective process to continue the correction.

Why Curve Reversals Get Corrected Early

Neck curve reversals are the most difficult to correct. They take the longest, and they have the greatest detrimental effect on spinal, and consequently systemic, function. Getting that curve into an ideal orientation as early as possible ensures good spinal, and consequently systemic, health.

I am not the healer. I move the bone; God does the healing. You are a self-healing organism, and when you are subluxation free, not only does your spine heal, but your body expresses life the way you were created to.

Sleep That Keeps Breaking Is Telling You Something

Headaches and interrupted sleep are feedback. A structural evaluation shows what is behind them. Come in for an X-ray analysis and find out what your own films show.

Have Your Spine Checked for Subluxation

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