CRANIOCERVICAL INSTABILITY (CCI) & NUCCA CHIROPRACTIC
Craniocervical instability can be serious and can cause long term neurological problems if left untreated. Fortunately, craniocervical instability is the most popular condition we help people with at Elite Upper Cervical.
When the head and neck are injured, this will tear loose the ligaments that hold the head over the neck. When these ligaments have been stretched too far, we diagnose this condition, craniocervical instability or CCI.
This then causes the top bone in the neck, the atlas vertebrae, to misalign much easier than if the ligaments were stronger, and not stretched out.
Additionally, women are at a disadvantage because the density of their ligaments are much less than compared to men.
On top of that, if you pair CCI with a genetic condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), now there is much more of a challenge, because the collagen matrix of the ligaments is less which makes them even more stretchy and more difficult to stabilize. We help a lot of people with CCI that also have hEDS.
Unfortunately, most doctors want to hit the snooze button and throw out the bodies internal fire alarm by prescribing medication. Which is not a long term solution.
Why? Because it’s not possible to fix a structural problem, with a chemical solution. It’s important to get to the root cause of the problem and secure that structural solution! And that is where we specialize.
As a NUCCA upper cervical chiropractic clinic, the first thing we do is take specific x-rays of the atlas vertebrae to see if it’s misaligned.
We have advanced software that allows Dr. Burt to measure the atlas down to 1/100th of a degree, which is critical when it’s time to realign it. The upper cervical x-rays are the most important thing we can do for you as a NUCCA doctor.
When doctors work on the upper neck without taking x-rays, they risk making someone worse.
After the exact position of the atlas has been measured, then Dr. Burt will be able to correct it.
The realignment is so gentle that anyone would feel comfortable with the amount of pressure we use. Gentle slow pressure is all, right below the ear lobe, which is where the atlas is located.
There is no twisting, popping or cracking of the neck with the NUCCA realignment.
Afterward, we will then have to retrain the neck muscles for a few months, realigning the atlas as needed.
If you are curious to see if your atlas is misaligned, make sure to schedule your NUCCA assessment below, as soon as possible, to see if you’re a good fit for treatment.