[Wildrose55]

would a person with PCS benefit from going to a chiropractor or could it possibly cause more harm - i.e. increased headaches etc.,

Originally my daughters doctor suggested not to but her dad is suggesting a consultation with a chiropractor to see if it would help with her headaches.

Thanks

[Mark in Idaho]

An Upper Cervical Chiropractor may be helpful. They are either members of NUCCA or Atlas Orthagonal chiropractic associations. You can go to the NUCAA web site and find a referral. See www.nucca.org and http://www.atlasorthogonality.com/Pa.../aboutAO.html#

The first visit can be pricey due to the specialized x-rays they do but many have had worthwhile results.

[Jomar]

Be sure to seek out an expert DC and/or go to a few to get evaluations to see what they say and how you /she can related to them- before any treatment. The gut feeling thing..

My DC does upper cervical without the $$$ machines, he is very experienced and careful with any adjusting that he does.


- the x rays & machines would be more precise

Seems like many MDs still have a stigma against referring to chiropractic care...

I wish mine would have referred/suggested a DC early on for my RSI/TOS injury, I might have been able to avoid the chronic effects or at least some of them.

[Mark in Idaho]

NUCCA chiros do not use the expensive machines. They do all of their treatments with their hands in a very gentle way.

Also, look into Minimal Force of DNFT Directional Non Force Techniques.

Be aware of the great difference between different chiropractors' skill levels. Those that use a "show and sell" sales pitch are more likely to depend on this selling to get patients. Good or great chiropractors let their skill at healing speak for itself.

There is two forms of chiro therapy, active and maintenance.

Active tries to treat a diagnosed problem.

Maintenance suggests that everyone needs routine 'tune-ups' to maintain "wellness." Wellness chiros often over-treat or treat when there is not a need for treatment. Their diagnostic skills at finding the cause of a problem is often lacking. They may just treat the whole spine and even body.

[freezerdoor]

I went to one today. first time i've ever been to one. I have never had back pain in my life but lately after my injury, I've felt just a little something in my neck. I figure while on prednisone (and can walk around and drive) i better go and see if I did something to my neck too.

I may have also injured my neck but even the chiro agrees it's not serious. After a few adjustments I should be good to go. I figure it can't hurt to try it out.

I don't believe and he doesn't think it will actually help the PCS in any major way. He said the brain just needs to heal - like everyone else has said. Nothing is a magic pill.

[Mark in Idaho]

So, did he do the twist and pop to your neck?This is not a minimal force technique. If he use his hands or a hand tool that gently pops at the vertebra, it is a better technique for the upper cervical vertebra (C-1). The twist and pop is for the lower (C-2 and lower) vertebra.

His comments about your neck not causing PCS symptoms shows he does not understand PCS. The upper neck muscles connect to the skull just behind the ears. When the upper cervical vertebra are out of place, they can cause these muscles to spasm. This can be a major cause of head aches.

[freezerdoor]

No, it's just a handheld machine that buzzes around your spine and knocks it back and forth - it's all computerized. He did say it could contribute to headaches but he didn't think my spine was that bad and certainly wouldn't be a magic cure to simply fix all of the brain issues I'm having. These treatments wouldn't make it 100% to go do a triathlon next week. I think he was realistic. The brain still needs some time to heal.