A few weeks ago I noticed a bony bump at the back of my neck when turning my head from side to side. I told myself it was probably nothing since it didn't hurt, but had my GP check it last Friday. Well, he said my C-2 vertebra was out of alignment and that could be the reason for my ongoing headaches. He prescribed muscle relaxant and sent me to a chiropractor. So I had my first appointment yesterday and he did some strange things and at one point I thought he was breaking my neck, but it seems ok - only a little sore today. I have to go back tomorrow and I hope with a few visits I will finally get over this. I didn't do well with the muscle relaxant - felt like I was drunk and my heart was racing. I had to call my husband at work to come home and take me to my appointment yesterday, I didn't even trust myself to walk the half mile, so I stopped taking them.

I don't know why nobody ever thought to check my neck before. I had told my neuro a few month ago about a crunching sound I was hearing when turning my head and he laught and said it was probably arthritis.

My GP also recommended that I try acupuncture. I might try it after I see how things are going with the chiropractic adjustments.

I am experiencing the same thing right now. I never thought (or was told) to have my neck checked. My doctor(s) think I have torn ligaments in the back of my neck and C1 & C2 vertebra are horribly out line. Fourteen months into all this and the doctors still don't know what is causing the headaches. Please be careful will adjustments....you are so close to your spinal cord up there. I wouldn't want the chiro to cause you anymore problems.
ps I can't believe your gp laughed. Nothing to laugh about!

If you don't know what chiro is doing ask about it - the good ones will be happy to explain.
C1/ C2 is the upper cervical or atlas/axis- that is a pretty simple and painless adjustment -{ talked about in the links below}

I hope the DC looked at your films/xrays before treatment..
just to be sure of no other issues that might be affected by adjustments.

Here is some nice info sites that I have found over the years -
Chiropractic care info- a good one can help with many symptoms:
http://www.upcspine.com/self.htm
http://www.uppercervical.org/subpag...b/about_faq.php
http://www.spineuniverse.com/index.html
http://www.coloradochiropractic.org/.../glossary.html

Wouldn't it be wonderful if it is only your neck causing the problems!!! Good luck with this and let us all know how it goes.

You may remeber that back in January I saw a chiropracter who specialised in cranial new born "stuff" and her partner in head injury. They said that my spine was not great and that just by feeling it they could tell that I would be feeling pretty awful, but did say if they start on me I would probably feel worse before I felt better and I am still in a quandry about whether to proceed with things.

Yours sounds so simple by comparison and all so obvious - this is exciting for you!! And I am so pleased for you.

Lynlee

When I was twelve I was incorrectly diagnosed by GP as having one leg shorter. When I was 25 I reckoned I would be in a wheelchair by 30. Then my auntie from Australia came to visit and told me about what a chiropractor is, what he can do for you and one good one not too far from my home.

That auntie/chiropractor saved my life. I am 50 today and able to do anything I darn well please, a lot more, actually, than most people around me my age.

I suppose, like in every profession, there are good and less good one's. I am cheering for chiropractors, obviously.

BTW, did you know that stomach problems, including intestinal problems, can make you have upper back pain and/or headaches?

I really think my DC has made a major improvement in many of my sx from RSI/TOS {chronic}
specializes in geriatric - very gentle

Thanks for all the nice replies! Cathym, I hope you will get relief from your headaches now.

Jo55, I did not have any X-rays of my neck taken - am a bit worried about that now. The chiropractor asked me what kind of tests I had done and I told him that I had a CT-Scan and MRI of my head. I thought about that after I got home and need to clarify that those were of my brain.

The dr. who laughed about my crunchy noise was my neurologist, grrr.

Hi Sissy,
I think you are very smart to request xray's, etc. Probably some kind of full assessment first would be good too before they get start.
I haven't had any pain relief but in addition to the pcs & vertebra I also have torn ligaments in my neck and nerve damage. Too many things don't fit just one doctor I guess.
Hang in there. My 3 year old son told me today I could have one of his superman bandaid's for my head.
I wish it was that simple.
cm

Good Morning Sissy, Good to read you are going to a Chiropractor for your neck.

I went to a Chiropractor for 2.5 years 3 x per week and it really help me. I need to start going back once a week as I think this will help with the headache issue and the natural healing process.

Owen had a good write up on acupuncture and this seemed to help with the pain something I'm also going to try. Message therapy is also good for pain management,tension and stress.

Take Care Jeffn