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Chiropractic Neurology & Balance
Vertigo & Dizziness
Chiropractic Neurology &
the Metabolic System
Thyroid Issues
Autoimmune Disorders
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Osteoporosis/ Osteopenia
Insomnia/Sleep Problems
Chiropractic Neurology & Learning
Attention Disorders
(ADHD & ADD)
Autism/Asperger's
Syndrome
Obsessive Comulsive Disorder
Dyslexia
Chiropractic Neurology & Movement
Distonias, Tics and Tremors
Chiropractic Neurology & Pain
Fibromyalgia
Headache/Migraines
Peripheral Neuropathy
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HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES
TENSION HEADACHES
Onset 20-50 years old, with pain occurring on both sides of the head, which lasts 30 minutes to 7 days. The sensation is a dull and viselike banding pain (sensitization). These most common headaches respond to chiropractic adjustments due to the powerful effects that joint mechanoreceptor and muscle spindle activation have on inhibition of pain pathways .
COSTEN’S SYNDROME
Severe aching in temporal mandibular joint (TMJ) which can radiate forward into the jaw, Costen’s Syndrome is seen in elderly females. Talking, eating, chewing, and yawning can aggravate the pain.
CLUSTER HEADACHES
Usually occur on one side of the head behind the eye, are usually of short duration (up to two hours) and occur many times throughout the day. The pain is piercing and causes tearing and sweating on one side of the face as well as nasal discharge. They often occur in the spring and in autumn due to changes in an area of the brain called the hypothalamus which is very oxygen sensitive.
MIGRAINES
It is now well accepted that, in migraines, the brainstem is not working well which can cause dilation mechanisms of blood vessels to fail. This imbalance produces abnormal cranial inflammatory chemicals and the mixture of dilation and non-dilation of blood vessels causes the headache. Something called spreading depression accounts for the aura of migraine as well as the spreading effects of stroke. Stroke and migraines have different recovery outcomes because the migraine sufferer has an adequate supply of O2 and glucose while the stroke victim does not.
There are two consistent features of migraine sufferers: (1) elevated sympathetic nervous system tone which means that the fight or flight system is in high gear and all the body’s alarm systems (blood pressure, sweating, etc.) are in overdrive. This is at the expense of the (2) parasympathetic nervous system which allows the individual to relax, digest, sleep, etc. In those patients having an aura preceding the attack, there is a wave of cortical depression which is a switching-off and switching-on of the brain cells as the wave passes through the brain. The wave typically initiates in the occiput (back of the brain). The visual aura can be described as concentric areas of blindness. As the brain cells switch back on, nitric oxide is produced and finds its way to the surface of the brain. The nitric oxide causes the surface arteries to swell which is sensed by the trigeminal nerve that wraps around these arteries. Sometimes instead of an aura, sufferers experience numbness or tingling in the arms or a spacey sensation.
Migraine facial pain occurs at a 50-50 male to female ratio and is a sporadic event triggered by alcohol. Pain can occur anywhere in the face but most commonly is deep pain or swelling in the mastoid, sinus pain, or toothache.
Two basic types of Migraines: (1) Classic (with aura) and (2) Common (without aura). The prodrome represents decreased brain function and occurs usually 2-3 days prior to the headache, resulting in personality changes, irritability, and bloating. The aura represents a worsening of the pain state leading to a headache 2-3 hours later. Both prodrome and aura do not cause headaches but are associated with decreased regional blood flow.
Migraines last 4-72 hours and can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, photo or phono phobia (intolerance of light and/or sound), high blood pressure and the aura is always followed by a headache.
Basilar Migraines: originate in the brainstem and have the following presentations: (1) impaired consciousness (2) numbness or tingling on both sides of the body (3) visual disturbances (4) dysarthria (speech slurring) (5) vertigo (spinning sensation) (6) tinnitus (ringing in the ears (7) loss of hearing (8) diplopia (double vision) and (9) ataxia (gait abnormalities)
TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA
A sharp, lancinating pain on one side of the face (in the ears, nose, upper lip, to the lower jaw) is triggered by an inflammation of the trigeminal nerve. It is more common in women over 50. This unpredictable, isolated, and sometimes unbearable pain can be triggered by light brushing of skin, blowing the nose, or even something as mundane as putting on a shirt. Chiropractic neurology through upper cervical adjustment is effective or partially effective if the causative mechanism is modulated by central brain mechanisms that cause the inflammation of the trigeminal nerve.
Parasympathetic neuralgia is an intense, non-stop, burning or itching sensation in the area of the forehead which is associated with the herpes virus. Touching the affected area irritates it and anti-depressant relieves it.
ATYPICAL FACIAL PAIN
Atypical facial pain is a burning type of pain that is rare in men and usually occurs in women ages 30 – 50. Anti-depressants and tranquilizers have limited success. Both sides of the face are involved.
ESTROGEN AND PAIN:
Estrogen increases the production of Nitric Oxide which has positive effects on cholesterol (HDL and LDL) but a negative effect on triglycerides (the body’s system for storage of fat). Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has been shown to have serious side effects (headaches, clotting, and strokes). This appears to largely be due to up-regulation of clotting factors in the liver. Hormone imbalances must be addressed in some cases before pain and headaches can be resolved. Increased anxiety is associated with lower levels of estrogen. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) appears to be lowered in the same manner at the same time. Cortisol, a steroid hormone which increases with stress, is also associated with depression. Increased cortisol leads to increased epinephrine which then leads to increase anxiety. Increased anxiety leads to more increases in cortisol which leads to increased anxiety and depression. The result of this cascade of events often results in the sensitization of pain pathways due to central brain mechanisms associated with the Hypothalamus/Pituitary/Adrenal (HPA) axis.
When estrogen builds up, we need to eliminate it in order to maintain balance and if not there will be problems in the monthly cycle, pregnancy, and lactation. Toxins and drugs that are in the system can interfere with the elimination of estrogen. An important element in the elimination of estrogen is found in brassica vegetables including : brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, collards, rutabaga, and turnips.
WARNING HEADACHES: To be evaluated immediately.
*Headaches starting after age 50 may be a sign of temporal arteritis.
* Sudden onset headaches may be a sign of a mass, tumor, or hemorrhage.
* New onset headaches (even dull low grade in intensity) may be a sign of cancer, meningitis, or brain abscess.
* Accelerating pattern of headaches can be due to mass lesion, medication overdose, rebound headaches, or sub-dural hematoma.
* Systemic illness or nuchal rigidity can be signs of meningitis, encephalitis, or Lyme disease.
* Headaches beginning after age 50. Temporal Arteritis (AKA Giant Cell Arteritis) is a sudden appearance of headaches in 55+ age group and happens at night with pain at the upper cheek (back to the ear) and down to the level of the jaw. Blindness can result unless immediate action is taken. CT scans and ESR panels on blood testing are usually ordered.
IS PAIN NORMAL? Pain is a normal warning system that should, without noxious or painful stimuli, be switched off. Pain is a normal warning system when one steps on a nail or has muscle spasms and joint inflammation but when something that should inhibit pain or be soothing produces pain, this is abnormal. Mechanical, thermal, and chemical receptors designed to convey non-painful stimuli should not cause pain .
FIBROMYALGIA SYNDROME (FMS):
FMS is a condition where the individual has lower pain thresholds to painful stimuli (allodynia). This is due to sensitization of nociceptive (pain) pathways. FMS patients report increased pain to stimuli that shouldn’t hurt. Pressure, heat, and cold can cause pain at thresholds that are low. Since no common tissue damage or aberrancies have been documented in FMS, it is thought that the heightened pain is due to deficits in the brain’s central processing mechanisms. There is no tissue damage or autonomic nervous system damage, and the pain cannot be reproduced mechanically upon physical examination of the person.
CHRONIC REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROMES (CRPS):
CRPS develop after a trauma, noxic event, immobilization, or subluxation (failure of normal coupling of vertebral segments due to faulty brain body-feedback). Symptoms include pain (throbbing, burning, aching) or hyperalgia (sensitivity) to mechanical, thermal, or joint motion. Reflexes and reflexive input from joints and muscles which usually eliminate pain are not effective in FMS and other CRPS. Also, the normal companions of pain (increased blood pressure, increased sweating, hyperthermia, and tachycardia (rapid heart rate) are not present in FMS or CRPS.
TREATMENT NOTE: In chiropractic neurology, we take into consideration the brain based functions as well as genetic factors associated with ALL TYPYES OF PAIN, from Fibromyalgia to Headaches, from Back Pain to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Treatment considerations include: (1) reduction of pain sensitization via nutritional means (reducing high glycemic/sugar states, anti-inflammatory diets, and increasing appropriate protein and fat intake) (2) increasing oxygen saturation and perfusion (3) feedback exercises and eye exercises to stimulate the side of decreased brain function (4) manipulation of vertebral and rib mechanics to powerfully stimulate the areas of brain that lead to high sympathetic states. The chiropractic neurologist has had great success with treatment of all types of pain conditions because we address the central nervous system feedback loops with brain hemispheric stimuli including sight, hearing, touch, smell, and cognitive exercises.
Some migraines will improve with magnesium, and sufferers who have low serotonin levels may benefit from serotonin supplementation with 5HTP.
The pain generators: (1) peripheral tissue damage or damage to the muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, organs, etc. (2) peripheral sensitization where to body has a decreased threshold to pain (3) central sensitization where the brain has a decreased threshold to pain (4) inflammatory chemistry where pro-pain chemicals are produced (5) anaerobic metabolism where energy is produced without oxygen stores (5) Dys-afferentation where there is loss of pain inhibiting sensory stimulation from the body (6) dis-inhibition where the normal pain inhibitory pathways are no longer effective (7) cortical slowing where the loss of brain activity causes a loss of pain inhibition.
IN MOST CASES, WITH EACH OF THESE PAIN GENERATORS, CHIROPRACTIC NEUROLOGY CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ELIMINATING OR MINIMIZING THE CONDITION.
OUR APPROACH: (1) no charge screening and recommendations – we will have you come in for a screening and complete a personal and family health intake. Dr. Brown will then go over your case to determine if he can help and what costs are involved. (2) If he is able to help you, he will perform a complete neurological examination and have you obtain lab tests (if necessary) appropriate to your exam findings. (3) You will receive a report of findings and recommendations.
Please call our office (PH: 303-986-7600) to set up your no charge consultation.
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