rhonda741
08-30-2008, 08:03 AM
We just received this testimony from a young woman in New Zealand. You may relate to her! Your answer can be found at www.UpperCervicalAdvocates.com, too!:thumbsup:
My name is Mandy and my story began 13 years ago. While working upstairs in a Bank one day I rushed to get documents downstairs to catch the courier. In my hurry, I caught the heel of my shoe on the top of the first concrete stair. I took a tumble from the top to the bottom down a
flight of concrete stairs at the back of the building. When I landed at the bottom, the staff bikes leaning against the wall, fell on top of my head and back. I was stunned. I picked myself up after some minutes of lying underneath a heap of bikes, and headed to the bathroom to clean my wounds and wipe the blood. Though sore for quite a few days, I thought nothing more of it. :hmmm:
A week or so later, I started to experience strange symptoms. My thinking seemed cloudy, I drifted into daydreams; unable to concentrate on my work, I also experienced severe headaches which led to bilateral migraines with vomiting, and a light and sound sensitivity. I soon had problems with my ears, they were constantly ringing - similar to tinnitus. I developed irritable bowel problems and had an ‘unbalanced’ feeling. I noticed one shoulder seemed lower than the other and my head would click every
time I turned it. At the Bank I was unable to focus for more than minutes at a time. There was a constant fogginess in my head and the band-like feeling around my forehead was unbearable, which kept me in tears every night.
Fast-forward a few weeks: the problem became so bad I could no longer concentrate on my work and had to resign from my Banking job. I went to countless medical professionals who ordered brain scans and neurological testing, all of which came back clear. This only added to my confusion.
One rehabilitation specialist took the same tests and then told me it was “all in my head”. His prescription: "Take up a hobby, stop thinking about it, and stop being a hypochondriac." There was obviously nothing wrong with me in his opinion. He did prescribe a 1,000 painkillers and sent me on my way.
I tried virtually everyone in the medical profession including rheumatologists and several neurologists. I was then diagnosed with Fibromyalgia by one doctor, but I refused to believe this was the problem. I knew nothing about chiropractic at that time. I tried Osteopathy, but osteopaths were extremely harsh and brutal on my spine, and manipulated it to the point of making me feel like a rag doll.
I started work at a Finance Company but the problems were so bad that after six months, I left there and looked for less stressful work. I then took a job doing basic clerical work in an Accounting Firm. Still, the problems persisted so I decided the cause was definitely not stress at the
workplace!
By this time, I was on multitudes of medications and anti-depressants. I could not go out of the house without medications in my car, handbag and pockets just in case I needed them. I had regular liver and kidney blood tests due to the chemical strain my internal organs were being put under. I combined painkillers with anti-inflammatory's and took Imigran (called Imitrex in the States) and other migraine/headache meds daily. I even injected Imigran into my legs on a regular basis. Strangers walking down the
street would stop and ask me if I wanted them to pray for me. I must have projected an image of someone who had no hope.
I stopped communicating with friends and lived on my own, barely existing
through every day. I didn’t want people around me, and preferred being alone as much as possible. My weight dropped to 43kg. I had no interest in food ,and experienced constant head pain and drug side effects. I went to
bed each night praying that I wouldn’t wake up in the morning. I was sick of life at 23 years old.
I was so miserable, that one day, while walking down the street, I purposely walked in front of an oncoming vehicle. Luckily for me, the car swerved and avoided me. The driver must have thought I was nuts.
I wasn’t even shocked, just numb that my plan to end it all hadn’t worked.
It was around this time that I met my future husband. He had been a chiropractic patient for back problems, so he immediately sent me to his chiropractor, to see if he might help me. This chiropractor changed my life.
What took the entire medical profession years to mis-diagnose, took a chiropractor one week to find and affect the nerve interference causing the problem in my case. What a difference! I changed my dependencey on drugs to a heavy reliance on chiropractors using various techniques to improve my quality of life. Regardless of the type of chiropractor, there is not a profession in the world that I have a higher regard and respect for! In short, I owe them my life.
Unfortunately for me though, even though these General Chiropractors could clear my migraines, ear problems, headaches and fogginess, it was always short-term. They all told me I had a severely unstable upper cervical spine, and none of them had met a patient with such instability
issues. Multiple X-rays were taken of my spine, studied by different chiropractors, but a conclusion as to the reason for the instability could not be established. I developed panic/anxiety attacks if I knew a migraine was coming. I rushed to the chiropractor, shaking uncontrollably in the waiting room.
Fast-forward several years; I was married with a child, had completed my Real Estate License and worked in Rural Real Estate with my husband. By this time I had been to 15 different chiropractors over 13 years, trying varied treatments and techniques. I hadn’t gone one week without being adjusted in all that time. I depended upon chiropractic and was a very well-known patient among the chiropractors in the areas I lived in! They were my life-line. If I had a headache, ear problems or a migraine, I’d go straight to the chiropractor. But my adjustments would not hold for more than three days, sometimes a week, tops. The rest of my spine was not unstable, only the C1-C2 area. I joked with the CAs that I should bring my pillow and toothbrush to the adjusting room because I lived at their chiropractic centres.
I began to research the upper cervical spine, and I discovered a small group
within the Chiropractic Profession that specialized in my problem area! Specific Upper Cervical Doctors. These Chiropractors who specialized in THIS area drew me like a magnet! I had to find out absolutely everything I could, since these Specific Upper Cervical Doctors might be
able to help me with why my upper cervical spine which had been unstable for so long.
What followed my quest for information, through sources mainly from America, was a list of Upper Cervical websites, a DVD and other information which I read and watched over and over again. The more I read about the upper cervical spine and these Specific Upper Cervical Doctors, the more I was convinced I had to find one for myself in New Zealand.
Easier said than done. Eventually, some awesome Upper Cervical Doctors and Advocates in the USA were
able to supply me with the names of the very few Upper Cervical Docs here in New Zealand. From this, I discovered that most Specific Upper Cervical techniques are not included in the curriculum at the New Zealand College of
Chiropractic. The Director of the Techniques Dept that used to teach Upper Cervical techniques left, and toggle recoil upper cervical was dropped from the curriculum after that point. I was told that very few NZ chiropractic students asked for Specific Upper Cervical techniques,and didn't want to incorporate them in their chiropractic practices in New Zealand.
I went on a mission, and wrote to the NZ Chiropractic Board, the NZ Chiropractic Association and the NZ College of Chiropractic about this issue. I have yet to hear back from them. Fortunately for me, after contacting the few Upper Cervical Doctors in Auckland (seven hours from where I live) and telling them my life story, they invited me to allow them to do a thorough investigation of my upper cervical spine. I anxiously awaited ,y appointment time. Just a few weeks ago, I was able to make the trip to Auckland. What followed was amazing.
The X-rays, scans and analysis that these Upper Cervical Doctors did were very different and so much more specific and precise. They were able to see - for want of a better word – that my Atlas and Axis were ‘twisted’ in
a way that had not been understood by other chiropractors, and it was definitely contributing to the C1-C2 instability, which related to my inability able to hold my adjustments.
Rather than the quick twist to the side of the head, before sending me home, these Upper Cervical Doctors concentrated on finding the reason
for the instability, looking closely at C1 and C2. They worked on reducing muscle tension as well -Upper Cervical for the atlas misalignment, and Network Spinal Analysis to keep things tidy and help my adjustment hold. They explained that my body heals itself while the bones are in the proper position. Over the two week period in Auckland, I had just one,
very precise, Specific Upper Cervical toggle-recoil atlas adjustment lying on my side (first time I had ever laid on my side for an adjustment). It was such an extremely low-force adjustment, that I hardly felt a thing.
Amazingly, this adjustment held longer than any other adjustment to my upper cervical spine done by general chiropractors in my 13 years of treatment. I knew I was on the right track. I had found a specialty group within the chiropractic profession that focused precisely on my head/neck misalignment problem that I had lived with for so long. I knew they were going to correct it properly and precisely, and it worked!
That one Upper Cervical adjustment in the two weeks I was in Auckland was it. This had never, ever happened before. Obviously I will need to go back for further assessment and maintenance, so I can stay on the right track, but I am amazed at the progress. I have not had a headache or migraine since my trip to Auckland. I feel more ‘balanced’ and my ears do not ring. Also, my head no longer ‘clicks’ every time I turn it. I have been able to reduce my medication and antidepressants so my kidneys and liver can recover, and I no have irritable bowel problems. In conclusion, there is now a proper flow of communication between my brain, nervous system and body.
Chiropractic saved my life, but Specific Upper Cervical Doctors enhanced it so much more. Getting my adjustments to hold will lead to my regaining health. It’s the upper cervical stability that I have been seeking for 13 years that I am finally getting! Thank God for Upper Cervical Doctors. I now know why entire practices in the US are built solely on this tool, and I hope over time that New Zealand will encourage and embrace more Upper Cervical practices as well.
Mandy
www.UpperCervicalAdvocates.com
www.whatTimetuesday.com
www.UpcSpine.com
My name is Mandy and my story began 13 years ago. While working upstairs in a Bank one day I rushed to get documents downstairs to catch the courier. In my hurry, I caught the heel of my shoe on the top of the first concrete stair. I took a tumble from the top to the bottom down a
flight of concrete stairs at the back of the building. When I landed at the bottom, the staff bikes leaning against the wall, fell on top of my head and back. I was stunned. I picked myself up after some minutes of lying underneath a heap of bikes, and headed to the bathroom to clean my wounds and wipe the blood. Though sore for quite a few days, I thought nothing more of it. :hmmm:
A week or so later, I started to experience strange symptoms. My thinking seemed cloudy, I drifted into daydreams; unable to concentrate on my work, I also experienced severe headaches which led to bilateral migraines with vomiting, and a light and sound sensitivity. I soon had problems with my ears, they were constantly ringing - similar to tinnitus. I developed irritable bowel problems and had an ‘unbalanced’ feeling. I noticed one shoulder seemed lower than the other and my head would click every
time I turned it. At the Bank I was unable to focus for more than minutes at a time. There was a constant fogginess in my head and the band-like feeling around my forehead was unbearable, which kept me in tears every night.
Fast-forward a few weeks: the problem became so bad I could no longer concentrate on my work and had to resign from my Banking job. I went to countless medical professionals who ordered brain scans and neurological testing, all of which came back clear. This only added to my confusion.
One rehabilitation specialist took the same tests and then told me it was “all in my head”. His prescription: "Take up a hobby, stop thinking about it, and stop being a hypochondriac." There was obviously nothing wrong with me in his opinion. He did prescribe a 1,000 painkillers and sent me on my way.
I tried virtually everyone in the medical profession including rheumatologists and several neurologists. I was then diagnosed with Fibromyalgia by one doctor, but I refused to believe this was the problem. I knew nothing about chiropractic at that time. I tried Osteopathy, but osteopaths were extremely harsh and brutal on my spine, and manipulated it to the point of making me feel like a rag doll.
I started work at a Finance Company but the problems were so bad that after six months, I left there and looked for less stressful work. I then took a job doing basic clerical work in an Accounting Firm. Still, the problems persisted so I decided the cause was definitely not stress at the
workplace!
By this time, I was on multitudes of medications and anti-depressants. I could not go out of the house without medications in my car, handbag and pockets just in case I needed them. I had regular liver and kidney blood tests due to the chemical strain my internal organs were being put under. I combined painkillers with anti-inflammatory's and took Imigran (called Imitrex in the States) and other migraine/headache meds daily. I even injected Imigran into my legs on a regular basis. Strangers walking down the
street would stop and ask me if I wanted them to pray for me. I must have projected an image of someone who had no hope.
I stopped communicating with friends and lived on my own, barely existing
through every day. I didn’t want people around me, and preferred being alone as much as possible. My weight dropped to 43kg. I had no interest in food ,and experienced constant head pain and drug side effects. I went to
bed each night praying that I wouldn’t wake up in the morning. I was sick of life at 23 years old.
I was so miserable, that one day, while walking down the street, I purposely walked in front of an oncoming vehicle. Luckily for me, the car swerved and avoided me. The driver must have thought I was nuts.
I wasn’t even shocked, just numb that my plan to end it all hadn’t worked.
It was around this time that I met my future husband. He had been a chiropractic patient for back problems, so he immediately sent me to his chiropractor, to see if he might help me. This chiropractor changed my life.
What took the entire medical profession years to mis-diagnose, took a chiropractor one week to find and affect the nerve interference causing the problem in my case. What a difference! I changed my dependencey on drugs to a heavy reliance on chiropractors using various techniques to improve my quality of life. Regardless of the type of chiropractor, there is not a profession in the world that I have a higher regard and respect for! In short, I owe them my life.
Unfortunately for me though, even though these General Chiropractors could clear my migraines, ear problems, headaches and fogginess, it was always short-term. They all told me I had a severely unstable upper cervical spine, and none of them had met a patient with such instability
issues. Multiple X-rays were taken of my spine, studied by different chiropractors, but a conclusion as to the reason for the instability could not be established. I developed panic/anxiety attacks if I knew a migraine was coming. I rushed to the chiropractor, shaking uncontrollably in the waiting room.
Fast-forward several years; I was married with a child, had completed my Real Estate License and worked in Rural Real Estate with my husband. By this time I had been to 15 different chiropractors over 13 years, trying varied treatments and techniques. I hadn’t gone one week without being adjusted in all that time. I depended upon chiropractic and was a very well-known patient among the chiropractors in the areas I lived in! They were my life-line. If I had a headache, ear problems or a migraine, I’d go straight to the chiropractor. But my adjustments would not hold for more than three days, sometimes a week, tops. The rest of my spine was not unstable, only the C1-C2 area. I joked with the CAs that I should bring my pillow and toothbrush to the adjusting room because I lived at their chiropractic centres.
I began to research the upper cervical spine, and I discovered a small group
within the Chiropractic Profession that specialized in my problem area! Specific Upper Cervical Doctors. These Chiropractors who specialized in THIS area drew me like a magnet! I had to find out absolutely everything I could, since these Specific Upper Cervical Doctors might be
able to help me with why my upper cervical spine which had been unstable for so long.
What followed my quest for information, through sources mainly from America, was a list of Upper Cervical websites, a DVD and other information which I read and watched over and over again. The more I read about the upper cervical spine and these Specific Upper Cervical Doctors, the more I was convinced I had to find one for myself in New Zealand.
Easier said than done. Eventually, some awesome Upper Cervical Doctors and Advocates in the USA were
able to supply me with the names of the very few Upper Cervical Docs here in New Zealand. From this, I discovered that most Specific Upper Cervical techniques are not included in the curriculum at the New Zealand College of
Chiropractic. The Director of the Techniques Dept that used to teach Upper Cervical techniques left, and toggle recoil upper cervical was dropped from the curriculum after that point. I was told that very few NZ chiropractic students asked for Specific Upper Cervical techniques,and didn't want to incorporate them in their chiropractic practices in New Zealand.
I went on a mission, and wrote to the NZ Chiropractic Board, the NZ Chiropractic Association and the NZ College of Chiropractic about this issue. I have yet to hear back from them. Fortunately for me, after contacting the few Upper Cervical Doctors in Auckland (seven hours from where I live) and telling them my life story, they invited me to allow them to do a thorough investigation of my upper cervical spine. I anxiously awaited ,y appointment time. Just a few weeks ago, I was able to make the trip to Auckland. What followed was amazing.
The X-rays, scans and analysis that these Upper Cervical Doctors did were very different and so much more specific and precise. They were able to see - for want of a better word – that my Atlas and Axis were ‘twisted’ in
a way that had not been understood by other chiropractors, and it was definitely contributing to the C1-C2 instability, which related to my inability able to hold my adjustments.
Rather than the quick twist to the side of the head, before sending me home, these Upper Cervical Doctors concentrated on finding the reason
for the instability, looking closely at C1 and C2. They worked on reducing muscle tension as well -Upper Cervical for the atlas misalignment, and Network Spinal Analysis to keep things tidy and help my adjustment hold. They explained that my body heals itself while the bones are in the proper position. Over the two week period in Auckland, I had just one,
very precise, Specific Upper Cervical toggle-recoil atlas adjustment lying on my side (first time I had ever laid on my side for an adjustment). It was such an extremely low-force adjustment, that I hardly felt a thing.
Amazingly, this adjustment held longer than any other adjustment to my upper cervical spine done by general chiropractors in my 13 years of treatment. I knew I was on the right track. I had found a specialty group within the chiropractic profession that focused precisely on my head/neck misalignment problem that I had lived with for so long. I knew they were going to correct it properly and precisely, and it worked!
That one Upper Cervical adjustment in the two weeks I was in Auckland was it. This had never, ever happened before. Obviously I will need to go back for further assessment and maintenance, so I can stay on the right track, but I am amazed at the progress. I have not had a headache or migraine since my trip to Auckland. I feel more ‘balanced’ and my ears do not ring. Also, my head no longer ‘clicks’ every time I turn it. I have been able to reduce my medication and antidepressants so my kidneys and liver can recover, and I no have irritable bowel problems. In conclusion, there is now a proper flow of communication between my brain, nervous system and body.
Chiropractic saved my life, but Specific Upper Cervical Doctors enhanced it so much more. Getting my adjustments to hold will lead to my regaining health. It’s the upper cervical stability that I have been seeking for 13 years that I am finally getting! Thank God for Upper Cervical Doctors. I now know why entire practices in the US are built solely on this tool, and I hope over time that New Zealand will encourage and embrace more Upper Cervical practices as well.
Mandy
www.UpperCervicalAdvocates.com
www.whatTimetuesday.com
www.UpcSpine.com