Neurologic Conditions & Chronic Pain

NUCCA full-body postural analysis showing how a craniocervical misalignment can affect the whole body

There is a wide array of neurologic conditions that many people experience. Many people, whether noted post-concussion or otherwise, experience "brain fog" or lack of clarity.

Others experience significant nerve pain throughout the body. When this affects the nerves controlling sensation in your face, it is known as Trigeminal Neuralgia and creates excruciating pain.

Chronic pain is generally recognized as any pain that persists longer than normal healing time, which for many conditions is pain longer than 3 months.

Unresolved pain represents either a root cause which has not been corrected, or a pain-cycle from the brain which needs to be interrupted.

We're here to help you determine the cause of your pain and/or neurologic dysfunction.

What Neurologic Conditions or Chronic Pain Syndromes are Associated with the Brain?

Neurologic Conditions & Chronic Pain can significantly respond to brain-based care.

Generalized Chronic Pain can be caused by changes in the way the brain controls the muscles in the body, and interprets pain. Changes in the Head & Neck junction can interfere with proper signaling between the brain and body, resulting in chronic pain and recurring injuries. These often show up in multiple areas throughout the body, and can often affect one side of the body more than the other.

The neck, or cervical spine, is a coordinated network of nerves, bones, joints and muscles, designed for strength, stability and nerve communication - but many factors can cause tension and pain in this vital part of the body. Many instances of neck pain go away after a few days or weeks, but when the pain persists, known as Chronic Neck Pain, there is most likely an underlying cause that should be addressed by a specialized NUCCA doctor.

Brain Fog is a commonly used term among patients suffering from lack of mental clarity, confusion, and slower processing than usual. It is commonly noted in Post-Concussion Syndrome, but also may be experienced without a concussion. The brain has its own waste removal system - the glymphatic system. The brain must have proper communication and drainage to process information correctly.

Trigeminal Neuralgia is often referred to by patients as the "Suicide Disease". This is typically caused from either a compression or inflammation of Cranial V, the Trigeminal Nerve. This nerve originates in the brainstem at the craniocervical junction, and passes through many different areas of the skull that can create compression or inflammation.

Chronic Lower Back Pain is pain lasting more than 3 months. The lumbar spine, or low back, is a remarkably well-engineered structure of interconnecting bones, joints, nerves, ligaments, and muscles all working together to provide support, strength, and flexibility. However, this complex structure also leaves the low back susceptible to injury and pain when the muscles are imbalanced between the right and left sides of the body.

Chronic Sciatica is not a medical diagnosis in and of itself but it is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. It is characterized by pain in the buttock or leg, tingling or numbness in the leg or foot, and weakness in the leg or foot. Common lower back problems that can cause sciatica symptoms include a lumbar herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, or spinal stenosis.

Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals.

Recurring Injuries are injuries to any location on the body that previously sustained the same injury. Sports injuries can often be recurrent with subsequent injuries being influenced by the first one. Most recurring injuries are actually worse than the initial injury and could have a severe impact on the health and future of the injured. When sustaining an injury, it is best to receive immediate medical attention in order to minimize the likelihood of recurring injury.

How does NUCCA help? A Brain-Based Approach from a NUCCA Specialist

Interference at the Head & Neck can affect how your brain controls your muscles and interprets pain. The upper 1/3 of your neck is incredibly mobile and complex compared to the rest of your spine. It has major influence relating to brain communication, as it functions similar to a relay station. Your postural muscles are all controlled by an area of your brain nestled right at the base of your skull as well.

When you have any type of injury, even if it's a minor fall or accident from years ago, it can cause damage to the ligaments (the 'glue') that support your neck alignment. If this occurs, your head and neck can become slightly misaligned, which sets off a cascade of problems:

When your head and neck are imbalanced, you have a righting reflex that keeps your eyes level to the horizon. The rest of the body will torque and twist to keep your eyes as level as possible.
Muscles become chronically imbalanced because the inflammation and irritation near the brainstem can interfere with the information signaling between your brain and body.
These imbalances can cause neurologic dysfunction - from chronic back pain to brain fog or trigeminal neuralgia. They also are the reason many people suffer from recurring injuries or recurring pain. If the body isn't functioning properly, small movements can cause big problems.

A specific exam from a NUCCA doctor can tell you if you have a misalignment affecting your nervous system. Our specialized care will:

help restore improper nervous system function
improve muscle balance throughout your entire body
decrease the unrelenting pain associated with craniocervical junction misalignments

I have been going to a variety of chiropractors for over 20 years due to several auto accidents and thought I was doing my body good. About 18 months ago, after a bad neck adjustment, I ended up with a whole host of problems that were affecting my life, from balance issues to numbness. I tried several more Chiro's, a spine specialist, physical therapy but nothing was working. I thought a "normal" life was over for me... After some research and pure luck, I found Vital and thought "What have I got to lose?"

I have been under Dr Radwanski's care for approximately 6 weeks now and the results have been amazing, to say the least. There is no cracking of your back, spine or neck; the actual adjustment is a very light touch, almost like someone just laying their fingers lightly on my neck.

Dr. Radwanski is extremely patient; she has explained each step that she is doing in great detail. She makes sure that I understand the process and makes me feel completely comfortable with what she is doing and the expected result.

In addition to the care you receive at their office they have a list of providers who are like minded and can help you further heal without negatively affecting their process. I can't thank Dr. Radwanski enough for what she has done for me in a short period of time, my physical symptoms (balance, numbness, neck pain and vision issues) have all evaporated. It didn't happen overnight, but from one week to the next I noticed small changes for the better and now can't imagine what I was living with prior to starting my treatment.

The best advice I can give to anyone who is suffering is to go on their website, read about their process and take the first step to healing. My only regret is that I didn't find the team at Vital sooner.

– Randy S.

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