Chiari Malformation - A Natural Solution without Surgery | Upper Cervical Chiropractor Spokane

Dr Jeffrey Hannah
Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractor in Spokane, Washington
p | 509-315-8166
w | ClearChiroSpokane.com
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For people diagnosed with a Chiari malformation, they are often told that their only two options are drugs or surgery. However, we would like to showcase the case of a young woman, who illustrates that there can be a third option: a natural approach that doesn’t involve drugs or surgery.
A Chiari malformation occurs when a portion of your brainstem descends below the normal space inside your skull and into your spinal canal. If you may imagine a balloon with a piece of string attached. The balloon is your brain, and the string is your spinal cord. If you tug on the string, the bottom part of that balloon can start to squeeze its way below where it normally fits inside your skull. When this happens it can cause crowding (like trying to fit your foot into a shoe two sizes too small) and abnormal pressure gradients that lead to a range of neurological symptoms:
Headaches
Migraines
Vertigo
Dizziness
Visual problems
Speech problems
Swallowing problems
Brain Fog
Memory problems
Muscle incoordination (aka clumsiness)
Muscle weakness
Chronic fatigue
Neuralgia (e.g., Fibromyalgia)
The vertebrae in the upper part of your neck form direct attachments onto your spinal cord as a way of anchoring, tethering and protecting your brainstem under normal conditions. However, if these vertebrae may be misaligned even a small amount, they can produce that abnormal mechanical tension that can produce a pulling effect on the string.
Here we present the case of a young woman, who had experienced essentially experienced vestibular migraines and brain fog for around 10 years. She had been to numerous neurologists who identified that she had a Chiari malformation, and she was told that there wasn’t really anything she could do about it except take drugs to manage her symptoms or surgery, which she did not want to do.
On her MRI, we noticed a few things. Foremost, we saw that she had indeed had some type of whiplash injury in the past. The normal “C” curve of her neck was shaped more like an “S.” An “S” shaped neck is a sign of a previous neck injury, which in itself can produce that pulling on the string and balloon to produce symptoms associated with a Chiari malformation.
We proceeded to take a series of digital articular x-rays (DAX scans) in order to see exactly how the individual joints in her neck were aligned, and we found quite a remarkable misalignment of the top vertebrae in her neck relative to the base of her skull. We then performed a correction using the Blair upper cervical technique, a special approach to chiropractic that doesn’t use any twisting, cracking or manipulation in order to unlock that misalignment with the least intervention and the safest way possible.
Our client experienced almost instant relief from the pressure in her head that had been with her constantly for over 10 years! Over the next 12 weeks, we continued to keep a close eye on her condition, and she continued to do better and better. The biggest changes she reported was being able to get through work without being exhausted at the end of the day, and still having energy on the weekends to be able to enjoy other activities she’d put off doing for such a long time.
What her case illustrates is that for people with Chiari malformation, there is a different, natural approach that can still help without the need for drugs or surgery.
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The Blair technique is a special division of general chiropractic that focuses on the alignment, motion and stability of the atlas vertebra because of its unique relationship with your nervous system, which controls every function in your body. Unlike general spinal manipulation, there is no twisting, cracking or stretching.
The Blair technique is a gentle and precise approach that utilizes a series of physical, neurological and diagnostic tests in order to provide the highest level of personalized healthcare.
When your atlas is aligned, your body has the potential to be healthy. However, when it is misaligned, simply put, your brain and body are not able to work as efficiently as they otherwise would. Inevitably, that is when health problems start to occur.
The big idea of the Blair technique is that by restoring the normal alignment, motion and stability at the junction between your head and neck, your own nervous system and its innate mechanisms are able to do what your body is designed to do: heal itself. And when that force is able to flow freely through your body from above-down, inside-out, anything it possible.
Call us to schedule an appointment at 509-315-8166.
Dr Jeffrey Hannah
Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractor in Spokane, Washington

[@jazzy41265]

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[@ranna6738]

What if you’ve had both the decompression surgery, and the filum sectioning surgery in Spain? Can your treatment still be something to consider?

[@DrJeffreyHannahDC]

Unless there is complete fusion, it is worth having a look to see if a specialist can help. Dr. Luca O'Brien practices in Barcelona.

[@thunderchargingbear]

Can chiari 1 progress into chiari 2??

[@DrJeffreyHannahDC]

Typically no, but in more severe cases yes it can. That's where procedures that support stability in the craniocervical junction are important to improve symptoms and to prevent deterioration.

[@thunderchargingbear]

@@DrJeffreyHannahDC thank you for responding. My wife has chiari 1. I looked at chiari 2. The only symptom from chiari 2 she has is the weakness in the arms and that just began here recently. So does that mean it progressed into 2 possibly??

[@DrJeffreyHannahDC]

@@thunderchargingbear Of course, I would not diagnose sight unseen. Another possibility that that there is a secondary factor or common origin for both.

[@thunderchargingbear]

@@DrJeffreyHannahDC yea you wouldn't risk your license on diagnosing sight unseen 😂... i will have her dr look into secondary issues. We are trying to get this resolved without surgery. I'm glad the chances on progressing are small

[@DrJeffreyHannahDC]

@@thunderchargingbear Have a look on BlairChiropractic.com or UpperCervicalCare.com to see if there is a specialist near to your home, who can help.