This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Good day Dr Flannigan,

I find this fascinating and my question to you is.. in pursuit of a local practitioner who should I look for?

Thank you for spending time with and for us..
pCakes

uprightdoc wrote:Many of you have reported feeling better, or worse, depending on which way you tilt your head forward or backward..

..this along with a 1/2" left leg shortness descibes me.. my symptoms are ON, l'hermittes and RHS numbness/weakness

Hello PCakes, Thank-you.
I hate to bring this up there is a battle between upper cervical chiropractors and the other 95 percent of the profession and they refuse to talk to each other. I don't even want to go there. Upper cervical is excellent and by far one of the best tools in chiropractic, especially when it comes to serious neurodegenerative diseases. But there are many things it won't fix it. Some neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's are caused by neurotoxins and upper cervical won't fix them either. It is literally insane to think that herniated discs in the low back are due to upper cervical problems. In a case like yours I believe that leg length discrepancies and abnormal curvatures of the spine definitely play a role in cases such as yours, Fernando's and Mark's. I practiced full spine and in your case I would do craniosaral or SOT. Finding a good one can be difficult as I discuss in the section on craniopathy.
Do you have lesions? I have treated many cases of probable and possible MS cases with good results. Obviously these cases could be misdiagnosed or they may have minimal damage. Who knows? The difficult cases are the ones with classic lesions.

uprightdoc wrote:Hello PCakes, Thank-you.
I hate to bring this up there is a battle between upper cervical chiropractors and the other 95 percent of the profession and they refuse to talk to each other. I don't even want to go there. Upper cervical is excellent and by far one of the best tools in chiropractic, especially when it comes to serious neurodegenerative diseases. But there are many things it won't fix it. Some neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's are caused by neurotoxins and upper cervical won't fix them either. It is literally insane to think that herniated discs in the low back are due to upper cervical problems. In a case like yours I believe that leg length discrepancies and abnormal curvatures of the spine definitely play a role in cases such as yours, Fernando's and Mark's. I practiced full spine and in your case I would do craniosaral or SOT. Finding a good one can be difficult as I discuss in the section on craniopathy.
Do you have lesions? I have treated many cases of probable and possible MS cases with good results. Obviously these cases could be misdiagnosed or they may have minimal damage. Who knows? The difficult cases are the ones with classic lesions.

Yes, I do have lesions, and I am middle aged.. 1, described as 'old', upper cervical and 2 other, 1 pons, the other right hemisphere..
My diagnosing neurologist descibed my leions as inactive and marginally different than those associated with aging???
Should I look for a specialist in craniosacral/ upper cervical? I know some rmt's certified as such.
Every little bit helps.. thank you again, pCakes

PCakes, You are between probable and possible MS. Two of your lesions areas are below the level of the tentorium in the pons and cervical spine. Both get their blood supply from the vertebral arteries which much pass through the foramen magnum before entering the brain. The anteriror an posterior spinal arteries then branch off and descend back down through the foramen to supply the cord making to susceptible to compression on the way up and again on the way down. Again, hyperintensity signals can also be caused by ischemia as in migraine headaches and mini stokes. Some patients occasionaly have migraines without headaches. They just get the photophobia, phonophobia, vomiting, dizziness and auras. You could probably benefit from either upper cervical or full spine. Again I prefer full spine but regardless, if there is no specific analysis of the strain then it's simply a shot in the dark. Upper cervical doctors use precison x-rays. I used x-rays, plumb lines, levels for postural analysis of strains. I used specific motion palpation. I used trigger point analysis based on standards set by Dr. Janet Travel. Most importantly, I used standard neurological test such as cranial nerves, normal and pathological reflexes and most importantly station (stance and balance) and gait. You need to shop for good chiropractors like you shop for a surgeon especially if you have serious health conditons such as MS.

Mark,

Thanks for the most logical of suggestons, lol. MY DIGITAL CAMERA, dah..........., why didn't I think of that!

When I go to see the doctor tommorrow, I'll ask him to put my x-rays up again on his white reader board and then I can take digital photos of them.

Lora

What logical suggestions? It's all Greek to me. I didn't understand a word of it but I love the images so keep them coming. Mark if you read this can you show just the picture of your lateral cervical spine with the stent in? It looks as though you have a quite cervical kyphosis.

Happy Poet, you are definitely the scribe. That is such a beautiful compilation of divergent studies. I have only run into a handful of you so far and the case histories, the images and the scribes records are terrific. I can almost do some research here. Thank you for your terrific input and invaluable information. It's perfect having so many of you in one spot.

Uprightdoc,

What Mark was saying basically is that he used his TV screen as the light board to illuminate his X-rays, took a photograph with his digital camera. Then it's just a matter of loading the photo from his camera to his computer. That's how he could show us his x-rays.

So I was thanking Mark, because it's such a simple fix for any of us who want to share our x-rays. When I had asked Dr. Fancher if I could get digital copies, he didn't know how to do it. I don't have my x-rays, the doctor does, but like I said, I can get him to put them back on his light board and then take pictures to share and have for my own file.

Lora

Welcome to the site, uprightdoc!

avantitech wrote:Hey Doc,

I realise this 'chiropractic view' of anatomy is the perspective from which you come, but cervical subluxations as a ‎'Likely link' to one cause for all neuro degenerative diseases?

This is a bit of a stretch in my view. Would you mind outlining the most convincing evidence for this theory or do we have to read your book to find out?

What studies if any are published in independent (non-chiropractic) peer reviewed journals and support this view?

One last question. I guess your recommended course of action to remain symptom free is for one to have your 'upper cervical spine subluxations' treated by ..... um ... 'chiropractic treatment'?

This forum has certainly hit the bottom of the barrel. God help people coming here for information and I truly mean that.

Do you mean this forum or this thread? I am sure even reference to God will get you bashed by your buddy on this forum. As far as this forum hitting bottom..."let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
(read some of your comments throughout your tenure here)

scorpion wrote: This forum has certainly hit the bottom of the barrel. God help people coming here for information and I truly mean that.

Thump, boinnggg...

.

Thanks Ruth for explaining that. It was funny, I was outside watching them in the sun for a backlight, when God descended in a cloud and spoke to me, saying, "use thy monitor screen as a backlight from this day hence".

When I had tried scanning Manoj's xrays he mailed to me from India (in a really cool sleeve from the hospital to boot!) it was put it on the scanner then adjust the color to even try to catch a glimpse. Didn't look real good at all. I've had cervical problems my entire life, so yeah, I think there is something here.

It's funny how his one page about Zamboni/Schelling is used as a hammer, whilst the other 99.9% is summarily ignored.

Some of us *get it* though. Plus most of the chiros I've ever known have had a quirky sense of humor, I think some lightening up is sorely needed. Why some that are against any and all dastardly surgical interventions wouldn't jump at the chance to explore non invasive opportunities is beyond me. Note I said "explore", not "embrace as the true cause of all that ails mankind in one simple adjustment".

I'd go pull all the quotes where Dr. Flanagan is contrasting his ideas to those of Z and S, but what's the point? Even discussion is lambasted as bottom feeding unless backed by studies. Imagine that, even internet message board denizens now are expected to rise to the Phd level or keep it zipped.

They may not have The Everything, but they have Something that's worth paying attention to, as if having discussions on clogged pipes is the entire discussion, ignoring the fact that the walls they run through are leaning at a 45 degree angle, as mere coincidence.

I'd also like to pull all the quotes where they are quite specific in saying, "this can't fix everything, we know that". I think I see one a few messages above, somehow that gets lost in the character assassinations.

I was always wary of chiropractors, but a couple of summers ago, I developed a frozen shoulder (I didn't know it was even called that). I asked my sister to ask her Chiro friend to see me, and she decided I had a bone out in my neck...she did a little manoeuvre...it didn't hurt, but low and behold, I could tell the arm and shoulder felt better. It took a while to regain some strength...it still is weak, but it is 1000X better.
Later I was watching one of those Doctor tv shows on youtube, and they were talking about steroid shots and physio...and if that didn't work, then surgery....the poor woman was no better after their treatment. I was disgusted, as it was obvious where she was headed. I had been through all that for my foot...shots, ultra sound, shoe insole......then surgery. My foot still feels pain. If I weren't spending so much on my husband, I would be back to the chiro for myself...my whole right side is out and weaker(and hurts!); hip, foot, arm and wrist.....I am half a person.
Point is, I believe in the healing properties of chiropractic manipulation.