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Angela
Sep 4, 2008 - 10:38AM
atlas above neck
My Chiropractor tells me that my atlas keeps popping out with this most recent bout of lower back pain... which of course keeps me coming back in all the time to put it back.
If I approach inversion therapy for my low back pain, and enzymes, and LTBP system, does anybody here know if it's absolutely necessary for me to keep paying my chiropractor to put my atlas back in place? I suppose I'm just a little annoyed by this expensive dependency that only seems to help me "manage pain" rather than get rid of it.
ANY advice, positive opinions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Angela
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Angela
Sep 4, 2008 - 10:57AM
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Re: atlas above neck
I forgot to mention that I've already invested just over $5000 to "retrain" my atlas to stay in place over the past 3 years, with this same chiropractor. It seemed to work for a little while... but I feel like I'm back at square one again, and I simply don't have more money to give it.
Angela
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Dave Hutchieson
Sep 4, 2008 - 1:13PM
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Re: atlas above neck
Angela
Please ask him EXACTLY why does your Atlas vertebra keep coming out of position.
Have him write down any Latin terms that he uses and post them on this site so that I can see them.
I would try the LTBP system to see how you do with it. It has a money back guarantee and is simple to use.
You need to usefind a Pettibon practioner near where you live and have a meeting with them.
If this guy is already practicing Pettibon, then he needs to be reported.
Please let me know.
Dave Hutchieson
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Angela
Sep 4, 2008 - 1:55PM
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Re: atlas above neck
Thanks for your response.
His answer to "exactly" why my atlas keeps coming out is usually blamed on my adrenals. I've gotten to the point of arguing that now, especially if there has been no stress and I've followed ALL recommended protocol to "tame" these supposedly stressed adrenals with high quality supplements. This hasn't changed anything at all as far as how often I'm in pain and need my atlas "put back in". Besides being a typical type A personality... I know of no other way of "being" and if I tame my adrenals any further I'll become a mindless blob or float off into some unheard-of nirvana... if I can get around the excruciating pain at the bottom of my spine, that is.
No he is not a Pettibon practitioner. My search for practitioners in NC, SC, GA have shown me that Pettiboners don't exist here, or within any kind of reasonable driving distance from me...
I might add that ALL chiros here try to hit you up for about $4 K (prepaid) and the typical 12 weeks of 3 visits, 6 weeks of 2 visits, blah blah blah. They see each potential patient as $4 K and then some right when they walk in the door... I'm not saying they don't care, but I am saying that they care more about sending their toddler to a school that cost as much as my house payment per month... or that nice boat they had to have, etc.
Know of any sources to find pettibon professionals in the southeast? unfortunately, the prospect of driving three or four states away, especially repeatedly, makes my pain relief just a *little* less possible in the scheme of things.
Considering the pain, saying "bummer" is an understatement.
Angela
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Robert
Sep 4, 2008 - 4:04PM
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Re: atlas above neck
I only spent $3k for the same nonsense... I believe now that the atlas is pulled out by muscle imbalance, so adjustments do not fix that problem. I started a stretching routine and guess what? - the atlas stayed in. I quit going to have adjustments because that is their game plan...You NEVER are well enough to stop lining their pockets. My wife didn't even need adjusting but was told she needed to come back for regular check-ups. Hey, you never know when your atlas may attack!
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Angela
Sep 4, 2008 - 8:59PM
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Re: atlas above neck
well I can't believe I located a chiropractor who does Pettibon locally... but according to his staff, they "hit people up" for the usual $3 grand protocol as well, just like so many other chiros here.
I suppose my main question in the thread is... If my atlas is out now, at the time of beginning my LTBP assessments, should I get it put back in with one more visit, or is this not crucial and the program can still help me?
Anybody have any suggestions/opinions on this?
Thanks,
Angela
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Dave Hutchieson
Sep 4, 2008 - 9:34PM
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Re: atlas above neck
Hi Angela
This makes me so angry when I read about some of these chiropractors.
I am very fortunate to have an excellent caring one, but there are so many greedy ones out there.
TO ANY CHIRPOPRACTOR OUT THERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO START A "WELL, NEARLY ALL OF US ARE GOOD HONEST PEOPLE " RESPONSE - NO YOUR'E NOT. YOUR PROFESSION HAS A GREAT DEAL OF REAL LOW LIFE'S IN IT, AND YOU NEED TO DO MORE SELF REGULATION.
That being said:
I believe strongly in good chiropractic as I have x-ray evidence of what it has done for my wife and I.
Here's what I would suggest you do:
Contact the Pettibon guy and ask him flat out what is causing your Atlas vertebra to "come out".
If he is a decent person, he will come up with a range of suggestions.
If he says, "Well, it could be anything " then that makes me suspicious.
I'm going to drop you an e-mail with the numbers of two people who have a lot of experience in this.
If the problem is muscular, we have to be very careful, as some muscles may need to be strengthened and others may need to be relaxed.
Working on this vertebra is not to be taken lightly.
Have you had any x-rays done on your neck ?
This vertebra is the most important one in your body [ Christopher Reeves, Superman, broke his during a riding accident ].
Keep a look-out in your spam folder for my e-mail.
Dave Hutchieson
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karen
Sep 18, 2008 - 1:43AM
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Re: atlas above neck
I have never heard of pettibon but it looks simular to NUCCA and I am a firm believer in that. I was in extreem pain for close to three years. I have been pain free for 6 months now. I owe it all to my NUCCA practioner and my corrective exercise specialist. They both do everything that Dave has been saying and supporting.
I have gone the cyropractor route. I've been down that road of standing by a chryopractor who was just taking my money and not really helping my pain. I spent 2 years waisting my time with him.... What was I thinking?! If your DC hasn't helped you in 3 years it's time to leave. It doesn't mean you should give up. You just need a different doctor.
After I left my cryopractor. I starting going to a NUCCA Practitioner. I went every day for one month and my atlas was not holding. He kept telling me to have faith. I decided to go to a Osteopathic doctor. He told me my coccox was off and that is why my atlas wasn't holding. 5 weeks with him - adjusting the coccox and other things. I felt different but not better. So I decided to go back to NUCCA. I told my doc to give it one more shot. He did. The adjustment held. Then I started working on the exercises full out. It took 1 year to get pain free but here I am... Don't give up. Try Pettibon or NUCCA There's another one out there called the Atlas Orothogonal Technique. But in my opinion NUCCA is best. Do your exercise in the LTBP system or find a corrective exercise specialist. It takes time but you can recover. Have faith. If I can get better you can too.
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Angela
Sep 18, 2008 - 7:49AM
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Re: atlas above neck
Thanks Karen, what's NUCCA?
Unfortunately, after spending 3 years with my chiropractor, who promised to retrain my atlas to stay in place, I have no more money to invest in the typical treatment program that is always offered up. I invested in the intensive 3x a week plan with him, then over a year of maintenance, which just turned into some sort of total dependency on him a couple of times a month. Finally, we got to the point where he just wasn't relieving me. Plus he seemed to lose his attentiveness...
I've located a pettibon chiropractor, but of course, they introduce the same 12 weeks > 3x a week, then 6 weeks > 2x a week, etc. Probably about $3000 to get rolling with that. No can do, not with my schedule or my lack of money.
Bummer. My atlas is out right now, and I sit with it stubbornly, not wanting to line my chiropractor's rich pockets anymore. He's already gotten about $5000 from me - there ain't no more!
I'm on my own with this one... will have to figure out what to do by myself if I can't find a professional who can work with the schedule I can afford. Isn't it sad that having money, or not having it, can dictate whether a person is able to find relief or not? This is what we've become...
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Angela
Sep 18, 2008 - 8:04AM
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Re: atlas above neck
I meant to ask Robert earlier... mind telling me what stretches/exercises you're doing that seem to help your atlas?? I know the same situation may not apply to my condition of course. Just curious.
Thanks,
Angela
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Dave Hutchieson
Sep 18, 2008 - 2:07PM
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Re: atlas above neck
Hi Karen
I took a look at the Nucca site - all good stuff.
Based on hard science.
Whenever you see the word "Vector" involved in relation to the Atlas, the chances are that the practioner at least knows the correct terminology.
[ A Vector is something that has force and direction coming into play and is present in engineering analysis ].
All good chiropractic is based on an engineering approach to the spine.
X-rays are critical [ they use them in Nucca as well as Pettibon ].
The question I have for regular chiropractors is "If you are NOT performing x-rays on the cervical region, with subsequent measurements of lateral shifts etc, how can you possibly make accurate assessments of someone's neck condition ?"
There is only one person I know of who can do that, and he wears tights, has a big "S" on his chest, travels faster than a speeding bullet and leaps tall buildings in a single bound.
So, unless those other chiropractors are a relative of Mr. Kent, I don't want to hear a peep from them about "Oh, I have twenty years of experience, and just KNOW when everything is fine ". Yeah, right.
The C1/C2 vertebrae are incredibly important.
At my local clinic, I have seen dozens of people get off high blood pressure and high cholesterol medication by proper adjustment of these two important little bones.
I'll explain how this is done in a tutorial posting later when my tinnitus is not so bad.
Poor Christopher Reeves broke his C1, and it messed up just about everything in his body.
I'll explain how this is done in a tutorial posting later when my tinnitus is not so bad.
Dave
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Weight Training Paul
Sep 18, 2008 - 5:53PM
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Re: atlas above neck
This is a very interesting thread and very informative
I look forward to the posting
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Robert Morrissey
Feb 23, 2009 - 9:41PM
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Re: atlas above neck
Hi Angela
There are two atlas that are reffered to in cervical region.
C1- Is OA Stands for occipital Atlas
C2- Is AA stands for Atlas Axis.
You need to know which one you refer to so I can help!
If indeed it is C1-
You need to ask your chiropractor or osteopath if he can perform.. What called
Crane condyle Maneuver.
You also need to know which side of the facet joints are either
staying open or not closing!
C1- is the only joint that acts like no other.. It unique because it side bends and rotates in opposite direction.
C2- is responsible for pure rotation 50%65 percent.
Good luck with it.
If you live in sydney Australia you can give me a call
to correct.
Cheers
Robert Morrissey
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Angela
Feb 24, 2009 - 12:38PM
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Re: atlas above neck
Thanks Robert for trying to be so helpful. Unfortunately, I am not in Australia, but wouldn't mind if I were!!
I have been avoiding the chiro for months now, because even the Pettibon practitioners here can barely see past their goal of getting me to sign up for $3000 of debt, and I simply cannot do it again. Not to mention, coming in 3 times a week would seriously challenge my schedule and job, and stress level.
I've been getting deep tissue massage, about twice a month, for a fraction of the cost of a chiropractor. She's a friend giving me a deal... anyway, we may have gotten ahead of some of my muscular/stress tendencies. But I still have to carry a growing 2.5 year old on my hip up three flights of stairs daily... and endure stress. That's just life right now, plus my work is pretty hard physical labor.
I can feel that my atlas is out at times, and no, I don't know AA or AO. Currently I've got tinnitus like Dave H. did... driving me crazy, but tinnitus is sinus related, I think, and I ALWAYS have chronic sinus problems if my atlas is out, or who knows, maybe my sinuses CAUSE the atlas to come out. I sincerely can't tell which comes first, but really don't think it's the latter...! and if that were true, I could also start a rant blaming my mild but long term thyroid issue as well.
If I were to go to my chiro and ask him about AA or AO, and possibly for that maneuver you mentioned, would I still not have a regular problem with it coming back out? After all, it doesn't change the physical or mental stress I still have to encounter regularly that affects my muscles.
What you said concerns me because it indicates that my previous chiro that I "fired" may have known how to keep my atlas in place, but didn't because he wouldn't make as much $$$ off me....
Then again, maybe he knew and performed, but the failure lies in the fact that he never really addressed the muscle imbalances. (He claims he does so, even now, but I never saw it, and he promised me exercises and stretches, but never assigned any - not once - during my 60 or so visits...)
So, I have a real high pitched Quasimodo in my head, and a moody atlas, and I seem to have little more choice than to take the cheapest route I can with massage, and this is to just get my body at least functional. I think I've come to terms with this, but still keep eyes and ears open for a solution.
I'd LOVE to be able to afford to visit AL in Florida!! I think he'd solve ALL of this! Just don't have the cash or the capacity to handle the debt.
Looks like Health is for the wealthy, eh?
Angela
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Wendy
Oct 26, 2009 - 1:38PM
Quote Reply
Re: atlas above neck
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Morrissey
Hi Angela
There are two atlas that are reffered to in cervical region.
C1- Is OA Stands for occipital Atlas
C2- Is AA stands for Atlas Axis.
You need to know which one you refer to so I can help!
If indeed it is C1-
You need to ask your chiropractor or osteopath if he can perform.. What called
Crane condyle Maneuver.
You also need to know which side of the facet joints are either
staying open or not closing!
C1- is the only joint that acts like no other.. It unique because it side bends and rotates in opposite direction.
C2- is responsible for pure rotation 50%65 percent.
Good luck with it.
If you live in sydney Australia you can give me a call
to correct.
Cheers
Robert Morrissey
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Angela
Oct 27, 2009 - 2:23AM
Quote Reply
Re: atlas above neck
I decided to have Atlas Profilax done, months ago. It's a one time $250 deal, guaranteed to permanently set the atlas, unless there is a rare underlying (specific) issue preventing it from staying. Supposedly, the majority of people have success and it stays in place. Mine did not. Gosh... don't I feel special...
The guarantee is that you never have to pay for it again, at least, so I can go get it done again without paying again. The problem is having to travel because there are only a handful of atlas profilax practitioners in the US. At this point I don't know if I have a rare/odd issue, or malignancy, that's stopping my atlas from staying in a healthy place, or if I'm just a fool and wasted $250 that was hard enough to scrape up.
It felt great at first, but I think it lasted no more than a few weeks. (Just like a much cheaper chiropractic visit). Symptoms returned but I was told there might be a resurgence of symptoms as the body gradually adjusted (and became it's own chiropractor) from the neck down. So... I couldn't tell if it was out at first, or if I was feeling this so-called "resurgence". Like I said... perhaps I was a fool and wasted $250.
Nobody seems to know how to stop this atlas coming out problem from happening. I'd still prefer to just go to Al in Florida, if I had the money. He's an engineer and everything he says makes sense. Sure the atlas can come out, often - for people like me all that's needed is a quick change in barometric pressure or a little stress/tension in the muscles. So what i really need to learn is how to put it back myself, since I'm apparently prone to this. Al said he has to do it all the time for himself, and he could show me how. Wish I had the money to go see him. Donations anybody? (Ha) Good health care is for the rich, or so it seems. I can't even seem to sneak $20 a week in to save for this! It always gets used on desperate visits to the chiro, just to get enough relief to function and go to work without a bunch of dizziness and discomfort. Well... I don't think it's a brain tumor or I'm sure I'd be dead by now - this has been going on for years.