At Athens Upper Cervical Chiropractic, we take a specialized approach to chiropractic treatment. At your initial consultation, you will receive a thorough examination and consultation, before we get to work on any type of treatment program. Dr. Cave evaluates each patient by going through medical history, lifestyle habits, and the symptoms that led them to seek chiropractic care. Symptoms are often seen as secondary conditions within the upper cervical arena, because oftentimes they are caused by subluxations, or misalignment of the spine. It is important to us that we receive all of the information during this initial visit.
Our new patient paperwork goes into depth about some of the questions we will go over with you at your consultation, so it’s important that you go through them carefully and thoughtfully. This exam and questionnaire helps us to get the full picture, which will aid us in the assessment and treatment plan moving forward.
X-rays are also a key part of our examination. By taking photos and 3-D scans of your spine, the doctor is better able to see the curvature of the spine, notice any subluxations that could be causing issues within the body, and see exactly where adjustments should be made.
After this preliminary consultation, Dr. Cave will determine if the symptoms are an upper cervical issue or not, and he will either recommend treatment, or refer you to the proper provider. If it is an upper cervical issue, we will create a course of treatment, and then we’ll be able to get you on the schedule for your first adjustment.
Upper cervical chiropractic treatment differs from traditional chiropractic medicine in many ways, but one of the defining characteristics is the focus on the top two bones of the neck, the atlas and axis vertebrae. Where the brain stem meets the spine is a particularly sensitive area of the body, so when the upper spine is moved out of its natural alignment, the nerves that are located in the brain stem can be infringed upon. This can cause irritation, and cause the nerves to not function properly, leading to the symptoms that we see everyday. Not only does this infringement cause these symptoms, but it also gets in the way of the body’s ability to heal and function properly. That is why as upper cervical chiropractors, it is our goal to move the upper cervical spine back into place from where it has shifted, and thus remove any obstruction, pressure, or infringement on the nerves of the brainstem.
One of the ways the body shows a subluxation is through pain and inflammation. When the nervous system is not communicating well, it triggers a pain response. Upper cervical chiropractic care helps eliminate neck pain by properly aligning the nervous system so messages flow more effectively.
When the spine is in proper alignment, the nervous system is able to communicate as it should. This results in better quality and quality of sleep. Since over 60 percent of adults suffer from sleeping problems, improving your sleep could have a huge impact on your overall livelihood.
Studies show that long-term chiropractic care increases an individual’s immune system strength by as much as 200%. This equips the immune system to fight off viruses and bacteria that you come in contact with that cause colds, ear infections, and more. When you do get sick, your body will be able to fight off the sickness more effectively and faster.
When the body is functioning at its best possible level, sicknesses that require prescription drugs are far less common. This means that people who pursue upper cervical chiropractic care often notice that they need fewer prescription drugs, hospital visits, and doctor’s office trips.
At our office, we take a different approach to pain relief. If you’ve been struggling with chronic pain, and you’ve tried everything from medication to surgery, we encourage you to come see us. We specialize in upper cervical chiropractic, which is a gentle and natural treatment for pain.
The goal of upper cervical chiropractic is to align the bones in the upper neck, which helps to take pressure off of the nerves. This can lead to pain relief throughout the body. If you’re tired of living in pain, we encourage you to come see us and find out if upper cervical chiropractic can help.