Botox, Brain surgery or upper cervical
Cranial Nerve Compressive Syndromes such as Trigeminal Neuralgia, Bell’s Palsy, Hemifacial spasm or palsy and others. Are among the most devastating of all health conditions both in pain and social impact.
The medical approaches to these conditions are extremely invasive, including botox injections. Botox, or Botulinum toxin as it is known in the scientific community, is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Another possibility for patients suffering from these types of conditions is a type of brain surgery called Microvascular decompression is a neurosurgical procedure that can have serious complications including death, stroke, hearing loss and facial weakness. The surgery itself can cost as much as $70 K and has about a 20% success rate.
If a person has a history of head or neck trauma another question should be asked.
Is the dysfunction of these cranial nerves related to a misalignment of the upper neck?
The research is suggesting just that.
A recent article published in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research entitled Resolution of Hemifacial Spasm Following Specific Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care. Dr. Lucian Henry describes a case study of a 48-year-old male who was able to find the solution to his condition without Botox, brain surgery or any of the side effects.
Here is his story…
48-year-old male presented with left hemifacial spasms of one-year duration, accompanied by neck pain and tension. He reported a tic causing the left eye to blink that sometimes forced the eye to almost close. He described constant neck pain, centrally located, with tension and grinding on movement.
He received a total of three chiropractic adjustments over a 13-day period of time, after which time he had a complete resolution of his symptoms. At a 3 month follow up the patient was still asymptomatic.
Natural Relief of Trigeminal Neuralgia
This case study is far from an isolated incident…
Dr. Michael Burcon an upper cervical chiropractor and researcher from Michigan, has done some incredible research on the upper cervical spine. He has determined that over 90% of patients who have been diagnosed with these types of conditions have suffered a head or neck trauma usually whiplash an average of 15 years prior.
Here’s an example from his research:
A 57 year old female presented with right sided trigeminal neuralgia (TN) of two years duration. TN pain was helped by medication and exacerbated by exposure to cold. Secondary complaints included high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, diminished hearing in left ear, neck pain, bilateral shoulder pain, right shin numbness and allergies. Prescriptions included Gabapentin for trigeminal neuralgia 900 mg 3xs/day (2700 total with 3600 being maximum prescribed)
History included being knocked unconscious in a fall when ten years old, significant fall while skiing thirteen years prior and recent fall onto the sidewalk.
One week after specific her first upper cervical adjustment TN pain diminished dramatically in frequency and intensity. After discussing the improvement with her neurologist, she started cutting back on her Gabapentin dosage. After eight weeks, the patient was completely off the medication and pain free. Additionally, she reduced her high blood pressure medication by fifty percent. After two years of maintenance care, she is still pain free without medication, even after major dental work.
Dr. Burcon concludes this case study by stating “Although a case study is limited in its ability to provide conclusions, this study is a typical representation of over three hundred cases researched at Burcon Chiropractic over the past ten years, where the same protocol is used for all one sided brain stem disorders, including Bell’s palsy, migraine headaches, Meniere’s syndrome, Trigeminal neuralgia, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.”