Shimoda Posted May 26, 2009 Report Share Posted May 26, 2009 What connection do the vertebrae C1, C2, and C3 have to POTS? I'm absolutely positive that something is going on up there, with the spinal column and with the spinal chord... It feels way out of place. It aches. When I tried to do squats in gym, when the weights apply pressure to that area, I felt like I was going to die. Literally. I was that dizzy and in pain. My entire system had a massive flare up.So what connection is there? What can I do to fix mine? (Cranial osteopathy?) PLEASE help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliegee Posted May 26, 2009 Report Share Posted May 26, 2009 What connection do the vertebrae C1, C2, and C3 have to POTS? I'm absolutely positive that something is going on up there, with the spinal column and with the spinal chord... It feels way out of place. It aches. When I tried to do squats in gym, when the weights apply pressure to that area, I felt like I was going to die. Literally. I was that dizzy and in pain. My entire system had a massive flare up.So what connection is there? What can I do to fix mine? (Cranial osteopathy?) PLEASE help.Shimoda- I definately think you are on to something. My son had a subluxation of his neck prior to symptoms coming on. I've also had several severe whip lash injuries. Please, please, please STOP doing squats with weights on your upper body. I'm a former hard core weight lifter in my 20's-30's. That particular move is so dangerous with your condition. You need to nurture your spinal column and cerebral spinal fluid flow- not compress and further damage it. You can get similiar results with repeated squats and lunges (without upper body weights), yoga warrior poses, leg extensions and curls, etc. Hugs-Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firewatcher Posted May 26, 2009 Report Share Posted May 26, 2009 The ANS is divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions. The parasympathetic division supervises the truly visceral functions, through ganglia located directly in organs such as the kidney, liver, gut, etc. Just as the central nervous system controls voluntary muscles by the release of acetylcholine, the parasympathetic nervous system releases acetylcholine into digestive secretory glands, heart muscle and smooth muscle (such as the muscles controlling the slow contractions of the intestine). Smooth muscle differs from skeletal muscle insofar as the response to stimulation can last for minutes, hours or days -- as opposed to a fraction of a second. Smooth muscles contract 100 to 1,000 times more slowly than skeletal muscles. Skeletal muscle receptors are called nicotinic because nicotine can mimic acetylcholine, whereas parasympathetic end-organs are called muscarinic because the toadstool poison muscarine (not nicotine) mimics acetylcholine. Parasympathetic nerves arise from the top and bottom of the spinal cord, as opposed to sympathetic nerves, which arise from the central portions of the spinal cord.While the parasympatheic division of the ANS handles vegetative functions, the sympathetic division is more concerned with mobilization of body resources to handle stress. The sympathetic division most often functions by mass discharge with simultaneous effects upon the entire body, rather than by isolated target organs. The sympathetic ganglia are located close to the spine rather than in target organs. And sympathetic nerves release norepinephrine (noradrenalin) on target organs, rather than acetylcholine. The adrenal medulla (interior portion of the adrenal gland) is actually a very specialized sympathetic ganglion which releases epinephrine (adrenalin) into the blood stream. Both epinephrine and norepinephrine increase blood glucose, increase the rate&force of heart contraction and increase metabolic rate. Norepinephrine constricts all arterioles, whereas epinephrine only dilates skeletal muscle blood vessels (both effects increase blood volume in muscles). Epinephrine dilates the bronchi of the lungs. ---- Chapter 7 -- Brain Areas Supporting Cerebral Cortex Function by Ben Best If you look at a diagram of the nervous system and specifically the Autonomic part, you will see that the parts that control the ANS are almost all at the base of the brain and in the cervical spine. It is also the direct route of blood to the brain. I have constant subluxation of C1 and C2 with a disc bulge between C3 and C4 (according to my x-rays and MRIs.) Take the general "doctor's advice:" IF IT HURTS DON'T DO IT!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shimoda Posted May 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 Thanks guys.I see Goodkin tomorrow. Any idea whether cranial osteopathy could possibly "fix" most of my problems? I feel it might have an impact, at least. Is it worth trying? Also, should I get xrays done of the area? MRIs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkoven Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 I"m STILL waiting for results of an upright mri of my head and neck--but , that's an aside. Any chance you have a connective tissue disorder, like eds? If/when I get the results, the doc is looking for different types of brainstem compression--from cervical cranial instability, chiari, or tethered cord. If you have some tissue weakness, you are more likely to have issues. The geneticist I saw was very insistent that my mri be upright (seated), to see what gravity does to the structures in my head and neck. Be very careful before letting anyone manipulate your head/neck. I have had skilled massage people work on the area, to relax the muscles, and some pt to teach me to stabilize things. Personally, I would not feel comfortable letting someone do anything with any force up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firewatcher Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 I went to a chiropractor that had a special machine for adjusting just C1 and C2 in an effort to get rid of my headaches. I saw him for 8 weeks straight. He said that C1 was a 20mm higher on one side than the other and that my cranium did not sit straight on my spine, he even showed me on the x-rays. None of the adjustments ever made a difference in any of my symptoms, except occasionally it made them worse. Many people swear by it, but I am not one. No one "adjusts" my neck anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliegee Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 My son has had tremendous success with osteopathic treatments. His practioner was trained by Dr. Robert Fulford- cited as an amazing healer in Andrew Weil's book "Spontaneous Healing." Mack's ped from Hopkins recommended this treatment. Mack's experience was a total trip. If the OD that helped him wasn't so highly recommendd, I would have thought he was a charltan. He seemed to sleep through much of Mack's sessions Best of luck-Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
It'sMyLife Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 I would get a GOOD chiropractor before anything else. I have a good group of docs that take care of my neck and if I could afford more than twice a month, I would. Sometimes I am so congested (blood flow that is) that as soon as I get my adjustment my back and face turn red from the blood rushing back into them. Make sure your docs have a long term treatment plan and prognosis for you and aren't looking to give you a quick fix like some--some I've had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 My neck was out of alignment for years because of whiplash when I was a teenager. A few years ago I found a very well respected and recommended chiropractor who adjusted my neck. It was nice to have it back in place, but it hasn't helped my symptoms at all.Rachel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potsgirl Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 Can I ask how it came about that you had this MRI done? I have a lot of pain at the base of my skull, lots of headaches. I would love to get that looked at....ThanksJana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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