jcqueen

I have been reading about dysautonomia since my daughter was first diagnosed in May. This is a wonderful site and the information was very helpful as we performed many tests and experimented with different medicines. I did not post here to sell a product or service. I am an engineer working with a fiber optic cable company. I have no ties to any chiropractor or any related equipment or services. I posted the information on the equipment because I think that it is important to know exactly what was used. It was not a jerking, snapping, cracking, or massaging used in the treatment. There is medical technology that people should be aware of to make the best informed decisions. I agree that everyone should be skeptical of anything that they read in an open forum. My wife and I did a lot of research each step of the way, and I encourage others to do the same. All I can do is share my story and pray that it may help someone.

Here is a link to information on the Pro-Adjuster that is being used on my daughter. It also explains the education requirements for chiropractors and helps to address some of the misconceptions of today's chiropractor. http://www.proadjusterlifestyle.com

Thank you for your reply. I was extremely skeptical of seeing a chiropractor and had similar concerns. We had been to Children Levine Hospital, Sanger Clinic in Charlotte NC, and Duke Medical Center. We had been told that there was little hope of a cure and that various medicines to control the symptoms was the only course of action. After seeing my daughter's life dramatically changing for the worse, it seemed that a visit to a chiropractor was a small risk. It was evident from the x-ray that the C1 and C2 were out of alignment. The technology used in the 80's and the technology today are very different. The chiropractor used a machine called a Proadjuster to make the adjustments. The equipment is relatively new technology and is very high tech. I encourage people to read about it on line prior to any treatments. I was hesitant to make a posting, in fear that others may not be successful. I also realize that this may only apply to a small number of people. However, during all of the many doctor visits and studies about dysautonomia, none of the specialists ever suggested that we even look to see if this could be a solution. This is an additional option for someone that may seem to have eliminated all other possibilities. My prayer is that it could help someone.

Fainting was only one of her symptoms. Prior to fainting she typically experienced severe dizziness, complained that her head was very hot (it was not hot to the touch). and her heart would pound out of her chest (over 180 bpm). After her fainting, she would have headaches that would last up to an hour. This typocally occurred while she was standing and almost every time that she attempted to do any physical activity, especially in a hot/stuffy environment. These symptoms were also similar in the other girl that lived in our community.

My daughter, 15 years old, was diagnosed with dysautonomia in May of 2008. She played sports and was in great physical condition before starting to have fainting episodes. We visited family doctors, neurologists, and cardiologists. We tried many tests including MRI, Tilt Table, Epilepsy Monitoring, EEG, EKG, Blood Work, etc. We were placed on many medicines including fludrocortisone, zolof, and mididrone. Nothing was working and the symtpoms continued to get worse through November. She was having 3 to 5 episodes per day, some that were very severe. In late November we visited a chriopractor on a recommendation from a friend. An x-ray of her spine found C1 & C2 vertebrae out of alignment. Dr Ray Reaves of Newton NC, used a Proadjuster to realign her vertebrae. He explained that if C1 or C2 has subluxation it could cause her dysautonomia-like symptoms. She immediately started to improve and with additional readjustments has seen immense improvement. She continues to need alignment due to her physical activities that cause mis-alignment to re-occur. She has went from practically bed ridden to playing varsity basketball and being involved in many other activities. A 14 year old girl in our community was having similar problems. She also had been to neurologist and cardiologists. When I told her mother to try a chiropractor, she was very skeptical. However, she finally visited Dr Reaves. Her x-ray found that C1 was out of alignment. After adjustments she has been episode free ever since (over three weeks). I am sure that there are many people that have been diagnosed with dysautonomia or POTs that may only need alignment of the C1 or C2 vertebrae to cure them. A simple x-ray of the spine would determine if the C1 or C2 were in alignment and adjustment may be the only thing needed.