Conventionally, the terms Cervical Spondylitis and Cervical Spondylosis (CS) are attributed to degenerative changes in the cervical spine. They are thought to be caused by natural progression with age in the intervertebral disks. The cause, as usual in medicine, is "unknown". Very little treatment is available through normal medical channels other than analgesics, anti inflammatories or in some cases surgical interventions.
What is the real cause of Cervical spondylitis or spondylosis?
These are not a "natural progression with age" conditions. These are very treatable conditions especially if early intervention is carried out. These are an eventual consequence of damaging compensatory vertebral rotations and distortions caused by an imbalance towards the front of the head caused by:
• A deficiency in proper forward facial development;
• An asymmetry of the dental structure;
• An asymmetry of the Temporo Mandibular Joint;
• A retrognathic upper or lower jaw or both;
• Disturbances caused by genetically missing teeth;
• Iatrogenic disturbances caused by dental extractions.
• Iatrogenic disturbances caused by extraction orthodontics.
Cervical spondylitis and Cervical spondylosis can be further exacerbated by:
• Repeated high velocity adjustments of the neck 'subluxations';
• Injuries to the neck such as whiplash.
The head has to balance on the neck. If the structure of the face/jaws changes and becomes asymmetric the neck has to distort and compensate to regain head support and balance. These distortions occur by changes in the muscles which have to be continually stimulated to hold the neck vertebrae in such a way that the head can be adequately supported. The muscles get fatigued causing pain (sometimes excruciating) , stiffness and difficulty in turning the neck. The permanently rotated vertebrae degenerate and show changes on radiographic images.
Experience shows that very minute changes to the jaws in the order of a couple of millimeters can cause huge effects on the neck. Treatment is geared towards attaining optimal symmetry so that the damaging effect of jaw and tooth asymmetry on the neck lessens.
If these asymmetries, which in the early stage give rise to stiffness and pain on turning the neck, are not corrected in a timely manner the neck gradually deteriorates and the damage increases over the years eventually causing intense pain, limited mobility, loss of cervical lordosis, a collapse of the proper vertebral structure and numerous neurological, musculo-skeletal and organic disturbances throughout the body.
Previous injury to the neck like a whiplash injury does not heal properly in the presence of dental and jaw asymmetries which need attention before the neck can heal.
Untreated asymmetries allow the neck to continue deteriorating into Cervical Spondylosis, Cervical Spondylitis and Ankylosing Spondylitis. These conditions DO NOT HAVE AN AUTOIMMUNE ORIGIN NOR A PSYCHOSMATIC ORIGIN as claimed by some specialists and neurologists.
The ramifications of cervical asymmetries are widespread. The cervical asymmetries cause compensatory lower back rotations in the opposite direction. The lower back soon starts hurting also. Lower back rotations cause a rotation of the hip leading to sciatic nerve pain and the 'short leg phenomenon'. An electric shock like feeling running to one or both legs may also be present in some patients.
Dr Mercola provides an insight into the merciless perversion of disease with reference to back pain, which is secondary to neck pain, by the drug peddlers:
“Not surprisingly, back pain has become a major target for drug company disease mongering. The latest example of this is the emergence of ads for ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the axial skeleton that includes the spine, which is actually a very rare condition.
One frequently advertised drug is Humira, sporting a price tag of about $20,000 per year. The drug is loaded with serious side effects that include tuberculosis, life threatening infections, increased risk of lymphoma and other cancers, hepatitis B infection (if you carry the virus), allergic reactions, nervous system problems, heart failure, liver problems—and that's the short list!”
In other words you will not be buying a cure for your ankylosing spondylitis but actually paying for more calamity, more disease and more suffering on top of your ankylosing spondylitis!
Throughout this website we have emphasised that most of these problems are of a physical nature. They do not correct with drugs like analgesics, anti inflammatories, Amitriptyline or Gabapentin. The drugs make the problem more chronic by masking the pain. The underlying problem continues to worsen with additional symptoms surfacing as time goes on.
Early and late stage symptoms of Cervical spondylitis or Spondylosis include:
• Neck stiffness and pain;
• Pain at the occipital base of the head;
• Pain at the mastoid end of the Sterno Mastoid muscle;
• Dizziness and ear problems;
• Inability to turn the neck fully and pain on turning the neck;
• Grinding noise or sensation when the neck is turned;
• Changes in bone structure, for example formation of bony spurs;
• Pain in the shoulders arms, hands or legs – usually one sided;
• Ataxia;
• Tremor in the whole body;
• Pain shooting down into one or both arms;
• Headaches are a common accompaniment;
• Difficulty breathing deeply;
• Waking up unrefreshed and tired;
• Symptoms are most severe in the morning and again at the end of the day;
• Pressure on nerves as they exit the damaged spinal column causing tingling, numbness and/or weakness in upper limbs;
• Pressure from hypertrophied and stiff muscles which pinch the nerves causing pain and numbness;
• Further damage to the lower back and unlevel hips causing sciatic nerve pain, leg pain, numbness and difficulty walking;
• Patients start getting numerous other organic disturbances including IBS and in females gynaecological problems;
Lehrmitte’s sign: Sometimes called the barber chair phenomenon - an electrical sensation that runs down the back and into the limbs. In many patients, it is elicited by bending the head forward or backwards. This sign is too often WRONGLY attributed to damage in the neural tissues of the brain and the spinal column. It is used as one of the cardinal signs in the diagnosis of 'Multiple Sclerosis'. We have had 3 out of 3 'MS' patients who recovered from this sensation rapidly. It cannot be due to damage in the dorsal columns of descending pathways from the brain as falsely claimed by the promulgators of the mythical 'Multiple Sclerosis'.
How is Cervical spondylitis or spondylosis diagnosed?
You have to complete an extensive questionnaire about your symptoms and your medical and dental history. This will be followed by an appointment for a physical examination of the teeth, jaws, your Atlas vertebrae, hip levels and leg length discrepancies with a focus on the neck, back, breathing and painful spots.
As a word of cautionary advice it is usually important to have excluded other causes by your GP through the use of X-rays, computerised tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine.
Please note that not all patients who have various asymmetries go onto develop the severe consequences of Cervical Spondylosis.
What are the treatments for Cervical spondylitis or spondylosis?
It is extremely important that one gets treatment long before serious damage to the neck spine takes place. If we are able to positively diagnose you with TMJ dysfunction and an asymmetry of your Atlas vertebrae as the cause of your cervical problems a treatment plan is made and discussed with you. Most patients notice an immediate improvement of their symptoms on starting the treatment. Where the problem has been of long standing recovery may take longer. Very rarely advanced cases may need surgical attention essentially to relieve symptoms.
Please note that we are increasingly finding that in almost 99% of cases of Atlas asymmetry, the rotation is a consequence of Jaw asymmetry correcting which, corrects the Atlas. Pummelling the Atlas into submission with pulsating tools in the absence of jaw correction can cause serious adverse reactions.
As often perceived, poor posture does not cause Cervical spondylitis or spondylosis. Posture is a reflection of jaw and skeletal asymmetries. One cannot artificially get a good posture. Correcting jaw and body asymmetries corrects the posture. These corrections prevent the manifestation of Cervical disease.
• We do not use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines or narcotic concoctions to relieve pain and inflammation. The use of these in the absence of proper corrective measures causes the damage to continue unabated with serious adverse outcomes in later life.
• We do not use chiropractic manipulation because the cause is in the Jaws. The neck only compensates for what is wrong in the front of the head. Repeated high velocity adjustments are NOT advocated and can seriously damage the neck.
• We do not advocate the wearing of a cervical collar to limit movement and provide support as its use worsens the symptoms because of a lack of use of the neck muscles.
• We do not inject steroids as they damage the vertebral joints making the problem much worse.
• We do not inject local anaesthetic into the neck spine as it is of little use other than for momentary or short lived relief.
Please also read my blog on Ankylosing Spondylitis
Early treatment is the key. If you suffer from neck problems and/or headaches and you have not had any relief through conventional means it may be time to look into your TMJ function and skeletal symmetry.
Please send a brief email to info@dramir.com
Alternatively you can also phone us: +44 (0) 208 780 3433.
You may want to go ahead and complete our extensive questionnaire before making an appointment.
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