The miracle elixir of life. . . okay, maybe not an elixir, but definitely for me. National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association. It's a form of chiropractic (and I assure you, I never before would EVER endorse chiropractic work based on my experience as a 22 year-old BUT this is different) that is the movement of the atlas bone that sits at the base of your skull (here's a picture found at this
URL).
It feels a bit weird and the whole process is a bit more new age than I care for, but really it does wonders. In late October, my neurosurgeon said that perhaps I should go for a surgical consult because physical therapy wasn't working on my left side and the shots only helped the right side. Surgery. It's a big and scary word and I do not want it (DO YOU? ON YOUR NECK?) I mean, let's be serious, it's not something you sign up for, it's something you are relegated to or are forced to if you decide not to live in a drug-induced haze for the rest of your life (I saw where that led, so I was thinking a new direction might be good).
So, Jen Weitzman (my good friend, confidant, and person I let in the house if it's messy - that's called intimacy people) told me about this thing called NUCCA (previously spelled out) that her sister and grandmother did and were quite the swearer byers. So, I did some research and found a few practioners in Seattle.
I chose based on location rather than by certification. . . Not sure how smart that is going to be, but it works for me.
My first visit, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was told that there were the following activities: a questionnaire (when isn't there a questionnaire), an exam of measurement, two or three x-rays, a consult on the possible issue, an adjustment, a couple more x-rays, and then how to "stay".
I filled out the questionnaire. I think I have told every practioner AND doctor EVERYTHING I've ever done, taken, or planned to do in my entire life in the last few years. It all makes you feel a little nude (can you feel that way, only a little nude?). She kept saying, "you've got a lot going on in there" and "no wonder you hurt".
Great - could you do something about that?
The x-rays are the next step. She said she'd take three. But apparently I was so bent up, she took six.
Then she came in and told me that "you have a lot going on in there". Following that statement with a litany of things about my spine that make me more unique (less than 1% of the population - really? I've been thinking it's me this whole time. . . Wait, it is me - right -*sigh*) than many people she sees. She tells me she's excited to treat me because it will be more of a challenge for her than most cases. Usually, I like being different, but in this case. . . Not so much. I mean, don't you want to be like other cases so there is a chance of being cured like other people?
So then she does the "thing". She has me lay on my left side with my head cradled in this chiropractic table "pillow" which she adjusts for about five minutes while looking at my collarbone, my head, my neck, etc, to get me positioned just right. It's really uncomfortable because my shoulder is taking a lot of weight (very isotonic work). She comes up behind me and breaths in, breaths out, puts her hands in what only I could think to describe as "clay molding" position, taps my head above my ear a couple of times, and then presses right behind my right ear.
I KID YOU NOT, I felt my spine do the domino dance.
She did this "getting ready" bit and nudged my atlas bone (that bit behind my ear) four times. Then told me that my body will try to "heal" for a couple of weeks. That I was to get no massages, do no physical therapy, and just basically take enough magnesium and rest to heal. And to my surprise the amount of pain in my left neck, shoulder, hand area had decreased 50% by the end of that day, so OF COURSE I was going to listen!
For the next several weeks, I went back and was "holding" the adjustment. I hadn't been this pain free in YEARS! I hadn't taken a pain pill in WEEKS! I could feel and it wasn't the bad stuff!
here's her website
http://www.seattlecompletehealth.com/Then I got sick and started to cough which took out my alignment. Then I went bowling. . . okay, so you need to hold the alignment for a bit, then work out, then it will stay and you need less and less adjustments.
So, I have been in alignment again for a couple of weeks. I'm going abroad this week, so we'll see how it holds. But since I've been holding, I've been doing upper back, shoulder, and neck exercises so I can keep it. But the amount of pain is SUBSTANTIALLY less and I haven't had any tingling in more than a week. So, I highly recommend this stuff. Check it out.
the bad news? Well, my insurance only covers about 50% of the procedures because it's out of network and the x-rays aren't really considered chiropractic. So, My first visit was $450 and each visit (if you get an adjustment) is $60 and (without an adjustment $40). So, I've only gotten 50% of that back. But I think for me, it's worth it. I like not being in pain. It makes me more bearable to be around! And I'm happier. Happy is good. Happy is an endorsement.
