Expert: Robert A. Arnone, DC - 8/13/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi.   Recently I went to a mamimized living chiropractor, and he adjusted me
what felt like way up high, almost at the top of my spine.   My OCD
compulsions and thoughts that i've had for 6 or 7 years seemed to disappear
for a couple of days, and I could sleep with my neck straight on the pillow,
which it's always been all curled up.   I was exhausted for days and had a
headache and some tingling  and pain.    The adjustment was sortof scary, but
sortof good.   I couldn't decide.   But i'm wondering if my ocd could be helped
longterm somehow, but i'm not sure this chiropractor knows what he's doing
enough.   Also, my husband is worried about adjusting that high up, as he's
read it can cause strokes because the arteries are up there.    What should I
do?

ANSWER: Nikki,
First of all, is this Chiropractor a Specific Chiropractor or does he twist and pop the head and neck?  does he use an instrument to check your nervous system?  Did he take Specific X-Rays of your Head and Neck?  Does he "adjust" you on every visit?  Does he "adjust" your entire spine or just your head and neck area?
Please answer these questions first and then I will be better able to respond.  Thank you.
Yours in Best Health,
Dr Rob Arnone

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well, he first does my back, by just pressing it down for an adjustment, and
then he twists my neck pretty hard on each side to adjust it.   I don't think he
has a speciality.    Yes, he has adjusts on every visit.   I'm not sure about an
instrument.   What would that look like?   On the first visit they used
something on different neck vertebrae that showed up in colors on a screen.   
but not since then.    They did take xrays the first time.    I've only been about
5 times all together.   I haven't been back since that last time, because I just
wasn't sure what was healthy and safe.    Although part of the results were
interesting.

thanks,
Nikki

Answer
Nikki,
This chiropractor seems to use the diversified method of chiropractic which most chiropractors tend to use today.  This is a very non-specific method of adjusting that can actually cause instability in the cervical spine if this is done too often.
I am glad that you have had favorable results, but I want you to know that if you continue going to that clinic and that doctor continues to manipulate your cervical spine with the twisting and popping type of manipulation that it seems he is doing, then you will end up with an unstable upper cervical spine which is not a good thing.
If he were to possibly manipulate your spine once every quarter, in that fashion, it would probably be ok (although still not the best).  The ultimate would be to transfer your care over to an Upper Cervical Doctor of Chiropractic, this doctor is very specific as as well as conservative in his adjusting, and will only adjust your spine when there is proof that there is nervous system interference.  This will not be on every visit, for example we see people usually 2 times per week for the first couple of months of care and most of those people will get 1 maybe 2 adjustments in the first 2 or 3 months.  And the adjustment is at one upper cervical vertebra on that visit.  So many of our patients will receive only one spinal bone adjusted only one time in the first couple months of care.  They are going to get their nervous system monitored throughout their care and on every single visit so that we can assure that the correction has been made successfully and that the proper brain-body connection has been restored, this is why we have such a high rate of success in getting sick people well in our clinic.
If you would like to go to a clinic that practices under that same philosophy and technique that we do, then send me your town and state so that we can locate a doctor that can help you too.
Nothing is bigger than LIFE!

Yours in Best Health,
Dr Rob Arnone