What are the symptoms of craniocervical instability?

Symptoms of Craniocervical Instability:

• neck pain.
• central or mixed sleep apnea.
• facial pain or numbness.
• balance problems.
• muscle weakness.
• dizziness and vertigo.
• vision problems.
• reduced gag reflux and difficulty swallowing.

What muscles connect to back of head?

The suboccipital muscles are 4 pairs of small muscles that connect the top of the cervical spine with the base of the skull. The suboccipitals are needed for head extension and rotation. Strain to a neck muscle can cause pain, tightness, and possibly lead to a stiff neck.

What muscles run along the back of your neck?

Here are some of the key muscles attached to the cervical spine:

• Levator scapulae.
• Sternocleidomastoid (SCM).
• Trapezius.
• Erector spinae.
• Deep cervical flexors.
• Suboccipitals.

How do you fix CCI?

Traditional “conservative” treatments for CCI include rest, pain management, upper cervical chiropractic treatment, and bracing with a cervical collar. Although, in most cases these offer little relief. Other experimental treatments for CCI include prolotherapy and stem cell therapy.

Are there muscles in the back of your head?

In other words, there is a muscle on the forehead (frontalis) and one on the back of the head (occipitalis), but there is no muscle across the top of the head. Instead, the two bellies are connected by a broad tendon called the epicranial aponeurosis, or galea aponeurosis (galea = “apple”).

What muscle runs from neck to shoulder blade?

The levator scapulae muscle connects to the transverse processes of the top four cervical vertebrae (C1 to C4) and runs down the side of the neck where it eventually connects with the scapula (shoulder blade).

Are there muscles at the base of your skull?

At the base of the skull, there is a group of muscles called the suboccipital muscles. They can cause headache pain for many people. These four pairs of muscles are responsible for subtle movements between the skull and first and second vertebrae in the neck.

What is cervicogenic vertigo?

Cervical vertigo, also called cervicogenic dizziness, is a feeling of disorientation or unsteadiness caused by a neck injury or health condition that affects the neck. It’s almost always accompanied by neck pain. Your range of motion can be affected, too, and sometimes it comes along with a headache.

What is cervical spine subluxation?

Subluxation is an essential entity of traumatic subaxial cervical spinal injuries. There is a varying degree of slippage of the body of one vertebra relative to the adjacent vertebra, owing to ligamentous injury and the jumped facets, with therefore a high predisposition for injury to the spinal cord.

Can a chiropractor help CCI?

We also collaborate with Dr Iain Smith, a Chiropractor, who specialises in CCI and has a vast experience in treating this condition providing upper cervical specific chiropractic manipulations. This type of intervention is image guided and low force.

Can craniocervical instability heal on its own?

Cervical instability is a medical condition in which loose ligaments in your upper cervical spine may lead to neuronal damage and a large list of adverse symptoms. If you have cervical instability, you may be experiencing migraines, vertigo, or nausea. Fortunately, this condition is treatable, though not curable.

What kind of doctor do you see for cervical instability?

If you are experiencing any symptoms of cervical instability, contact your doctor or chiropractor right away. This is a manageable disorder, but only with high-quality treatment, such as physical therapy or chiropractic adjustments.

How do you get craniocervical instability?

Craniocervical instability or upper cervical instability can be caused by the stretched rear or posterior neck ligaments. Stretched ligaments can occur over time in the CREEP phenomena which is a degenerative condition brought on by wear and tear from the head down work (computer) or chronic cell phone use.

Why does the back of my skull hurt?

Occipital neuralgia happens when there’s pressure or irritation to your occipital nerves, maybe because of an injury, tight muscles that entrap the nerves, or inflammation. Many times, doctors can’t find a cause for it. Some medical conditions are linked to it, including: Trauma to the back of the head.

What cause neck pain that radiates to shoulder blade?

A pinched nerve in your neck can cause pain that radiates toward your shoulder. This is also known as cervical radiculopathy. Cervical radiculopathy most often comes from changes in your spine due to aging or injury. Bone spurs can cause a pinching of the nerves that run through the hollow space in the vertebrae.