Watch this video to give you a visual of Upper Cross Syndrome.

Upper Cross Syndrome is defined as the tightness of specfic muscles and elongation of other muscle that create a postural dysfunction.  The result of this postural dysfunction can not only lead to headaches and should pain, but also to long-term degeneration of the vertebrae in your neck.  Not good!

I like this article by Men’s Health.  “Are your Shoulder in a Slump?”

Some articles call Upper Cross Sydrome “Student Syndrome” or “Corporate Syndrome”, as do this article by Back Into It.  “What is Upper Cross Syndrome?” The article claims that it’s so common, you may have it too!

If you have questions, please contact Dr. Misty Funk at Tranquility Chiropractic Studio.

Headache Causes- the causes for headaches are numerous.   They can range from hangovers, allergies, to tumors.  The types of headaches, I have had the most success with my practice are headaches triggered by musculoskeletal problems.   Headaches such as the stress or tension-type headache, occipital headaches, or headaches caused by car accidents and injury to the neck.

Serious Signs and Symptoms- If you are or start experiencing these signs and symptoms you should visit the ER.

• A sudden, severe headache.
• Confusion or extreme irritability.
• Extreme sleepiness.
• New and different skin rash or severe bruises that appear without an injury.
• New double vision, blurred vision, or blind spots.
• Persistent nausea or vomiting.
• Rapid, difficult breathing.
• Severe neck stiffness or pain.
• Severe sensitivity to light (photophobia).
• Severe pain.
• Unsteadiness that prevents standing or walking (ataxia or vertigo).

Most headaches are benign, painful, and frankly annoying.  If you are experiencing frequent headaches or headaches that an increasing in intensity, please visit your family physician.  If you believe your headaches are caused by neck pain or tension, you can visit your chiropractor.  At any rate, headaches are no fun and can typically be easily reduced with good treatment by a caring provider.

Patients with this condition can benefit greatly from myofascial release of the posterior cervicals, suboccipitals, occipitalis, scalenes, and SCM muscles.  In addition to muscle work, spinal manipulation of the upper cervical (neck) area can reduces nerve irritation.

Check out the links above to learn more about chiropractic techniques that can reduce pain, inflammation, and headaches caused by occipital neuritis.

Dr. Misty Funk

What has been interesting about this change, is how little people including myself know about their health insurance benefits.  It is interesting how many of us go to our health care provider and know little to nothing about what will and will not be covered.

Does my plan cover chiropractic?  Do I have a copay or coinsurance?  What is my deductible?  What is a deductible?  If I have a copay, is a chiropractic visit considered an “office visit” or a “specialist visit”?  Do I need my PCP’s referral?  What will I get stuck with after my insurance company pays the doctor?  Am I responsible for the amount insurance company doesn’t pay to my doctor?  Augh!!!!!!!!!!! Health insurance can be very confusing!

I had waited months to become credentialed, and here I was too…confused! In order to better understand how to help my patients get the care they deserve, I met with a billing specialist (as well as called every chiropractor I knew).  I talked for hours and asked a million questions.  Here are a few tips that I think can benefit every person who has or ever will have health insurance.

Common Insurance Questions and Answers

1. What is a deductible? I like to think of the deductible as your upfront out-of-pocket cost.  Your deductible is the predetermined amount you are responsible for paying before your insurance company will start covering your health care expenses.
2. How often do I have to meet my deductible? Your deductible starts over again annually, but don’t be shocked if your health coverage isn’t from Jan 1-Dec 31.  I’ve seen other dates (IE Sept 1- Aug 31).
3. How is my deductible determined? The lower your deductible is, the higher the price of your plan (usually paid monthly).  If you have a lower deductible then your insurance company will pick up a larger portion of the bill.
4. Who is responsible for billing the insurance company…me or my doctor? Many health care providers bill the insurance company as a service to you, but it is ultimately the patient’s responsibility to ensure that provider is paid for his or her services.  Whoever bills the insurance company has the most risk of revamping the cost of service!  Please remember, if your insurance company doesn’t pay, you may have to! So if your provider bills for you, make sure you understand what amount you are responsible for if the insurance company decides not to pay for part or all of your care.
5. My insurance company didn’t pay for my treatment and my doctor wants me to pay.  Who’s fault is it…my doctor’s or my insurance company? So you’re in a situation where your insurance company did not pay for part of your services, and your doctor is asking you to pay the amount not covered.  Frustration can arise when you get an unexpected bill, but stay calm.  Either party could have made an error- your doctor’s office may have billed the claim incorrectly or the insurance company could have paid or not pay the correct amount.  If you get a bill from your provider’s office, call and ask why the services were not covered.  But remember, if your insurance provider doesn’t pay, ultimately you are responsible.  Luckily, most doctors are doctors because they love to help people.  So always assume your doctor will work with you to make sure you can afford your care!

For more information, check out these links!

http://www.healthcarecoach.com

http://personalinsure.about.com/od/health/a/aa032805a.htm

http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/common/standard/transform.jsp?requestURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/dc/cen/hea/misc/alert10152007.jsp

Taking a little stress out of your day!  -Dr. Funk

To better understand how massage can help your migraines, let’s have a simple anatomy lesson.  I am assuming you don’t know where the greater occipital nerve is.  And since random rubbing hasn’t proven to be effective for migraines, you probably will want to know where to massage or be massaged.

The Greater Occipital Nerve (GON) runs through the middle of the Suboccipital Triangle- four small muscles on either side of the upper neck.  The GON innervates the scalp and areas over the ears.  When our neck muscles get tight, epecially our occipital muscles (think base of the skull), irritation of the GON occurs.  And you know what that means…a headache!

Tight muscles and nerve irritation can make even the happiest person miserable.  The benefits of massage are unmistakable- muscle relaxation, increased blood flow, and stress-reduction.  Now you can add headache relief to one of its many benefits.

Self-Massage or Partner Massage
1. Start massaging the neck and shoulders
2. Work your way up to the base of your neck (where the GON starts).  Focus on any areas that are painful and tight.  Many headache suffers have knots in their muscles, called trigger points.  If someone pushes and holds a trigger point, you will feel the pain shoot up the head and recreate the headache.  That’s the spot that should be relaxed with massage.
3. Finish up by massaging the scalp where the GON nerve endings are located.

To learn more about headache help or to book an appointment for a professional therapeutic massage and treatment, visit www.TranquilityCS.com.

(1) Piovesan, et al.  Massaging Over the Greater Occipital Nerve Reduces the Intensity of Migraine Headaches. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2007;65(3-A):599-604.*  Full free article- http://www.scielo.br/pdf/anp/v65n3a/10.pdf