What Causes Cervical Dystonia?
Medical specialists don’t actually know the cause of cervical dystonia. According to Mayo Clinic, “The exact cause of dystonia isn’t known. But it might involve altered nerve-cell communication in several regions of the brain.”
They theorize that CD is caused by aberrant nerve signals from the brain. So generalized health care believes that there is no known cure for CD. To manage this condition, Botulinum toxin, originally used for cosmetic wrinkle relaxing, is injected into the neck muscles to basically paralyze them. Since this toxin’s effect wears off over time, it is repeated every three or four months. The other approach is medical management with drugs that affect brain chemistry. These drugs often have serious side effects. Brutal as it may sound, even cutting the nerves or brain surgery to implant an electrical stimulator are options offered when Botox and medications fail. Of course, this one has the most risks with no guarantees that it will succeed. Again, according to Mayo Clinic, “Deep brain stimulation. Electrodes are surgically implanted into a specific part of your brain and connected to a generator implanted in your chest. The generator sends electrical pulses to your brain that might help control your muscle contractions. The settings on the generator can be adjusted to treat your specific condition. Selective denervation surgery. This procedure, which involves cutting the nerves that control muscle spasms, might be an option to treat some types of dystonia that haven’t been successfully treated using other therapies.”
CD is a symptom resulting from an underlying cause. What is it? Based on my experience of resolving medically diagnosed CD, through correction of jaw mis-alignment, I postulate that the spasms and tilting of the head are symptoms of CCMD. It is an attempt by the central nervous system to accommodate for a misalignment of the neck and jaws. There are muscles throughout our body that have the role of maintaining the posture. These slow twitch, ‘core’ muscles are tasked to keep the spine aligned allowing the large, fast twitch muscles to idle. The ‘global mobilizer’ muscles are designed for rapid and powerful contractions to move our body quickly, such as turning the head quickly when you hear screeching tires.
Sterno Cleido Mastoid (SCM) is the long muscle on the side of the neck which is a fast twitch ‘global mobilizer’ muscle. If one is contracted the head moves to the opposite side. If both are contracted, the head moves forward, such as when a soccer player heads the ball. SCM’s are often the ‘culprits’ in CD that results in the head either being turned to one side or in spasmodic movements.
Paralyzing these important muscles needed for normal function with Botox or cutting off the nerves that control them without diagnosing the cause does not make sense to logical people.
It is known that jaw alignment DOES affect the head and neck alignment. When the upper cervical vertebrae are misaligned the nervous system tightens the neck muscles as a protective reflex.
Cervical Dystonia Treatments
Mike was suffering from Cervical Dystonia for 14 years. He was diagnosed by specialist physicians at University of California San Francisco. He was given several Botulinum toxin injections in his neck muscles. He had limited relief from it. He was also given powerful medications with hallucinogenic side effects. Mike declined any more of those medications or Botox injections. Mike could not control the tilting of his head or head movement even for a short time. It worsened when he laid down. So a good night’s sleep was impossible. Mike had a great attitude. His life was great. It would be better if he could just have 5 minutes of relief and sit down on the couch without the head movement. He did get some temporary relief for an hour or so, through acupuncture by his chiropractor. His wife Sara was determined to find a solution. She was not going to give up looking for a solution. So she found us on the internet and called and spoke about another Cervical Dystonia case that I treated.
Physiologic Neuromuscular protocols were used to diagnose the optimal neuromuscular jaw position that also optimizes neck and head posture. Mike has worn this removable orthotic to go over his lower teeth for about a week. After 14 years of dealing with the uncontrollable head movement of Cervical Dystonia, he is seeing relief that is beyond his wildest hopes. He is able to lie down and get a good night’s sleep. He can actually sit on the couch for over 90 minutes to watch TV with Sara. Simple pleasures that the rest of us would take for granted. Yet these were unattainable for someone that suffers with Cervical dystonia.
That was in March 2012. Mike continues to have this symptom relief as evidence of the validity of my explanation of CD as a symptom of TMD or CCMD.
Another case of CD was diagnosed at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, MN. This patient, also named Mike, has been suffering from Cervical Dystonia for over a decade. He was diagnosed by physicians at Mayo clinic in Minnesota who gave Botulinum toxin injections in his neck muscles. He had limited relief from it. Later it was repeated at Mayo clinic in Arizona. This time the relief was even less. Mike had accepted that nothing can be done. Yet with correction of his jaw alignment through PNMD orthotic, the CD subsides and returns the moment the orthotic is removed. Another example of the validity of my explanation of CD as a symptom of TMD or CCMD.
Can Cervical Dystonia Be Cured?
If you or someone you love have been diagnosed with cervical dystonia, it does not have to be a life sentence nor does it make sense to hope for relief for risky surgical options. It may be relieved by correcting CCMD through Physiologic Neuromuscular dentistry treatment. Call (816) 436-4422 today and schedule an appointment to see what cervical dystonia treatment options are right for you.
