Multiple Sclerosis and the Upper Cervical Spine

In the upper cervical spine, there are four main structures to focus on. They are:

1. The Foramen Magnum of the Occipital bone

2. The Atlas vertebra (1st cervical bone)

3. The Axis vertebra (2nd cervical bone)

4. The Brainstem of the Nerve System.

The Brainstem exits from the Foramen Magnum. The Atlas and Axis bones protect and surround the Brainstem. The Brainstem connects all the nerves from the brain to the nerves of the body.

Regarding Multiple Sclerosis, the secondary focus is on the Myelin Sheath of the Central Nerve System.

Myelin is a protective tissue that insulates nerve fibers. It helps electrical impulses travel quickly and efficiently throughout the Nerve System. The Central Nerve System includes the Brain, Brainstem and Spinal Cord.

The Central Nerve System in general does four main things:

1. It controls all the movements we make

2. Senses everything we feel

3. Regulates all our body organs

4. Relates us to the outside world

When nerves get stressed, it effects their sensitivity, perception and behavior to perform these functions. The stresses are physical, chemical and emotional in nature. These stresses create nerve tension and spine imbalance.

One specific job of the brainstem is to adapt to these stresses and help bring the spine back into balance. If the stresses are too great for the brainstem to adapt, compensations arise. One compensation that occurs in the upper cervical spine is a Vertebral Subluxation.

A vertebral subluxation will cause the Atlas and Axis bones to lock in a misaligned position. This lock will sustain Nerve System tension and spine imbalance. This tension leads to abnormal sensitivity, perception and behavior of the brainstem and connecting nerves.

Over time, this disruption can contribute to symptoms. The usual symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis are:

• Numbness/tingling in the arms and/or legs

• Vision loss

• Motor loss

• Balance loss

• Inability to coordinate voluntary movement

• Incontinence

• Paraplegia

• Mental dysfunction.

Symptoms manifest differently in each person. Patterns of relapse and remission are common with MS. In most cases, as the condition progresses, remissions become less frequent. MS affects the ability of nerve cells in the brain, brainstem and spinal cord to communicate with each other.

If we reference the Myelin Sheath of the Central Nerve System we can see that it associates with Multiple Sclerosis symptoms.

The goal of Chiropractic is not to medically treat the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. The aim of Chiropractic is to correct nerve tension and spine imbalance. Chiropractors correct this by adjusting the vertebral subluxation of the upper cervical spine.

Correcting the subluxation better optimizes the function of the brainstem and associated nerves. The Nerve System overall can sense, perceive and behave at a greater potential when a subluxation is corrected.

- Jarek Esarco, DC, CACCP

Related Blogs:

1. Muscle Control of the Upper Cervical Spine

Other Resources:

1. Vertebral Subluxation Research: MS

2. Upper Cervical Care: MS

Jarek Esarco, DC, CACCP is a pediatric, family wellness and upper cervical specific Chiropractor. He is an active member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA). Dr. Jarek has postgraduate certification in Pediatric Chiropractic through the ICPA. Dr. Jarek also has postgraduate certification in the HIO Specific Brain Stem technique through The TIC Institute. Dr. Jarek is happily married to his wife Regina. They live in Youngstown, Ohio with their daughter Ruby.