Chiropractic and Chiari Malformations

This Rockford Chiropractor attended a seminar today that covered some interesting issues in the joint between the head and neck. One of them has to do with a nasty problem known as "Chiari Malformation," of which there are several types, according to how bad it is.
Here's the problem: The cerebellar tonsils, parts of the hind brain, slip down and through the hole at the bottom of the head. Nobody knows how this occurs, but research points to whiplash injury as a likely cause.
When this is present, the brain pushes against the back of the spinal cord and prevents proper flow of cerebral-spinal fluid (CSF). This "precious bodily fluid," is keeping your nerve system fed and working. You brain makes about 500 cc's per day, and it HAS to keep moving down the spinal cord to your tailbone, back up to the head, then draining into the proper drains in the top of the skull. If you put a cork in the bottle, which is what a Chiari malformation does, you have problems.
These problems can include headaches, abnormal pressure on the brain tissue causing Multiple Sclerosis, and something called Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (the medical remedy so far is to install a relief valve in the head).
Oh, by the way, the same trauma that caused the malformation also knocked the atlas bone (C1) out of position. So what's the easiest thing to do?
Find a NUCCA doctor and get a precise, controlled adjustment of the atlas to get it back in position. This can take all the pressure off the brainstem and reinstate normal CSF flow.
I was interested to find that Medical practitioners are finding that this type of patient can get better with upper cervical chiropractic help.
Patient-centered care. What we all want!