Craniocervical Instability Archives

The Craniocervical Instability Specialist – Episode 7 CCI Series

I have seen CCI patients from all over the world for decades, so I am a craniocervical instability specialist. This morning I’d like to review the case of an EDS patient who never should have had upper neck fusion surgery. Why? To help CCI patients understand what to avoid. EDS and CCI Some of the … Continued

Understanding Common Injections for CCI Patients

Many craniocervical instability (CCI) patients get confused about the injection procedures that are available that may help their condition and how those intersect with the PICL procedure. This is understandable as it’s very hard for patients to conceptualize the differences in procedure types and the skill required to pull each off. Hence this blog will … Continued

Craniocervical Instability Treatment – Pam’s Story

The PICL procedure is now 5 years old and we’re now seeing the first long-term, non-surgical craniocervical instability treatment results. This morning I’ll highlight one of those patients who I followed up on yesterday. But first, I’ll also discuss a bit of PICL history you may not know. What is the PICL Procedure? PICL is … Continued

CCI Exercises for Post-PICL Rehab (CCI Series: Episode 5)

One of the more common questions I get from patients who undergo the PICL procedure is what does the physical therapy or rehab program look like after the procedure. Hence, I thought I would dive deep into a program that anyone can do at home or provide a physical therapist so they know what CCI … Continued

C1-C2 Fusion – Complications are Common

C1-C2 fusion is all the rage among patients with CCI. So what is it and what are the side effects? Should you get a C1-C2 fusion? Let’s dig in. What is Craniocervical Instability (CCI)? CENTENO SHULTZ CLINICSUBSCRIBESUBSCRIBED Craniocervical instability (CCI) is when the upper neck levels of the spine are unstable (1). This is usually … Continued

Ep 4: Craniocervical Instability: New Ligament Discovered

There are ligaments that hold your head on and they can be injured just like any other ligament. Some of these structures your average physician only obliquely know about, some only super-specialists know, and some, like today’s ligament, is so obscure that it needed to be rediscovered by scientists. It’s all very exciting because it … Continued

Understanding CCI Measurements vs. Instability: CCI Series Episode 1

Craniocervical instability is a very misunderstood concept because it’s been made so complex with different measurements and aggressive treatments. Hence, I’ll be writing a series of blogs to try to help patients understand various concepts. Today’s entry is about how CCI measurements relate to instability. What Is Craniocervical Instability? CENTENO SHULTZ CLINICSUBSCRIBESUBSCRIBED Craniocervical Instability has … Continued

EDS treatment for pain

Busy clinic week with several patients from aboard with a single question? Is there an Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) treatment for pain? Is there treatment for EDS pain? What is EDS? A group of inherited disorders that affect and weaken the connective tissues such as tendons and ligaments (1). Primary sites of involvement include skin, joint … Continued

CSF Flow Measurement And Recovery From CCJ Instability

We’re nearing the quarter-century point of the 21st century, and technology in the field of medicine continues to advance at an incredibly fast pace. Thanks to advances in imaging technology, we’ll learn more in the following few decades about the neuromusculoskeletal system than we’ve learned in the past few hundred years. A clear example of … Continued

Is Your Headache Arising from Your Neck?

At the Centeno-Schultz Clinic, we acknowledge that headache pain can be disabling. It can rob you of your ability to engage in and love life and render you incapable of completing the easiest of tasks. Headaches can arise from a number of stimuli, which include but are not limited to fatigue, hormonal imbalance, sun exposure, … Continued