Understanding the Causes and Symptoms of Cervical Cranial Instability
Cervical cranial instability is a medical condition that occurs when your neck is injured and your ligaments become loose, lax, or damaged. At Northgate Chiropractic Clinic, our chiropractor Dr. Buchanan is whiplash and brain injury traumatology certified. He has the knowledge and expertise needed to effectively diagnose cervical cranial instability through a physical examination, ligament damage testing, and a digital motion x-ray in Rochester, MN. Here is a look at the causes, symptoms, and diagnostic process for cervical cranial instability.
What Is Cervical Cranial Instability and What Are Its Causes?
Cervical cranial instability, also called craniocervical instability (CCI) is a medical condition that is caused by weak or damaged connective tissues and ligaments in the neck and head. The most common causes of CCI are:
- Extreme or severe trauma, such as a car accident, fall, assault, abuse, or sports injury
- Degeneration of the discs or vertebrae in the spine
- Medical conditions that affect the health of connective tissue, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, or osteogenesis imperfecta
- Congenital disorders that affect the development of connective tissue, such as Down’s syndrome
What Are the Symptoms of Cervical Cranial Instability?
If you are at risk of CCI or have suffered from a work, sports, or auto injury, it’s important to recognize the symptoms of CCI. The symptoms can be varied and extensive depending on what caused the injury, the severity of the injury, and any concurrent conditions. The most common symptoms are:
- Neck pain
- Brain fog
- Arm pain at night
- Chronic fatigue
- Chronic headaches or migraines
- Vision changes
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Nerve pain
- Muscle weakness
- Dizziness
- Pain at the base of the skull
- Rapid heart rate
- Tinnitus
- Neck stiffness or loss of range of motion in the neck
How Is Cervical Cranial Instability Diagnosed?
Our chiropractors at Northgate Chiropractic Clinic use a combination of symptom evaluation, physical examination, and diagnostic testing to diagnose CCI. We will conduct a thorough physical examination, and we may ask you to complete certain physical motions or movements. We will also recommend a digital motion x-ray to assess your posture, spinal alignment, gait, balance, dexterity, strength, and range of motion. We can also perform ligament damage testing to assess the health of the ligaments in your neck.
Schedule Ligament Damage Testing or Digital Motion X-Rays in Rochester, MN
If you suspect that you have cervical cranial instability, visit us at Northgate Chiropractic Clinic. Our chiropractors have the expertise, training, and technology needed to diagnose your condition and get you the care you need. Call us now to schedule an appointment, or book an appointment online for ligament damage testing or digital motion x-rays in Rochester, MN.
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Cervical Cranial Instability
