RE: CAT scan advice?

[Guest guest]

HI - I had 3 CT scans a few yrs ago before I knew much about them as I was undergoing some resperatory issues that my lyme had caused (unbeknownest to me at the time). Ive since come to regret allowing them to do any and Ive heard the same things you heard about increases in cancer etc. In my eyes -the radiation exposure is not worth it at all except in some rare life threating cases (of course this is just my opinion). Im really surprised that a dr would request a CT scan for what you are investigating with your son. An MRI might be an option but I would seriously look into other options first. In addition to the radiation issues- there was alot of anxiety on my part during my scans as they had my hands over my head (Im claustrophic) in order to inject dye (I found out recently how toxic that can be and that it may have damaged my kidneys- however not all CTs require contrast dye which made me violently ill).

My son has also been recently recommended for a sleep study which we plan to do but not immediately as it appears he is dealing with some severe thryoid issues that need to be addressed fist. Im curious what the appliance is that your are considering (im assuming it is orthodontic) as my son was recently recommeded for a second phase of braces and I really dont want him to have metal braces again and possibly not braces at all now that I know the concerns associated with them. Im starting to research other options as the orthdontist insists he begin again soon as there are so many teeth coming in and crowding. I was not aware of the issues w metal braces when he first started ortho work 3 + yrs ago.

best of luck to you,

:

To: beyondgfcf ; BorreliaMultipleInfectionsAndAutism Sent: Thu, October 6, 2011 6:09:33 PMSubject: CAT scan advice?

It's been recommended to us to get a sleep study and CAT scan for our son to get a clearer picture regarding sleep apnea and any cranial structural issues that may be involved and so an orthopedic dentist can make a determination about an appliance that we are investigating.I'm very concerned about the radiation exposure. I heard on one of the Dr. Oz shows that 10 CAT scans in one's entire lifetime dramatically increases the probably for developing cancer. Has anyone here had CAT scans done before? What is the procedure like? Does it require sedation? And have you done anything to try to mitigate the radiation exposure or address prophylactically through homeopathic remedies or other means?Thanks,

[Guest guest]

My son had a CT scan years ago when we first were dealing with things. It was a

3D scan to kind of rebuild his scull as he had a ridge where his plates didn't

fuse quite properly and they were concerned it was compromising his brain

possibly. This wasn't the case but it took the CT scan to know that. He also

had MRIs but to look at different things.

Both scans were sedated scans.

Back then I didn't know, but now I do.... iodine is a great thing to take to

combat radiation exposure. Recently my son needed an xray and he took iodine

for a few weeks afterwards. Sometimes testing is necessary and the related

diagnosis is worth the risk. Now, if treatment didn't depend on the testing, I

would skip it for sure, but sometimes it is needed to know what to do.

Eva

>

> It's been recommended to us to get a sleep study and CAT scan for our son to

> get a clearer picture regarding sleep apnea and any cranial structural

> issues that may be involved and so an orthopedic dentist can make a

> determination about an appliance that we are investigating.

>

> I'm very concerned about the radiation exposure. I heard on one of the Dr.

> Oz shows that 10 CAT scans in one's entire lifetime dramatically increases

> the probably for developing cancer. Has anyone here had CAT scans done

> before? What is the procedure like? Does it require sedation? And have

> you done anything to try to mitigate the radiation exposure or address

> prophylactically through homeopathic remedies or other means?

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,I found out today that some dentists use an i-CAT scan which is different than a body type CAT scan and supposedly less radiation.  I still need to research that.  I'd rather avoid any type of scan if I can help it.

I'm sorry your son has had to go through so much and now having to possibly face another phase.  I have been told that conventional orthodontics (e.g. braces) focus mainly on straightening the teeth and don't look at the whole picture of jaw alignment, facial structure, and airway.  When it comes to moving cranial bones than it's called orthopedic devices as opposed to orthodontics.  The industry is not in any way standardized or consistent in its terminology or treatment in this area.  Some dentists are trained as orthodontists in a fully degreed program while some are general dentists that have training in shorter programs.  So far most of the dentists that I've spoken to that do orthopedic devices are not orthodontists.  Also, orthodontic work (braces or invisalign) is often needed after the orthopedic work anyway, since the orthopedic work moves the cranial bones, but the refinement of fully straight teeth (i.e., picket fence) still needs orthodontics.  Some dentists that do orthopedic devices call themselves neuromuscular dentists, others just advertise TMJ specialties or call themselves functional dentists while another term that is used is orthotropics.  However, dentists don't often use these terms on their websites or with their clients.  So, its been very difficult to research this area.

There are so many different dental appliances that are used that research on which is best for your situation is very difficult.  One site I visited advertised a training catalog for 500 different devices.  Some of the ones I've come across so far that some local dentists are using is crozat blocks, ALF (advanced lightwire functional), biobloc (usually limited to ages 10-11 and younger), and most recently I've learned of the DNA appliance.  Many times dentists still refer on their websites to orthodontics and don't often list the names of the actual appliance that they use.  Each appliance has its pros and cons, but it's not like there is a website that compares and contrasts these and so you have to find out about them and schedule consults with these different dentists (for a fee of course) and then try to get what info. you can and figure it out yourself.  You rarely find a dentist that has enough knowledge and training (i.e. paid for training as opposed to just what they've heard) in more than one device so when they say that their device is better than another its not entirely reliable.  They are too invested in the device they are trained in to be completely objective.  This area is relatively new so much is dependent on the provider's experience so that its an " art " as one dentist told me.

For your son, it would depend on what his issues are.  You could ask to see how many similar cases a dentist has done and maybe they could show you before and after pics.  If you are going to do orthotropics, then you might also want to look into working with an oro-myofacial therapist and/or osteopath or cranial sacral therapist.  Depending on your son's issues, if any of the musculature of the face or mouth need work than the oro-myofacial therapist would address that, and the osteopath or cranial sacral therapist would help the cranium better adapt to the pressures being applied by the orthopedic device or even in the case of braces same thing.

I know what you are going through.  The first dentist we went to used crozats but I think he only focused on particular aspects and not the whole picture.  The second dentist we are currently with is using ALF.  It is a long process and there are specific issues that I'm not certain are being fully addressed, and during my research I came upon the DNA appliance and we're going through various consults now to determine if this appliance is better.  The concept of this appliance is attractive, but there very few dentists trained or had much case experience with it.

Best of luck with you case,Val

[Guest guest]

Hi Eva,I want to avoid any radiation exposure if I can help it, but as you say sometimes it is unavoidable.  I don't know yet whether the risks of exposure are warranted enough in our case as it was in yours.  Maybe I'll know more once a sleep study is done and some initial x-rays are taken that I'll be able to avoid going to the next step.  Having to be sedated would only add more toxicity concerns to the situation.

With all the news of the radiation leakage in Japan there was much discussion on iodine addressing only certain types of radiation and mainly addressed protection of the thyroid.  Do you have any information that discusses iodine's protective capabilities for the particular type of radiation exposure produced by CAT scans and if it protects all tissues from the effects?  I have gotten a homeopathic remedy for x-rays, but I don't know about its effectiveness taken as a prophylactic or even if it will have any effect if you do not have symptoms associated with radiation poisoning specific to x-ray exposure.

Thanks,Val

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for the insights ! hadnt heard about iCat Scan- very interesting!!

The ALF appliance is what I was considering for my son but think the other orthodontist (mainstream) is right -that it might accomplish something for him but still loads of work to do later... there is so much to learn on this subject and right now Im busy trying to get up to speed on lyme and thyroid issues (not to mention work deadlines!) I really appreciate you sharing all you have learned. I agree completely about the various levels of dentistry and orthodonture. My bio dentist who wants to put the ALF appliance on him has only done it w one patient so far and the cost is exorbtitant! Will look into the DNA appliance and other info you sent.

Blessing and best of luck to you too~

To: BorreliaMultipleInfectionsAndAutism Sent: Fri, October 7, 2011 10:24:55 PMSubject: Re: CAT scan advice?

Hi ,I found out today that some dentists use an i-CAT scan which is different than a body type CAT scan and supposedly less radiation. I still need to research that. I'd rather avoid any type of scan if I can help it.I'm sorry your son has had to go through so much and now having to possibly face another phase. I have been told that conventional orthodontics (e.g. braces) focus mainly on straightening the teeth and don't look at the whole picture of jaw alignment, facial structure, and airway. When it comes to moving cranial bones than it's called orthopedic devices as opposed to orthodontics. The industry is not in any way standardized or consistent in its terminology or treatment in this area. Some dentists are trained as orthodontists in a fully degreed program while some are general dentists that have training in shorter programs. So far most of the dentists that I've spoken to that

do orthopedic devices are not orthodontists. Also, orthodontic work (braces or invisalign) is often needed after the orthopedic work anyway, since the orthopedic work moves the cranial bones, but the refinement of fully straight teeth (i.e., picket fence) still needs orthodontics. Some dentists that do orthopedic devices call themselves neuromuscular dentists, others just advertise TMJ specialties or call themselves functional dentists while another term that is used is orthotropics. However, dentists don't often use these terms on their websites or with their clients. So, its been very difficult to research this area.There are so many different dental appliances that are used that research on which is best for your situation is very difficult. One site I visited advertised a training catalog for 500 different devices. Some of the ones I've come across so far that some local dentists are using is crozat

blocks, ALF (advanced lightwire functional), biobloc (usually limited to ages 10-11 and younger), and most recently I've learned of the DNA appliance. Many times dentists still refer on their websites to orthodontics and don't often list the names of the actual appliance that they use. Each appliance has its pros and cons, but it's not like there is a website that compares and contrasts these and so you have to find out about them and schedule consults with these different dentists (for a fee of course) and then try to get what info. you can and figure it out yourself. You rarely find a dentist that has enough knowledge and training (i.e. paid for training as opposed to just what they've heard) in more than one device so when they say that their device is better than another its not entirely reliable. They are too invested in the device they are trained in to be completely objective. This area is relatively new so much is

dependent on the provider's experience so that its an "art" as one dentist told me.For your son, it would depend on what his issues are. You could ask to see how many similar cases a dentist has done and maybe they could show you before and after pics. If you are going to do orthotropics, then you might also want to look into working with an oro-myofacial therapist and/or osteopath or cranial sacral therapist. Depending on your son's issues, if any of the musculature of the face or mouth need work than the oro-myofacial therapist would address that, and the osteopath or cranial sacral therapist would help the cranium better adapt to the pressures being applied by the orthopedic device or even in the case of braces same thing.I know what you are going through. The first dentist we went to used crozats but I think he only focused on particular aspects and not the whole picture. The second dentist we are

currently with is using ALF. It is a long process and there are specific issues that I'm not certain are being fully addressed, and during my research I came upon the DNA appliance and we're going through various consults now to determine if this appliance is better. The concept of this appliance is attractive, but there very few dentists trained or had much case experience with it.Best of luck with you case,Val

[Guest guest]

My son recently started NCR (neurocranial restructuring).  We are working on the bones of the head first and getting those correct before orthodontics.  (we have already done cranial sacral). Here is some info concerning teeth....Why do my teeth sometimes ache after treatment?The teeth are mounted in the bones of the head. NCR® treatment releases the joints of the head so that the stored-up mechanical tension in the connective tissues of the skull, spine and pelvis (meninges, etc.) can be released. This release of tension is especially felt as movement of the bones of the skull. As the palate and jaw shift, the teeth move too. This can make the teeth ache, pulsate or tingle.The below website is the person who teaches NCR and I have included FAQs from the website below. http://www.drdeanhowell.com/ The Philosophy of NeuroCranial Restructuring®What is NCR®?NeuroCranial Restructuring® is a manipulation process used to unwind the body into its original and optimal design. It utilizes careful analysis of the body's proprioception (patterns of balance) to determine the precise areas of the skull needing to be unlocked. This unlocking allows the connective tissues (including the meningeal system) to release their residual tensions and move the bony structures incrementally back towards the body's original design.How does NCR® represent a new paradigm shift in healing?In traditional natural medicine, the emphases in healing are placed on detoxification of metals, chemicals and toxins, hygienic living and removal of infective organisms. Except for recovery from accidents and injuries, the physical medicine techniques like massage, physiotherapy and manipulation are used for pain relief. To accomplish this, a patient comes in on a regular schedule. There can be some long-term improvements, but they are generally local changes like a lessening of the intensity of headaches or neck pain.With NCR®, long-term changes are the normal response, and the eventual result is an optimization of nervous system functions. What I have found is that many conditions thought to be biochemical, developmental or infective in nature have a previously unknown, correctable structural component. This means that conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, depression, migraines and scoliosis have a new approach in treatment.To me, natural healing involves hygienic living (pure food, water, air, exercise, etc.), detoxification of metals, chemicals and toxins, treatment of infective organisms and optimization of structure. This is a paradigm shift in medicine.Why aren't good diet, exercise and rest enough to correct all my health problems and to optimize my structure?The body has emotional, mechanical and biochemical functions. The nature of your biochemical lifestyle does not make much difference to your mechanical operation. It is similar to a car. If you have an accident with your car, it can't function normally until you fix the body and chassis. Just replacing fuel filters and oil or adding gasoline will not repair the car after an accident. Thinking positive thoughts will not take the dents out of our cars or our bodies. We have had many accidents during our lifetimes. We also need the structural repairs. This is what NCR® does.What happens if I keep getting treatments after my symptoms disappear? What does NCR® do besides relieving conditions and their symptoms? Can I grow as a person from NCR®? How?As NCR® treatments continue, the benefits accumulate. The body continues to move closer and closer to its original blueprint. This means that the benefits become more profound as treatment continues. At first, symptoms of pain and obvious dysfunction leave. Later other beneficial changes are experienced as the nervous system and musculoskeletal systems optimize. This is the time when people note profound transformations in their personalities and in the way they think, feel and move.The brain develops the feelings a person has. The concept of separation of the mind and body, developed by Descartes in the seventeenth century, is not real. If this were so, ingesting drugs could not alter mental state. This is why counseling is used only for minor psychiatric maladies, and the severe psychiatric states are treated with drugs. With a severe psychiatric state, the brain does not work right! This is not a situation a person can be talked out of. This is also why tense, anxious people look forward to a cup of tea or a glass of wine or beer after a hard day. Do you know anyone who needs coffee in the morning to lift his or her morning depression? All of these examples are indications that the mind is a part of the brain/body. Although it sounds more spiritual to keep it separate, in reality the spirit is housed in the body/mind. So changing mental function makes a person different in ways a person cannot comprehend without experiencing it him or herself. This can be accomplished through life experiences, both good and bad, both traumatic and euphoric, and created dependably through changing the shape of the head with NCR®.There is a growing cadre of people who continue receiving NCR® treatments because of the personal growth they are achieving. Only a body that is operating nearly perfectly can achieve true spiritual growth, the sort that people dream about. How, for instance, can a person expect an imperfectly operating brain to develop psychic skills or achieve a state of peace and bliss? A necessary prerequisite is to optimize brain function. When there is idealized flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid, brain functioning can be optimal, if the other criteria are met. But a person seeking to become more perfect (by perfecting diet, physical, mental and emotional activities) who does not optimize the mechanical function of the skull can never achieve optimal function of the brain and body.Why does NCR® help so many diverse conditions?NCR® is a technique that optimizes the function of the brain and body. It treats the cause of many conditions. If you have chronic pain in the musculoskeletal system, the pain can go away by optimizing the musculoskeletal system. If you have a problem with brain function, NCR® can help by optimizing the mechanical function of the brain.How do you know NCR® works?I have been a naturopathic physician since November of 1982. I performed thousands of treatments on thousands of patients. Throughout those years, I never saw the results nor got the positive patient feedback that I get from NCR®. I am certain that NCR® works because I can see the results every day.Anatomy, Structure and NeuroCranial Restructuring®Why does my spine and whole nervous system shift from moving my head?The main job of the spine is to hold the body upright. This is particularly true of the neck and upper back. Holding the head in a stable position is the job of the neck bones and muscles and is especially important because most of the nervous system is housed inside the head. An unstable skull means that the center of the nervous system is unstable too. The chronic positions of the spine and its related muscles are determined by the nervous system's need to maintain skull stability. When the positions of the bones of the skull are changed, the balancing pattern of the head is changed. This causes alterations in the postural patterns of the spine and the paraspinal muscles.Nervous system functions are determined by the flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid. When we use mood-altering drugs, they cause shifts in the flow of blood and especially cerebrospinal fluid, changing the amounts of neurotransmitters received by specific neurons (in the brain) and altering nervous system function. The shape of the skull and spine help determine the flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid and thereby control nervous system function.So when the shape of the skull is changed, the shape of the spine and pelvis are changed too, and through this the function of the nervous system is different as well. When the structural shape is improved (or even optimized) the nervous system functions are improved (optimized) too.What causes my cranial bones to become unbalanced in the first place?Your cranial bones are not unbalanced, but their asymmetrical structural alignment can cause difficulties for the function of the brain and nervous system as well as the musculoskeletal structure. The bones are in their stable, asymmetrical alignment pattern because of the body's reaction to the physical, biochemical and emotional traumas it has been subjected to. The most obvious, common traumatic events that most people experience are a normal vaginal birth. The intense squeezing of the head during birth, known as cranial molding, almost always leaves its mark on the adult skull. This affects both skeletal growth patterns and nervous system function for the life of the individual unless it is removed from the system. Similarly, falls, beatings, sports injuries, motor vehicle accidents, surgeries, dental work and the like all have long-lasting impact on the nervous system and musculoskeletal system.How does moving my sphenoid move all the other cranial bones?In the cranial structure, the sphenoid bone sits in the center. It is in contact with almost all the other bones of the skull, which interlock. It is impossible to move any single bone of the skull without moving the bones adjoining it, eventually affecting them all. The sphenoid bone is the strongest, the most difficult to get manual contact with, the most difficult to move, the most resistant to change. Without moving the sphenoid bone, no other cranial bone movement can last. It is only by moving the sphenoid bone that all the bones of the head can be moved because of the sphenoid bone's central location. And it is only by moving the sphenoid bone in a pattern that is proprioceptively correct, that the sphenoid bone can be moved in a lasting way.How can my skull, which is made of bone, expand and contract?Bone is not rigid when it is alive, having instead plasticity that allows a small amount of bending under stress. Additionally, when functioning properly, a skull will have some movement capability in all the joints of the skull. In an ideal head there are no truly fused joints, despite what you may read in old anatomy books. The bones of the head are in constant motion. Dr. Viola Fryman, D.O. proved this beyond a doubt in 1962 when she measured the motions of the skull during breathing and chewing with many small sensors place across the bones of the head.How do my neurotransmitter levels change from receiving treatment?Neurotransmitters, an essential part of nervous system functioning, are chemicals that allow nerves to send signals amongst themselves. These chemicals flow across the gap between adjacent nerves as well as circulating through the cerebrospinal fluid, allowing distant nerves to communicate with one another.Drugs used to treat depression, like Prozac and Elavil, work by changing the amount of a neurotransmitter, serotonin, throughout the nervous system. Researchers find that increased levels of serotonin often decrease feelings of depression. The problems with antidepressant drugs are the side effects on most people, including decrease in sex drive, increase in anxiety and other symptoms that were previously not found in the patient. My clinical observation is that these patients had poor distribution of the neurotransmitter rather than deficiencies (lack of secretion) of serotonin. If the distribution problems in the nervous system were solved, the depression would decrease or stop.When I treat depressed people with NCR®, their depression gradually goes away. NCR® optimizes the shape of the nervous system support structures, the bones of the skull and spine. With optimal shape, fluid flow characteristics of the blood and cerebrospinal fluid are idealized as well. The distribution of neurotransmitters gradually equalizes with NCR®, becoming the distribution pattern we were designed to have instead of the distribution pattern our trauma histories have created. This is why I have good treatment results with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, seizures, learning disabilities, hyperactivity, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and others. All of these conditions have significant structural problems in the skull contributing to the severity of the disease.NeuroCranial Restructuring® Techniques How do you diagnose how many balloons to use and where?When I examine you, I am running proprioceptive tests. This is my way of determining which areas of your body are not under stable control by your balance system. The areas that are under good proprioceptive control should not be treated at the time. They should be left alone.This is the problem that can be created by treating the area of the body that has pain. The stability of the body can be made worse, so that the results of therapy will be merely temporary. It is only through treatment of the appropriate areas that predictable and cumulative results can be seen.At this time, this can be accomplished only through great personal insight of the therapist (luck) or with proprioceptive testing. The tests are conducted in standing, seated and supine positions. When the testing is complete for the day, I have a picture of the binding forces or lock patterns of the connective tissues in the skull, spine and pelvis. Once I understand this, I know the position in which I need to place your pelvis, head and neck and which positions in the nose need balloons as well as the number and kinds of balloons.The treatment unlocks the binding pattern in the skeletal system (rather like creating an earthquake), and the body begins shifting its pattern of stabilization.What happens when the balloons are inflated?The endonasal balloons are inserted through the nostril into the top of the throat through one of the six passageways that are available. The inflating bulb is squeezed, pumping air into the balloon, and it puffs up in the nostril. As the air pressure in the balloon becomes greater, it presses outward against the bones inside the nose and upper throat. Eventually the pressure becomes great enough that the balloon forces its way into the top of the throat. At that instant the bony joints of the head are opened for a moment, and the tensions stored in the connective tissues are released. The bone structures of the head now shift.What does depth of balloons mean?When proprioceptive testing is completed for the day, some of the findings include a skull map. The positions of the skull that I have found important for treatment can be generalized as anterior (shallow), intermediate or posterior (deep). This is important for the choice of the shape of the inflating balloons. To reach a deeper joint in the head, thicker balloons (greater gauge) are required. Shallower depths are reached with thinner balloons. These variations will make the treatment feel different to the patient at the moment of inflation, but the changes felt after inflation will not differ.Why is there a special massage before the balloons?NCR® is a therapy technique that changes the entire structural system, including the bones and muscles. By using NCR® massage techniques, the general muscular structure can be changed to allow a simpler skeletal alignment pattern. However, the massage alone is not sufficient to create long-lasting changes, because massage treats only the muscles, and the balance pattern of the bones is the final factor in determining the chronic muscle tension and postural patterns.The release of the muscles from their typical tension also releases tension inside the skull, spine and pelvis. This temporarily brings the bony structures closer to their ideal position, although in a manner that is inherently unstable. (Without appropriate bone movement, these changes are only temporary.) This means that NCR® balloon treatment can be more effective and more comfortable because there is less mechanical resistance to movement of the bones toward their ideal position.Why do you place my body in a special position during treatment?Inside the skull and connecting through the spinal column and connecting with the pelvis is the meningeal system. It is comprised primarily of very strong and long, elastic connective tissue fibers. Eighty-five per cent of the meninges are found inside the skull. The remaining fifteen per cent surround the spinal cord and connect to the pelvis. The specialized bodily positions used during NCR® place additional stress on the meningeal fibers from the pelvis through the spine and into the skull. This allows a greater and more complete shift of the entire system at the time the balloon is inflated.In the past, NCR® therapy was combined with mild adjustments of the spine and pelvis. When appropriate bodily positions are included with the balloon treatment, no other manipulations are needed. In fact, the need to include the spinal and pelvis adjustments was an indication of incomplete cranial therapy of the musculoskeletal system!Is there anything I can do to accelerate my progress with NCR®?Yes. Active movements, if within a person's normal performance range, are helpful, especially balanced activities like walking, yoga, tai chi or some kinds of swimming. It is important to stop exercising before much fatigue sets in.If emotional tension and anxiety are prominent during a treatment series, then relaxant herbs and medications are very important.If rapid progress is desired, treatment intervals should average less than twelve weeks but at least four weeks. This is the most efficient use of therapy. Some people, who lack the time for travel, are concentrating treatments into smaller time capsules and this works satisfactorily too. But these concentrated treatments create the potential for side effects from the changing structural patterns that are undetectable by the treating doctor that can lead to painful postural patterns, necessitating further treatment.There has been a good treatment result with an experimental treatment protocol of twenty-four treatments in a month! In this situation, though, there was additional significant short-term side effects. There was great tenderness of the mucous membrane in the nose, and the following four to six weeks the patient's body was constantly changing, so he needed to be even more careful to avoid any traumatizing activities than any NeuroCranial Restructuring® patient needs to be.Is there anything that impedes my progress with NCR®? What should I avoid?Yes. Please avoid potentially traumatic activities and extremes in emotions or fatigue. Common daily activities can be harmful soon after receiving NCR treatment.Any activity that stresses the muscles or bones in an unusual way can change the postural pattern, and before stability is achieved (after a treatment sequence) damage can occur. If you are not a furniture mover, don't begin moving furniture just after completing NCR. If you normally walk three miles daily, then walk three miles daily---don't decide to walk five miles because you're feeling so good.If you're feeling good after receiving NCR, don't return to your therapist for massage or manipulation because it is your normal appointment time. (If their work were so great and effective, then you wouldn't have needed NCR.)Massage, osseous manipulations, dental work, working or exercising to extreme limits, great fatigue or getting highly emotional can be detrimental to your NCR results. Please wait at least three weeks before beginning these sorts of activities. If you are still aware of movement going on, delay even longer. After stability is achieved, such activities will be no problem; there will be fewer difficulties in activity or mobility than there were before receiving the NCR.Neuro Cranial Restructuring® Versus Other Therapies What makes NCR® different from all other therapies?NCR® is the only physical medicine technique that routinely expects to produce permanent, cumulative changes to the skull, spine, pelvis and nervous system. Other physical medicine techniques require their patients to return for maintenance visits so that the effects of treatment can last. This is because other techniques are not including proprioceptive testing, which allows the NCR® doctor to insure that the treatment is always improving the system's overall performance. When the system's stability is improved, there is no reason for the system to return to the older stability pattern. This allows treatments that are essentially permanent. No other treatment technique has these sorts of results predictably. For them, permanent results are the exceptional case, not the routine.How is NCR® different from craniosacral therapy?Craniosacral therapy descends from the osteopathic cranial manipulation techniques begun by Dr. Sutherland, D.O. and further modified and improved by Dr. Upledger, D.O. Therapists performing craniosacral therapy use only their hands on the patient's head and mouth. They use pressures no greater than five grams (not quite enough pressure to squish a grape). Craniosacral therapy is designed to balance the distribution of cerebrospinal fluid.NCR® has a heritage less documented. It began with finger technique in the 1920s, which was improved to include the small endonasal balloons in the 1930s (then known as bilateral nasal specific technique), improved further by Dr. J. Stober, D.C., N.D. in the 1960s and 1970s, who taught it to me from 1980 to 1984.I developed the concepts of NCR® in 1995, and the technique is being constantly modified and improved. The primary precept of NCR® is to optimize nervous system and musculoskeletal functions by simplifying structure and improving structural stability. Like craniosacral, NCR® is very concerned with the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. With NCR®, however, to change the skull, the major focus is movement of the sphenoid bone, which is poorly accomplished with the hands alone. To move the sphenoid, I find the endonasal balloons to be most effective. At this time, I have found that the sphenoid and related cranial bones can require up to twenty-five pounds of force to release the inflexible cranial joints.So you can see that NCR® and craniosacral therapies have some common concepts and goals, but our methods of evaluation and treatment have very little in common.Can I have NCR® in place of some dental work? How long after treatment should I wait to have dental work done? What is the proper protocol for dental work with NCR®?Most kinds of dental work will not be replaced with NCR®. Unfortunately, your bridges, crowns, fillings or dentures will not be corrected by this treatment. But the work done by dentists specializing in TMJ, bite problems, dental orthopedics or orthodontia can often be avoided or simplified. Generally these dental techniques are trying to correct problems created by the skull shape by working on only part of the skull. This is not very efficient. If the work is begun with NCR®, the need for local dental treatment is much reduced.If you suspect that you require dental assistance with bridges, crowns, dentures, your tooth position or your bite, get NCR® first, then get the dental work, return for some NCR® and finish with some dental fine-tuning. If you are getting cosmetic bonding, cleaning, periodontal treatment or a basic filling, there is less concern unless you have a tendency towards TMJ, in which case the long sessions of holding your mouth open will cause changes in your head shape.Please avoid getting dental diagnosis or therapies for at least a month after completing a sequence of NCR® as your head and mouth will still be shifting during this time.Why does my spine keep going back into a painful position after chiropractic adjustments and how is NCR® different?The shape of the head determines the position that the vertebrae need to be in to best support the head. This determines the spinal/pelvic posture. When local treatment of the spine is performed, the entire musculoskeletal system pattern, including the skull, is not changed. The musculoskeletal system is normally in a stable position. Local treatment of the spine usually causes systemic instability. The system reacts to this instability by returning to a stable pattern. Most of the time this means that the body returns the spine to the previous stable and painful position. NCR®, when properly performed, continually moves the skull and spine into newer, less painful and yet still stable patterns. This allows the NCR® treatment to be able to stay in the new alignment pattern.Is NCR® more effective cosmetically than plastic surgery?NCR® moves the bones of the skull to the position where they were originally intended to be. This means that the skin will now fit properly, with the lines and wrinkles that appear in later life dramatically decreased, the nose and eyes straighter and more even and the jaw more centered, with no annoying TMJ click. This removes the need for plastic surgery, which is simply a technique for reworking the bones and (especially) the skin to positions where the skin looks tight. NCR® is more effective than cosmetic surgery because the asymmetry found in most faces can be corrected. Eyes that appear to be different shapes, a crooked mouth, uneven cheekbones, ears that don't line upall of these are always improved with NCR®. Besides looking better with NCR®, a patient feels and functions better too. From: BorreliaMultipleInfectionsAndAutism [mailto:BorreliaMultipleInfectionsAndAutism ] On Behalf Of ClydeSent: Saturday, October 08, 2011 10:38 AMTo: BorreliaMultipleInfectionsAndAutism Subject: Re: CAT scan advice? Thanks so much for the insights ! hadnt heard about iCat Scan- very interesting!!The ALF appliance is what I was considering for my son but think the other orthodontist (mainstream) is right -that it might accomplish something for him but still loads of work to do later... there is so much to learn on this subject and right now Im busy trying to get up to speed on lyme and thyroid issues (not to mention work deadlines!) I really appreciate you sharing all you have learned. I agree completely about the various levels of dentistry and orthodonture. My bio dentist who wants to put the ALF appliance on him has only done it w one patient so far and the cost is exorbtitant! Will look into the DNA appliance and other info you sent.Blessing and best of luck to you too~ To: BorreliaMultipleInfectionsAndAutism Sent: Fri, October 7, 2011 10:24:55 PMSubject: Re: CAT scan advice? Hi ,I found out today that some dentists use an i-CAT scan which is different than a body type CAT scan and supposedly less radiation. I still need to research that. I'd rather avoid any type of scan if I can help it.I'm sorry your son has had to go through so much and now having to possibly face another phase. I have been told that conventional orthodontics (e.g. braces) focus mainly on straightening the teeth and don't look at the whole picture of jaw alignment, facial structure, and airway. When it comes to moving cranial bones than it's called orthopedic devices as opposed to orthodontics. The industry is not in any way standardized or consistent in its terminology or treatment in this area. Some dentists are trained as orthodontists in a fully degreed program while some are general dentists that have training in shorter programs. So far most of the dentists that I've spoken to that do orthopedic devices are not orthodontists. Also, orthodontic work (braces or invisalign) is often needed after the orthopedic work anyway, since the orthopedic work moves the cranial bones, but the refinement of fully straight teeth (i.e., picket fence) still needs orthodontics. Some dentists that do orthopedic devices call themselves neuromuscular dentists, others just advertise TMJ specialties or call themselves functional dentists while another term that is used is orthotropics. However, dentists don't often use these terms on their websites or with their clients. So, its been very difficult to research this area.There are so many different dental appliances that are used that research on which is best for your situation is very difficult. One site I visited advertised a training catalog for 500 different devices. Some of the ones I've come across so far that some local dentists are using is crozat blocks, ALF (advanced lightwire functional), biobloc (usually limited to ages 10-11 and younger), and most recently I've learned of the DNA appliance. Many times dentists still refer on their websites to orthodontics and don't often list the names of the actual appliance that they use. Each appliance has its pros and cons, but it's not like there is a website that compares and contrasts these and so you have to find out about them and schedule consults with these different dentists (for a fee of course) and then try to get what info. you can and figure it out yourself. You rarely find a dentist that has enough knowledge and training (i.e. paid for training as opposed to just what they've heard) in more than one device so when they say that their device is better than another its not entirely reliable. They are too invested in the device they are trained in to be completely objective. This area is relatively new so much is dependent on the provider's experience so that its an " art " as one dentist told me.For your son, it would depend on what his issues are. You could ask to see how many similar cases a dentist has done and maybe they could show you before and after pics. If you are going to do orthotropics, then you might also want to look into working with an oro-myofacial therapist and/or osteopath or cranial sacral therapist. Depending on your son's issues, if any of the musculature of the face or mouth need work than the oro-myofacial therapist would address that, and the osteopath or cranial sacral therapist would help the cranium better adapt to the pressures being applied by the orthopedic device or even in the case of braces same thing.I know what you are going through. The first dentist we went to used crozats but I think he only focused on particular aspects and not the whole picture. The second dentist we are currently with is using ALF. It is a long process and there are specific issues that I'm not certain are being fully addressed, and during my research I came upon the DNA appliance and we're going through various consults now to determine if this appliance is better. The concept of this appliance is attractive, but there very few dentists trained or had much case experience with it.Best of luck with you case,Val