Connecting the base of the head just above the spine and the two top vertebrae in the neck are a group of small muscles. Some of these muscles connect the occiput to the top vertebrae and the other half connect the occiput to the second vertebra. The occiput is the bottom of the skull and it has a hole in it where the spinal chord connects into the brain. The occiput fuses with other skull bones in childhood to form what is called the cranium which is the part of the skull that surrounds the brain.

Any of these small muscles can become tense and tight and cause pain in this area, and up into the skull, even over to the temple or the eyes. You may have found yourself rubbing around back there at the base of your head trying to relax one of them. If this works, hurray, you feel better. If not there are other things that probably a good chiropractor should address. One of the most common chiropractic adjustments is to the top vertebrae also called the atlas or C1. This loosens up this upper neck area. However, one or more of these suboccipital muscles may need to be relaxed too. If you have aches and pains all over the body and in this area there are certain supplements that can help this area and the other achy areas. This could take a bit of work as there are quite a few possible supplements or supplement combinations needed. Once handled the whole body feels better. Further if your hips are twisted and one leg is a little longer then this also needs to be fixed as it will throw the upper neck and base of the head off. There could be other supplements and adjustments and tight muscles to relax, but lets leave it at that as what I have told you is very common with patients, especially when they first come in for a chiropractic visit or have not been in for a long time.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mike Spearman

Spearman Better Health Center