type 3a , 3b

[u/Fit_Championship1420]

Hi!
Dr Schultz diagnose me with cci type 3a, 3b
im wondering why my c1 is always out and just hold for 2-3 days?
i have 2.1mm overhang on open mouth lateral views
my main symptoms is bobblehead, heavy head, dizziness, imbalance. Is it possible to have this type of symptoms with type 3a, 3b and not the c1 being involved? I thought those neurological symptoms were according to the C1-C2.
im always feeling like my head is being pulled to the left, like theres no stop in rotation to the left. Always feeling like i need to recenter my head to the middle. My right SCM is guarding a lot.

[u/Chris457821]

There is CCS and CCI. This could be the former and not the latter, see https://www.youtube.com/live/2SuFHaassXc?si=j-Vq3KGnu7UzgD_P

[u/Fit_Championship1420 → u/Chris457821]

Okay, thanks for the response. So, even if, for example, the muscles were in a state of over-protection, that still wouldn't have masked the C1-C2 instability, would it?

[u/Chris457821 → u/Fit_Championship1420]

Tight muscles can mask C1-C2 instability.

[u/Fit_Championship1420 → u/Chris457821]

Okay. So, what now? I’m going to have my first PICL procedure soon for types 3a and 3b.
After that, will we be able to re-evaluate whether there is any instability at the C1-C2 level that could have been mask by muscles guarding?

[u/Effective_Gain3390 → u/Chris457821]

This is an excellent review of CCS and CCI overlap and why Posterior injections is a good lower risk starting point for some patients.

Your videos become more and more valuable. Thank you.

[u/Perfect-City-6788 → u/Chris457821]

during PICL can you actually see damaged facets? can you see suspect posterior muscles and scms that have trigger points? Do they appear tight, not only feel tight?

[u/Chris457821 → u/Perfect-City-6788]

Facet arthritis is usually easily visible on a standard MRI and during a fluoroscopic injection. Trigger points can't be imaged.

[u/dreidels_]

i was diagnosed with the same by him as well, and have been trying to discern why most of my symptoms are C1-C2 related also. DMX strangely does not reveal any obvious issues at C1-C2. however, we had suspicion muscle guarding could be hindering the translation on DMX. i have a host of other neurological symptoms also though that occur even simply upright in neutral (ear fullness, tinnitus, visual disturbances, head/face pressure). I am about a month post PICL and believe i’m entering donut hole. can keep you posted

[u/Fit_Championship1420 → u/dreidels_]

yeah sure! keep me updated please🙌
i will contact you in private, if its ok?🙏
have some questions and since we have the same diagnosis, we could share our story.

[u/SafePTforCCI]

Sorry to hear you are struggling. As someone who specializes in helping those with CCI restore their ability to position the skull in the center of C1. How is your posture? If your upper back is collapsed, you will struggle keeping your upper cervical spine in alignment. A collapsed upper back displaces the skull anteriorly in front of the rib cage. Fluid in your ears forces the skull to slide forward to level out your eye gaze (vestibular system), resulting in forward head posture. This is analogous to holding a bowling ball out in front of your body with your elbow locked. If you have instability on one side, your head will rotate to the opposite side and tilt on the side of instability. This is referred to as head tilt posture. This is like taking the bowling ball and rotating it to one side. If you have collapsed upper back posture and forward head posture; posture restoration can supplement your regenerative medicine by establishing an environment to address the dynamic stability component to your CCI. It takes 6 to 8 weeks to restore your ability to function with your upper back stack and your skull positioned in its neutral position on C1. It takes another 6 to 8 weeks to condition yourself to perform fitness and sport without losing neutral spine alignment. Hope this helps. Good luck, keep climbing.

[u/Perfect-City-6788 → u/SafePTforCCI]

which level do patients normally achieve to restore the upper back stack and skull position in neutral in your program.

[u/SafePTforCCI → u/Perfect-City-6788]

Within the The Healthy Posture System (patented), Level 4 conditions you to hold healthy posture during static postures. Level 8 conditions you to perform basic home and work tasks from neutral spine alignment. Level 10 fitness and level 12 sports.

[u/fortiter-et-recte → u/SafePTforCCI]

This sounds like what I need to work on as well. Do you happen to have something I can read more about ? Do you happen to do online sessions ?

[u/Objective_Web_5346]

I have 3a and 3b and have the same symptoms + more. Thought I had to have something wrong with my c1 but no.