By Ross Hauser, MD, and Marion Hauser, MS, RD

As medical professionals that specialize in Prolotherapy and the musculoskeletal system, we have observed how neck instability may precipitate many diseases, including neurologic. 

Common signs of cervical instability include popping, clicking, and grinding of the neck, along with neck pain, muscle spasms, muscle fatigue, and/or numbness in the arms or hands. Additionally, patients may experience blurred vision, head pressure, or headache—related to intracranial hypertension (high brain pressure). 

Because unstable bones in the neck region may lead to nerve, vein, and arterial compression, symptoms may also be psychiatric in nature, including depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, and increased stress. 

In such situations, patients may end up seeing multiple practitioners, often left with no answers. Even friends and family may express doubt, not realizing the symptoms are in the neck, not in the head.

Facedown Lifestyle   

In our practice, we have observed that for many patients, the cause of these neck issues is often related to cellphone use—also known as “facedown lifestyle.” 

Prolonged improper cellphone use, and addiction to digital devices (nomophobia or “no-mobile-phone-phobia”), is causing “cervical dysstructure,” resulting in not only mental health issues but other diseases, such as digestive difficulties, tachycardia, hearing and vision complications, and neck pain. Notably, these conditions are occurring in younger and younger populations, not just adults.  

What Can You Do About This?

Firstly, we encourage everyone to look up, sit up, and stand up. Secondly, disconnect in order to reconnect—with loved ones, friends, and nature—with life! For those already experiencing some of the above signs and symptoms, we also recommend a series of diagnostic tests to help determine where, if any, structural abnormalities are occurring. 

The diagnostic testing that we find particularly helpful involves a motion x-ray of the neck and head while the patient is put into different maneuvers. This can help demonstrate what is happening during movement; after all, that’s when the physical symptoms occur, not when lying flat and still. Bones do not lie. 

In addition to the motion x-ray, a Cone Beam CT of the head can help peel back the layers of skin and muscle on the images to show the vasculature and underlying structures of the head, neck, jaw, and face. Finally, a high velocity ultrasound is useful in showing the vasculature and vagus flow in the neck while in various positions, as well as monitor the heart rate variability and pressure in the eyes. 

When patients are placed in various positions (dynamic testing), it may reveal how some vital structures become blocked. For example, when a patient is asked to tilt their head back or to the side, abnormal changes in velocity of blood flow to and from the brain may become immediately apparent. High eye pressure reveals high brain pressure and may explain why patients experience a variety of symptoms, especially related to vision disturbances, dizziness, and brain fog. 

These tests provide objective measurements and reveal what is happening with the body. Oftentimes, patients will cry when they receive results during the consultation because they have been seeking answers for years without success. They feel validated. They feel heard. 

What Can Be Done to Treat These Neck Issues?

The main focus is on stabilizing the neck. Typically, this involves the use of regenerative injections called comprehensive H3 Prolotherapy. This method—named after Prolotherapy pioneers Hackett-Hemwall-Hauser—treats patients comprehensively, meaning all the attachments of the joint(s) are injected (and when needed, inside the joints). For example, a patient with a knee injury may receive thirty to forty separate injections to all the attachment sites. In the neck, the patient may receive fifty to sixty injections of a natural proliferative solution.

Prolotherapy works by stimulating the body to repair these injured area(s). While muscles are red, indicative of having a great blood supply, ligaments and tendons are white in color and have very poor blood supplies. Thus, recovery requires some additional assistance to jumpstart the body’s natural healing process. 

As part of the treatment protocol, dextrose-based solution is often used, which is the naturally occurring sugar in the human body, in combination with some numbing solution and other proliferants that promote healing.

For a stronger proliferation (growth) stimulation effect, such as in the case of a more serious injury, we recommend platelet rich plasma (PRP)—the injection of concentrated platelets obtained from the patient’s blood. As an additional measure, autologously extracted stem cells can be used if the injury is severe. 

Specifically, the stem cells are obtained from the patient’s fat or bone marrow and used for Prolotherapy injections in combination with the standard solution. These procedures are all done in an office setting and the patient can return to normal activities very soon after, often with just a few limitations versus a long recovery time in the case of surgical interventions. 

With cervical instability, the neck is treated with standard solution and at times, stronger options, typically at one-month intervals. Complete healing is achieved when people realize that the healing process is fifty percent provider and fifty percent patient. Thus, patients should be educated on strengthening their spines, especially their cervical curves, and working on achieving proper spinal alignment and strength; avoiding compromising positions that worsen their cervical issues; and building their bodies for optimal healing through nutritious eating, stress reduction, exercise, and positive mental outlook.

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Ross Hauser, MD, and Marion Hauser, MS, RD (aka The Doctor and the Dietician) are co-founders of the comprehensive Prolotherapy and natural medicine clinic, Caring Medical, in Fort Myers, Florida. They are so thankful to have learned Prolotherapy early on in their careers and have been tremendously blessed to be able to provide this life-altering treatment to help thousands of patients. They also have benefited from receiving Prolotherapy for their many sports-related injuries over the years. Remember, there is hope! You do not have to suffer every day in pain or take long-term medications. Learn more at www.CaringMedical.com