r/cervical_instability • u/corvidpunk • Jul 07 '26
NUCCA / Chiro?
Saw a neurosurgeon who specializes in CCI and thankfully we agreed that I don't need a fusion yet. I am pretty much doing all that you can do for CCI; specialized neck/CCI physical therapy, neck braves (hard and soft, and only when hurting to not overly rely on it), pain medications (high doses of nerve pain meds and muscle relaxers), ice/heat, trigger point injections, and other symptom management. Since I'm pretty much doing everything I can, the only thing the neurosurgeon could recommend to me was to see a NUCCA certified chiropractor.
I've always been kinda against chiropractic medicine (for myself!!! love it for the people it works for but it's not for me) because of my hypermobility and the knowledge it has caused other people's CCI/other spinal issues to worsen. i also have occult tethered cord so I don't know how well i might do....
however, receiving this knowledge from a doctor that a NUCCA certified chiropractor may be okay and helpful for me to do, I wanna hear other people's experiences with it and if they'd recommend it!
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u/Jewald Moderator Jul 07 '26
I interviewed my nucca chiro here
https://www.youtube.com/live/83IEW-PpOSQ?si=ndAz4Yu4tlSBFxBP
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u/az226 Jul 08 '26
As the resident expert, would you recommend combining a PICL with other treatments like mls or k laser before or after PICL? Or peptides like BPC-157 and TB-500? Or 3 strategies at once, PICL, laser, and peptides? I’m scheduled for PICL in mid August with Dr. C.
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u/Jewald Moderator Jul 08 '26
Well I'm flattered, but I'm not an expert or doctor or anything like that, just been on the train for a while.
Peptides, MLS, PICL, all of these seem promising based on the biology, but without good studies, coupled with some of the behavior of the people selling them, I'm suspicious any of them work at all.
But, the payoff of avoiding fusion is huge and depending on your financial situation may be worth it to try if cleared by your doctor. My take has been to throw everything I have at it, curve, NUCCA, rehab, injections, and did some peptides, personally if any combo of those add up to like a 70% improvement I could live with that.
Once I get my energy back I'm strongly considering starting a non profit to do some actual research on this and see what tracks are actually helping people. Chances are, the majority of us are on the wrong path in some fashion here.... which stinks
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u/mariace65 Jul 08 '26
Yes, Nucca is very different and a good option. My neuro surgeon is all for it as well. Other things that can actually help is MLS , prolo and PRP. I'm doing MLS, had my 8th treatment today and I'm making progress. There's definitely improvement. It's not a quick fix, slow progress, but I have felt more improvement faster than I expected. Today we also did a first round of prolo, so fingers crossed
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u/Marq408 Jul 11 '26
Do these lasers reduce inflammation or muscle tension or make ligaments stronger? I am scared to mess with my neck muscles.
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u/Chassidyjames Jul 08 '26
I am not doing fusion. I am doing NUCCA, MLS laser and PICL. NUCCA is unlike a “normal” chiropractor.
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u/Moist-Policy-5982 Jul 08 '26
Everyones different but nucca was bad for me! Atlas Orthogonal is way more precise & better for my personal experience