Question
 My 16 year old daughter fainted on the tennis court July 09.  She got hit in the head with a tennis ball in Sept. 09 at the same spot she fell, which is in the back of the head just below the skull. She had headaches after the fall, but they were getting better, then when she got hit again the headaches became worse and chronic never-ending.  She has right side hemi-cranial headaches that go from the back of her head to the forehead/eye area.  Her headaches range in severity on a daily basis.
  We have been to the head neck pain clinic in Ann Arbor MI, there they medicated her with keppra, neurotin and indocine - no relief.  They wanted to do a marcaine nerve block, but we said no - too invasive, too soon.  We went to chiropractors with some relief, not much. We tried decompression (DRS) no relief.  Her MRI is normal.  Her DMX shows ligamentous instablility and FHP.  We have been told her atlas is turned, but when she is treated with adjustments it doesn't seem to stay in place. We have been told to wear a "haloposture" to help correct the FHP.  We have been told to just lay off and give it time to see if it heals.
She has had occipital nerve blocks for occipital neuralgia, which help for a while, but the pain comes back.  She is sensitive at the C2-C3 sites as well.
 Another doctor told me about looking into upper cervical care doctors b/c it may be that there is pressure at the brain stem level and this could possibly be causing the headache.  We have thought about prolotherapy and accupuncture.  Frankly we are frustrated that nothing seems to help.   I recently came upon the atlas orthogonals and wondered if this would be viable option for her.  We live in Indiana, does this sound like a condition you would treat?   Have you  treated many whiplash patients and gotten good outcomes.  We are now looking into atlas othogonal, what do you think of it?  Please contact me through email or phone . Thank you.
Sue

Answer
Sue,
  Are you sure the headaches were brought on by the trauma? If so, atlas orthogonal or toggle recoil techniques would be best for her. I would also take her to a cranial therapist (massage therapist with cranial specialty) and alternate with that and upper cervical specific adjustments. If she has had some relief with chiropractic I think your headed in the right direction. She also needs to make sure she stretches the trapezius muscles and posterior neck muscles (cranial therapist will do this for her also)
You have to give it at least 4-10 weeks multiple visits a week to give it a fair chance.
If this doesn't work please email me back and I have a few other suggestions.
Like; cold laser and or herbs like feverfew to mention 1. You should try the upper cerv. Chiro and cranialfirst.