Question
Dear friend
I have been suffering with headaches for most of my life (i am 37 now). I have had a history of head trauma and whiplash at an early age exaccerbated by a life of stress and extreme sports. I have had a grinding sound in my neck (it seems to be C1 and C2 for at least 15 years. 2 years ago it, probably as a reslut of PTSD from surviving the tsunami in Sri Lanka it got so extreme that I suffered constant migraine,emanating from the occipital region and spreading to the whole face, and could not even pick up a book without my right shoulder 'collapsing'. Both shoulders have been operated as a result of anterior dislocations. I suffer chronic hypersensitivity to noise and anything stressful. Gradually as a result of 2 years of remedial massage and chiropractic work the pain has receded to a manageable level, although I have to take low dosages of xanax to cope (1-1.5mg per day - I know the risks but it is the only thing that works for me, i am in pain, not depressed, although that pit gapes open ). Dropping my head forward even for a short time brings a sensation in the sub -occipitals that grows to a 'nervousness' that effects my whole system. If I lie on my back, i feel pressure in my forehead and my upper lip. I have chronic tension in the sub-occs spreading round to my jaw, and limited mobility of the neck. Anything type of movement aggravates the condition. By the end of every day it is like I am 'wired' on and cant relax to sleep without medication and without a high enough dose i wake up with stiff neck and headaches, feeling like I have not slept. I practice light yoga and meditation to reduce stress levels and try to break out of the mental-anxiety feedback loop that seems to develop. ie system aggravated > hyperalert > head spin > throws more tension back into the neck. When 'activated' I am like a raw nerve, picking up on sounds that others dont even notice. I am 'coping' through isolation and sitting in nature, but am yet to find anything that really help. there is a recurring pain around C5 and i have been told that there is a large imbalance between the L and R sternomatoids. It feels like my nervous system is totally overloaded and unable to let go ...
I have regained very good mobility in the shoulers but ther e is still a large amount of tension around C7 and below that wont shift.
what advice do you have. I have tried so many things i have almost given up.The single most effective treatment so far was a session of rolfing concentrating solely on the sub-occs. I have had MRI's and X-rays and all came back -ve.
kind regards
nic

Answer
Nic,
First of all do not give up.  We usually find trouble where no other doctor is able to find anything, so don't worry, you are now in good hands.  Can you send me the pics from your Cervical Spine XRays and MRI's?  You can email them to me at:  [email protected]
Just allow me some time to go over those and then I will get back to you with what you would need to do next to get well.
Hang in there, there is HOPE.
In Your Best Health,
Dr Robert Arnone
Upper Cervical Specific Doctor
"Brainstem Specialist"
Arnone Clinic
711 Old Ballas Road Suite 104
St Louis, MO 63141
(314)995-5719