Question
Thank you for your quick response.  I would like give a little more background to my problem. This numbness came on gradually and has gotten worse over the last 3 months. I have seen two neurologist and have had a cervical MRI, Brain MRI & a EEG. None of which show anything wrong.  My numbness is generally in my head, shoulder area, neck and arms/hands. I have also had extensive blood work which again revealed nothing. My chiropractor also took xrays and when presented to me it clearly showed the Atlas not aligned with the Axis. He also performed an electrodiagnosis with the insight EMG. This also indicated a severe elevation at C1 location. The only relief I have had from my numbness is from these adjustments.  Are there other techniques to aligning this Atlas? Why is my Atlas not staying in place? Is there any evidence this is caused by chemical allergies, stress etc. Any suggestions to finding a more qualified chiropractor? They all claim to be the best.  I do have an apt to see orthopedic doctor and curious what he will say.
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

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It was determined 3 weeks ago that my atlas disc was misaligned.  After 3 adjustments by my chiropractor my numbness was 98% gone.  On my 4th apt he determined that my C1 disc was now aligned and proceeded to align my C2 and center of my back.  Within hours I was feeling numbness all over again.  I went back the next day and he said that my C1 had moved. He determines this with a thumb to  pinky test and sticking my tonge to either side of my mouth. He again adjusted me.  I have now been adjusted twice and my C1 will not stay in alignment.  He said that it was probably more a chemical reason than a physical reason and tested me with common chemicals.  I had no adverse reaction.  His conclusion now is that it is not staying due to stress.  He suggested that I see a therapist to resolve my stress issues and that he cannot do anything else for me.  I'm so confused! I do not think it is stress related and cannot find anything on the net that suggests the C1 disc will not align from stress or allergies to chemicals.  Should I go see a ATLAS ORTHOGONIST? What about prolotheropy? I become so numb and dizzy sometimes I feel as if I'm going to faint.  I have been totally numb for days.  This also concerns me as the brain stem is also located at C1/C2. If this disc will not stay in place what am I to do- surgery? HELP!!
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Angela,

It is no wonder you are confused.  The type of care you have been receiving is fringe and substandard.  It represents an element in the chirpopractic profession that we're trying to get rid of.  First: there is no such thing as a misaligned C1 or C2 that goes into place or out of place.  It doesn't work that way.  There is no C1 disc. A C2 disc is the least likely disc to be a problem on anyone's spine.  C1 and C2 are the least likely regions to cause numbness - and I'm assuming you have numbness in the upper extremity, e.g. hands or fingers.  "Atlas Orthoginal" is an outdated, unproven, unsubstantiated technique system.  While decades ago there were odd case reports of patient's conditions resolving with weird techniques, these are not valid enough to substantiate an entire healthcare delivery system.  I've had two different patients experience alleviation of back pain after tripping into a wall (in one case) and a telephone pole (in another case) after being yanked by their big dogs on a leash.  This does not mean that I should create an entire healthcare paradigm using dogs to treat my patients.  

First: you need a thorough- textbook standard - physical examination that includes an orthopedic and neurologic assessment, evaluation for why you have numbness (e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome, if it's your hand that's numb), and why you have dizziness (e.g. do you have MS or benign positional vertigo?).  

Second: avoid practitioners that are going to base your diagnosis on putting your tongue against your cheek. I don't care what sort of physiological explanation they can come up with, this is not a way to go about diagnosis.  If a practitioner seems kooky, he/she likely is.

Third: Review with a qualified doctor of chiropractic which imaging or lab test have (or have not) been performed, e.g. xray, MRI, blood tests, etc.  

Find a mainstream, modern, practitioner.  If you have any further difficulties, contact me again.

'Best of luck.

Dr. G
www.drgillman.com

Answer
Angela,

Thank you for providing me with more background on your condition.  I am sure it is frustrating having all sorts of tests and no clear answers.  If you've obtained relief following upper cervical joint manipulation, then it is likely that there is mechanical component to your pain.  Forget about alignment (it's not been proven to exist, and if it did exist, it's not proven to be the cause/effect of a problem).  The Insight EMG is highly criticized by the clinical science community, and I would not rely on that either.  Your symptoms, however, are what can be tracked.  My suggestion is to obtain a motion study of you neck.  This means getting xrays of your neck in fully flexed, extended and rotated positions.  This would help identify any ligament instability to the spine.  Then, consider seeing a medical physiatrist. They can help you in identifying which joints are causing your problem by anesthetizing them via "blocks", or by treating your other kinds of injections.  The risks are few.  I think this would be a better choice than the orthopedist.  

'Hope this helps.

Dr. G