Brain Damage at Birth

Effects of Brain Damage
Reversed by SafranTherapies

Six months after Peter was born, doctors determined that two conditions had affected him at birth…  Anoxia… which is a total decrease in the level of Oxygen to the blood… and… PseudoBulbar Paralysis… which results in Neural motor dysfunctions affecting speech, swallowing, and other Mouth, Tongue and Throat functions.  The lack of Oxygen in his blood very quickly caused Brain cells to die… and this caused Muscles and Nerves elsewhere in his body to malfunction.

For about a year, he had no voice… he did not cry.  His coordination was reversed, in that his arms and legs would move in a cross crawl way… rather in the way a baby would normally crawl.  He received physical therapy without any positive changes.  As a child his body motions were more fluid.  But as he got older he became much more rigid.  Doctors were not able to determine what cause these conditions.  And all the therapy he received did not seem to increase his ability to live independently.

Parents concerned about his future

When I first saw Peter, he was 24 years old.  His parents were quite worried as to how Peter would be able to take care of himself as he continued to age… and when they eventually died.  He was totally dependent on the care of other.  Progressively, he had lost the fluidity of body motion he had as a child… and now was quite tight, stiff and twisted.  I would suspect that as a child his motion was probably not as fluid as other children.   And now as an adult, he was even more stiff and rigid.  It was very difficult to understand what he said during our treatments sessions.  When he tried to form words, they sounded like one might expect from someone mentally retarded.  His parents had heard of me and my practice… and hoped that I might be able to help Peter.

While other parts of the Brain most probably had been affected, what he had been presenting to people he interacted with year after year surely was more involved with the CorticoBulbar Tract.  That is the part of the Brain which is referred to as the “Old Brain” near the Cerebellum and Brain Stem… as the picture shows below.  This is the part of the Brain that more greatly affects the quality and control of coordination, speech, swallowing… and other “basic functions”.

During the initial “standing structural assessment”, Peter’s body was abnormally upright and stiff… with sidebending to the right and shifting to the left… There were areas of torquing and rotation that reversed directions in his upper & lower Thorax… His shoulder girdle was depressed to the extent that his Neck appeared abnormally long and wide at the base…  The positions of his Eyes and Nose suggested that there were distortions in his Cranial Bones that were probably affecting the Central Nervous System in some way… and certainly his postural structure  So there were at least three main areas that we would address during our therapy.

(1) Softening the Muscle and Fascial tissues so as to permit the structures to move and improve…  (2) Improving the quality of the tissues within his Mouth and Throat in an attempt to improve his ability to communicate…  (3) Improving the motion and structure of his Cranial Bones, as well as the Membranous structures within his Cranium.

During the first few sessions, we focused on the body’s Muscular and Fascial tissues.  His body needed to soften and open up a bit so that body structure might improve.  We also began to work more with the tissues of the Neck… all aspects of the Neck… and especially the deep anterior tissues of the Neck that are hardly ever treated by anyone.  Then we began to work within the Mouth… and with all the intraoral tissues… and especially with the Tongue and the Throat.  From the picture below, you can see how large the Tongue muscle is.  If it is tight and in spasm, it will function poorly… just like any other tight-spastic muscle would function poorly.

Gradually as treatments  progressed, Peter began to speak much more clearly.  Tissues within the Mouth are extremely sensitive…  and especially so when they are as hypertonic (tight) as his.  But, Peter knew I was helping him… so he persevered… and we worked well together.  Gradually we began working more specifically with the CranioSacral System.  The structural goal was to improve the mobility of not only the Cranial Bones and Membranes… but also the Spine, Pelvic Girdle and the Sacrum… the whole system and its many relationships with his body.

His Cranial Bones were very much “stuck” and immobile, so increasing mobility was an initial objective.  Also, the Parietal Bones had been pulled inferiorly so that they were riding under the bevels of the Temporal Bones.  That meant that there probably had been a great amount of contracting pressure within the Cranium probably from the time of his birth.  We were able to improve the motions of the Cranial Bones… and we were able to improve the quality and balance of the whole CranioSacral System.

Peters parents could only invest in 12 sessions.  I made sure that the value they received was much more than 100%.  Parents who choose to invest in their children’s future health are to be greatly admired and respected.  And at the end of the 12 sessions, Peter was a quite different human being.  He was able to speak much more clearly.  He looked and felt more like other people.  When I spoke with his parents a few months later, I learned that Peter was now living in a supervised apartment on his own… and he was supporting himself with a new job.  His parents now felt comfortable in the fact that he could survive on his own.  He finally was free of his greatest limitations.  He could now develop in ways that before were not possible for him.

Points to Consider

1.  Quite often a Mother will ask if I am certified in ‘this or that’ specific technique or therapy.  They are so worried that I might not know what to do… or not have the “right” certificates on the wall.  These are not productive questions.  Actually, the worst thing that could possibly happen during a treatment session is nothing… no results at all.  The possibility of harm is virtually nonexistent.  And based on his 25 years of experience… the possible benefits of working with Joel Safran are quite great.

a.)  That is the purpose of this Journal.  To demonstrate that over the years, I have been able to think about complex and difficult conditions in a different way… and come up with treatment strategies that generally are more effective and beneficial than other professional.  I work with the way the body works.

b.)  Good Therapy comes from years of experience, knowledge of how the body functions or malfunctions, awareness, a creative mind, and “good hands” that can feel problems and enable corrections… and it also takes a good caring Heart.  Good Therapy comes from a special practitioner… not from framed pieces of paper which you will see in any clinic.

2.  Peter was 24 years old when we worked together.  That was almost 22 years ago.  Shortly after our 12 sessions together, he was able to become a productive member of our society.  His level of self worth and self esteem probably skyrocketed.  I have no idea where he is today.  But, I do know for darn sure that he is probably much better off because his parents contacted Joel Safran… and I did my best for all of them.

Safran Rehab & Wellness Therapies
www.SafranTherapies.com
(704) 246-7888

Able to Walk again

Told to buy a wheelchair…
He was able to walk again
after working with SafranTherapies…

Sydney was the husband of a Barbara, a patient of mine.  He was now in a Rehab Hospital in downtown Toronto because of great difficulties in standing and walking.  Knowing what I had been able to do for her, Barbara wanted me to work with Sydney in his hospital room.  The Hospital having lots of rules to protect them and their patients, would not permit that.  But, Barbara said she would find a way for them to accept me.  She knows how to get things done… and eventually after going through an involved process, I was approved by the Hospital administrator.  They had told Sydney to buy a wheelchair… because he would be confined to it for the rest of his life.  Barbara & Sydney did not want that to happen.

Sydney was now 76.  Some time before I began working with him he had a Liver Transplant… and a Triple Bypass Heart surgery.  He also mentioned that he had fractured a Vertebra years ago probably due to a fall.  Most probably it was a Lumbar Vertebra.  And now major Nerves coursing through his Lumbar Spine were being “pinched” which caused the great weakness and pain in both Lower Extremities.

Not only am I considered very experienced and familiar with conditions like this, patients have consistently told me that … no doctor or therapist of any kind has been as complete and thorough as I have been.  Yes, it does sound terribly egotistical and pompous… but it is quite true.  The root cause of Sydney’s condition seemed to be the compression upon the Lumbar Nerves… which was related to the injured Lumbar Vertebra.  The two major Liver & Heart operations probably also created further compression in his Lumbar Cylinder.  And there were probably other ill effects of an imperfect lifestyle during his 76 years.

So, his therapy at the Rehab Hospital consisted basically of increasing the length of tissues in the Low back & Abdominal areas so as to reduce compression upon the Lumbar Nerves.  We also worked with the related shortened tissues of his Lower Extremities that were adding to the Lumbar Joint Compression.  Stretching of the Legs & Hip areas added even more length.  And each session would end with a ‘walk in the hospital hall’ were all the Physical Therapists could notice his constant improvement.  It was important he did that several times a day to develop increased awareness and strength.  He was also encouraged to gradually become less reliant of his ‘walker’ by walking more upright without leaning on it.

4 weeks after being told to buy a wheelchair…

He walked out of the Hospital on his own…

After 7 treatments on his hospital bed, he was now able to walk without the aid of the ‘walker’.  After only 4 weeks, he was able to walk out of the hospital and go home.

You would think that the Physical Therapists there would have been amazed and curious regarding what had happen before their very eyes.  But, NO!!!  They looked at me as a “threat to their healthcare territory”.  Most people have a hard time believing that all the different practitioners and professions don’t get along and work closely with one another.  But, generally they don’t.  HealthCare is mostly the promotion and protection of their “professional turf”… rather than what is good for the best interests of their patients.  Medical Doctors seem to be the most open minded toward someone like me.  But, in over 25 years of practice, I have never once had a referral from a Chiropractor or a Physical Therapist.  They know I am too good.  They would rather work with others who are less experienced and less effective.

Sydney was now able to come to my clinic for treatments.  It was much easier to work with him on the Therapy table than when he was in the hospital bed.  We were now able to add other areas to the Treatment Therapy like his Shoulders, Neck and Ribcage.  After 5 treatments at my clinic, he felt that he was good enough… and he was.

Points to Consider

1.  Once again… it is the caliber of the Therapist that makes the difference.  After over 25 years of increasing skills and experience… a patient has a much better opportunity for achieving desired results from Joel Safran.  People like Barbara knew that.

2.  I will never forget how I was looked at on the day Sydney walked out of the Hospital.  I was looked at as “the enemy”.  It is important for the public to realize that HealthCare is primarily just a “turf protecting” business.  The professionals that really care about people are difficult to find… but very much worth the search.

Safran Rehab & Wellness Therapies
www. SafranTherapies.com
(704) 246-7888

The Loss of a Back

Toronto Back Surgeon finally wins…
When Joel Safran moved to Charlotte…

When Barbara was a teenager, she fell down a flight of stairs.  Her back injuries were not taken seriously.  The family doctor did not consider her “injured”… and her parents did not go any further.  All throughout her life, Barbara was a strong willed focused woman who kept herself active in her home and family business.  In her late 50′s, her back began to cause her greater discomfort.  Her doctor said she would need back surgery… meaning stabilizing rods that would restrict most of the movement of her back… and life.  She persevered and worked with many practitioners so as to avoid that ‘barbaric’ option.  Finally, when she was 61, she discovered and contacted Joel Safran.

The Injury & Compensatory Process…

Long before the age of 61, her body had passed that point of finding new ways to compensate for that old injury.  When she fell down a flight of stairs as a teenager, her 3rd Lumbar Vertebra was probably injured in one or more ways.  Surely it was dislocated to the Right… and it may have been fractured or crushed as well.  Over the years her body was able to handle the injury by fusing it with another Vertebral Segment.  That Joint area was ridged in that dislocated position.  I could feel that as well as see it in the X-rays she asked me to read.

That fused segment caused a distortion in the normal curvatures that should be present in a healthy Spine.  The distortion caused the Right side, from L3/4 to T9, to abnormally rotate to the right and side bend to the right.  So that it appeared as a large hump in the lower right side of her upper Lumbar and lower Thoracic area.  In addition to that, Lumbar Nerves would be pinched which would affect mostly her Right Hip and Leg.

Cervical & Lumbar Spinal areas tend to mirror one another over time.  And that had happened with Barbara.  Her Cervical Spine had developed the same structural distortion as her Lumbar Spine… but, without the ill effects of the vertebral “fusing”.  Because of that she suffered Neurological ill effects in her Shoulders, Arms and Neck.

Treatment Strategy was successful…

Originally, she had contacted me for CranioSacral Therapy.  But as we began working together, she soon understood the great extent of the complexities involved.  The dislocated and fused L3 Vertebra had caused a major torque to the Dural Tube… which is a connective tissue sack that encases the Brain and the Spinal Cord as it descends from the Cranium to her Sacrum & Pelvic Girdle.  We were able to keep those CranioSacral tissues moving in a functional way.

However, her major issue really was with the “hump” on the right side of her Back…  So our major goal was to structural improve the L3/4 to T9 area… and the ill effects it created in numerous parts of her body.  This we were able to do.  It was a temporary measure to keep her going.  And it did keep her going year after year without the need for the “Back Surgeon”… and the rods.  Yet, he kept telling her that she would need the surgery.

Barbara’s Daughter and Grandchildren lived about 750 miles away.  When she visited them, she was away for a month or two.  She enjoyed picking up her Grandchildren and playing with them.  And when she returned to Toronto, it was always with a big hump on her right side between L3/4 to T9.  Mostly we used a combination of deep NeuroMuscular & MyoFascial Techniques that got the hump way down… and her Back much more upright and flexible… and with a minimal to no amount of pinched Nerve referral pain in her Legs, Shoulders and Arms more ease.  Without the “rods” she could enjoy playing with her Grandchildren.

Back Surgeon Wins… but Barbara loses…

Because of personal reasons, I had to close my practice and move to Charlotte.  Barbara and a number of other patients were very upset.  My patients were all quality people who understood that I was a ‘one of a kind’ therapist.  And they felt quite lost when I had to close the practice.  Toronto is a ‘world class’ city.  Professional standard are quit high… much high than here in the Carolinas.  So, I hoped my patients would find a reasonable level of care from someone else.  There was no one I felt comfortable referring them to.  I know that sound terrible… and perhaps egotistical… but, unfortunately it was very true.

Barbara is a strong willed smart woman.  She knows what she wants and needs… and how to find it.  She understood what we were doing to keep her body going. Two years after moving to Charlotte, I needed to call Barbara about something… and I was so sad to hear what she told me.  She had gone from one “good therapist” to another with very disappointing results.  She said…

“I told them what you did

and asked them to also do that…

and they looked at me like I was crazy!”

The lateral & rotational Scoliosis from the hump on her right side got bigger and bigger until she had difficulties with daily living.  She told me that the Back Surgeon had just scheduled her for surgery.  They were going to put rods in her back to keep it rigid and straight.  She knew that she would lose almost all of her flexibility… not to mention the way she wanted to live.  She knew that had I been able to stay in Toronto, I could have kept her body going for the rest of her life…  I also knew that.

Points to Consider…

1.  Major falls, especially those that involve violent twisting & torquing, can dislocate Joints.  After a short tissue healing period, they need to be assessed… and corrected if necessary.

2.  This is one of many case histories where patients highly valued the thoroughness and results achieved when working with SafranTherapies.  After Medical Doctors have examined the extent of injury, SafranTherapies need to be considered the “Next Step”.

3.  Unfortunately, there are too few Medical Doctors who appreciate what a Therapist like Joel Safran can do for their patients.  But, some do.

4.  Also read the Journal Post entitled… “Able to Walk Again”.

Safran Rehab & Wellness Therapies
www.SafranTherapies.com
(704) 246-7888

Birth after 2 Miscarriages

Giving Birth… After 2 consecutive miscarriages…

A very complex MVA case…
Tissue injuries – Structural Distortions – Ultra sensitive tissues – Pregnancy…

A Neurologist, familiar with the thoroughness of my treatment approach, referred Cathy to me for treatment.  In the previous 6 months, she had been injured in two Auto accidents with different lines of impact.  One was when she was “rear ended”… and the other was when she hit a car that suddenly made a right hand turn from the center lane.  All the medical protocols and recommendations from her primary medical doctor were not producing any results.  So, after 3 months of painful and unproductive Physical Therapy, she was referred to a Neurologist… who asked her to call me.

Her body had a ‘twisted distortion’ centering in her Lumbar/Abdominal area.  She had lost much of the flexibility that most of us take for granted… like bending over and touching your toes.  Most probably she had been living with that distortion most of her life… perhaps from birth.  She experienced pain & stiffness in her Neck, Shoulders, upper Thorax and Arms resulting from the physical trauma of the two accidents.  Her tissues were ultra sensitive to the touch.  During the initial treatments, even moderate pressure was very painful for her.  And in addition to that… a few weeks after we began working together, she told me she was pregnant.

Not only was she pregnant… she previously had 2 consecutive miscarriages.  This was their third attempt to have their first child.  Her doctor had told her that if she lost this third fetus, she should be sterilized for her own protection.  As a therapist, that was a lot for me to deal with.  But, eventually the ill effects from the Auto Accident greatly subsided… and very carefully, I was able to improve upon the ill effects that were caused by the structural distortions… and their first baby was born.  And they were so very happy and grateful that they had found me.  To me, I was “a doctor” who found a way to make their hopes & dreams come true.  I told them that I was not a doctor… but they said… “to us you are our doctor”.  I felt honoured by that.

Aspects of Miscarriage…

Although a woman quickly recovers from a miscarriage, the psychological recovery process often takes a longer time.  It generally involves a grief process.  And this being their third attempt… with the fear of being sterilized should it again fail… she was quite worried.  Her Neurologist referred her to me so that I might resolve the problems caused by the Auto Accident.  Somehow, I had to promote these changes in her body… and more… so that her other discomforting fear might also be resolved.

A  Careful and limited treatment plan…

Even though I was as careful as I could be, treatments were uncomfortable at first.  But, because I had explained what we were doing and why… she understood and persevered.  I was as sensitive and careful as possible.  Treatment above the Abdomen were handled as with other MVA injury cases.  But, in the Lumbar & Pelvic areas we were extra careful.  We worked within her tolerances.  We worked with her understanding of how the anatomy & physiology functioned together.  She knew I would be trying my best to handle the MVA injuries… and also to somewhat normalize the restrictions in her body so that it might enable them to have their first child.

About Treatment Strategies…

“You need to feel the difference”…
Names of Techniques and Therapies are just “words”.  More words will provide additional understanding… but not really enough to know how much benefit a patient will experience.  That is why the Practice Website says… “You need to feel the difference.”  The benefit comes from experienced Therapeutic Hands… that are well connected to an imaginative, aware and creative mind.  Healing is an art.

This is ‘hands on’ “Manual Medicine” on a more complete and thorough level.  Patients can feel the difference between what they experience from my treatments, as compared to that of other practitioners they have worked with.  They very often tell me this.  Please visit the Practice Website to learn more about the various Therapies & Techniques I can employ in developing a more effective Treatment Strategy.

Extra Care needed during Pregnancy…

In Cathy’s case, we needed to be very careful.  I would work only within her limits of discomfort… and for shorter period of time in each area.  When we worked in the front of the Lumbar Cylinder (the Abdomen), we used a much lighter MyoFascial release technique so as to gently release the deeper tissues.  I was hoping that that would be just enough to free up possible restrictions affecting her Reproductive System… as well as other restricted tissues near the distorted Lumbar Vertebrae… and apparently is was just enough.  Their baby was born.  They were gratefully relieved.

Points to consider…

1.  Typical Motor Vehicle Accident injuries generally are focused in the Cervical area.  From there, the traumatic relationships generally spread up the Neck to the Head… to the Shoulders, Arms and Upper Back… and then gradually down to the Lumbar Spine  where it causes various problems with the Hips & Legs.  And often the torque cause by the seatbelt may injure or dislocate a Rib.  Because lines of impact during the collision widely varies… and because structure and tissue qualities vary widely from person to person…  injuries  and treatment strategies can become quite complex.

a.)  In this case with Cathy, “pregnancy” increased the complexities even more.  Very careful therapy with a very perceptive and sensitive touch was required.

2.  In over 25 years of practice, Joel Safran has developed experience, skills and perceptions that few doctors or therapist can offer patients.  Working with him quite often offers a much better opportunity for recovery.  Patients have said this.

Safran Rehab & Wellness Therapies
www.SafranTherapies.com
(704) 246-7888

Child’s Allergy & Leg Pain

One thing leads to another…

Allergies to Breathing issues…
Facet Joint restrictions to Leg pain…

Gianni, a 6 year old boy was brought in to see what I could find out.  His parents were concern about certain respiratory issues such as Asthmatic symptoms, breathing difficulties during activities, coughing and so on.  They had read that CranioSacral Therapy might be able to help.  In evaluating his CranioSacral System from head to toe… it seemed healthy and functional.  However, during the evaluation, I also noticed that his Lumbar Facet Joints were restrictions on his Right side.  Done properly, it is a simple correction that Chiropractors do not seem able to do.  The restrictions were easily and gently removed.  And then, the CranioSacral System was able to function with even greater amplitude and balance.

Allergies are often a result of ‘Mineral Imbalances’ in the body.  So, I suggested that they invest $120 in a “Tissue Mineral Analysis” to rule in or out the possibility of that contributing to Gianni’s respiratory problems.  They agreed…  And so a sample of his hair was properly cut and sent in to be analyzed.  This is done by a lab I have been working with for over 20 years.  The reports are very comprehensive. Their recommendations are based on solid science and physiological logic.  They usually are quite helpful.

All that was done in One Session…

When the report came back from the lab, I studied it… and then passed along the findings and recommendations to his parents.  They decided to invest in the recommended Nutritional Program for a year.  During that year, they noticed very satisfactory improvements in the functioning of Gianni’s Respiratory System.  Their Homeopathic Doctor also approved and supported this program.

The importance of the Facet Joint Correction…
His body would now develop normally…

I had a feeling that his parents did not understand the great importance of removing the Facet Joint restrictions in Gianni’s Right Lumbar Spine.  So, I discussed it with them one day while delivering the next 3 month supply of supplements.  Below is a summary of what I wrote for them.  It was very important that they understood what had been accomplished.  Then his father said to me… “Gianni mentioned that his Right Leg doesn’t bother him anymore… The pain is gone”.

“Right Leg Pain is Gone”…

This is what happens in a dysfunctional body.  When we bend forward, our Lumbar Vertebrae slide upon their Facet Joints into “Flexion”.  When we stand up again, both Facet Joints are supposed to slide back into “Extension”.  However if one or more segments on the Right side is stuck in “Flexion”… our Lumbar Spine will bend and rotate to the Left.  The compression created on the Left side will then push the Vertebral Disc to the Right… and compress the Right Lumbar Nerves that supply the Right Leg.  In other words… it will cause some level of discomfort in the Right Leg.

Then something even more serious begins to happen.  As the body attempts to stand more upright… and compensate for the abnormal ‘bend and the rotation’… it causes a compensating curve both up the Spine… and down the Spine.  Over the years, that most likely will develop into what is called…Scoliosis… TMJ disorders… Sciatica… and other painful and debilitating Low Back and Leg conditions.  The picture shows a drastic distortion.  However, the vast majority of the distortions that cause a great amount of pain and dysfunction are actually quite subtle.

This is what would be in store for Gianni as he became an adult… most likely at the time when he would be in his 30′s or 40′s.  By gently removing this Facet Joint Restriction.  His body would have a much better opportunity for developing more anatomically correct… stronger, agile and pain free.

Points to consider…

1.  The release of a Facet Joint Restriction must be done in a gentle way.  From the many patients I have worked with, Chiropractic adjustments seem to be very ineffective in removing these restrictions.

2.  Many children seem to develop this restriction early in their life.  Perhaps at the time of their birth.  Information from my adult patients seems to suggest that they have been compensating and living with this “time bomb” all their lives… until suddenly, they are in great pain for no know reason.  All their life, their body
has been compensating for the effects of the formation of this destructive curve that has been weakening and distorting their body more and more each year.

3.  Joel Safran can be relied upon to evaluate and treat the whole body in a complete and wholistic way.  It makes good sense to work with him.

Safran Rehab & Wellness Therapies
www.SafranTherapies.com
704-246-7888

Child’s Eye Cross Over

Child’s eye drifts toward Nose
Plus Behavior issues… Corrected…

When Megan was almost 3 years old, she fell to the ground from the ladder of a slide and hit her Head.  She was immediately checked out by medical doctors… who found nothing more than bruising.  Gradually, her parents noticed that her Left Eye began to remain angled toward her Nose.  She was taken to Eye specialists who could not correct that Eye fixation.  Then her parents noticed that she was not developing normally… such as in language skills and learning abilities…  For Instance:

Delayed speech development

Difficulties in processing of information

Attention difficulties

Then they noticed changes in her behavior.  She was becoming more difficult to work with and control.  For Instance:

Irritability

Repeatedly Bang her Head

All these changes took place during the year or two after she fell to the ground and hit her head.

Eye specialists were unable to do anything to get her Eye to look straight ahead.  So, after the medical route was exhausted, her parents began taking her to various Alternative HealthCare Practitioners.  They worked with Chiropractors, a Naturopath, a Homeopathic, an Acupuncturist… with no results.  They also worked with a Chiropractor claiming to have special training in the use of special CranioSacral techniques … also with no results.  Megan was now 5 years old and her teacher in Kindergarten was having difficulty with her behavior and learning issues.  Her parents were worried that they would be asked to keep her home.

About that time, a patient of mine told me of this little girl and all the concerns her parents were having.  My patient asked me if there was anything that I could do.  And I said…”Well, I don’t know…  Ask them to make an appointment… and let’s see what we can find”.  And her mother did just that… and I met Megan for the first time.

Her Mother was worried that I would find Megan difficult to work with.  But, from the very beginning she was good natured, responsive and cooperative.  First we needed to get some detailed information regarding the fall, so as to understand the lines of impact through her body.  Then we needed to evaluate her standing structural posture for twists, compressions, torques, and so on.  Then we needed to evaluate how she moved and walked.

Even with all the different kinds of Chiropractic and Alternative care she had received… it seemed as though nothing had been accomplished at all.  That also was the opinion of Megan’s Mother.

Findings during first treatment session.

Head pulled and rotated to the Left…

Left Eye constantly angled to the Right…

Shoulders were rounded…

Arms were internally rotated…

The lower body shifted to the Right at the upper Lumbars…

Pelvic girdle was rotated to the Left…

Right Hip/Thigh was shifted Anteriorly…

Left Hip/Thigh was shifted Posteriorly…

Cervical Vertebrae were disorganized (subluxed, Jammed, torqued)…

Cranial Bone motion was greatly restricted…

CranioSacral System was weak and unbalanced…

Energy flow through the body was inhibited…

Does that sound like all those doctors helped her?

Does that sound like 2 years well invested?

No… not really!

Now it was time to figure out how I might be able to work with all of this in a productive way.  A complete CranioSacral evaluation was done from her Head, right down to her toes.  It is essential to evaluate and work with the whole body and with the whole system.  Otherwise much will be missed… and the treatment, most probably will not be as complete and as productive as desired.  During the first session, we were also able to find areas of energy flow blockage in her Lumbar Cylinder region.  We also were able to find that Facet Joints in her Lumbar Spine were “stuck” and not properly functioning.  Each session would build on the information and accomplishes of the previous sessions.  That strategy would continue until we were solidly headed toward resolution.

Special care in working with children…

All treatment techniques with children need to be done more gently… and with a heightened level of palpatory sensitivity.  The integrity of their tissues are still in their formative stages.  With Children the release time for each technique, needs to be shorter in duration so as to not over stretch any tissues.  Once a release is initiated, the body will continue on its own.  The Therapist needs only to follow or gently guide it.

When the Facet Joints were released the energy flowed more freely, and CranioSacral rhythm became stronger and more balanced.  This type of Lumbar Joint restriction has often been found in children.  If the technique is properly done, it is easy to remove.  Chiropractic adjustments rarely remove this restriction  However, once it is removed, a child’s body is then more able to develop anatomically correct… and with fewer distortions, discomforts and inabilities during their adult life.

Amazing results in our first session…

After the initial evaluation of her whole body, we then began to further evaluate her Cranial structures… both sutural and membranous.  Now we would be getting into greater detail in terms of understanding the complexities of the conditions created by the fall.  At one point when I was working with the restrictions of the Cranial Bones.  Her whole body suddenly twitched quite noticeably.  Her mother also noticed it.  Most probably, that was the ‘freeing up’ of one of the Cranial Nerves that had been causing the weakness in the Eye muscle.  We were beginning to make progress with Cranial restrictions… both sutural and membranous.

We also were able to begin softening the tissues of her Neck and upper Shoulder.  That permitted me to gently re-align her Cervical Vertebrae, which had been in a disorganized state for a long time….  And that was enough for the first session.

When she got off the table, she was a very different little girl in several very positive and wonderful ways.  She was more upright and anatomically correct.  She seemed more happy & less stressed… and both eyes were looking straight ahead for the first time in almost three years.  Her mother was amazed and so very thankful.

Maintaining and advancing the progress…

We were able to space the sessions out to both enable Megan’s body to process and integrate the gains during therapy sessions… and also to accommodate her Mothers limited budget.  Megan very much looked forward to each session.  Children somehow know what is good for them… and then they will be more easy to work with… and they will also support & appreciate the Therapy and the Therapist more.

Due to all the ineffective therapy from the ‘highly credentialed’ doctors & therapists who ‘cared’ for her… her body had been compensating around deformities & imbalances for half of her life… three years.  Now imagine what state she would be in at the age of 45 had she continued to have those deformities and imbalances all her life.  Now, at the age of almost 6, Megan would have the ability to recover and regenerate more healthy and more anatomical correct bones & tissues… than she would have, had she not met Joel Safran.  Think about that.

In a short period of treatment time, all the distortions, restrictions and imbalances that we found during the first two sessions, were made anatomically & functionally proper.  Megan was now a happy child with a much brighter future ahead of her… than she would have, had she not been ‘cared for’ by Joel Safran.

In her letter of appreciation regarding what I did… Megan’s Mother wrote:

“The way Mr. Safran provided treatment was totally different from any other Doctor or Therapist.  he was the only one who looked at her condition in a wholistic way.  His focus was on the relationship that one part of the body had with other parts of the body.  Sometimes he was at her legs, sometimes he was working in her Abdominal area, sometimes he was working with her Head, Neck, Jaw and so on.  While other Doctors & Therapists would focus on just one part of her body, Mr. Safran was working with her from Head to Toe.  The results seem to be holding.  And we are now in the maintenance phase that will support regeneration so that she will have a greater opportunity for health and happiness in her life.”

Points to consider…

1.  Where various kinds of Doctors and Therapists failed Megan, Joel Safran had the proven skills, abilities and thought process needed to change the course of Megan’s life.

2.  Just because a person is called “doctor”, doesn’t mean that they know what to do… or how to do it.  It would be to your benefit… and to the benefit of those you know in need of effective HealthCare… to recommend and support Joel Safran’s practice.

Safran Rehab & Wellness Therapies
www.SafranTherapies.com
704-246-7888

Auto Accident Injuries – part 2

From my experience
treating MVA Injuries…

Motor Vehicle Accidents vary in type, severity and complexity.  Even a light to moderate “Fender Bender” can produce more severe Cervical soft tissue damage depending on the position of the driver or passenger’s head & body during the impact.

Of course, impacts at a much greater speed will cause even more physical damage to Cervical tissues… and often also to other body parts… like your Head, Brain, Shoulders, Ribs, Upper & Lower Back, Hips… and so on.  “Multi impact” crashes, cause even more damage… and are even more complex and difficult to treat.  An experienced Therapist can better understand the “complexities” and how to properly treat them.

High impact crashes also negatively affect Physiological Functioning.  Strokes can eventually result from Circulatory System injuries in the Neck & Head, months or even years after an accident.  Heart Attacks, Respiratory difficulties and even Digestive & Abdominal problems can result from compromised Nerves that are impinged in the Neck… and coursed down to the Heart, Lungs, Stomach and Abdominal Organs.

Changes in mental abilities are often associated with the more violent impacts.  Memory, learning & comprehension abilities may be affected… and there may be changes in behavior as well.  In most cases, this is not a result of Brain damage.  Rather, it is a result of dysfunctional Nervous System activity related to the Neck injury.

When Medical Doctors refer injured patients to me, the injury is fresh in their mind.  They knew we are  treating an accident injury.  But, patients who have worked with me many years after their accidents, most often do not relate their problems with the accident long ago.  However, during our treatments, they eventually understand the relationship… and also that they had not received proper and complete care at that time.

It’s like finding the various pieces of a puzzle… and figuring out how they are pieced together.

Here are some “old injury” examples…

“Oh yeah, I hit a guardrail at 55mph…”

Bob was being treated for Neck & Shoulder problems.  Each time while treating his Anterior Cervical tissues, I would ask him if had been in any type of a fall or accident.  And he would say “no”.  But, I could feel that these tissue had been injured a long time ago.  By about the 4th treatment, when I again asked him the same question… he said “Oh, yeah… I once hit a guardrail at 55mph”.  And that is when his Neck & Shoulder problem was born.  I could feel that.  And now he also understood the relationship.

“I grasped the steering wheel
with such great force.. I crushed it…”

30 years before I began working with Vince, an 18 wheeler ran a red light, and crossed right in front of him.  He hardly had time to touch the brake pedal.  He grasped the steering wheel so tightly that he crushed it with his own strength… then he hit two of the trucks tires at full speed.  Had his car not hit the tires, he would have gone under the truck bed, and been decapitated.  It seems like that is something you would remember.  But, on his ‘new patient history form’, he said he had never been in an accident.

5-6 years before he became my patient, he experienced a loud buzzing in his head and then a ‘very frightening’ panic attack.  The doctors found nothing.  Then about a year later he suffered a Stroke.  He fully recovered from that, but then experienced a constant annoying ringing and fullness in his Ears.  That is why he had contacted me.

Soon, he understood the connection between the Accident and the lack of proper rehab care at that time… with the eventual stroke, and then the problems with his ears.  He was very lucky to have survived the accident and also the stroke.  And we were able to improve the tissue qualities of his Neck, so as to diminish the annoying ear issues.

“Heart Attack years after Accident…”

Roberta contacted me for problems with her Neck & Shoulders.  I could feel that she had been in an accident and asked for details.  There were two.  The one 16 years before was the most violent.  She had hit the Left side of her Head quite hard… and the other one, about 12 years later, was also an impact to the left side of her car.  She then suffered a Heart Attack about 13 years after the first accident.

There never had been a history of Heart problems in her family.  She soon understood the relationship between the Neck injury and the Heart Attack.  The impinged Nerves from her Neck to her Heart were probably a major factor.

“I can feel my Lungs being re-positioned…
and my chest expanding… It’s amazing…”

38 years ago, Malcolm had been in an auto accident that left him with a “depressed” chest cavity.  After the accident, he received rehabilitative care.  But apparently, it had been quite incomplete like it often is.  Gradually increased discomfort years later made it more difficult to function in his work and life.  He contacted me (38 years after the injuries) because he was unable to sit and work at his drawing table for long periods of time.  He was a fashion designer.

So, his conditions went a bit further than Neck & Shoulder issues.  In also involved the compression of his entire Thorax.  In time we were able to free up the restriction within his Ribcage… and one day, his Thorax finally expanded and released.  And he could feel his lungs repositioning within his chest.  He could now breath more fully and comfortably.  His reaction… “Amazing!”

“Her breath is so bad…
how can you stand working with her”…

Deborah had been in an auto accident… and was experienced the typical Neck injuries.  However, it affected the Nerves running down from her Neck in a different way.  The compromised Nerves inhibited the proper functioning of her Digestive System.  So, instead of digesting her food… it was rotting in her gut.  And then the bad rot odor rose up her Trachea and out of her Mouth.  It was not comfortable to be around her.  Another patient in the waiting room said to me… “How can you stand working with her… Her breath is so bad”.

At one time Deborah had been strangled by someone.  So, she was very much afraid of anyone touching her Throat.  However, in time she finally trusted me to do what was necessary in properly treating her Anterior Neck…. and the odor began to diminish.  So, along with positive results in treating her Neck & Shoulders… she was now properly digesting food… and her body was getting more nutritive value from food.

“The last thing I saw before the crash…
was the eyes of the other driver”…

Skip’s occupation required demanding physical work each day.  On the way home one evening, another car was driving toward him on the wrong side of the highway.  Neither driver was aware that anything was wrong.  They were both moving at least 50 mph when they collided head on.  The last thing Skip remembered seeing before the crash, was the eyes of the other driver.  The other driver died.  Miraculously, Skip lived… but with great physical damage and ongoing pain.

I was able to get most of the damage under control so that he could eventually struggle through his day of physical work.  But, he was aware that his mind was not working as well as before the accident.  That kind of rehabilitation generally goes far beyond what Insurance Adjusters will authorize.  And with damage like that, it would take more time working with the Central Nervous System… i.e. CranioSacral Therapy.

Points to Consider…

1.  Joel Safran has experience in working with complex conditions and injuries.  The cases described in this Journal should indicate that.  The great amount of complexities presented can be compared to finding your way through a ‘maze’… and working with a difficult ‘puzzle’.

2.  Accidents can produce a wide range of complex conditions.  As can be seen from the above examples, many different conditions can result from physical trauma.  Joel Safran has experience in assessing the problems… and then formulating effective treatment plans.  Choosing him as your Therapist is the right thing to do.

Safran Rehab & Wellness Therapies
www.SafranTherapies.com
704-246-7888