Chiari Malformation Disabilities…
This is a frightening condition. It disrupts basic body functions like breathing, walking, swallowing, and much more. Kelley had been living with this malformation all her life… She had been able to manage it, and keep it under control with appropriate treatment. Then, something snapped during a physical exercise class. The very next day, she could not drive, walk her dog, go to work… she was helpless and dependent on others.
Treatment from a Neurologist was without productive results. And she had seen a highly trained CranioSacral Therapist who was on the institute’s teaching staff, also with no results. She was scared with a heightened level of anxiety… and finally, after over eight weeks of helplessness and no results, she called me for an appointment. And that is the first time in my life that I ever heard of something called a “Chiari Malformation”.
The first two sessions were somewhat unproductive owing to her heightened level of anxiety. Then her doctor wanted to admit her to a hospital for further testing. Nothing was found that could help her. Then he then suggested that she see a Psychiatrist… who said she was suffering from a heightened state of anxiety… surprise, surprise. Then after two weeks of that, she decided to call me again, and resume our treatments. Finally, she chose to calm down… and we were able to make steady progress after that. Being suddenly disabled like this was a very frightening thing.
As was my practice when dealing with Complex Chronic Conditions… I had studied the anatomy and the various relationships within the body that might be affecting this condition… and then considered which techniques to employ… and in which ways in order to produce an effective treatment strategy approach. Because “Chiari Malformation” was a condition unfamiliar to me, I invest even more time regarding this process of research and thought, so as to reach the needed level of understanding necessary to treat this condition.
Anatomically, this is what happens regarding a “Chiari Malformation”. A portion of the Cerebellum (called the “tonsil”) is displaced downward in the Skull. It is pushed toward the nearest opening at the bottom (called the Foramen Magnum)… and then into the upper portion of the Spinal Column. This puts pressure on the Brain Stem, which controls many of our basic functions like breathing, swallowing, and so on. It also restricts the flow of CerebroSpinal Fluid which is essential in nourishing and maintaining the health and functions of the Brain and Spinal Cord.
Functionally, this is what happens as a result of a “Chiari Malformation”. A person will have many types of “coordination type difficulties” such as with… breathing patterns… walking with stability and flow… swallowing without gagging/choking… dexterity (fine motor skills)… balance issues (dizziness & vertigo)… tracking type movements… altered vision pattern and light sensitivity… and more. This area of our “old Brain” involves the control of our basic functions which we take for granted. However, when we lose them, it is frightening.
The complex treatment strategy developed for her was focused on the outer and inner tissues of the Head & Neck… including the deeper tissues of the Anterior Neck… the attachments to the Skull… Intraoral tissues restricting proper motions of the Cranial Bones… Articular tissues of the Cranial Bones… and internal CranioSacral Membranes of the Head, Spinal Column and Sacrum. Thus, I would be working with the total CranioSacral System as well as all its interrelated parts. The main goal would be focused on reducing the pressure caused by “tonsil of the Cerebellum”… but, along the way, there would be other related treatment goals as well. As you will see, it was quite an extensive plan… and it was successful.
After Kelley was able to control her anxiety during the third session… in other words trust me and understand the logic of the treatment approach… we were able to “really” begin treatment together. Nonetheless, the first two sessions still provided some improvement and needed understanding.
So, 8-10 weeks after her system “snapped”, a friend drove her to my clinic. Kelley was weak and shaky… and could not fill out the ‘patient history form’, so her friend had to write it down for her. Kelley also had difficulty sitting because her Sacral/Bum area was painful. She noted many areas and types of problems and issues on the form… such as when she turned her head to look at something, it took a second or two for her eyes to catch up and track the movement.
However, after the first treatment, she was able to walk more smoothly and swallow water more easily and without fear. But, she was still weak and shaky. By the second treatment, I could tell from the improved odor of her breath, that she was digesting food better. That was because certain Cervical Nerves had been freed up and were functioning better. We were able to correct a Lumbar Facet Joint that was stuck in “flexion”. This would help improve a number of issues, including the structural alignment of the CranioSacral System. Then there was a three week break while her doctor did some testing at the hospital and she was seen by a Psychiatrist.
After that, she decided to work exclusively with me. Everything we did was related to improving the function and integrity of the CranioSacral System… and especial the area of the Chiari Malformation. The many tight & restrictive parts of her body needed to regain a healthy state of mobilization. Her Hips & Pelvis being quite stiff, restricted the motion of the Sacrum… Other restrictions were found in her Lumbar Cylinder area (low back and abdomen)… her ribcage… her shoulder joint and shoulder girdle area… her Cervical Cylinder area (posterior, lateral & anterior Neck)… Intraoral restrictions… and Cranial membranous and sutural restrictions. We were working with the whole body… the whole system. And with each session, Kelley experienced noticeable improvement.
By her fourth treatment, she chose to drive very carefully to my clinic all by herself. Regaining some of her independence was a major achievement for her. By her seventh session she noticed more changes… and also that treatment gains were holding. After the third session, she had no problems swallowing. By the sixth session, she noticed that her glasses fit differently on her Face and Nose. Therefore Cranial Bones were beginning to find their proper position.
“No problem swallowing now”
“My Glasses now fit differently on Face & Nose”
“I Can walk normally now”
“I Can now take care of my life again”
By the ninth session we were able to address more issues… like the TMJ pain & “pop”. Each session provided additional improvement. She was now walking with much greater speed and ‘flow’… restrictions in her Sacral area had been removed… Lumbar Facet Joint restrictions had been removed… Ribcage mobility had been restored… all aspects of her Cervical Cylinder had been greatly improved… Intraoral restrictions were also normalized… All this was to help increase the integrity and functional motion of the Cranium. The Cranial Rhythm Impulse was now more balanced and strong. And Kelley had regained all her abilities by the twelfth session. After two more sessions, we decided to say that we had accomplished a recovery. Kelley then wrote me a very nice letter of appreciation.
Points to consider…
1. Kelley was not the typical patient. Once she committed to the therapy approach, she supported it fully. Unfortunately, many patients do not. Also, even though she had so many restrictions in her body, her tissues responded more quickly than what I would expect from a typical patient. A typical patient who was motivated and supportive would most probably also experience this same progress… but over a longer period of time.
2. Kelley spent the first 8-10 weeks with other competent doctors and therapists… and experienced no progress. When she began working with me, she experienced progress from the very first session. Please note that this highly correlates with what other patients have said about Joel Safran… that as a therapist “he is exceptional and very unique”… “he has done more for me than any other doctor or therapist of any kind”.
Safran Rehab & Wellness Therapies
www.SafranTherapies.com
704-246-7888
