Testimonials

On a Grand canyon vacation in December 2020, my nagging sciatica pain kindled a serious worry. It hurt to walk, sit on non-padded surface and the pain kept me awake at night. Being in that much pain, at only 70 years old I feared my body would soon begin to shut down. Can one withstand that much pain for long? I was edgy and apprehensive of my journey into life’s new territory.

A couple weeks later my lower back MRI came back “age appropriate”; hip/pelvic x-rays, “well preserved”. (What???) Electromyogram Normal. My neurologist conceded I could still be in legitimate pain. Sports medicine doctor prescribed more PT, with little relief.

Massage therapy was next. Anything that might help. Two therapists recommended Dr. Grant Gibbs, an Anchorage Naturopath. After studying my posture and with me back on his table he started reefing the top vertebra in my neck to one side. Immediately, I felt a wave of relaxation wash over my body. He then recommended Dr. Anthony Rumsey, a NUCCA (National Upper Cervical Chiropractor Association) specialist. Oddly, following his neck vertebrae adjustment outside colors were more vivid and brighter on the drive home.

In February 2021, a set of precise x-rays (see Exhibits 1a.-1c.), revealed my neck and Atlas vertebrae were out of vertical alignment by 1 O degrees (more on that below). My pelvis was tilted, giving the appearance that one leg was shorter. Weekly treatments (like ones seen on YouTube by searching for NUCCA topics) were totally painless, unless one accounts for laying on my inflamed bursa, also related to my root problem. Weekly treatments went on for 3 or 4 months. It wasn’t long before I actually had to stop and think about how much pain I had been in. Within a couple months the pain was 90% or 95% GONE. Being under Dr. Rumsey’s care for 18 months, I’m pretty much pain free and doing much better than my “age appropriate” and “well preserved” diagnoses. I feel like I can do anything now.

Back to the 10 degree neck “tilt.” About 10 years prior I had bruised my left foot and then continued to walk on it due to my high threshold of pain. A podiatrist diagnosed a serious bruise under my sesamoid that was going to take many months to heal. Pressure on this injury caused excruciating pain. Ten+ years later to this day, I still use an orthotic with a “well” to relieve my pressure point. Any time I was barefoot, going to bed, in the shower, etc., I leaned and hobbled to avoid pain. My suspicion is that years of compensating affected my atlas vertebrae and neck. Only a hunch, but the podiatrist did say ” … causes other problems later on,” which fits the bill.

Now this essay must venture into the weird. Dr. Rumsey’s wall chart illustrates different afflictions subject to NUCCA treatment. Note “dry eye” in upper left hand corner of the chart (Exhibit 2). I had tried two optometrists with minimal relief. My dry eye pain is now also gone, and rarely returns. What a fantastic bonus!

In total: sciatica, bursitis, and dry eye vastly improved.

Now obviously gentle reader, “your mileage may vary” and I caution this is only my experience. Nonetheless, I unequivocally recommend NUCCA assessment and treatment.