SPOTLIGHT:

The NUCCA Technique

After realizing the traditional style of chiropractic care wasn’t achieving the long term results she was seeking for her patients, Dr Tanvi Desai discovered an alternative and less invasive technique known as NUCCA. Dr Desai discusses this unique technique and the outstanding results she has garnered for her patients.

Dr Tanvi Desai

Chiropractic is so vast that there is a technique for every kind of person. Some like the traditional pop or manual movement of the bone. Some, like the release of the vertebrae or very specific care. There’s something for everyone.

I’m Dr Tanvi Desai and I am the owner of Lotus Chiropractic Care. I’m a chiropractor for those that want a gentle analytical adjustment that brings results. Results that are tangible.

My journey began when I realized I was getting patients out of pain but did not see any permanent changes or shifts in their spine. This meant my patients would consistently come back for the same issue after a period. I began wondering if there was a technique that brought permanent changes to the spine. Allowing the patient to heal completely and never have to deal with the same issues again.

This brought me to a technique called NUCCA (National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association). The results were promising. I started training under a doctor that was practicing it for more than 20 years. I owe it to him, for taking me under his wing, and teaching me this very complex technique. I saw substantial results. More importantly, it was very analytical, specific and gentle – exactly what I needed to show results.

The NUCCA technique is unique in that it realigns the very top bone; the Atlas or C1. This technique requires very specific and specialized images of the neck and skull to measure the precise angle of misalignment of C1. This technique has made my job easier as a chiropractor by being able to show lasting changes of the spine within a couple of months of care. I have seen great results in patients between the ages of 5 and 85, patients with previous spinal surgeries, nerve blocks, ablations, or patients with osteoporosis or osteopenia.

The focus of this technique is the C1 because it is a keystone bone in our body. It is the keystone bone for 3 reasons: center of gravity enters the body through the center of the C1 bone, arteries that supply the brain pass through this bone and the brainstem passes through the center of this bone when it exits the brain.

The brainstem that enters through the C1 bone is responsible for the coordination and organization of very important functions between the brain and spinal cord. The brainstem is also the site of very important nerves that are responsible for breathing, heartbeats, vision, hearing, smelling, eating, balance, posture and much more.

When the Atlas shifts out of alignment, it puts pressure on the brain stem, while tilting the head and spine to accommodate the shift in center of gravity. These shifts cause poor posture, focus, balance and coordination, scoliosis, ear infections, facial pain, lower back pain, dizziness, vertigo and much more.

I have two stories to share of patients that have inspired me to continue to impact the lives of other people. The first story is of Jayleen S. A 34 year old who came to me very nervous, fearful, disappointed and frustrated. All the emotions that were making her feel like she was alone. Jaylene had numbness on one side of her head that moved to her face, her arm, her body and legs on the same side. She had gone to numerous doctors and done multiple tests and MRI’s only to conclude that there was nothing to prove for her symptoms. She was let down by the system because people thought it was in her head and she needed to move on.

Lotus Chiropractic Care patient Jayleen S.

After a thorough examination and X-rays, we found her C1 bone to be tilting along with her head and a reversal of her neck curve. Jaylene was relieved when I found objective findings to prove the cause of her symptoms. She burst into tears because she finally found someone that proved her symptoms were real.

After four weeks of treatment, Jayleen saw a reduction in symptoms by 80%. The images show a before and after of her neck shifting from a reverse C curve to a normal C curve.

Before and after first adjustment: Reduction of head tilting.

Jayleen was so much happier that her condition could be resolved permanently. She no longer experiences the numbness, and continues to maintain her nervous system and lives her life to the fullest.

My second story is of Aavi, a 12 year old boy, whose parents brought him due to difficulty walking or running for more than 30 minutes, as he would experience pain in his hips, legs and feet. This hindered him from playing with his friends for long periods of time or participating in PE at school due to the pain. Aavi would have to rest after 30 minutes for the pain to subside.

Lotus Chiropractic Care patient Aavi, back doing physical exercise after treatment

I conducted a thorough examination assessment and X-rays to determine the root cause of his pain. Through the process, I found that Aavi was in an auto accident at the age of 4 where a car hit him on the side that he was sitting. On X-ray I found that he had a straight neck with ligament damage and a scoliosis in his lower back.

Diagnosis shifted in 2 months from Lumbar Scoliosis to Lumbar Curve

After a few visits, Aavi found a huge difference in his posture, and was able to run for a little longer. At one of his visits, Aavi said, “Man, I can focus on school, and it’s awesome.” His mother gazed up looking stunned that this treatment was helping Aavi beyond his pain. She then told me that Aavi and his sister (who are twins) were diagnosed with mild ADHD and chose not to pursue any treatments for them.

Over the weeks, his mom saw a huge shift in Aavi’s demeanor. She noticed he was happier when he returned from school, his grades had picked up, and he was smiling more. Aavi has always been a fun person in the office, but I got to see his joy, and THAT overwhelmed me. Aavi came to see me for pain in his hips and legs and upon its resolve, he also experienced a positive shift in his life. I felt a huge sense of achievement at that point in my career.

People’s stories like these testify that re-aligning the atlas and reducing the nerve interference at that level of the spine can re-define or change the trajectory of someone’s life. Therefore, at Lotus Chiropractic Care we will continue to empower people to reach optimal health and wellbeing.

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