LaCrosse,Wisconsin: Headache and Migraine Elimination and Prevention Through Neuromuscular Dentistry

June 5, 2010 - PRLog -- A recent patient who suffered a constant headache for over 50 years is now pain free without dependence on medication. Patient M was married to a physician and had access to the finest care available but still lived in continuous pain for over 50 years. Patient M met Dr Ira L Shapira by accident. Her husband had sleep apnea and loud snoring and found Dr Shapira through the website http://www.IHateCPAP.com.

Patients who live in Wisconsin are lucky to have an exceptionally trained Neuromuscular Dentist, Dr Kevin Ladesic who was personally mentored by Dr Shapira conveniently located close to their home. Dr Ladesic is one of a select few dentists in the world who have been personally trained by Dr Shapira in the Art and Science of Neuromuscular Dentistry. Dr Shapira founded http://www.ihateheadaches.org and http://www.ihatecpap.com Dr Ladesic also trained with Dr Shapira in learning Dental Sleep Medicine.

Dr Kevin Ladesicl has had many patients whose lives he has vastly improved. To learn more about Dr Ladesic visit http://www.ihateheadaches.org/wisconsin.html. Dr Shapira's blog is a must read for patients who want to understand why they are suffering from migraines and headaches and how Neuromuscular Dentistry can be the answer they are seeking. If you are tired of living with Migraines, sinus headaches, tension headaches or TMJ pain call Dr Kevin Ladesic today at (608) 786-0909.

M was at her husband's consultation and Dr Shapira noticed she held her temple during the appointment and asked if she had a headache. She did, and he used a simple technique to turn off a trigger point and to relieve her pain. This was a first for M who had never experienced this in 50 years of living with chronic headache pain. Neuromuscular Dentistry was discussed briefly at that visit and at the second visit her husband received his oral appliance to eliminate his sleep apnea and snoring and M began her Neuromuscular Dentistry treatment.

M recieved a Diagnostic Neuromuscular Orthotic that day and except for one day has been headache free since that time. M does report that when she is sick she may get a headache but it is different than the headaches she lived with for most of her life.

What is Neuromuscular Dentistry and what is a Diagnostic Neuromuscular Orthotic and how does it work?

An article that Dr Shapira was asked to write for the American Equilibration Society is one of the best explanations available online and has been reprinted in Sleep and Health Journal @ http://www.sleepandhealth.com/neuromuscular-dentistry.

A second article "SUFFER NO MORE: DEALING WITH THE GREAT IMPOSTER" in Sleep and Health Journal discusses typical patient stories.

In the most simple terms the way Neuromuscular Dentistry works is change input and output from our brains and central nervous system to muscles, joints, and nervous system end organs in the Trigeminal Nervous System. Our brains are similar to computers. GARBAGE IN- GARBAGE OUT explains in computer lingo how bad input leads to bad output. The brain is basically a biological computer and GARBAGE IN- GARBAGE OUT holds true when it comes to our brains.

Input to the brain comes from two sources, input from the spinal column which accounts for 20% of the total input to the brain and input from 12 pairs of cranial nerves that accounts for 80% of brain input. The cranial nerves are responsible for sight, smell, taste, vision, hearing, proprioception and control of the autonomic nervous system.

The trigeminal nerve accounts for approximately 70% of the input to the brain from the 12 cranial nerves or more than half of total brain input. The Trigeminal Nerve is also known as the Dentist's Nerve. It goes to the teeth, jaw joints, jaw muscles, the periodontal ligaments of the teeth, the muscle that tenses the eardrum, the muscle that opens and closes the eustacian tubes, that innervates the lining of the sinuses and nasal mucosa. It also controls the blood flow to the anterior 2/3 of the meninges of the brain. When we smell menthol that is another trigeminal nerve function which may be why Vicks Vapor Rub works for many pains.

The trigeminal nerve also has a enormous autonomic component and is a chief cause of central sensitization. Central Sensitization is a primary aspect of most headaches and migraines, facial pains, fibromyalgia and almost all other chronic pain syndromes.

GARBAGE IN - GARBAGE OUT takes on new meaning when we are talking about the majority of input to the brain. Neuromuscular Dentistry turns bad data our brain receives into good data. Central Sensitization can turn good input into bad output. Examples are Hyperesthesia where there is an over-reaction to pain stimuli and Allodynia where non-painful input is received as Nociceptive of Pain impulses. Fibromyalgia is considered a disease caused by or accompanied by Central Sensitization. The Trigeminal Nerve is also vital for controlling respiration and airway patency. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute issued a report "Cardiovascular and Sleep Related Consequences Of Temporomandibular Disorders" which is available at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/meetings/workshops/tmj_wksp.pdf.

Dr Shapira created http://www.ihateheadaches.org to help patients understand headaches, migraines and how Neuromuscular Dentistry is an essential and vital treatment resource. Dr Roger Roubal was one of a select few Neuromuscular Dentists in the country that Dr Shapira has on the I HATE HEADACHES site. Read more to understand how Neuromuscular Dentistry can improve your quality of life.

Why do patients suffer for years if there is a treatment that can so drastically improve their lives?

Do problems addressed Neuromuscular Dentistry actually affect health and medical costs?

Cranio, The Journal for CranioMandibular Practice published two articles that answer that question. The studies by Shimshak et al showed that patients with TMJ disorders had a 300% increase in medical utilization in all fields of medicine except obstetrics. In other words, aside from not getting pregnant these patients utilize three times the average in medical expenses. Treatment of Temporomandibular disorders and the neuromuscular pathology that cause them can drastically improve patients lives and possibly drastically decrease medical expenses.

The NHLBI report discusses how respiratory disorders related to TMJ disorders can effect many body systems. Dental Sleep Medicine is an extremely effective approach to treating sleep apnea. It is more effective overall than surgery. CPAP is still considered the Gold Standard of treatment for Sleep Apnea but has horrendous issues with patients compliance.

Poor compliance means it works well if used but most patients do not use it. CPAP that is not used is worthless and dangerous because the patient remains untreated. A recent study showed that 60% of patients did not use their CPAP. Other patients refuse to even have a sleep test because they do not want to use CPAP. One study cited at the Trucking and Sleep Apnea conference presented by the American Sleep Apnea Association showed only 5% of truckers using their CPAP. This is a frightening fact considering than patients with untreated sleep apnea have a six-fold increase in motor vehicle accidents. Patients overwhelmingly prefer oral appliances to CPAP when they offered a choice but most patients are never given a choice. That would be understandable if CPAP compliance wasn't an issue. Studies of patients who do use their CPAP show that they average only 4-5 hours a night of use not 7-7 1/2 that is ideal.

Morning Headaches are usually a result of Sleep Apnea or TMJ disorder, LaCrosse patients with morning headaches should call Dr Ladesic.

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Dr Ira L Shapira is an author and section editor of Sleep and Health Journal and President of I HATE Headaches LLC. He is a Diplomat of the American Academy of Pain Management and a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. He is a former assistant professor at Rush Medical School's Sleep Service where he worked with Dr Rosalind Cartwright who is a founder of Sleep Medicine and Dental Sleep Medicine. Dr Shapira is a consultant to numerous sleep centers and teaches courses in Dental Sleep Medicine in his office to doctors from around the U.S. He is the Founder of I HATE CPAP LLC and http://www.ihatecpap.com Dr Shapira is a licensed general dentist in Illinois and Wisconsin.