Frequently Asked Questions

• What really is the ACHE in headaches?
• What is the best way to treat headaches?
• How do over the counter medications (like asprin) work?
• What is the ATLAS?
• How can one bone cause headaches?
• Does Dr. Finnigan practice medicine?
• Does the Atlas Orthogonal (A.O.) procedure hurt?
• How does A.O. work?
• What is A.O.?
• Is it bad to "CRACK" my neck?
• Tell me about Atlas Neuro Vascular Syndrome (ANVS)
• If A.O. care is so good why isn't it better known?
• Can ANVS cause other health problems?
• I've tried everything and nothing has worked!
• If I decide to try A.O., can I go just once?
• What about herbs for headaches?
• What happens if ANVS is not corrected?
• What is the most logical next step?

WHAT REALLY IS THE ACHE IN HEADACHES?
The good news is that what you are feeling is not really the brain that hurts. In all but the most exotic cases the pain is either blood vessel expansion and contraction as in migraine/cluster type headaches or muscle and or nerve disturbances around the head itself and the top portion of the neck. As you probably know the pain can be a minor irritant to life altering and incapacitating.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TREAT HEADACHES?
That really depends on your objectives. If your goal is to simply treat a particular headache and it's symptoms…then there are a multitude of options from herbs, acupuncture over the counter medicines all the way to very potent and potentially harmful prescription drugs. If your objective is to eliminate the root cause of recurring headaches then the concepts outlined in this program are more favorable, yet this concept requires a more proactive approach.

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HOW DO OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS (LIKE ASPRIN) WORK?
All drugs whether over the counter or prescribed do only one of two things. They either stimulate or inhibit internal function. For instance analgesics (pain killers) tend to inhibit communications over the nerves. The pain (malfunction) is still there, you just aren't as aware. Some drugs stimulate functions some inhibit. They do virtually nothing to actually restore a healing environment, and should be consumed as conservatively as possible due to undesirable side effects both known and yet to be discovered.

WHAT IS THE ATLAS?
The Atlas is the first cervical vertebra, commonly called C1. However there is nothing common about the Atlas. There are no other segments like it in the spine or anywhere else in the body. It is a transition segment between the skull and the spine. It weighs approximately 2 ounces, yet supports the skull, encircles the Brainstem/ spinal cord area, and protects two arteries (the vertebral arteries) that transport blood and oxygen to a good portion of the brain.

HOW CAN ONE BONE CAUSE HEADACHES?
The Atlas has the job of protecting the upper reaches of the spinal cord and delicate arterial pathways. If the Atlas becomes misaligned or out of synch with the skull, pressure or irritation on the tissues around the spinal cord including the vascular pathways can result. This imbalance seems to be the root cause of a majority of recurring headache cases.

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DOES DR. FINNIGAN PRACTICE MEDICINE?
No, Dr. Finnigan practices Chiropractic. He is one of a select group of doctors. who have become specialized in Atlas Orthogonal Procedures. Many people don't realize that there are specialties within chiropractic. Just as a medical doctor may specialize in pediatrics or neurology. Dr. Finnigan and his contemporaries have received unique training to become Atlas Orthogonists. If you have tried a chiropractic procedure, you will notice a vast difference between your previous experience and A.O.. One of the differences you might notice is that in A.O. there is no manipulation of the neck. Although many people benefit from traditional chiropractic procedures we find the Atlas should best be dealt with very carefully and delicately.

DOES THE ATLAS ORTHOGONAL (A.O.) PROCEDURE HURT?
NO! That is truly one of the remarkable aspects to this treatment. Not only is there no pain associated with it, you likely will feel nothing at all during the procedure. Patients often comment (initially) that nothing happened. But usually acknowledge in a short period a sensation of relief and wellbeing. The stylus of the instrument lightly touches your skin on the neck, and it does not probe into the neck. There is absolutely no pain associated with the procedure itself.

HOW DOES A.O. WORK?
The A.O. procedure is able to perform first because the doctor has collected precise information by x-ray exam of the relationship between the skull-Atlas- and cervical spine. Then your doctor can calibrate the A.O. percussion adjusting instrument providing a "tailor made" experience for your particular needs. Then a percussion wave, similar to an ultra sonic pulse is introduced at precise vectors (angles) via the instrument.

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WHAT IS A.O.?
The best way to understand A.O. is to first define the terminology. The Atlas as you should now know is the first vertebra supporting the skull. Orthogonal is an adjective pronounced (or-thog-o-nal) having to do with or involving right angles, mutually perpendicular. Orthogonality (or-thog-o-nal-i-ty) is a noun- the quality or state of being orthogonal. Therefore, one can understand that the A.O. Technique is an endeavor to bring the atlas skull and cervical spine into a balanced or orthogonal state for the purpose of removing undesirable pressure or interference to neuro muscular and vascular components in and around the head and neck. Dr. Roy Sweat of Atlanta, Ga. is the originator and founder of the A.O. Technique.

IS IT BAD TO "CRACK" MY NECK?
One word . . . .YES! Just look at the related anatomy of the area, and consider the lifeline between brain and body.

TELL ME ABOUT ATLAS NEURO VASCULAR SYNDROME (ANVS).
Atlas Neuro Vascular Syndrome (ANVS) is a term Dr. Finnigan coined while working with patients who had difficult and non-responding headaches. He noted that many of these select cases had twists or misalignments in the upper neck that did not conform to what is considered a "normal" misalignment or subluxation (subluxation is a common term used within the chiropractic profession for a misaligned vertebra). The ANVS category allows doctor and patient to be more descriptive and precise. This will also allow non-Atlas Orthogonal health care providers to have a better understanding of the condition and the challenge.

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IF A.O. CARE IS SO GOOD WHY ISN'T IT BETTER KNOWN?
Partly because no corporate entity like pharmaceutical conglomerates will benefit from A.O.'s growth, so as a result there is no multi-million dollar public awareness campaign. And partly because our society tends to look for a "quick fix" approach to the symptoms. In contrast after it was proven that the earth was indeed round, a couple hundred years elapsed before that fact was widely accepted as a fact. We believe we are making good progress as A.O. is only 30 years old (chiropractic is 107 years) and with your help we can spread this message of improved life to a sick and suffering society.

CAN ANVS CAUSE OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS?
Dr. Finnigan is frequently asked by other doctors and patients why he isolated ANVS and attached it to headaches only? The answer is that this connection occurred inadvertently. As he wrote his book Life Beyond Headaches, people just assumed that ANVS would only lead to headache. Incorrect assumption. The ANVS presentation can account for numerous conditions too varied to list. We do know that the correction of ANVS improves one's headache problems (if present) and it will also advance the total efficiency of the entire body. Simply put, the removal/reduction of this complicated form of Atlas misalignment will advance whole body health.

I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING AND NOTHING HAS WORKED!
Okay and that is very frustrating, but what you are likely really saying is "everything I've tried to date has not provided the breakthrough results that I seek." Do not give up. You don't deserve the recurring headache, and treating the symptoms will not correct the cause. We will do all in our power to up root the cause of your problem. And that is not meant to imply that A.O. is the only answer to every problem. We may need to have you take on some responsibilities and action steps. Believe me when I say, "you haven't tried everything."

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IF I DECIDE TO TRY A.O., CAN I GO JUST ONCE?
Of course you can. Sometimes a major correction will happen immediately. Once is better than never. It's your body, your life, and you may get substantial results very quickly. One visit may be all that is needed. It is best if you can give it some time though. You didn't just get this way. This is an individual question that is best presented to your A.O. doctor in consultation. You have every right to ask and expect forthright answers.

WHAT ABOUT HERBS FOR HEADACHES?
Herbal treatment for headaches is great! However there are circumstances when herbs may be contraindicated due to some medication a person may be on. Generally speaking taking an herb such as fever few is less toxic and often just as useful as many OTC medications. The only aspect that I must object to is that although less toxic….it is an attempt to only treat the symptom. Our program differs in that we are most interested in dealing with the cause, then the symptoms will take care of themselves. Meanwhile, herbal treatment of headaches makes a great deal of sense.

WHAT HAPPENS IF ANVS IS NOT CORRECTED?
Left uncorrected, this condition will likely continue to plague the victim. Continued headaches, lowered energy, perhaps chronic fatigue, essentially the life force is diminished and the individual will experience less health. Spinal decay (similar to dental decay) is progressive and relentless without intervention. Go to www.beyondheadaches.com (ANVS page) to see a visual example of the degenerative process that occurs when vertebrae are mal positioned and not corrected.

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WHAT IS THE MOST LOGICAL NEXT STEP?
If you are serious about reducing your dependency on over the counter pain medications and prescription drugs, our recommendation is to do a little more personal study on this alternative system.

That can best be started by taking our short survey. Read the first 2 chapters of Life Beyond Headaches and have a free telephone consultation with us. Click the book to start that process.