Insomnia and fatigue are two sides of the same coin: if a person is unable to sleep at night, they are usually fatigued during the day. However, some people get eight to 12 hours of sleep a night and still have fatigue.
The top part of the brain stem is called the mesencephalon, and it determines our sleeping/waking patterns. The specific term is the "mesencephalic reticular activating system" which is a three-dollar phrase for “top of the brain stem.” If the mesencephalon is firing, you will be awake. If the mesencephalon decreases frequency of firing, you will be tired and unable to stay awake. Patients who experience insomnia probably have a mesencephalon that is over-firing. Patients with fatigue who seem to get enough sleep may have a decreased frequency of firing of the mesencephalon.
A thorough neurological examination should be performed in order to determine the exact state of the nervous system.
As a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist, I utilize treatment modalities that increase or decrease frequency of firing on the mid-brain. For example, visual stimulation with red or green light from the left side crosses through the mid-brain and increases the frequency of firing in the right cerebral cortex (right brain). The effects of visual stimulation are monitored by blood pressure and pulse. Increased frequency of firing (impulses) of the cortex (brain) should lower the blood pressure and pulse via ponto-medullary (lower brain stem) stimulation. Increased cortical (brain) stimulation also fires to the cerebellum (back part of the brain) via feedback mechanisms. The cerebellum controls involuntary muscles of the spinal cord. Auditory stimulation (sound) in the left ear increases frequency of firing (impulses) in the temporal lobe of the brain. Auditory stimulation is monitored by blood pressure and pulse. Treatments may include unilateral (one-sided) exercises and unilateral (one-sided) adjustments or manipulations. Extremities (arms and legs), lumbar spine (low back), and cervical spine (neck) may be manipulated on one side only to fire muscle spindle cells (muscle receptors) and joint mechanoreceptors (joint receptors) into the same cerebellum (back part of the brain) and opposite cerebral cortex (brain). The thoracic (mid-back) spine may be globally manipulated to fire the dorsal columns (back part of the spinal cord).
Headaches
The migraine headache is perhaps the best known special type of headache. It is really called the migraine syndrome. By syndrome we mean that a lot of things accompany the headache - all of them bad. Examples of these include dizziness, visual problems, “spots” before the eyes, redness, swelling, tearing of the eyes, muscle contraction, irritability, nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea. These symptoms often arise before the headache hits. The headache itself may last for few minutes to a few days, and the severity may be that of minor discomfort all the way up to immobilizing agony.
Dystonia/Tremor Disorder
Dystonia is not a new condition. It affects thousands of people every year. Contrary to popular belief, dystonia is not a normal consequence of growing older. As a matter of fact, the onset of dystonia can be at any age. Dystonia is not a discriminatory condition, as it will affect men, women or children.
Vertigo
Vertigo or dizziness affects millions of people around the world each year. In a majority of the cases, vertigo is nothing more than a temporary inconvenience. In some cases vertigo is a debilitating condition. Day to day activities are kept to a minimum due to the severe dizziness.
