Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Relief in Springfield, IL
A Natural, Complementary Approach with Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic
Living with Multiple Sclerosis is unpredictable. The fatigue, the relapses, the neurological symptoms that come and go without warning — and a treatment landscape that often feels like damage management rather than genuine improvement.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic care isn’t a cure for MS. Dr. Schurger will tell you that plainly before anything else. But for many MS patients, there is a structural component at the top of the cervical spine that is adding unnecessary stress to an already compromised nervous system — and addressing that component can make a meaningful difference in symptom burden, energy, and quality of life.
At Keystone Chiropractic in Springfield, IL, Dr. Frederick Schurger uses the Blair Upper Cervical Technique, CBCT cone beam CT imaging, infrared thermography, and the NeckCare System to assess and correct misalignment at the craniocervical junction with a level of precision that most practices in Central Illinois don’t have access to.
If you’ve been managing MS and feel like something is still being missed — this may be worth exploring.
Understanding Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic neurological condition in which the immune system attacks the myelin sheath — the protective covering around nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. As myelin is damaged, the transmission of nerve signals between the brain and body is disrupted, producing the wide range of symptoms that characterize the disease.
MS affects people very differently. Some experience mild, intermittent symptoms. Others face progressive disability. Common presentations include:
- Fatigue and brain fog
- Muscle weakness and spasticity
- Numbness or tingling in the limbs
- Difficulty walking or maintaining balance
- Vision problems, including optic neuritis
- Dizziness and vertigo
- Bladder and bowel dysfunction
- Cognitive changes and memory difficulty
- Chronic pain and sensory disturbances
MS is classified into several types — relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive, primary progressive, and progressive-relapsing — each with different patterns of symptom progression. Most patients are managed with disease-modifying therapies aimed at reducing relapse frequency and slowing progression. But for many, symptom burden remains significant even with medication.
The Upper Cervical Spine and MS — Why the Connection Matters
The relationship between the craniocervical junction and MS is an area of growing clinical and research interest — and it’s the foundation of what makes upper cervical chiropractic relevant for MS patients.
The Brainstem and Central Nervous System Function
The atlas (C1) and axis (C2) sit at the base of the skull, surrounding the brainstem — the most neurologically dense structure in the body. The brainstem coordinates motor control, sensory processing, autonomic function, vestibular processing, and the regulation of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow to and from the brain.
When the atlas or axis is misaligned, even subtly, it can create mechanical stress on the brainstem and surrounding structures. For a patient whose central nervous system is already compromised by demyelination, this additional source of neurological interference isn’t trivial — it can amplify existing symptoms and make the nervous system’s adaptive capacity even more taxed.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow and Venous Drainage
Research into chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and CSF flow dynamics has highlighted the potential role of craniocervical junction mechanics in MS symptom expression. Misalignment at the atlas can affect the jugular foramen — the opening through which venous blood drains from the skull — and alter CSF circulation patterns.
When CSF flow is impaired, intracranial pressure dynamics shift. For MS patients, this creates a secondary neurological burden on top of the primary disease process. Correcting the atlas misalignment to normalize these flow dynamics is one mechanism through which upper cervical care may reduce symptom burden in MS patients.
Proprioception and Sensorimotor Dysfunction
The upper cervical spine is the most proprioceptively rich region of the spine — packed with sensory receptors that continuously report head position to the brainstem. In MS patients, proprioceptive dysfunction is already common due to demyelination of sensory pathways. An atlas misalignment that disrupts cervical proprioception adds another layer of sensory inaccuracy to a nervous system already struggling to process positional information correctly.
This connection is clinically relevant for MS patients experiencing vertigo, dizziness, balance difficulties, and coordination problems — symptoms that often have a significant cervicogenic component that neither MS medication nor standard rehabilitation fully addresses.
The Trauma Connection
Many patients with MS have a history of head or neck trauma preceding their diagnosis — sometimes by years. Whether trauma plays a causal role in MS onset or simply contributes to earlier or more severe symptom expression is a question the research community continues to investigate. But from a clinical standpoint, a patient with MS and a history of cervical trauma has two reasons to have their craniocervical junction carefully evaluated.
How Dr. Schurger Approaches MS Patients at Keystone Chiropractic
Dr. Frederick Schurger is a Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractor and Diplomate in Chiropractic Craniocervical Junction Procedures (DCCJP) — a post-doctoral credential requiring three years of advanced study, approximately 300 hours of coursework, original research, and a three-day board examination in craniocervical junction anatomy, neuroscience, and upper cervical procedures. It is held by very few practitioners nationwide and is directly relevant to the kind of complex neurological cases MS patients represent.
His approach to MS patients follows the same precision-first protocol he uses for every patient.
Detailed Health History
Every evaluation begins with a thorough conversation about your MS history — diagnosis type, disease course, current medications, symptom patterns, and any history of head or neck trauma. Understanding your full picture before any assessment begins is non-negotiable here.
CBCT Cone Beam CT Imaging
Keystone Chiropractic uses CBCT — three-dimensional cone beam CT scanning — to visualize the exact position, orientation, and degree of misalignment of the atlas and axis. Standard X-rays can miss subtle misalignments at the craniocervical junction. CBCT doesn’t. For MS patients, whose symptom picture is already complex, this level of imaging precision is particularly important.
Infrared Thermography
Thermographic scanning measures asymmetrical heat patterns along the spine — an objective indicator of nervous system stress. This gives Dr. Schurger a non-invasive, real-time picture of neurological imbalance that imaging alone doesn’t capture, and it provides a baseline to track throughout care.
NeckCare System Functional Assessment
The NeckCare System is an FDA-listed assessment device that measures cervical range of motion, proprioceptive accuracy through the Joint Position Error Test, and sensorimotor coordination through the Butterfly Test®. For MS patients dealing with balance difficulty, dizziness, coordination problems, and proprioceptive dysfunction, these functional measurements often reveal deficits that have a clear cervicogenic component — separate from, and addressable independently of, the MS disease process itself.
Blair Upper Cervical Correction
The Blair adjustment is gentle, low-force, and specific to the individual patient’s anatomy as determined by imaging. There is no twisting, cracking, or forceful manipulation — a consideration that matters particularly for MS patients with spinal sensitivity or existing neurological fragility.
After each adjustment, patients rest in zero gravity chairs for approximately 30 minutes to allow the correction to stabilize. The goal is a held correction — one that normalizes craniocervical junction mechanics and allows the nervous system to function with less structural interference.
Objective Progress Tracking
Progress at Keystone is tracked with thermography, repeat NeckCare assessments, and imaging at key milestones — not just symptom reports. For MS patients, whose symptoms naturally fluctuate with the disease process, objective functional data provides meaningful information about what is changing structurally and neurologically independent of the MS disease course itself.
What MS Patients Often Notice With Upper Cervical Care
Upper cervical care isn’t targeting the MS disease process — it’s addressing the additional burden of craniocervical junction dysfunction on an already-stressed nervous system. When that burden is reduced, many MS patients report:
- Improved balance and coordination
- Reduced fatigue and clearer thinking
- Less numbness or tingling in the extremities
- Decreased muscle tension and spasticity
- Fewer episodes of dizziness and vertigo
- Greater overall mobility and ease of movement
- Better quality sleep
Results vary significantly from patient to patient and depend on the type and stage of MS, how long the craniocervical misalignment has been present, and how well the correction holds over time. Dr. Schurger will be direct about what the evidence supports and what expectations are realistic for your specific situation.
Is Upper Cervical Care Right for You?
Upper cervical care works alongside your existing MS treatment — it is not a replacement for your neurologist, your disease-modifying therapy, or your MS care team. Dr. Schurger is glad to communicate with your other providers if that’s helpful.
You may be a particularly good candidate for an upper cervical evaluation if:
- Your MS symptoms include significant vertigo, dizziness, or balance difficulty
- You have a history of head or neck trauma preceding your MS diagnosis
- You have associated neck pain or restricted cervical range of motion
- Your fatigue, brain fog, or sensory symptoms seem disproportionate to your disease activity on imaging
- You feel your current care plan is managing the disease but not fully addressing your symptom burden
- You’re interested in a drug-free, non-invasive complementary approach that works with your existing medical care
Frequently Asked Questions About MS and Upper Cervical Chiropractic
Can upper cervical chiropractic cure Multiple Sclerosis?
No. There is no known cure for MS, and upper cervical chiropractic does not claim to be one. What it addresses is a specific structural contributor — misalignment at the craniocervical junction — that may be amplifying your symptoms by adding mechanical and neurological stress to an already compromised central nervous system. When that stress is reduced, many patients experience meaningful improvement in symptom burden. But the MS disease process itself is not being treated.
Is Blair Upper Cervical care safe for people with MS?
Yes. The Blair technique is extremely gentle and low-force. There is no twisting, cracking, or forceful manipulation of the neck. It is one of the most conservative chiropractic approaches available and is well-suited for patients with neurological conditions, spinal sensitivity, or other considerations that make traditional chiropractic manipulation inappropriate. Dr. Schurger will review your full health history and current MS status before any care is recommended.
How is this different from what my neurologist does?
Your neurologist manages the MS disease process — typically with disease-modifying therapies aimed at reducing relapse frequency and slowing progression. Upper cervical chiropractic addresses something your neurologist is not evaluating: the structural integrity of the craniocervical junction and its relationship to CSF flow, venous drainage, brainstem function, and cervical proprioception. These are different interventions targeting different mechanisms. They are complementary, not competing.
What does the first visit involve?
Your first visit at Keystone includes a detailed health history, neurological and postural assessment, infrared thermography, and CBCT cone beam CT imaging when appropriate. The NeckCare System assessment is also run to evaluate cervical range of motion, proprioception, and sensorimotor coordination. Dr. Schurger reviews every finding with you before any recommendation is made. No care begins until you have a clear picture of what was found.
How long does it take to notice a difference?
It varies. Some patients notice changes in their symptom patterns within the first few weeks of care. Others see more gradual improvement over several months. MS symptom fluctuation makes it important to track objective functional measures — thermography, NeckCare assessments, imaging — rather than relying solely on day-to-day symptom reports. Those measurements give a clearer picture of whether structural and neurological change is occurring independent of the natural variability of the MS disease process.
Can I continue seeing my neurologist while receiving upper cervical care?
Yes — and Dr. Schurger encourages it. Upper cervical care is not an either/or decision relative to your medical care. Many patients continue their disease-modifying therapies and MS management while also receiving care at Keystone Chiropractic. If communication with your neurologist would be helpful, Dr. Schurger is glad to do that with your authorization.
Do you see MS patients from outside Springfield?
Yes. Patients with MS and other complex neurological conditions travel from Chatham, Rochester, Jacksonville, Lincoln, Taylorville, and across Central Illinois for care at Keystone Chiropractic. The level of specialization here — DCCJP credential, CBCT imaging, Blair technique, NeckCare assessment — is not commonly available closer to home for most patients in the region. No referral is needed to schedule.
Take the Next Step
If you’ve been living with MS and feel like something is still missing from your current care plan, upper cervical chiropractic may be the complementary piece you haven’t tried yet.
The first step is a conversation and a thorough evaluation — not a sales pitch, not a commitment. You’ll leave knowing exactly what Dr. Schurger found and what, if anything, he recommends.
Schedule your upper cervical evaluation at Keystone Chiropractic →
Or call us directly: (217) 698-7900
Keystone Chiropractic | 450 S Durkin Drive, Ste B, Springfield, IL 62704 | (217) 698-7900
Dr. Frederick Schurger, DC, DCCJP — Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractor serving Springfield and Central Illinois since 2007.
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