Chapter 175 - Alpaca stampede! (1/2)

The spine was a relatively long and slender lever that would help to balance the head's weight. Since the spine joints were also flexible themselves, the cervical vertebrae were the part of the spine with the greatest movement ability, which also meant that their stability would be slightly weaker in comparison. That was why the cervical vertebrae were the easiest part of the spine to injure. It also wouldn't be wise to just massage the cervical vertebrae unless the doctor already knew specific treatment techniques.

This was because the cervical vertebrae were far too important. To explain simply, the spinal cord's functions included helping to control your breathing, your body temperature, and so on. Many important nerves for maintaining your basic functions would all pass through them. Thus, not only was the spinal cord critically important, it was also rather fragile. If the doctor didn't use the proper amount of force during the massage, a medical incident might occur. Such a medical incident occurring would mean that there wouldn't even be enough time to try and save the patient, as the patient would instantly die or become paralyzed!

When Zhang Fan touched the C4 vertebrae, he could sense the patient's neck muscles beginning to tighten.

”Does this hurt?” Zhang Fan inquired.

”No, but I do think I feel a little dizzy when you press there,” the patient said without much confidence.

”I'll press there again, so try and see if you sense anything.”

Zhang Fan pushed on the C4 vertebrae again. The patient had no reaction. Zhang Fan continued his checkup, and didn't find anything wrong with the patient's neck. ”Brother Hu, I think the patient's problem is somewhere near the C4 vertebrae.”

Zhang Fan then asked the patient, ”Ma'am, could I ask you to try lowering your head and trying the checkup again?”

The patient lowered her head. Zhang Fan put some pressure on her C4 vertebrae. The patient then said, ”Whoa! No, I feel dizzy and really bad!” Zhang Fan then slowly stopped pressuring her C4 vertebrae, and told her, ”Ma'am, raise your head slowly now.”

As the patient slowly raised her head, Zhang Fan informed her, ”The inferior longitudinal fasciculus has grown thicker to compensate for the fact that you often need to lower your head as you work! As time passes or if there's too much pressure, the thickened portion will pressure your arteries and cause your brain to temporarily lack blood, along with dizziness and vomiting, but if you only lower your head a little or if there's not much pressure, that won't cause any symptoms.”

”Are you certain?” Hu Zengyang felt that this was almost inconceivable.

”I'm certain. The symptoms match what I found from my checkup,” Zhang Fan stated.

'I've never even heard of this condition!' Hu Zengyang thought to himself. He then asked, ”How should we treat the patient?”

”There are two methods. The first is to use surgery to cut off the thickened portion and permanently cure the patient. However, this will be rather risky. The second method is to use massages to adjust the cervical spine's angle so that the thickened portion will move slightly away from the arteries. This angle adjustment doesn't need to be big, and it can cure the patient's condition. However, the patient will need to refrain from lowering her head too much at work. Otherwise, she'll have a relapse.”

”I don't want to have surgery!” The patient didn't really understand most of Zhang Fan's explanation. However, she definitely knew what the word surgery meant, so she hurriedly waved her hand in refusal.

”Alright then. Ma'am, allow me to perform a neck adjustment massage for you. Let's see if it works!”

”Okay!”

Actually, the patient didn't know that there would also be significant risk with a massage.

Zhang Fan asked the patient to get into supine position. He stood straight in front of her, had the patient adjust her neck to an angle between 45 and 90 degrees, and slowly placed his thumb and palm on the patient's cheek. He slowly rotated his index finger and then started pressuring the upper cervical spine. He also turned the patient's head, massaged, extended her neck backwards, performed lateral flexion, and adjusted her neck by a rather small angle.