Monday: 9AM – 1PM, 3PM – 6PM
Tuesday: 9AM – 1PM, 3PM – 6PM
Wednesday: 9AM – 1PM, 3PM – 6PM
Thursday: 9AM – 1PM, 3PM – 6PM
Upon arrival at Crossroads Brain & Spine, you will be warmly greeted by our knowledgeable staff. They will offer you something to drink as well as a light snack. You will then be handed your new patient paperwork to fill out. Upon completion, they will provide you with an office tour to become familiar with the layout of the office.
Next, you will be escorted to the consultation room, for a no-obligation consultation with Dr. Michael Lea. During that consultation, Dr. Lea will ask follow-up questions to the paperwork and perform an extensive battery of tests (structural, functional, postural, and neurologic) to better understand what the underlying issue is. This will also help determine if you are a candidate for Upper Cervical Care, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, both, or neither.
If indicated, Dr. Lea will take a very specific set of x-rays to analyze the spine in greater detail. Therefore, a spinal correction will not occur on the first visit. On your second visit, Dr. Lea will provide you with a thorough report of findings, discuss the cost of care, and answer any questions you may have.
First, you will be warmly greeted by our staff, offered a beverage and a light snack. If you have an Upper Cervical appointment that day, Dr. Lea will perform the infrared spinal scan
to determine if an Upper Cervical spinal correction is needed. If a spinal correction is indicated, he will perform a gentle, safe, yet effective correction and then you will be escorted to a private resting suite for a brief time. A follow-up infrared spinal scan will occur after the resting period.
If it is determined you are holding your correction, based off the infrared scan, then you will be escorted back to the front desk to schedule your next appointment.
If your visit is a Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression visit, you will be escorted to the decompression area. One of our knowledgeable staff members will set you up on the DRX-9000.
Crossroads Brain & Spine seeks to provide a high-level standard of care to its patients. As an Upper Cervical Chiropractor, Dr. Lea specializes in reducing and or removing both a neurological and structural compromise at the most vital area of the body. At no time, will there be any twisting, cracking, or popping of your spine.
Additionally, while at Crossroads Brain & Spine you will NOT have:
- Manipulations of extremities
- Physical therapy
- Massage therapy
- Acupuncture
- Your Upper Cervical spine is corrected every visit
To determine if your case is appropriate for Crossroads Brain & Spine, a thorough examination will be performed, and if indicated, x-rays will be taken. This data is crucial before
any adjustment or correction can be made on your spine.
Your first visit will include a no-obligation consultation, a thorough examination (structural, postural, functional, and neurologic tests). On your second visit, you will receive a comprehensive care plan from Dr. Lea before treatment. During your report of findings, you will have the opportunity to ask any additional questions prior to the initiation of care.
Crossroads Brain & Spine has on-site radiography services making it more convenient for you if x-rays are indicated. Taking specific spine films is essential for Dr. Lea to identify any
additional degenerative and/or structural changes of the spine. If you are a Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression candidate, utilizing diagnostic radiography will allow for a more specific analysis of your spine. If you are an Upper Cervical candidate, Dr. Lea will use these x-rays to perform precise mathematical equations to determine the biomechanics
of your upper cervical spine. This allows Dr. Lea to customize care specifically to what your body needs.
Before any recommendations of care, an in-depth examination will be performed on your first visit. These examinations include postural, functional, structural, and neurologic tests that help the doctor identify the issues that may be going on with your health. These indicators will qualify you for care at Crossroads Brain & Spine.
Regardless of any health condition you may be struggling with, Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care is only going to improve the overall function of your body.
That answer is different for every patient because every patient has a different care plan that is customized to them and what they have going on. Thus, it is impossible to make a blanket
statement on the cost of care offered at Crossroads Brain & Spine.
Crossroads Brain & Spine utilizes a third-party patient financing company called CareCredit. They offer interest free financing for patients who want a low monthly payment.
If this sounds like an option for you and your family, the Crossroads Brain & Spine staff will walk you through the application process, which does not affect your credit score. Often, this is a very good option for many patients who want the specialized care offered at Crossroads Brain & Spine, unlike any other conservative spine care center in the State of Indiana.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care is one of the safest techniques utilized by Chiropractors today. This is because there is no twisting, cracking, or popping of the spine at any time. This reduces the chance of a muscle strain or cerebrovascular accident, commonly known as a stroke.
In fact, more people are attacked by sharks every year than the people who are hurt in a Chiropractic office. However, there may be some contraindications to Upper Cervical Care, so a thorough exam is performed on your first visit.
Making a gentle and precise correction to the spine should never hurt or cause pain. However, you must keep in mind that the spine has been locked in an abnormal biomechanical position for a long period of time. This will cause an abnormal pull of all the soft tissues surrounding our spine, such as tendons, ligaments, and muscles. This uneven tension can cause structural shifts after the spinal correction.
Most don’t feel that correction was made because it is so gentle and often ask, “Is that it?
At no time at Crossroads Brain & Spine will your spine ever be twisted, cracked, or popped.
There are many other Chiropractic techniques that illicit an audible cavitation. The specific Upper Cervical technique that Dr. Lea specializes in is toggle-recoil. With this type of spinal correction, the spine always remains neutral. Thus, there is never a need for the ‘pop’ sound.
If we all look different on the outside, doesn’t it make sense that we all look different on the inside?
Every patient responds to the first correction differently. This is dependent on many different factors. There are varying amounts of degeneration, muscle activation, tightness, stiffness, looseness prior to the correction that can cause many different results after the correction.
This is very similar to starting a new exercise routine. Though the muscles may be sore, it does not necessarily mean that there was any permanent damage caused. Often a slight discomfort can signify healing as the spine is starting to adapt to a new structural and biomechanical position.
Gauging the success of Upper Cervical Care is case-dependent. Every patient has something different going on with their spine.
Each patient receives a customized care plan specific to what they have going on. Crossroads Brain & Spine implements functional outcome measures and progress reports to track the response to care.
Dr. Lea utilizes digital infrared paraspinal thermography on every visit to objectively measure nervous system function. Another significant factor in care success is the amount of degeneration present in the spine. Therefore, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is an excellent option for many patients
This is very difficult question to answer because there are so many different types of massage, physical therapy, and exercise.
Dr. Lea has massage therapists, physical therapists, and personal trainers that he exclusively refers to keep you safe while under care. These additional services can be very positive and improve patient outcomes. However, they can work against you holding your spinal correction if done incorrectly. If you seek these services, ask Dr. Lea who he refers his patients.
Crossroads Brain & Spine is a self-pay office that accepts various forms of payment, such cash, check, or charge. Additionally, your care can be paid for using health savings accounts (FSA)
and flex savings accounts (FSA). Crossroads Brain & Spine utilizes a third-party interest free service for patient financing called CareCredit.
Regardless of whoever your insurance carrier is, the odds are that they have not been trained in Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care. Unfortunately, there are many myths and misconceptions about what Chiropractors do. This causes confusion between not only the patients but also the insurance carriers.
As an example, within a five-mile radius of Crossroads Brain & Spine, there are 38 different Chiropractors, and they all do something a little bit different. This is not to say that one is better than the other. Instead, they are just different. The whole intention of an Upper Cervical Chiropractor is to not have to adjust your spine on every single visit. How do they gauge that?
Dr. Lea uses digital infrared paraspinal thermography to assess whether your spine needs a correction or not. Since he intends not to have to correct your spine on every visit, the insurance carrier would not recognize that as an office visit because no adjustment or spinal correction was rendered.
But that doesn’t seem fair to you as the patient or as the doctor. He is performing a neurologic examination and making the clinical decision if a spinal correction is needed or is not needed.
This would be like going to the dentist, having a thorough dental exam, and determining that you did not have a cavity. Don’t you think it would be fair that they would still be compensated for their time and expertise?
Being under Upper Care works the exact same way. Most insurance companies do not recognize the specific Upper Cervical protocols. While this is frustrating for the patient, it is also frustrating for the doctor.
Consider this scenario
Dr. Lea performs an infrared spinal scan which clinically indicates that your spine is holding its last correction. If that’s the case, that means no correction is not needed on that visit.
(Very similar to a dentist telling you that you don’t have any cavities and have good dental hygiene.)
To submit a claim, your Upper Cervical Doctor must submit a bill to your insurance carrier for that visit, providing a diagnosis code and procedure code. However, in this example, if you do not need a spinal correction and the Cervical Doctor bills the insurance anyway, that is considered insurance fraud.
Many providers have an issue with insurance carriers because they dictate when, where, and how much care a patient should receive even though they didn’t perform any of the diagnostic procedures. This means that a third party that has never met the patient yet directs their care. Can you see how this negatively impacts the care that your Cervical Doctor can provide to you?
Do you take your entire family to the dentist?
Similarly, ensuring that every person in your family has proper spinal hygiene is also necessary. Coming in as a family makes it more affordable and creates more opportunities for you as a family to spend time together.
Absolutely! We love taking care of families. If it makes sense to take your entire family to the dentist to maintain dental hygiene, doesn’t it make sense to take them to Crossroads Brain & Spine to maintain their spinal hygiene?
Our affordable monthly programs make getting your entire family checked consistently accessible. Every family plan is different, but the more family members are under care, the more affordable it becomes. Families have enough stress in their life; adding additional financial stress shouldn’t be part of it.
There are hundreds of different types of techniques that Chiropractors utilize. One is not necessarily better than the other. Many Chiropractors practice in a way that most impacts
their lives, making this debate challenging to navigate.
Imagine this scenario
You and your family decide that you want to go out for a cheeseburger. There are many different places that you can go to get a cheeseburger. One person may want to go to McDonald’s because that is the cheapest cheeseburger in town, another person may want to get a cheeseburger at the local sports bar because they like the environment, while another person may want to go to the upscale burger restaurant that has farm-raised, no hormone, grade-A beef. All three of these people want the same outcome (eating a cheeseburger). However, each one has a different reason for the choice that they want to make. That is not to say that any one of them is wrong instead it is just a preference.
Being under Upper Cervical Care is a preference that many people have. That is not to say that going to a regular chiropractor is a negative thing; instead, it’s based on the type of experience the patient wants.
At Crossroads Brain & Spine, we focus on using Upper Cervical Chiropractic and Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression to ensure the structural and neurologic integrity of the spine. There is no other conservative spine care center in the State of Indiana using either of these two services.
Upper Cervical care is a strict discipline of Chiropractic that adheres to the scientific foundation of neurology. This allows your Upper Cervical Chiropractor to determine if a spinal correction is needed but more importantly when it is not required. The intention of the Upper Cervical Chiropractor is for you to maintain or hold your adjustment as long as possible.
General Chiropractors typically seek to adjust the spine on every single office visit. This is one of the main differences between a general Chiropractor and an Upper Cervical Chiropractor.
On a visit that requires a spinal correction, you will have a brief resting period. This is one of the most important aspects of being under Upper Cervical Care.
This resting time gives your brain and nervous system time to integrate spinal correction. We will often refer to this as an integration period. The specific, safe, yet effective Upper Cervical spinal correction has widespread neurological impacts.
Medical research shows that spinal correction affects both the brain and the nervous system. The spinal correction can be thought of as if you are resetting your computer’s hardware. The integration period can be considered like rewiring the computer’s software.
Often, patients will feel a deeper state of relaxation as the body shifts or changes its neurological and structural balance. This is due to the stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system. This division of the nervous system is the restful state. That is why many patients fall asleep during the integration period. In addition to that, many people feel a change in temperature sensation; they may feel that their heart rate changes, they may feel that their breathing changes, some people may get warm while others get cold.
Many people report better mental clarity after a spinal correction. Sometimes people can feel structural changes in their spine that may cause a few audible clicks; muscles will start to shift and even twitch.
There was a neurologic compromise present, as detected by the infrared scan. That spinal correction reduced or removed that neurologic compromise, and now the body is in a state of
function rather than dysfunction. Put another way, you were in a state of neurologic disintegration, and now the body is shifting to a state of neurologic integration.
The goal is to return to the activities that matter most to you with better function and less pain. However, if it takes time for the body to break down and grow into dysfunction, then it will take a little bit of time to grow into a state of health and function. Think about the different things in your life that may be causing stress to the system. These could be psychological, physical, or chemical stressors. These primary three stressors (thoughts, traumas, and toxins) have the most significant impact on our health. Reducing or removing these will allow your body a better opportunity to maintain or hold your adjustment for a more extended period.
This answer is different for each patient. An Upper Cervical spinal correction should only happen when the infrared scan neurologically indicates it. In the early phase of your care, Dr. Lea may want to see you more frequently. As you progress through the care plan, your visits will likely become less frequent. However, you should not have a spinal correction on every single visit. Though everybody’s spine is different and unique, you should not have to be corrected several times a week. It is typical for a patient to hold longer when under care longer. After the initial phase of care, most patients get their spine checked at least once a month.
There are many different things that we may do for our health. Some of the changes we make may include joining a gym or changing the types of food we eat. For example, if you were to join a gym, invested the money upfront in joining, and paid the monthly dues, how long would you stay physically active? Once you achieve your physical goal, do you stop going to the
gym and exercising?
If your goal is to lose weight, do you suddenly stop eating the nutritious foods that got you to that point once you reach your goal? Maintaining your health is a continual practice.
It makes sense to go to the dentist twice a year to check on your dental hygiene. It also makes sense to go to the Upper Chiropractor on a semi-consistent basis to maintain your spinal
hygiene. If you were to ask Dr. Lea how long he and his family will be under the care, he would tell you that they will get checked for the rest of their life. It just makes sense to ensure that your spine and nervous system are in a state of integration and function rather than a state of disintegration and dysfunction. When we talk about health, an ounce of prevention is worth a
pound of cure.
An Upper Cervical spinal correction affects the entire spine. The atlas, the very uppermost part of the spine, acts as the keystone of the spine.
You have probably heard Dr. Lea say that where the head goes, the hips go. This is because all the vertebrae in the spine have these interlocking joints. Think about these facet joints like shingles on the roof or scales on a fish; if one moves, they all move.
Before your first spinal correction, Dr. Lea will perform an infrared scan of the entire spine. After a resting or integration time, he will perform a second full spine neurologic scan. This will show changes throughout the spine by exclusively correcting the abnormal biomechanics of the atlas. This neurologic data proves that Cervical Correction impacts the entire spine.
Every Chiropractor has the same basic training in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, neurology, etc. However, some Chiropractors can choose to continue their training postgraduation. Many Chiropractors decide to specialize in a technique or methodology of practice.
For example, some Chiropractors focus only on athletes while some concentrate only on pediatrics. While the sports Chiropractor can work with babies, in the pediatric Chiropractor can work with athletes, this is not their chosen specialty.
The difference of seeing an Upper Cervical specialist compared to a general Chiropractor is the level of specificity they take to analyze both the structure and function of the spine. An Upper Cervical Chiropractor focuses exclusively on improving proper biomechanics and restoring neurologic integrity at the most vital area of the body
Subluxation is not a Chiropractic specific term. However, the Chiropractic profession adopted this term to define what it is they specifically do. Many Chiropractors have their definition of what a subluxation is.
A vertebral subluxation is when a biomechanical distortion of the spine causes a compromise of the transmission of electrical impulses via the nerves from the brain to the body.
Many patients don’t concern themselves with the technical jargon. However, it’s vital to understand the negative impact of vertebral subluxation on one’s health.
Interestingly, one-third of the nerves produce pain signals, whereas two-thirds produce any sensory information to the brain. Many people don’t feel any pain and thus feel no need to visit a Chiropractic. While they may feel normal, some underlying issues may be dormant within the spine. The truth is that there is a biochemical cascade that is constantly dampening the signals of pain to our brain; otherwise, many would have unrelenting pain. This innate chemical reaction in the body can mask the pain that may be caused by vertebral subluxation. However, we often dictate our health by simply how we feel rather than function. Upper Cervical Chiropractic care utilizes infrared technology to measure how the nervous system functions scientifically. Without this gauge, the detection and correction of vertebral subluxation are difficult.
Here’s the take-away: when the atlas vertebra (uppermost bone in the spine that is closest to the brain) is biomechanically malpositioned (subluxated), it causes interference of electrical signals (traveling at 100 meters per second) innervating every cell, tissue, and organ of the body. This negatively impacts the entire body, much like how a dimmer switch can dim many lights from a single point. When that biomechanical distortion is reduced/removed, the standard transmission of those nervous system signals is restored. This restoration provides the body with an optimal environment to function.
Our body has an innate ability to adapt to stressors, internal or external. Our body can adjust to those stressors that promote health. While there are many different types of stressors, we can organize them into three overarching categories. These include psychological stressors (thoughts), physical stressors (traumas), and chemical stressors (toxins). These are known as the 3 T’s. By reducing/removing one or more of the 3 T’s (thoughts, traumas, or toxins), our body is thus able to function at a higher level. A biomechanical distortion of the spine inhibits the transmission of electrical impulses from the brain to the body (vertebral subluxation). This leads the nervous system to function in a compromised state or rather a state of dis-ease. The upper cervical spinal correction goal is to reduce or remove the vertebral subluxation. By restoring the proper biomechanical function of the spine, the transmission of nerve impulses is no longer compromised. As a result of a properly functioning nervous system, many patients notice significant changes in their health.
As with any health condition, the longer something goes untreated, the worse it gets. Pertaining to the spine, the longer a subluxation goes untreated, the more undue stress is incurred and thus more degenerative processes. Some patients can have varying responses to the vertebral subluxation and its effects. Think about it’s a lot like a tooth. If you can have tooth decay, wouldn’t it make sense that you can have spinal decay? If a tooth has a cavity, there are negative consequences, right? Did that tooth start to decay when it began hurting, or was there a gradual breakdown over time? That tooth will only further decay and cause issues with surrounding teeth. A vertebral subluxation works the same way. The longer the spine is in a state of biomechanical dysfunction, the worst off you are. The effects of this are numerous. There are degenerative changes in the vertebra, discs, joints, and surrounding soft tissues. In addition to that, every cell in the body that requires nervous system innervation (which is all of them, by the way) is now functioning in a less-than-optimal way. Many patients see this manifest as a symptom, condition, illness, diagnosis, or disease.
The brainstem is the point of origin for every nerve in the entire body. It connects the brain to the spinal cord. Think about this as a superhighway of nerves acting as a single point of failure. There is roughly a quadrillion nerve fiber that extends through the brainstem, controlling every body’s cell, tissue, and organ.
The brainstem is located at the base of the skull. Once it exits the head to enter the spine, it’s referred to as the spinal cord. The upper cervical spine, specifically the atlas vertebra, is also located at the skull base. The upper cervical spine is the most neurologically dense area in the body. When the atlas pulls out of position, frequently by only a millimeter, it causes a biomechanical distortion of the spine and thus insults nervous system function. Every nerve in the body exits the brainstem to innervate every cell, tissue, and organ of the body at this location. This is what makes the brainstem important. However, at no time is any Chiropractor adjusting the brainstem. When a Chiropractor makes a safe, gentle, yet effective correction to the upper cervical spine, it directly impacts nervous system function due to the proximity of the brain and brainstem.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic care is a strict discipline of Chiropractic that focuses on the junction between the brain and the spine, often referred to as the craniocervical junction. This is a form of health care that focuses specifically on the structure and function of the uppermost part of the spine. This spine location needs special attention due to its proximity to the brain and brainstem. Upper Cervical Chiropractors are specifically trained to detect and correct abnormalities occurring in this vital area. A safe, gentle, yet effective upper cervical spinal correction has a widespread influence on nervous system function that is well documented in the medical literature.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic care is foundational to health as it seeks to optimize the innate healing properties of the body. The idea that spinal distortions have a negative impact on a person’s health dates back thousands of years. Upper Cervical Chiropractic care is the most advanced way to correct distortions of the spine and reduce a compromise of the nervous system.
Many patients can benefit from this specialized type of Chiropractic care. However, not every patient is a good candidate for Upper Cervical care. Crossroads Brain & Spine offers a noobligation consultation for Dr. Lea to understand better what each patient is specifically dealing with. This includes a thorough exam including postural analysis, functional exams, an infrared spinal scan, and diagnostic x-rays (if indicated). After a comprehensive care plan that is specifically designed for you, Dr. Lea will then make a recommendation for care. To date, millions of patients have had very successful outcomes under Upper Cervical Chiropractic care. Patients often ask if it can work for someone else, why can’t it work for me?
An Upper Cervical spinal correction is safe, gentle, yet effective. At no time will there be any twisting, cracking, or popping of the spine. The spinal correction is done using the doctor’s hands’ exact and controlled touch to restore the proper biomechanical position of the very topmost part of the spine, the atlas.
The benefit of correcting the spine this way is that Dr. Lea utilizes a specialized table (side posture toggle) to allow the assistance of gravity. This patented table has been in use for over 70 years. The upper cervical spinal correction should never hurt. It is a natural yet effective way to live pain-free without drugs or surgery. It has been proven to be safe for people, regardless of age.
Answer: Upper Cervical Spinal Care focuses on reducing/removing a biomechanical distortion of the spine to restore proper neurologic function. What if there is no spinal distortion or neurological compromise upon further examination of the spine and nervous system?
What if a dentist does not find any cavities on your tooth? Do you still ask if you can have a root canal?
It is very common at Crossroads Brain & Spine for patients not to receive a spinal correction on every visit. Similarly, it’s expected that not every patient needs a cavity filled every stay in a dental practice, right?
When a patient is ‘holding’ their last spinal correction, it indicates no detectable spinal or neurological interference. This is great! When shown utilizing digital infrared paraspinal thermography, Dr. Lea will only make an upper cervical spinal correction. After all, ‘holding’ is healing.
This question is dependent on your case and what you have discussed with Dr. Lea. After the initial phase of care, it will be determined how frequently your office visits should be.
Everyone ‘holds’ a spinal correction for a different amount of time. Some may hold three days, three weeks, or three months. It is nearly impossible to track how long a patient is ‘holding’ their correction without utilizing infrared thermography. Thus, at Crossroads Brain & Spine, an infrared spinal scan will be performed on every upper cervical visit.
However, consistency is the only thing that brings change. We offer a unique monthly maintenance membership that makes care less expensive and more accessible.
It is never too early to ensure proper neurologic function. The birthing process is often one of the most traumatic experiences. This is due to the spinal trauma that is incurred upon birth. While birth is a beautiful and enriching experience, it can cause a myriad of spinal and nervous system-related issues for both the mother and baby.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic care is safe and effective for babies. Millions of people take their children to Chiropractors every year. Dr. Lea performed a spinal correction on his son within a few hours of birth!
This question encompasses many variables that can affect someone’s health. This may include questions like;
How long has someone been dealing with the issue?
What is the extent of the damage that has already been done?
What is the level of degeneration in the spine?
How resistant is somebody to following the recommendations of the doctor?
These variables will affect the time it takes until somebody starts to “feel better.” Some respond quickly, while others may take more time. Some patients report feeling immediate changes, while others report changes after being under care for several months or even years.
Other factors to consider relate to your lifestyles, such as thoughts, traumas, and toxins. These all have a significant impact on our ability to heal. What you must understand is that healing takes time. Upwards of 25% of the patients, we care for have a “wow experience.” They had no idea they could feel this good and wished they would’ve started care sooner.
The other 75% of patients slowly make gradual improvements. These patients usually have more tissue damage and higher inflammation levels. If it takes time for the body to break down to get to this point, doesn’t it make sense that it might take time to heal?
