Break the Matrix

Hi, I'd like to hear some experiences from people who have this condition, like I do.
It's not hard to find literature that links scoliosis and malocclusion / head posture, and the concept is very easy...

Talking about so-called idiopathic scoliosis here! Not the one caused by genetic defects.

Personally, I have a mild S-shaped scoliosis and as I was growing up I was constantly told "it's not a big deal, if it does not get worse".
Now I'm 21 and it did not get worse (I am lucky to have been visited by a friend of my dad who is an expert) but I really hate how after a long day of walking I'll have lower back pain, a fatigued right side of the trapezoid muscle and my right shoulder tends to be a little higher than the left one.

Alot of people have it way worse than I do however, since this condition doesn't really affect my life in such a bad way, and it's not really visible even when I'm naked unless you're really looking for it (when you bend down you can see that one side is slight higher than the other).

Also, I have a grade 2 (mild, unlikely to worsen) varicocele, which I believe is caused by the "Nutcracker effect" = a compression of a vein that then branches into the spermatic vein, causing blood reflux and varix.

I can't be certain, but since my spine does curve to the left in the lumbar region, I think that's why I have it.
That is also not a grave condition, and I hope you're not thinking I just want to complain or I'm scavenging for sympathy. I just to give as much info as I can about my experience.


Long story short, my main drive for doing NCR (which I discovered while researching not scoliosis but malocclusion, by myself, being an odontology student) is the hope that I can improve the curve of my spine.
I've also been doing yoga for about... 1 month I think, although I skip it some times due not having alot of time mixed with the occasional laziness.
But it's not a burden at all, after you make some experience you'll start feeling so relaxed and peaceful that you'll really want to do it every day. Try!

Hope I can hear from other people about their experiences, and hopefully exchange advice.

Have a good day all

Right now I'm pretty sure they're too thick to enter... I'll try with only one cot next time. By the way, have you only used latex gloves for now?

I'm currently only practicing correct oral and head posture, along with some facepulling. I'm using a belt and my thumbs, but I do both very gently and lightly for about 30 minutes a day (usually in the evening, when I'm watching something at the computer).

About the pressure in the right TMJ area... it's not always there, usually it manifests after face pulling or a long day of tongue posture, but I've noticed it fades away when I don't push the palate. That's good news for me, cause it means I haven't stupidly hurt my TMJ, and I think the condyle adapting to the maxilla. Anyway, since I'd prefer to do things slowly than risk getting some real TMJ pain, I'm slowing down with face pulling and NCR these days

Am I getting progress from all this? I think so, I'm under the impression that my chin is slightly more forward than before! Unfortunately, I didn't take profile pictures when I started, so yeah... But I've taken them now, and then I'll see how much I'll improve in a year or two!

Well, now that some time has passed, it's time for checking some results. If any 

First thing, I have to admit my NCR has been somewhat inconsistent during December.
Between staying with my family, a nasty clogged nose (mild sinusitis) and a vacation, I did no more than 3 sessions during that month, all in the first 10 days.

Now, I've only done 2 during the first half of January.
Also, I'm using cooking butter instead of vegetable oil to lubricate the balloon. Even greasier! But I'm not sure which one works best yet.



Results:
My jaw muscles are now fairly strong... I don't have prominent masseters when not tensed, but my mouth always stays shut with no problem at all.
Unfortunately, I did not take profile pictures when I first started, and since in so little time there can't be obvious change, my face is not that changed yet,
but after a whole day with my mouth mostly shut (not chewing gum, staying home because it's studying session) I feel funny sensations in my lower teeth,
similar to those I had when wearing braces, but WAY milder.

I'd say that's because my lower jaw is gradually adapting to a very slow shift by the upper jaw!
This also makes me worried about the dental splint I have in my lower arch though...
(if you don't know, it's a wire used to bind the teeth and keep them static after orthodontic treatment (otherwise they'll push forward again, which is the cause of the crowing) or to prevent dangerous movements caused by bone erosion (periodontitis)).

I'll think about getting it removed, since I hope my lower arch will expand. Then my lower wisdom teeth will be able to pop out (the upper ones already did, although not completely).
But I'd rather first be certain my mandible is expanding, otherwise I'll just get crowded lower incisives again.

But the thing that really keeps me going is a pressure-like feeling (not pain, just... sensation, you know?) exactly in the TMJ area.
I've noticed it's mostly in the right side, and that makes perfect sense because my right cheekbone is very slightly lower than the left one.
I can also see that from my lips, that the right side slightly droops. Nothing ugly, but it's there.



So, in the end, I really think I'm getting somewhere

Good luck to all you guys on this journey, and if you want to discuss or ask me anything, I'm here


PS: This month I'm being pretty focused on researching nutritional needs / deficencies related to bone growth.
    I'd rather not take any supplements, but we'll see...

I'm sorry to hear that... But you know how to solve the problem, so I wish you luck

One thing though, after how much time / how many NCR sessions (4?) have you started noticing the changes?

Indeed, proper oral posture is essential to achieve real, lasting results.
Something that we also should strive to correct is the head posture:
When we're not sliding our head forward, thus stretching the back neck muscles instead of contracting them,
the tongue almost implicitly goes to the right spot


As for my NCR, I might take a break for the week to come... I'm still feeling things in my skull and I'd rather wait a little. Slow and steady

Well, if you see only the tip of your nose (mostly cartilage and some bone) is getting pushed that's probably too early.. There must be a sweet spot between the actual upper throat and the mid part of the turbinates, so that if you build up pressure the balloon will enter the upper throat with force. If you do it too early in the turbinate, it will probably just pop the balloon, I guess?