What is the upper cervical spine?

The upper cervical spine includes the top two vertebrae: C1 (atlas) and C2 (axis). This area surrounds the lower brainstem and is densely packed with neurological receptors including vertebral arteries and cranial nerves.

It plays a key role in:

• Brain–body communication
• Balance and head position awareness
• Autonomic nervous system regulation (stress vs rest)
• Blood flow and sensory input to the brain

When this region isn’t functioning properly, the brain can receive distorted or excessive signals, creating neurological stress resulting in sympathetic dominance (fight, flight or freeze) or parasympathetic dominance (rest and digest).

Brain fog and poor concentration

Brain fog often feels like slowed thinking, forgetfulness, or difficulty focusing.

When the upper cervical spine is restricted or under stress, the brain may struggle to process information properly, similar to trying to stream a video with poor Wi‑Fi or for those of us who remember downloading torrents on Napster.

The brain isn’t broken. The signal just isn’t clear.

Fatigue that sleep doesn’t fix

Many people with upper cervical dysfunction complain that they feel wired but tired.

Their nervous system stays stuck in a stress response, making it hard to fully rest, repair, and recharge, even with adequate sleep.

This can lead to:

• Morning exhaustion
• Reliance on caffeine and energy drinks
• Energy crashes throughout the day

Migraines and neurological overload

Migraines are neurological events, not just headaches.

The upper cervical spine has close connections to the trigeminal nerve, blood flow regulation, and sensory processing. When this area is irritated or imbalanced, the brain’s tolerance to triggers like light, sound, hormones, or stress can drop.

That’s why migraines often feel unpredictable and progressively worse or more frequent over time.

Where dysautonomia fits in

Dysautonomia is a broad term used to describe disorders of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), the part of the nervous system responsible for regulating involuntary functions like heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, breathing, and temperature control.

When the ANS isn’t regulating well, the body can feel constantly out of balance. People may experience fatigue, dizziness, brain fog, headaches or migraines, digestive issues, poor stress tolerance, and difficulty adapting to everyday demands.

Because the upper cervical spine sits so closely to the brainstem, a key control centre for the autonomic nervous system, dysfunction in this area can add to the nervous system’s overall load. For some people, this shows up as symptoms that look and feel very much like dysautonomia, even when standard tests come back “normal.”

Supporting clearer brain–body communication can help the nervous system shift out of survival mode and back toward regulation.

Take it from me, I’ve been there

Take it from me, I’ve been there, fighting the good fight, trying to figure it out.

The brain fog, the fatigue, the migraines… doing all the “right things” and still not feeling like myself. That search for answers is what led me to Blair upper cervical care.

Looking at my nervous system, not just my symptoms, was a turning point. Once my upper cervical spine was functioning better, my thinking became clearer, my energy steadier, and my migraines became a thing of the past.

It didn’t change everything overnight. But it changed the trajectory. And that’s why Upper Cervical care is so important to me.

Final thoughts

If brain fog, fatigue, or migraines have become your “normal,” it may be time to look beyond symptom management.

Supporting the nervous system, starting at the upper cervical spine, can be a powerful step toward clearer thinking, steadier energy, and a more regulated body.