Oculus Brain Centers

We often have a conversation with patients about the types of remedies they choose from day to day in attempts of mitigating their pain. Not all pain relief options are created equally and some come with consequences or side effects. That being said, there are no options for pain relief that are right or wrong. There is no shame in the desperation that comes with chronic pain. However, there is a natural progression from least invasive to most invasive that makes good sense i...n many cases. We are hoping this may give someone searching for pain relief a place to start. The top of the pyramid is where the riskiest procedures are: medications like opioids, triptans, and muscle relaxers that have serious side effects. Included in this group are other more invasive procedures which are used to reduce pain such as injections (cortisone or other steroid injections, botox, PRP, etc.) as well as surgery. The middle tier of the pyramid contains the commonly used over-the-counter treatments for pain that do not require a prescription or doctors note (*with the exception of THC/CBD which depends on your state if you are in the U.S.) The bottom tier is the least invasive, containing procedures and remedies that have more mild and shorter lasting side effects, if at all. It makes the best logical sense in most cases to start with the least invasive therapies first and move up the pyramid as needed. Unfortunately, some patients are told to start towards the top of the pyramid before they choose to find their way back down on their own. This may be because they were prescribed a medication for life and would like to get off of it without the pain making a resurgence or because the medications or procedures that were performed no longer had the desired effect and the patient is still suffering. This pyramid is not perfect nor is it complete. There are hundreds of therapies in each tier that could have been included. This pyramid only stands to represent the road to recovery that some patients endure, moving up and down the pyramid in search of pain relief. If you or someone you know is in pain, we may be able to help. Call us and speak with one of our doctors today.

Have you heard about the Iron Neck Pro! Our keystone piece of equipment for our Concussion Prevention Program! Founded on research that identifies neck strength as a way to reduce concussion risk..For every 1 lb. Increase in neck strength, odds of concussion decrease by 5%.. Iron Neck training is one of the most effective ways to reduce the effects of whiplash forces to the head.... WOMEN! Male neck strength is TWICE that of female athletes. Smaller neck circumference and weaker neck strength make us more prone to whiplash and concussive forces than men! Learn more. link in bio

If you’ve had a concussion and want to hear first-hand what our patient experience is like, read this incredible review from Chris! I was referred to Dr. B (Barbakoff) and Dr. T (Terrano) by my current Chiropractor after suffering a concussion while surfing this past summer.... I am a long-time surfer/Bodysurfer and former college athlete who has had previous concussions. This one was different. I found myself not tracking like I usually do and just a pervasive feeling of being out of it. I work in Healthcare IT and my job is very dynamic and detail oriented-especially during Covid! I knew I needed to try something new, so I was very open to meeting with the Oculus crew. First, the initial assessment over the phone was so thorough. I felt listened to and validated and confident that I had made the right choice in care. Then the first appointmentso amazing! The care that both Docs took to really look at the whole picture of what brought me to their office, plus their amazing vibe, made me feel like I was hanging out with good friends. I truly have never had a more thorough account of all my injuries and how they were all related. The testing on the first visit to assess not only the repercussions from my concussion, but also balance, vision, etc. was extensive and enlightening. I was amazed at how poorly I was really doing but also excited to have real details about why. Like many long-term athletes who have experienced chronic pain for many years, I didn’t realize how much I have normalized living with pain. The testing the Docs provided really shone a light on what could be brought back into a better working order and even improved. Their game plan is so specific and is based on real science that could be monitored with stats to show where I was improving week to week and where new exercises could benefit the areas needing improvement. Everyone, whether you’re an athlete or not, can benefit from Functional Neurology. Dr. B and Dr. T are two of the brightest stars in the field and I am so grateful to have their care. Please give yourself the gift of their knowledge and healing practices-It truly is life changing.

The brainstem is one of the most important brain areas and is heavily responsible for our vital function. You’ve heard the saying we only use 10% of our brains. Well that’s because the other 90% is comprised of subconscious signals involving communication with the brainstem. The brainstem is a relay station for neural transmission, from the cortex down to the body or from the body up to the cortex. We divide the brainstem into three parts from top to bottom: the midbrain, t...he pons, and the medulla oblongata. It is important for us to understand the functions of each region so when a patient reports a certain symptom, we can localize the most likely area of the brain or brainstem that is involved. In the slide above, we have listed a few functions of each area of the brainstem and the corresponding symptoms you may experience if you have dysfunction in that region. Here is a list of conditions/symptoms that have a high likelihood of having brainstem involvement: Migraines Post-concussion syndrome Dysautonomia, POTS Facial tone weakness Difficulty with speech Jaw pain Dizziness/disequilibrium Motion sickness Ocular fatigue Difficulty swallowing/increased gag reflex Slow digestion/elimination GERD/Reflux

From daily migraines to asymptomatic after just a few short days, Austin is the poster child for functional treatment. Imagine having DAILY migraines and thinking you’re going to live the rest of your life with them. There are more than 4 million adults in the US alone that experience migraines daily. We are proud to say Austin is NO LONGER ONE OF THEM!... No two journeys look the same. Some migraine patients work hard for weeks, months or YEARS to reduce their episodes, but Austin’s speedy recovery is absolutely worth celebrating to remind us what’s possible! We are honored to be a part of your healthcare team

We often have a conversation with patients about the types of remedies they choose from day to day in attempts of mitigating their pain. Not all pain relief options are created equally and some come with consequences or side effects. That being said, there are no options for pain relief that are right or wrong. There is no shame in the desperation that comes with chronic pain. However, there is a natural progression from least invasive to most invasive that makes good sense i...n many cases. We are hoping this may give someone searching for pain relief a place to start. The top of the pyramid is where the riskiest procedures are: medications like opioids, triptans, and muscle relaxers that have serious side effects. Included in this group are other more invasive procedures which are used to reduce pain such as injections (cortisone or other steroid injections, botox, PRP, etc.) as well as surgery. The middle tier of the pyramid contains the commonly used over-the-counter treatments for pain that do not require a prescription or doctors note (*with the exception of THC/CBD which depends on your state if you are in the U.S.) The bottom tier is the least invasive, containing procedures and remedies that have more mild and shorter lasting side effects, if at all. It makes the best logical sense in most cases to start with the least invasive therapies first and move up the pyramid as needed. Unfortunately, some patients are told to start towards the top of the pyramid before they choose to find their way back down on their own. This may be because they were prescribed a medication for life and would like to get off of it without the pain making a resurgence or because the medications or procedures that were performed no longer had the desired effect and the patient is still suffering. This pyramid is not perfect nor is it complete. There are hundreds of therapies in each tier that could have been included. This pyramid only stands to represent the road to recovery that some patients endure, moving up and down the pyramid in search of pain relief. If you or someone you know is in pain, we may be able to help. Call us and speak with one of our doctors today.

Is your migraine doctor addressing all four pillars? Which one do you think is the most overlooked?

Do you laugh with your doctor like this? It shows us that you’re healing. It means your quality of life is improving and you have a long enough break from your symptoms that you’re able to find some joy in the little things again. It’s an indicator that you can look back on where your healing journey began and see how far you’ve come. Come join our brain gang! Improve your brain health and start laughing again!... We specialize in migraines, post-concussion syndrome, dizziness, chronic pain and more! We’re offering complimentary phone consults to see if we’re the right fit for you. Don’t wait. Contact us today!

The brainstem is one of the most important brain areas and is heavily responsible for our vital function. You’ve heard the saying we only use 10% of our brains. Well that’s because the other 90% is comprised of subconscious signals involving communication with the brainstem. The brainstem is a relay station for neural transmission, from the cortex down to the body or from the body up to the cortex. We divide the brainstem into three parts from top to bottom: the midbrain, t...he pons, and the medulla oblongata. It is important for us to understand the functions of each region so when a patient reports a certain symptom, we can localize the most likely area of the brain or brainstem that is involved. In the slide above, we have listed a few functions of each area of the brainstem and the corresponding symptoms you may experience if you have dysfunction in that region. Here is a list of conditions/symptoms that have a high likelihood of having brainstem involvement: Migraines Post-concussion syndrome Dysautonomia, POTS Facial tone weakness Difficulty with speech Jaw pain Dizziness/disequilibrium Motion sickness Ocular fatigue Difficulty swallowing/increased gag reflex Slow digestion/elimination GERD/Reflux

From daily migraines to asymptomatic after just a few short days, Austin is the poster child for functional treatment. Imagine having DAILY migraines and thinking you’re going to live the rest of your life with them. There are more than 4 million adults in the US alone that experience migraines daily. We are proud to say Austin is NO LONGER ONE OF THEM!... No two journeys look the same. Some migraine patients work hard for weeks, months or YEARS to reduce their episodes, but Austin’s speedy recovery is absolutely worth celebrating to remind us what’s possible! We are honored to be a part of your healthcare team

Is your migraine doctor addressing all four pillars? Which one do you think is the most overlooked?

As high school sports resume their athletic programs for the spring and summer, we can’t help but think of these high risk concussion sports and the kids that are playing them. Our baseline testing and concussion prevention programs are helping athletes figure out which brain systems are functioning appropriately and focusing on the ones that need work. Once we’ve identified any deficits, our concussion prevention program is geared towards improving performance and decreasing... concussion risk through neck strength and hand-eye coordination drills. Tag a potential patient, athletic trainer, coach, PT, Chiro or ANYONE who may want to take advantage of baseline screenings for themselves or their sports team. Check out the link below for more info on our concussion prevention and baseline testing programs oculusbraincenters.com/concussions

Being called a snowflake isn’t a bad thing. We’re taking the word back and making it positive. Snowflakes are complex, one-of-a-kind, and when you take the time to look at them more closely, they’re exquisite! Just like these two humans that we had the pleasure of working with so closely last week for a 5-day brain bootcamp.... If you, or someone you love, has had a concussion recently, give us a call. We can help

If you have post-concussion syndrome and are recovering, how do you know when you should STOP an activity and when you should GO? When performing an activity that is likely to trigger symptoms, whether it’s physical exercise, vestibular or ocular rehabilitation, driving etc, use the traffic light system to determine what to do. STOP if symptoms flare up and don’t go down. Pushing through the pain (or other symptoms that arise) is usually not advised for optimal recovery. C...hronic pain or other symptoms are important signs from your nervous system that something isn’t right or your tank is out of gas. Listen to your body when it’s telling you it’s had enough. YIELD if symptoms flare up. If you’re able to take a break from the activity, take some deep breaths, calm your system down, and your symptom level lessens and/or vital signs return to normal, you may continue the activity. (Pausing every time symptoms increase) GO (continue the activity) if symptoms do not increase and vital signs remain stable (heart rate and oxygen perfusion to the fingertips) *Patients who are asymptomatic and cannot use symptoms as a way to gauge fatigue, may use autonomic markers like heart rate and oxygen perfusion instead. Fingertip monitoring of heart rate and oxygen is done with a useful tool called pulse oximeter. Additionally, smart watches can also track heart rate variability and let you know how your autonomic system is doing during activity as well as how efficiently you recover.

Brain Bootcamp Mid-week Scores These are REAL results after 2 days of our brain bootcamp for a post-concussion syndrome patient. Not everyone gets 100% resolution of symptoms or perfect objective scores after just 48 hours of treatment (which is why we have a 5-day bootcamp and not a 2-day ). BUT, these results are a HUGE step in the right direction. Let’s break down what we see here:... The first slide shows balance testing scores with eyes open and eyes closed, on a flat as well as an unsteady surface. The percentile scores (battery meter ) show how well she did for women in her age group. This patient’s baseline numbers (top row) were not good. For a professional athlete, we had our work cut out for us to get her back on the field ASAP. The bottom row are her recent scores from our mid-week re-examination. Almost every category was cut in half which means less swaying/unsteadiness. For the patient, the lower numbers on her recent scores equates to feeling less dizzy, less headaches, and less neck tension because she has a better understanding of where her head is in space and how to properly use her neck muscles. The second slide shows improvements in weight distribution. We see significant improvements in anterior center of pressure which means that now her weight is more over her heels rather than doing a Michael Jackson lean forward. After a head injury, many patients see changes in their weight distribution and may lean forward or towards one side due to changes in the brain, most likely due to lack of spatial/body awareness. We’re excited to see what she can accomplish during the second half of the bootcamp! #allthewayup

Oculus gave us hope and helped our daughter regain her life. After three years of suffering and seeing numerous specialists in pediatric medicine to include some of the most highly regarded doctors on the West Coast we truly were at a loss on how to help our daughter heal and began to lose hope. She was prescribed medication after medication for migraines, had severe dizzy spells, inability to focus and concentrate along with weekly visits by ambulance after passi...ng out at school. Like so many people who are dealing with mysterious pain and illness and are told things by emergency room doctors such as "she's trying to get attention" she became despondent and her once bright light began to fizzle out. She was no longer able to attend school which only further isolated her. After hearing about Oculus we were skeptical. Fast forward to today and we are so incredibly grateful we took the leap and she received intensive treatment. She is now back in school and playing rigorous sports! Most recently she was awarded for being an academic athlete! These doctors are worlds apart from their burnt out counterparts. They are not only leaders in their field who utilize some of the most advanced technology, they are kind and passionate about what they do in helping others find optimal health. We are so grateful to see the light again so please if you are suffering don't lose hope! #TestimonialTuesday #postconcussionsyndrome

You asked for more videos showing what rehabilitation looks like in our office and here‘a a great example! Let’s break it down: This is Annette. She suffers from cervical dystonia which, to put it simply, means the tone or tightness of her neck muscles is abnormal. When she is fully relaxed, her neck will twist to the side so she is staring over her shoulder. Sometimes she can get stuck in that position. She uses a sensory trick by touching her chin which helps get her hea...d back to neutral. When she lets go of her chin, her head twists to the side again. Annette’s customized rehab consists of red colored glasses, fast eye movements on the iPad (saccades/ocular therapy), electrical stimulation on the neck muscles, percussive therapy on her left leg, and auditory therapy at specific frequencies played through the bone conducting headphones. When another cervical dystonia patient walks through our door, their rehab may look completely different. This is due to the neuro-signature: each person has their own unique outcome/output based on a similar input (brain activation). For example, a dystonia patient may not show improvements with light therapy or ocular therapy, so instead we use the vestibular system. We must customize rehabilitation based on their neuro signature. The first step is always an evaluation. Call us today if you or someone you know is suffering from Dystonia.

So many of you were liking, sharing, and commenting on our last post about transcranial laser therapy! Go check it out if you missed it! The slides above cite an article called Shining Light On The Head: Photobiomodulation for Brain Disorders.... Light therapy, also known as low level laser, cold laser, photobiomodulation, or red near-infrared light, may be used to stimulate, heal, and regenerate tissue that has been injured or is degenerating. Conditions such as stroke, brain injury (mTBI), dementia, depression, anxiety and PTSD may be beneficially affected by applying red light therapy to the head. This therapy works by stimulating the mitochondria. (All together now... the POWERHOUSE of the cell! ) The light allows the mitochondria to increase its potential, consuming more oxygen and metabolizing more glucose which in turn generates more energy. In addition to a short-term increase in energy production and cerebral blood flow, there is also a long-lasting effect of light therapy that, in animal models, lasts days, weeks, or even months! More to come on laser therapy this week! Stay tuned! Post your questions below

Whoa! What’s happening here?There’s a lot going on in this photo. Let’s break it down: Dr. Terrano has created a customized rehab strategy for Rob, who is suffering from mal de debarquement syndrome, which makes him feel a rocking sensation (like when you get back on land after being on a boat). You see him here, receiving intra-oral cold laser (light therapy), combined with vagal nerve stimulation (electrical therapy), and he is holding a vibrating ball called a hyper-sphere... (proprioceptive therapy) which increases the feedback from the joints of the right arm. Combining or stacking therapies is how we achieve spatial summation. Spatial summation is when we utilize multiple forms of stimulation, all working together, to bring a group of neurons to threshold. Do you know someone who’s dizzy? Tell them to call us! We’re offering free phone consultations! (619)785-3688

CTE remains the topic of conversation in concussion circles but there’s a lot we still don’t know. We DO know, however that: 1 CTE cannot be diagnosed with MRI. It requires post-mortem (after death) dissection and analysis... 2 There is no current consensus for the criteria which would allow for diagnosis of CTE in a living person. (There are multiple sets of criteria currently). 3 Repetitive head trauma is NOT required to get CTE. (On this same thread, hitting your head isn’t required to get a concussion.) BUT, even a single physical trauma isn’t a pre-requisite for CTE which means there is still more research needed to uncover the missing link. More on CTE on the brain blog

In 2019 I suffered sudden onset hearing loss which set my entire body into a free fall. I spent months dealing with all kinds of testing and drs to get to the root cause. But I wasn't better and needed a plan to take control of my life back. After researching and learning on the internet, I came across Oculus. One simple call and Dr. B spent so much time listening to me. I did the initial testing with them and was not well enough to drive to their office. During... that time, Dr B kept calling me. Imagine that. Someone who cared enough to call me to make sure I was getting the proper care. I immediately saw results when I started working with them weekly and kept going until Covid. Dr B. still did check-ins with me while we were in lockdown and I had exercises to do at home. Months later, I still had some residual symptoms of something and Dr. B put me on a toxin cleansing program. I have never felt better. Dr. B and Dr. T are what healthcare is all about. They listen, care and follow up. I am so thankful for them and their dedication to their patients.

JOIN US VIRTUALLY Monday 3pm PST for brain-based yoga! We are so excited to co-host another hour-long virtual yoga class with our favorite San Diego based yoga studio, @og.yoga , and offer you a unique twist on the yoga we all know and love. Most of us are bouncing off the walls due to another stay-at-home order. Let's get together virtually and get our bodies moving!... Using a more gentle approach, this class is designed to provide new techniques for those suffering from brain related issues, like post-concussion syndrome, migraines, and balance or vestibular issues, in an open learning environment that encourages all levels to enjoy. No Yoga experience is required. Class will begin with a short introduction on brain health and an explanation of the neurology behind yoga by Dr. Stephanie Barbakoff DC DACNB, followed by Asana led by @trexyogi0321 , OG Yoga Instructor. The practice will be a gentle, trauma-conscious hatha flow, with breathing techniques and a relaxing meditation. Multiple modifications for students will be offered. This class is free of charge but donations for the instructor are welcome! Click the link below to sign up early, join us virtually on Monday, and don't forget to share with a friend! https://www.ogyoga.org/og-yoga-studio-schedule

The team members at OBC are all Outstanding, to say the least, their passion and dedication speaks volumes. Dr. B and Dr. T will access your issues, then plan a course of action. The GOOD Dr. T is meticulous, precise and a wealth of knowledge. As a recovering spinal cord patient I thought I reached my ceiling a few years ago but with OBC"s help I'm experiencing new gains both mentally and physically.... Thank You! OBC you guys are truly MVP’s... #feelgoodfriday

BEFORE / AFTER These are REAL patient results. After just three weeks of treatment, this patient’s scores and symptoms relating to post-concussion syndrome improved dramatically. Each patient who chooses to be evaluated in our office is guaranteed three things:... 1 Discussion: One-on-one time for 60-90 minutes face to face with our doctors. 2 Evaluation: State-of-the-art technology used to test and measure brain function as shown in the picture above. 3 Customized Treatment: NO cookie-cutter concussion protocols. Each patient receives recommendations based on their exam results. 90% of Brain injured patients are expected to have at least one eye movement disorder. Make sure your eyes aren’t overlooked they may be the last piece of the puzzle Call us or visit the link below to set up an ocular exam so you can have results like these! oculusbraincenters.com

#TestimonialTuesday #migraine Excedrin Migraine is a common go-to medication to stop headaches fast. However, it comes with a price. Migraine patients can be especially sensitive to caffeine, which is a compound found in Excedrin Migraine. Although this over-the-counter drug can be effective in the short term, it can cause rebound headaches and dependency in migraineurs in the long term.... Addressing the neurological root cause of migraines, without the use of drugs or surgery, is our top priority. When the root cause is treated, the symptoms subside. It’s as simple as that. We are THRILLED that Tori is having less headache days. When she does have one, they are less intense and they don’t last nearly as long. Instead of using meds, she can use neurological therapies to nip her migraine in the bud. Tori’s success is not a fluke! Patients like her heal their migraines every day in our office. Take the leap, give us a call and see if we’re the right fit for you. We’d be honored to help https://oculusbraincenters.com/migraine-program/

HAPPYBIRTHDAY Today is Dr. Terrano’s birthday! But of course, he’s always hard at work and putting patients first. Dr. Terrano will be attending patients all day today, tomorrow, and Sunday. So if you are coming into the office, make sure you yell HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. T when you see him!... If you don’t know him personally, here are some little known facts about Dr. T: 1 His favorite sports teams are the SF Giants and the SF 49ers. 2 His entire family is also in healthcare and he’s known his whole life he wanted to be as well 3 He has an incredible memory, and is likely to recall details of a conversation you’ve had with him months, even years earlier. Happy Birthday! We love you Dr. T

Stay classy San Diego

The doctors at OBC are better than the rest. I have suffered from migraines for as long as I can remember, trying different therapies and medications, with no luck. Since starting my treatment at Oculus six weeks ago, I continuously keep progressing the amount of time between headaches and the severity of them. I do not remember the last time I went this long without taking Excedrin. OBC has changed my life and helped me improve in such a short amount of time, I did not think... it was possible! To learn more about our migraine program, click on our migraine highlight button or visit the link in bio

The Brock String is a valuable tool used to test convergence and divergence of the eyes. The common way we describe CONVERGENCE is by saying ‘cross eyed’. DIVERGENCE is when your eyes return from the crossed position to a neutral position, pointing straight ahead/forward. If you are unable to converge your eyes, one eye may remain forward while the other turns inward. This can be a problem that can cause double vision or diplopia, blurry vision, dizziness, headaches, and eye ...strain. Convergence problems are common after a concussion or whiplash event. The Brock String can be a perfect therapy for some patients. It only takes a few minutes per day to help retrain the eyes and correct the mechanism which doesn’t allow the eyes to come together and apart. During the evaluation, our doctors determine whether Brock String therapy is appropriate, at which angle to hold the string (to the left, to the right, neutral), and how many repetitions to perform each day. To determine whether Brock String therapy is right for you, call to schedule an evaluation or submit through the ‘become a patient’ button on our website. Link below Oculusbraincenters.com/become-a-patient #doublevision #headaches #eyestrain

80 percent of children who are reading disabled have vision problems that can be solved?! If only there was a way to EVALUATE these children to determine if they have vision problems! Wait, there IS a way to evaluate them? Well, is it proven to be safe and accurate?... Oh, it’s FDA approved? Well, it must take a while to do the testing. Oh, it only takes 5 minutes? How do I sign up? Link below for more info https://oculusbraincenters.com/functional-vision/

SWAG Journaling is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, especially for people undergoing big changes while under care at our office. Journaling can be done in many different ways- some of our patients prefer a minimalist approach where they write down symbols that represent goals they choose to track.... Other patients prefer to write long sentences and paragraphs about their day and describe in detail what they are grateful for. You may also write about your feelings, overcoming challenges, things you hope to do and people you love. Journaling is largely a psychological activity which can help you destress and get things off your chest. It’s not merely about tracking symptoms, but creating a space for you to be yourself and tell your story. Studies demonstrate that people who journal have improved stress hormone levels, reduced disease activity and higher life satisfaction scores. Our NEW custom journals are available for purchase and are FREE for patients who start our Brain Food Functional Medicine Program! To learn more about our brain food program, visit the link below Oculusbraincenters.com

I don’t often write reviews... but the quality of the service and the personalized care have helped me regain my cognitive memory that I thought was lost forever. Most functional doctors are good but Dr. Terrano, as a functional neurologist, is one of the most knowledgeable people I’ve met in my 59 years, along with being friendly, kind, reassuring and always wanting what’s best for his patients. I can assure you I will be a patient for life and will always be qui...ck to recommend them. #testimonytuesday oculusbraincenters.com

Does your doctor wear fun socks on Friday? Follow up question: Does your doctor have a dog named Neuron? Last question: Is your doctor a stud?... Learn more about Dr. Terrano on our website. Oculusbraincenters.com/meet-the-team

The neurons in your brain need adequate amounts of 3 critical resources in order to optimally perform: Fuel (Glucose)- The main source of fuel for the cells in your body is found in the form of glucose. For neurons to regulate and maintain their cellular machinery, they need building blocks to make proteins and fuel for their energy pumps to maintain equilibrium. Blood sugar regulation, stress & nutrition can all influence fuel delivery. Oxygen- It is no secret that without... oxygen, the brain will begin to shutdown within a matter of minutes. Like glucose, oxygen is crucial for maintenance of biochemical interactions and neurological processing. Breathing mechanics, movement patterns & blood disorders can all influence oxygen delivery. Activation- The brain works on a strict if you don’t use it, you lose it principle. This means that neural pathways can become streamlined, and the brain will allocate resources to reinforce their use (like needing to repave a heavily trafficked highway). On the other hand, neural pathways that don’t get activated consistently will often be broken down due to inactivity so the resources can be used elsewhere. Injuries, epigenetics & targeted neurological therapies can all influence activation. At Oculus Brain Centers, we facilitate brain health by helping optimize these 3 areas. Contact us today to get your brain checked! Oculusbraincenters.com

There’s no better day to introduce a new team member than ON HER BIRTHDAY!! Everyone say Hi Brittany! Brittany is joining the team as our Patient Care Coordinator! She is also a certified Nutrition Consultant and is a huge foodie!... Brittany has known our doctors for years and has made a smooth transition into her important role at the practice. Brittany is a California native, having grown up in Los Angeles, she spent multiple years living further north in the Bay Area. She is most at home here in Southern California, basking in the sunshine, and taking advantage of the healthy lifestyle and gorgeous beaches San Diego is known for. Check out Brittany’s full bio on our website! Oculusbraincenters.com/meet-the-team

#mondaymotivation The reason why we offer complimentary phone calls with our doctors is to listen to your story. The details of your experience give us loads of information that should not be glossed over, but commonly is. The information we gather is not just about your symptoms, it’s about what you’ve tried so far and what you haven’t, what was effective and what was not. If we understand WHY something you’ve already tried was effective or ineffective, these clues can then ...be leveraged to create a new customized approach to care. If you’d like to schedule a call with our doctors to see if there is something we offer for concussions, migraine, dizziness, or other complex neurological conditions that you haven’t tried, click the link below https://oculusbraincenters.com/contact-us/

This video shows a model of the vestibular system like the one inside your inner ear. Inside of this apparatus, there are small ear rocks called otoconia or otoliths which are made of calcium carbonate. The crystals are supposed to be suspended in a gel-like substance that secures them in place. (I like to imagine of a big bowl of Jell-O with fruit suspended inside of it). When the rocks become dislodged, they can migrate into one of the semi-circular canals and cause problem...s. In our last post we learned that movement of the fluid inside the canals is one way our brains sense head movement. When enough crystals accumulate in a canal, the movement of the fluid can be disrupted. This causes your brain to receive incorrect signals from the vestibular system which makes you feel like you’re spinning! When patients arrive at our office with this condition, we use a quick and gentle maneuver to roll the crystals out of the canal. Click the link below to take our dizziness questionnaire to find out if this maneuver may be able to help you! https://oculusbraincenters.com/why-am-i-dizzy/

Remember our last post about the model of the vestibular system? Well, inside of that apparatus, there are small ear rocks called otoconia or otoliths which are made of calcium carbonate. They are supposed to be suspended in a gel-like substance that secures them in place. (I like to imagine a big bowl of Jell-O with fruit suspended inside of it). When the rocks become dislodged, they can migrate into one of the semi-circular canals and cause problems. In our last post we lea...rned that movement of the fluid inside the canals is one way our brains sense head movement. When enough crystals accumulate in a canal, the movement of the fluid can be disrupted. This causes your brain to receive incorrect signals from the vestibular system which makes you feel like you’re spinning! When patients arrive at our office with this condition, we use a quick and gentle maneuver to roll the crystals out of the canal. Stay tuned for our next post so you can actually SEE the crystals rolling through the canal in our vestibular model! Oculusbraincenters.com

This is a model of your vestibular apparatus or the semi-circular canals which are located in the inner ear. This model is a GIANT version, of course. The vestibular system is a sensory organ that provides our brain with information about head position, motion, and spatial orientation. It also regulates motor tone of the neck and spine which helps us keep our balance and have upright posture. The three semi circular canals pictured here are oriented at right angles to one ano...ther and contain fluid which, when the head is rotated in a specific direction, causes it to move through the corresponding canal. The vestibular system also has two other organs, known as the otolithic system, which detects linear acceleration, gravity and tilt. (Think like moving on an elevator, escalator, or in a car. Our next series of posts will contain information about the otoliths (ear rocks) and how these free floating crystals can cause vertigo! Stay tuned for more info Oculusbraincenters.com