Centeno-Schultz Clinic - Podcasts

Dr. Centeno delves into Spiky-Leaky Syndrome and its relationship to CCI, CSF leaks, hEDS, and mast cell disorders. https://youtube.com/live/PHdiEVh_HeI

Dr. Centeno reviews which CCI patients are more likely to need surgery. The presentation discusses the indications for elective surgical fusion in patients with craniocervical instability (CCI), excluding cases with fractures or severe instability. Most CCI patients do not require surgery, but those with high atlantodental intervals (ADI), significantly reduced clivo-axial angles (CXA), static brainstem compression, severe Chiari malformations (greater than type I), congenital cervical abnormalities, inability to tolerate ePICL procedures, or failure of legitimate ePICL treatments with persistent severe symptoms may be candidates. For those needing surgery, it is advised to select surgeons who routinely perform upper cervical fusions, as only about five surgeons worldwide manage approximately 80% of such elective cases.https://youtube.com/live/FwU08fXEji4

Dr. Centeno reviews how the location of your neck and shoulder pain can predict which bulging disc is causing symptoms. https://youtube.com/live/2FZoTbmKPzQ

Dr. Centeno discusses craniocervical instability and the PICL procedure with John Schultz, M.D. https://youtube.com/live/AC5gg56V7sc

Dr. Centeno discusses how seven deep internal nerves, such as the vagus, hypoglossal, C1, and C2 nerves, among others. These create all sorts of symptoms like headaches, tachycardia, vision issues, etc... https://youtube.com/live/YX8rMT64ppU

Dr. Centeno reviews these rotational imaging methods and discusses their pros and cons in diagnosing craniocervical instability or CCI. https://youtube.com/live/yxL8TYCyXoE

Dr. Centeno interviews Dr. Henderson, a CCI surgeon in Maryland who has published several papers on CCI surgery. https://youtube.com/live/cLCGMOp9kyQ

Dr. centeno interviews Dr. Rosa on Chiari, CCI, and CSF flow imaging as well as upright MRI. Full Video: https://youtube.com/live/g9GtVx2JDl0

Dr. Centeno reviews one month of PICL repeat patients coming back into the clinic for repeat care. This is a detailed overview of every PICL patients seen, so it gives prospective patients a transparent look into the outcomes of CCI or craniocervical instability patients getting the PICL procedure.

Dr. Centeno discusses what can be seen on a routine cervical MRI and whether CCI can be diagnosed. He reviews craniocervical instability findings that can be seen on routine neck MRI.https://youtube.com/live/6OTm6iGKSSk

Dr. Centeno reviews what we know about Chiari and symptoms. The research suggest something much more interesting about Chiari and symptom generation. What actually causes symptoms may surprise you.

Dr. Centeno delves into what generates symptoms in CCI patients.https://youtube.com/live/-IMI-Hdfe-o

Dr. Centeno goes over the major causes of headaches that originate in the neck and dives into how you can self-diagnose the top three. Each of these structures that cause these headaches can be easily treated through injection, but all too often, medications get thrown at the problem.https://youtube.com/live/QyDyYFCaX9Q

In this CCI Deep Dive episode, Dr. Centeno focuses on Step 3 of CCI rehab: gaining true muscular stability. Learn why deep stabilizing muscles must be retrained before strength is added, how improper loading reinforces compensation and flares, and how precise, low-load activation restores control so the neck can finally support itself safely.

Dr. Centeno discusses interventional neurobiologics and why injections can help nerves.https://youtube.com/live/-zsd8SwpbjM

In this CCI Deep Dive episode, Dr. Centeno outlines a clear, step-by-step framework for rehabbing craniocervical instability. Learn how to progress safely across six key areas—ligaments, muscles, symptoms, proprioception, spinal curve, and core strength—using a low-load, patient-guided approach. This episode explains when conservative rehab is enough, when interventions act as a bridge, and why the process itself is often the most critical part of recovery. 

 In this CCI Deep Dive episode, Dr. Centeno explains the first and most critical step of craniocervical instability rehab: “threading the needle.” Learn how to progress safely without triggering debilitating flares, how to distinguish adaptive discomfort from dangerous setbacks, and when rehab alone isn’t enough without restoring structural stability first. 

Dr. Centeno discusses the functions of the stellate ganglion and the vagus nerve in controlling the fight or flight/chill and repair responses in the human body. Treatment for these nerves is also discussed.Full Video: https://youtube.com/live/rX-RIBIEK78

In this CCI Deep Dive episode, Dr. Centeno walks listeners through how to read and understand a Digital Motion X-ray (DMX) report. Learn which findings actually matter, why tiny measurements can signal major instability, and how dynamic imaging reveals ligament failures that standard scans often miss. A practical guide to making sense of DMX results in the context of chronic neck and neurological symptoms. 

In this CCI Deep Dive episode, Dr. Centeno explores why many chronic “migraines” may actually be coming from the neck. Learn how cervical headaches differ from true migraines, why migraine medications often fail, and how upper cervical dysfunction or craniocervical instability can refer pain to the head and face. A clear guide to recognizing when head pain is structural—not neurological. 

Dr. Centeno interviews Dr, Markle about a new treatment called IGNIte for trigeminal neuralgia.Full Video: https://youtube.com/live/yHIImJK5zn0 

In this CCI Deep Dive episode, Dr. Centeno explores why many chronic “migraines” may actually be coming from the neck. Learn how cervical headaches differ from true migraines, why migraine medications often fail, and how upper cervical dysfunction or craniocervical instability can refer pain to the head and face. A clear guide to recognizing when head pain is structural—not neurological. 

In this CCI Deep Dive episode, Dr. Centeno explains why the sensation of heavy arms may have nothing to do with the arms themselves. When common neurological and nerve compression causes are ruled out, upper cervical instability can force shoulder and arm muscles into constant stabilization, creating profound fatigue and heaviness. Learn how craniocervical instability alters normal mechanics—and why treating the neck, not the arms, is often the key. 

Dr. Centeno discusses using platelet growth factors to help vagus nerve function in CCI patients and others.Full Video: https://youtube.com/live/FKGucjZA5zo

In this CCI Deep Dive episode, Dr. Centeno explains why the “heavy head” or bobblehead sensation is a meaningful clinical signal—not just fatigue. Learn how muscle atrophy, ligament laxity, and modern posture overload the upper neck, why standard imaging often misses the cause, and how the right diagnosis guides effective treatment. 

In this CCI Deep Dive episode, Dr. Centeno explains how specific symptoms point to specific types of craniocervical instability. Learn why looking up, looking down, or persistent dizziness each signal different structural failures—and how precise symptom reporting guides targeted, effective treatment instead of one-size-fits-all care. 

In this CCI Deep Dive episode, Dr. Centeno unpacks the evolution of the groundbreaking ePICL procedure—an enhanced, next-generation treatment for craniocervical instability. Listeners will learn how years of technical refinement, dual-imaging systems, and advanced targeting have led to unprecedented precision in stabilizing the upper neck. Discover why this innovation is reshaping anatomy understanding and why it’s currently performed exclusively at the Centeno-Schultz Clinic. 

Dr. Centeno dives deep into whether you can use decreased flow in the IJV with head turn to diagnose symptomatic CCI due to compression of the internal jugular vein. He reviews the data and concludes that this information isn't helpful in figuring out which CCI patients have intracranial hypertension caused by craniocervical instability.

Dr. Centeno breaks down why some patients experience significant flare-ups after the PICL procedure while others recover smoothly. This CCI Deep Dive episode explores the top five biological factors—central sensitization, inflammation, medication use, functional level, and cannabis—that shape recovery outcomes. Learn how understanding these drivers can help patients prepare, manage expectations, and improve healing after regenerative treatment. 

 This episode of the CCI Deep Dive Podcast examines one of the most aggressively marketed—and most misunderstood—areas in regenerative medicine: umbilical cord, amniotic, and placental “stem cell” products. Drawing from published scientific investigations, the discussion breaks down why many of these birth-derived products do not contain functional living stem cells despite bold clinical claims. The episode walks listeners through the hard data, the extremely low viability rates (35–75%), and the destructive multi-step supply chain that degrades these cells long before they reach a syringe. It also contrasts these products with high-viability autologous options such as bone marrow concentrate and adipose tissue, explaining when and why each is appropriate. The result is a blunt, evidence-driven guide that helps patients and providers separate science from marketing and understand what real regenerative therapy requires. 

Dr. Centeno discusses how the presence of a retroflexed dens on an MRI doesn't mean that it's causing symptoms. He reviews research on this topic and discusses how a retroflexed dens plus CCI or craniocervical instability can cause symptoms.https://youtube.com/live/8j2qbOAaDdE

 This episode of the CCI Deep Dive Podcast breaks down one of the most misunderstood topics in regenerative medicine: why platelet-rich plasma (PRP) works brilliantly for some patients and fails for others. Dr. Centeno and the team dissect the three major determinants of PRP success—blood draw volume, kit efficiency, and the patient-specific concentration required to trigger healing. They expose how common low-dose systems, poor technique, and unreported platelet concentrations in clinical trials have led to widespread confusion about PRP’s true effectiveness. This deep dive clarifies the science, the math, and the clinical realities behind producing genuinely high-dose PRP, and gives listeners the exact questions they should be asking any provider before undergoing treatment. 

 In this CCI Deep Dive episode, Dr. Centeno explains the critical questions patients should ask before getting any neck injections. The discussion breaks down the five skill and technology levels of cervical spine injection providers—from outdated blind techniques to advanced, image-guided, upper-cervical procedures. Learn how to evaluate safety, precision, and provider expertise to ensure your treatment matches the complexity of your condition and minimizes risk. 

Dr. Centeno has a conversation with the IPA physical therapy founders about PT for CCI or craniocervical instability.https://youtube.com/live/JghO6NHuUJE

 In this CCI Deep Dive episode, Dr. Centeno examines how craniocervical instability (CCI) in the upper neck can disrupt one of the body’s most vital communication pathways—the vagus nerve—and trigger widespread problems like gastroparesis, dysautonomia, and POTS. Learn how small structural shifts at C1–C2 can interfere with digestion, heart rate, and immune regulation, and why restoring neck stability may hold the key to improving vagus nerve function and overall health. 

Dr. Centeno reviews whether craniocervical instability or CCI can cause ear symptoms.https://youtube.com/live/6h5ZwW7-s_o

 In this CCI Deep Dive episode, Dr. Centeno explores the surprising connection between the neck and jaw—how craniocervical instability (CCI) can trigger or worsen temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems. Learn how weak deep neck stabilizers force chewing muscles to overcompensate, leading to jaw pain, clicking, and degeneration. The discussion unpacks why treating TMJ alone often fails and how restoring neck stability can be key to lasting relief. 

 In this episode of CCI Deep Dive, Dr. Centeno unpacks the anatomy and meaning of a retroflexed dens—a common but often misunderstood MRI finding at the top of the neck. Learn why this structural variation is usually harmless, how it can become problematic when paired with craniocervical instability, and how advanced nonsurgical treatments like the PICL and ePIC procedures use your body’s own cells to restore stability. A clear, practical breakdown for anyone navigating complex CCI reports or treatment options. 

Still struggling with “post-concussion” symptoms that never seem to go away? In this CCI Deep Dive episode from the Centeno-Schultz Clinic, Dr. Centeno breaks down five simple ways to tell if your lingering headaches, dizziness, and brain fog are really coming from your neck—not your brain. Learn how motion, traction, palpation, treatment response, and imaging can reveal upper-neck instability as the hidden cause behind concussion-like symptoms. Tune in for practical, doctor-backed insights you can use to get closer to real answers and recovery. 

Dr. Centeno reviews why social media posts touting "upper cervical injections" can be dangerous and how to avoid that danger.https://youtube.com/live/i-a1djjgBHAThere was a problem with the slides not advancing, so here's another version of this talk: https://youtu.be/pOMQmdkdUDk

Dr. Centeno dives into why Chiari malformation symptoms aren’t just about brain structure. This episode reveals how craniocervical instability (CCI) and tiny muscle or nerve issues often drive symptoms—and why surgery isn’t always the answer. Learn how regenerative treatments like the PICL procedure can restore stability and help patients heal without invasive intervention.

Dr. Centeno reviews the CXA measurement and the fact that it's a dynamic concept and what numbers are concerning, and which CXAs are probably not important.https://youtube.com/live/Hr4UoHDBfgk

Dr. Centeno interviews Todd Ball on using postural-based rehab to recover from craniocervical instability (CCI).https://youtube.com/live/31Vkj1S0kUI

Dr. Centeno discusses how headache patients can tell if they have a migraine or craniocervical instability (CCI)?https://youtube.com/live/VkBM-rqxWoQ

Dr. Centeno discusses ways to tell if you have Eagle syndrome or craniocervical instability.https://youtube.com/live/0dGpUUKy1iI

Dr. Centeno reviews the differences between a CSF leak and CCI or craniocervical instability and provides simple tests to determine which diagnostic category makes the most sense for you.Full Video: https://youtube.com/live/xhf10PDGkmM

Dr. Centeno discusses rehab and recovery from CCI or craniocervical instability. He reviews how this should be done for every level of functional disability.Join CCI Communities:PICL SubReddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/PICL/?rdt=58942PICL Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ccjpicl/Full Video: https://youtube.com/live/jql1i1E5dhU

Dr. Centeno reviews five things you can do at home to self-manage carniocervical instability or CCI symptoms.Helpful Links:CCI Exercises: https://centenoschultz.com/cci-exercises/AO Chiropractors: https://atlasorthogonality.com/doctors-directory/NUCCA: https://nucca.org/directory/https://youtube.com/live/vdfCtVix_mw

Dr. Centeno discusses what we know about the effect of fluoroquinolone or "quinolone" antibiotics on ligaments.https://youtube.com/live/DfALpFIplYQ

Dr. Centeno discusses the crossover between concussion and upper neck symptoms.https://youtube.com/live/4UdlQ_pGquI