Dr. Christopher Sass, DC DACNB CFMP

07/18/2024

POTS Testimonial

Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE2zmleRPBo

Listen to Steven’s healing journey after struggling with debilitating POTS symptoms and how he was able to find help at Great Lakes Functional Neurology. We ...

07/11/2024

Functional Neurology is a treatment approach based on the principle of neuroplasticity. We analyze and incorporate therapy based on brain function, rather than structure alone. Being able to assess different brain circuits/pathways, comparing different lobes of the brain (ex: frontal lobe vs parietal lobe), as well as comparing brain sides (left vs right frontal lobe), we can localize and utilize treatment for specific areas of the brain. We believe this allows for quicker healing and recovery times in many cases.

At Great Lakes Functional Neurology, we believe in a natural, holistic approach to healing the brain. We understand that evaluating severity and choosing the correct treatment is key to recovery. We utilize many innovative technologies and exercises to promote neuroplasticity and brain healing. Find out more at www.greatlakesneurology.com

11/03/2023

Copper has many important functions in our body. Some processes that copper is involved in include transporting iron, supporting immunity, supporting cardiovascular exercise, improve balance and stability, deceasing uric acid, and helping circulation.

Some possible symptoms of a copper deficiency include weak joints, weak muscles, varicose veins, loose skin, and hyperlordosis (swayback). Copper deficiencies can be caused by lack of copper in the soil, gastric bypass surgery, and consuming too much alcohol and/or sugar.

Some foods rich in copper include shellfish, oysters, sesame seeds, and shiitake mushrooms.

Our mission at Great Lakes Functional Neurology is to help you understand your injury and get you back to normal, healthy living. We strive to equip you with the tools needed for your full brain recovery. If you would like to know more, or you know someone currently struggling with symptoms, we would be happy to discuss this in more detail with you. You can reach out to us at www.greatlakesneurology.com and schedule a complimentary phone consult with one of our doctors.

                             

11/01/2023

Collagen is an abundant protein in our bodies, making up about 35% of all protein in our body. Collagen is a connective tissue protein and is found in many different parts of your body, including cartilage, tendons, ligaments, bones, skin, blood vessels, gut, vertebral discs, and more!

An important nutrient that boosts collagen in our bodies is copper. Copper has a direct role in producing and maintaining collagen. Copper is a trace mineral that's needed in a very small amount, but it's necessary for the enzymes that allow proteins to form.

At Great Lakes Functional Neurology, we believe in a natural, holistic approach to healing the brain. We understand evaluating and assessment of brain function is key to recovery. We utilize many innovative technologies and exercises to promote neuroplasticity and brain healing. If you or someone you know is suffering with symptoms, you can find help at www.greatlakesneurology.com and schedule a complimentary phone consult with one of our doctors.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20955209/

10/19/2023

Through current research, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is emerging as a potential therapy to help post-COVID related neurological symptoms. Here are two excerpts that provide some insight into how hyperbaric treatment could be effective:

According to Dr. Kerry Thibodeaux at Opelousas General Hospital in Los Angeles, USA – “Simply stated, hyperbaric treatments could be an effective way to treat COVID-19 patients suffering from severe respiratory distress. When weighing the risks to the patient and the potential for intubation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy was determined to be a far better option for those meeting criteria”.

A study from AAMHEI (The Argentine Association of Hyperbaric Medicine and Research) has concluded that: “HBOT could cooperate in the treatment and support of the COVID-19 infected patient, through its strong anti-inflammatory activity, modulation of the immune system and potential antiviral action, all typical of the hyperoxia generated with HBOT treatment.” 

Our mission at Great Lakes Functional Neurology is to help you understand your injury and get you back to normal, healthy living. We strive to equip you with the tools needed for your full brain recovery. If you would like to know more, or you know someone currently struggling with symptoms, we would be happy to discuss this in more detail with you. You can reach out to us at www.greatlakesneurology.com and schedule a complimentary phone consult with one of our doctors.

                             

10/17/2023

“Long term hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) exposure results in the suppression of the development of autoimmune symptoms such as proteinuria, facial erythema and lymphadenopathy”

We studied the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) on immune responses in normal and autoimmune mice. The immunization of C3H/He mice with sheep erythrocytes induced marked anti-sheep erythrocyte antibody response on day 7. However, this response was markedly suppressed in HBO-treated mice. The suppression is dependent on the duration of HBO and it works on the early and the late stage of antibody responses. HBO suppresses the development of both sheep erythrocyte-specific B cells and helper T cells after the immunization. Then, we tried to expose autoimmune mice to HBO. Spontaneous immunoglobulin production of NZB and MRL/lpr spleen cells was also significantly suppressed by HBO. Furthermore, long term HBO exposure results in the suppression of the development of autoimmune symptoms such as proteinuria, facial erythema and lymphadenopathy in MRL/lpr mice. All these results suggest that HBO is applicable for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Our mission at Great Lakes Functional Neurology is to help you understand your injury and get you back to normal, healthy living. We strive to equip you with the tools needed for your full brain recovery. If you would like to know more, or you know someone currently struggling with symptoms, we would be happy to discuss this in more detail with you. You can reach out to us at www.greatlakesneurology.com and schedule a complimentary phone consult with one of our doctors.

Source: Saito K, Tanaka Y, Ota T, Eto S, Yamash*ta U. Suppressive effect of hyperbaric oxygenation on immune responses of normal and autoimmune mice. Clin Exp Immunol. 1991 Nov;86(2):322-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1991.tb05817.x. PMID: 1934599; PMCID: PMC1554111.

                             

10/04/2023

Approximately 1 billion people, of all ages, are currently affected by neurological disorders. New evidence presents how hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is helping individuals regain neurological activity and functionality.

A prospective, randomized, crossover, controlled trial was published in 2013. A total of 56 patients, 1-5 years after injury, with prolonged post-
concussion syndrome were evaluated. Patients in the treated group were assessed prior to HBOT and after 4O HBOT sessions. Whereas patients in the crossover group were evaluated three times: prior to HBOT, after a 2-month control period of no HBOT and after 2-months of 40 HBOT sessions.

Significant improvements were confirmed in cognitive function and
quality of life in both groups after HBOT, however, no significant
improvement was observed following the control period. HBOT was
shown to induce significant brain function improvements, the creation
of new brain connections and increased brain activity.

At Great Lakes Functional Neurology, we believe in a natural, holistic approach to healing the brain. We understand evaluating and assessment of brain function is key to recovery. We utilize many innovative technologies and exercises to promote neuroplasticity and brain healing. If you or someone you know is suffering with symptoms, you can find help at www.greatlakesneurology.com and schedule a complimentary phone consult with one of our doctors.

09/21/2023

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used internationally for more than 80 different conditions.

Over 30,000 research studies support its use for anemia, arthritis, athletic injuries and performance, attention deficit disorder, autism, auto-immune disorders, Bell’s Palsy, brain and head injuries, cardiovascular disease, cerebral edema, cerebral palsy, Crohn’s disease, dementia, conditions, diabetes, interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome and colitis, Lyme disease, learning disabilities, macular degeneration, multiple sclerosis, neuropathies, non-healing wounds, Parkinson’s, pervasive development disorders, PTSD, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, reconstructive surgery, spinal cord injury, stroke, TBI and more.

Whether one is considering knee replacement and wants to optimize the surgical outcome and speed recovery, is interested in optimizing athletic performance, or is dealing with a chronic health challenge, mild HBOT may be helpful.

Our mission at Great Lakes Functional Neurology is to help you understand your injury and get you back to normal, healthy living. We strive to equip you with the tools needed for your full brain recovery. If you would like to know more, or you know someone currently struggling with symptoms, we would be happy to discuss this in more detail with you. You can reach out to us at www.greatlakesneurology.com and schedule a complimentary phone consult with one of our doctors.

Source: Oxygen Health Systems: Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

08/24/2023

We’re excited to introduce Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to our rehabilitation program! Our new blog looks at Hyperbaric Oxygen’s brain boosting effects. Find the link here:

bit.ly/45Cb1N2

Great Lakes Functional Neurology is dedicated to providing the highest standard of treatment possible by our patient-centered approach to diagnosis, treatment, and management of your injury. Our holistic healing paradigm centers on a custom, individualized treatment program because we believe every brain is unique and every injury is different.

Great Lakes Functional Neurology is a non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical clinic. We believe in resolving neurological symptoms through holistic healing. We have extensive diagnostic testing equipment and evaluation methods designed to assess the overall functioning of different areas of your brain -- not just the individual areas, but also the system as a whole.

Our mission at Great Lakes Functional Neurology is to help you understand your injury and get you back to normal, healthy living. We strive to equip you with the tools needed for your full brain recovery. If you would like to know more, or you know someone currently struggling with symptoms, we would be happy to discuss this in more detail with you. You can reach out to us at www.greatlakesneurology.com and schedule a complimentary phone consult with one of our doctors.

08/23/2023

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a treatment involving breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment. Air pressure in the special chamber is typically 1.5 times higher than average.

Your body's tissues need an adequate supply of oxygen to function. When tissue is injured, it requires even more oxygen to survive. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases the amount of oxygen your blood can carry. With repeated treatments, the temporary extra high oxygen levels encourage normal tissue oxygen levels, even after the therapy is completed.

At Great Lakes Functional Neurology, we believe in a natural, holistic approach to healing the brain. We understand evaluating and assessment of brain function is key to recovery. We utilize many innovative technologies and exercises to promote neuroplasticity and brain healing. If you or someone you know is suffering with symptoms, you can find help at www.greatlakesneurology.com and schedule a complimentary phone consult with one of our doctors.
 
Source: www.brainline.org, mayoclinic.org

07/27/2023

“To successfully initiate sleep, your core body temperature needs to decrease by 2-3 degrees Fahrenheit. For this reason, you will always find it easier to fll asleep in a room that is too cold rather than too hot.
 
The decrease in core body temperature is detected by a group of thermo-sensitive cells situated in the center of your brain within the hypothalamus. Those cells live right next door to the 24 hour clock of the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the brain.”
 
At Great Lakes Functional Neurology, we believe in a natural, holistic approach to healing the brain. We understand evaluating and assessment of brain function is key to recovery. We utilize many innovative technologies and exercises to promote neuroplasticity and brain healing. If you or someone you know is suffering with symptoms, you can find help at www.greatlakesneurology.com and schedule a complimentary phone consult with one of our doctors.
 
Source:
 
Walker, Matthew. 2018. Why We Sleep. Harlow, England: Penguin Books

07/14/2023

POTS Testimonial

Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TvTsbxOe3E

Listen to Kirby’s healing journey after struggling with debilitating POTS symptoms and how she was able to find help at Great Lakes Functional Neurology. We ...