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Dear Sir,
I am married to a former patient of yours from Kenton, and they told me that you could help. I have a severe problem with neck pain, back pain, and headaches. The doctors here will not listen to me. They think that it is a "cookie cutter" problem and it is not. They keep giving me tests that I can tell them the results before they give them. I need a test done while the symptoms are active, and they refuse to do this. What happens; I have a slight disk bulge in C-4,C-5,and C-6. They say it's not bad enough to cause my problems. However, my neck will "pop" and within a few seconds, I get a headache. They can be either hard or severe. It is extremely rare that they are mild. Most of them put me on the floor, rolling in agony. The back pain happens when I try to sleep. It used to be that I couldn't sleep on my front, but now, I can't sleep on my back or sides. After 2-4 hours, the pain becomes unbearable and I wake up. However, until that point, my sleep is very turbulent and not very good. I have had this for 8 to 10 years, but the last 4 years have been the worst. Before that, Tylenol would ease the pain (I can't take Motrin or Aspirin due to a stomach problem), but I got to taking 2000 a month, and I knew that I was taking too much Tylenol. The Dr's have prescribed pain meds that get rid of the pain. However, because their tests aren't showing what they want to see, they are going to take them away. If they would do the tests while the symptoms are present, I'm sure they would figure it out. I need to find out how to get these to stop. They discussed rebound headaches, so I went off of the pain meds. I averaged 6 hours of sleep a week, 24 hours a month, and was in constant pain. Do you have any ideas as to what could be wrong? They have given me anti-depressents to try to get me to sleep, but I can't sleep long enough for the effects to wear off. Then I am half awake for about 20 hours with no energy, after taking them. They have tried every migraine med in the book, and they don't help. Something I almost forgot to tell you. If I get a headache, usually if my neck "pops" again, the headache goes away in a few seconds. Although, sometimes on the really severe headaches (which can last for many days), I cannot figure out how to ease them. Usually, I'll get a big "pop" and they will go away, but that can take days or weeks. Do you have any ideas?
In Reply to: Headaches/ Back Pain/Neck Pain posted by Gary [879.4] on October 13, 2004 at 10:00:51:
There is a book called "Pain Free" by Pete Egoscue who treated many athletes. His theory is all about proper body alignment and using his positional therapy (I would call it) keeps the body in correct alignment. You can do them yourself without any special equipment. You don't mention chiropractors or physical therapists, have you tried anything of that sort? Pills will never cure this I'm sure.
What a terrible way to live.
In Reply to: Headaches/ Back Pain/Neck Pain posted by Gary [879.4] on October 13, 2004 at 10:00:51:
Hi Gary,
You've come to the right place. I hope you fire the doctors who only offer you pills, and move toward more natural treatments and taking better care of yourself. Did you have an accident or injury that precipitated these symptoms?
A combination of gentle chiropractic (hot packs, activator method, gentle stretching and adjustments, manual integrative therapy, etc.), and therapeutic massage might be a better approach and a good combination to release the muscle tension and spinal misalignment that is causing so much pain for you. With some real pain relief, you may find your sleep improves enough that your body can begin to heal.
There are a lot of things you can do on your own to self-treat and assist with healing...gentle stretching (ask the massage therapist and chiropractor for stretches), daily moderate exercise like walking, improving your sleep and computer posture with proper pillows, chairs, and mouse/keyboard placement. Sleeping on the stomach with the head turned to one side is usually a bad idea for someone with chronic neck and upper back pain, and very high/firm or too-flat pillows can put your neck at an awkward and painful angle if you sleep on your back or side.
No doubt you are also experiencing "bracing" at least in your upper back and neck, a term used on this website to describe subconscious/unconscious holding and muscle tension. Becoming aware of when and how you do this and taking steps to consciously stretch and relax the involved muscles and connective tissue should help a great deal. Many people brace at night or when they try to relax, which interferes with sleep or rest, which causes pain, stress, and muscle fatigue which causes more insomnia, which depletes the body's energy stores and causes more fatigue, stress, and pain--a vicious cycle. Pills just cover the symptoms and don't address the cause at all.
The practice of SR (skilled relaxtion) at least twice a day will help release the muscle tension over time, although it may be difficult for you to get comfortable to relax much at first. Keep doing it anyway, and use brain-wave music, guided meditations, etc. if you need to. Look up bracing and SR in the glossary and the archives on this website.
You don't have to rely on someone else to heal you!! Even Dr. Stoll can't do that. The body has amazing capacity to heal itself, though, when it is given the proper fuel and tools to do it with, and when we become responsible and accountable for our own healthy lifestyle. As you make adjustments and begin to feel better, your sleep should improve.
I'm sure Happygal and others will chime in with more ideas for you.
Wishing you the best,
Nutmeg
In Reply to: Headaches/ Back Pain/Neck Pain posted by Gary [879.4] on October 13, 2004 at 10:00:51:
Gary,
If you have pain and they can find nothing wrong with you then you have TMJ..Do a search for Dr, Sarno and order his book and tape..
Don't worry about disk bulge, 64% of people walking around with no pain have bulging disks..Your pain however is real but you can reprogram your mind, cause that's where it's comming from..
Silver Fox!
In Reply to: Re: Headaches/ Back Pain/Neck Pain posted by Sally [2119.10] on October 13, 2004 at 10:42:24:
I went to Chiropractors for years. My problem seemed to get worse. They told me that this was normal as it took your body time to get used to being in the "right" position. However, it got to the point to where I would come home from work and not be able to do anything. That is when I talked to my doctor. As far as sleeping materials goes, I've spent thousands of dollars on different beds to try to get sleep. So far, none have worked. I have to align my neck and spine perfectly just to get the few hours of sleep that I do get. Something that I forgot to mention. On my last X-ray, they said that the points on my spine are unusually worn (small). Moreover, I have been put on traction, had stretching programs, excercise programs, been treated for TMJ, had physical therapy, and all the while, the headaches are getting worse and more frequent. One thing I have noticed, the more active I am, the more they happen. It doesn't matter what I do, even walking causes an increase.
Something I must add before I close. Several friends of mine are nurses. They have told me that while rare, they have seen people with a problem like this that they can't do anything about. That I might just have to live with this. They also said that there might be something with a vien or something that goes thru the spinal cavity. (I'm not Exactly sure not being a medical person, and I can't get them on the phone right now) They mentioned that something could be pinching off the blood returning from my head causing an increase in pressure in the head. To me, that is EXACTLY what it feels like is happening. Also, sometimes I get a psssssssssht sound after the "pop". When that happens, the pain relief is immediate. Someone mention "retraining" my body. I have re-adjusted my lifestyle to the extreme. I cannot afford to do anymore adjusting. My body alignment is "remarkable" according to the doctors. That is why they are having trouble figuring this out. I am in really good shape, and very solid. They say that I am in too good of shape to have the normal causes for this kind of a problem. They have said that people much older have troubles like these.
In Reply to: Re: Headaches/ Back Pain/Neck Pain posted by Gary [879.4] on October 13, 2004 at 21:29:35:
Hi Gary,
I suggest you read the glossary entries for "bracing" and for "skilled relaxation" and start the practice of SR soon.
Have you had deep massage on your neck and shoulders?
Best wishes,
Jan DeCourtney, CMT
In Reply to: Headaches/ Back Pain/Neck Pain posted by Gary [879.4] on October 13, 2004 at 10:00:51:
Hi, Gary.
Without a doubt this is chronic bracing since ALL of your complaints can be traced to that and so far, nothing has been done about it.
Listen to Happygal and go to the archives, glossary and home page about bracing, massage, Rolfing and SR.
let us know what you learn and how you do once you get rid of your symptoms.
Hello to Kenton, although, while I practiced there I still knew nothing but conventional medicine.
Walt
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Headaches/ Back Pain/Neck Pain posted by Gary [879.4] on October 13, 2004 at 21:29:35:
Sorry, Gary, I didn't realize the pills were the last resort. Maybe you should give cranial work a try. Many doctors think your head is one big bone. Far from true. The therapy is done with your head lying on the therapists finger tips and she slowly pushes upward. They tug your ears in different directions and if you feels some pain, it will probably validate your bracing. She also squeezes from your ears toward the center back forcing fluid down your spine which you can feel in your lower back believe it or not. I don't know how long ago you had therapy but I would give some of the newer techniques another look. There are also atlas chiropractors with x-rays that can tell you how far out of position your skull may be. I know chronic pain can be unbearable.
In Reply to: Re: Headaches/ Back Pain/Neck Pain (Archive in bracing.) posted by Walt Stoll [9.8] on October 14, 2004 at 08:47:15:
Find yourself a Dr. who does Prolotherapy. Look up on web and you'll find
someone in your area. It's a natural treatment that uses your immune system
to heal.
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