Had my appt. yesterday. They want to do a CT scan (cat scan?) next week. Is this something I should feel OK about doing? Is it fairly benign? I'm seeing a chiro in a few days, and someone tomorrow who does visceral/cranial/sacral work. She wants to re-arrange the insides(?) and de-activate the bracing in the abdomen. I'll see how that works out. The UCLA guy wants to eliminate a tumor or ? and thinks otherwise it might be achalasia. What is that and how would I get it (and do you think that is poss.?). Thanks for your help. Looking for some of the books today as well...
tb
Follow Ups:
Cranio-sacral therapy experience (Tony B, esp)
Posted by Deb on March 04, 1999 at 17:33:25:
In Reply to: For Dr. Dave (re:UCLA) posted by Tony B on March 04, 1999 at 13:46:47:
Hi Tony,
I have recently changed from going to an osteopath for my back/neck/shoulder problems to a cranio-sacral therapist. Like you, I find it hard to explain what it is she is doing, but yes, from the insides is probably as good an explanation as any. One way she explained it, is allowing the body to heal itself. She is listening to my body and helping it to fix what it wants to fix. This seems to me to tie in quite nicely with SR.
Although I am expecting it to take several sessions to undo years of misalignment, I felt some improvement from the first session (and without the feelings of tenderness and fragility after seeing my osteo). And I am hopeful that things will then stay in place, rather than then having to go back to the osteo every month or two.
I have noticed that things continue moving round between the sessions, especially during SR. One SR where I spent nearly the whole 20 mins with my legs thrashing frantically about the bed. I reminded myself that SR is about healing, so whatever my body wanted to do, why not let it.
I also felt very vulnerable emotionally for several days after my first session, so don't worry if that happens to you, too. My therapist says that emotional releases are quite common (tho not inevitable), though she doesn't go looking for them.
I would be interested to hear what your experiences are, and if anyone is interested, I will post more details on my experiences after another couple of sessions.
Best wishes, Deb
PS. For anybody considering this kind of therapy, there are a lot of different variants, so it is important to talk to the therapist before seeing them.
Follow Ups:
Re: Cranio-sacral therapy experience (Deb)
Posted by Tony B on March 04, 1999 at 18:15:33:
In Reply to: Cranio-sacral therapy experience (Tony B, esp) posted by Deb on March 04, 1999 at 17:33:25:
Thanks for the sharing, Deb. I'm looking forward to my appt., but now I have a better idea what to expect. The therapist said she starts with something called "mapping". Self-explanatory I suppose. I have had similar experiences with osteo. Seems like it often doesn't hold for long. I'll post after my session. Would certainly like to hear more about your experiences with it. Haven't started with SR yet. Still looking for books or other instruction and guidance. The leg thrashing, emotional releases sound intense but very healing. Hope to start soon. Meanwhile, I take the time to 'relax'. Getting used to setting aside the time etc.
namaste
tb
Follow Ups:
Re: Cranio-sacral therapy experience (To Tony)
Posted by Deb on March 04, 1999 at 18:32:43:
In Reply to: Re: Cranio-sacral therapy experience (Deb) posted by Tony B on March 04, 1999 at 18:15:33:
Tony,
Don't expect! Be open. Your experiences may be quite different to mine. But it is a very gentle, relaxing therapy, so do look forward to it. And it can also be very profound, so do be hopeful about the outcome.
If there is interest, I'll do a week by week experience log, like Richard's SR one, and post it in a couple of weeks time.
Good luck, Deb.
Follow Ups:
Re: Cranio-sacral therapy (finding a therapist)
Posted by Sara on March 04, 1999 at 21:40:13:
In Reply to: Re: Cranio-sacral therapy experience (To Tony) posted by Deb on March 04, 1999 at 18:32:43:
Deb,
How did you find your therapist? I've never heard of any in my area, and there aren't any listed in my phone book. And when you find one, how do you know if they're really any good. I had heard that it's a form of therapy that should only be done by people that REALLY know how to do it, otherwise it can do more harm than good.
Sara
Follow Ups:
Re: Cranio-sacral therapy (finding a therapist)
Posted by Deb on March 04, 1999 at 22:57:27:
In Reply to: Re: Cranio-sacral therapy (finding a therapist) posted by Sara on March 04, 1999 at 21:40:13:
Hi Sara,
I found her by chance at a holistic open day. I am in New Zealand, so that doesn't help much. I know she trained in Scotland, but the place she trained is affiliated to a clinic in Florida, I think. Would you like me to ask her if she knows how to find a reputable therapist in the States?
Apaarently the technique she uses is now being used by lots of people as an addition to their main discipline - eg, massage therapists, chiropracters, dentists - and there are lots of different types. For eg, I was reading about cranial osteopathy, which apparently is similar but all works from the head. My therapist works all round the body.
I think it is important to talk to whoever you find, and find out exactly how they operate and what training they have had. I hadn't heard that it can do harm if not done correctly, but that makes sense. I just got a really good feeling from her at the open day, and so far it seems to be paying off.
Let me know if you want me to ask her,
Deb.
Follow Ups:
Re: For Dr. Dave (re:UCLA)
Posted by David Ferguson, D.C. on March 05, 1999 at 10:09:41:
In Reply to: For Dr. Dave (re:UCLA) posted by Tony B on March 04, 1999 at 13:46:47:
They want to do a CT scan 'cause they didn't find anything and it's highly unlikely that they will find anything with the CT scan either but it's not going to hurt you any more than a set of x-rays would. Achalasia refers to what I was talking about regarding muscular sphincters working incorrectly. Without the correct neural input the rings of muscle don't function corrrectly. Hence, thats where chiropractic comes in. I think the viceral/sacral/cranial thing is a good idea but you might want to find out if they are going to have a problem with you seeing both people since much of what they do overlaps. If there is a problem then I would try the chiropractor first only because the mechanism of this problem is usually that simple.
Re: Cranio-sacral therapy experience (To Tony)
Posted by Walt Stoll on March 05, 1999 at 11:47:16:
In Reply to: Re: Cranio-sacral therapy experience (To Tony) posted by Deb on March 04, 1999 at 18:32:43:
Thanks, Deb, for the wonderful offer.
I, for one, would GREATLY appreciate you sharing your week by week experiences with your craniosacral therapist.
I have listed many times how to call the national office for a listing of certified therapists in anyone's area (at least in the USA).
Walt
Re: Cranio-sacral therapy (finding a therapist)
Posted by Tony B. on March 05, 1999 at 18:42:50:
In Reply to: Re: Cranio-sacral therapy (finding a therapist) posted by Deb on March 04, 1999 at 22:57:27:
The place in Florida is called the Upledger Institute, named after the founder. I just found that out during my first (today) session. Session was wonderful. Very subtle manipulation, but felt proundly. It's very gentle and reassuring and relaxing. Enjoyed it very much. I was 'mapped' through a process of using the hands over all areas of the body looking for problem areas (called 'positive', or 'still'-which is very disfunctional). Was told I have a lot of residual infection throughout and needed alot of cleansing work. As she did this it got to be a little to intense and we had to not do too much (dizzyness etc.) I would say I still feel the effects at work hours later. I was given some personal bodywork to do and will report on benefits. Also true what was said in an earlier post, that this is work that is finding it's way into other disciplines (accupunture, osteo etc.) In fact my accupuncturist is going to take the course(s). Would also enjoy a weekly report from Deb regarding her experiences.
Keeping the faith in L.A...
namaste
tb
Re: Cranio-sacral therapy (finding a therapist)
Posted by Sara on March 06, 1999 at 09:47:20:
In Reply to: Re: Cranio-sacral therapy (finding a therapist) posted by Deb on March 04, 1999 at 22:57:27:
Deb,
Thanks for the offer to help find a therapist, but I guess I'm really still researching it at this point. I did talk to my chiropractor about it yesterday, though, and she was able to give me more information on it. She said she plans to take the course and get certified in it, but I'm sure that in the meantime if I wanted to find a competent cranio-sacral therapist, she could help me. But thanks anyway for the offer; I do appreciate your thoughtfulness!
Sara
Re: Cranio-sacral therapy experience (To Tony)
Posted by Jan Forsyth on April 06, 1999 at 22:03:08:
In Reply to: Re: Cranio-sacral therapy experience (To Tony) posted by Deb on March 04, 1999 at 18:32:43:
Hi Tony -
I have had two sessions of CST and although it is apparant my well being is improving I feel I should concentrate more on what is being provided to achieve the best results.
I would love to have your comments.
Jan
Follow Ups:
Re: Cranio-sacral therapy experience (To Tony)
Posted by Angela Potts on April 13, 1999 at 10:41:18:
In Reply to: Re: Cranio-sacral therapy experience (To Tony) posted by Jan Forsyth on April 06, 1999 at 22:03:08:
Our daughter has Cerebral Palsy. We went for a two week session at the Upledger Institute (Cranial Therapy) and then for another week the following year. Incredible experience. I, even though not a health practitioner, was allowed to study with Dr. Upledger for Cranial Sacral I and II Courses taught by his institute. Everyone was very patient when I had to ask so many questions about where certain parts of the body were. This allows me, since I could not find a therapist in out area, to continue with my daughter. This along with some nutritional supplements that we discovered about a year and a half ago have enabled her to make some wonderful improvements. Her reaction while being treated is quite funny. Where some experience crying or other emotions, she begins making a noice like race car, then as a release is accomplished, she makes a sound like putting on her brakes. I know that sounds crazy, but it is true. Keeps us in stitches.