There are other options

By Nebula Sunday, January 04, 2009

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I really feel for everyone who comes to this site and share their frustrations about doctors and medications not working. I just want to share my recent experiences with anyone wondering about the alternatives to tradtional treatment.

I've been off of any medication for 3 months. No preventatives and no abortives. The past few months, I've felt better than I have in years. My migraines have decreased dramatically; I never have more than one a week. I can also pinpoint why I'm having a migraine now, whether it is my fault or the weather. That gives me some power, since I seemed to get them randomly in the past.

I see a holistic N.D. every few weeks. She gives me dietary supplements and homeopathic remedies.

I also see a Rolfer. She doesn't focus on my bones or my muscles. She changes parts of my body by focusing on connective tissure - she literally reshapes me.

Now I am not convinced that everything the homeopathic doctor is doing is helping. But I know for a fact that the rolfer has made an incredible difference. She has done extensive work on my cranium. I used to feel so much pressure all of the time, and that is gone now. I have even seen her during a bad headache and she made it go away.

I just want to encourage anyone who is frustrated with their situation to consider the alternatives. Some medications are necessary, and many people do find success with them. But if you haven't found relief yet, consider your other options.

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Comments (7) | Add comment

Nancy Harris Bonk, Health Guide

1/ 5/09 2:39pm

I'm so glad you found complementary therapies that helps with your pain. Traditional medicine along with complementary therapy can work wonders for some Migraineurs.

Karen L

1/ 8/09 7:42am

Well, I thought I had heard of every possible alternative for migraines but I guess I haven't. What is a rolfer?

Also, what and/or how many meds were you on when you started your treatment? I saw an acupuncturist for 9 months with limited success. Weening off my meds during it was not a pleasant experience. How did you tolerate the weening process? There were many days where I was completely incapacitated.

Nebula

1/ 9/09 8:28pm

I believe that a rolfer works on connective tissue to reshape and resculpt the body. The first day I saw this one, I laid down and she showed me how messed up my body alignment was. She could stick her hand all the way under the arch of my back on one side, and not at all under on the other. She changed that part of my body in that session to be more even and it has stayed that way for months now. I always felt when I saw a chiropractor that my body eventually fell back out of shape, this is different. I think if you search rolfing on google the first few entries will give you a better idea. It might be hard to find one - there is only one school for rolfing in the entire country. and you should also know that it can be pricey. but it's helped me out a lot.

I've been taking amitriptyline for a year now. It does nothing to prevent my migraines but I like being on an anti-deppresant and it also helps me fall asleep. Prior to detoxing I was taking imitrex and relpax, and entirely too many of both of those.

I didn't find the weening period to be that bad. The first few weeks were tough and unpredictable but the past two months have been awesome. I haven't had a migraine now in almost two weeks - which I think might be a personal record. It feels weird to admit that the medications I used to stop migraines were just perpetuating them.

My doctor is recommending that I stay away from abortives for another few months and then we'll talk about them again.

My Mom now works for a N.D or Naturopathic Doctor. She does nutrition consultations and Ondamed treatments for patients. I can't promise that the same things that are working for me will work for you, but you are probably to the point where you would try anything that might help. If you want specifics on what the N.D and rolfer do with me just message me. Googling these words would give you a better idea too

Karen L

1/10/09 7:20pm

I'm curious as to how long you have been on the Amitriptyline. I was put on that years ago specifically for migraines and it pretty much eliminated them altogether. I was on just that alone for about 12 years until it got to the point that either something changed in my body chemistry or I just became immune to it and had to find another alternative. It was very effective for me for a long time. I can't help but think that's playing a role in your migraines decreasing, along with the other homeopathic treatments you're using. Whatever it is, I'm happy for you that it seems to be working.

Nebula

1/10/09 11:09pm

I took it 5 years ago for about a year and it worked really well - then it stopped working all together

I was put back on it last year after telling my doctor that topamax was making me bipolar. He finally took me off of the topamax but I stayed on the amitriptyline. I know it doesn't really help with my migraines because I had been taking it by itself for at least 6 or 7 months before I started any of this other stuff. I continue to take it because it helps me sleep, and I feel less anxious

lori

1/ 8/09 2:16pm

I'm pretty sure she is talking about craniosacral therapy which is a method of alternative medicine used by physical therapists, massage therapists, naturopaths, chiropractors and osteopaths. A craniosacral therapy session involves the therapist placing their hands on the patient, which they say allows them to tune into what they call the craniosacral system. By gently working with the spine, the skull and its cranial sutures, the restrictions of nerve passages are said to be eased, the movement of cerebrospinal fluid through the spinal cord can be optimized, and misaligned bones are said to be restored to their proper position. Craniosacral therapists use the therapy to treat mental stress, neck and back pain, migraines, TMJ Syndrome, and for chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia.

I also believe all these preventative medications have little to NO help AT ALL although everyone seems to react differently to medication.

And then once youre on the preventatives and its not working, good luck weening yourself off of them..which will make you think you need the med when you really don't..since you feel like hell just from the withdrawal.

Its extremly frustrating for all of us who keep trying all these diffrent preventaives when nothing really ever works, maybe for a few people, but not for the majority.

Ive come to realize alternative treatment is the best.. you just have to find the right one.

Also, most of my headaches were sinus realted.. most people think they have a migraine when its really a sinus problem that will eventaully cause a migraine..which is a fact. So I def recommend going to a sinus dr...I use Patanese and Veramyst nasal sprays.

I'm frustarted with doctors who just keep prescribing different preventatives and say thers over 100 medications so keep trying..so basically you will never find a cure in your lifetime!!!

Nebula

1/ 9/09 8:34pm

The first part of your post seems kinda right. I don't know - I just let the lady work on me : )

I know medications help some but I've kinda turned my back on them. I feel healthier without. I think that doctors are treating symptoms and not causes (which is what an alternative doctor will tell you)

It's funny that you mention the sinus thing. Since starting rolfing my migraines are different. They still suck but there's no more pain in my neck - it's always in my face! I saw my rolfer for an emergency appointment because the pressure in my face was so bad. She went up my nose!! But she opened it all up and the pressure was gone the next day and has not returned.

Alternative treatments always seem wacky until you realize that they work

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