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Charlie
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Circulatory Feedback
« on: Feb 6th, 2003, 4:52am » |
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Dr. Wright's Circulatory Technique
This is not transcendental meditation, imagery, relaxation, or anything psychic. It's entirely physical and takes a lot of work and concentration. Give this method a good workout. It’s not a miracle, but it’s been helpful to many.
When I was diagnosed, my neurologist said to treat this as a vascular problem. I was told to concentrate on “redirecting” blood circulation in order to retard flow to the head. This is done by trying to “send” blood into the arms and hands or other extremities. When properly done, your hands will become warm and redder with increased circulation. I also found it easier to concentrate on one hand.
This relieves just slightly, the pressure on the affected vessel, which indirectly causes our pain. We all have this ability but it can be exhausting. I was often able shorten my attacks from about half an hour to no more than a few minutes. Sometimes, when awake, I could entirely abort the attack IF I KEPT AT IT. Often, I would suffer only minor discomfort instead of excruciating pain. Do not stop just because your hands are warm or redder. Keep this up until you are sure it's subsided. If you let up or lose concentration, it’s very hard to restart this process. It may take some time but when this works, the relief is almost immediate.
I learned this from the doctor in a few minutes. He simply told me to try to keep blood away from the head. He thought it easiest to concentrate on the arms and hands but any place that works for you is fine. He said to think of it as "filling your hands" with redirected blood. It’s important to keep at it THROUGH the pain. This will be difficult, but it’s the only way this technique will work. Don’t let up until you are sure the attack has ended.
This will not always work, but I think it will always have at least some effect on the severity and duration of the attacks. It can be useful between medications or while waiting for some other drug to take effect. All it takes is a little practice. It was fairly easy to learn and what I'm writing here is more than I got from the doctor, as I've drawn from my own experience.
When awakened in horrible pain, it’s very hard to focus, but I think it’s always worth a try. This costs nothing but hard work, is harmless, non-invasive, and it gives us a fighting chance.
I wish you the best of luck - Charlie Strand
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Stampertje
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Re: Circulatory Feedback
« Reply #1 on: Feb 6th, 2003, 4:57am » |
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Charlie,
I tried this a couple of times, but I just can't make it work. ???
Can you give me some tips?
Rik
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Charlie
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Re: Circulatory Feedback
« Reply #2 on: Feb 7th, 2003, 7:08am » |
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I’m asked this now and then and believe me, I’d like to be able to improve upon my description. I’ll try but it will sound odd: What I’ve written here is probably five times what I got from Dr. Wright. Here is what he did: He stood up by his desk and held out his arm and asked me if I could make my hand warmer with circulation. He said it’s not strenuous but internal, but not some kind of psychic or meditation thing. It isn’t something you picture or imagine. It’s physical but not some kind of Popeye flexing thing. It is a concentration on circulation. I don’t know how to describe it. Let me try this:
I’m dead sure that this isn’t what’s happening but maybe if you think of it as an internal flexing or expanding of the artery into the arm while at the same time literally pushing blood into or filling the arm as if it’s an empty vessel. I used to pretend blood was being pushed down my neck and then look at my shoulder and try to feel my circulation while at the same time pushing it over the shoulder and into the arm. It’s nuts, I know, and I’m dead sure that this isn’t what’s going on, but it seemed to help when I started. It’s second nature now and I can do it while typing. My left hand is very red and very warm. You can do it with both arms and legs I suppose. There is one man who wrote in to guest book long ago that he stood barefoot on a concrete floor and it would often relieve the headache after a short time. My theory is that the body tries to keep the feet warm with increased circulation. I think this is also the idea behind exercise. Oxygen is needed to work the muscles and there is just so much blood to go around. Maybe this draws just enough to other areas to ease the pressure in the head. This may also be why we get the posts that sex can sometimes seem to be helpful. This certainly does affect circulation. Anyway, to me, cold water, exercise, or anything something requiring more circulation, seems to be worth trying. My experience is that my “pushing” blood is the most effective and easiest way.
Linda has tried this when not getting hit. It was something I never considered but it makes some sense. I do this now and then just to make sure I can still do it. It’s easy when I don’t have to fight the pain at the same time. The other thing is you cannot let up. It will not work if you give up before the attack ends. It will never work if you stop. My attacks would average about 20 minutes, sometimes a bit longer. If I used the technique I could often halve them, sometimes knock them out in 5 or 10 minutes and now and then kill them in less than a minute. That was what I lived for. I never stopped trying as I knew it was possible and when it worked....for me, 8 times out of 10...it never occurred to me not to try. I would have to regroup a bit during this as it’s not possible to have that much concentration. It is possible not to completely slack off, however. I never gave up. When it works, it’s sudden. It seems to drain away in a few seconds. My suggestion is to not let up immediately when the pain goes. Really though it shouldn’t return until the next attack. Dr. Wright said that young people have the best luck because of better circulation. Maybe he was right. This is the best I can do and keep at it. The damn thing does work.
For me this is something that I got almost immediately. It used it only a few hours later in a restaurant and it worked in less than 10 minutes the first time. What a thing it was. CH was still a horror but its grip on me was greatly lessened. I had a fighting chance, and I usually won the battle.
Keep at it and let me know how you do.
Charlie
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catlind
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Re: Circulatory Feedback
« Reply #3 on: Feb 7th, 2003, 7:37am » |
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Charlie,
When I told the neuro at Walter Reed about your technique he said that's biofeedback and is a very effective method if one can train themselves to do it. Most people get referrals to biofeedback clinics to learn it, but I've been working on it whenever I'm out of cycle.
It really does help. It's just hard to keep the panic of the pain at bay and concentrate.
Cat
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Jarvis
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Re: Circulatory Feedback
« Reply #4 on: Feb 7th, 2003, 9:39am » |
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Charlie- Hi I just tried your method sitting at home at my desk w/out a HA. ....I layed my hands on the desk and concentrated on them warming and it was a matter of maybe 30 seconds before my hands were reddening. They are still heavy feeling......... Some ways that may help to learn this method.. Run your hands under hot water for a minute and concentrate on the heat. I often have a competition with a brother of mine to see who can obtain the lowest heartrates and pressures with one of those things you put on your arm I forget what they call them, a cuff I guess. I win every time. In pain I concentrate on the pain. Though my methods include pushups and deep concentration they really dont differ much from yours other than the fact that I put my concentration directly on the pain itself, isolate it and convert it to just an item. I dont use meds. I have done way out things with these methods over the years while in pain and they do indeed help. I cant get the physical levitation though no matter how I try  .
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Stampertje
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Re: Circulatory Feedback
« Reply #5 on: Feb 7th, 2003, 9:41am » |
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Thanks Charlie,
Maybe it's the concentration thing that screws it up for me. One of the little things the lithium gives me as a bonus.
I'll keep trying the whole weekend and lett you know monday if it worked.
Rik
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Charlie
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Re: Circulatory Feedback
« Reply #6 on: Feb 8th, 2003, 6:10am » |
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People:
It seems to me that running your hands under cold water would be more helpful. The goal is not to warm the hands by heating them but to do it with circulation. Also, this thing can be very fast or take awhile. My attacks averaged about 20 minutes and more than 80% of the time I could at least knock them down to about ten minutes.....when it worked. Now and then it was very very fast. Once you do it successfully, you'll never not try. It can only be good. There are two possibilities. It will shorten the attack or do nothing. Even if it does nothing, try it and try it and try it. One of these days it will work and then it gets easier.
I don’t think Dr. Wright wouldn't call this feedback in the classic sense. Hooking up to a machine or getting all techno about this isn't necessary. Just because this stuff exists, doesn't mean it has to be used. Somehow, sitting in a room with people running around with clipboards and white lab coats looking at banks of instruments right out of a B movie, seems silly. This thing is physical. You can see it and feel it. By the way, I know exactly what you mean by lowering blood pressure this way. I think we've all done it. I think it's easier to lower your pulse. I think it's something we all do if you take it several times in quick succession.
Keep it up kids. The damn thing can work. I have several success letters.
Charlie
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Jarvis
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Re: Circulatory Feedback
« Reply #7 on: Feb 8th, 2003, 1:13pm » |
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Hi Charlie, just a note Bio-feedback means biological, no machines involved. In case you misread cats post. My statement about warming the hands is indeed accomplished by increasing circulation as it is the circulation that warms them. just another way to approach it. I think your methods are great. Keep posting this.
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Linda_Howell
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Re: Circulatory Feedback
« Reply #8 on: Feb 8th, 2003, 1:27pm » |
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When Charlie first started posting this, I asked him to "teach"??? me, as I'm chronic and I'll try everything.
What I found is this. Don't even try to do this when you're in pain at first. Practice, and that is what it takes, practice when you're feeling good. After about 15 trys, I really was able to do it.
Then one day....instead of running for the 02 bottle. I sat down and was actually able to abort a HA with this.
I must put in a disclaimer here tho. I still have not been able to do it, once the HA gets to a 3 or 4.....after that, I cave...crank up the 02....and shoot up my leg with Imitrex. Now I don't know if it's because I'm not able to concentrate as well as others......(I don't play well with others either) But it does work.......hope this helps anyone!!!!! You've got nothing to lose with this one folks. Linda Howell
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jonny
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CHARLIE!!!!
I tried it.
It worked great!!!
Blood didnt go to the hands, but I had a really great night *wink*
..................................jonny  (Boing)
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Roxy
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Re: Circulatory Feedback
« Reply #10 on: Feb 9th, 2003, 1:23am » |
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Charlie...I swear,
I can't get this to work for me. I must have the concentration of a gnat. Every time I close my eyes and try....I fall asleep, or my mind drifts to other things. Maybe someone will posts brain exercises...those might help me. ;D
Tracey
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Charlie
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Re: Circulatory Feedback
« Reply #11 on: Feb 9th, 2003, 1:24am » |
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Holy Shit! 
Great Jonny. I feel better now that you and Linda both can use the thing. Maybe I've finally figured out how to explain the thing. I'll have to add it to the standard post in some fashion.
Anyway, terrific. You have no idea how good this makes me feel
Charlie
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