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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> bio-feedback brainwave manipulation
        
(Message started by: schaan on Oct 13^th, 2007, 1:10am)

Title: bio-feedback brainwave manipulation
Post by schaan on Oct 13^th, 2007, 1:10am

has anyone tried bio feedback as a ch remedy?

i participated in an extensive survey when i was much younger to combat alcoholism and i was able to change my body temp by 3 or 4 degrees on demand ( still can too )

just wondering as i didnt see anything yet.

thought maybe if i could get my capilarys to constrict then id be set !!!!
;;D :o ;;D

Title: Re: bio-feedback brainwave manipulation
Post by George_J on Oct 13^th, 2007, 1:31am

I've not actually tried biofeedback. That said, I've had these a long time, and I do have a "coping" technique that I believe makes them easier to bear--mostly by distracting myself from the attack. I don't believe that it lessens the intensity of the attack itself, just makes it easier to deal with. I think quite a few of us who've had these for a while do something similar.

The problem with biofeedback, I think, is that the attack itself is beyond voluntary control--a function of the autonomic nervous system. I think that's one of the reasons that we tend to view CH as an invader--even naming it. It's not "ourselves", it's like something from "outside". We can't control it. CH is one of the TAC's--Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalgias.

Some extraordinarily gifted people seem to be able to control aspects of their autonomic nervous systems--regulating their heartbeats, controlling their body temperature, and so forth, but I don't believe that it is easily achieved--nor is it particularly common. If someone is able to control the firing of their trigeminal nerve, more power to them. I wish them well.

All I know is that I cannot do it, although I've tried to for a very long time.

Have Charlie repost "Dr. Wright's Circulatory Technique" if he will--from what you've said, you'd likely be a good candidate to try it. That may help put you on the path you're looking for.

Best wishes,

George

Title: Re: bio-feedback brainwave manipulation
Post by Karla on Oct 13^th, 2007, 8:45am

I tried biofeedback early on in my battle against ch. The dr stated that he had never seen anyone so relaxed before and yet in so much pain. It didn't work for me.

Title: Re: bio-feedback brainwave manipulation
Post by Guiseppi on Oct 13^th, 2007, 2:01pm

With my "senior" memory I can't recall who it is...hopefully they'll chime in........But one of the guys on the board has a technique where he consciously diverts blood flow into his hands and extremities, and away from his head. He says he can substantially reduce the hit level using this technique. I have never tried it, I am fortunate in that my prevents and aborts are still holding strong. It makes sense that diverting blood flow from the brain would lessen the pressure, which I think is one of the causative factors of the pain.

So I'd say you have nothing to lose by trying it. Anything that doesn't require yet another med would seem worth a try. Let us know if it helps!

Guiseppi

Title: Re: bio-feedback brainwave manipulation
Post by Lotus on Oct 13^th, 2007, 6:33pm

There are too many things involved in a CH hit from autonomic nervous system to various neurotransmitters to vascular responses. Even if you can constrict your blood vessels ( by the way its not the capilaries that cause the problems here but the cerebral arteries ) there are still nerve activities to content with. Thrown in on top of these are hormonal reactions with adrenaline and cortisol too.

CH hits vary in intensity. Maybe with the lower and slower hits it can work better. However I dont think biofeedback will work at all for those kip 9-10 and if a hit builds up too quickly one wont have enough time to concentrate mentally before the excruciating pain and the panic take over.

However, as George said, practising biofeedback will help keep a person calmer during a hit therefore will increase the coping capacity, which is very important when dealing with chronic severe pain, so its worth trying.

Annette

Title: Re: bio-feedback brainwave manipulation
Post by schaan on Oct 14^th, 2007, 1:09am

i tend to agree about the concentration issue. i still can raise my temp in my hands as i tried the technique again yesterday, but i cant imagine having enough concentration to do it during an episode.

as far as hard to do or rare i dont really agree as id say at least half the study group was able to. this was through meningers hospital in topeka ks in 1993, and i was also able to slow my heartbeat using visualization techniques.

mostly we tried to change amount of brain activity at various wavelengths.
delta and theta were a real challenge and i think my adhd made it even more difficult

im no doctor or scientist, im just giving you laymens terms so i might be a little off. but im close.

but once again after some thought i dont see it being possible during times of extrordinary stress.

Title: Re: bio-feedback brainwave manipulation
Post by Katherinecm on Nov 10^th, 2007, 2:22pm

This reminds me that back when I first went chronic I had a new-agey ex suggest that the reason I had headaches was that I was mentally weak and was focused on the fear of pain instead of "living in the now."

I posted a bit of a rant about that here and the best suggestion I got was to tell the person trying to inflict guilt that the next time he got diarrhea instead of relying on immodium he should use the power of his intentions and living in the now to stop it. Given the vast amount of curry this guy eats, that suggestion hit home. The not a very nice person shut up and all was well. ;;D

Having said that, I am reminded that biofeedback does some interesting things. I'm reading that You! Staying Young book with Dr Oz that Oprah did a 2-part feature on. It talks a bit about stem cells in the bone marrow being used to repair tissues and mind-body connections and it had me wondering if by using something like biofeedback one could direct stem cells to your hypothalamus to repair damaged/overfiring neurons. Not so much during an attack as in between attacks. If you try this, schaan, let us know the results.