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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Chiropractors and results?
        
(Message started by: Douglas_A on Aug 15^th, 2006, 8:59am)

Title: Chiropractors and results?
Post by Douglas_A on Aug 15^th, 2006, 8:59am

Hi all, Just a quick question, has anyone had any success with Chiropractors?

My wife was having treatment recently and mentioned in conversation about my headaches, the Chiropractor replied “Oh yes I’ve treated lots of people with clusters, mostly successfully”!!!

Now I’m a bit of a sceptic having tried almost every drug and treatment I could think of over the last year from Beta-Blockers and Amitriptyline to acupuncture and Sacro-Cranial therapy. My biggest concern was that nearly all of the doctors and therapists had never heard of CH, this guy however was extremely well informed, professional, confident and expensive!

Am I just searching of the holy grail of CH treatment and blinded by hope? Any experience or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Doug

Title: Re: Chiropractors and results?
Post by seasonalboomer on Aug 15^th, 2006, 9:05am

Douglas,

I've yet to read that anyone has had success with chiropractors for CH. I've tried myself and did find that my wallet was lighter afterwards - but that was the only apparent effect it had.

I don't doubt that chiro's can fix a good crick in your neck or other spinal alignment issues but the one's who make claims they do everything short of creating a lasting peace in the middle east should find it more difficult to sleep at night than they seem to.

Time spent making sure you have steady supply of O2 and other meds or alternatives are far more productive. There is a track record for that.

My 2 cents.

Scott

Title: Re: Chiropractors and results?
Post by chopmyheadoff on Aug 15^th, 2006, 9:08am

to be blunt mate.
he is full of sh1t.

how is manipulating your spine going to "cure" an abnormality in your hypothalamus gland deep within your brain ???

keep your wallet well out of reach of this quack

have you tried verapamil ?? it worked miracles for me
so did IMIGRAN as an abortive.

pain free wishes matey

Title: Re: Chiropractors and results?
Post by Douglas_A on Aug 15^th, 2006, 9:19am

Thanks for the replies guys, 2 replies and I think I can see a trend (grin)

Scott...Is verapamil another name for amytriptyline?

Title: Re: Chiropractors and results?
Post by E-Double on Aug 15^th, 2006, 9:26am

Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker many of use as a preventative. It tends to be the preventative of choice for CHers and is backed by research.
Amitriptyline is an antidepressant that is also used for chronic pain. From the people here (anecdotally) it does not appear to have a high success rate.

Info galor.........keep reading.

Oh yeah save the $$$ and get some Oxygen ;)

Title: Re: Chiropractors and results?
Post by chopmyheadoff on Aug 15^th, 2006, 10:00am

He dont need to worry about ££ mate, we have a wonderful thing called the NHS here in the UK !!!

douglas - you sound like you havent seen a neurologist.
demand a referal from your GP.
Tell him that this is widely recognised as the most painful condition known to mankind.

your neuro should prescribe u verapamil (after checking out your heart etc)
this is a preventative and is very successful in a lot of people.

I went through the stage of being prescribed all sorts of crap by my gp - amytriptaline, propanalol and although these may show some results for migrane, they dont do much for cluster HA.

your on the right track r kid just keep pushing until they find something that works for you. the first thing is to get a referal to a neurologist , preferebly one that specialises in headache.

keep us posted
chop

Title: Re: Chiropractors and results?
Post by chopmyheadoff on Aug 15^th, 2006, 10:02am

UPDATE : iv just noticed your from manchester.

if you can, try and get referred to Dr.Silver at Warrington hospital. He is great.
he is one of the leading authoroties on CH in the UK.

if u do, and u wanna meet up for a coffee (or a beer) let me know

Title: Re: Chiropractors and results?
Post by LeLimey on Aug 15^th, 2006, 10:08am

Dr Silver IS very good, I've heard nothing but good about him myself.
Nice to meet you Doug, with the money you'll save on not seeing a chiro you ought to be able to buy enough beer to sink ol' Chop! (I've heard two halves of shandy ''ll do it!)
We'll help you find some treatments that will work
Helen

Title: Re: Chiropractors and results?
Post by chopmyheadoff on Aug 15^th, 2006, 10:15am

:o

right you . . .

Title: Re: Chiropractors and results?
Post by Sandy_C on Aug 15^th, 2006, 1:59pm

I'll let you know. I am a firm believe in chiropractic for things like, my back, my hips, etc. I've been treated many times - spent literally months with treatment for 7 compressed vertebrae after falling down stairs - with absolute success. But for CH??? Prob not.

But, I'm making an appointment with my chiro because I'm having trouble with right hip/sciatic nerve. He will absolutely fix this, I'm sure. His practice is "Accident, Back & headache clinic. So, since I'm showing signs of starting a new cycle - I'll ask the questions and be the guinea pig. If he tells me he can "fix" cluster headaches, I'll hand him all of my printed materials about CH and say, "go for it"!. Then we'll see.

Keep you posted

Sandy

Title: Re: Chiropractors and results?
Post by Karla on Aug 15^th, 2006, 5:23pm

I tried a chiropractor who swore he could fix the problem. Now most drs have not heard of cluster headaches yet many chiropractors have heard of ch. I find this very strange. I think what happens is that they just hear the word "headache" and a headache is a side effect of vertabrea being out in the neck of which they can treat quite successfully. I think they just jump the gun. I tried it and it didn't do a thing for me. The poor chiropractor just stood there dumbfounded and confused as to why nothing worked. After 15 visits I cut him off. Good luck in your endeavors to achieve that pain free status.

Title: Re: Chiropractors and results?
Post by Sandy_C on Aug 15^th, 2006, 5:49pm

Karla, I think you might have misunderstood my post. I once had a chiro who said that by aligning the spinal column, he could "cure" ANYTHING! Including cancer.

There is no way that I believe my chiro will be able to do anything with my CH, but, since they advertise themselves as "Accident, Back and Headache", I am very curious to see what he says about my CH. If he says we can fix that, I'll probably laugh.

Sandy

Modified to add: The chiro who said he could cure cancer, COULD stop menstrual cramps! God, I loved him for that! ;;D

Title: Re: Chiropractors and results?
Post by rickyshot on Aug 15^th, 2006, 7:08pm

Chiro does absolutely nothing for CH or migraine either. Trust me. Unless headaches are caused by misalignment which most chiros seem to think everything is caused by that from shingles to cancer , chiro will do nothing. Like Sandy I get bouts of sciatica as I am very active at the gym etc and I go to a chiro kinesiologist for this. It works like a charm. I asked him ab out my thyroid condition , migraine and CH and he told me chiro could not help the thyroid or CH but may be helpful in migraines (not mine believe me I tried). I love that honest man.

Title: Re: Chiropractors and results?
Post by chopmyheadoff on Aug 16^th, 2006, 2:59am

on 08/15/06 at 13:59:59, Sandy_C wrote:

dont get me wrong, i know they can work wonders for some type of headache - the type that is related to neck and back type problems - but for CH.
if he can , ill eat my autoinjector kit :D

Title: Re: Chiropractors and results?
Post by Katherinecm on Aug 17^th, 2006, 11:46am

I am a firm believer in chiropractic for muskoskeletal or joint pain, even for sprained ankles or jammed elbows (don't ask how I did that), but for CH a chiro will do NOTHING but drain your wallet. I went to two who promised to cure my CH and the only thing that happened is I went broke and my neck started to hurt.

In fact it is VERY DANGEROUS to have your neck adjusted- a competent chiro will adjust your neck ONLY if it is in SEVERE pain, as neck adjusmtments OFTEN lead to strokes. Given all the other drugs we are on that can also increase the risk of stroke, STAY AWAY from the chiro!

But don't believe me- go to quackwatch.com and read what a competenent, honest, scientifically based chiro says about what chiros can and cannot do. The fact is "subluxation" is something that cannot be medically defined- it definitely does not cause abnormalities in your hypothalamus to have your neck out of alignment.

If you want to naturally strengthen the alignment of your spine, try pilates and yoga- both increase flexibility, range of motion, and strength. You can probably buy a dvd of each for the cost of two chiropractor copayments.

Title: Re: Chiropractors and results?
Post by Margi on Aug 17^th, 2006, 11:51am

For what it's worth, the president of OUCH Canada, Dr. Douglas Wright is a chipractor AND a clusterhead. He treats HIS clusters with other means and doesn't treat any other clusterheads.

Chiropractic has it's place. Just not in Clusteropolis.

Title: Re: Chiropractors and results?
Post by Douglas_A on Aug 17^th, 2006, 2:35pm

What can I say guys... Thanks a million.. replys like the ones above are invaluable, probably saved me a small fortune. Its easy to fall victim to "quacks" when searching for releif, its great to know there are a bunch of decent people out there who are willing to take the time to offer advice help and support. Once again, THANKS!!!
Doug