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        New Message Board Archives >> Jul-Sep 2003 >> Circulatory technique 2
        
(Message started by: Charlie on Jul 30^th, 2003, 11:07pm)

Title: Circulatory technique 2
Post by Charlie on Jul 30^th, 2003, 11:07pm

I've done a little rewrite. Let me know.

Dr. Wright’s Circulatory Technique

This technique significantly helped to shorten my cluster headache attacks.

It involves concentrating on trying to redirect a little more circulation to the arms, hands, or legs. It can described as a kind of internal “flexing” or “push.” Increased circulation will result in a reddening and warming of the hands. Try to think of it as “filling” your hands with redirected blood. The important and difficult part is that it has to be done without interruption through the pain. Do not give up in frustration. It may not work on the first try. If you do, it never will. Every now and then it can work almost immediately. I lived for those moments. Try experimenting between attacks. You will find that it gets easier with practice.

I was given less than five minutes instruction in the use this method. The doctor, while holding his arm at his side, showed me that he could slightly increase his arm and hand circulation. After several attempts, I was able to repeat this procedure and use it successfully the same day. I have had about a 75% success rate shortening these attacks. My 20-minute attacks were often reduced to 10 minutes or less. Once proven that I had a chance dealing with this horror, I always gave it a try as I had nothing to lose but pain. I am not sure what mechanism is triggered by this method but whatever it is, at least indirectly kills the pain. I do know that this technique has nothing to do with meditation, relaxation, or psychic ability. It is entirely physical and takes real concentration.

This technique is very useful while waiting for medication to take effect or when none is available. It costs nothing, is non-invasive, and can be used just about anywhere. It is not a miracle but it helped me deal with this beast. It can be a bit exhausting but the success rate was good enough for me and a cluster headache sufferer will do just about anything to end the pain. It gives us a fighting chance.

Give it your best shot and I wish you the best of luck fighting this demon.

Charlie Strand

Title: Re: Circulatory technique 2
Post by cootie on Jul 30^th, 2003, 11:33pm

Very nice Charlie.....Pam that says thumbs up....then burps.....opps sorry ;)

Title: Re: Circulatory technique 2
Post by Linda_Howell on Jul 31^st, 2003, 12:05am

Damn Charlie. I had meant to spend some time with you in NY going thru this technique with you because as you know I've had SOME success with it to a point.

I don't know where we could have gone where it might have been quiet enough though. LOL

Linda

Title: Re: Circulatory technique 2
Post by Ted on Jul 31^st, 2003, 12:31am

We saw the pictures. You did go through it with him.
Always your favorite dink,
Tedink.

Title: unable to engorge
Post by rumplestiltskin on Jul 31^st, 2003, 12:58am

tee hee...yea...what Ted said.

I'll tell ya Charlie. For me, this ain't no easy task. I have had no luck with it. Butt i'm not quiting yet.

As I force my attention to my painless, innocent bystander hand....the spikes in my eye, teeth, temple etc just keep lightening bolting my mind back to those exquisite places in my face. The big OUCH is all! Then I can't keep my eyes focused or open to look at my hand for extended periods.

I'm left feeling frustrated with a limp-dick hand and wantin to bitch slap you fer even suggesting it. I get a bit testy during a CH....butt i'm not quittin yet.

I'm in awe of anyone that can do this during a CH. Maybe I got Migraines.

Thanks fer yer efforts
Good Grief
Den

Title: Re: unable to engorge
Post by brain_cramps on Jul 31^st, 2003, 3:40am

on 07/31/03 at 00:58:55, rumplestiltskin wrote:

...butt i'm not quittin yet.

I know how ya feel. I haven't had MUCH luck either (maybe some ???), but since I've been med free for 3 or 4 cycles (can't remember and wonder why? ;)), I have something that seems to work for me....

I usually have some luck with sitting, remembering that "I've been through this before and it didn't kill me", being as quiet as possible (screaming inside), trying not to bang my head or break knuckles... or other people's arms/legs/necks, etc... :o >:(

for me... med-free = "longer HAs, but shorter cycles" (its DEFINITELY NOT for everybody ;))

luckily i'm blessed with REALLY short cycles (compared to most)

THANKS Charlie,
grant ;D

Title: Re: Circulatory technique 2
Post by River_Rat on Aug 2^nd, 2003, 12:29pm

Charle, Maybe I'm stupid but for the life of me I can not figure out what you mean, Because I will try anything.

I'm not real strong minded, are you saying to just think blood is going into your hands, SAY "blood is going into my hands-blood is going into my hands-Blood is going into my hands" lol that didn't work

I also just pumped my fist over and over, Still no worky.

I'm quite sure I just don't get it, but am willing to try, can you give the moreon a little deeper explaination.

Thanks Charlie,

LEE

Title: Re: Circulatory technique 2
Post by Charlie on Aug 2^nd, 2003, 5:43pm

Pumping your fist probably isn't helpful. Here is the other description that seems to help. Good luck

I’m asked now and then to add to my description. I’ll try but it it‘s a bit unpolished. Perhaps it will help even in this crude state. What I’ve written 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 meditation, yoga, introspection or 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 really know how to describe it but let me try this:

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 trying to literally push blood into or filling the arm as if it’s an empty vessel. I used to pretend I was pushing blood down my neck while looking at my shoulder and trying to feel my circulation and 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 gets very red and very warm. You can do it with both arms and legs it you want. There is one man who wrote in the 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 the exercise theory. 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 funny posts that sex can sometimes seem to be helpful. This certainly does affect circulation. Anyway, to me, cold water, exercise, or anything 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 try it 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 it worked for me, 7 or 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. Wait a minute. It never comes back until the next attack though. 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 for now but keep trying. The damn thing does work.

For me, this is something that I got almost immediately. I 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.

Charlie