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Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho
erica,
It sounds like you found a Cranial Sacral Therapist. Cranial Osteopath is a term used by some osteopaths (D.O.'s) who choose to not go by Cranial Sacral Therapist. Osteopaths take quite a bit of Cranial Sacral Therapy training in osteopath school. I would suggest doing some online research about Cranial Sacral therapy so you have a better understanding of it. It has some very good values but also some very questionable issues.
Getting educated on this controversial therapy will allow you to have better control of your healing. I am not saying to not take advantage of CST but rather to be a knowledgeable health care consumer so you get the best bang for your efforts and health care dollars.
Studies have shown that the same person diagnosed by ten different CST's will get ten different diagnoses. They best skill sets are regarding the spine. They can do amazing things with the spine. If you believe that your skull is comprised of plates that are moveable by the gentle manipulations of a CST, let them try to manipulate your skull. Most physicians and researchers believe that the skull plates fuse during the pre-adolescent years.
I wish I could find the article I read last year. It mentioned that even some D.O.'s who teach in osteopath schools refuse to teach CST because of its unsound basis. One of these D.O. instructors wrote an in-depth review of the fallacies of CST. He acknowledged the value of the spinal manipulation but not the skull manipulation nor the diagnostic techniques of feeling the energy blockages in the skull and such.
A good upper cervical chiropractor is also worth a look. There is such a variation between the many chiropractors and Cranial Sacral Therapists that it is very helpful to understand their therapies. It is also helpful to know that one CST or chiropractor may be helpful where another may be worthless. It is a matter of how they understand and work with your specific body.
For example, I have seen about 15 different chiropractors over the past 30 years. Only 6 were really helpful with my body. Same thing goes for Physical Therapists. They all have strong points. Some have many weak points. Concussion is often a common weak point.
There is a chiropractic diagnostic technique called "Leg Check" that may be helpful. Asking on the phone if the Chiro uses leg check can quickly help you sort them out. Leg check uses comparative leg length to pinpoint muscles spasms in the spine. This is an valuable diagnostic tool in the hands of an expert.
I am surprised the amitriptyline was working as a pain reliever. It is a tri-cyclic anti-depressant that is used in small doses (10 mgs) for Post Concussion Syndrome head aches and other symptoms. Not as a pain reliever but as an alternative way of reducing the head ache by reducing the cause of the head ache (often tension).
I am interested in what you osteopath does to help you. A good set of fingers on the back can be like magic.
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Mark,
I am familiar with cranial sacral therapy. Back in december when I was home for winter break and in pretty bad shape my mom booked a cranial sacral therapy session not knowing what it was. (She thought it was a head message). Needless to say I was completely confused as to what was going on the whole time and found no benefit from the session so I went online to learn more about this therapy. I didn't find any benefit and do not plan to try it again.
However- a friend referred me to a structural integration message therapist who is extremely educated about the body and how it is all connected. After working with him for 2 1/2 hours he was very honest with me and told me that he didn't think he could help me, but that he knew of people who may be able to. That's when he referred me to this doctor who has a D.O. He is no longer covered by insurance because he spends so much time with his patients. His goal is to see you only once, but will have you come back if you need to. I spent three hours at his office where they took an extensive history. He also did some other things to try and "straighten" and "balance" me out. The right side of my body is out of wack. That's why he had me get the xray standing up to see if my pelvis has a slight tilt to the right.
When I have ever referred to concussion specialists, I am referring to only one person that I've met through this entire scenario. He is the Director of the Concussion Clinic at the National Childrens Institute in Rockville, MD. He was GREAT. In fact, he is the first and only person who ever took the time to actually sit down and explain to me what a concussion actually is. Crazy right?
It really is quite unfortunate how so many doctors are not informed, don't choose to be, don't take the injury seriously, etc., etc.
Kelly-
I am meeting with this D.O. again tuesday to learn whether or not I have a tilted pelvic bone, and to go from there. He explained that if the pelvic bone is tilted, it could be pulling on on the outer most membrane that covers the brain, which actually attaches right at the pelvis bone. (makes sense and accounts for my neck, back and migraines). This tilt has caused my body to get out of alignment with some of my ribs slightly out of place that he believes has been pushing on my trapeciez muscle which then spasms and is causing this chronic pain. I will let you know how the appointment goes.
As far as the exercise regiment- I had to wait a month for my trainers/doctors to be convinced that it was okay to proceed with the program. They are certainly not the experts with this, and that is why I am planning to head to Buffalo as soon as I am done with finals.
Let me know how things are going!
Erica