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Chiropractors?
Sat, 08/01/2009 - 14:48Has anyone tried this? How did it go. I've heard that having adjustments has helped some people dramatically. I even read this in an epilepsy textbook online. On another website there was a story about a girl who had multiple grand mals a day and they were stopped.
I don't knowwhat the science behind it is, exactly. Something to do with the spine affecting nerves. But they don't even always know the mechanism of action with regard to the drugs. I'm going to make an appointment for the upcoming week.
Comments
Re: Chiropractors?
Submitted by adamssa@uwec.edu on Tue, 2010-01-12 - 13:41
Sorry to hear you've been having such a rough time!
Chiropractic seems more likely to help epilepsy if an accident preceeded the onset of seizures, misaligning the spine, and therefore the nervous system. Can you remember anything like that might have triggered it? It could even be something that didn't seem significant at the time.
For another alternatve to drugs, Chinese medicine has really helped some people, and other people don't have as much luck. An accupuncturist in my hometown was helpful to me, the one I saw here not so much. Something else to think about.
Sorry to hear you've been having such a rough time!
Chiropractic seems more likely to help epilepsy if an accident preceeded the onset of seizures, misaligning the spine, and therefore the nervous system. Can you remember anything like that might have triggered it? It could even be something that didn't seem significant at the time.
For another alternatve to drugs, Chinese medicine has really helped some people, and other people don't have as much luck. An accupuncturist in my hometown was helpful to me, the one I saw here not so much. Something else to think about.
Re: Chiropractors?
Submitted by mom23gm21 on Wed, 2010-01-13 - 13:15
Thanks for your kind reply.
Funny you should mention an accident as possible cause of the seizures, but no, nothing of that sort had occurred. In his exam, my chiropractor said many of the symptoms, including loss of range of motion in my neck were consistent with whiplash injury. Of course, other things can cause the same type of problems. I am glad to report that after hot packs, work on the trigger points in my neck and shoulders, and adjustment, I felt immensely better. I was able to walk without staggering, and most of the tremors in my hand and head had dissipated. I felt enough better yesterday to do much more than I had for months, although still nowhere near what had been the norm before all of this began. After my rather full day, my hands and head were shaking some by the time I decided I should call it quits, and I was starting to trip over the furniture again. This chiropractor would like to give me a referral to a GP who is an osteopath, and I would be comfortable with that. First, though, I still need to get enrolled in one of the two available Medi Cal plans.
I would also be open to acupuncture and herbs. My younger sister had an excellent experience with that course of healthcare. How to pay is the biggest obstacle. I think maybe the next best thing is acupressure (as a trade for acupuncture), and my dear daughter is learning that as a part of her massage therapy schooling. Both the chiropractor and a lot of osteopaths are knowledgeable about many herbs and vitamin therapies. In any case, I'm determined not to simply give up on finding out what will work best for me. I sincerely hope you are also able to find what works well for you where you are now. Have a good day!
Thanks for your kind reply.
Funny you should mention an accident as possible cause of the seizures, but no, nothing of that sort had occurred. In his exam, my chiropractor said many of the symptoms, including loss of range of motion in my neck were consistent with whiplash injury. Of course, other things can cause the same type of problems. I am glad to report that after hot packs, work on the trigger points in my neck and shoulders, and adjustment, I felt immensely better. I was able to walk without staggering, and most of the tremors in my hand and head had dissipated. I felt enough better yesterday to do much more than I had for months, although still nowhere near what had been the norm before all of this began. After my rather full day, my hands and head were shaking some by the time I decided I should call it quits, and I was starting to trip over the furniture again. This chiropractor would like to give me a referral to a GP who is an osteopath, and I would be comfortable with that. First, though, I still need to get enrolled in one of the two available Medi Cal plans.
I would also be open to acupuncture and herbs. My younger sister had an excellent experience with that course of healthcare. How to pay is the biggest obstacle. I think maybe the next best thing is acupressure (as a trade for acupuncture), and my dear daughter is learning that as a part of her massage therapy schooling. Both the chiropractor and a lot of osteopaths are knowledgeable about many herbs and vitamin therapies. In any case, I'm determined not to simply give up on finding out what will work best for me. I sincerely hope you are also able to find what works well for you where you are now. Have a good day!
Re: Chiropractors?
Submitted by mom23gm21 on Tue, 2010-01-12 - 12:44
Amazing that I should see this today. I have an appointment this afternoon with a chiropractor I know well and have seen previously for back pain. I am at the point of being desperate for more answers than the limited ones I have so far. Not only answers, if possible, but a treatment mode that will be kinder. Though I first logged on to this site a few months ago, this is my first post.
My first known experience with a seizure was on August 26 of 2009 when I had a TC while standing in line with my husband at the grocery store. I remember getting in line, but nothing further until I woke up in the ER with a paramedic standing over me, telling me I had had a seizure, was at the hospital, and they would take good care of me. We have had a very limited income for some time, and there was no insurance to cover, so after appropriate care and a few diagnostic tests were done, I was sent home with a referral to a neurologist and an Rx for Dilantin. A little more than a week later, I was back in the ER with what was diagnosed as a panic attack and syncope, and approximately the same tests were repeated. Also, I was put on an additional Rx (Lorazepam) just for short term use. I don't remember ever sleeping as much as I did for the next few weeks. I can hardly even account for at least a month that went by afterward. Honestly, does a panic attack result in numbness on one side that lasts for well over a month? Within a short time of being in the hospital the second time, I began experiencing minor shaking of my head, as well as a staggering walk. All I knew to conclude was that it was either side effects from the meds or something other than epilepsy.
I finally was able to see the neurologist almost a month after the first seizure. He wanted to order an EEG, but there was nothing available to pay for it, so I was simply kept on the dilantin, told I needed B-50, and given a follow-up appointment three months later. The B-50 did seem to help for awhile, but it wasn't long before I began having partial focal (I know my terminology isn't quite right) seizures, affecting only the right side at first, then sometimes my head. Now, within a little more than the past month, I'm having not only the break-through seizures, but almost constant trembling of either my right hand, or my head, or both. Also, I trip easily or otherwise lose my balance, startle much too easily, and am exhausted all the time. Nausea has been a frequent and unwelcome companion, my teeth and gums are a mess, and on it goes. I went for my follow-up with the neurologist a week ago; he wants to put me on another med (which is impossibly expensive), get a blood level for the dilantin, and see me back in two more weeks.
Unfortunately, I either am hypersensitive or allergic to a number of drugs. Under the current treatment plan, I feel as though my body is being gradually poisoned. Sorry if the term seems too strong. If there is a chance my chiropractor and exra vitamins and better diet can help without so many unbearable side effects, that is the route I will take--completely. All my best to any who decide to try a less-than-conventional approach to managing seizures.
Amazing that I should see this today. I have an appointment this afternoon with a chiropractor I know well and have seen previously for back pain. I am at the point of being desperate for more answers than the limited ones I have so far. Not only answers, if possible, but a treatment mode that will be kinder. Though I first logged on to this site a few months ago, this is my first post.
My first known experience with a seizure was on August 26 of 2009 when I had a TC while standing in line with my husband at the grocery store. I remember getting in line, but nothing further until I woke up in the ER with a paramedic standing over me, telling me I had had a seizure, was at the hospital, and they would take good care of me. We have had a very limited income for some time, and there was no insurance to cover, so after appropriate care and a few diagnostic tests were done, I was sent home with a referral to a neurologist and an Rx for Dilantin. A little more than a week later, I was back in the ER with what was diagnosed as a panic attack and syncope, and approximately the same tests were repeated. Also, I was put on an additional Rx (Lorazepam) just for short term use. I don't remember ever sleeping as much as I did for the next few weeks. I can hardly even account for at least a month that went by afterward. Honestly, does a panic attack result in numbness on one side that lasts for well over a month? Within a short time of being in the hospital the second time, I began experiencing minor shaking of my head, as well as a staggering walk. All I knew to conclude was that it was either side effects from the meds or something other than epilepsy.
I finally was able to see the neurologist almost a month after the first seizure. He wanted to order an EEG, but there was nothing available to pay for it, so I was simply kept on the dilantin, told I needed B-50, and given a follow-up appointment three months later. The B-50 did seem to help for awhile, but it wasn't long before I began having partial focal (I know my terminology isn't quite right) seizures, affecting only the right side at first, then sometimes my head. Now, within a little more than the past month, I'm having not only the break-through seizures, but almost constant trembling of either my right hand, or my head, or both. Also, I trip easily or otherwise lose my balance, startle much too easily, and am exhausted all the time. Nausea has been a frequent and unwelcome companion, my teeth and gums are a mess, and on it goes. I went for my follow-up with the neurologist a week ago; he wants to put me on another med (which is impossibly expensive), get a blood level for the dilantin, and see me back in two more weeks.
Unfortunately, I either am hypersensitive or allergic to a number of drugs. Under the current treatment plan, I feel as though my body is being gradually poisoned. Sorry if the term seems too strong. If there is a chance my chiropractor and exra vitamins and better diet can help without so many unbearable side effects, that is the route I will take--completely. All my best to any who decide to try a less-than-conventional approach to managing seizures.