Vestibular Migraine

[youngdavid]

Does anyone have experience of using Bowen’s therapy / techniques for vestibular migraine?

[Cat00]

I had one session of Bowen for fibromyalgia but I also have chronic migraines. It had no effect at all, I didn't go back for more because of a mixture of reasons but it did seem slightly ridiculous, I can't imagine how it could of helped other than psychosomatically. But it's probably unfair to judge it after just one session.

[youngdavid in reply to Cat00]

Thank you for the reply. I do agree with your view about how it could work. When you are suffering you will look at anything! Good luck with your conditions hope you find the relief to need.

[Cat00 in reply to youngdavid]

We are so motivated to stay open minded about anything that might reduce our pain. But the way they "massage" in Bowen therapy just fed my ultimate pessimism about all these things sadly. Fibromyalgia and migraines being neurological I suppose it was asking too much for a few tiny prods on myocfascial muscles for a cure.

[bamboo89]

I had some Bowen therapy after a serious attack of hemiplegic migraine. I had 5 sessions, but the practitioner I saw also used other techniques, such as Emmet and acupressure. I found it quite effective actually - I recall, after the second session, I was in a lot of pain that night at the base of neck and top part of my spine, though as far as I was aware, he had done nothing that would have caused it. I phoned the therapist the next day and he fitted me in 2 hours later - honestly, all he did was just touch with one finger about 10 spots in the area, and all the pain just vanished. No idea why, but I was pretty impressed, I was only there 10 minutes! It's true that with many alternative therapies, a single treatment won't do much - the usual is 4-6 treatments.

Previously, I used to see a very good cranial osteopath for one session every six months to get my neck sorted - there seemed to be a connection between my neck being bad and feeling dizzy or 'vestibulitis' as the GP diagnosed it. That sorted the problems for years, but unfortunately, he retired, which is why I tried the Bowen therapy after the hemiplegic attack.

Miriam

[youngdavid in reply to bamboo89]

Well that gives me another view! It is difficult to know what to think. I could collect a bit more evidence or find a practitioner and just try it if not too expensive. Most non evidence based treatments don’t seem to work for me though.

Decisions, decisions ..... thank you.

[bamboo89 in reply to youngdavid]

I've tried quite a few alternative therapies in my long years on this earth, and I've come to a conclusion, which is this - it doesn't really matter which one you choose, what matters is whether you trust the practitioner and whether they're good at what they do. Some people just seem to be natural 'healers' with good instincts, and I'd say that's true of some GPs, some more senior doctors, massage therapists, physiotherapists etc - they have this instinct or ability, and may end up in different practising therapies, but its the natural ability that counts. Sadly, I suspect natural 'healers' probably only comprise a low percentage of any method, certainly under 30% of them.. the others have all the training, but not the instincts. It was for this reason I was sorry my osteopath retired - he was one of those people with some sort of natural ability, and we had a good rapport. I certainly trusted him... but if you lose trust in a practitioner, move on, because it won't work, you end up 'blocking' any good effects yourself. I'm not saying here that you have to believe it will work, it's not a matter of faith, you just need to keep an open mind, open to the possibility that whatever you're trying might help.

I found acupuncture very helpful - but only if it was done by the practitioner at the Pain Clinic on the NHS, a simple 20 minute session to relieve pain. She had this ability, this instinct for healing, or whatever it is - I was supposed to be there for treatment on my neck, but one time I walked in and she said she was going to treat my lower back if I didn't mind. I was astonished, because I'd noticed on the way there that my legs didn't seem to be working very well the further I walked, but I 'd not said a word about it to her, and she only saw me walk about 6 steps into her room, not displaying any difficulty in walking. She put a few needles in for 20 minutes, and I walked out of there, legs working just fine... But I've been to a couple of private acupuncturists (hour sessions) and it's done nothing at all, or very little.

If you prefer something evidence based though, you'd probably do better to find a good cranial osteopath, because osteopathy is well researched, documented and accepted as a valid therapy, though not necessarily listed as one for types of migraine.

[youngdavid in reply to bamboo89]

I really appreciate you taking time to give me advice from your experience. Not too sure on the direction I will take but will think about the cranial osteopath over the weekend.

Thanks again.

[troy04 in reply to youngdavid]

It is interesting to see some members are saying positive outcome of certain therapies. But can we rely on any of these to relieve migraine on long term basis? I understand "it was useful / helpful" - but we need something that will significantly improve suffering from migraine consistently and also in the long run. After hearing positive story about migraine I myself tried hypnotherapy and had 3 sessions for migraine - unfortunately it did nothing.

[bamboo89 in reply to troy04]

I doubt any of these alternatives would be a permanent fix - migraine is one of those intractable conditions that, in terms of therapies, would need periodic treatment, so more like a chronic illness; there's no magic bullet, not even from the medical profession, hence my own management of it by seeing the osteopath every six months. Unless you're on of the lucky ones and what causes your migraine happens to be something like dairy, and excluding it resolves the problem...