Much research by the medical professionals into the functions of the nervous system concentrates on the chemical markers and totally ignores the nervous system's mechanical nature. This means that much research on pain issues may have missed some important understandings.
Sorry about the technical depth in what follows.
Dr William J. Tyler and Jerel K Mueller has written "A Quantitative Overview of Biophysical Forces Governing Neural Function"
My understanding is that this article delivers scientific investigation proof that nerve function is affected by mechanical forces in contrast to the medical model of the nerve. This enables one to argue that what has been demonstrated by complementary medical hands on treatments have a viable reason for working that is not placebo or a figment of imagination. It lays the groundwork why chiropractor treatment can remove problems where as the medical model of nerve function does not enable this. There are still many in the conventional medical world who claim that chiropractic treatment does not work as they cannot give a mechanism as to why it works using the medical model of how nerves work.
Dr William J. Tyler has written about the "The_mechanobiology_of_brain_function"
There is also this article. "Transdermal neuromodulation of noradrenergic activity suppresses psychophysiological and biochemical stress responses in humans"
What is said in the articles makes sense to me because of my experiences from Alexander and chiropractic treatments. The articles also begin to hint that some wacky complementary treatments may work because of the way nerves work rather than the claimed placebo.
We have a crisis from plastics, climate change, drugs in the rivers affecting fish behaviour. The prescriptions for pain killers based on the chemical model of nerve behaviour is massive. There is a mechanical model which makes sense, but has not yet made inroads into the model of nerve behaviour favoured by the pharmaceutical companies.
I am interested what people think.
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johnsmith
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I have read your article with interest. I cannot comment on the medical science but my own personal experience. I have several conditions that have affected my brain. My brain goes sleepy with a minimum level of activities, I have loss of memory and at times a complete blackouts. I feel part of my brain is dead and lack of oxygen in my body as well as constant fatigue and exhaustion. Sometimes I eat with my eyes closed as my brain gets tired by act of chewing the food. I do get brain fog if I read or type. I used to have a high level of brain activities in the past but reading a paragraph or a book is a chore for me at present. Books were my friends and I feel I have lost my friends and grieving over it.
I have a spinal problem and fibromyalgia which I have been told is the reason for my brain dysfunction.
I saw a chiropractor doctor for a few months. Things improved but as soon as I stopped it and went back to work things reappeared. I have to say physio helps me a bit as it helps to regulate the blood flow into my brain.
I am in a dilemma but I hope the research into brain 🧠🤯function continues at least for the next generation if not me.
This is my insight and I hope you continue your wonderful work. Are you a medical student?
I am not a medical student. I would like to describe myself as a citizen scientist. I do research into movement, posture, pain and the emotions. The subject of the research is me with occasional research on others. I have skills in reducing pain and helping improve movement.
I had a road traffic accident in 1991. As a result I got to know at first hand some of the dishonesty that exists in the medical profession. I have got to know the dishonesty that exists in science that is done by some academics.
You say: "I have a spinal problem and fibromyalgia which I have been told is the reason for my brain dysfunction." Fibromyalgia is a diagnosis that is given for a list of symptoms. It is not a reason for your brain dysfunction.
Your brain dysfunction can be for all sorts of reasons. Which country are you based in?
As you have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia can I suggest you join the Fibromyalgia Action UK forum of Healthunlocked.
Fibromyalgia requires a more than one therapy approach. It requires developing tools to investigate yourself. One of my beliefs is that fibromyalgia is a brain processing movement condition. The descriptions you give can be caused because many muscles are not working efficiently and effectively. Muscle behaviour and how it causes problems of human body pain and emotional distress is something the medical profession does not understand very well.
I have had chiropractic treatment on the NHS since 1994. It does not cure what I have. It keeps me within a certain range of discomfort. The treatment has also taught me how many muscular states can cause pain and discomfort.
You say: " saw a chiropractor doctor for a few months. Things improved but as soon as I stopped it and went back to work things reappeared." This does suggest you have something similar to me although different. I also do Alexander Technique as well and the two make a functional difference where as each on its own will not be very effective.
I have a locked post "Fibromyalgia considerations - cut and paste in wordprocessor" in the Fibromyalgia Action UK forum of Healthunlocked which you may find helpful or not.
Thank you for the information. I have been to Fibro Group in London. I understand the underlying causes of Fibromyalgia resulting in muscle stiffness, fatigue, numbness in hands legs etc.
The pace of recovery has been slow for me to the point that I had to leave my job. I am slightly better but not great.
I was told by the Physician that I have to make lifestyle choices.
It is good to know that the sufferers can see the inefficiency in science and medicine. It took them 3 years to tell me what is wrong with me as I had too many knees and hip injuries because of the loss of balance. Now I have more knowledge of this condition and know the limits.
You say: "I understand the underlying causes of Fibromyalgia resulting in muscle stiffness, fatigue, numbness in hands legs etc."
Can you tell me what you think these causes are.
Numbness in hands legs etc is a symptom of pressure on nerves. However there can be other reasons.
Muscle stiffness can be due to wrong signals being sent to muscles. It may be possible to change this. I can think my movements unstiff. I find that alter sitting down for a long time I can get very stiff. I can change this by thinking and acting in a particular way. This sort of thinking is outside what the medical profession knows.
I can elaborate further on this if you are interested. I am interested if you would like to try some investigation experiments to see if you can unstiffen some of your muscles by certain actions.
Hello John, Interesting, thanks. I wonder whether there is very recent research on behaviour of neurons and pain issues. I believe there is much more to be discovered. Current treatments are helpful for some although not all and as far as I can see limited main groups pain medicines only are available. Side effects also impact negatively on life. My local Pain Clinic offers transdermal neuromodulation to those deemed suitable and will perhaps be used more in the future.
My hospital says that damaged nerves cannot be repaired, however I came across an article somewhere which described the beginnings of research which had found ways for nerves to start repairing themselves.
I am not a scientist and would not claim to be an expert on any of this.
You say: "My hospital says that damaged nerves cannot be repaired". It depends where the damage.
Regeneration time depends on how seriously your nerve was injured and the type of injury that you sustained. If your nerve is bruised or traumatized but is not cut, it should recover over 6-12 weeks. A nerve that is cut will grow at 1mm per day, after about a 4 week period of 'rest' following your injury.
Hi John, very interesting reading. Although I haven't had time yet to go into the detail I 'd just like to say that your findings correspond entirely with my experience. All the hands-on treatments - PT, osteopathy, feldenkrais have been those methods which have led to improvement of my condition and reduced pain. Thanks for your research.
Having looked at the article from nature.com I was reminded of a book that was recently recommended by my PT. It is only tangentially connected as no neuromodulation is concerned but involves -partly at any rate- individual ways of treating one's own stress levels manifested in cranial nerve dysfunction. It's 'Accessing the healing power of the vagus nerve' by Stanley Rosenberg. Possibly of interest to you or/and others?
'Accessing the healing power of the vagus nerve' by Stanley Rosenberg. I have a copy. I have had no treatment by anyone who uses Stanley Rosenberg methods so I am unable to comment on the ideas in the book.
There is the mobile phone issue which lends credence to pressure on the cranial nerve. I have witnessed on numerous occasions where someone is shouting on the mobile phone when in communication with someone who has upset them. Discussions and investigation has led me to believe that when we get upset our hearing can get worse. This results in the raising of the voice so one can hear what they are saying. Upset raises tension in the body muscles. This raised tension applies pressure to the cranial nerve that controls hearing. It results in hearing loss. Hence the raised voice.
You say: "It is only tangentially connected as no neuromodulation is concerned".
Neuromodulation is "the alteration of nerve activity through targeted delivery of a stimulus, such as electrical stimulation or chemical agents, to specific neurological sites in the body".
If the theory of nerves being mechanical as well as electrical. Then Stanley Rosenberg is talking about neuromodulation by altering the pressure on the cranial nerves.
I can generate a field in my hands that can be felt by another person. Many people have this ability. Reiki and spiritual healers to name a few. It is taught in some the internal schools of martial art. It is taught by some yoga teachers. Electric eels can generate very high voltages.
One can think of sexual activity. Mechanical neuromodulation makes sense.
Add to this the thousands of nerve in the fascia which provide an input to the brain. Fascia tightness can alter pressure on nerves which in turn alters nerve behaviour.
I have looked at many many movements of people. There are patterns of moving that indicate stress and patterns of movement that indicate no stress.
By the medical profession talking chemical hormone control it has ignores another mechanism of mechanical neuromodulation control.
If mechanical neuromodulation control is right. Then the how of movement is important in wellness. The how of movement is ignored by the medical profession.
I was definitely not precise enough in what I wrote yesterday. The article you listed from nature.com focuses on electrical neuromodulation - it was this one that I skimmed through. So it would have been more accurate to say "no electrical neuromodulation is concerned" when speaking of Rosenberg's theses.
I have read his book and make use of some of the practical exercises in part two, especially the massage techniques. These have led to better regulation of the vagus nerve and possibly to lowering of blood pressure. I have not experienced those techniques which one cannot (easily) do for oneself. So indeed these could be classified as mechanical neuromodulation.
Rosenberg writes too about posture and how (some) people have health problems caused by "forward head posture". Cranial nerves may then cease to function adequately.
This is possibly one of the "movements" you are referring to when you say that how you move/stand/ may indicate how well a person is. It is interesting that Rosenberg postulates that COPD sufferers for example could improve posture/wellbeing / breathing by paying attention to pressure on the nerves. I don't think the medical profession completely ignores this but doctors certainly tend to outsource the how of movement to professionals such as physiotherapists.
What is also fascinating in what you write is the fact that you have a special gift with your hands so that a field is generated, which suggests that two different forces may merge and have an especially strong (healing) impact.
You say: "What is also fascinating in what you write is the fact that you have a special gift with your hands so that a field is generated, which suggests that two different forces may merge and have an especially strong (healing) impact."
I never use the electric field effect for healing work. I do not know how to use it for this purpose. It is something I demonstrate as a something that exists as a sort of party trick. I was introduced to this by a T'ai Chi teacher who did a weekend workshop about 40 years ago.
For healing work I use hand sensitivity where I guide a muscle into relaxation.
I have met spiritual healers who can generate fields which they use for healing purposes.
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Fibromyalgia you may not have it
Has anyone found pain meds that actually work and still let you function?
I am due to go for PIP Atos Assessment on the 13th of May 2014
Roger payne is my name,could have been spelt pain,may have been a bit more apt.
