Hi,
I've had a stressfiul number of years which has left me with tension pain in my shoulders and in my neck (particularly at the base of the skull). All this leaves me with migraines, tension headaches and neuralgia. It's causing me to be depressed - apart from the cost - it's the pain, having to spend a lot of my wages on various therapies plus spending a huge amount of time after work visiting these therapists. I don't mind if they work but they've only partially reduced the symptoms. Also I'm trying to get pregnant.
Over the years I've tried physiotherapy, homeopathy, reflexology, reiki, cortisone injections. local anaesthetic injections, massage and acupuncture (which I'm still having). They have only helped to a limited degree and when i get a flare up I have to take a lot of painkillers (which i don't want to do - especially if I get pregnant). I take magnesium and vitamin B tablets to reduce anxiety, I don't drink caffeine and also use wheat packs. My GP has been of no help whatsoever.
I went into my local health shop yesterday and the lady there suggested I see a chiropractor (to see if there's an imbalance in my neck area), so i'm having an initail assessment with him next week ( he works in the clinic above the shop with other therapists). There's also another person who the lady recommended who does the Bowen Technique. I do know a bit about it but was wondering whether it would help with my symptoms or not. I'm getting so desparate now.
Thanks and love and hugs. 🙂
Have you tried hypnotherapy? I'm not saying that things are all in your mind, but sometimes we have to get right into the cause of the pain, which may have manifested originally by painful thoughts/worry/stress. Once this stuck energy is released from the mind and the energetic bodies, the physical pain might ease... EFT is another mind therapy that may help.
Have you tried Louise Hay's affirmations? She has a book called Heal Your Body that contains healing affirmations that might help a little.
Hope you feel better soon xxxxxx
Hi Happygirl,
I know how you feel with the neck and migraines. I've suffered for about 12 years now. The doc 'manipulated' my neck on 1 side some years ago and I can still feel that it's less tight but it hurt so much for days after that I never went back. Migraines - I've tried all sorts and got no where but often worry about the amount of painkillers I take.
As Angelic Light says, EFT can sometimes help and I was thinking of making that my next step.
My sister has just had Bowen therapy and she can actually lie down with both her shoulders flat on the floor now for the first time in about 20 years due to shoulder problems.
It's the first time she has tried it but is so impressed she is going back for a second treatment. Like you say, there's a lot of trial & error but it's always expensive!
Let me know if you find something useful. 🙂
I'm not a therapist in these things, but a client, on the other side of the fence. My problem wasn't really the same as yours by the way - I got a sudden trapped nerve at the back of my neck - think "Chinese torture" - about 16 months ago. I did write about it under "Bowen technique" in fact, here on HP. I don't mean to downplay Bowen at all, but would just share with you that in my case it was actually NHS physiotherapy (probably along with time passing) that cured the problem over about 5 months.
I know what you mean about charges - I don't mind paying if it works of course, but nothing alternative did, and my local Bowen practitioner was more ££s than any other therapy. So my point would be, persist with NHS physiotherapy. It's free, can surely do no harm, I know it was the thing that helped me (as opposed to anyone else) and TBH they were the only people in my local area of the time who actually knew what they were doing. They really did know ... and instead of talking about amorphous "energy" (though I believe in that) they could show me on a mock skeleton exactly what had happened and how to correct it. I didn't need an "energy" correction but a plain old mechanical one.
But BTW, what exactly is your diagnosis, and do you mean it was caused by physical work stress, or inner stress?
Good fortune with this,
V
Hi all,
Thanks for all your ideas.
Angelic light - Funnily enough I've just bought a book on EFT from amazon - tho it hasn't arrived yet. Hadn't thought of hypnotherapy - is there a recommended body that registered hypnotherapists have to belong to ? (Guess I should start look on other more related threads for this). Have tried +ve affirmations and they have worked to an extent.
Treacle - I did think about the Bowen technique after reading a bit about it and I'm pleased that your sister has had good results, so it's something I'm looking in to.
Venetian - I did read your post about the Bowen tech. I really felt for you when you mentioned the pain in your back. The only prob with me is that i've tried physio and it only works for a short period of time (like a few days) then the problem comes back again. I haven't had the physio on the NHS I paid privately. The physio charges £36 per 1/2 an hour but, as I only have laser treatment, (as anything else aggravates my neck) I'm only there 10-15 mins and it's cost me a small fortune.
Will let you know how I get on. I tried to call a Bowen practitioner today but her hubby told me she's away this weekend, so will call her next week. I've also thought about having local anaesthetic in my neck. Had it in my shoulder and the pain has gone from that particular spot.
Love and hugs 🙂
Venetian - I did read your post about the Bowen tech. I really felt for you when you mentioned the pain in your back. The only prob with me is that i've tried physio and it only works for a short period of time (like a few days) then the problem comes back again. I haven't had the physio on the NHS I paid privately. The physio charges £36 per 1/2 an hour but, as I only have laser treatment, (as anything else aggravates my neck) I'm only there 10-15 mins and it's cost me a small fortune.
I suppose we all have to find the right treatment for our problem. My problem may have been quite different to yours - a trapped nerve, and several "mechanical" (manipulation etc) methods per treatment helped. I wonder if you can't get an NHS appointment anyway? I actually had a prior trapped nerve, same place, 10 years before. I got NHS referrals very quickly both times, and I can't imagine that private would have been any better (for what I had). They last about an hour. But I'd imagine the NHS is less helpful at "mystery" problems.
V
I haven't really asked my GP to send me to an NHS physio and they've never offered to refer me. I guess I used physios privately as if I had a flare up they'd see me the same day or the day after.
Good Morning Happygirl
I am training to be a Bowen practitioner and during the last part of my course, I had been suffering from migraines, pain in the jaw and ear and constant stiffness and pain in the shoulder and neck. After receiving all the practice we do on the course and a procedure, which I will be learning in Nov from my tutor, I came home to Luxembourg feeling a new person, no pain and teeth re-aligned to meet were they should have been.
So, I would say Bowen works well for this type of thing, through experience!
Good Luck in finding your way.
Hugs
Julie xxxx
Thanks for your reply Julie. Your comments have really helped.
I have booked my first session for the 8th November - the practitioner is on holiday until then. However I am due to have a local anaesthetic injection/s in my neck tomorrow (it can be postponed tho) to hopefully stop the constant nerve pain I have in my head. I did have an injection in my shoulder and it stopped it from hurting. Would the local anaesthetic affect the Bowen technique in any way i.e. would it prevent it working ?
Hi Happygirl,
From your original post:
It's causing me to be depressed - apart from the cost - it's the pain, having to spend a lot of my wages on various therapies
That's why I suggested the NHS for physiotherapy. On two occasions, they've seen me quickly, and were so good that I'd suspect nothing private would have been so good, and might have been less efficient. I can't imagine better physiotherapy than I had. 🙂 Made me realise that there's nothing 'magic' about private treatment, and that therapy isn't as good as the cost.
V
That's why I suggested the NHS for physiotherapy. On two occasions, they've seen me quickly, and were so good that I'd suspect nothing private would have been so good, and might have been less efficient. I can't imagine better physiotherapy than I had. 🙂 Made me realise that there's nothing 'magic' about private treatment, and that therapy isn't as good as the cost.
Sorry - I didn't mean to imply that NHS treatment was worse than private but I'm glad you suggested it. My GP hasn't - ever.
I didn't think there was necessarily a difference in treatment but i was unaware that you could see an NHS physio relatively quickly. Someone I work with just used to go to pre-arranged NHS appointments wereas the physios I used to see do see people in the evening or on the weekend (although i've never taken them up on this).
Thanks. 🙂
Hi Happygirl
Having the local aneasthetic would be no problem before Bowen. Atleast that will give you some relief. Hope you are feeling better from it.
Keep us updated.
Hugs
Julie xxx
I did have the local anaesthetic, as I managed to speak to the Bowen practitioner before she went away on holiday. My head feels "calmer" now with less pain - thanks. My visit to the Bowen practitioner is not until 2 weeks time - so have a bit of a wait. Have already started to read a book on EFT as well.
Love and hugs. 🙂
Well - had my first Bowen therapy last night. Had to say it wasn't what i expected because she "balanced" my whole body and I was expecting her just to do the neck/shoulder area but it was very very nice (except when she touched some sore points !!) and she's was a pleasant person. Having another appointment with her is a week's time - so we'll see what happens - will let you all know.:)