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Neck pain and Headaches

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Migraine Headache
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Posted 6/29/2004 5:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I have frequent neck pain and headaches and occasional full blown migraines for years, I tried 3 different chiropractors in the US but none of them did anything for me, actually one of them made it worse! I have no underlying conditions driving my headaches and have been told its my neck problems that initiate the headaches. Does anyone else get a sore or stiff neck before developing a migraine?

When I was in the UK I went to see an Osteopath on a friends recommendation, the difference in treatment was remarkable, the Doctor spent over 30 minutes with me and was extremely professional, very gentle and didn't try to sign me up for endless treatments! Even after my first treatment my headache cleared, my neck pain was completely gone after the third and FINAL treatment, I couldn't believe the difference. My symptoms stayed away for nearly 6 months.

Now, I'm sure there are good and bad practitioners in any form of medicine but when I tried to find an Osteopath in the US none of them seemed to be able to work in the same way or even like a chiropractor, Why is that? Why aren't Osteopathic Doctors in the US trained in the same way as in Europe? I got so desperate to find a good osteo in the US I rang the fellow in Britain, he told me Osteopaths in the US are more like traditional doctors and that there are many more Osteopaths in Europe than Chiro's. If the Osteopaths in Britain are so much better than chiro's and Osteo's here why can't we train our therapists like the Europeans? They were also much less expensive and far more effective than the chiro's here.

My Osteopath in the UK suggested I try using a sort of pillow thing called an SOS headache reliever for my headaches, but I found out that until recently they were only made and sold in the UK and Australia. I got one sent to me all the way from Australia and it has helped my headaches far more than seeing a chiropractor. It seems to me that we in the US are falling behind our friends in the UK and even Australia! Why don't we look more into the approaches of other countries and learn and develop the best treatments we can find? For anyone who is interested the SOS headache relievers can be bought now from this site, I don't know how to paste a link so here is the text www.healthmaker.info

Can anyone answer why we don't do more clinical trials and development for the many types of physical therapies that exist overseas? and does anyone know of a european trained Osteopath working in the US? (CA)

Petra 

Posted 8/2/2004 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
I think Europe is more advanced in the alternative fields. Western medicine and the drug companies are GOD in the U.S. It's all about money. I've been searching for years for help for my headaches. Ive tried chiro, MD, drugs, diets, therapy, pilates, detoxes, accupuncture, you name it. never been to an Osteo. Would't know who either. It is very discouraging.

Good Luck,
Cinda
Posted 8/6/2004 4:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Cinda, thanks for replying. You sound like you've been through similar things to me. I agree its all about money in U.S. But I swear I will never go near a chiropractor again! The last one tried to insit that I pay him $2500 before he would see me again! In any case, I still haven't found a good European trained Osteopath, if you get a chance to try one, look for people who trained at the European College of Osteopathy or the British School of Osteopathy. They are the best trained. The headache reliever pillow I bought from the healthmaker.info site has become an essential part of my traveling kit, it doesn't really stop me getting headaches but it sure does relieve the soreness and stiffness of my neck. I work on computers a lot and I take it to work with me and use it several times a day when I feel my neck tightening. Its the only device I've ever used that does actually help. Anyway, if you buy one, post a message here and let me know how it works because I've haven't found anyone else that uses one yet and I'd be really interested to hear about your impressions. Please don't be too discouraged, one thing I've learned is that there are some things that work, I really advise you try to find a Euro Osteopath, I'm going back to the UK later this year on work and am heading straight for the same Osteopath!

best wishes
Petra
Posted 8/23/2004 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Petra,

I wanted to let you know, I read your post and tried one of the sos pillows. I only get migraines occasionally but I get tension headaches almost daily from working on computers. Its been driving me completely crazy! anyway, I tried taking the sos pillow to work and its been getting me through the day. Thanks for posting the information about them. I didn't really think it would help but was willing to try anything, I'm in the UK and have never heard of them before so I'm going to see an Osteopath too after reading your comments.
Posted 10/20/2004 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

I see an osteopath, which does seem to help with the migraines. My neck tends to get painful down one side, then before you know it, I've got another migraine.  The osteo sorts the neck out, which usually stays good for a couple of weeks.

I always feel great when I've been!

I'd definitely recommend giving it a try, it doesn't hurt and you have nothing to lose!

Posted 10/27/2004 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
There are osteopaths who do what the British one does. They are called cranial osteopaths. You can get a list of trained ones in your area by sending a self addressed, stamped envelope to:

The Cranial Academy
Referrals
8202 Clearvista Parkway #9-D
Indianapolis, IN 46256

I've just begun to see one and even after just one treatment, I'm feeling better. I had a headache when I went in and it was gone by the time I left.
Colleen
Posted 11/30/2004 9:29 PM (GMT 0)

hello to you all...

i suffer from tension headaches almost everyday and i too get pain on my neck before the headaches. i have had headaches in the past, but not almost daily. i would like to know if some of you work in offices maybe there is a connection between the job and the headaches cause i work in an office.

my best wishes for you all....bye... :-)

Posted 12/26/2004 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
Osteopaths in the U.S. are a specialization of a general practitioner physician. In the U.S., osteopaths only take a few weekend courses on physical manipulation. Around a third of physician who train as osteopaths actually employ any physical manipulation in their medical practice. Elsewhere in the world, being an osteopath is not tied in with a being a doctor, it is more like becoming a message therapist (expect that the training is significantly longer). This means that they are very well trained at adjusting and diagnosing the structural issues of the muscles and bones of your body.
In canada, there are programs that more follow the european methods and those that take after the U.S. more. So some canadian osteopaths are trained similarly to a european trained osteopath. The thing is, none of the osteopathic schools on north america are full time programs: so while many european programs are 4000-5000 hour program, those on north america are 1000-1500. Obviously, this means that that your average european trained osteopath is much better trained than the average canadian or even U.S. trained osteopath.
One last note, from what I've been able to find, osteopaths are only standardized in the U.S., and that is through being tied in with becoming a doctor. In the U.K., where osteopathy is highly refined and quite prevalent, there are several bickering factions of osteopaths, each with their own acronym. Only two of these programs are 4 years. So not even every european trained osteopath you'll find is necessarily well trained!
On a personal, note, for some wanting to learn the european style of being an osteopath in the U.S. like me, it's a difficult situation. Reciprocity is questionable from european school to the U.S.. Right now, I'm checking out the Canadian College of Osteopathy, which is part time. A week long class about once every 8 weeks. Though it seemed inconvient at first, it looks as though its weird hours will allow to finish my B.A. and get my masters while becoming an osteopath. Canada has reciprocity with the U.S. in this respect.
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