Saturday, March 12, 2011

Hard Lesson

     Okay, so those of you that know me in real life know I am very stubborn and I don't like to be told what to do.  I learned the hard way this week that those characteristics don't serve me very well.  I read a chiropractor's theory Fibromyalgia is caused by problems in the neck and spine that limit the blood flow and disrupt the nerve endings.  This is why they struggle with balance, walking, and falling.
     To help assess his patients, he has them put their heads back and look towards the ceiling for 30 seconds.  After doing that, most of his patients have severe trouble.  They get severe headaches, pain, and flare ups. 
      Because of some physical trauma I suffered as a child, the vertebrates in my neck are backward.  After reading this article, I said to myself, "I don't think that's right.  I know my neck is messed up and I can look up for 30 seconds."  Then I looked up at the ceiling and counted to thirty.  It was hard for me, but I did it.  (If you don't have Fibro, the fact that it's hard to look up for 30 seconds sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?) 
     For the rest of the day I had pain in my neck that continued to get worse.  Then the migraine hit me.  I spent the last half of the day in bed.  It got so bad, I got sick.  I have never had a headache that made me get sick.  Since I got sick on my pain medicine, I spent the entire night in pain.  The pain moved to my jaw and teeth.  The next day I had pain in the back of my head, my neck, and down my legs. 
      It might have been a strange coincidence, but I think the next time a doctor says something like that, I won't try to prove him or her wrong.  I guess I get so used to fake claims and quick fixes that I have become rather jaded.
     Today I was reading some other research from the National Fibromyalgia Association and came across a name that sounded intriguing called Fibro Innovations.  After visiting the site, I realized this was the website of the doctor I read about last week, even though I hadn't been to this website before or known the name of the group the doctor was working with.
     After looking at the website and realizing this was the same doctor, I have a headache, my neck hurts and my teeth feel too big for my mouth.  Apparently my body has a long memory and doesn't like this doctor. 
     Interesting thoughts to ponder about being sick and the emotional ties attached to physical pain.   

This is the link to his site if you are interested in his theory or his treatment plan