Multiple Sclerosis and Integrative Manual Therapy
A community consciousness and brain health essay.
Integrative Manual Therapy can help people recover from Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Practitioners are seeing first a stoppage of deterioration, in other words, a stabilization of symptoms and then in many cases an improvement in symptoms, decreased pain and improved function.
Multiple Sclerosis seems to have a variety of contributing factors, so the way we evaluate the individual and tailor the treatment to their specific needs works well. There are many things we find in our clients with M.S., including mapping over the liver, blood vessels in the spinal cord and a lack of healthy motilities or rhythms in the brain and spinal cord. Mapping is a hands on diagnostic technique that indicates to us that some of the symptoms of M.S. are about the way toxins (these vary from person to person) have affected the person’s liver and nervous system. Mapping over the blood vessels of the brain and spinal cord indicates to us that the amount of oxygen and nutrients being carried to the central nervous system and the way toxins are eliminated is compromised. We see these things commonly in people with M.S.
Idiopathic Spinal Cord Injury Testimonial Ali D.
A little over three years ago I got sick. I got weaker and weaker and over a period of about a month I was unable walk, then unable to sit up and then unable to even hold up my own head. I also had uncontrollable twitching in my neck and shoulders and when the twitching increased, it caused my whole body to go into violent convulsions. Obviously this was a little concerning, and I went to the hospital where they ran every painful and invasive test possible with no conclusive evidence as to what was happening to my body. I was sent home with a basket of drugs to try and see if any would help decrease my constant pain and discomfort. I was put on the waiting list to get into University California San Francisco/Stanford for a second opinion. I really just couldn’t fathom living like this. From a very active 16 year old to some lump of flesh unable to brush my own teeth was quite unacceptable. So Stanford basically said the same thing — they didn’t know what was wrong, but they thought some really nasty virus had somehow gotten into my spinal cord and caused massive amounts of neurological damage. They recommended I go to rehab, so I went and relearned slowly and painfully how to sit up and walk and made the fabulous progression of wheel chair to walker to cane. Everything was so exciting and my family and I rejoiced at every step (literally) I took. I was doing great and everything was going well, but then a couple months later I relapsed. Not quite totally quadriplegic — I could kind of flop around, but I still could not walk or sit or hold up my head. This went on a couple more times, getting better and then relapsing. Frustrated by this cycle we went looking for other sources of help.
We finally found Integrative Manual Therapy and started attending intensives every month in New Mexico or Connecticut. I was helped an incredible amount by IMT, especially considering every other road we took led to a dead end. IMT gave me the greatest gift of health, and a hope for the future without relapsing. I had several hours of treatment accompanied by Neurofascial Process homework. I also took the thymus protocol and other functional medicines. Some times when I get over tired or come down with a cold I will start to experience some of the same symptoms but never for very long or nearly as severe. One example of this is in early December 2002, when I got food poisoning. I was feeling miserable from the food poisoning, had weakness in my legs, and dizziness, so I turned to my IMT saviors! I got treated for two hours and received physical functional medicine techniques as well as supplements from Mediherb before treatment and then again three days later. I quickly recovered and was back to my old self in just a few days. I have been treated in multiple IMT centers by several wonderful therapists and know my life would be completely different without them. I am happy to tell you that I am “relapse free” for over year and a half. I am taking a dance class. I don’t have to go into the handicapped bathrooms. I get dressed all by myself!
— 19 year old student at CU Boulder
Dizziness Testimonial February, 2000
“Prior to starting IMT therapy in the Fall of 1999, I had experienced headaches on nearly a daily basis for years. The pain effected my relationships, attention span and ability to concentrate and sleep.
During this same period the vision in my right eye deteriorated. This caused me to have difficulties with depth perception, reading, driving and computer work.
Dizziness had also been an occasional problem. I had felt that my headaches might be related to my vision problems and had sought help from an ophthalmologist who sent me for an MRI. The neurologist’s assessment of the MRI was optic neuritis and a 50/50 chance of developing multiple sclerosis in the next few years I was prescribed Motrin and sleeping pills, the headaches continued, I was told the vision would never improve and was now burdened with the worry of developing MS.
Following this experience I believed that there were no options available to help me and that I just had to live with it, which I did for years.
Following several treatments at CenterIMT, the headaches disappeared. I no longer experience any dizziness. My ability to focus on a task and to process information has improved greatly. I feel I have more energy and a more positive outlook. My eye or vision work is still in progress but I am extremely confident that there will be positive improvements here as well.”
Thank you, N. M.
Speech and Hand Writing Testimonial February, 2000
“J.C.’s first notable change occurred the afternoon on the first day of treatment here at CenterIMT. There was an improvement in speech and speed of response. Also evident was a definition of facial features and toning of upper torso. His hand writing was more legible and there was a slight improvement in mobility. In addition, J.C.’s posture was more erect and he was more relaxed. His body was more flexible and supple overall.
Previously we have sought other treatments for his condition. J.C. has seen a myriad of neurologists in the past 18 years. His diagnosis has changed but at present he remains Sporshe Ataxia. From nerve conduction tests we know J.C. has slight peripheral neuropathy and an MRI on the OC brain has shown an atrophy of the OC cerebellum , which has remained stable over 12 years. No known cause for his condition, no known cure or suggested treatment. J.C., on his own, has worked out a weight training program which has kept him strong.” Thank you, Parents
Some Medline Abstrasts Regarding M.S.
Kaufman, M. (1997). “Treatment of multiple sclerosis with high-dose corticosteroids may prolong the prothrombin time to dangerous levels in patients taking warfarin.” Mult Scler 3(4): 248–9.
Two patients who were taking warfarin experienced significant prolongations of the prothrombin time (protime) after treatment with high-dose corticosteroids for rapid progression of MS. This complication of therapy is potentially life-threatening.
Harmon, J. P., V. A. Purvin, et al. (1999). “Cancer-associated retinopathy in a patient with advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma.” Gynecol Oncol 73(3): 430–2.
BACKGROUND: Paraneoplastic phenomena, such as retinopathy, may herald an unsuspected gynecologic malignancy. CASE: A 75-year-old woman presented to a neuro-ophthalmologist with abrupt onset of unilateral visual loss. A diagnosis of branch retinal artery occlusion was made and she was treated with aspirin. An echocardiogram subsequently revealed atrial dilation and she was placed on coumadin therapy. Her vision worsened and a cancer-associated retinopathy was entertained. A serum cancer-associated retinopathy antibody was detected; subsequent computed tomographies of the abdomen and pelvis revealed findings consistent with a primary ovarian carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Patients with unexplained ophthalmologic symptoms may harbor an underlying gynecologic cancer.
Originally published at http://kimberlyburnham.blogspot.com on May 20, 2005.
