Hi Kamden,

you seem to be the go-to person here. I have a question about trigger point therapy. I went to a neurologist and wanted to ask about trigger points and the possibility of that affecting me in the way that I had numbness on the left side of my face and a lot of vibration sensations and dizziness in my head that related to movement of my body. A chiropractor has helped me get through it thus far, but it has been a lengthy recovery and not a comfortable one. My chiropractor is good and works the muscles a little before just working my bones around into place. He said my neck was out pretty bad.

I have horrible knots in my neck and shoulders that sometimes when I put pressure on them, make things in my head snap or release (at least that's what it feels like). I'm also now on anxiety medication which I think will probably help. I have a lot of mental illness in my family and have an extremely stressful existence (about to change signficantly). I don't know if it will fix what's going on with the vibrating/dizzy spell stuff but, it certainly may help me deal with it better.

I had my latest chiro manipulation on my neck tonight. They are getting easier to take and with each one I seem to get better. But, this trigger point therapy really has me curious because I just wonder if there are several things going on at once here. How do they even check for trigger points? I went to a neurologist who specializes in trigger point therapy -- but his bedside manner leaves much to be desired and he didn't even seem open to questions. I'd probably find someone else. Do you know if trigger points can affect your sinuses even?

Thanks for your time in answering my message. You must be out her a lot -- are you an MD? You're really smart and would love to hear what you have to say. Thanks again!

Yvonne

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You seem to be a perfect candidate for physical therapy, soft tissue work. The symptoms you name are very typical of problems with very deep muscle problems and can also be found by a therapist. I mention trigger points because rgraf8 went to his neuro. and his neuro. found these areas and put pressure on them, bringing on many of his symptoms, showing that this was the source of many of his problems. This is just a term that some doctors use. Mine just mentioned muscle problems. My problem was found by the therapist. I had facial numbness, sinus problems, ear problems ( noises reverberated and bothered me ) horrible dizzy spells, balance problems, headaches, you name it, I had it. All these symptoms stemmed from deep muscle problems which your chiro. will not be able to give you the help you really need with. I went for 6 months to my chiro. and the improvement was very slow, I kept popping back out, and some of the symptoms didn't go away. It was explained to me by the therapist, that your knotted up muscles are what is pushing your vertebrae out in the first place, and you can go to the chiro. and have them put back in, but untill these muscles get the therapy they really need ( the knots worked out of them ) you will keep having the problem. Once i started going to PT, I never went back to the chiro. I spent 19 years going to chiros and after going to PT for the first time in my life, realized I was getting better much quicker, and even told how to keep the problem from re-occurring. I was told was caused it, and i was not having the same problem 2 hours later. I just plain started getting better. I would suggest getting into PT for soft tissue work as soon as you can. I hope I have helped you! Let us know how you do.

Kamden,

Thank you for your advice. I've been in for massage therapy for the last month and it is finally starting to make a difference in that sensation I was having in my head. I get it back when I get really stressed and I think it's just going to be a long recovery from whatever it is I just had happen to me. My therapist says that my muscles were so tight it was no wonder I was having those strange feelings. I also have a tmj problem I discovered and I believe the anxiety I was experiencing is being alleviated by the medication I was on which helps to keep me more relaxed all around.

More than anything else, I've been spent my time praying and found out that God sure has a lot to do with healing and assists with my patience. Just wanted to thank you too for your advice.

Yvonne

YvonneD, you are welcome, about the jaw problem, if you are under alot of stress and this tensed up, it can also cause a knot in the jaw muscle. I forgot to tell you about my jaw problem too, I just had too many things wrong with me to remember them all. The therapist worked on my jaw too, and so did I at home. But I know there can be a difference in the treatment depending on what the cause of the problem is. My jaw was sore and felt swollen on one side. I could push on it, and it would ache, yet feel better, because I was pushing that muscle back into place where it should be. I know some people have a different type of jaw problem, such as the cartilage etc., so this is only if it is the muscle holding the top upper and lower jaw together, and it is tensed up, just like your back and neck muscles, and feels like it has a knot in it. Have the therapist check this also. I am glad i could help you. Good luck in your recovery! Kamden