Sleep

Last night....for the first time since I was on prescription medicine to help me sleep...I slept. Not only did I sleep...but I slept deep and woke up completely refreshed!

So what changed?

I started going to a chiropracter. My migraines have been getting worse and more frequent. Medicine seems to have little and inconsistent effect. I had reached a point where I had to find something to help me. I loose entire days to headaches.

The part that worries me the most is my future. How can I take care of my infant child...or my toddler if I am completely incompactiated by a headache? The other part is that I know I cannot take many of the medicines I have been taking when we get pregnant. While pregnancy and future children are still a couple of years away...I have to think about it and plan for it.

So...2 weekends ago we went to the GISD health fair to get our tetnus shots and saw this chiropractor. I was able to get a consultation for $20! (Usual price is well over $100 for a consultation and x-rays.)

Monday was my apointment. I went in the morning for the consulation. We talked extensively about my headaches and a few other problems that are related to chiropractic care. Then he started feeling my neck and back and checking my spine. Apparently the right side of my body is completely out of whack. My right leg is shorter than my left (due to some pelvic rotation or something like that), my right shoulder sits lower than my left shoulder due to muscle spasm, and my x-rays later reveiled that my head tilts to the right just slightly. Nathan and I went back Monday afternoon for the complete diagnosis and treatment plan.

The most startling thing was my profile x-ray. The neck part of the spine is supposed to have about a 20 degree curvature...mine has ZERO curvature. That is better than negative curvature (or a reverse curve)...but still it is not good. The doctor feels that this could be causing my headaches...at least in part.

He gave me three adjustments on Monday...one in the upper middle of my back and one on each side of my head. It was amazing how much my range of motion increased just from those three adjustments. But the best part was last night. Sleep...wonderful, deep sleep!

I have concluded that even if nothing else gets better...even if this somehow doesn't help me headaches it will be worth it just to sleep and not have a tight and sore back! But I really do think it will help my headaches. The brain and spine are so intricately connected that if one tiny thing is off then the entire system ceases to funtion properly. The lack of a natural 20 degree curve could be a very big part of my headaches. While the doctor did admit...and I agree with him...that migraines are a little more tricky than just regular headaches...I still feel that this will have a positive result. For the first time someone has identified a physical possible problem and has a plan to help it get better. I like that.

Tomorrow I have another adjustment. I cannot wait. It feels so good to know that I am doing something to get better!