Anyone tried Craniosacral therapy for tinnitus?

Hi forum friends,

Prevention magazine has a natural cure section this month that says craniosacral therapy can help ringing in the ears. It said it is a painless, tiny adjustment of the bones of the skull and spinal cord. It says it is thought to work by taking pressure off the auditory nerves in the lining of the brain, which helps the cerebral spinal fluids flow more freely.

I've searched and found some old posts, but was wondering if anyone has tried this for tinnitus?

Also, if so, how did you find your practitioner (would you recommend chiro, therapist, etc.), what was the approximate cost and did your insurance cover any of it? I did a general google search and am having trouble finding anyone close (Greensboro NC).

Thanks in advance!

CC

 

I would be very interested if this therapy did anything for you. I believe the theory is reasonable. It would not take much movement to release the auditory nerve. I hope you try it.

Good luck.

 

When my tinnitus first stared I was living in Aspen Colorado. My girlfriend at the time was a Craniosacral therapist. She worked on me regularly to see if she could help with the tinnitus and vertigo. Unfortunaly her work didnt help with my symptoms. She was very good at what she did and was a graduate of the Upledger institute in Florida so she was well trained.

 

Are we talking, like, trigger-point massage or similar?

 

I would search out an osteopath with the cranial training. I have had very good success with my osteo's approach....he includes the cranial therapies along with several others. Google ostepathic treatments and see what you find. In England, they are also GPs as well...the Europeans are ahead with the alternative treatments...

Songbird.

 

In the beginning of my disorder when my daily symptoms were significant, I went to a naturopath/craniosacral specialist when I was very sick with an exceptionally bad case of the flu.  I had never gone to one before but I needed help and she was the only one locally that would see me since I had no insurance.  I had never heard of a craniosacral before that.  I was treated for the flu in a way that did more for me than any conventional means ever could have.  What was a bonus was that for a couple of weeks after that, my vestibular-related symptoms significantly lessened.  I had no idea to expect that so there was no placebo affect, it really did make a difference.  The dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to motion, ear pressure, and tinnintus dramatically eased up.  I was so pleased.

She charged me on a sliding scale of what I could pay...$65-100, that included the whole appointment plus the chinese medicine for the flu.  She had spent nearly an hour with me.  Conventional doctors wouldn't even look at me for less than $150 for 15 minutes, not including any lab work or medications.  Some insurance policies will cover alternative medicine, many won't.  Be sure to read the fine print, or better yet, give them a call.

 

I have an appointment with a chiro who uses the Gonstead method. Will see what he has to say. He does a free consult to see if he can help, otherwise, he'll see if he can match me up to someone who can.

 

Burd, this sounds like something that should go in my "Info for Newbies" thread. Can you maybe post some more info over on that thread, and I'll try to figure out how to put in the original post, especially if you can come up with either studies or lots of anecdotes of successful treatment of MM symptoms. THanks!

 

Do you realize how anatomically, medically, scientifically, and logically, WRONG this statement is?

Do you even realize what you are saying here? How can you "release" the auditory nerve? Do you even know where/how the 8th cranial nerve, which controls hearing AND balance, is/works?

Sheesh....then you wonder why so many people claim you can't trust sanything found on health forums these days.....

 

Why, then, are you here, Perses? Are readers to trust you, instead of what they read here?

Why not start your own website or board, where your cautionary and helpful knowledge could be encountered and acted upon by so many more? Very few have Meniere's or vestibular disturbances. Think how you could help so many more by so carefully pointing out the errors of all the other "alternative" and non-traditional medical treatments that are popping up all over the Internet. Your talents or helpfulness may be wasted on this tiny site. So many others could be saved from even more severe bad outcomes resulting from misguided Internet lay "medicine."

--John of Ohio

 

John, a simple yes or no please.

Do you believe that the 8th cranial nerve (or the auditory nerve, as Hank calls it) can be "released" with little movement? Do you really believe this?

I'd be careful how you answer as your credibility rests on it....

 

No, it doesn't. My credibility rests upon the 10 years of multiple successes of my Meniere's regimen for dozens upon dozens of people.

--John of Ohio

 

Thanks everyone. I plan to start by contacting my insurance company tomorrow to find out what they will cover and if they can recommend anyone.

Joy, this is what Wikepedia says:
Craniosacral therapy (also called CST, also spelled CranioSacral bodywork or therapy) is an alternative medicine therapy used by osteopaths, physical therapists, massage therapists, naturopaths, chiropractors, and occupational therapists. A craniosacral therapy session involves the therapist placing their hands on the patient, which allows them to tune into what they call the craniosacral rhythm.[1] The practitioner claims to gently work with the spine and the skull and its cranial sutures, diaphragms, and fascia. In this way, the restrictions of nerve passages are said to be eased, the movement of cerebrospinal fluid through the spinal cord is said to be optimized, and misaligned bones are said to be restored to their proper position. Craniosacral therapists use the therapy to treat mental stress, neck and back pain, migraines, TMJ Syndrome, and for chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia.

And Perses, "taking pressure off the auditory nerves" was straight out of Prevention Magazine, which is where I read about this helping with ringing in the ears. What treatment has helped you?

 

I tried this. I went to a practitioner who was highly recommended and has helped others with other problems, but unfortunately I did not realize any benefits other than feeling very relaxed and calm for hours afterwards. The tinnitus may have temporarily decreased, I can't recall, but it certainly didn't stop.

 

cc65, the description of CST makes good sense as to why it would help someone with vestibular migraine. (that is what I have) I haven't read any studies about that specifically, because my guess is that with the myths that are so rampant about migraine, studies would not be complete or accurate if they even exist. Since migraine and it's often meniere's-like symptoms are caused by dilation or constriction of blood vessels in the head and neck, it makes sense that CST could alter the physical manifestation of migraine mechanism. All I know is that it gave me relief and that had nothing to do with a placebo affect because I had no expectations and was treated for overall well-being to aid with getting well from the flu.

 

I tried accupuncture for my tinnitus, another form of Chinese Medicine, and craniosacral therapy...it was very relaxing but I did not notice any improvement. Some people get great results from it though just did not work for me..

and I feel certain that I did not experience any release of pressure from my 8th cranial nerve.

 

Oh god here we go again huh Perses.. I have been trying to figure out why your back if all you want to do is bash and rip on people.. kick rocks dude your shit gets old.. when you get banned this time maybe you should come back as Negative Nelly!!

 

"And Perses, "taking pressure off the auditory nerves" was straight out of Prevention Magazine, which is where I read about this helping with ringing in the ears. What treatment has helped you?"

This is where Nassman exits, stage left.

 

And Wikipedia goes on to say:

Criticisms
There are extensive criticisms of cranialsacral therapy from the scientific and health care professions as to the validity and efficacy of Cranial Type techniques and principles. The following criticisms are cited against this form of therapy.

Lack of evidence cranialsacral therapy provides a therapeutic benefit[13]

Lack of evidence for the existence of "cranial bone movement":
Scientific evidence does not support the theories for cranial bone movement claimed by craniosacral practitioners. This research shows that partial fusion between cranial bones occurs during growth and development.[7]

Lack of evidence for the existence of the "cranial rhythm":
While evidence exists for cerebrospinal fluid pulsation, one study states it is caused by the functioning of the cardiovascular system and not by the workings of the craniosacral system.[32]

Lack of evidence linking "cranial rhythm" to disease:
Research to date to support the link between the "cranial rhythm" and general health is cited as "low grade" and "unacceptable to meet scientific measures".[21]

Lack of evidence "cranial rhythm" is detectable by practitioners:
Operator interreliability has been very poor in studies that have been done. Five studies showed an operator interreliability of zero.[5] In a report to the British Columbia Office of Health Technology Assessment one study in this report shows some operator interreliability but has been criticized as deeply flawed.[13]

 

I'm sorry. But that just takes a blah blah blah.