Hi Geoff

Thanks for advice re CM. What I like about your methods is the non-aggravational aspect. Although you do manipulate the facet joint somewhat, it is relatively gentle, and it doesn’t involve traction, twisting exercises, collars, or even medications. All big plusses in my book….I’ve had all these to no avail. I think we both understand that the principal goal is relief rather than the prospect of even further aggro….a principle which all too often escapes the attention of the practitioner ! Probably best that your methods are applied by a willing helper, rather than self applied, and I will try it out in the fullness of time and report anon.

However, I don’t want to let you off the ‘sleeping postures’ so easily, without knowing that you’ve had a good think about it. There may be some misunderstanding in the way that I describe why the whole ‘sleep / C/S thing is so important, and seemingly always casually overlooked. Usual response ‘ Of course, a good sleep is important to general well-being’ . This misses the point that something strange happens when we sleep which instigates all sorts of protective reactions. This may well be only apparent to an actual C/S sufferer, who experiences these on/off unpredictable changes. The sleeping posture alterations I speculate upon, do actually have an effect on these processes, usually beneficial, and, as a means to lessening the intensity of symptoms and instilling a sense of self control and self management, they are a quick, home-based, and self applied method for achieving these ends…even if only temporarily.

In my particular case its about getting rid of cyclical headaches and muggy head sensations as quickly and as effectively as poss. No medications, except when absolutely needed, and no waiting for appointments either. The first goal is to restore clear headed thinking, thus allowing a better environment for considering further self management techniques. This might all sound a bit wishy washy to someone who constantly deals with the mechanics of the spinal structure, but, from my point of view, after years of these types of disorientating symptoms, and after years of distracting ineffective therapies, it looks like a very worthy goal to me.

I understand that sleeping postures are difficult to monitor, in a clinical sense, and as such may have been overlooked in favour of more clinic-based techniques. However, I would feel guilty about myself if I didn’t make a big noise about this, in the same way you might feel aggrieved if your CM methods were being overlooked by fellow P/Ts with their heads buried in the sands of textbooks !

Enough ‘soap-box’ for now, and thanks again.

Gerry