I thought I would just remind everyone that not everything is CHIARI. Since about 12 weeks post op I have had a new and different headache. I couldn’t understand why they had changed in nature. So I tried a few different home remedies to no avail. After recently seeing a commercial about nexium - number 1 side effect is headache. So I stopped taking it a week ago. My burning type headaches have gone away. This may be a fluke or a coincidence or just may not be my time. I don’t know. But with the wide array of symptoms we all get and the meds we take. May be worth looking into. We all read over the package insert then throw away. But keep them - just in case a new symptom arises you can refer back - as most of us won’t remember. I considered this a pretty harmless medicine that my pcp put me on for heartburn. It has a great deal of side effects that I am probably more susceptible to. Headaches,tachycardia,blurry vision. And since many of us get heartburn post op due to taking tons of analgesics over the years may be worth considering.
As a footnote - I am not a natural healer type person. But since I have seen ARNICA CREAM talked about a bunch on here - I figured it was worth a copay to another dr to try. It has helped my neck tremendously!! I couldn’t have gone into it with less belief (sorry guys) and now if I leave the house without it I will go back home to get it. If you have had surgery I highly recommend it.
Excellent post! I never took any meds to control my chiari as I didn’t know I had it. I had symptoms for 8 years before I even got help. I am also into Natural healing. Once I was diagnosed and awaiting surgery I was put on meds to control symptoms. That’s when I really went downhill and noticed all kinds of new ‘typical chiari’ symptoms according to everything I found online.
I stopped taking the meds. I should have asked my dr prior to stopping, but didn’t b/c I was afraid he’d discourage me. I stopped taking them and noticed all the new chiari symptoms left. Granted I was still a mess in my own right, but it was better than with all the meds and meds to counteract side effects from meds.
I’m going to have to try the neck cream. Is it for pain, stiffness, itchiness? Men’s is so itchy after surgery that I feel like a dog with fleas!
Beeba, that is an interesting post. As you know I am new to all this, but I thought I would share this. I mentioned to my son's NS about how my son has recently began to studder. I felt I should let him know all the changes I have noticed in the last few months, and this was his response. He said "this is the bad thing about Chiari, you never know when your having symptoms if it's the Chiari or if it's just life" He made a joke and said a kid will talk back to their mother and she say's " Oh it's the Chiari" and smiled.
I'm sure after living with it your entire life, you know when it is Chiari or not. Glad you figured out the problem Beeba! Oh another thing, I am also a big fan of natural healing, to anyone else who is try doterra essential oils, they are amazing! You can find them online!
Thanks for the reminder to check side effects of our meds. I take them without even thinking about the list of other things that it may cause. I take Nexium, too, but have not had many headaches. Thanks for the heads up!
Great News Beeba! Two positive results. That's so great.
Arnica is awesome. So happy it had helped you. We have used Homeopathy for 17yrs and couldn't live without it at this point. Homeopathy stimulates the bodies natural healing abilities. I use Weleda Arnica Oil and then put some heat on my neck. So great. Arnica also continues to help heal as your body absorbs it. As Emmaline says Arnica is great for any kind of healing. I mix Arnica cream with antibacterial ointment when my kids get a cut and it heals in no time and helps with the pain also. The remedy is amazing also.
I found an article about Arnica Cream on Livestrong (great site) Talks about why doctors think it works and a study.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/248603-what-are-the-benefits-of-arnica-cream/
Does it matter where you buy it? Meaning fakes out there, different amounts in cream etc..?
I see its available everywhere, but doesn't mean its the same.
Kgirl,
Arnicare by Bioron comes in a cream or gel(gel is cooling also), The Rub by NatraBio, Muscle Therapy Arnica Gel by Hylands, Hylands Arnica Ointment and Weleda Arnica Oil.
Bioron, Hylands are the biggest homeopathic companies so anything by them is great. I like The Rub because it has a few other remedies in it and have used it for a long time. The only Arnica oil I would buy is Weleda. I'm sure there are other companies making it but these are the ones I've used.
Hylands also makes a Leg Cramp Ointment with wintergreen that has Arnica and a few other remedies in it and is very good. Every health food should have one of these and of course they are all over the Web.
Wendy
Kgirl said:
Does it matter where you buy it? Meaning fakes out there, different amounts in cream etc..?
Beeba,
You stumbled on the best!
Yes it's the pellets you put under your tongue. Anytime you have a bump, bruise, cut, twisted ankle over use of muscles from doing too much you can take it. You can also take it before you have to do alot of activity or excersize so that you don't suffer afterwards. I also take it during flairs when everything is throbbing or swollen. You twist out 4-5 pellets and let dissolve under your tongue. Most times 1-2-3 doses takes care of the problem. You start to feel the pain lessen and swelling subsiding. You can take a dose an hour until you feel relief. During a flair it sometimes takes 5-6 doses and I take it twice in the first 2 hours. It just helps calm things down. There are no drug interactions except a slight one for blood thinners because Arnica has some blood thinning properties. But you would have to take ALOT of it to do any harm. Our Homeopathic MD actually tells us to take it before any surgery to cut down on bleeding and sweling. My husband had a vasectomy and only took arnica before and after and he didn't need anything else. (advil, pain meds ect) and only took one day off from work to rest. It just spurs your body to heal itself. The best way to explain it is like a vacine. They give you a little flu so you can fight off the flu. Most health food stores carry Bioron blue tubes. Whole Foods has them in every store. Amazon has them also. There are 80 pellets in each tube and they are usually $6-$7 dollars. The tube lasts for awhile. Don't leave remedy in a hot car. Heat ruins them.
Wendy
Wendy thanks for posting about Hylands leg cramp ointment wow it’s really helped my leg arm neck pain . Can’t wait to try just the arnica gel and pellets.
God Bless