InfectionandInflammation: Re:headaches,oxygen & tendons

[Guest guest]

Hi Peney,

thanks for answering,

Below are your responses.Helen, whether you test positive for lyme or not, you could still be suffering from any number of serious bacterial infections especially since you get relief with Augmentin. And the right side of the head being stopped up along with the morning headache, yells sinus disease/infection/inflammation to me. If it were me, I'd get my sinuses scanned, and with those headaches I'd see a neurologist, too (although good luck finding decent ones in either field). Then do LOTS of research before taking any drastic action (i.e. surgery).

Answer: Yes Penny, I think it is all of the above. Had sinus surgery 15 years ago,, been to 5 or 6 ENT's and the same of Neurologist. For like of anything better they say it is constant migraines, was sent to a pain specialist and after not being able to take any of there meds they said I could take Darvocet which helps me at least get out of the house.I really can't explain the oxygen problem at all. Perhaps the sinuses are so full of infection, that pumping the oxygen in there is creating some kind of over pressurized or increased sensitivity situation (purely speculative, obviously) or perhaps an anaerobic bacterial die off, caused by the exposure to oxygen, is creating a lot of excess congestion leading to sinus pressure and headache. I know that when I start killing bugs, I usually have a big increase in sinus drainage. Maybe yours is trapped, not draining.

Answer: Not draining is a possibility since I never have any drainage.I have an oxygen concentrator that sometimes helped relieve headaches while using it, but only temporarily. Same for my daughter. Of course, that's different from using a pure oxygen tank, which I know is recently being touted as a great migraine reliever. All I know is that using the concentrator made me feel weird, and made it very difficult for me to catch my breath for quite a while afterwards. It was even worse when using the rebreather mask, which is supposed to somehow compensate for the C02 build up. I've since decided that I much prefer natural breathing techniques. I did a lot of prolonged exhaling when I was at retreat this summer, and I felt it did me a world of good. But you've got to do them regularly. You might try doing some of the newer Cheney Breathing exercises? Mainly you breathe out longer than you breathe in. It's weird, these very diverse reactions to the same therapies. But getting oxygen into your sinuses and brain in a more gentle way, might be the way to go?

Answer: I have a concentrator brought to me from Oxygen Supply since I had a prescription. They have mentioned bringing out a large tank instead, maybe I should let them bring it out but would have to clean out a closet first. I have tried Cheney's breathing exercises but would need to set an alarm in order to do them several times a day, can't remember to do them.

Would like to throw in something here also about the tendon rupture thing. I can't blame it intirely on the samento because I have flat feet and had trouble with pain before but while I was taking Samento almost 2 years ago in fact I got my big black boot Christmas Eve. My ankle was so inflammed and swollen and hot to the touch that I couldn't wear regular shoes and couldn't for 4 months. It was embarrassing becaue people would ask, what happened did you break a bone and I would tell them that it was a tendon they would say, OH!!! as if it was nothing. The Orthopaedic Dr. said the tendon was ruptured and won't go into how many Drs. I saw. He said he wouldn't do the surgery at first but tried UCBL brace in my New Balance shoe (also have a leg brace that I can't wear) but it is not comfortable but can't walk very far without it since the pain is bad and am thinking about the surgery which is quite serious they would make an incision on either side of my ankle and find a tendon from some place else. I would have to be off my feet for 3 weeks and wear a cast for several more.

My biggest concern is that I have Neuropathy in my foot and ankle and am afraid of infection.

So everyone take care of your tendons, I didn't. I never wore lace up sport shoes always some flimsy flats for ever day wear.

Thanks,

H.